AN: I like writing this story, so even if no one's reading, I think I'll keep going. :)
*
Over the weeks that followed, it seemed I couldn't go anywhere without bumping into David. The man I'd just met was becoming one of the few constant male presences in my life. On my way to classes he always seemed to be out for a smoke, walking his dog, or washing his car. If it were any other man, I wouldn't have been bothered, but David knew just how to push my buttons. It wasn't even what he said that got to me -- it was what he
didn't
say. It was his eyes, and that odd, piercing gaze he'd perfected.
If David "happened" to be sitting on the stoop of his apartment when I walked by, I didn't have to see his face to know he was watching me. I could feel him groping without touching -- pinching and prodding with humor. It only took one glance to drive me up the wall.
But the subtle torture didn't end there. At night, I would often glimpse David watching television in his bedroom. Now, normally it wouldn't have been anything special, but David was far from normal. He was hiding something from me -- something juicy.
Ever since I'd spied on him so many weeks before, it seemed that David was making the conscious decision to always shut the blinds was when he was entertaining a female. No longer was I treated to visions of a half-naked hunk tying or handcuffing his lady friends. Instead, David seemed to be keenly aware of my sneaking, and instead only allowed me to see him lead the woman to his bed, fully clothed.
They came in all shapes, colors and sizes, but seemed to be in the same age range -- late twenties to early thirties. Still, it amazed me to know that he could get so much ass while acting like a such a douchebag.
'What the hell is his appeal?'
I always hid behind the curtains as David led them in, and I knew he knew it. How? Well, every night before drawing his own curtains, David would make sure to pause and throw a wave my way. It was total obnoxious jackass behavior, but still, I couldn't bring myself to look away. There was something about David that intrigued me. Something about how smug and overtly sexual he was.
'What's that saying about good girls and bad boys...?'
"Why don't you just ask him out or something?" Blaine confronted me one evening after I was caught crouched behind a section of curtain.
"Never!" I gave her a dangerous look. "He's a psycho! Besides, you know I'm with Mark."
It occurred to me that I was protesting far too loudly, but Blaine was already halfway down my throat.
"
Mark, Mark, Mark
!" she seemed to be channeling Marsha Brady. "What does he have, a magic dick? What's it going to take for you to realize that he's screwing you over?"
"Well maybe I like being scrβ
"βhey," Blaine held tight on my arm so I couldn't budge. "Is that my dress?"
When she gestured, I yanked away from her in embarrassment. All her talk reminded me of the date I was going on that night. The date I'd begged Mark for all week, and had to blow him twice just to get him to agree to. We planned to have dinner together and talk about the future. Of course, the planning was more me than him, and I was sure he wouldn't be eager about the conversation subject matter, but I was hopeful. I was always hopeful.
"I didn't have anything good enough," I huffed at her. I knew Blaine wanted to say something smart in response, but there was a sad look in her eyes.
"He doesn't have your best interests at heart." Her hands went out for me again, but I deftly avoided them.
"And who does?" I scoffed at Laila. "You? Playboy over there?"
"Why are you so hostile lately?"
I took a deep breath and then let it out, slowly. "You really don't get it, Blaine. You go out all the time. All I want is someone who returns my feelings. For once. Someone who only wants me. Someone who's not using me to get to you, or to see if I'm easier than you, but wants me. For me."
Blaine's gaze seemed to soften a bit at hearing those words, but I didn't want to dwell on it. She had already assumed I wasn't grown up enough for her. I turned away quickly and smoothed some nonexistent wrinkles from the curtains.
All of a sudden, I felt Blaine's arms wrap around me from behind. "Look, maybe we should talk..."
The doorbell rang, and I pulled out of Blaine's hold. "That's Mark!"
I was saved.
"Please," Blaine tried again, but I just ignored her and swung open the front door. Maybe I was acting a bit silly --
childish
, even, but I couldn't talk to Blaine about what I was feeling. I couldn't talk to anyone.
"I'll see you later. Don't wait up," I told her.
The moment Mark saw me, his eyes lit up with desire. I wore a gold, backless mini dress from the back of Blaine's closet. It was one she had most likely worn only once before discarding -- just like the men in her life. I told myself it was the last thing I would ever borrow from her.
I had to train myself not to pull down the back of the skirt, even when I felt it creeping up past my little treasure trove. This way, I reasoned, Mark would have something to compel him to finally seal the deal with me.
"You look great," he put an arm around my shoulder, and pulled up the door before Blaine could make her usual heated protest.
"Thanks," I gave his arm a little tap with my matching clutch and beamed.
I thought of the restaurant I had made reservations at -- a small Italian place, with close booths -- and couldn't help but smile. That night, in my mind, would be the night Mark finally stopped and took notice of what a fine woman he would be passing up if he went back on his word.