23. Rebecca
Chapter twenty-three
Rebecca
Good For You
A s we ride in the car on our way to school, I sit in the backseat next to Katya, a smile spreading across my face as I glance down at my new bracelet. It's a delicate tennis bracelet, adorned with sparkling diamonds and a mesmerizing blue butterfly charm, sitting proudly in the center. Danny really went all out with this gift.
Katya nudges my shoulder playfully. "He must really love you."
I grin back at her. "He does."
She chuckles. "Not thrilled he stole my butterfly nickname, though..."
We both laugh as we near the school. Katya sighs, leaning her head against mine.
"You'll have two bodyguards with you all day."
I roll my eyes, but can't help feeling grateful for their protection.
"Do you and dad really think this is necessary?"
Katya shakes her head firmly. "Absolutely. Your mother... she never wanted to see your father truly happy. She did terrible things to others and even to you."
I nod sadly, remembering the pain my mother caused me before leaving.
"I just don't understand how she can cause so much damage and get away with it."
"It's all about money. It can change people for the worse." The car pulls up to the school and Katya takes my hands in hers. “You will be just fine. I love you, moya sladkaya .”
Stepping out of the car, I take a deep breath and slowly make my way to school. The familiar sights and sounds of students chatting and rushing to their classes surround me. My heart beats a little faster as I walk towards the guidance counselor's office. My new counselor, Missus Sudo, waiting for me inside.
As I take my seat in front of her desk, she greets me with a warm smile. "Alright, let's start fresh," she says, sliding a blank sheet of paper towards me. "What majors are we considering?"
I hesitate before picking up my pen and writing down a few options. "I guess... history?" I offer tentatively.
Missus Sudo chuckles softly. "Nice try, but I know you don't have much interest in history."
I sit back in my chair, thinking hard. Journalism, teaching, communications... but none of them truly resonate with me as a long-term career choice.
Seeing my struggle, Missus Sudo reaches over and pushes a brochure towards me. "I think you might like this one," she says, her eyes twinkling.
My gaze falls on the title: 'International Relations.' I look up at her in surprise. "Why?"
She smiles knowingly. "You're incredibly intelligent - quick-thinking and logical. But you also have this ability to charm people when you need to. And let's not forget your impressive language skills - four languages fluently spoken."
I feel slightly embarrassed by her compliments and shrug bashfully. "How did you find all this out?"
"I took a look at your test scores and have gone over all your paperwork," she answers simply. "A perfect sixteen hundred on your SATs - that's no easy feat. And then you went ahead and aced the ACTs too."
"There are plenty of other smart kids out there," I protest.
Missus Sudo laughs and slaps another paper down in front of me. "But you, Becca Carney, are one in a million. Not only did you take the IB test, but you scored a forty-four - just one point shy of perfect."
I groan playfully. "Still salty about that one point."
She meets my gaze seriously. "You have so much potential with these scores. Take a look at the international relations major and come see me tomorrow."
With a nod, I thank her and make my way out of the office, heading towards the library to start researching this unexpected option for my future career path.
I make my way up the winding steps, towards the secluded area in the back where no one ever seems to come. The two imposing bodyguards nod their heads in recognition before descending the stairs and leaving me alone.
As soon as I reach my destination, I slip on my headphones and start playing my carefully curated playlist. The music envelopes me, drowning out any distractions as I open my notes.
But then I hear it - faint footsteps approaching. And with them, that familiar shadow of him.
His presence is always accompanied by a delicious, sultry scent; a combination of fresh pine needles, warm brown sugar, the clean aroma of his crisp uniform, and that hint of crisp apples. But what always catches me off guard is that unexpected hint of mint from his gum.
Danny.
He carefully takes my headphones out, his warm breath tickling the sensitive skin of my neck as he leans down to kiss it. My heart flutters at the touch of his lips, and I can feel the heat rising in my cheeks. "Wow, pretty bracelet you got there," he murmurs.
As his hands play with the waistband of my skirt, sending shivers down my spine, I can't help but let out a soft moan. "Mmmm. It is beautiful, isn't it?"
"Where did ya' get that?" he asks, his fingers tracing patterns on my skin.
A mischievous smile tugs at my lips as I reply, "Oh, this pain in the ass boy, who won't leave me alone."
Danny chuckles softly against my neck, trailing kisses down to my collarbone. "Are you sending him mixed signals, butterfly?"
I giggle playfully. "I think I may be."
Suddenly, Danny yanks on my ponytail and a low moan escapes me as I feel his hot breath against my ear. "Mmm. You're such a brat, Becs."
I turn to face him, our eyes locked in an intense gaze. "Maybe that boy should sneak into my bedroom and punish me tonight," I whisper seductively.
The lustful groan that escapes from Danny's lips sends shivers through my body. " Jesus fuck . Becca... let's go."
With a mischievous grin, I gather up my things and take his hand as he leads us further back into the library.
“Danny! What are you doing?” I gasp, my heart pounding in my chest as he turns and presses me against the bookshelf with a forceful hand. Our bodies collide, his chest hot against mine.
“ This ,” he growls, his lips crushing against mine in a passionate kiss. His hands roam over my body, pushing up my skirt and sliding underneath to touch me intimately.
A moan escapes my lips as I wrap my arms around his head, pulling him closer. Danny's fingers move expertly, sending waves of pleasure through my body.
In one swift motion, he rips open my shirt and shoves down my bra, taking one hard nipple into his mouth. My back arches as I whimper in ecstasy.
"Shh," Danny whispers against my skin, "We have to be quiet."
I bite my lip to stifle another moan as his fingers continue their thrusts. The thrill of potentially getting caught only heightens my arousal.
Danny's free hand fumbles with his belt buckle. In moments, he has freed himself of his uniform pants. He lifts me up, pinning me against the bookshelf as he positions himself.
"Ready?" he asks, his voice husky with desire.
I nod eagerly, wrapping my legs around his waist. Danny enters me in one smooth thrust, burying himself to the hilt. We both gasp at the sensation.
He sets a frantic pace, driving into me over and over. Books rattle on the shelves behind us with each powerful thrust.
I cling to Danny's shoulders, lost in a haze of pleasure as he moves within me. The risk of discovery only heightens every sensation. I can feel myself getting close to the edge.
" Danny ," I gasp, "I'm almost there."
He increases his pace, his breathing ragged in my ear. "Come for me, butterfly," he whispers.
His words send me over the brink. I bite down on his shoulder to muffle my cries as waves of ecstasy wash over me. Danny follows soon after, burying his face in my neck to stifle his own groan of release.
For a moment, we stay locked together, our hearts racing. Then Danny gently lowers me back to my feet, both of us hurrying to straighten our clothes.
"That was..." I trail off, still catching my breath.
"Amazing," Danny finishes with a smile. He leans in and tucks a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “I love you, Becca.”
My heart pounds in my chest and then suddenly stops. Danny's words hit me like a speeding train, knocking the breath out of me. Panic surges through my body as I try to process what he just said. All I can think about is running away from this overwhelming situation.
But before I can make a move, Danny's strong hands grab onto me, trapping me against the wall. I feel helpless and exposed under his intense gaze.
"Stop," he commands, gripping my face tightly between his palms. "You are not going to run away from me. Face your fucking feelings, Rebecca."
I shake my head frantically, tears beginning to form in my eyes. "I... I can't do this."
Danny releases me and I quickly escape the library, rushing straight to the car waiting outside. The driver glances back at me with concern written all over their face.
"Home?" they ask softly.
I nod, unable to speak as tears start streaming down my face. I curl up in a ball in the backseat and let the emotions overwhelm me. This is too much for me to handle right now.
Why did I run? I love Danny! I’ve told my dad and Katya.
Why can I not say it to his face?
As I sit up, gazing at the serene forest before me, my heart is filled with conflicting emotions. I am completely in love with Danny, but at the same time, there is a deep-seated fear that saying it out loud will jinx everything.
But Danny is right. I need to face my fucking feelings…
I sit perched on my bed, mind racing as I try to prepare myself for the conversation with Danny. Suddenly, he bursts through my bedroom door, causing me to jump in surprise.
"What the fuck?" I exclaim, only to see him smiling mischievously.
"Katya, let me in. And she made the best chocolate chip cookies," he says, holding up a plate of some of the most delicious-looking cookies I've ever seen. "But it's not about the cookies. I'm here to talk to you. There's no escaping now."
He settles onto my bed beside me, and I can feel his warmth radiating towards me.
"Danny... this is too much. I..." I stutter, unsure of what to say.
He shakes his head at me. "No. It's not. It's called being a fucking adult and talking about your thoughts and feelings. So get to talking."
I take a deep breath, gathering my thoughts before speaking again. "You can't keep chasing me."
He lets out a hearty laugh and looks at me with an intensity that sends shivers down my spine. "Oh, Becs," he whispers. "I don't chase anything."
His eyes are filled with hunger and desire, making my heart race with anticipation. "But you know what I will do?" he continues, slowly snaking his hands up my body until one is wrapped around my neck. I whimper under his touch, craving more.
"I will conquer you," he declares confidently. "You will crumble for me once you open that icy heart."
And with that, he leans down and softly kisses me, sending shivers running down my spine as our lips meet in a fiery embrace.
I melt into his kiss, my body betraying my mind's hesitation. His lips are soft yet demanding. My hands instinctively reach up to tangle in his hair, pulling him closer.
Danny breaks the kiss, leaving me breathless and yearning for more. His eyes, dark with desire, search mine. "Tell me you don't want this," he challenges, his voice husky.
I open my mouth to protest, but the words die on my tongue. How can I deny what my body so clearly craves?
"I... I can't," I whisper, my voice barely audible.
A triumphant smile spreads across his face. "That's what I thought," he murmurs, before capturing my lips once more.
This time, the kiss is gentler, exploratory. His hand moves from my neck to cup my cheek, his thumb caressing my skin softly. I sigh into his mouth, my defenses crumbling with each tender touch.
Danny pulls back slightly, resting his forehead against mine. "You've been running for so long," he whispers. "Let me in, butterfly. Let me show you what it's like to fly."
His words stir something deep within me, a longing I've kept buried for years. I tremble, torn between the safety of isolation and the allure of his promise.
"I'm scared," I admit, my voice barely above a whisper.
Danny's eyes soften. "I know," he says. "But I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere."
He takes my hand, intertwining our fingers. The simple gesture feels more intimate than any kiss.
"We'll take it slow," he assures me. "One step at a time."
The words trembled on my lips before finally spilling out, “I… I love you, Danny.”
His face lights up with a smug grin. “I know.”
I can't help but playfully slap his arm. “Such an ass.”
“Mmmm, but you wouldn't have me any other way.” He teases back, his tone full of affection. "Now, let's focus on this project."
Instantly, my stomach drops. "Oh god, you've done most of the work!"
Danny lets out an exasperated sigh. "Becca, you were in the hospital. It's okay. We've been working as a team this whole time. I'm not upset or worried about it."
I can't help but feel guilty for not being able to contribute as much as he has. "Are you really not mad?"
He nods earnestly. "Absolutely not."
“Okay. If we-”
The words caught in my throat as the blare of the house alarms suddenly pierced through the air, assaulting our ears with their deafening sound.
My heart thumped against my ribcage as Katya burst into my room, her face twisted in fear and urgency.
"She's here!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling. "Becca, come! You have to hide with me!"
Without hesitation, I grabbed onto her hand and allowed her to lead me into the spare bedroom. With swift movements, she flung open the closet door and pushed me inside.
"Quick!" she urged, a look of panic in her eyes. "Press your thumb on that white square!"
I did as she said without question, and to my surprise, a hidden wall slid open to reveal a small room. Katya gave me one last push before disappearing into the darkness of the room herself.
"Danny!"
Katya shook her head solemnly. "He will be okay. The police are on their way." As the door closed behind us, enveloping us in complete darkness, I could only hope that she was right.
My heart pounded in my chest as we huddled in the darkness of the hidden room. The muffled sounds of the alarm still penetrated the walls, a constant reminder of the danger lurking outside. I could feel Katya's rapid breathing next to me, her hand gripping mine tightly.
"Who?" I whispered, my voice barely audible over the alarm.
Katya hesitated before answering, her voice laced with fear. "Your mother."
The revelation hit me like a punch to the gut. My mother was here? What was she doing? Why did we have to hide?
Before I could voice my questions, a loud crash echoed through the house, followed by the sound of splintering wood. My body tensed, imagining the worst.
My breath caught in my throat as I heard heavy footsteps moving through the house. The alarm suddenly cut off, plunging us into an eerie silence, broken only by the sound of drawers being yanked open and items being thrown to the floor.
"Where is she?" a shrill voice demanded.
My mother's voice. I would recognize that tone anywhere - cold, angry, unhinged.