Stealing Kisses - Ch. 7

Sitting through my six earlier classes proved no more exciting on Thursday then any other day of that week- or any day and the month of August for that matter. Finally, it was 7th period. My final period of the day. Usually a comfortable, enjoyable class with an easygoing teacher to match; but today we had a substitute teacher. Mr. White was an older man, no younger than mid-fifties. For unknown reasons he felt the need to babble constantly about his life- his controlling wife, his grown kids, and how he got to where he is "rat" now- in a Tennessee accent that reminded me very much of an older Forest Gump.

Mr. White's monologue was helping me slip off into a much-needed afternoon nap. Something soft the side of my head, awakening me from any little bit of sleep I had accomplished, and landed on my desk. I looked at the balled up piece of paper as if it had sprang from Hell before turning to look for its thrower. It didn't take me long to spot Addison waving her hands, wildly motioning for me to read her message. I unfolded the crumbled paper and read the short message in Addison's careful, royal script.

I need to talk to someone. It's important. Smackers? After school? -Addie

I turned in my seat to let her know I'd meet her at Smackers, the popular frozen yogurt and coffee joint in town. She returned my nod then looked down at her paper full of random doodles, allowing her hair to fall around her face. Even in these few seconds, I could tell something was troubling her.

Suddenly, I could've kicked myself. It dawned on me that something has been wrong with her for a month or so. I'd only hung out with her a few times in the past few weeks. She'd glanced off both me and Raine's invitations of swimming, laying out, pool parties, and more of our typical end of the summer activities.

As most girls were still wearing their summer dress and short-shorts- most of which barely met our school's dress code- Addison seemed to be making her transition to a fall wardrobe even though the humid late summer heat of the South still relentlessly beat down on the Mississippi's inhabitants. Recently, Addison's been wearing jeans, turtle-necks, hoodies with old tee-shirts, and sweatshirts from the numerous sports she's played since junior high. Maybe she's become ill. I said a silent prayer hoping everything was okay.

A frown didn't suit Addison's kind, oval face. I think she knew this, because, until recently, not only was Addison's mouth smiling, but her light brown eyes were as well. I can't remember ever seeing Addison not smiling, except when Raine's dad passed away. We all sat in Raine's room crying for days. Addie and I were absent from school for nearly a week, but Raine wouldn't show her face for two.

But that was years ago. Raine has refused to shed a tear since, I never let anyone see me cry anyway, but Addison was always smiling. Until now. She just sat in her desk drawing and scribbling. I already missed her dancing smile and radiant laugh.

The rest of my 7th period class passed even more uneventful than the beginning, and everyone was thankful when the bell rang, freeing us from Mr. White's "when-I-was-a-kid" speech.

Addison had jumped up as if the bell was gunfire at track meet and fled the classroom without speaking to me. I thought about Addison's earlier note as I walked through the hallways to my locker then out to my car, flashing smile at those who waved without actually recognizing their faces.

I drove to Smacker's as planned to meet Addison, but when I arrived, I couldn't find her car and she wasn't in the cafe, so I decided to wait. Surprisingly, I wasn't in the mood for usual caffeine fix, so I filled my own cup to the brim with cheesecake frozen yogurt topped with strawberries and chocolate syrup. I paid for my dessert and took a seat by the window overlooking the parking lot.

I watched the entrance for a solid 30 minutes, but there was no sign of Addison or her car. Just before I decided to leave, I spotted a silver BMW crawling into the parking lot. It crept along, purring like a wild cat stalking it's prey. I was kind of in to cars, so I stayed to watch for the owner. The car stopped at the curbed, and lingered there just long enough for a girl in black high-tops, skinny jeans, and an over sized lacrosse sweatshirt to hop out. Once completely out of the car, she turned with a hopeful look at the driver and waved at him, but he sped away without so much as a look in the girls direction, not even giving her time to finish her wave. The girl turned toward Smackers with a solemn look on her face. That's when I realized this girl was Addison.

It didn't take her long to spot me once she walked into the cafe and once she got close enough to see my face plastered with confusion, she slumped in the chair opposite me and began to sob uncontrollably. I scooted closer to hair, put one arm around her, and comforted her the only way I knew how until her sobs subsided and to simple tears trickling down her face.

"He's not always like that," she asked between sniffles.

"Who?" I asked, unsure if she was talking about 'BMW guy.'

"Brad." When I didn't answer right away, she elaborated, "I know you saw him drop me off a few minutes ago. He drops me off and picks me up from school, and usually, we go to his house, so he was pissed when I asked him to drop me off here instead."

"Are y'all, like, 'together'?"

"Yes. I met hi at a party about three months ago. We've been together ever since."

"Addie! Why didn't you tell me or Raine?" I was genuinely happy for her.

"It just happened really fast, and I barely had time to do my homework as it was. Now, between him, actual school, and the few soccer practices I get to go to, I usually end up doing it in homeroom."

"Wait," I stopped her. Things were getting fishy. "Why don't go to all your soccer practices?"

"Well, he likes having me around, and for a while I went to every one, everyday, but sometimes Brad doesn't like picking me up from school, so when he has to pick me up from school then stop what he's doing to pick me up from soccer, he gets pissed."

"But, Addison! You love soccer! You freaking breathe soccer! Why would you give that up or him?"

"Well, I met him at that party, and he was just so gorgeous, and he made me feel so happy, and he made me laugh. I just love him so much! But, Marleigh, things have changed he's not what he used to be."

"What's wrong, Addie? Why'd you want me here?"

She took a steadying breath and whispered, "About a month ago, Brad hit me, because I was late getting ready for a party, which made us late getting there."

I gasped in complete shock.

"It kept getting worse after that, and now it happens almost every other day," she whispered as if even saying the words hurt. I couldn't blame her.

Addison pulled her sweatshirt sleeve barely over the bend of her elbow, but between her wrist and there I could see plenty of bruises. At least 2 were bruised imprints of a man's hand, but others were rounded or "C" shaped. Some were the yellowish color indicating fading, but others were the deep blueish-black of forming recently.

"Oh my Lord, Addie." I traced one bruise with my finger very lightly. I could feel tears forming in my eyes. Addison was such a sweet person. She didn't deserve this.

"I know I shouldn't have let it go on," she began to sob, "but, Marliegh, I love him."

"Addison, you don't have to explain yourself to me." It was strange seeing Addison so upset. I hated the desperate, pleading look that haunted her face. "Let's go to my and get this homework out of the way. Then, I'm thinking we rent a movie, order some take-out, maybe invite Raine. Like old times," I begged to get her out of there, or Brad's house. When she started to shake her head, I added in a sing-song voice, "Come on! I just got Netflix!"

Addison sniffled a little. Contemplating her decision.

"Thanks, Marliegh. I'd love to. Really. I miss you and Raine so much, but I can't.. I told Brad he could pick me up from my house at 6:00. His parents have this big formal dinner thing at his house."

"Are you sure you wanna go? I mean, Addison, he beats you."

Hearing me say these things, Addison's voice became instantly defensive. "He can't always help it, Marliegh! His home life isn't exactly picture perfect!"

"Okay, okay!" I knew that wasn't an excuse- you should never hit a girl!- but I didn't want to hurt her feelings. "But don't you think it's a little dangerous to be with him, Addison?"

"He could beat me, shut me away from the world, and haunt my every nightmare, but I've never felt safer with anyone in my whole life. I love him irrevocably."

I looked at my shoes unsure of what to say or how to feel. It was obvious she loved this boy so much, but no amount of love could make up for the fact that he hit her. Physical, verbal, probably mental abuse was not forgivable.

"Addison this can't continue," I finally managed to say. "He can't keep hitting you. You can't keep seeing him."

"To hell I can't!" She exclaimed as she stood, drawing the attention of bystanders at nearby tables. "I knew it. I knew I never should have told you. You can't understand how this feels. You can't understand how stuck I am because you've never loved anyone! You don't care about the guys you 'date.' They're one after another and you can barely remember their names! So don't tell me I can't see the one I love. The one I know I can't live without! You don't know Brad like I do. So forget I ever said anything."

She stormed out of the cafe looking horribly angry. I'd never seen Addison cry like she was, or yell like she had. I knew I should run after her, but I couldn't. I was frozen in my chair. Dead in my tracks. Simply shocked and hopelessly sad. I reached up to feel my face, wondering why I was feverish, and felt the hot sticky tears beginning to spill from my eyes- something I hadn't felt in a long time.

Suddenly tired, I hauled myself from the chair, left a dollar and some change in the tip jar, and walked to my car, where I sat with my head leaning against the window. I cried because no one was looking. I cried about my mom, my dad, and my sister, but all those tears started because I knew Addison was right.

I had never truly loved someone with all my heart and let them love me back. All the guys I'd dated didn't mean anything. They were just good times, use them and loose thems, there one day gone the next, social pick-ups.

I needed to face it: I was whore.