The car ride home was uneventful, as Carly's dad was happy to listen to his girl chat away about how fun the party was, and how they'd all jumped into the pool. He simply assumed she had a swimming costume under her clothes and commented on how he was glad everyone had a good time. He was blissfully unaware of most things that went on around him, which was why he was usually the one they called to fetch them from late night parties. Carly and Savannah often joked that if he knew half of the things the youth this day got up to, he wouldn't be nearly as casual about allowing his daughter out of the house.
Savannah and Chad sat on opposite sides of the car in the back seat, careful not to make eye contact with each other. She was thankful for the darkness that hid her face from everyone, as she was sure her face was still burning. She raised a hand to her cheek to feel it, and enjoyed the feel of her now cold hands against hew skin.
“You OK?” came a deep voice from the front seat.
“Yes I'm fine thanks, Mr Wright.” She responded with a smile. “I'm just a bit warm, that's all.” Chad made a point of looking out of his window, a ghost of a smile on his face. Carly gave her a sly wink in the mirror, but said nothing. The car pulled up outside her house and they gave their thanks and said their goodbyes quickly, seeing as it was already fast approaching 01h00.
“So,” Chad said animatedly, as the car drove off. “That happened.” She managed an embarrassed smile, causing him to roll his eyes. “I can see you've already got a speech planned.” He sighed audibly. “Let's hear it.”
“Not now.” She said quietly. “It's late and we need to get inside.”
“You gonna apologise again? Tell me it was the drink?”
“No. I was pretty sober upstairs.” she murmured, slowing her walk.
He stopped and turned to her. “Then what? You look like you got something to say, so say it.”
“We took this way too far, Chad.” She said softly. “You know this can't continue.” He folded his arms and let his breath out hard, waiting for her to continue. “You're living in my house, and you can't afford to get into trouble.”
“How the hell am I gonna get into trouble?” He asked, frustrated.
“Don't you think that sleeping with your Welfare Officer's daughter would get you into just a small amount of trouble?” She lowered her voice. “If you can't do the math, let me help you out – It's statutory rape!”
He rolled his eyes. “What does that even mean?”
“It means you're still legally a Minor!”
“Pfft. I'm eighteen next month.”
“Not the point and you know it!” She covered her face with her hands and took a deep breath, focusing her thoughts. “I don't do this kind of thing. I'm not that type of girl!” She hissed out. “I don't just get drunk and sleep with guys I've known for a week!”
“I never thought you were just some easy bang!” He threw back at her. “But that doesn't mean that stuff doesn't happen. Doesn't mean you gotta rip it apart and slam the door shut.”
“Chad, you don't get it!” She blinked back tears that she hadn't known were brewing. “I don't do flings and one night stands. I don't do casual sex. It's not me.”
“What's your point, Princess?”
“You're going to be out of here the second you turn eighteen. No,” she put up her hand when he tried to speak. “Don't try to deny it. I'm not looking to get into anything that's not long-term and meaningful, and we both know you're not sticking around a second longer than you have to.”
Chad couldn't deny it even if he wanted to. He knew that despite the fact that living in her home and been the most comfortable and safe he'd ever felt, it would never be home. He didn't fit into her world, same as she wouldn't fit into his. To even think of showing her where he was currently stay with Spinz and Ed, had him cringing.
As soon as he turned eighteen, his protection as a juvenile would run out, and the next time he was caught doing something, it would be hard jail time. The cold wet bundle in his hands suddenly seemed so heavy in his hands. It was only a matter of time until everything caught up to him, and there was no way he'd allow Savannah to watch him sink even lower than he already was. He wasn't going to take her along on that journey. She was right, he admitted to himself. He wasn't planning on a relationship with her, any more than he ever considered being in a relationship with any girl. Never had.
He took a step back. “Yeah, I'm not sticking around.” He spoke quietly, angry at himself that he couldn't even give a girl a promise of a decent tomorrow, let alone a future.
The words still stung to hear, even though she knew it already. She swallowed hard and took a steadying breath. “So then we both agree, that there isn't anywhere to go with this.” She indicated between the two of them. “And that pursuing it further would be a waste of time for both of us.”
He nodded again and took a further step back. “Guess so.”
“Alright. So that's settled.” She said with a nod. “It happened. It was fun. But now we move on.” She stepped passed him and quietly opened the front door with her keys, trying hard not to jingle them and wake her mom. They made their way silently up the stairs and stopped outside his bedroom door.
“So, thank you again for a nice evening.” She whispered. “It was fun.”
“Sure.” He opened his door, and put the wet bundle of clothing on the desk, turning back to her she spoke again, leaning against his door post.
“You owe me twenty bucks.” She said quietly, grinning. “For the drinking bet.”
“Guess I do.” He said. He leant forward and chased a stray lock of hair behind her ear, and whispered “I'll give you a rematch any day, if I get to see your bad girl side again.” She blushed deeply but couldn't help but to smile even as her body temperature jumped up a notch or two.
“Pervert.” She whispered into his ear.
“Drunken hussy.” He grinned, and placed a gentle kiss on her cheek, breathing her scent deeply in as he did. He lingered there for a few seconds, feeling the warmth of her skin. “Goodnight, Princess.”
“Night Chad.” She stepped back, smiling and closed the door behind her.
Long after he'd heard her bedroom door close, he sat with his forehead braced against the back of his closed door, allowing himself time to gather his thoughts. It wasn't working as well as he'd hoped. The woman was a powder keg, he mused. She honest to God didn't realise how every movement and word set him on fire tonight.
He wasn't used to feeling so rattled by a girl, and it upset him that he'd lost control with her. He whispered a curse to himself and smacked his head gently but firmly against the door. What the hell was he thinking? She was an innocent, and he'd had his dirty hands all over her like she was one of the drug whores he was used to picking up on the street corners back home. He sighed loudly. Truth was, he hadn't been thinking. He's lost his damn mind as a result of too much drink and too much partying.
And jealousy, he mused. He'd seen Joshua try to worm his way up against her and he'd seen red. He'd humiliated the girl publicly, and then seeing how she was dressed and how much she'd drank, was trying to get himself laid. The guy was nothing but a low life weasel.
Chad threw himself on his bed and raked his hands through his hair. He swore at himself again, knowing that he'd behaved no better than Joshua. No, he'd been worse than Joshua. He'd practically dared her clothes off of her, and allowed her in her drunken state, to throw herself at him. He didn't stop her when she'd wrapped her legs around his hips in that pool, and he damn well didn't stop her when she'd pushed herself so close against him that it was a miracle his boxers had stayed in place. He'd let her continue. He'd wanted her to continue. And then when they were alone again, he all but forced himself upon her , knowing she was still half drunk. She'd said she was sober, but he knew she wasn't thinking clearly yet.
He smacked his forehead. God, he'd said he was going to screw her against the door. The door! There was a bed not five feet away and he was going to screw her against a door! He recalled how he'd pulled her dress over her hips and his hand was trying to rip her underwear off. What kind of animal must she think he was? No wonder she'd cooled right off when they were interrupted. He'd probably scared her off sex and men for life.
“Way to go, Chad.” He mumbled to himself.
Savannah closed her bedroom door behind her, smiling. She pulled off the dress and underclothes, and found herself a silky nightdress rather than her normal pyjamas. She felt sexy and confident, and wanted to look it too. She admired herself in the mirror, still smiling. She could smell his scent on her still, and feel the way his lips had traced across her chest. The way his hands had grabbed and pulled at her flesh.
She shook her head, clearing away the thoughts. She'd never get to sleep if she kept thinking of him. Besides, he'd made it clear he wasn't going to stay around for long. She sighed, knowing it was probably for the best. Besides, she couldn't imagine what he must think of her now. She'd known him a week, out drank him, and then stripped down to her underwear and jumped into a pool with him. She'd thrown herself at him like an easy lay. No wonder the poor guy had practically froze up in her. Try as she might – and she'd really tried – to entice him into touching her, his hands stayed firmly on her hips. Then he'd pulled away and told her to stop. He'd been a gentleman when she'd been acting the tramp. Then in the bedroom, when he'd asked her to push him away and tell him to stop, she'd grabbed his shirt and kissed him. She had seen that he was struggling to maintain his gentlemanly composure with her, and still she pushed him on. She couldn't blame him for how he'd responded.
What kind of animal must he think she was? No wonder he'd accepted it without argument when she'd said the relationship couldn't continue. She'd probably scared him off for like.
“Way to go, Sav.” She mumbled to herself, taking off the silk nightdress and putting on her more common choice in pyjamas – her pink shorts and a spaghetti-strap top.