Sworn

Page 19

Rachel gathered up all her belongings and took another look at herself in the mirror. She reminded herself of Sandy from Grease, when she changed from her “good girl” poodle skirt and cardigan into the sexy black leather outfit at the end of the movie. She didn’t recognize herself, but knew she looked hot.
On their way back to the school, the girls were giddy and excited. Rachel could tell that the girls’ were a little tipsy, too. They were screaming and stumbling across the streets and she could tell the vodka was hitting them.
Rachel, on the other hand felt good. She was sober, nicotine free, sexy and stood up for what she believed in. Rachel knew that if she had this will power as a teen, she would definitely have it as a woman.
As the girls walked through the balloon arch that led them into the gymnasium there were hundreds of kids, teachers and chaperones. Rachel was nervous, yet excited. She put her bag down on the bleachers, but kept her cell phone out, just in case Benji tried to call or text her. She was missing him so much and hoped that he would be at the dance.
The music started playing and everyone started dancing. Rachel’s ankle was finally feeling better, so she got out on the dance floor, too. She felt like she was at a club; kids were grinding, and dancing very close to one another. She had never seen this at her old school, but went with the flow, realizing that she needed to accept that her new life in Bedford was completely different, and to stop comparing the two.
At the end of the first song, Emily, Liv, Jess, Jen and Taryn all went into the bathroom together to take shots. They invited Rachel to go with them, but Rachel stayed behind. She walked off the dance floor and checked her phone. She didn’t have any messages or calls.
She looked around the dimly lit gymnasium to see if Benji was around, but she didn’t see him.
As her eyes surveyed the room, Rachel spotted Rob. He was staring her up and down, and began walking towards her. As he neared, Rachel wasn’t sure what to do. Should she walk away, or stay and see what he has to say? Rachel decided to stay, partially because she wanted validation from him, but also because if she turned and walked away, it would be too obvious that she was ignoring him.
“Hot stuff,” Rob said as he reached out and put his hand on Rachel’s back.
“Thanks,” Rachel said, smiling.
“You look amazing,” Rob added. “Wow!”
Rachel was glad she wore Emily’s dress, if for no other reason than to show Rob what he could have had if he had not been such a jerk.
“I’m sorry about the other day,” Rob said.
She was surprised at this, because she figured he didn’t even remember.
“Oh, that day,” she said, acting as if it were no big deal.
“Yeah, I got caught up at practice, then went out with the guys,” Rob said sounding apologetic.
“I forgot about it, really, it’s fine.”
“So, how about that dance?” Rob said smoothly.
Standing there alone, Rachel felt confused. She knew she wasn’t into Rob anymore, but she would rather dance with him than stand on the outskirts of the dance floor alone.
“I guess,” she said.
Rob began walking into the middle of the dance floor, and Rachel followed.
At that moment Rachel’s phone buzzed and lit up in her hand.
1 New Message:
Benji: Come outside, I need to talk to you.
Rachel closed her phone, turned around and headed towards the exit sign. She couldn’t believe it. Was Benji really outside the school? Did he really want to talk to her?
“Where are you going?” Rob shouted as Rachel walked away. “I thought we were going to dance?”
Rachel heard his voice behind her, but didn’t look back.
As Rachel got out front, she saw Benji standing next to his motorcycle, wearing jeans, his leather jacket and holding his helmet in his left hand. Rachel ran to him.
Benji smiled and hugged her as he lifted her off the ground.
At that moment, Rob came running out of the building with a few of his friends.
“Who’s are you?” Rob asked, as he approached them
“I’m her boyfriend,” added Benji.
Rachel looked at him in surprise. She didn’t realize he thought of her as his girlfriend, but it made her ecstatic to think of it.
“What?” Rob said, seeming confused.
“That’s Rob’s girl,” Rob’s friend interrupted. “You have no business coming in here like this. Who do you think you are?”
“Go back inside,” Benji said to them.
As soon as the words came out of his mouth, Rob and his four-jock friends started barreling towards Benji, rolling up their sleeves.
“You asked for it, kid,” Rob said.
Benji reached out and pushed Rachel aside, so she wasn’t in any danger. Rachel couldn’t believe how quick his reflexes were. He moved her almost as quickly as he had grabbed her that night on the ferris wheel.
Benji slid off his leather jacket and calmly put it on his bike while the guys charged him. Rachel couldn’t believe how calm and composed he was.
Rob was the first one to reach him. Rob reached back and swung wildly, aiming right for Benji’s face.
But Benji sidestepped easily, as if Rob were moving in slow motion. He reached up and grabbed the back of Rob’s head and threw him. Rachel was shocked to see Rob go flying, nearly across the parking lot.
Rob’s friends took pause, too. They were clearly caught off guard by what they saw, yet at the same time, they were already charging, and too close to Benji to change course. The three of them all dove at him, as if trying to tackle him.
But in one swift motion, he leapt high in the air, over their heads, and the came down, kicking two of them hard in the back of the neck, and sending them, face first, down to the ground. The third guy he grabbed by the back of his shirt and hurled in the opposite direction, with such force, that he went flying off the ground and up into a large bush.
Rachel couldn’t believe here eyes. She blinked, thinking she must have imagined it all. But it was true. It was all really true.
Benji, still calm and composed, reached for his leather jacket and said, “I’ve gotta get out of here.”
“I want to come,” Rachel said.
“You can’t come,” Benji said, “It’s dangerous.”
“I have to be with you,” Rachel said.
“Do you want to risk everything to be with me?” Benji said.
“Yes,” Rachel said without hesitation.
Before she could even blink, Benji put on her helmet, clipped it under her chin, and they were riding off into the night. Rachel loved the feel of his waist in her arms. She had longed to hold him again and to be one with him. She knew tonight was going to be special.
As the two came upon a quiet, covered bridge, Benji slowed his motorcycle until it came to a complete stop.
He helped Rachel off the bike, and they walked to the side of the bridge to look off onto the stream below.
“Rachel, I really care about you, I do,” said Benji. “I want to be with you.”
“I do, too,” Rachel said, “I think about you all the time,” Rachel said. “Please just tell me who you are, I need to know. Whatever it is, I can handle it.”
Benji looked at the stream, then back at Rachel.
“If I tell you, you have to promise you won’t say anything to anybody,” Benji said.
Rachel said as she looked deep into his eyes, “I promise, I won’t.”
“You have to promise,” Benji said, more firmly.
“I promise,” Rachel said again in suspense.
“Do you swear?” he asked.
“I swear!” Rachel said.
“Again. Swear again.” Benji asked.
“I swear. I swear I will never tell.”
Benji held out his hand. Rachel reached out, grabbed it, and felt his icy cold fingers weave in between hers, as he leaned in close, to whisper into her ear.