“They’re pretty,” Hunter said, as he motioned to the vase of white lilies on my nightstand. “I brought drinks.” He handed me an already opened vanilla Coke, as he sat next to me on my bed.
I took a sip of the Coke and coughed. “What’s in this?”
“Some extra love.” He raised his eyebrow and smiled at me with his perfect teeth.
Butterflies fluttered in the pit of my stomach. I cleared my throat. “I’m not old enough to drink, remember?” I handed the Coke back to him.
“Yes, but you're also not old enough to be with me, yet here we are.”
I turned my head, and stared at the vase of lilies. Then turned around to look back at him. “Five years isn’t a big deal, plus you’re so immature we might as well be the same age.”
We both laughed.
He inched closer to me, taking my hand. “You know, Red, you’re the only person I know that can make me laugh like that.” He nudged me and we both lay on my bed facing each other. He traced my freckles with his fingertips and said, “In a town full of beer drinkers, you're my favorite glass of wine.”
“I hate it when you say stuff like that.” I removed his hand from my face.
“Why?”
“Because it reminds me of why I’m in love with you.”
Hunter became silent.
I ran my hand through my hair and grasped it. I let out a quick, high-pitched laugh. “Just… just kidding. Forget I said that.”
Hunter rolled over on top of me and kissed me. He put his mouth on my neck, moving down to my collarbone.
“Wait, Hunter… wait.”
He didn’t say a word, he didn’t stop. I tried to resist, but my arms felt so heavy. It felt like he was setting every nerve in my body on fire, and I didn’t want to believe I was going to get burned. He continued going further and further. He was a little rough, brushing his hand up my stomach and lifting my shirt. The vase of lilies got knocked off my nightstand.
I ignored it.
--
As I was putting my shirt back on, Hunter climbed out my window. “Where are you going?”
“Oh, I gotta get back to my place. It’s already past midnight.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow?”
Hunter avoided eye contact, scratching his face. “Uh… yeah… yes, I’ll see you tomorrow.” He left.
I crawled into bed. I cocooned myself into my blankets, but despite my best efforts I couldn’t fall asleep.
The sun rose, I got up and cleaned up the broken vase. I crouched on the floor, pulling my knees to my chest. I picked up one of the white lilies. It was dry and shriveled, some of the petals were turning brown.
I grabbed my phone off my bed and called Hunter. The phone rang as I twirled the flower between my fingers. He didn’t answer.
My body shivered, my lips trembled. I crumpled the dead lily in my hand.
