Fan Fiction ❯ Falling For You ❯ Beguiling Propositions ( Chapter 9 )

Falling For You

Chapter 9

Beguiling Propositions

 

 

 

“Oh, of course,” Breanna mumbled caustically as she slumped down onto the window seat in her bedroom and watched the angry gray storm clouds roll in on the horizon. The thunder rumbling ominously in the distance suited her current frustrated, surly mood perfectly as she sighed heavily and tucked a fist beneath her chin.

 

She couldn't quite put her finger on what was pissing her off so intensely, but she knew it was somehow all Devon's fault, whatever it was. After leaving the nail salon that afternoon, Breanna and Cassandra had headed to the mall where Breanna had proceeded to spend the rest of the day resisting the urge to run off and hide. Why? She didn't know. It was like her friend's very presence made her skin crawl with irritation as the sound of her whiny, nasal voice screeched in her ears like nails on a chalkboard.

 

Cassandra, being her normal self absorbed, shallow self, remained completely, blissfully oblivious to her friend's bad mood for which Breanna was intensely grateful. Cassandra was not a person to easily let go of another's unwillingness to `share' their feelings, and Breanna was definitely not in any frame of mind to `share.'

 

After shopping for two hellish hours, Breanna had finally managed to tear herself from Cassie's side with the excuse of getting ready for the party that evening only to be confronted with a whole new kind of hell when she arrived at home.

 

Her mother.

 

Not even two minutes after she'd walked through the door, her mom had been up her ass about some volunteer bible school thing their church wanted her to be a counselor for. Like she didn't have enough crap to do. And then it was onto the bake sale to raise money for the National Cancer Society, and next Friday's plans for her grandparent's fiftieth anniversary, etc… etc… The list just went on and on.

 

Breanna didn't think her mom realized how many things she had to deal with on a daily basis, either that, or she just got some kind of sick thrill out of driving her daughter into an early grave with the massive amount of demands and activities she piled onto her shoulders. And Breanna, being the non-confrontational person she was, would never put up a fuss about the responsibilities she was asked to deal with. That would be selfish, and God knows Breanna Denton was never allowed to have anything just for herself.

 

`Oh, I know, you're such a martyr… Poor, perfect Breanna…'

 

`Shut up, I never said I was a martyr. I just wish, for once, I could do something, have something, just for me. Is that really so much to ask for? Isn't it ok to be a little selfish sometimes?'

 

`I suppose. As long as your selfishness doesn't hurt the people around you…'

 

Breanna scowled. `What is that supposed to mean?'

 

`I think you know.'

 

Devon. Breanna wondered if he knew how lucky he was to be able to do and say whatever he wanted without a second thought. She couldn't even imagine that kind of freedom… `I really envy him…' she thought to herself wistfully.

 

`I think you might maybe feel a little more than just envy for him,' her inner voice remarked sarcastically.

 

`This subject is really getting tired.'

 

`Whatever. You know I'm right…'

 

“Enough,” she grumbled under her breath as she pushed herself from the padded seat and headed in the direction of her closet. Pulling on a pair of very short khaki shorts and a brown halter top over her beige colored bikini, Breanna appraised her reflection in the mirror with a small smile of satisfaction. The outfit accented and displayed all of her dips and curves, and the muted colors brought out the warm, honey hues of her tanned skin. The overall effect assured that certain eyes would have no choice but to stray in her direction…

 

`And who's eyes would that be?'

 

`Devon's of course. It'll drive him crazy to see and not be able to touch,' Breanna grinned as she pulled her hair up into a messy knot on the back of her head. Just the idea of tormenting that arrogant son of a bitch was enough to brighten her sour mood and bring a smile to her lips.

 

Though she joyfully contemplated all the ways she intended to drive Devon Pierce insane that night, Breanna refused to even think about the disturbing questions tiptoeing on the outer edges of her thoughts. Such as…

 

Why did he all of a sudden have the power to dictate her moods?

 

What was up with that strange, almost sad look he had on his face this afternoon at the nail place?

 

And the most disconcerting one of all…

 

`Why did she care?'

 

 

oOoOoOoOoOo

 

 

“Breanna! Brent! Hey! Over here!”

 

Flashing Cassandra a brilliant smile, Breanna waved and made her way through the throng of people to where her friend was sitting with Justin and Devon on the patio near the pool. Sabrina, Elizabeth, and Becca were lounging a few feet away on oversized beach towels in the waning afternoon sunlight, enjoying the admiring male eyes they were drawing in their direction due to their skimpy swimming attire.

 

“Hey guys!” she chirped brightly, slinging an arm around Brent's waist and deliberately ignoring Devon.

 

“What took you two so long? Get `lost?” Justin asked, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. Punching Justin in the shoulder, Brent chuckled and pulled Breanna closer against his side.

 

“No, you pervert, we didn't get `lost.' We were late because my car wouldn't start and I had to convince my dad to let me take his. You know how he is.”

 

Justin nodded. “Yeah, I know. What did he let you take? The two seater?”

 

“Uh-huh, along with the threat of a long, painful death at his hands if any harm comes to his precious baby,” Brent replied with a shake of his head.

 

“Oh, yeah! Speaking of cars, you gotta come see Tommy's. His parents bought him a fucking Jag as a graduation present!” Justin exclaimed excitedly as Cassandra scowled at him in irritation.

 

Breanna sighed. `Oh sweet Jesus, here they go…'

 

“Must you say that word around me, you senseless oaf?” she asked, narrowing her eyes menacingly when Justin shrugged.

 

“What word?”

 

“You know very well what word, Justin Frances Freemont,” Cassandra hissed angrily at his feigned ignorance. “And I swear to God, if you say it one more time, I'm not talking to you for the rest of the night!”

 

“Fuck?”

 

“Justin!”

 

“Oh chill out, Cassandra, God. What the hell is your problem tonight? You've been a bitch since I picked you up.”

 

Cassandra's brown eyes darkened in anger to the point where they almost appeared black as she rose up to her full five foot, five inches and poked her boyfriend in the chest. “You're my problem! I hate you! Get away from me, go see the stupid car, see if I care!”

 

“Fine, I will!”

 

“Fine!”

 

“Fine!”

 

Resisting the urge to groan, Breanna hid her annoyed expression behind her hand and watched as the irritated couple parted ways. Cassandra stalking her way toward the keg, and Justin shoving through the crowd grumbling something about stupid, inconsiderate bitches who think they're all that.

 

“Are they always like that?” Devon inquired curiously, a look of awe clearly written on his face.

 

Momentarily forgetting her animosity toward him, Breanna exhaled heavily and nodded. “Yup. It wouldn't be a party without those two going at it. Don't worry, they'll be fine in a couple of hours. They can never stay mad at each other too long.”

 

Beside her, Brent nodded in agreement. “She speaks the truth, man. Those two are always at each other's throats. I don't know how they've managed to stay together as long as they have.”

 

“Just lucky, I guess,” Devon snickered.

 

Brent laughed. “Yeah, I guess so! Still, I better go after Justin and make sure he doesn't break any innocent furniture like he did at Sue's party. Her mom was not amused when he punched a hole in their bathroom door.” Pausing for a moment, he looked down and gave Breanna a curious look. “You don't mind do you, Bre?”

 

Forcing a cheerful smile to her lips, Breanna gave him a quick kiss and replied, “Nope. Go ahead, I'll talk to you later.”

 

Still looking a little doubtful, Brent shrugged and conceded. “Alright, if you're sure.” Turning his attention to Devon, he gave him a stern look and said, “Take care of my girlfriend, Pierce. Maybe you can get her to tell you what's going on inside that pretty little head of hers, because I sure can't!”

 

`Oh for the love of…' Breanna's faced flushed with guilty color and she quickly found a spot on the ground to stare at as Devon's husky, rumbling laughter rolled over her like a lover's caress.

 

“It would be my pleasure,” Devon smiled graciously, not missing Breanna reaction or the way she carefully avoided meeting his eyes. `Poor guy, he really has no idea. I almost feel sorry for him…'

 

Devon watched silently as Brent tilted the blushing girl's chin up for a kiss. He remembered what it was like to taste those lips, to feel the soft skin of her cheek under his fingers and he hungered for her like a starving man longed for his next meal.

 

`Almost, but not sorry enough to stay away from his girlfriend, huh?'

 

“Later, Devon!”

 

“See ya,” he mumbled, his eyes finding and locking onto Breanna's irritated lavender stare.

 

“What the hell are you trying to pull, Devon? Are you actually trying to drive me crazy?!”

 

Devon shook his head and gave her an innocent look. “I don't know what you mean.”

 

“Bullshit,” she ground out between clenched teeth, “You know exactly what I'm talking about. Why are you dragging my friends into this?”

 

“Have you ever considered that maybe I'm just trying to meet new people?”

 

Breanna snorted bitterly. “Ha! Try again.”

 

Stepping a little closer, Devon shrugged. “Yeah, you're right. Why would I want to hang out with your shallow, superficial posse? Personally, I don't know how you stand them. The only tolerable one is that boyfriend of yours. Nice guy. You don't deserve him.”

 

All the anger and irritation drained out of her at his simple observation and was replaced with mixed feelings of guilt and concurrence. Breanna visibly slumped as Devon watched her emotional turmoil with a look of cool indifference far from the elation he felt rising within him.

 

`He's right, ya know. About your friends. About Brent. You really don't deserve him.'

 

`I know.'

 

“Aren't you tired of playing games, Breanna? Tired of pretending all the damn time? Don't you ever just want to cut loose and have some fun?”

 

`Oh God, more than you know…'

 

“Why do you care?” Breanna asked suddenly, her eyes searching his for an answer to the uneasy feelings he so effortlessly stirred inside of her.

 

“Because I have a proposition for you, Miss Denton. An arrangement that will benefit us both. Interested?”

 

“Do I have a choice?”

 

“You always have a choice.”

 

“Fine then, no. I'm not interested.”

 

“Too bad, I'm going to tell you anyway.”

 

Breanna smirked. “I thought you said I had a choice?”

 

“Yes, but I never said I would respect that choice, now did I?”

 

“You're such a bastard.”

 

“Didn't stop you from hopping into bed with me,” he shot back, chuckling when Breanna blushed furiously and smacked him in the arm.

 

“What kind of `proposition,' Devon?”

 

“An arrangement of sorts. A way for you to escape from your bland, monotonous life and actually be yourself instead of a walking, talking Barbie doll, and a way for me to get through the school year without going completely insane with boredom.”

 

“No.”

 

“Why?” Devon countered as he watched Breanna wring her hands together nervously.

 

“Are you serious? Why? I can't believe we're having this conversation again! You know why, Devon! I have a life, friends!

 

“Both of which bore you silly. Half of your problem is that you care too much about what other people want, what other people need and not nearly enough about what you want and need. I'm offering you the opportunity to explore that.”

 

“What if they find out?”

 

“They won't,” he declared confidentially.

 

“I have a boyfriend,” she whispered, her voice holding a pleading quality that spoke to his heart.

 

`What exactly is she pleading for? What is it that she wants me to say? To do? Am I ready the consequences of an affair of this kind of multitude?'

 

“His touch will never make you feel the way mine does. Don't even try to deny it, I can see it in your eyes.”

 

Breanna tore her gaze away from him and looked at the people around her. Same old party, same old crowd, doing the same old things. Nothing ever changed. Nothing ever made her heart race with excitement, with anticipation. Nothing really made her feel much of anything at all.

 

Except for him.

 

`I just wanna feel…'

 

“We can have fun, Breanna. You and me. We can help one another.”

 

`But…'

 

“Nobody has to know. This can be something just for you. Something all your own.”

 

Startled violet eyes met amber as Breanna sucked in a shaky breath and opened her mouth to respond only to be cut of by a loud, ominous rumbling and the pitter patter of rain hitting the pavement of the patio. Sprinkling quickly turning into a torrential downpour, Breanna squealed and grabbed for her purse as Devon growled in frustration.

 

“Come on,” he yelled above the noise of laughing, screaming people hurrying to find cover from the rain. “Let's get out of here!”

 

Tugging on her hand, Devon pulled Breanna through the crowd and onto the street toward the dry sanctuary of his car.

 

“Breanna!”

 

Spinning around, Breanna encountered a pair of curious hazel eyes and the drunken, staggering form of her best friend. “Is she ok?”

 

Brent shook his head. “Not really. She had a little too much to drink, her and Justin got into another fight, and he bailed. I gotta take her home. Are you gonna get a ride with Devon, because I only have two seats?”

 

“Um… Yeah, I guess.”

 

“Ok, call me later,” he called back to her as he half dragged, half carried a giggling Cassandra to his car.

 

A bolt of lightening snapping her out of her stupor, Breanna jumped and ran behind Devon. Pulling the door shut, Breanna wrapped her arms around herself and brought her knees up to her chest.

 

“Fun party,” Devon muttered as he pushed his wet, sopping hair from his eyes. “Are you ok?”

 

Surprised that he cared, Breanna almost didn't answer him. “No. No, I'm not ok. I don't think I've been `ok' for a very long time.”

 

“Anything I can do to help?”

 

Breanna raised a tentative hand to his damp cheek and tucked a lock of his dripping hair behind his ear. “Yeah, I think maybe you can.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

*~~~~A/N~~~~*

 

 

 

 

 

How much do you guys hate me? -cowers from her angry readers- I am sooooooooooo sorry for the MASSIVE delay, you guys. It really couldn't be helped. This last week has been so insane… My birthday was Monday (YAY! I'm 20 now!) and I had friends and family over pretty much every day until yesterday so I just didn't have time to sit down and write. I hope you liked the chapter! It took forever to write!

 

Speaking of writing, I have exciting news! :o) Horse-Glass and I are planning on co-writing a fic after I finish Falling For You. The plot is still in its preliminary stages, but I think it's going to be a lot of fun. Horse-Glass has a brief summary on his profile page on Fiction Press if you'd like to check it out. While you're there, you should take a look at his story Buckley and his plans for his own upcoming fics. He's sure not to disappoint!

 

Alrighty, as always, thank you so much to all my readers and reviewers!!! I love you guys!!! I'll try and get a chapter out to you tomorrow, but I work the evil midnight shift at the restaurant tonight, so I make no guarantees. Oh, and sorry for any spelling/grammar mistakes. I didn't proof read very thoroughly. (Bad author!) Tchao for now!

 

 

 

 

 

 

*~~Media Miner Reviewers~~*

 

 

 

 

 

fireflyskies: Awww, thank you! I'm sure your stories are really good, too! I'll be sure and check them out, ok? What kind of stories do you usually read? Thanks for the review!

 

 

Oensaiga: Thank you, I really appreciate the feedback. :o) I hope you'll continue to read and enjoy. Falling For You is far from over…

 

 

 

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LT Stryffe: Thanks, I guess I'm just lucky like that. lol Though this chap did take longer than usual… Sorry to hear about your sucky school system. Good thing summer's here, huh? :o) Thanks for reading chic, I always look forward to your reviews!

 

 

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Next Chapter: Cutting Lose