Millie's chirpiness couldn't bring Renata out of her foul mood, thanks to a particular blondie. As she poked her lunch, chicken fajitas with some rice, Renata was confused by her own feelings about Lyle. Why was she slightly excited at the sight of him? She knew better finally, after all this time. Lyle was playing with her head. He couldn't possibly want to be with her, exclusively. As much as she wanted to be his girl, she still had some sense in her. Also, her father's unmistakable glare this morning was enough to warn her.
Jackie came smiling at Millie and Renata. "Hi, Ren. Thanks for the chance." She took the seat next to her girlfriend.
"No prob. When is the audition? Sorry, I can't give you any guarantee you will get chosen."
Jackie nodded; she understood that what Renata could give her was only a chance. The audition will be held in New York this Saturday. Renata wished she could see it, but that would be a hassle.
Seeing Millie and Jackie in their own bubble, Renata chuckled and excused herself. Fresh air, even a cold one, was what she needed. Hence she roamed and roamed aimlessly, until someone grabbed and dragged her. "Lyle, it hurts. Stop... will you....aww..." But he just tightened his grip on her wrist.
He marched through the wood and eventually pinned her against a big red oak tree; both of her hands were secured to the top of her head. "I see my girl is close to another boy, and none other than our Student President." A pair of cold blue eyes were staring daggers at Renata.
"I'm.not.your.girl, Lyle. I have never agreed to be yours, as far as I can remember. Wilson was a good friend; he helped me in my studies. Not that is any of your business. Can you let me go now? " Renata glared back at him as she wrenched her wrist to no avail.
"I don't quite understand you. A few weeks ago, I'm sure you were attracted to me," he said, pausing only to see her pupils dilate. "No, even now, you still like me. What is your problem? Are you playing hard to get?"
"Can people change their feelings? Maybe I was interested in you, but now, I'm just not. OK?" Renata looked at him defiantly and wriggled her wrist; this time, Lyle let her go.
Renata quickly walked past him, but he said, "Do you think you, or I, can be friends with people beneath us?"
If only she could be faster, her slap would have landed on his face. Unfortunately, his hand was faster. "Don't talk like that about Wilson!! He is a very good friend of mine!! People are born equal; no one is higher than the other!! Get over yourself!!" Too bad her glare couldn't do any damage to this despicable human being.
Lyle smirked at her: "You are naive, Rabbit. Haven't I told you so? Do you know who Wilson is? His parents will soon be divorced; his father earns $200k a year as a CFO in a tech company, and his mother is just an architectural photographer who makes less than $100k annually. Why do you think he is nice to you? So he can make use of you, Rabbit. He's just unwanted baggage for his parents. Can't you imagine what having you as his 'Friend' will do to his bleak future?" Lyle paused for a brief moment to jolt her. "This is the reality, Rabbit. No one gets close to us without wanting something from us in return. Get over yourself."
"Wilson is not like that, not at all!! Everyone is not the same; some are jerks, some are just good people. My friends are good people; they would never treat me like that. Especially Wilson." Renata's anger was flaring.
Lyle, on the other hand, handled her rage with a breeze. "Are you trying to convince me or yourself? If you think not everyone wants something from us, then why did you hide who you are before? Didn't you do that because you wanted to avoid people taking advantage of you?"
Renata had no words to retaliate against Lyle. It was true, she hid her identity for those very reasons. However, not in a million years could she ever believe that Wilson would use her eventually.
"Rabbit, remember this: Everyone will want something from us," Lyle said, staring intently at her as she gulped unconsciously. "Every.Single.One.of.Them. Maybe not now, but someday they will. Since that's for certain, they also have to give us something in return. This is how we get their obedience, to do our bidding. Do you understand, Rabbit?"
Lyle released his grip on Renata and started to leave. But Renata spoke before he got too far: "I feel sorry for you if you have no genuine friends around you. But probably you are also at fault; only a fake friend could be bought." Lyle stopped to face her and laughed out loud.
"Rabbit, someday your naiveté will bite you. Though I like this side of yours." Lyle caressed her cheek as he stared at her fondly. "It's fine if you want many boys to play with; just don't get too attached. Only your heart, body, and soul will always belong to me, as I yours." He kissed her knuckles lovingly as his gaze lingered on her eyes.
It felt like a tennis ball caught in her throat; Renata couldn't find her voice. And like an idiot moth drawn to a flame, she let him kiss her. Not only that, she kissed him back.
First, Lyle kissed her tentatively, as if he were gauging her reaction. But when Renata let him play with her tongue, he knew he had won. She could taste the fervor in his relentless kiss. He demanded more and more, and she couldn't resist. Both her hands were pinned with one of his hands, while his other hand roamed across her body. Her jaws, her ears, her neck, and stop at her chest. He lightly fondled her chest, drawing a gasp and moan from her. A moan that he gladly swallowed. Renata had accidentally bitten his lower lips, escalating his ferocity. His lips let hers go, and he went down to her neck, biting and sucking. Soon, one of his hands reached under her clothes after releasing her hands; he wanted to touch the smooth skin on her chest, while the other hand caressed the back of her thigh, up until he rested in between her thighs.
Renata was frightened by the sudden progress; she immediately reached for his hand under her skirt with both hands. Lyle could see the fear in her eyes, so he released her. "I'm sorry; I always get carried away around you. What have you done to me, Little Rabbit?" He rested his head on her forehead. "Let's go back." He intertwined their fingers and pulled her close behind him.
A crestfallen look plastered on a boy's face as he saw their tryst from afar. Renata might not have noticed Wilson, but Lyle was conscious of his presence all this time. Walking away from the woods, Lyle grinned as he got what he wanted.