Pieces of Lies (2 page)

Frustrated, I surveyed the apartment from the front door. Somehow I thought the boxes would magically appear if I stared hard enough into the grand openness that was mine.

The apartment I was given still felt a little extravagant for my taste. I was still adjusting to the look and feel of it since moving in. In opening my front door, you were greeted by beautiful hardwood floors that led directly into an open kitchen and a floating kitchen table top which was covered in black and white speckled marble. There were bright white kitchen cabinets, with glass paneling that were set both high along the walls, and low around the gas stove top and oven. The hardwood floors from the kitchen stretched in length, leading to the lounge, which then shifted into a large cream carpeted area. There were two black leather sofas placed directly behind a glass-topped coffee table in perfect symmetry with the large flat screen that hung on the wall. Running from the kitchen next to the lounge area, was a long hallway which led to two bedrooms and a bathroom. There was also a small balcony off the lounge area which overlooked the park across the road and the lake on the other side.

I only needed a third of the space my home provided me, and even though I loved the monochromatic coloring contrasted with the hardwood floors and modern decor, I was still unable to feel comfortable that I had been bestowed such a luxurious gift. It was a gift stemming from guilt, but a gift nonetheless, and yet another reminder of what I had to painfully leave behind in New York.

Turning back to my hunt, I went straight to my main bedroom and into my walk-in robe. I had a reasonably good selection of high-end designer clothes that I had accumulated over the years from a generous allowance, but I wanted something that would make Josh’s blood boil in heated admiration and take me in his arms the moment he saw me. I was sure this would be accomplished by finding those missing boxes and wearing their contents. Searching amongst my many drawers, I still couldn’t place the boxes. 

Damn it!

Suddenly a light bulb went off in my head, and I ran across to the other side of my bedroom. Relief swept over me as I dragged them out from under my four-post, king-sized bed. Opening them both, I was impressed. In one of the boxes, wrapped in delicate white tissue paper, was a beautiful black clingy floor length gown which was covered head to toe in the most beautiful black rhinestones I had ever seen.
Elie Saab
the tag read, my favorite designer.
Thank you!
The other was another equally stunning long, fitted dress, but it was red and beaded, with a square neckline and cap sleeves. They were choices sent to me for the intention of a family wedding I had to attend in a couple of months.

For a moment, I wondered if Pierra had a hand in choosing these as I was certain she knew me well enough to know the styles and designers I loved, or perhaps it was yet another new woman in my father’s life. “
Don’t think about that now
”, the little voice in my head told me. It would just spoil my cheerful mood and send me into a state of melancholy, and that was the last place I wanted my mind going tonight.

Not dwelling on my thoughts, I decided that both dresses were perfect for the evening, but I settled on the black rhinestone dress and paired it with very expensive black strappy designer heels that were already part of my wardrobe. After showering, I applied a thin amount of makeup and accentuated my overly big dark brown eyes with the blackest of black, eye liner and mascara. I added very natural colored blush and lipstick, and let my long, glossy black hair, fall loosely around my shoulders, using a curling iron to bring out my hair’s natural waves. I was very pleased with my effort and secretly hoped Josh would be verbose in his approval.

Yes, I had decided. Tonight was the night I was going to let Josh Hollows kiss me. Things had been different since I arrived at McLaren University. Our friendship didn’t feel like friendship anymore. There was energy between us that constantly felt charged and because I had known Josh most of my life, I trusted the possibility of exploring it further. He had made his intentions pretty obvious since our reconciliation, but didn’t push further until he saw I had recovered from my last relationship. It had taken many years for us,
or perhaps just me
, to be open to the idea of taking our friendship to the next level, and now, here at McLaren, we finally had no obstacles standing in our way.

Josh was very prompt arriving at eight. I was still putting on the finishing touches to my lipstick when he walked into my apartment. “Sorry, I’ll only be one more minute Josh,” I called out to him as I heard the front door shut.

“I’m going to park on the sofa while you finish, alright,” Josh yelled down the hallway. As I walked out of my bedroom, I could see the back of Josh’s head as he sat comfortably on the sofa, waiting for me to make an appearance. From behind, his knee was jerked out to the side and it was pulsing up and down as he waited, like someone with a nervous tick
. 

I wonder if he is as excited about this date as I am.
 

In a moment of impulse, I walked up behind him, moved my hand along his shoulders, and quickly walked around to the front of the sofa and took a seat on his lap, taking him by complete surprise. His eyes glowed in excitement. I frowned a little when I saw his face, “Oh you shaved your stubble. You know how much I liked it.” I rubbed his clean-shaven jaw. He closed his eyes as I ran my hand up and down his cheek in smooth firm movements. He really was unbelievably handsome with those dreamy green eyes and rugged good looks.

“You know I’ll grow it back for you,” he said, grabbing my hand and holding it as it rubbed along the skin on his face. He opened his eyes after I had rubbed him, desire now evident in his eyes. My breasts swelled as I took in that hungry look.
Oh my!
I liked that Josh was always so affected around me, and I noticed it more now because I was paying attention to the responses from his body, which I also felt leaning up on my hip. Josh cleared his throat, a little uncomfortable that I had brought him to attention. 

Why hello Mr. Hollows!

He helped me up so we were both standing, facing each other. Awkwardly he adjusted himself, his eyes darting across the room. I took a minute to take in his appearance. He was dressed in a black designer tux, looking dashing with his lightly tousled hair brushed back and he had on shiny black dress shoes. I knew that he probably had been loaned his tux, but I wasn’t about to remind him of his money situation or lack thereof. It was a sore point and the main reason he had agreed to try and join the Lappell.

He finally returned to looking back at me, staring into my eyes sweetly as he often did, and then he looked down at my dress. “Jesus Christ Norah, you look, I mean, you look, I mean,” Josh took a deep breath.

“Well, I hope I look good enough to be a Stepford wife?”

Josh composed himself from his staggered breathing; “You look un-bel-ievable.” 

He then reached across to me and held my hands. My heart began racing, and suddenly, I was aware of the sensation I was having inside. It felt electric and thrilling, hot and pulsating, and I wanted more.

His hands let go of mine but then slid up my arms, grazing the skin as they travelled up to my shoulders and finally coming to rest around my neck. “Norah.” Josh breathed my name, making it sound like pure want and need. It rolled off his tongue so smoothly and I felt my thighs twitch by how much I enjoyed him saying my name like that. He took a step forward, reaching out and cupping my cheek in his hand, using his thumb to smooth the skin near my mouth. I licked my lips and pulled him a little closer, clearly directing him that he was more than welcome to continue. As his face began to draw close to mine, my hands gripped onto his back, driven by excitement. 

This was it, our first kiss, the moment had arrived.

I watched as his lips moved towards my lips, and I began to close my eyes as we were about to take the next step, crossing the line over from friendship to something more.
So much more
. I was ready and I wanted it. My heart was bracing for an explosion of fireworks that I believed were imminent when…

“Brrrrrrrrrriiiiiiiiiiiiiing!” Josh’s cell phone sliced through the air with its shrilling sound and we let go of each other before our lips could meet. Immediately we both jumped back, startled by the intrusive noise. 

Fuck cell phones!

Josh answered his phone, breathing raggedly as he did. “Yes, yes, we are on our way. Yes, I’m bringing Norah. Yes, Norah. I know, I know. OK, OK, alright!” He slammed his cell closed, obviously annoyed by the disruption.

“They know who I am?” I asked curiously.

“Well of course, they know everything. I had to put your name and some details on a list before you can come to an event like this and...”

I cut him off, “They know everything?” I stared at Josh and he thought back to his words,

“Oh no, of course not everything. C’mon let’s go.”

He put his arm on the small of my back and ushered me out of my apartment. We took the elevator down to a limo that was waiting in the car park. “We all have to take these. Don’t ask.” Josh started helping me into the long black sleek limousine. As we both got comfortable sitting side by side in the rear of the limo, I relaxed back into Josh’s chest, enjoying the peace and quiet of the confined cool space. My body tingled being in Josh’s arms, and as if sensing my thoughts, Josh ran his fingers up and down my thigh, skimming the jeweled embellishments on my dress. I closed my eyes, enjoying the fact I was letting him touch me, knowing that if he tried to kiss me again tonight that I would let him. I let out a satisfied sigh in hopeful anticipation.

“I should tell you that I used ‘Ross’ like on your transfer papers.” Josh stopped stroking my thigh and waited for me to respond.

“Good thinking,” I said, and closed my eyes, allowing the silence and the closeness of our bodies to continue to gain intensity and desire. 

With Josh, I never felt the need to fill in the silences. Our friendship was always comfortable enough that we could allow the quiet to be just another easy conversation for us. I always loved that dimension in our bond, no need to make small talk. It was just another reason I was excited to move our relationship forward.

As his hand stopped to rest on my lap, I began to think again about our reunion earlier this month. I had transferred from NYU a few weeks back to the township of Morewell, a place not too far from Boston, so I could attend McLaren University with Josh. I had known Josh since I was thirteen, and we had never lost touch through the years, keeping a constant state of electronic togetherness through text, email and Skype. 

Josh had never returned to New York after he left for college. When we were nineteen, Josh lost his parents in a violent mugging, and since the funeral, he refused to return to the city, not even to see me. I had begged him to return, time and time again, offering him countless airline tickets, but he always turned them down. I think coming back to New York would have been too painful for him. He just couldn’t bear to be in the same place that had the memories of his parents and former wealth.

Sadly for Josh, they also had not fared well during the global financial crisis, and after the estate was settled, Josh was left with barely enough money for college. It was a huge step down after growing up on Park Avenue. Hence, I knew how important is was for Josh to get into the Lappell. It was an opportunity to regain the lifestyle he was once so accustomed to. Josh certainly wasn't a snob, but he did miss the life that money had provided him growing up, and even as a teenager, Josh was always ambitious.

The limo started to pull into a large gated estate. There were towering cherry blossom trees which lined the long expansive driveway, and there were already a number of black limos heading down the entrance towards the very grand and well lit mansion. “Wow, it really is everything you would expect.” My face pushed up against the glass window of the limo to peer out. The massive white pillared mansion glowed brightly in the distance.

“You aren’t feeling overwhelmed are you?” Josh asked, looking more nervous as we reached the end of the driveway.

“Me, are you serious? This should be quite a night, don’t you think?” I was really excited to be doing this. I loved new kinds of social settings and I couldn’t think of anything more exciting than a night out at a mysterious secret society and of course, being on a date with Josh. I couldn’t have been happier. My heart danced again at the thought of kissing Josh tonight, and I shifted a little closer to him as I let my imagination run wild.

“Ah Norah, perhaps I should also tell you something else about this party. Look, you know how much I need to be accepted into the Lappell, what it means to me and my future, and well, tonight, we needed to bring...”

I was so frustrated at his continuous insecurity about my behavior, that I abruptly moved away from him, cutting him off. “Look Josh, you have nothing to worry about OK, I’ll do you proud,” and before Josh could utter another word, the limo door swung open.

Josh tried to grab my arm again as we both exited the vehicle but missed. I spun in agitation to look at why he was desperately trying to hold me back. “I really do need to talk to you before we go in there Norah. There are things that you need to know, and there are things I need to say about how I feel.”

I glared at him. “You wait seconds before we walk through the door to have a deep and meaningful. I don’t think so Joshua.” 

I quickened my pace until I was at the front door, which was opened by an elegantly dressed servant. Josh quickly caught up to me and held my hand. “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do, OK Norah,” Josh whispered into my ear and suddenly alarm bells went off in my head. I opened my mouth, ready to fire a million questions at him about what he meant by that comment, when a very tall, handsome blond guy in an impeccably fitted tuxedo stepped in front of us, stopping us in our tracks. My heart fluttered for a brief moment at the sight of his gorgeous appearance.