I. It Begins in Turtle Creek and Everything Burns
Virginia twirled her grandmother's silver pendant between her slim fingers, cursing herself under her breath, wondering how she would tell Lauren about her betrayal. The pendant hung from her neck, dangling between her breasts, a gift from her dead grandmother, and Virginia had a habit of playing with it whenever she got anxious. She felt as though she took some refuge, some comfort from her grandmother. Her grandmother's voice softly calmed her, guided her through whatever hardship lay before her. Virginia hoped that today would prove no different. But it was going to be very hard.
Her grandmother certainly wouldn't have approved of what Virginia had done.
Upon touching the pendant, her mind immediately turned to how it felt slapping against her breasts while Christian Cross took her from behind, and Virginia's cheeks burned a bright red.
She hadn't meant for anything to happen. It just did. Not that she'd expect Lauren to understand nor forgive her, at least not at first. Virginia had committed the grievest sin one could upon a friend, short of murder.
At the same time, Virginia felt a sickening thrill at the thought of what she'd done with Cross. It had been wrong, and partly, that was what had made it so exciting. She hated herself for knowing that if the opportunity presented itself yet again, she would not hesitate to take it. Cross was a bastard, but the bastard knew how to fuck.
Virginia hated herself for having such a thought.
"Ginnie?" Lauren asked from behind her, startling Virginia almost out of her riding boots.
"Laurie! Hey, thanks for meeting me," Virginia replied, her eyes fluttering and her heart beating rapidly in her chest, pressing against her sternum. She felt as though she might explode from the pressure; and upon seeing her friend, Virginia loathed herself for what she had done.
"Did I startle you?" Lauren said with a sly smile.
"A bit," Virginia replied, trying to match Lauren's smile with one of her own but failing.
"What's with all the secrecy? Secret meetings in the woods, intrigue and all this?" Lauren said, leaning against a tree. A shaft of sunlight speared Lauren's hair with a warm amber glow. Lauren's beauty struck Virginia more than ever, and Virginia knew that her jealousy partially had made her do what she had done with Cross.
"I've done something horrible. And you'll probably hate me for the rest of your days because of it, but I need to tell you because you're my friend and it hurts to keep this bottled up inside," Virginia babbled, twirling her silver pendant between her trembling fingers. Virginia felt tears seeping into her eyes and leaking over across her cheeks.
"Oh, shit. What is it?" Lauren said, walking over and putting her arms around Virginia's frail shoulders. Lauren pressed her face against Virginia's, feeling the wet tears and making them her own.
Virginia opened her mouth, and before she could stop, it all came tumbling out.
***
The previous afternoon, Christian Cross approached her on the walk home from town, smiling his perfect smile. He stepped in front of her, blocking the path. Birds twittered in the trees, and Virginia fluttered her eyes as her heart skipped a beat. The appearance of Cross was an unexpected but far from unwelcome surprise.
"Well, if it isn't Miss Virginia Hart. Looks like you could do with some help," Christian said, motioning to the armload of books that Virginia carried. His sparkling blues eyes dazzled her with their clarity.
Virginia playfully turned her nose up at him.
"I'm doing quite fine, myself, thank you," she said. Virginia attempted to walk around him, but Christian stopped her with one strong arm.
"I wouldn't be doing my gentlemanly duty if I didn't help you carry your books at the very least," Cross said, pulling them away from Virginia's grip before she could protest, not that she planned on protesting. On the other hand, she basked in the attention that Cross gave her. She wished that it would happen more often, however unlikely since things seemed to be getting more and more serious between him and her best friend.
"Since when have you ever been a gentleman, Christian Cross? I've heard the stories, and I'm not as naive as some," she said with a coy expression, pressing her lips together, and allowed Cross to fall into step beside her.
"And what's that supposed to mean?" Cross asked in a mock-hurt voice. He cocked an eyebrow at her, and Virginia could feel her heart beating against her chest. He had the face of a Greek god, perhaps Zeus or Hermes; they had just studied mythology at the school much to the disdain of her parents, devout Christians. Funny how a boy could have such an effect on her, even when Virginia knew that he was unattainable. Or was he?
Something about the way Christian was looking at her made Virginia wonder.
"It means I know you're no gentleman, so there's no need to try and prove otherwise," Virginia retorted, forcing herself to keep looking straight ahead. She didn't want to show how interested she was; better to let Cross make all the moves. Not that she thought he would. Or hoped he would.
"Well, that's good to know. No reason to put up any front for you. As long as Lauren still thinks I'm a gentleman. And you wouldn't inform her otherwise, would you?" Cross said, his arm brushing against her. Virginia swallowed. She felt strangely lightheaded. All because of one boy? Ridiculous!
"A good friend keeps no secrets," Virginia replied. The two of them walked a few steps without saying anything. A breeze stirred the tops of the trees, and a few leaves flittered from the limbs and drifted towards them like dying dreams.
"Well, let's think. What can I do to ensure you keep your mouth solidly shut?" Cross said, breaking the momentary silence. A fallen leaf crunched under Christian's boot. Virginia licked her lips and shrugged.
"Fuck me?" she said and turned to look him in the eyes. She meant it as a joke, or at least she thought she did. Or so she told herself. The main thing is that she said it and left herself open to what happened next because of her words and her growing lust. Christian laughed.
Everything that happened next was a haze.
Cross pulled her off the dirt road and into the woods, far enough to not be seen by a passerby. Virginia's pulse drummed in her ears. And then his hands were all over her, and she ran her hands all over him, feeling his tight muscles bulging underneath his shirt. She wondered if Lauren touched them the same way Virginia did now, her heart hammering in her chest.
