Song of the Chapter is
Cherry by Lana Del Rey

-11-
-Alishka Malhotra-
-Past-

________

Shillòk Motel
31 October, 2019
10:45 pm

In life, if there's one thing that's worth rooting for, it's lust.

Even now I could run my tongue against the back of my teeth and still taste the taste of cigarettes and a sweet bourbon drink. I'd be lying if I said I didn't love the aftertaste of each every kiss that he granted me.

He brushed his nose against mine and ran his tongue along my rosy lips before pressing our mouths together. He tasted like nicotine and static dopamine and left me reminiscing the bittersweet taste of vintage vodka that I had stolen from dad's cellar before sneaking out. He is warm, sweet and utterly gentle. The warmth flowed down my throat, through my heart and bones. He kisses me, soft and tentative. His fingers trace the curve of my cheekbones. I kiss him until I feel numb.

He had a weird effect on me. Unlike any other guy, he was the one who made melt into a soft putty in his hands.

He was all trouble. There was no denying that. But that alone was the only thing that made me feel things I never felt with anyone, with him.

And then I hear the ringing of his phone in my ears and an immediate frown appears in my face.

He gently scoots away from me, and sits at the edge of the bed, giving me his back. And suddenly the bed doesn't feel comfortable anymore. I feel cold.

He talks to someone; someone whom I'm not supposed to know, in a gentle tone, almost as if he doesn't want the other person to know he's with me . Or doesn't want me to know who he's talking to.

He cuts the call abruptly after mumbling some curses under his breath. I sit up, beside him.

"You need to leave , don't you?" I ask condescendingly.

He gives me a curt nod and gets up.

" Stay," I say, my voice a pathetic plea. " Just a little bit longer."

I sound like Avinash , when he begs for me to stay for the night at his house, like I don't know what his intentions are. Whiny , pathetic, childish. He doesn't ever get the hint that I'm not interested in him.

Not like my best friend at least.

" I can't, you know that." He says, his muscles tensing.

" It's not enough." I whisper.

" Oh baby, it's never going to be enough for you."

I pout my lips." That's not fair."

He sighs and turns to me. " Darling after today, everything's going to be different." He says, softly looking into my eyes. " It'll just be us. No more hiding."

I nod against the palm of his hand, the warmth of his touch flooding my veins. The thought of running away with him makes me dizzy with euphoria. He will take me across this goddamn town, to the other side of the world.

He will show me the world with the whispered promise of paradise.

I want more of him, all of him, and of I can get that, I'll gladly oblige.

But still, there's a nagging feeling in my chest that refuses to go away. "Shouldn't I tell someone? I mean, if I just disappear like this...it could raise suspicions. You should know -"

" We've been over this, Alishka." He slides his hand away from my cheek. There's something so exotic about the way he calls my name.  "We can't risk anyone knowing about us here. Can you imagine the wrath your family will unleash if they got to know the truth?"

I roll my eyes at that. He was right. My family just wouldn't understand.

"Promise me. It'll only be us. Just you and I." I say, my voice as pathetic as Avinash." Promise me it'll be exactly what I'm looking for."

" I promise." He says, a grin forming on his face.

" In the meantime, you're going to be crashing at your school tonight with the whole scooby doo gang, right? " He asks, buttoning his shirt.

" Yeah."

" And you're gonna do exactly as we planned." He orders, rolling his sleeves. " Have you got the thing?"

I nod , pulling out the small packet of white powder from my pocket.

" Do this correct. I'll take care of the rest." He says and I nod.

" Around 2 o'clock , you're going to be all mine darling. My world will change everything in yours," he says , walking around the bed until he's in front of me. He gently taps on the little bruise on my neck. " We'll have to do something about this."

" Oh don't worry about that. I'm good at hiding them." I state.

He nods and stands up. " Text me when you're ready to leave."

" Actually, I'd be going somewhere before that so,....text you when you get there?" I ask.

He nods and bends down. Cupping my chin, he moves it up,so I can meet his gaze. Our lips press together, gentle and sweet. I taste myself on his lips, mingled together with some cigarette residue.

" I'll be waiting at the back of the football ground." he whispers against my lips, a seductive breath that holds a promise.

As he walks away, so does the smell of aftershave and bourbon. The room turns cold in an instant. He opens the door, the number six flashing in all its red shine, and there's a moment of hesitation. It vanishes soon, and so does his presence.

I straighten my posture and get off the bed. Grabbing my violet linen scarf, I wrap it around me and stare at myself and sigh.

This was surely going to be a long night.