•   •   •

that one night
by Yashlynn Amore Penrose

•   •   •

It was only for that one night.

Or at least it was supposed to be only for that one night. But I couldn't help myself. Everything about it drew me out of bed every night. The music travelled through my open window, the promise of fun tempted me, the thrill of underage drinking dared me, the smell of freedom beckoned me and of course, my heart pulled me to him.

His dark unruly hair and his cocoa skin painted him as my tall, dark, handsome stranger. His intelligent dark eyes which looked like a never ending abyss only added to his allure.

I remember the first time I laid my eyes on him. That was the day I laid my claim on him. I had found my Prince Charming in him and I wasn't about to let him go.

It was the night I was supposed to be spending at my best friend's house for an innocent sleepover where we were supposed to eat, watch horror movies we were too young for and talk about boys who didn't even know we existed. Unfortunately, that night became my first night of attending an illegal rave.

•   •   •

I heard a rustling sound. It wasn't the sound of leaves moving with the air. It was more like skirts brushing on a pair of legs.

I peeked open an eye and saw Aubrey by her mirror, applying her mother's ruby red lipstick. That wasn't the only thing she stole from Mrs. Davidson. She was wearing a red miniskirt with a white V-neck sweater that plunged a little too much for a teenage girl. A pair of stiletto hills completed her inappropriate look.

"Aubrey?"

She froze then turned around with an exasperated look. "You weren't supposed to wake up until the smell of my mother's bacon greeted you in the morning."

I ignored her sentence. "Where are you going, dressed like that?"

She must have detected the tone of disapproval in my voice because her face turned sour.

"The reason why I sneak out is because I don't want to hear my mother's lecture about how my young impressionable mind thinks it's alright to attend raves where there are no boundaries even though it is not. Spare me the lecture. You are my best friend, not my mother," she said icily.

Her words stung but I didn't show it on my face. "I am not your mother. Which is why I'm asking you to bring me along."

Her mouth fell open. "You, Miss Goody Two Shoes who wouldn't even drink milk straight out of a carton, wants to go to a rave?"

My heart was thumping like a rabbit on a sugar rush and my brain was giving out alarm signals but I ignored it and nodded.

Aubrey grinned so widely that her lower lip split and a drop on blood trickled down her chin. She simply licked it off and beckoned me to approach her.

I stood up shakily and let my bare feet pad on the cold wooden floorboards. I bit my lip to prevent Aubrey from noticing just how much my teeth was chattering by just the thought of sneaking out in the middle of the night.

Aubrey pulled out a short, black sequined dress from a secret compartment in her drawer and dressed me up in it. After adding a black choker and the same stolen lipstick she used, she whisked me off into the forbidden.

•   •   •

"Jordan."

I practically jumped out of my skin when I heard a voice in my ear. It didn't help that the lips which uttered the words brushed on my ear. I turned to my right and glared at a laughing Aubrey.

She wiped her tears of laughter and said, "You look like you've seen a ghost."

I continued glaring at her. "Well, no one asked you to give me a scare."

"It was just a name," she retorted. "It wasn't like I muttered an ancient incantation into your ear."

"Whose name is it anyway?"

"That cute, shy boy you have a crush on. His name is Jordan," she said, tilting her beer bottle in his direction.

"I don't have a crush on him!"

"Liar, liar, pants on fire. Just go and talk to him already! You have been eyeing him for a week now. I'm tired of your longing glances at a guy you could win over if you just go talk to him. A simple 'hi' would suffice," Aubrey said, giving me a dangerous look.

I had a feeling that if I didn't do it, she would ditch me and make me walk back home alone tonight. With a sigh, I hiked up my skirt and pulled down my blouse and walked towards Jordan.

To my surprise, he was watching me as I approached him. He had an intrigued look in his eyes and his head was cocked to the left.

I wiped my sweaty palms on my velveteen skirt and smiled at him. "Hey."

"Hey," he smiled back.

The next few minutes were a blur. It was probably due to the three bottles of beer I consumed as I spoke to him. All I remember was that there were a lot of words exchanged, a few stolen kisses, a touch here and there and not-so-few longing glances, on my part.

When the volume of the punk rock music playing in the background increased, Jordan took my hand and whispered, "Let's get out of here. Someplace quiet where there are less people and less music."

Every nerve in my body was forcing me to remain where I was but my heart couldn't resist the glimmer in his eyes. And so, I followed him out, into the darkness.

He led me through a rocky path. I didn't mind because whenever I tripped, his hands were on my waist, balancing me.

After a short walk, the surroundings became a little clearer to me. Maybe some of the alcohol managed to escape my system somehow.

We were standing in a cemetery.

"Jordan..."

"Don't worry, darling. I hang out here all the time. There isn't a soul who would dare disturb us here."

I glared at him, making him burst out in laughter. "You could call me a sucker for lame puns but you've got to admit they aren't so bad," he said.

I was going to argue but he pulled me into a long, sweet kiss and I melted. How could I argue with a boy whose kisses could turn me into a puddle?

When we broke apart, me light-headed and him beaming, he guided me deeper into the cemetery. I blindly followed him, still a bit woozy from the kiss. We passed a grave with a bouquet of fresh white roses. I couldn't help but stare at them wistfully. They are my favourite flowers.

Jordan noticed and said, "I'll get one for you."

I laughed. "I don't think any florists are open now."

"I meant from that grave. I'll just take one stalk. That old lady wouldn't fuss too much if we took just one."

He started walking towards the grave but I yanked on his arm. "Don't be ridiculous! My mother said we shouldn't disturb the dead," my voice unintentionally loud and shrill.

He put a finger to his lips. "Then why are you trying to wake them up? Besides, you didn't take her advice before this."

As he walked away, confusion clouded my mind. Before this? When have I ever disturbed the dead? I ignored the question ringing in my mind and took a look at the headstone I was standing beside.

JORDAN BELL

Born 1976, Death 1993

The blood in my veins turned to lead. My muscles froze and my eyesight blurred.

No, it can't be. It must be a coincidence. With that little bit of faith, I called out.

"Jordan? What's your last name?"

His laugh echoed between the headstones, the timbre of it raising the hair on my arms. "It's Bell, darling."

My body moved faster than my brain could work. I immediately stood up and turned around, my instinct was to flee.

But Jordan didn't seem as eager to let go of me just that fast. He blocked my way by standing in front of me. He towered over me, his shadow shielding any light from shining on me.

"I see that you have found my hangout space. It is quite comfy to sit on, right?"

I couldn't do anything but nod.

"It's even comfier inside. Although it gets a little lonely. That's why I brought you here. Since you are interested in me, maybe you would like to join me in there," he said, winking.

It would have sounded flirty if the item in context was a bed instead of a coffin and it was a living person who delivered the pickup line.

He continued, "It will only be a bit uncomfortable for this one night. After that, you will sleep like a corpse."

I didn't doubt him for a second. Maybe because my last second was used up looking at his charming smile twisted into a malicious grin.