''Same time tomorrow Pompoms,'' he said with a grin, but his eyes were distant again and the intimacy from before was gone. She wanted to call the whole thing off, tell him he didn't need to train her anymore, promise him his secret was safe with her, sign his stupid paper saying she'd be in big trouble if she ever opened her mouth. But deep inside her was an insecurity that told her to keep him in her control. She needed the training. She couldn't risk losing him.
Laurel woke up and groaned. Her muscles were aching and she had bruises everywhere from her and Ben's intense training sessions. Her thoughts lingered on their steamy session on the ice and she smiled but then frowned. She didn't know what was going on with Ben. Their training sessions had continued as usual. The chemistry was still there. But nothing further had developed between them.
Anyway, she thought to herself, today was Saturday. She planned to have a lazy day. She would take a bath to soothe her aching body and then she and Jennifer were going shopping and meeting some girlfriends for lunch. And tonight was the big party. She hoped Ben would be there.
''So where on earth have you been hiding?'' Mindy asked Laurel.
They were sitting in a bistro in town eating shrimp salad and drinking iced teas.
''She's been spending time with bad-boy Ben.'' Jennifer teased.
Laurel gave her a look and stuffed a shrimp in her mouth to shut her up.
''I thought you hated that guy?'' Amy piped up.
Laurel sighed. ''I did hate him. But now … I'm not sure. He's helping me with something, that's all. I can't really say.''
''He's teaching her to skate!'' said Jennifer, ''I think it's so romantic!''
''It's meant to be a secret!'' Laurel protested, ''Please, this conversation doesn't go any further ok? And no, it's not romantic, it's just … business.''
''Well, I think it's romantic,'' Mindy said, ''I mean, why would he be helping you if he didn't like you?''
Laurel sighed. If only they knew the truth. She was blackmailing Ben to train her. The only reason he was spending time with her was so she didn't reveal his love of figure skating to his teammates or his dad. But why did he care so much? She couldn't figure it out. And then there was his weird hatred of cheerleaders. He was certainly a complicated guy. But none of this she could talk about to her friends. She decided to change the subject.
''So what are you guys wearing to the party?'' she asked. ''Jen bought a stunning new dress this morning. So maybe I can borrow her little black one … '' she looked sweetly at Jennifer and smiled.
Jennifer grinned, ''Of course you can borrow it, you don't even have to ask!''
''Show us what you bought!'' Amy said, clapping her hands.
Jennifer picked up a paper bag from under the table and pulled out a shimmery pink number.
''Oooh!'' the girls squealed in unison and then laughed. They cooed over the dress and new shoes that Jennifer had bought and Laurel felt a tinge of jealousy that she couldn't afford to buy new clothes.
''What did you buy Laurel?'' Mindy asked.
''Oh just a lip-gloss,'' Laurel replied.
Paul finally arrived and pulled up a seat at their table. ''Sorry I'm late ladies!'' he said, ''I got carried away in the library!''
''You're such a rebel,'' Laurel joked and poked him in the side.
Jennifer gave her a look and she wasn't sure exactly what it meant.
Paul ordered take-out and they said their goodbyes and went their separate ways but planned to meet at 6pm later to get ready for the party together.
Laurel was wearing Jennifer's black dress as planned and she looked smoking hot. By the girls' admission, not her own, of course. Though she was pleased with how it fitted. A pair of silver heels completed the look and with a lick of mascara and a generous amount of her new lip-gloss she was ready to go! Paul looked handsome tonight, she thought to herself, but her mind was on Ben and whether he would be there or not. ''You look amazing tonight,'' Paul whispered to her shyly, and she thanked him but backed away, confused.
''Cheers!'' they yelled and licked salt from their wrists, threw tequila down their necks, sucked on wedges of lemon, and then screwed up their faces in disgust and laughed.
''Right, come on then ladies,'' said Jennifer. ''Sorry. And Paul! We're fashionably late enough to leave now. I can't wait to see the band; they're meant to be really good.''
''Yeah and that DJ we saw at the club the other night is playing too!'' Amy added excitedly.
Laurel sighed happily. It was good to be surrounded by friends and away from the rink for a while.
A little while later two bouncers ushered them inside the huge house where the party was already in full throw. There were students everywhere and the band was setting up on the terrace out the back. They squeezed their way through the crowds picking up another round of tequila shots and some plastic cups of beer on the way, and found a space from which to assess the room.
''He's hot,'' whispered Mindy, pointing to a long-haired guy standing nearby, ''and he's in one of my classes. I'm gonna go and say hi!'' She strutted towards him, flicking her long blond locks over her shoulder.
''She doesn't waste much time does she?'' smirked Jennifer. ''So who have you got your eye on Amy?''
''Oh no-one in particular'' Amy giggled, the shier of the two girls.
Laurel was scanning the room hoping to spot Ben but she couldn't see him anywhere.
''No guesses as to who you're searching for,'' said Jennifer. Paul frowned and looked at the ground before wandering off into the melee of bodies.
''What's up with him?'' Laurel asked.
''I think he likes you, sweetie,'' Jennifer replied.
''Yeah, he definitely does!'' Amy chimed in unexpectedly, ''He can't take his eyes off you in that dress.''
Laurel looked crestfallen, ''I had no idea … '' she started.
''Well maybe if you'd tear yourself away from the rink once in a while and had a look around you to see what's going on with your real friends, you might be a bit more clued up,'' Jennifer gently scolded her friend, ''I mean, you don't tell me anything these days. Are actually together with the bad-boy now? Have you hooked up? Do you like him? Cos a couple of weeks ago you couldn't stand the guy!''
''I will fill you in I promise'' Laurel sighed, ''As soon as I know what's going on myself.''
Life was getting so complicated, she thought. But she hugged her friend and they piled outside with the rest of the students when the band started playing and swayed happily, waves of music and laughter sweeping over them. Laurel grinned as Jennifer spun her around and it was like old times again when they were at high school and inseparable. ''But really, I promise I'll tell you more when there's anything to tell,'' Laurel whispered to her friend and Jennifer smiled and said, ''I know.''
Suddenly she realized Ben was standing beside her, with a busty brunette hanging off his arm. She stared at them open-mouthed.
''Pompoms'' he grinned. ''You made it. Nice to see you're having fun for once. This is Cindy.''
''Hi Cindy,'' she muttered aggressively as she glared at Ben.
He chuckled, clearly enjoying the situation. ''Don't be jealous now Pompoms. There's plenty of me to share. Maybe you and Cindy would enjoy getting better acquainted too … I mean minus your clothes, that is. Cracking dress by the way.''
Laurel forced her way through the crowds and just about made it to the bathroom before bursting into tears. Heartless bastard she thought to herself. How could he do that to me?
There was a knock at the door. ''Go away!'' she yelled through her tears, but opened the door when she realized it was Paul.
''What's up Laurel?'' he asked, looking genuinely concerned, ''I saw you running past looking upset so I came to see if you're ok.''
Paul was wonderful, caring, intelligent, and handsome. Why hadn't she considered him before?
She hugged him hard, crying into his shoulder.
''Sit down,'' he said, ''and calm down, and tell me everything.''
''It's all such a mess!'' Laurel sobbed and proceeded to fill her friend in on everything that had happened from the very beginning, even including, briefly, the naked episode on the ice, and also her discovery that Paul had feelings for her.
''He's a bastard!'' Paul exclaimed. ''Don't feel guilty about blackmailing him. He deserves to be blackmailed. What a snake! To sleep with you and then show up like that with another girl. And then suggest you join them in bed! What a heartless douchebag!''
''I know, he's such an evil fucker'' Laurel agreed through gritted teeth but she didn't really mean it. She was just relieved to have someone on her side.
Paul leaned in and she realized he was attempting to kiss her. She backed away, horrified and realized immediately why she could never date Paul. He reminded her exactly of her older brother. That would just be weird, she thought.
''I'm sorry Paul, I just don't feel that way about you.''
''I know you don't,'' he agreed, dejectedly, ''Don't worry, I know we'll still be friends. Apparently you go for the bad-boy type instead of the funny intelligent caring type.''
She giggled and poked him, ''You're very handsome too, you forgot to mention that.'' and he smiled, a sad smile but a smile nonetheless.
She sighed and leaned back against the bathtub. ''To be honest Paul, I don't think Ben's an evil fucker. I need to go talk to him and figure this out.''