Page 35 of Nothing Without You

Evie’s stomach lurched as Bob strode towards her. For a moment she felt out of her depth, but Peace squeezed her hand. ‘You’re one of the cool kids now. Everyone is checking you out because you’re new.’

Evie took the pottery goblet Bob offered her, the wine already cold and spilling over the rim a little. He bent his head towards her. ‘Welcome, pretty little Evie. Welcome to Sugar House. The party capital of Sugar Cove.’

Bob’s face was close, and she jumped when he leaned closer and kissed her fully on the lips. She tasted a mixture of wine and cigarettes as his tongue ran inside her mouth.

She touched her lips with her fingers when he pulled away and winked at her. Then he walked away as quickly as he had appeared, leaving her standing in shock, still holding the goblet of wine he had given her. Taking a couple of long sips, she righted herself and pretended that a kiss like that was just part of everyday life. Grabbing Peace’s hand again, she followed her out onto the back veranda, amazed at how many people were gathered in the backyard. Although she thought she was living in the middle of nowhere, there were obviously plenty of others also living in the area. And all of them, it appeared, were eager to meet and welcome her into their community.

Taking long sips from her goblet, she hoped the wine would quickly calm her nerves. When a man with the longest dreadlocks she had ever seen offered to refill it, she held the goblet out, smiling at him as he filled it to the brim. Before long the alcohol started to have the desired effect, and she felt brave enough to mix with the other kids Peace introduced her to. They were all dressed similarly — their hair long and loose, their skin tanned, and most with either thongs or bare feet. The boys wore torn jeans with wide bottoms, their T-shirts a riot of colour, with tie-dyed patterns swirling across them. Others opted for faded board shorts, with shirts bearing surf designs and slogans on the front. Evie listened to them talking about surfing or fishing. The girls wore flimsy dresses, crocheted bikinis, shorts and tiny T-shirts, as well as a variety of jeans and colourful shirts. They talked about how drunk they were and which boys they liked. Not that much different she thought. Just like home.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

When the band played, Evie joined with the others and danced on the cleared space in the middle of the backyard. Tall rainforest trees and palms surrounded the house, the flickering flares scattered around the yard giving a magical glow to the area.

The loud music filtered into the hot night air and, as she puffed on the thickest joint imaginable, she released any inhibitions she once had and danced like she was part of the music, part of the crowd, and part of Sugar House. A couple of times she glanced up at the band and noticed Bob looking at her. She averted her eyes as she danced with Peace and Sissy, her body filled with different sensations, and a dreamy contentment that she had truly found friends who understood her.

As the night wore on, the band stopped playing and a record player on the back veranda pumped out music that made her want to throw her arms in the air and float up to the clouds that scurried across the sky above. A full moon cast its light on the yard and she reached up to try and touch a colourful rainbow that floated above her. Sissy laughed when she told her what she was doing. ‘That’s not a rainbow. That’s the colours of your mind,’ Sissy said, as she swayed and moved to the music.

Evie giggled as Bob came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. By now she had drunk a large amount of wine, and she nearly fell over as he gently held her hair in the air and smothered her neck in kisses.

When she turned around, a faint smile crossed his lips and she looked up into his eyes, which by now were dulled from the effects of whatever he had taken that night. She laughed and pushed him gently away as he danced around her before he shimmied over to another group of girls. He danced and talked to the group before looking back towards her. When he gestured for her to follow him, she tipped the last of her wine down her throat and automatically did as he wanted. Throwing a smile at Sissy, she turned and walked behind him, giggling and thinking how Bob was like the Pied Piper, and she was a child who couldn’t resist following him. He offered his hand as she followed him into the house and down a long hallway. She took one more step through a door he held open, an empty bedroom in front of her.

It was only a small room, yet she could barely make out what was in there. A candle burned in a glass jar and she could vaguely see a pile of blankets in one corner and a bed in the other. She didn’t really care where she was, though, because now Bob’s mouth was pressing down on hers. He tasted like a mixture of beer and wine, and his lips were a bit rough on hers as he held her against him. Thank goodness he held her tightly because by now she could barely stand up without swaying or falling over.

He muttered her name, smothering her face and shoulders in kisses. She kissed him back and held onto his arms, following him as he led her to the bed. It squeaked as they fell back on it and he drew her closer, his arms strong as he pulled her against him. The bed was only narrow and they barely fitted, but it didn’t matter. She wanted this to happen. To hell with Chris, her mother and father. Tonight was hers and she was going to become a woman. With Bob.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Bob’s hand moved quickly up inside her dress, and she gasped as he quickly removed her underpants. She lay on her back and he straddled her without putting any weight on her, his knees on either side of her body. Pulling her dress up, he kissed her stomach and then along her neck. Unsure how she was supposed to respond, she pulled his head down to hers and kissed him, his response immediate as he pressed his lips down hard on hers, his tongue moving around her mouth until she could hardly breathe.

When he undid his belt and took off his jeans, she was glad the room was dimly lit. He muttered in her ear, and she felt like he had woven a spell, her body moving against his. She wanted to please him, to do anything he would like. ‘You okay, baby?’ he asked, his hand moving between her legs. He stopped when she tried to sit up.

‘What’s wrong,’ he asked, his hands moving up under her dress and across her breasts. She gasped as a mixture of feelings surged through her.

‘I’m a virgin. I’ve never done it before.’

He stopped and sat upright, and she wished she hadn’t said anything. ‘You’re kidding right? No one’s a virgin these days.’

‘I’m sorry. I just haven’t had sex before. But I want to.’

A smile crossed his face, and she relaxed a little as he slowed his movements, stroking her gently. ‘A virgin. You’ll be okay. I’ll go easy. You know I love you.’

She did what she was told, and her body responded to his touch. When he pushed himself inside her, she pushed back against him, wanting to please him and make it seem like she wasn’t scared of what was happening.

He thrust hard into her a few times, and she felt a twinge of pain mixed with pleasure from the alcohol and drugs she had taken over the last few hours. She was finally doing it. Not with Chris, but with someone who looked just like him, and who treated her like she was someone special. Her thoughts of Chris vanished, as Bob thrust harder and harder and she hung on to his arms, hoping it wouldn’t go on for too much longer. The pleasurable feelings she had enjoyed when his hands first caressed her body were fading, as he continued to thrust and grunt, his body sweaty as he groaned and made strange noises.

It was a relief when he finally rolled off, his body lying flat on the bed beside her. Hopefully she had done everything right and he would think she was good at having sex. Really, she had no idea if it had been good for him or not.

When he finally stopped puffing, he rolled over and lay on his side. His eyes met hers. ‘You did good, Evie. Real good.’ He rested his head on her shoulder, and before she knew it, he was fast asleep, his snoring and beer breath causing her to turn her face away.

Was that it? Was that what all the fuss was about, and what she had been saving herself for? It hadn’t been that great, and apart from when he first touched her, she hadn’t really felt anything special. At least she had done it. No more worrying about losing her virginity or being the last one in her group to have sex. She could call herself a woman.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

When it was obvious that Bob was not going to wake up, Evie got up and found her underpants on the floor. She slipped them on and adjusted her clothing, pushing her hair back behind her ears and making her way through the doorway, back out into the hall. She guessed that over an hour had passed, and hoped the others hadn’t left without her.

Tim and Arlo were sitting around a fireplace in the backyard, a girl with a guitar singing a mournful love song. Evie stopped next to the boys and listened to the lyrics, thinking of Bob still lying asleep on the narrow bed. Arlo raised his beer can in the air towards her. ‘Hey man, we thought we’d lost you. Peace’s inside looking for you. Are you ready to go?’

‘I am. I’ll go find her. Where’s Sissy?’

---