Knowing You

*AUTHOR'S NOTE AT END OF CHAPTER, PLEASE READ*



Chapter Nine




“How long does it take for chicks to get ready?” Bobby took a swig of the drink, he was sure it was a mixture of coke and crown royal. He took a seat next to the sullen male seated on the couch. It felt strange sitting next to someone he used to dump in the trash. Most of the pranks he’d pulled in high school Dante had been the provoker. Those had been some great times, but everyone had to grow up.


“I don’t know, I’m not a chick.” Kale couldn’t believe that his sister was dating the blundering idiot beside him. The guy had to be well endowed or something, why else would any female overlook the lack of brains?


“Good point, I guess I’ll shut up about that. Joey tells me that you are still taking some evening courses.” Bobby hadn’t picked up a book since graduation. He was fine with hard labor, he didn’t like to think too much.


“I am, on Tuesday and Thursdays, so it will be some time before I finish.” He was thinking about putting more time in next semester. The money he was making now was decent but he could go further after he finished school. There was no way in hell he’d lower himself to tote bricks for a living like this guy.


“Nice, always knew you’d make something of yourself.” Bobby envied the smaller male his intelligence, not everyone was blessed with it. Like Joey for one, he liked the girl but she was slow at times, just like himself. “So does Dante know that you are taking his little sister out?”


“I don’t know but I’ll leave it up to you to inform him of it later. Not that I really give a damn if he knows or accepts it. She’s of age and so am I, it has nothing to do with him.” It did but he wasn’t going to point that out. If Dante hadn’t been an ass and done the unthinkable then they wouldn’t be going out together tonight. Kale placed his glass on the table and reached for his ringing cell phone, it was going to be a long night.



“I hate you!” Joey grumbled as she slid the stockings up her calf. Her eyes went to the smooth surface of Taree’s legs. “Why didn’t I get blessed with your legs? My length and your tone, we’d have legs that wouldn’t quit.”


“I’d take the height, believe me. It sucks being so short, on the plus side most guys are taller than myself.” Taree was glad she wasn’t going to have to resort to wearing hose, they were uncomfortable and didn’t really go with the shorts.


“Is the curling iron ready?” Joey was debating on what to do with her hair. She already had plans on styling Taree’s.


“Not yet,” she lifted the shorts up for appraisal. “Fuck, do you realize that I can’t wear any panties with these damn things?”


“Probably not, just go without. Not like you are going to be taking them off.” Unlike herself, Joey smirked at her reflection. She had every intention of getting some action later this evening. It’d been months since she’d gotten anything worth repeating.


“Right, I’ll try not to.” Taree cringed as she quickly slipped the classic white cotton panties off and tossed them in a pile of clothes. She would kill someone if the fabric chafed her throughout the evening. A sore twat wouldn’t go well with her still tender face. She turned around to examine her butt in the mirror.


“Damn, they do make your butt stand out. But see I was right, it does cover up your ass, just nothing lower. Looks good though, you should be able to get a few requests with those on.” Joey reached for her half bra and slipped her tank top off.


“Yeah, five dollar sucky sucky!” The shorts were made out of stretchy denim, so they clung to her backside. At least she didn’t have a flat ass, it was a bonus. Taree took off her bra, noticing that she was totally going out without underwear tonight. The shirt went midriff showing off her tummy, the lacing went up the middle, to leave an inch gap. Joey had been right, the wire managed to lift her tits. The sleeves billowed out near the wrists, loose but not gaudy.


“Nice, told you it would be. I can’t really wear red, it makes me look like a corpse.” Joey slipped the dress over her head. Pink was her favorite color and this dress would ensure that Bobby paid complete attention to her tonight. It was a spaghetti strap, dipping down in the front to show off her cleavage. The sides were completely cut out, the bottom stopped way short of her knees.


“I look like I should have a price tag.” Taree ran a hand through her hair, something had to be done with it.


“Just make sure there are a few zeros in there and you’ll be fine. Besides, you need to distract my brother, so he doesn’t mope all night. I am so glad Cloe is stuck working the night shift.”


“I think the curler is hot enough. Please, don’t fry my hair.” Taree took a seat on the bed, aiming the back of her head towards her friend. She was never good at doing anything with her hair, except putting it up.


Which was what Joey ended up doing with it. Most of the side and back were piled up in a white clip, leaving bangs and a few strands to outline her face. It looked rather fetching, her bangs were curled to give them volume.


“Think we can get drunk off our ass?”


“Then who is going to drive home?” Taree wasn’t one to drink, so she might offer to drive. Then again, would it really hurt if she were to let her hair down and have a good time? She deserved it, she was tired of being boring and plain. “Where are my boots?”





The music was deafening, so much she found it hard to concentrate. The few drinks she’d already imbibed in might have something to do with it. Taree ignored the several stares she was receiving, she didn’t care. Joey was behind her dancing just as wild, if not a tad kinkier.


What made things more interesting is that Kale was next to them dancing just as hard. She laughed as he dipped and moved in closer. Moving away from the crowd Taree moved in closer to him.


Kale placed a hand on her hip, bringing her closer. She was a decent dance partner, much better than his sister. It might be due to the fact he couldn’t hold his sister this close without fighting the urge to vomit. His hand came to rest on the edge of the skimpy shorts, fingering the tight material. If she noticed the motion, she didn’t protest to it.


Sweat beaded her forehead, she was getting rather hot. Her hands reached for his neck, anything to hold onto. Both of his palms were splayed across her lower back, holding her against his form. She could feel the warmth radiating from him in waves, it was nice.


“Let’s go get some fresh air.” His voice caressed her ear lobe, sending a pleasant chill down her spine. It wasn’t as strong as the one she’d felt before but was rather nice.


Taree nodded in agreement before letting him grab her hand and escort them both out. It was hard maneuvering through the crowd. The first night was a hit, everyone between twenty and thirty having come out to dance and drink.


Luck was on her side and it didn’t appear that Dante was one of the many. Seeing him would have ruined the wonderful high she had obtained. She felt light and free, nothing could worry her tonight. This was how she wanted to feel, she wanted to be free from worrying about what others thought of her.


“Let’s go to the car,” he had a huge buzz going on. The cool air hit him square in the face as soon as they stepped out into the evening. It might be a good idea for them to head home since Joey was going home with Bobby tonight.


The parking lot had been crowded by the time they arrived three hours ago. It had forced them to park in the shopping center next door. A few other cars were in the vacant lot, others having to do the same.


She didn’t bother to speak until they reached his car. He quirked his brow noticing how she plopped down on the hood. Taree cocked her head to the side still feeling slightly giddy. Her eyes took in the damp shirt clinging to his chest, it wasn’t half bad. “Are you disappointed that it’s me with you instead of Cloe?”


Kale was floored by the question, it was unexpected. He answered honestly, “Yes and no. Don’t take it the wrong way, I’ve enjoyed tonight.”


“So why the yes?” She was curious as to what she was lacking. If she knew him well enough then he’d point out her flaws without fail. If she were to find someone then she wanted to know if there was anything unappealing about herself.


He didn’t try to hide the mischievous grin, or the fact that he was looking her over. She had dolled up rather nice, so nice he couldn’t deny that he found her very appealing. A few steps and he was standing in front of her, placing a hand behind her neck. “If you were Cloe, I wouldn’t have to feel guilty about doing this.”


Taree saw it about to happen, his mouth coming closer. The first brush of his lips was soft and gentle, very tender in their exploration. It was so sweet she let it happen, or maybe it was the drink. Whatever reason she decided not to worry about it, the kiss was tender.


Her mouth opened up for him, allowing him more liberties. The smallest amount of heat rushed to her stomach, indicating the first onset of arousal. It was strange feeling it with Kale of all people. Hands roamed, she closed her eyes feeling them growing bolder with each caress. Would it be wrong to let this happen? No answer came as he asked if she wanted to take it back to his place.




‘I’m so stupid!’ Taree yanked the drawer open without caring for the hinges. She was too pissed off and upset to worry about these things. Her stomach recoiled as her mind scrambled to make sense of everything.


Her mother’s cheerful voice rang from downstairs calling her down to dinner. They were about to have a shit fit, oh yes. Tonight was the night to spring her news. The calender on her wall screamed at her that it was about damn time too. The wedding was in two days, they wouldn’t be happy with her.


Tonight it would be just her and her parents, the way she preferred it. They would surely spread the news around, everyone would know. She would stay until the wedding, this was something she had to do. Her and Dante still hadn’t spoken to each other again but she couldn’t worry about that.


It didn’t matter, not when he was getting married in two days and she had her own problems to worry about. Big problems that were screaming for her attention, saying they weren’t going away any time soon.


“Coming!” She called down after finding the shirt she was looking for. It was yanked down in place of the t-shirt she’d just tossed on the bed. Her suitcase was sitting next to the closet, half packed.


Her mind contemplated on how best to broach the subject of her leaving. She’d have to be honest with them, they deserved the truth. Joey wasn’t very happy with her decision but had given her support. As for Kale, he was very unhappy with her decision for different reasons.


A voice caused her to pause on the last step, she hadn’t been expecting him to be over. Fearing that her talk would have to be postponed, she quickly entered the kitchen. Much to her relief it was only Dante standing there and not Sheila as well. It would have felt even stranger to discuss her problem with someone that wasn’t family.


Her eyes took in the sight of him, he looked stressed. Three months and they’d yet to speak a single word to each other. What could she say to him? Ask him why he didn’t care enough about her to NOT use her as a punching bag? Ask him where she’d gone so wrong? No, that was in the past, one of her many mistakes. This was her just rewards for caring about someone that could never be hers.


She turned before he could catch her looking in his direction. Seeing him standing there made her rethink her plans. She didn’t want to leave without telling her parents but this was really her last night to do so. Tomorrow night was the rehearsal dinner, then the next day was the wedding. She planned to leave after the reception.


“There you are hun, come sit down. I’m starving, I was running around all day finishing up some last minute details. Why you two couldn’t give us more time I’ll never know.” Her mother looked pleased as punch despite the complaints of being run down.


“I told you why already. Next month I start my new position, so we wanted to get it done before then.” Dante took the seat next to his father, across from Taree. He noticed that she still refused to look at him. How long would it take before she forgave him? Would she acknowledge him if he tried to talk to her?


“We know, it’s been a terrible mess but we are so happy about the big day.” This came from their father, who was already speaking of grandchildren from the couple. “Have you two come to a decision about children yet?”


“We talked about it again and she’s thinking about it. With my career it would leave her to deal with them, so it’s really her choice. I want them but she isn’t too keen on the idea.” Dante shifted in his chair as he was told to bow his head for prayer. He barely heard his father speaking, his vision took in how pale Taree looked. Were those rings under her eyes?


Taree felt her stomach pitch in rebellion as the scent of baked fish hit her nose. The dish smelt wonderful and she’d eaten it many times before. That was the deal, it had been before THIS! She scoffed as Dante said they’d wait to have offspring.


“How long? I mean you aren’t getting any younger.” So Mother has spoken, as if that statement stated exactly he should have children soon. “Your father and I would like to have some sweet adorable grandbabies to spoil.”


“Well, you might have to wait a few years because I don’t think Sheila will bend on this matter. Right now, we need to focus on us. Having kids so soon after getting married will put too much pressure on us. You’ll just have to wait for Taree to grow up and get married to have grands.” Dante reached for his fork, this conversation was over.


“Actually, you’ll only have to wait another six months, give or take a week or two.” Taree suppressed a smile as the room grew quiet. Except for the clatter of a fork hitting Dante’s plate. She reached for a roll, hoping nothing else would need to be said.


“Excuse me?” Dante spoke first, seeing as how both parents were in shock. He wasn’t sure if he heard right.


“I said they’ll only have to wait another six months, give or take a week or two.” Was he deaf? She took a bite of the bread hoping it would ease the tension in her gut. Whoever named this current illness morning sickness needed to be drawn and quartered. When she first woke up was the only time she didn’t feel like hacking and ripping out her intestines.


Her mother found her tongue, “Taree, are you trying to tell us something?”


“No, I just did. I’m pregnant, about eleven weeks along as a matter of fact.” Taree saw the shock, this she expected. She just prayed they wouldn’t ask the circumstances behind it or she’d keel over out of mortification. The last thing she wanted to discuss at the dinner table was how she got drunk one night and climbed in bed with Joey’s brother.


“Who’s is it?” Dante couldn’t keep the anger from his voice. When the hell had she managed to get herself knocked up? Weren’t their parents keeping a good enough eye on her? When? Who the hell had touched her?


“Well, it’s none of your business but I will tell them. You’ll find out as soon as it’s born anyways. The baby is for Kale, Joey’s brother.” There was a moment of complete tension before her parents both let out relieved sighs.


“Oh my, my little girl.” Her mother was clutching her chest. “Well then it’ll be okay. He’s a good boy and he’ll make a fine husband. You have told him about the baby already, right?”


“Yes, I told him as soon as I found out but he won’t make a fine husband. He has asked but I turned him down.” Taree had argued with both Joey and him about how she felt. They insisted that marriage was the best solution. To her is wasn’t, it would be an even bigger mistake than the one they had already made. She wasn’t in love with him and he wasn’t in love with her. They’d come to respect and like each other since then but that was all.


“You can’t mean to have a child all alone. It’s not done, how will you support yourself?” This had the voice of reason speaking up. Naturally, her stepfather wouldn’t want her unwed and a mother, it was scandalous.


“Yes, that’s exactly what I’m going to do. Look, if we were together it might be different. As fate would have it, we got drunk one night and we did the nasty. We’re friends but I won’t marry him, I can’t. I have feelings for someone else and won’t force myself into a loveless marriage.”


“Oh, that’s really reassuring. Is there anything else you want to spring on us? Couldn’t you wait until after my wedding to inform us of your mistakes?” Dante ignored his father’s warnings to watch what he said. “What? Am I supposed to be happy? Say congratulations? Or am I supposed to be proud that she’s turned out to be an irresponsible slut? Don’t you have any better sense than this? If you are going to sleep around, be smart enough to protect yourself. Do you think being drunk excuses your behavior?”


She couldn’t believe that called her a slut. In her life she’d had sex twice compared to his thousands. As for being drunk, it had been part of the reason she’d slept with Kale. She wasn’t going to use that as an excuse though. Her hand came down on the table as he continued to glare at her. “Why not? After all, don’t we learn from our peers, or better yet our siblings. You use drinking as an excuse whenever you fuck up so why can’t I?”


“I have never used drinking as an excuse for what I do or have done. I take responsibility for everything I cause. I’m not the one that is pregnant for someone else. I’m not the one that is trying to condone my behavior.” Dante didn’t want to think of her sleeping with Kale, somber or drunk. What had she seen in the guy? Drunk or not there had to be something there for it to happen.


“No? Then what is your bloody excuse for breaking my damn face?” She didn’t care that he winced or that things were getting out of hand. Why couldn’t she say ‘Oops, I got drunk and slept with someone I wouldn’t have otherwise?’ He’d done the same exact thing but couldn’t remember it.


“I don’t remember doing that and I would have apologized for it if you didn’t take to avoiding me like a plague. Okay, so I was drunk and I was angry, you probably provoked me. I lashed out while drunk, I’m sorry, what else do you want me to say? At least I can say I’ve never gotten so plastered that I fucked someone unacceptable.”


“LIAR!!!” She couldn’t help it, the words slipped out. Whomever said that being pregnant made one emotional hadn’t been lying. The chair hit the floor as she sprung to her feet, “you are so easy to condemn me for doing something you did yourself in this very house. I’ll have you know that Kale wasn’t my first, nor was he my only one night stand. YOU WERE!”


A needle could have been heard, the stillness squeezed her heart. Now they were all looking at her as if she’d just lost her mind. She was expecting, not crazy. Life was shoveling shit in her face by the truck load.


“I don’t think so,” Dante felt a cold dread settle in his blood. What was she accusing him of? He had never been a one night stand to her, nor had he ever done anything here, not in the last few years. “If you are trying to hurt me or get even, this isn’t the way. How dare you make absurd accusations. We both know I’d never touch you.”


“You’re right, you wouldn’t. Not unless you were so intoxicated you mistook me for another. I’m sure I’m not the only one that can recall a night when you crashed here. That’s right, next time when you get that drunk, you might want to make sure you know who you are fucking, Brother.” She didn’t feel any joy or elation at the announcement. Not when her mother suddenly burst out into tears.


For weeks she’d dreamed of him realizing the truth, of him apologizing for his treatment. None of that would ever happen, not for her. She could see the disbelief and disgust on his features, it stung more than any denial could have. It was too much to handle, she gave her mother a sad look before rushing out of the room.


Thankfully her purse was sitting near her bedroom door. It only took a total of three minutes for her to shove some more clothes into the suitcase. Her personal pouch was hastily tossed inside, along with her toothbrush. She snatched her phone from the night stand and began to dial a number.


Raised voices drowned out the sound of her pulling the suitcase down the stairs. She almost changed her mind about leaving hearing the tears in her mother’s voice. Then she heard the brutal denial, Dante was swearing he hadn’t meant to touch her. Of course he hadn’t, she was the last person he’d want to be with.


She shut the door quietly, the last thing she wanted was anyone to come rushing after her. There was no way she could change her mind now. Not when he knew the truth, she wouldn’t be able to stand it. The disgust had told her how he felt, he was repulsed by the very idea.


Not only was she a single mom thanks to a one night stand but she would be branded as the slut that fucked her brother. How could she face either of her parents now? They would be so disappointed in her, look upon her with shame.


She managed to right the suitcase so it could be rolled on it’s wheels. The voice on the other end of the phone gave her some contentment. After being reassured she’d only have to wait five minutes, she sat down on the hood of Dante’s car. The urge to key it was strong, to leave a mark on what he cherished.


What would happen now? She didn’t think for a minute that Dante would cancel his wedding plans. Most likely he’d convince them that she was making it up. She was just lying to get them angry at him, to get attention. There was a good chance they’d believe him, they always did. What reason did they have to doubt him? He had a good point, why would someone like him want to sleep with someone like her?


Right now she did feel rather nasty and vindictive but she had spoken truthfully on everything. It didn’t matter, none of it did. In two days he’d be married to his perfect, beautiful, cheating wife and she’d be starting her new life. It would hurt not seeing her family but growing up meant making hard decisions. As the truck pulled around the corner, she knew this was one of those times.


It stopped for a second before Lydon was climbing out to greet her. “Hey, are you sure about this?” He noticed the unshed tears first, then the way she was clinging to the bumper. She really didn’t want to leave, so why?


“I’m sure, can you get my bag?” She tried smiling pass the huge lump in her throat. A tear managed to slip down her cheek as he placed the suitcase in the bed. This was it, there wouldn’t be a goodbye. It hurt, this wasn’t the way things should be. He opened the passenger door and waited for her to move.


“You could always go back inside and work things out. I’m not sure what all happened but I’m going to assume they didn’t take the news well.” Lydon regretted that the child wasn’t his. How things were they had never gotten to that stage. At this point they might never get there but he was glad that she’d come to him for help. “What’s it going to be?”


“I’m going, I have to.” She pushed herself away from his car, letting her fingers glide over the smooth surface for a final time. She stood next to the open door, getting one last look at the house she called home. Giving her the time needed, Lydon made his way back around to climb into the cab.


“I’m going to regret this.” It was becoming a regular phase in her life. Taree didn’t bother wiping the wayward tear. She could have a good cry later, after she was gone. The front door opened as she climbed into the truck.


“I think he’s swearing at you,” Lydon put the truck in gear as Dante and an older gentleman came out of the front door looking pissed. He was sure it was the girl that was being told to get back in the house. “Do I drive or do I let you out?”


“Drive, I’m not changing my mind.” Taree closed her eyes shutting out the image. Both of them were yelling, one demanding that she come back and talk, the other calling her a stupid bitch. She wasn’t stupid, nor was she going back to talk. There was nothing else left to discuss, this was something she wanted to do. This had nothing to do with them, it was her life and it was about time she started doing things for herself.


“Thanks, I owe you.” She placed her head against the headrest, knowing she owed him big time. Once she got settled in she’d make it up to him, he was a great friend. Things would work out, they had to. She had just left her family but she wasn’t alone.




AUTHOR'S NOTE: Maybe this was unexpected, but originally I was going to start with her being older but decided that a few chapters to go into the past would be best, just to give a small insight on everything. No, this is not the end, the second part will still take place. Just a heads up that this is the END of part one. I thank everyone that has read and reviewed so far, it has given me the inspiration to keep working on this. Next chapter shall be up in a few days.


Next Chapter: Where Taree ended up and with whom.......

P.S. Due to a review of misunderstanding, no there isn't only one chapter left. The outline I have actually has over thirty chapters left so, no need to worry.