CHAPTER 9

Several hours later, Calem was still unsure about what to wear to the dance. A few minutes before Larry was scheduled to pick him up, he grew frantic, scouring the house, trying on different outfits, and even rifling through his brothers’ laundry to find suitable clothes for the dance. Once he settled on an outfit he found appealing, he handed the clothes over to his mother to be ironed.

“Where are you going again?” Calem’s mother said.

“To a dance at the Joshua’s. Larry is picking me up.”

Calem’s mother glanced up from her ironing, a look of disbelief appeared on her face.

“What?”

“It’s just a few people from Bible Study - it’s nothing heavy. Relax!”

Calem dressed quickly as he heard Larry’s car hooter blaring from outside.

Calem left the house and leisurely walked down the garden path.

“Hurry up!”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Calem opened the car door and slid quickly into the front seat.

“So, did you hear what’s up?” Larry said.

“No, what’s up?”

“You did not hear then?”

Calem braced himself for bad news as he hated surprises.

“Hear what?”

“About Ben and Sarah!”

Calem already had a suspicion of what Larry was about to reveal but pretended to be ignorant.

“What about them?”

“They announced their engagement in church today. I’m gonna be best man! Isn’t that awesome?”

“Yeah. That’s really awesome.”

Calem was glad he did not stay for the Divine service. Even though he was expecting the news, now to hear it confirmed out loud nonetheless left a bitter taste in his mouth.

Larry dropped Calem off in front of the Joshua’s house since he could not find a parking spot close by. Calem pressed the doorbell, and it was Leah, the youngest and most beautiful of the Joshua sisters, who answered. All three sisters had charming personalities, and though past the age of thirty, they continued to radiate youthlike beauty. While Calem got along well with all of them, his favourite sister Norma, whose personality closely resembled his own, was still in her bedroom getting ready for the dance. Leah ushered him to the upstairs living room.

The room had been cleared of furniture, except for a few chairs arranged against the wall to create a makeshift dance floor. Calem entered the darkly lit room on his own as several couples were already dancing. Calem bumped into a few people as he made his way across the room, but he eventually reached the other side, finding an empty pair of chairs. Unbeknownst to him, a pair of eyes on the terrace followed him with cold concentration, observing his every move. Just as Calem was about to sit down, he got a tap on his shoulder. It was Lilli.

“Hey, you! When did you get here?” Lilli said.

“A second ago.”

“I didn’t know if you were coming.”

“Wouldn’t miss it.”

Lilli drew closer to him, leaning in to place a kiss on his cheek.

“How have you been?” Lilli said.

“Good, good. You?”

“I have been waiting for you to call me…”

“Have you now?”

“Yeah, I have. How about a dance?”

Before he could sit down, Lilli brazenly grabbed and pulled him onto the dance floor. He happily complied since he was not looking forward to sitting on his own. As he turned to face the terrace, he was startled by Ben, who, dancing with Sarah, locked eyes with him. Beneath lowered brows, Ben’s evident disapproval and anger on his face were deeply unsettling. Calem looked away awkwardly, pretending not to notice Ben. After one dance turned into five Calem eventually needed a break as he guided Lilli to an empty seat.

“Have a seat, I’ll get us some drinks.”

Larry loudly burst into their conversation carrying a couple of drinks.

“Here you go.”

As Lilli was about to take the drink, Nicky and Sarah called out to her, waving from across the room. When Calem looked in their direction, Ben was not standing with them.

“Lilli, come here, you won’t believe what I just heard,” Nicky said.

Lilli got up reluctantly and walked over to Nicky.

Larry, with a smile playing on his lips, took a sip from his glass while maintaining eye contact with Calem from under his brows.

“Saved by the drink!” Larry said.

Calem, ignoring Larry, looked up and saw Ben walking in through the terrace doorway, tossing a cigarette butt away. Stopping in the doorway, Ben stared at Calem with growing disapproval. Calem looked away as Ben deliberately took a drink, finishing it in one gulp.

“Bra, I think she is in heat or something. Better watch yourself. Nicky told me Lilli is out to nail you tonight.”

“I think not.”

“Bra, I ruined your opportunity! You can still score with that chick though. The night is young!”

Larry slapped his shoulder and howled imitating a wolf.

“Nah, seriously, bra! I don’t think so.”

Ben’s eyes widened with alarm as Larry leaned closer toward Calem to whisper into his ear.

“Well, lucky me then.”

Calem gave a dry, forced smile, pretending not to understand Larry’s intention. When he looked at the terrace, Ben was no longer there.

“I have to take a piss. I’ll be back in a second,” Calem said.

Calem left without waiting for a response, feeling overwhelmed by being in the same room with Ben but not being able to be with him. Larry tried to follow him, but he was prevented by Nicky.

“How about a dance, Larry?” Nicky said.

“Nah, I’m a shit dancer.”

“Oh, come on, just one dance. Besides it’s dark, no one will see if you suck.”

“Okay, but just the one.”

On his way to the bathroom Calem placed his drink on a table. When he turned around, he bumped into Ben, whom he had not noticed approaching him.

“What the fuck do you think you are doing?” Ben said.

Calem, without responding, stared directly into Ben’s eyes and attempted to push past him. Ben, in turn, grabbed Calem’s arm and quickly turned around with a guilty look to check if Sarah could see them. Seizing the opportunity, Calem broke free from Ben’s grip. Just as Ben was about to follow Calem, Tom bumped into him, pulling him backward and causing a collision with David.

“The fuck?” David said.

Couples stopped dancing, and girls screamed as David, covered in liquid, swiftly began raining punches down on Tom. When Ben turned around, Calem was not in the room.

“Larry, did you see where Calem went?” Ben said.

“The bathroom, I think.”

“Can you do me a solid? Please can you keep Sarah busy for a few minutes?”

“The fuck, bra?”

Ben quickly removed himself from the brawl as people eventually managed to pull David off Tom. Despite the brevity of the attack, Tom was covered in blood. Leah, who was a nurse, was called into the room, and she quickly took Tom into another room to have a proper look at him under better lighting.

Calem sat on the edge of the bathtub, shoulders hunched, hands buried in his dishevelled hair. The muffled sounds of laughter and music from the party outside only accentuated the stark contrast to the feelings of jealousy and pain that overwhelmed him within. In despair, Calem lifted his head and stared at the cold tiled walls, fighting the heartbreak that consumed him. The altercation was dying down as Ben opened the door to the bathroom and promptly entered, swiftly locking the door behind him.

“Why didn’t you answer me just now?” Ben said.

Noticing the anger on Ben’s face, Calem stood up and tried to leave. However, Ben grabbed his throat, pushing him against the wall. Before Calem could answer, Ben kissed him while gripping his throat. Calem tried to pull away, but Ben had him in a vice grip. Soon, Calem tasted blood as Ben viciously sucked and bit his tongue and lips. He knew that it was useless to resist as Ben was so much stronger than him. But, truthfully, a part of him also willingly surrendered to this overpowering domination. Calem felt Ben hardening against him as Ben withdrew his tongue but kept his lips pressed against Calem’s.

“Ben, please stop… someone can come in.”

Calem felt himself becoming irresistibly seduced by the intoxicating smell of cigarettes and alcohol that lingered on Ben’s breath as his gaze flickered towards the door. He momentarily managed to break free, only to have Ben quickly regain his hold on him.

“Let them come in. Didn’t you want everyone to know that I fuck you?”

“No! Stop it!”

“Well, I want everyone to know that only I fuck you.”

“No! Are you crazy?”

“Well, what the fuck do you want then?”

The look of madness in Ben’s eyes grew to a wilder intensity. Unable to contain the mounting pressure, Ben clenched his fists, feeling the anger coursing through him. In a moment of sheer frustration, he drew a deep breath and, with a sudden burst of emotion, swung his closed fist in a hammer-like motion toward the mirror next to Calem’s face, the impact resonating with a sharp thud. The transparency of the barrier distorted momentarily as his fist collided with it, the force reverberating through his arm. Shards of frustration seemed to scatter in the air along with the echoes of the impact. When Calem opened his eyes, he noticed blood trickling down Ben’s fist as Ben renewed his choke on him. Calem gasped for air as Ben’s grip tightened around Calem’s throat.

Ben brushed his lips against Calem’s ear.

“I’m not letting you go.”

Calem tried to speak as the room gradually started to darken.

When Calem opened his eyes, Ben was sitting against the wall, cradling him.

“What happened?”

“Nothing… nothing happened.”

Ben tightened his embrace around Calem’s chest, turning it into a vice-like grip. Calem, feeling the pressure, began to struggle as the memories of how he had passed out flooded back.

“Shush… shush... Just calm down.”

“Let go!”

“We are starting over.”

Before Calem could answer, a knock on the door interrupted him.

“Ben, are you inside?” Sarah said.

Ben, remaining silent, looked at the door while covering Calem’s mouth.

“Yeah, give me a couple of minutes. I’ll be out soon. Use the toilet downstairs.”

Ben slowly removed his hand from Calem’s mouth when he heard Larry calling out to Sarah.

“Fuck!” Calem said.

Calem struggled to free himself from Ben’s embrace, his shirt torn and stained with blood. Turning around, he locked eyes with Ben, determination burning in his gaze.

Calem felt Ben’s grip relax prompting him to stand up.

Ben remained silent on the floor, lighting a cigarette as Calem stood up. Ben cocked his head sideways, parting his lips in a perversely malicious smile, toying with his tongue between his teeth, while his gaze bore into Calem’s every move as he tidied his clothing and hair in the mirror. Calem turned to the door, but Ben grabbed his right ankle as he was leaving. Calem watched with fear as Ben rose to his feet, a malevolent glint in his eyes. Ben, now towering over him, moved closer, an ominous presence that sent shivers down Calem’s spine, until finally, Ben slowly leaned in closer to Calem, stopping just before making contact with his lips.

“Do you actually think I’d let you get away this easily? I will have all of you!”

“Ben, you are getting married.”

“Does that matter? You are mine. And only mine. I’ll fuck you whenever I feel like it, and I will enjoy that very much. Whether you find enjoyment in it or not, is entirely up to you. But judging by how you squirm when I’m inside you, I think you will.”

Overwhelmed by the weight of Ben’s possessiveness, settling like a suffocating fog around him, Calem rested his head on Ben’s chest. Though the air thickened with tension as Ben’s words echoed, to a yielding Calem, each syllable resonated with Ben’s dominance, asserting control and compelling him to submit to his will. Despite the undeniable threat of violence inherent in Ben’s casual assumption of control over Calem, an unexpected surge of arousal mingled with his feelings of helplessness. The flourishing dissonance between them, heavy with an unspoken threat, intensified the conflicting emotional response within Calem. The menace in Ben’s words lingered, leaving Calem contending with internal turmoil that left him momentarily unable to find the words to reclaim control over himself. As he heard Ben’s heart racing faster and faster in his chest, Calem looked up, and Ben, sensing the resignation in Calem’s eyes, tightened his grip.

In the aftermath of their physical altercation, Calem found relief in this moment of peace. He became progressively intoxicated by the intertwining scents of Ben’s cologne, sweat, and the remaining trace of beer and nicotine on his hot breath. In this tender moment of silence, the residue of persistent emotions remained unspoken, sustaining the fragile bridge between them. As Ben continued to hold his tight grip on him, Calem felt as if his soul soared boundlessly into the universe. In that moment, he yearned to freely surrender himself completely to the magic that enraptured him, but Calem knew this would be the last time he would feel the comfort of Ben’s strong arms enfolding him, his breath against him, and his cologne subtly enveloping him. It left him with the painful awareness that he would never experience that sense of security again, and that what was once, was becoming irrevocably lost.

“You’re going home now.”

“Ben, no! I don’t want to go home.”

Calem unexpectedly broke free of Ben’s grip, shoving him aside, and left the bathroom, but Ben rapidly caught up to him and leaned into his ear.

“Didn’t you hear what I just said?”

Calem remained silent as his heart beat increased. He became acutely aware of Ben’s warm breath against his neck, a sensation that instantly unleashed a flood of memories rushing uncontrollably through his mind. Calem could not help but recall the innocent passion they once shared in their happier moments, a stark contrast to the anger and spite that now loomed, threatening to consume them.

Sarah emerged from the living room closely followed by Larry, abruptly interrupting them.

“Ben, where have you been?” Sarah said.

“Bra, sorry, I couldn’t stop her.”

“I’m taking Calem home.”

“What?” they both said.

“I’ll be back in ten.”

Ben, slightly intoxicated, stumbled a little as he led them toward the car.

“Ben, you’ve been drinking. You shouldn’t be driving.”

“Christ, are you my mother? Besides, I drive better when I’m a little buzzed.”

Calem stared at Ben with concern as Ben exerted force to get Calem inside the car. Calem noticed an unsettling smile spread on Ben’s lips as he started the engine. As he charged through the quiet avenues, the car’s engine grated with each reckless move. Calem sat calmly, his expression unchanged, despite the looming threat of danger. Ben, desperate to provoke a reaction, dangerously swerved even closer to parked cars and accelerated through the narrow lanes. When Ben stopped in front of Calem’s house, he grabbed Calem by the shoulder as Calem opened the door. He turned to Ben and marvelled at how his eyes, once familiar and gentle, now burnt with a malignant gleam within.

“I’ll see you tomorrow night. Wait for me! I’ll come. I promise,” Ben said.

In the eerie half-light, dark intentions danced within Ben’s eyes. His desire to completely bend Calem to his will caused a subtle curl to form a perverse sneer on his lips. The lines on his face deepened, casting shadows that hinted at cruel intentions. These shadows searched for weaknesses, a quest to breach, unravel, and ultimately annihilate Calem’s defences. Calem looked at Ben, noticed the strange expression in his eyes, and stepped out of the car without a response.

“See you tomorrow night!” Ben said.