Chapter 1

Barbados! An entire week in the sun! Lora could not believe that the senior class trip was going to be on the beautiful island of Barbados. No one could believe the announcement of the trip being sponsored by a company that paid for half of the expenses and all of the chaperones. Even the senior trip's main chaperone, Mrs. Jones, the English teacher, was shocked.

The trip was going to be great for Lora even though she was facing a tragedy. Sand, sun, and fun, were exactly what Lora needed. After all, it is not very often that your boyfriend leaves you so he can "find himself". It was their senior year and Lora and Michael had dated the entire year. Being childhood friends, they knew everything about each other. They were next-door neighbors and would hang out with their mutual friends. One day, during the summer, on an outing with their friends, when Michael leaned over to Lora and gave her a deep kiss, unexpectedly, Lora kissed him back. There was heat and passion in the kiss and it shocked their friends as well as them. Lora and Michael got away from the group and talked about the kiss. That was when they decided to see where the feelings were going to take them.

Everyone said they were the perfect couple. They knew each other so well they finished each other's sentences. They cuddled and kissed constantly. They attended all the games and school functions together and always ate lunch together. Everything was perfect between them, at least that's what everyone thought, even Lora. Now, out of the blue, Michael decides he does not know who he is and wants to see other people. Who would have guessed that he didn't know himself? She knew him, didn't she? She knew he was a special guy who she thought cared about her and her feelings. Well, she was not going to let it get her down. Michael Wilson, the school's soccer champ, was out of her life. She did not need him as a boyfriend or a friend. So what if he was gorgeous, popular, and seemed to be her perfect match? Lora was going to go to the island paradise and have the fun of her life. Screw guys.

There were obvious differences between Lora and Michael. Michael was a tall, bright-skinned, slender guy with green eyes and a face that could have been in pictures. He was often told he could have been a model but he never took the thought seriously. Lora was as cute as a Barbie doll, only shorter, much shorter. She was very slim with cocoa butter-colored skin that seemed to glow. She didn't need makeup, her skin was so clear. Her eyes were big, beautiful, and bright. Her hair flowed down her back in ripples of tiny braids. Michael enjoyed dressing casually, while Lora dressed very elegantly with just a touch of sexiness.

Michael was sexually active and was always pressing Lora about having sex. Lora was a virgin and planned to stay that way at least until she found someone she wanted to spend her life with or felt like she could be comfortable enough with. Thank God, Lora didn't decide Michael was that guy. Lora never thought her relationship with Michael would last. She felt connections with him but not enough to commit any deeper than she was. However, it would have been nice if it could have lasted at least till graduation. She felt him pulling away from her and noticed that he was hanging with the town sluts. Michael began hanging out at night and wasn't at home when she called. The next thing she knew, he walked up to her and told her he needed some space and that he needed to find himself but that he still loved her.

"What you mean is that you want to be able to mess around with those other girls without the feelings of guilt that you would have because you would be cheating on me," Lora stated angrily.

"Lora, you know I love you but I need to have some time to figure out what I am going to do with my life. I am not worried about messing with other girls. I want to be able to come back to the only girl I have ever loved, and that is you. I just need to be able to be alone. Can't you understand?" Michael pleaded his case for a long time, telling her all of the reasons that a guy would need to take time to themselves. He could see the pain on her face. Every word he said sent arrows through her heart. "You will see. I will come back to you a better man. I will be able to stand next to you and be proud of who I am. I am doing this for you."

Lora didn't speak for a long time. She was deep in thought. He really sounded sincere. Maybe she should give him the time he was asking for. "O.K. Michael, I will leave you alone and let you find yourself. I will be here when you are ready to come back." They kissed, then said goodbye.

That was two weeks before the trip. Lora put it out of her mind and shopping became the priority. Lora hooked up with her best friends, Tracy Hicks, and Denise Walker, and headed to the mall. They wanted to get things to have on the trip. It wasn't like there were many places to go in Augusta. Most of their time was spent in the Augusta Mall.

Tracy Hicks was Lora's best friend. One year older, wiser, and the most outgoing, She was the one person Lora turned to for advice about men. Tracy had been all over the world as a military brat. Her parents were very dominating and controlling. When Tracy was able to go out, she really tried to have fun. She could turn the head of any guy and some women as well. Tracy was tall, dark, and had very long straight black hair. She had perfect proportions and slender long legs. Most of the time when the three of them went out, she was the one men wanted. She could have been a model. Tracy was the outspoken one of the three. She always knew what she wanted and could express her thoughts without any reservations. Her strength and love of life were expressive. It can be seen all over her face when she falls in love. She was terrible at hiding her feelings.

Denise Walker was Lora's oldest friend. They had been friends since kindergarten. Denise was the same age as Lora, actually three days younger. They had many birthday parties together. Denise was of medium height, medium brown-skinned, with brown short hair, and a well-rounded young woman. She had big breasts and a big ass that the men liked. She was very smart, the school's valedictorian, and loved to show off her brain. Denise moved away when they were going into the fifth grade and returned as they went into the ninth, making sure that her parents got her into the same school as Lora. Though Denise was not very outspoken, she never hesitated to clear up any philosophical question. Her parents were always busy working on their law careers. They couldn't continuously uproot Denise whenever they had to do business, so they hired a housekeeper/nanny to stay at the house with her when they were not around. Denise knew they loved her and that they would be there for her if she ever needed them.

Tracy drove them to the mall. They got out of the car and started walking around the mall. The three young women were the best of friends and inseparable. They told each other everything. While they shopped Lora told the girls about what happened with Michael.

"Well, I think it is good you are being so understanding. It is actually sweet." Denise replied as Lora finished telling her story. They picked out shoes, bags, and accessories, and then walked to the next store still discussing Lora and Michael.

"I'd still be careful. Guys are never what they seem, especially if they are sex-starved." Tracy chimed in. "I mean, I know you are not having sex and I do respect that, but you know that if a man wants sex, he will get it from somewhere and that's a man that wants sex."

"Well, let's forget about Michael and get back to shopping," Lora concluded the conversation and they went back to shopping.

They went from store to store picking up all the things they were going to need on the senior trip. They had their swimsuits, new outfits, undergarments, and other hair goods. Then, while they were picking out some perfume, Denise saw Michael. He was walking through Macy's with two of the town's well-known sluts. They were fondling him as he walked and he was getting ready to go to the counter to buy something that was definitely not for him. Denise quickly pointed him out to Lora. When Lora turned to see him, he was kissing one of the girls.

"So he was not interested in sex and other girls, huh? How could he!" Lora exclaimed as she walked over to confront him. Tracy and Denise followed close behind her.

"So, Michael ..." Lora said. He didn't even notice her approach; he was so into the kiss. "How have you been?" She continued talking before he could even reply. "So, this is what you call finding yourself? Silly me. I just thought you wanted to be able to hang with your male friends! I am so stupid that I believed you and all the stuff you said about finding yourself and getting your life in order. And where do I see you, in the mall with two of the biggest sluts around here, kissing and fondling each other? You must think I am a fool!" Lora's anger and agitation were showing. Her face was red and her eyes were dark and cold.

"Lora, it's not what you think." Michael started to try to explain.

But Lora cut him off. "Yes, it is exactly what I think it is. Don't worry about it though. It is over between us now. Completely! I was willing to give you the time but not if you are going to humiliate me. I don't want to hear that you love me again." Lora slapped Michael and walked off with him calling after her. Tracy and Denise followed her. Michael just stood there and let her leave.

"If she wants to put on a show for her girls then let her. She won't stay angry." Michael was confident that when Lora cooled off, she would forgive him and take him back. He knew her too well. He knew she could never stay angry with him. She would always love him. He decided not to go after her. After all, he wasn't going to lose out on the fun night he had planned with his two girlfriends just because she decided to show out. He had a right to have fun and she wasn't going to give him any sexual attention. He was going to enjoy himself.

Lora was furious. She stomped out of the mall with all her stuff with her friends desperately trying to keep up. When Tracy and Denise caught up with her she was pacing at the trunk of the car waiting for Tracy to open it.

"Calm down Lora. He is not worth all this fuss." Denise said. Tracy opened the truck and they put their stuff in. They then got into Tracy's Taurus and Tracy drove them home. All the way home they talked about Michael.

"You can't let him win like this," Tracy said.

"So much for a temporary breakup. I can't believe he could do this to me! The rat bastard can have his sluts because he won't be coming back this way. I am through with him. He can kiss my ass! I am going to Barbados and I am going to have fun. I am a free woman and I am going to act like a free woman." Lora stated.

"Yeah, let's go to that beautiful island and be wild and free. No moms and no rules," remarked Denise. "Let's just go and have a great time." They decided that Michael was a no-good dog with childish ways. He was then declared unfit for their conversation.

With that, they went shopping at Walmart and resigned themselves to going to Barbados with their senior class and having the fun of their lives.

When Lora made it home, Michael was there talking to her parents. They loved him and that she was with him. Lora's father was the pastor of one of the largest Baptist churches in Augusta, Georgia. The family image was the most important thing to him. Michael being a parishioner fit his image perfectly. The news of the breakup hurt Lora's dad more than anything. Lora said hello and continued upstairs. When her mom asked if she wanted to talk to Michael, she said no and closed the door. Her parents sat downstairs and talked to Michael a while longer then asked him to leave. The trip was coming at a perfect time because Lora knew that if she was to stay at the house, her parents would try to push her to go back with Michael.

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"I am so happy She is finally rid of that pest she had following her around. I would have beaten him if he would have had sex with her. She is all mine. Paying those sluts to tempt him was the best thing I ever did. My plan will work. She will be mine."

"I've never seen you this invested in a girl. You have put out so much money for their trip. Why? You know you don't love her."

"How do you know what I love? Just because you have been there all my life, doesn't mean you know everything about me!"

"My dear boy, I know all of you. I taught you everything you know. Now come here, take care of my desires, and give me my release." He walked over to her kneeled between her legs and obeyed. 'My love, you don't need anyone else but me.'