The Joy of Revenge

CHAPTER 22 Patience
Joy
Noah and I exited the house and walked towards
my car. As I was about to open the car door, memories of our junior year in high school came flooding back. I glanced at Noah who was busy checking out the exterior of my car. If I had just waited a little bit longer for him to ask me to the dance, perhaps the terrible things that happened to me that night wouldn’t have happened.
I entered my car, put on my seat belt and waited for Noah to slide into the driver’s seat. This was how I imagined the spring dance would be. He would come pick me up in his car and I would be seated in the passenger’s seat all dolled up, hoping he would be my first kiss come. night’s end.
I scoffed quietly, covering my mouth with the back of my hand. Well, I got more than I bargained for. As he drove out of my driveway, I turned to look out of my window, pretending I was busy looking at the scenery.
Three months before the spring dance, I had begun to sew my own gown after months of sketching. I had asked Lisa for her opinion, showing her all my designs that I painstakingly drew and she had pointed to my favorite- a backless dress with a dramatic plunge neckline. and a mermaid silhouette. She suggested that I should make the dress white rather than blue which I had previously pictured it to be. Lisa said I would look like an angel.
I remember closing my eyes and imagining myself wearing the white creation, looking like an angel and being the envy of every girl there, as I walked into the school’s auditorium with Noah by my side who looked so handsome in his tuxedo. I decided Lisa was right and proceeded to make the gown white.
Two months before the spring dance, news circulated in school that Liam and Nicole had broken up. I thought it was all gossip until Liam and his possé would regularly show up at my locker every morning and they would join me for lunch. Suddenly, they treated me like a princess and showered me with attention. Actually, the only reason why I allowed them to
get so close was because of Noah. He was who my heart yearned for.
There were times when Liam would visit me in the library or drive me home in his BMW. He
did, at times, say he had feelings for me, but I would keep him at arm’s length and tell him I wasn’t ready for a relationship. Thinking we were friends, I thought he would respect my.
choices. I had forgotten he was a spoilt little child.
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CHAPTER 22 Patience
A month before the dance, many of the boys began asking the girls to be their date for the dance. I had thought, since Noah and I were friends again and we were regularly talking to each other, he would ask me straight away. However, Liam asked me first. I told him I would think about it, hoping to buy some time so Noah could ask me.
It was two weeks before the dance and still no Noah. I called Liam up and told him I had decided I would be his date to the dance. He was so ecstatic! He promised me we would have a good time and told me he would take care of everything.
Then, the unthinkable happened. After I had gotten off the phone with Liam, the doorbell rang. It was Noah!
“Hi Joy! Do you mind if I spoke with you alone? I have something I need to ask you.” He looked shy, nervous even.
I smiled at him and closed the front door behind me. We sat on the steps in front of my house, looking up at the night sky. I waited for him to speak, wondering what he needed to tell me.
“Joy, we’ve been friends a long time. Remember when I didn’t have any teeth and I used to
talk with a stutter?”
“Yeah, I remember. There were times when you would stutter on a word that started with ‘s…. You would make this really cute whistling sound,” I said, giggling. He laughed, remembering how we were like when we were children.
“You know me so well,” he said after he had stopped laughing, his face suddenly turning serious. “Joy, I-I, uh, I was h-hoping… I mean, 1, uhm…” He sighed. “I’m just gonna spit it out. Joy, would you be my date for the spring dance?”
I found myself just staring at him, not knowing what to say. How could I tell him I just agreed to be Liam Cohen’s date just a couple of minutes ago? I wanted to kick myself for not. having the patience to wait!
“Noah, I am so sorry. I just called Liam before you rang the doorbell,” I said, thinking if there

was a way to tell Liam I had changed my mind. Noah bent his head, trying to hide his disappointment.
Tell me you love me, Noah. Tell me to tell Liam I changed my mind…
“No, it’s okay Joy. It’s my fault. I’ve been trying to find the courage to ask you. Anyway, it
really doesn’t matter. We’ll still see each other at the dance,” he said.
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CHAPTER 22 Patience
“Of course. I promise I’ll dance with you. I don’t think Liam would mind, right? We’re all
friends.”
“Sure, Joy,” he said, standing up and pulling me up after him. “I better go on home. I’ll see
in school tomorrow. Good night, Joy.”
you
He looked so crestfallen as he walked home. If he had just asked me to tell Liam I had changed my mind, I would have…for him. I sighed. Well, I made a commitment, I had to honor it. As my father would always say, “You are only as good as your word.”
Images of that night began to plague me once again. How they tied me to the vertical bench press with my legs spread apart, my dress ripped open, and a piece of cloth tied around my mouth. How they took their turns with me, laughing in my face as they pumped harder and
harder and harder…
Suddenly, an image of me punching Noah in the throat for keeping quiet all these years flashed through my mind. I remember him telling me he had picked up a pair of underwear off the floor when he was driving me home.
“Don’t worry, Joy. Whoever did this to you, we’ll find him. I got his underwear in a plastic bag. They’ll probably get some DNA or something off of it. Please Joy… don’t die on me.” I wanted to tell him ‘thank you, but my jaw was broken at the time.
Yet, the Sheriff said Noah didn’t tell him anything nor did he give him any evidence. Neither
did Lisa or Nicole who lied to me and told me Noah was waiting for me at the boy’s side of the gym. They had told me he had something very important to tell me. I was such an idiot to believe Noah would be there, waiting for me, so he could confess his feelings for me.
Instead, they branded me a wh ore, telling everyone I was to blame for wearing a s lutty dress.
to the spring dance.
Patience Joy….
I squeezed the handle of my purse to calm myself as I felt my rage begin to bubble inside me. That’s when I noticed we were already in the business district of town. I ran my fingers through my hair and blinked rapidly, making myself look as sweet as possible. I glanced sideways at Noah and was relieved he didn’t notice I was going through one of my episodes.
“This is such a lovely town,” I said, trying to break the ice. He smiled and nodded his head,
agreeing with me.
“You looked so deep in thought, I didn’t want to bother you,” Noah sain
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“I was thinking of plans for my store. I’m planning to rent the commercial space beside the grocery store and put up a clothes shop,” I quickly replied. “And I want to hire you to help me set it up.” I saw his eyes lit up..
“Sure. What are neighbors for.”
Noah was really fun to be with. We laughed and chatted as we went aisle by aisle at the grocery store. Many of the customers stopped to welcome me in town. They also thought Noah and I made a lovely couple and were happy to see Noah smiling so much. He looked embarrassed each time someone said that, but I didn’t make an issue of it. I wanted him to learn to trust me, maybe fall in love with me, so I could break his black heart.
my
While we were at one aisle, looking for some alcoholic beverages I could buy for housewarming party, I bumped into a tall man wearing a simple white v-neck shirt, jeans and an apron. I took a deep breath, inhaling the wonderful scent of his crisp, clean expensive cologne that I was so familiar with and loved.
I looked up and saw light brown eyes smiling down at me while a lazy smile played on his perfect pink lips. He was sporting a five o’clock shadow. Obviously, he had forgotten to s have.
“Bo!” Noah exclaimed happily while shaking the hand of the handsome fellow. “I’d like you to meet a new addition to our town. Virtue, this is Bo, Bo Xavier. He owns this grocery store now. He bought it off Mrs. Larson then expanded it.”
“Oh wow! Nice to meet you, Bo,” I said, smiling tenderly while extending my hand to shake his. My darling, Xavier. It seems he has forgotten to take care of himself since taking his duties as a store owner so seriously.
We shook hands enthusiastically, his hand lingering before he let go. He averted his eyes and coughed to hide the momentary faux pas..
“Virtue. That’s a nice name,” he said, redeeming himself. “So what brings you to these parts?” He asked nonchalantly.
“I just wanted to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Try something new, more quiet and intimate,” I answered casually, looking at a can of soup.
“Married?”
plied.
not? A pretty little thing like you must have men knocking at your door, Xavier
O
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said, really getting into character. Noah was staring at me, interested at what I had to say. I shook my head and shrugged.
“I can’t seem to find the right guy, that’s all,” I answered.
“You must have some high expectations, Xavier said, winking. “Noah, you got your work cut out for you. Virtue, if you need anything, give me a holler. If I don’t have it here, I can order it for you and have it delivered on your doorstep. By the way, where do you live?”