Thread: The Shadow Man {Darkest Nightmare & Xanapahia}

Dean Thomas pulled his car up outside the house, glancing up at the suddenly ominous structure like he was seeing it for the first time. It was just a normal, two story faux-colonial house with a nice front yard and a paved driveway. One of hundreds of nearly identical homes in this idyllic neighborhood. He'd even been inside dozens of times already. There was absolutely no reason he should feel nervous, even scared, sitting here in his car, but for some reason he was both. Shaking his head to clear it, Dean exited his car and brushed back one of the unruly locks of long brown hair that fell across eyes. The tall High School Senior was dressed in his typical dark jeans and a hoodie, his long hair framing a fine boned face that was delicate and almost as pretty as it was masculine. And his eyes, deep blue and very large, were also worthy of being on a girl with their long eye lashes. But the rest of his body, lean, toned and athletic, if a little skinny, was all man. The combination on the Senior made many girls swoon, at least those that liked the sensitive, artistic, pretty boy type, but his charms hadn't worked fully yet on the one girl he actually wanted. The girl that lived in the house that seemed suddenly foreboding. As Dean approached it, walking up the brick path, his thoughts naturally went to Lydia. They'd been friends for years, since middle school really, but she'd been strangely reticent to take their relationship to any level beyond platonic despite his subtle attempts. At least she'd been just as shy with all the other boys as well, not just Dean. During years when girls were experimenting, having their first crushes, and stealing their first kisses, she'd been as chaste as the Bible thumper crew. And even those religious girls, at least those that had broken down, had more sexual experience than Lydia by now. Some were quite dirty in fact. Dean should be excited right now, maybe nervous because of the opening Lydia had given him this night. Instead, he felt a shiver of dread as he stood on her front porch and eyed the doorbell. Things had heated up slowly with her over the last couple weeks as Dean had abandoned any attempt at subtlety. They were seniors, graduating in a few months, so if he couldn't tell Lydia that he liked her and wanted to be more than friends with her, then he'd regret it for the rest of his life. His efforts had led to a progression of activities that felt like 8th grade all over again, a shy kiss or two at first. Some hand holding. A make-out session in his car after a movie. A number of PG rated messages back and forth, with Disney Channel like admissions that they liked each other. Then finally some more heated action in his car, the back seat finally getting long desired use with the girl he'd craved since he was thirteen. She was a virgin, that was clear, but she seemed to want to make up for missed time. And tonight her parents were out of town and she was alone. Her invitation to come over to hang out was unmistakeable in its intent. She wanted more, maybe even losing her virginity. Pushing aside the strange feelings he still had, Dean gritted his teeth and pushed the doorbell. Tonight Lydia was going to finally be his.