Free Not First Love by Jennifer Lawrence Page A

he felt jealousy this bad.
    Van was starting to be affected by the aromas and  lose his control, Jan noted. He tried to bring Jan closer. Jan looked around her. All the couples around her were definitely getting closer. With every spray it grew stronger.
    Van tried to kiss her. She moved him and went away quickly. But it only ignited Van. He started to follow her. She almost ran towards the staircase. She started to climb the stairs but then she realized she could not leave everyone in this condition. Things could turn pathetic for the rest of their lives. She had to think of something.
    She had an idea. Turn the fire alarm on. The water will wash off the aroma from the air. People will go outside and get some fresh air. Their brain will get clear of the gas. Perfect idea.
    She was startled.  Van had come in and placed his hand on her right shoulder.
    He pulled her towards himself. Jan tried to take the hand away but instead Van’s hand slipped and caught her gown’s strap. He pulled and it tore. Jan held her dress so that it wouldn’t come off the shoulder. Van was not ever aware what he was doing, Jan thought, he wouldn’t even remember what happened today. Such could be the effect of alcohol and the high dose of aphrodisiac together. It activates pleasure and the primitive areas causing a kind of high, and people may not even remember. It would take real strength of character to resist it. Van clearly didn’t have it. He eyes showed the effect of the drugs.
    He was trying to get closer. Jan wondered whether she should take the stairs or go back to the hall. Van tried to get hold of her dress again and pull. But he never reached Jan. Instead he fell down crying out.
    Jan hadn’t noticed Arthur coming in. He looked furious. Jan had never seen him this furious.
    Arthur was furious when he saw Van going after her. He followed them but stopped for a moment before following them to the staircase. He had felt jealousy on Van for touching her. Now he felt rage. When he saw Van tearing her strap, he wanted to kill him. 
    Jan saw Van’s drunkenness made him a poor match to Arthur, not that he could anyway. But Van could get seriously hurt if Arthur didn’t stop. She needed to stop him. None had any idea what was really going on.
    “Arthur, that’s enough.” Jan said in a commanding voice.
    Van had passed out, Arthur realized. He looked at Jan, she was holding her torn strap with her left hand.
    Jan had been thinking clearly till now but as she met Arthur’s eyes, she lost her cool. The situation sunk in, Arthur with the women, she standing here with a torn dress.  Her eyes began to water and she ran to her cave and shut the latch from the inside.
    Arthur walked up slowly to her room and knocked.
    “Go away Arthur.”
    “Jan.”
    “Please leave me alone.”
    “Jan, I am sorry.”
    Everything was quiet. At last Jan said, “Go and put on the fire alarm on. Let them get wet, Arthur.”
    Arthur didn’t ask why. Jan heard his footsteps going down. He went to the control panel and turned the alarm. Jan heard the alarm go on downstairs with the sound of rushing water.  People were running outside. It had worked.
    The alarm went off. It was long past midnight. One by one they all drove away.  Everything went quiet. She heard footsteps on the stairs and stop before her door. There was no knock. She knew it was Arthur.
    Arthur wanted to be near Jan. He sat outside the door of her room. He didn’t knock.
    No more demands from her. No more hurting her. He wouldn’t do that nor would allow Ron or Zilo or anybody to do that.
    She had never demanded anything from them, she didn’t need anything from them. Neither Zilo’s money, nor Ron’s love.
    She had just given and given. Love, friendship, encouragement. Hope. Protection. Without a word.
    What did she receive from them? Sarcasm, hurt and indifference. Nobody wanted to know what she wanted. Arthur would not allow this to happen anymore. He would care for her. He would