Chapter 28: Chapter 28

50. Twisted

Natalie

“Hey… You are safe… that matters. Ok?”

I am not sure why, but for some strange and twisted reason, West comes to my mind. What he would say in this very situation. He would have shown his disappointment. He would have told me how he never expected this from me.

‘You are safe… that matters.’

Never this.

He would have blamed me for hanging out with someone I barely know. It doesn’t matter that I trust Nico. He would say I opened my legs too easily. It is a definition of an easy fuck, after all.

To be honest, I did open my legs too easily for West. Gave him the wrong impression. It doesn’t matter; I felt love stuck by him. He probably didn’t know. I wonder sometimes would he would still have trampled my heart if he knew.

Probably yes.

I am not sure if I will ever feel that love and affection for someone else in my life again.

I met Nico with the intention of dating. We soon figured out we weren’t on the same page. He didn’t trick me like West and told me his intentions clearly. He never pushed me to sleep with him and knew when to back off.

“Natalie…”

Jacob’s voice brings me out of my downward spiral of thoughts. I turn my head to see the concern in his eyes.

“Hmm…”

“Give me your hand.” He spreads his hand out to hold mine. I follow and hold it back.

“You are alright. Ok… Talk to me about something. Don’t be quiet.” He says, while his eyes are focused on the road.

I smile. It is comforting to hold his warm hand. If he wasn’t driving, I could lean in for a hug.

“I don’t know. What should I talk about?”

“Anything…” He adds, showing me his infectious boyish grin. “Or maybe we could discuss how you gonna pay me back for this huge favor I am doing you right now...”

“Well, I do own you a big time.” I chuckle.

“So, how about a study session that was supposed to happen last week?”

My cheeks burn. I pray to God that he doesn’t mention how I avoided him this week, despite promising otherwise.

“I will be at your place tomorrow at 9 in the morning.”

He chuckles. “Wow, that early!”

I shrug. “Take it or leave it.”

He laughs. “Well, I take it. Won’t say no to you… It’s just... Early!”

I realize it’s almost 1.30 AM now. Nine would indeed be early.

“Actually, we are going away for the weekend. We will leave by noon. So we will have 3 hours…” It’s early but I cannot help it.

He nods. “When are you coming back?”

“Not sure… Probably Sunday afternoon or evening.”

“Damn! Will I ever get a chance to spend time with you?” He says, and I am bewildered.

Why would he want to spend time with me?

“I noticed how you are failing in English,” I say, to change the subject. “Seriously Jacob? English? Let’s spend an hour after school to save your drowning English boat.”

“Heyyy!! It’s English literature!!! and I am glad you noticed... I thought I would drown with no trace.”

Jacob pulls his hand away while driving. I can still feel the warmth in my palms. We reach our neighborhood after some time.

“Don’t stop in front of my house. They don’t know I am out.”

“Nobody knew?” he asks, clearly stunned.

“Amy did. She had been texting me every hour or so... Now she is probably asleep.” I say while checking my phone. I haven’t received her message in an hour.

He nods in approval. “Good...”

I contemplate if I will tell Amy about what happened tonight. She will worry. But she needs to know... How things can go south at a party where alcohol is involved.

Jacob pulls over in front of his house. I walk towards mine as he watches me go inside.

51. Sex Saga

Natalie

I wake up around eight in the morning when mom knocks on my door to wake me up. Ira has blasted my phone with missed calls and messages.

Ira calling…

I sigh and pick up the phone.

“Natalie!! You alright? Tell me you are alright…”

“No, Ira! I died last night.”

“Not funny! What happened? Why did you call me so many times?”

“You know what happens when I go out… I don’t even know why I don’t give up and stay in my house forever…”

She is quiet for a while, then asks again. I tell her everything that happened.

She sighs. “I am sorry Girl... I am sure it’s just some terrible phase going on… It won’t last.”

“I fucking hope so,” I reply with indifference.

“That was really nice of Jacob to come.”

I glance at the clock and say, “Yeah... I gotta meet him at 9. I better take a bath… ”

“Listen…”

“Yeah?”

“There wasn’t any foul play on Nico’s behalf. Right?”

I don’t think so, but… I am not sure anymore.

“I hope not.”

After having my breakfast, I leave for Jacob’s house with some notes I know he might need. Seeking the opportunity, Mom hands me some perogies to share with Mrs. Miller. I wonder how long this tradition will last. But to be honest, I am loving it. Jacob’s mom sends in some experimental dishes. Everyone absolutely loves it.

Mrs. Miller accepts the humble perogies’ offering with grace and sends me on my way to Jacob’s room.

“He probably didn’t wake up yet. But you go ahead.” She tells me when I am going upstairs.

Okay…

I really hope he will be fully dressed.

I knock at his door. Once, then twice. I remember the last time when I had to wait for his door to open. I am not sure If I will be happy or annoyed if I see him shirtless today. It was difficult to manage the wave of horniness that had hit me last time.

When the door finally opens, I am fucking flabbergasted. I try to understand my emotions and finally figure out I am annoyed.

Scratch that. I am pissed!

Why do you ask?

There is a freaking girl in his room.

Wearing his shirt.

With no fucking pants on!

Maybe she is wearing extra short shorts… but who knows? She is probably not even wearing panties.

Yea… I get it. You have a fabulous body, but what’s there to show off? You already got the man.

Now put on some damn pants and get over it!

She rubs her eyes and says, “Heyy, you are his classmate…” She yawns and adds, “He is taking a bath.”

God, she is cute...

I don’t like her.

It’s the same girl from last night.

Damn, she’s gorgeous!

I still don’t like her.

After passing along Jacob’s whereabouts, she gets back inside his bed, covers her face with sheets, and goes back to sleep.

She left the door open for me.

What I am supposed to do?

Bask in their room to watch their after-sex saga?

God, I am agitated!

I put the notes on a table in the room and leave.

……..

“Why would he invite me if he had a girl in his room?” I ask Ira over the phone. I didn’t want to stay there, so I asked Mrs. Miller to tell Jacob that I stopped by.

“I am even more amazed that their parents are cool with a girl sleeping in his room,” Ira says. I can hear her chewing the popcorn. “My mom would never be cool with that!”

Yea, that too.

“By the way, why are you bothered? I thought you were not in the mood to get involved with him.”

and yea, that too.

“I don’t know. I thought… I thought he was about to kiss me last night…” I admit.

Ira coughs. “God my drink…” She coughs again. ”Yo… you didn’t tell me that!!! So why didn’t he kiss you?”

“How would I know?” I add after a pause. “But I guess… that’s for good.”

He possibly knows it’s not a good idea. Maybe he was just trying to comfort me and I read too much into it.

I can hear her chewing more popcorn and she says, “Just explain something to me…“

Her voice is muffled, and her mouth is probably full of popcorn.

Who eats popcorn at 9 in the morning?

”You went to hookup with Nico... you probably kissed and made out with him. Now you are annoyed that Jacob didn’t kiss you and slept with some hot girl last night.”

You bitch!

“I did not kiss or make out with Nico!! and I wasn’t even sure if wanted to sleep with him!”

“God Sweetie… I am sorry… but based on intelligence provided… I will call you a slut!!” She lets out an evil laugh and then coughs.

Choke on your stupid popcorn and die Ira!!!