Strawberry Wine

by Phillips, Kristy

  Jason frowned in confusion and looked at Alli’s portrait sitting beside them.

  “The nude.” She clarified.

  Understanding lit his eyes. “Ah. Right. That painting.” Jason grabbed the back of his neck, massaging the tight muscles a bit before dropping his hand. “I burned that painting.”

  Alli gasped. She stared at him in shocked silence for a moment. He watched as different emotions played across her face. Her lower lip began to tremble, and her eyes began to fill with familiar tears. Her voice was a hushed whisper when she spoke. “H-how you must hate me...” Her hand rose to cover her mouth, stifling a sob.

  Jason grabbed her wrist, frowning with concern. “No Alli, you misunderstand. I had to destroy it. It was...” His face felt flushed and he struggled with finding the right words. Finally he decided to be blunt. “It was child pornography.”

  Alli gasped again, this time letting out a teary, mildly hysterical laugh. “Oh, God.” She fizzed. “You’re right.”

  He joined in her emotional laughing. She snuffled loudly and swiped at her tear stained cheeks. A pretty frown of concentration furrowed her brow. “Then I’m confused.”

  “About what?” He asked.

  “Emiline keeps referring to my painting... I assumed she meant that one...”

  Realization dawned in Jason’s eyes. He was suddenly mortified and excited all at the same time. “She was most likely referring to the siren paintings...”

  “The siren paintings?”

  Alli followed his gaze to the corner of the studio by the racks. There were several easels set up with their backs toward Alli. She looked back at Jason, as if asking permission. He inclined his head, and Alli slowly made her way over to the easels.

  Jason didn’t follow at first. He watched rapt as she disappeared behind the raised canvasses. When she remained silent, his curiosity got the best of him and he joined her by the art.

  Alli was awestruck. She was staring at the paintings, slowly spinning, trying to take them all in.

  “Sirens?” She was breathless. Each beautiful creature stared back at her with her face. The likeness didn’t end there. Their hair was done in various shades of blues, greens, and purples, but the cowlicks were Alli’s. The lips, some smiling beguilingly, some parted with desire, all were full; All were Alli’s. Even the breasts were familiar, and Alli felt herself blushing imagining Emiline studying the paintings, knowing them to be depictions of Alli.

  “I don’t know what to say...”

  Jason took her elbow, noting she looked a little unsteady on her feet. She turned to him. “They’re beautiful.”

  He let out a breath, not having realized he’d been holding it all this time.

  The siren tangled in the fishing net caught Alli’s attention. The creature’s thin arm thrust desperately through the mesh, reaching futilely out for help while being dragged away from the viewer. Alli’s tears started anew. “I looked for you!” She sobbed. “I tried so hard to find you! I never meant to leave you like that.”

  Jason collected Alli into his arms. “Shhh.” He crooned. “Alli, don’t cry.”

  Sobs continued to wrack her body. She blubbered on, telling him everything - the deal she had made with her father, her failed attempts to find him, the excitement she had felt the day she’d seen his mural in the café. When she started trying to explain the mess she’d made of things with Greg, Jason took her face in his hands and held her still.

  All he could do was shake his head. He didn’t have any words. What did one say at a moment like this? They stood that way for what seemed an eternity, breathing each other’s breath, strung tight like bow strings. Then, unable to hold back any longer, Jason lowered his lips to Alli’s.

  Alli was grateful to have Jainey to sit with at lunch the next day. She was still in shock and wasn’t sure she could pull off acting like nothing was different in front of Libby, Sienna and Ellen. Alli thanked her luck that Jainey went to Bridges, and Bridges had an open campus lunch.

  As much as she tried to put her pregnancy out of her mind, it was all she could think about. The thoughts ranged from a panic stricken ohmygod ohmygod what have I gotten myself into, to a more optimistic maybe we can make a happy little family together, to an almost awed feeling that such an incredible biological feat was happening inside of her right this second.

  Jainey wasn’t the least bit bothered by the silence between them at the lunch table. She of all people knew exactly the types of thoughts that must be filling Alli’s mind.

  “Thanks again for last night.” Alli said. “And thanks for checking in with me today. It’s really comforting knowing someone cares.” Alli’s voice cracked on the last word and she looked up, trying to keep the tears from spilling down her cheeks.

  They were sitting at a secluded outside table, and there was no chance of them being overheard.

  Jainey smiled reassuringly at her. “So, you told the father already?”

  Alli nodded.

  “And he took the news ok?” Jainey didn’t want to pry. At the same time, the father was conspicuously absent, and Jainey wondered if that was an indication that he couldn’t handle the situation.

  Alli wasn’t sure how to answer. Taking Alli’s silence as an indication that the boy in question had understandably freaked out, she tried to offer words of encouragement. “Don’t worry, he’ll come around. He probably just needs a little time to get used to the idea.”

  Alli hated that she couldn’t be totally honest with Jainey, but Jason’s safety had to be her first priority right now.

  “Oh, you’re wondering why he isn’t here? He’s not a student here. He’s a neighbor of mine. We sorta hooked up over the summer.”

  Jainey nodded. “You don’t have to tell me. I mean, you can tell me as much or as little as you want. It wont go any further. I’m like a vault.”

  “I appreciate it.”

  The bell rang, signaling the end of lunch. Alli scrambled to pack up her things and head to English.

  Jason nodded politely to her as she entered. He looked tired. He had dark circles under his eyes, and a weariness about him that pulled at Alli’s heartstrings.

  Yvette brushed roughly past Alli on her way to her seat near the back. She made a point of having to squeeze by. “Wow, Alli. Feelin’ a little bloated today? You look like you’re putting on a little weight.”

  Alli frowned at Yvette in confusion. What was she getting at? Before seeing her in the drug store yesterday they hadn’t said more than a few words to each other.

  Alli decided to ignore Yvette, assuming she was just bitter about their little exchange, and that she’d get over it soon enough.

  It was harder to ignore Yvette the next day though, when Ellen, Libby and Alli arrived at Alli’s locker to find the word “slut” written across it in bright red lipstick. Ellen wrinkled her nose in distaste. “Eww. Someone has terrible taste in lip color.” Without missing a beat, Ellen whipped out a damp make-up remover sheet and wiped the offending word from Alli’s locker.

  “Thanks.” Alli started to twirl the combination lock.

  Libby looked around for any gawkers in the hall. “Do you have any idea who would do that to your locker?”

  Alli tried to lift the lock lever, but it was stuck. She pushed it back into place and turned the combination wheel to clear it. “Yeah. I ran into Yvette the other day and we kind of traded insults. I guess she’s the type to hold a grudge.”

  Completing the combination, Alli tried the lock lever again. This time it worked. As the locker door opened, several multicolored balloon animals spilled out onto the floor. Alli’s heart jumped with surprise, but failing to see anything else amiss in her locker, she calmed down.

  Ellen gingerly picked up a balloon animal. “Well, that’s classy.” Upon closer inspection the balloon animals weren’t made from balloons at all. They were actually different colored condoms.

  Other students in the hall couldn’t help but notice the commotion around Alli’s locker. Peop
le were starting to point and stare.

  Yvette magically appeared, flanked on either side by her bitchy entourage. Stopping a safe distance away from Alli, she raised her voice to ensure being heard above the din in the hallway. “Oh, Alli, no wonder you got knocked up. You’re using them wrong.” Yvette glanced knowingly around at the other students in the hall. Smiling a sickeningly sweet smile, she tilted her head, and with a sing song voice said, “Embarrassing.” Flipping her hair over her shoulder, she turned and continued down the hall toward class. She passed a stone still Mr. Taylor standing in his doorway. He had seen the whole thing.

  Watching Yvette’s retreating form, Alli also saw Mr. Taylor. His eyes burned fiercely in their sockets. His rage was barely being kept in check. She locked eyes with him for a fleeting second and gave the tiniest shake of her head. Don’t you dare do a thing. She tried to convey her message telepathically, willing him to stand down.

  Ellen and Libby were standing mutely amid the fallen condom balloon animals. They were both staring at Alli. Ellen in shock, Libby in confusion. Finally Libby spoke. “What is she talking about?”

  Ellen noted Alli’s ashen face, and was quick to speak up. “Yvette’s just up to her usual gossip mongering again. Bitch. It’s common knowledge that Josh Saunders ditched her at homecoming for Alli.”

  Libby looked relieved at this explanation, then confused again. “So why would she want to imply Josh got Alli pregnant? Isn’t that just illustrating further Josh’s preference for Alli? I mean, leaving a dance with some one is one thing, but doing the horizontal tango is quite another.”

  Ellen stepped over Libby’s rambling. “Nobody got anybody pregnant for Christ’s sake. Yvette’s a cunt. Let’s move on.” She glared menacingly at the few gawkers left in the hall. Alli was relieved to see that Mr. Taylor’s door had been closed.

  Ellen glanced at Libby trying to stuff the balloon animals into the garbage can across the hall, then turned and looked meaningfully at Alli. “You okay?”

  Alli didn’t know how to play the situation. Was there any sense in denying Yvette’s scandalous claims? It would become very obvious that they were true soon enough. Undecided, she just nodded dumbly and shrugged it off. “Yeah. Thanks for sticking up for me back there. I really don’t know what the hell her problem is.”

  Ellen nodded, not wanting to press Alli. “Yeah, she’s a bitch.”

  Ellen grabbed Libby and headed toward their next class. “Call me later if you want.” She called out to Alli as they left.

  Alli hesitated at the door to her English class. It would be so much easier to just ditch and go home, but she wanted to make sure Jason saw how unaffected she was by the incident in the hallway. Of course, she wasn’t unaffected at all, but she didn’t want him to know that. Steeling herself with a deep breath, she opened the door and marched into class with her head held high.

  She had been lucky enough to time her entry with the rest of the class breaking in to small discussion groups, so nobody really noticed her arrival. Nobody, that is, except Jason. He was leaning against a low bookshelf in the rear of the classroom, his arms crossed over his chest, a few sheets of paper held in his fist. To the average observer he looked at ease, but Alli could clearly see the tension in every line of his body. He looked pale, and Alli could see the muscles standing out on his jaw from his clenched teeth.

  When she met his stare, his eyebrows creased the slightest bit in a question. She smiled humorlessly. It was the best she could manage in an attempt to convey her message. I’m alright. Please calm down.

  The moment their lips touched it was as if someone had lit a fuse in them. Blinding need overcame them and they attacked each other with fervor. Twined together and grasping at one another like crazed animals, they stumbled into an easel, knocking one of the siren paintings over with a loud slap.

  Jason didn’t break the kiss. He ignored the fallen painting and steered them over to the back of the studio.

  Jason’s foot caught on the edge of Reggie’s tarp, sending them careening into the workbench, knocking a mug of brushes and several cans of paint to the floor. It was a glorious mess and neither of them took any notice of it.

  Jason swept his arm across the work bench, blindly knocking the last few remaining pints of paint to the floor before lifting Alli up onto the counter. She was wearing a pencil skirt which he rucked up around her hips as he ran his hands up her thighs to grab her bottom.

  Alli was equally determined to get Jason out of his clothes. Sitting on the counter she was slightly taller than him. She tugged at his shirt, pulling it over his head and tossing it aside. Once free of his shirt, Jason gripped Alli’s thin blouse in each hand and yanked hard, popping its delicate buttons, sending them pinging to the floor. She was wearing a camisole under her blouse. Jason was mesmerized by the hard peaks of her nipples clearly visible through the flimsy material. Alli quickly shook her arms free of the remnants of her blouse, then pulled her camisole over her head, baring herself to Jason.

  He hungrily took her into his mouth, laving first one nipple, then the other. Alli gasped at the heat of his mouth on her skin. She threaded her fingers roughly through his hair and gripped him tightly in encouragement.

  While circling Alli’s nipple with his tongue, Jason’s hands traveled down to her hips, then to the small of her back, where they found the zipper to her skirt and unzipped it. He then lifted her off the counter to stand before him, letting her skirt pool at her feet. He groaned with lust when he realized Alli was only wearing a thong. One yank of the thin strap made short work of it, and Alli was standing before him completely nude.

  Jason was painfully hard. When Alli unfastened his jeans he moaned with relief. He kicked out of his boots and struggled out of his pants, eager to hold Alli skin to skin.

  Now that there was no barrier left between them, Jason began to realize there wasn’t exactly an inviting place to continue their activities. In a flash of clarity he remembered the chaise. Thinking to steer Alli in that direction he began to turn them around. In his ardor he had forgotten about the paint mess. He stepped carelessly, slipping and sending them both to the floor. Jason managed to twist his body mid fall so he caught the brunt of the landing with his hip. Alli landed atop him. He grunted, and shivered at the cold, wet paint now coating his back, but feeling Alli splayed across his naked body was more than enough to distract him from any discomfort caused by his current position.

  “Are you okay?” Alli started to ask.

  In answer, Jason kissed her deeply, grabbed her hips, and positioned himself at her slick opening. Alli returned the kiss and grabbed the sides of his face, pushing her pelvis down and sheathing him inside her in one smooth motion.

  They both gasped in ecstasy. He held her still a moment with a firm grip on her hips. She could feel him twitching inside of her.

  When he had himself under control, he loosened his grip and Alli began to grind against him. She pushed herself up off his torso, so she was riding him. He moaned, clutching at the paint soaked tarp beneath him. Alli threw her head back, ignoring the hard, wet concrete beneath her knees and focusing on the incredible pleasure emanating from her core.

  Jason brought his hands up to cup her breasts. He was startled to see the vibrant blue smear across her skin. Alli sucked in a sharp breath at the feel of the cold paint on her when Jason moved his hands. She increased her tempo.

  Jason couldn’t hold out at this pace much longer. He growled deep in his chest and flipped them over, rolling Alli into the liquid rainbow seeping its way across the tarp. The cold temperature of the wet paint in contrast to the fiery heat emanating from the man above her, was flooding her brain with sensation overload. The way Jason was positioned, thrusting roughly into her while keeping most of his weight on his elbows, was hitting her in just the right way. They could both feel her body responding to the new position. It started with her stomach clenching, then manifested into her limbs shaking uncontrollably. Finally the spasms exploded in her core, cau
sing her to clench around him tightly, sending him over the edge into his own release.

  She was screaming - loudly - as he continued to thrust into her depths. She could feel his liquid heat pouring into her and hear him mumbling hard-to-make-out words. She thought she heard him repeating “mine” but she was too sex-addled to form a cohesive thought.

  When at last he stilled, they lay quietly, the only sound their labored breathing. He pressed his forehead to hers and looked into her eyes. Neither of them spoke. They just stayed like that, still joined, for several minutes.

  Jason shifted his weight, leaning down to kiss her tenderly. It was a sweet, loving kiss, very different from the animalistic intensity of moments before. Alli returned the kiss, sighing into his mouth. To her surprise she could feel him growing hard again. He was still inside of her, buried to the hilt. She thought she must be mistaken, but as if in answer to her doubts, Jason began to move again. This time he was much slower. He set an unhurried, almost frustrating pace.

  She moaned, raising her hips to meet each thrust. “Jason...” She sighed.

  “Alli...” He answered. And once again they journeyed together to climax, this one being slower to build, yet somehow even more powerful than the last.

  Alli lay in the crook of Jason’s arm. They were still on the cold, unforgiving floor of the studio. A numb stiffness was settling into their bones. Alli took stock of their surroundings and giggled. The immediate area was an epic mess. The tarp was covered with bright swirled colors, as were their naked bodies.

  Jason had an arm thrown over his eyes. Alli’s giggles caused a grin to split his lips. “What?” He asked without moving his arm.

  “Look at this place.” She said. “Look at us. We look like psychedelic porn.”

  That made Jason snort with laughter and join in her giggling. He moved his arm from his eyes and raised up on his elbow, keeping Alli nestled up against his side. “Nonsense.” He chided, bringing his free hand up to cup her breast, and delighting when her nipple hardened in response. “We don’t look like psychedelic porn.”