Popped

by Elizabeth Stevens

  I scoffed. “I won’t need to date anybody.” God, even just the word was distasteful. “She’s into it. She’ll give it up without too much work.”

  “I do not think it’s going to be as easy as you think, my man,” Jendo sang.

  “Really? You suddenly doubting my abilities? I thought you were on my side?”

  Jendo nodded. “I am on your side. I am convinced you’ll have won the fair princess’ virtue–”

  “Make it sound dirty, why don’t you?” I muttered disgustedly, but he ignored me.

  “–I’m just not convinced it’s gonna be as easy as getting her tomorrow night.”

  “She’s halfway there at least,” Rufio said. “Bash said so himself.”

  “I didn’t say she was halfway,” I huffed.

  “Fair. You didn’t. She’s playing you, is what.”

  “She’s playing. There’s a difference,” I told them.

  “Oh, no. Roof might have a point,” Jendo said.

  “What? Princess wouldn’t know how to play a guy.”

  “You think? The girl is a man-eater, Sebastian!” Jendo laughed. “She wraps guys around her little finger like nobody’s business.”

  “And how do you figure that, genius?” I asked.

  “Have you not been paying attention to her dating habits?”

  I scoffed. “Am I supposed to be keeping tabs on the princess’ boyfriends?”

  “That’s totally your business. I have and–”

  “And you’ve spent so much time worrying about her lovelife and that’s why you’re falling so short in your own?” I teased.

  “Fuck you,” Jendo chuckled roughly, but he knew I was only ribbing him. “No. I doubt any less concern on my part would mean I got any more than I do now.”

  “Right. Then what’s your point?”

  “My point is she’s as far from easy as they come. You don’t think Rowley was in a decent spot to take her v-card two weeks ago? They were home alone at his parents’ house and had all weekend. She still didn’t give it up.”

  “And Matt Jacobs at Valentines,” Rufio added.

  “Jacobs and Valentines what?” I asked.

  “He went all out. Flowers, chocolates, jewellery. You know what he got?” Jendo asked.

  “He got his arse dumped less than two weeks later,” Rufio answered.

  Jendo pointed at him. “He did.”

  “The girl doesn’t want to have sex,” Rufio added.

  “She’s had plenty of opportunities and she’s turned them all down.” Jendo nodded. “I can guarantee you this isn’t going to be as easy as you think.”

  “She doesn’t want to have sex?” I clarified.

  Jendo shrugged. “That’s my bet.”

  “Maybe she’s waiting for ‘the one’?” Rufio asked.

  “What? Like you, mate?” I joked, and he smiled.

  “Nothing wrong with wanting it to mean something.”

  “It means something every time I do it,” I told him.

  “Yeah, what? Means one less wank?” Rufio asked and I smirked.

  “Then again, maybe she’s just frigid?” Jendo brought us back to the topic at hand, but I could tell he was once again just playing devil’s advocate.

  “With the rest of the Triad running around like horny bunnies?” Rufio scoffed. “No.”

  Jendo nodded sarcastically. “Yes, because she couldn’t possibly have her own brain!”

  “That’s not what I meant,” Rufio huffed.

  “No. You just reckon because all her friends sleep around there’s no way she’s saving it.”

  Rufio frowned. “I hate it when you argue for the sake of it.”

  Jendo shrugged unapologetically. “It’s my job.”

  “The point is moot,” I snapped. “What do we know about her attitude to sex?”

  “None of them care who they’re doing or how often as long as they’re doing it safely. Those girls have a really healthy attitude to sex, man. This school’s lucky it’s got them at the top of the food chain. Imagine if they were judgy arse bitches who slut-shamed everyone?”

  “I’d probably spend all my breaks crying in the loo,” I joked, but my mind was whirring.

  “Clown all you want,” Jendo laughed. “But it makes your life a hell of a lot easier.”

  “Why is it okay for them to sleep with whoever, but not for Bash?” Rufio asked.

  “Because they don’t think they leave their conquests behind like garbage.”

  “And apparently, I do,” I added.

  Rufio nodded thoughtfully. “Fair call.”

  “What?” I chuckled, shoving him.

  He laughed. “What what? Like you want a conversation and a spoon after.”

  “Neither does Mia. What does that make her?” I asked, smiling.

  “Sexually liberated,” Jendo said, matter-of-fact.

  I scoffed. “It’s unfair is what it is.”

  “It is what it is, mate. But at least it means you get more girls.”

  I nodded. “Yeah. True.”

  “You know…” Rufio started.

  “Do I?” I asked cheekily.

  “Hear me out. It’s my turn to play devil’s advocate.”

  “This oughta be good,” Jendo muttered with a smirk.

  “The bet’s to get Paige’s cherry–”

  “We have literally just been discussing this.”

  “Give me a second,” Rufio huffed. “I’m not talking about the how, but the why.”

  “Uh. We also discussed this.”

  “Yeah. But I’ve found a flaw in the plan.”

  “A flaw?” I asked, leaning forwards.

  “Yes.” Rufio nodded.

  “And are you going to tell us about this flaw or just hold it over us?” Jendo asked.

  “The plan was to topple the princess so Casanova could get the rest of the virgins, yes?”

  “Well…when you put it like that…” Jendo said, grimacing.

  I shrugged. “But, yeah. That was the gist of it.”

  “Okay. So, if they don’t care who’s sleeping with who… Why is this going to make a difference?”

  “Okay!” Jendo cried, sliding forward. “Addendum. The bet is to prove Bash is as good as he thinks he is. BUT to do so, he has to pop the strongest cherry in the school.”

  “Right. Because if can get her, he can get anyone.”

  I nodded. “Have we appeased our sense of justice?”

  They both looked at me in confusion.

  “Surely the why is irrelevant by now? The person at the top of the food chain has a cherry as yet unpopped. We have wagered I can pop it. I’m less focussed on the why and more worried about the how.”

  “Casanova’s worried,” Jendo teased.

  “Shut up. I take my wagers very seriously.”

  “And you have a party tomorrow at which you hope to remove a certain princess from her cherry. A certain princess who is wilfully stubborn.”

  “One of the reasons you chose her.”

  “I thought you didn’t care about the why?”

  I rolled my eyes at him. “If you’re not going to be helpful, shut up.”

  “Have you thought about being nice?” Rufio joked.

  “You can also shut up,” I told him.

  “Yeah,” Jendo teased. “Let Casanova think.”

  I threw a crumpled up piece of paper at him.

  We fell into a thoughtful silence as I rethought just how easy popping Paige’s cherry was going to be.

  Who knew why she hadn’t had sex yet? If it was because she was waiting, I was screwed – or not. I’d have to pull out some pretty big moves to get her into bed. If it was because those other arseholes hadn’t known how to get her interested, I didn’t have anything to worry about. If it were any other reason I hadn’t thought of, then I had no idea what I was going to do.

  After lunch, we headed off to class and I didn’t think m
uch of it until I was back in the Common Room for my last lesson free. Had I not been designated driver for Leo and two freeloaders then there was no way I’d still be at school last lesson on a Friday if I didn’t have to be. But I didn’t mind so much when I saw Paige was already there.

  I didn’t think I’d seen her in the Common Room during our free this much in the whole year. It had to have something to do with the attention I was paying her. Surely.

  I dropped down into my usual seat, giving her a smile as I did.

  She looked around the room as though checking who else was there to witness whatever she was about to do. I chastised the fleeting thought that went through my head about her flashing her tits.

  After she’d satisfied whatever she was checking, she threaded her way through the furniture and over to me. The whole way she bit her lip like she was shy, but the look in her eyes was determined and purposeful. She wasn’t like my usual girls. This one knew how to play, and I liked that. I didn’t realise I’d like that sassy confidence that had me striving to outdo her, but I did.

  “Hey,” she said, stopping to hover next to me.

  I nodded. “Hey.”

  “So…” she started. “I wanted to ask you about tomorrow.”

  “In person?” I asked and she nodded. I look around the room pointedly, then leant towards her and whispered, “Where people might see you?”

  She bit her lip against a smile, then relaxed. “I just wanted to ask if there was a dress code?”

  I looked her up and down. “A dress code?”

  She nodded. “Yes.”

  “What do you expect? White tie? Cocktail? Maybe themed?” I teased.

  She failed to hide a smile. “I more meant, is it a dress sort of occasion or a trackpants sort of occasion.”

  I looked her over again, just to remind myself I was talking to Paige. “Like you own trackpants.”

  She huffed a short laugh that made her nose wrinkle and her eyes sparkle. “I own too many pairs of trackpants, Bash.”

  “Well if you want to wear one – or more – tomorrow, you are more than welcome. It’s super casual.”

  “I’m sensing a but.”

  “Most of us have them, Paige,” I told her and she looked at me in surprise for a moment, then her nose wrinkled again and her eyes shone as a huge smile lit her face.

  “Yes, we do. I was thinking more along the lines of ‘but we prefer our girls dressed like hookers’.”

  I laughed. I actually laughed. It was neither dignified nor pretty and I was a little bit embarrassed of myself. But by the way she was smiling expectantly, she either hadn’t minded or hadn’t noticed.

  “I don’t imagine anyone would say no to easier access… If you get my meaning…?”

  She nodded. “Oh, I get it.” She grinned. “Am I to understand you’ll be equally accessible?”

  I inclined my head. Damn, she was good. Unexpectedly good. “Unfortunately, my kilt’s at the drycleaners–”

  “Oh, shame.”

  The minx was teasing me. And I didn’t want it to stop. “Tell you what. In fairness and equality, how about we both wear jeans?”

  Paige pursed her lips and her eyes narrowed as though she was thinking about it. Finally, she nodded. “All right.”

  I nodded as well. “Too easy.”

  She planted her hands on the desk and leant towards me. This close she smelled like something floral, but rich and down to earth with a touch of sweetness and a whole lot of spice. Or maybe that was just her personality.

  “I thought the point was it wasn’t easy?” she asked cheekily.

  She had me swallowing. Was she actually making me nervous? “I meant–”

  She pushed herself up again and, as she walked away, said, “Oh, I know what you meant,” gave me a wink, turned and didn’t look back.

  And I had to ask myself, who was playing who here?

  “Things are about to get very interesting,” I murmured with a smile before going back to my work.

  Chapter 8: Paige

  I’d gone over the plan with Mum before I’d left – she had the address of the party, knew Georgie was designated driver, and, while the concept of a curfew was loose on a Saturday night, I told her one of the three of us would be in contact after midnight so she knew what we were up to, and that we’d be home by two.

  “All right, you girls have a great night and be safe,” she said as we came out of my room all ready for a night of heavy wooing – not that she needed to know that.

  Mia nodded, unable to keep her overly excitable grin off her face. “Thanks, Heidi. We will!”

  “You’ve all got your phones, cards and keys?” Mum asked again.

  I gave her a hug and kissed her cheek. “We’re all set.”

  As I pulled away from her, she looked us over. “I’m not going to ask where you’re keeping them,” she said with a wry smile.

  “Good plan,” Georgie laughed then started bustling Mia and me out the front door. “Come on, guys. The party express is leaving!”

  “Bye!” Mum called as we made our way out to my car where it was parked at the curb.

  “Oh, it’s bastardly cold!” Mia squealed as she ran to the car.

  I wasn’t surprised she was cold; she was wearing short black shorts and a cropped, off the shoulder maroon knit top with black combat boots – as the tallest of us, she rarely wore heels. She was wearing tights, but they were patterned fishnets so not exactly geared towards warmth. And of course, she didn’t have a jacket because she knew she was likely to leave it behind or in the back of someone else’s car – it had happened before.

  “That would be your choice of wardrobe,” Georgie said ruefully and I shared a smile with her as we followed more sedately, picking our way carefully across the lawn – because it was far quicker than taking the driveway – in our heels.

  “Paige has some skin on show!” Mia replied indignantly as she started bouncing by the back of the car.

  “Not that much,” I laughed.

  As Bash and I had agreed, I was wearing jeans. But that didn’t mean I wasn’t going to be wearing my very best figure-hugging black jeans and appropriate accompaniments. I’d chosen only slightly more sensibly than Mia in the top department – a tight cropped white singlet that almost met the top of my jeans, but also a thick cream cardigan that was way hotter than it sounds. And I finished it all off with black heeled booties that should close the height discrepancy between Bash and me.

  Georgie was the most sensibly dressed of all of us, as she always was. She wore distressed blue jeans, a baggy black jumper, dark red chunky scarf, a black slouched beanie, and deep red heeled boots with buckles – as the shortest of the three of us she almost always wore heels. She topped it all off with dark winged eyeliner and thick black glasses frames. She was all things nerd personified and stunningly beautiful as well. I envied the way she could manage both – any time I attempted more relaxed and casual, people seemed to think I must be ill because I came across less ‘put together’. It had been a sticking point with quite a few of my ex-boyfriends.

  “Unlock the damned car!” Mia laughed, pulling on the door handle like that was going to do anything.

  Georgie waited until she was at the driver’s door, then finally unlocked it.

  “Oh, thank God!” Mia huffed as she ripped open the door and pulled the seat forwards to climb into the back. Getting her in at the end of the night was likely to prove more difficult.

  I laughed as I pushed the front seat back again and slid in. Had Mia been the designated driver, then we would have taken her sister’s car because there was no way my mum would have let her drive my car. But Georgie was the most responsible one out of us and I was pretty sure Mum trusted her driving my car more than she trusted me.

  We set the navigation to this Sam guy’s address and cranked the music as we drove.

  There was some singing – good and bad – and chatting about absolutely unimp
ortant things as we got ourselves amped up for a party where, as far as we knew, the only people we’d know were the Baker Boys. It wasn’t that hard; we were all confident young women and we enjoyed making friends. Well, Georgie slightly less than Mia or me, but in general she didn’t hate the public.

  We took a left onto the road and figured it must have been the right one because it was lined with cars. When Google told us our destination was coming up on the right, Georgie turned down the music and slowed down. I craned over Georgie to watch the house numbers for her. I could already hear the sounds of music playing loudly from one of the houses.

  “That one!” Mia cried and I looked back to her to see her pointing.

  Georgie hit the brakes and we all looked. The letterbox said it was number three.

  “Okay. Find me a park,” she said, looking around.

  Mia and I swivelled as Georgie snuck up the street.

  “There’s Bash’s car!” Mia squeaked.

  “Not helpful unless you’re suggesting I park on top of him,” Georgie said dryly.

  “That position will hopefully be filled by Paige soon enough,” Mia giggled and I snorted.

  “Not that soon, I hope,” I replied then pointed. “Park on your left. In front of that white one.”

  “Sweet. Cheers,” Georgie said as she steered into it.

  I was meanwhile thinking about what Mia had said. Hook-ups at parties were known to get a little further than you’d normally take them, even if you hadn’t been drinking. So, I was going to have to keep a tight lid on myself. Bash was an attractive guy and by all accounts knew what he was doing, which meant I couldn’t let myself get carried away. I wanted him interested, which first started with physical attraction, but if I was going to make him fall in love with me, I had to play the long game – give him too much now and he’d be gone.

  Georgie and I pulled Mia out of the backseat and walked back down to number three. We could practically feel the bass thumping as we walked up the path. When we got to the front door, we found it was unlocked and let ourselves in. It was only then that the first hint of trepidation crept in at being in a foreign house with people I didn’t know. But as I looked around, it looked like any other house party we’d ever been to and I felt the party mood take over again.