Spring Semester

by Tyler, Q. B.

  “You’re in your head.” She runs her hands up my chest and presses them to my heart. “And your heart is pounding. What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing, Leigh.” I smile at her, not wanting to get into this now.

  She pouts and wraps her arms around me, pushing her head to my chest. My cock rests against her stomach and it twitches when her smooth skin rubs against me. “I wouldn’t…sleep with Adam or anyone…while we’re…” She trails off. “I have more respect for you than that.”

  I don’t say anything in response. Instead, I ask, “Are Pat and Dave still downstairs?” She nods as I note her trying to blink the tears out of her eyes. “Well, keep it down when you come, yeah?” I smirk at her.

  “Oh, my fucking GOD!” she screams. Yes, screams as soon as my tongue moves across her clit. She screams like she’s in a scene from The Exorcist. I feel her fingers moving against my scalp as she humps my face, trying her best to chase the orgasm I’m dangling in front of her like a proverbial carrot. “Jesus, Everett, please.”

  I dig my fingers into her thighs, the nails biting her flesh as I nibble at that space between her legs. She’s always tasted like someone drizzled honey over her skin. Sweet, delectable, delicious. I went down on my girlfriend in high school, and she didn’t taste half as good as Leighton.

  Leighton also had an entire fucking fit when she found out, so overall that experience wasn’t pleasant. She didn’t talk to me for a week after, and I finally had to show up at her house when I knew her parents weren’t home and pin her down to get her to talk to me. It ended with me eating her pussy for an hour and a half.

  To this day, I still don’t think she’s over it.

  “Come for me, baby.” I slide my hands under her butt and grip her ass hard. I hear the b word even as it slips out, and I’m grateful Leighton is too close to her orgasm to hear it. I slide two fingers into her cunt as I continue to tongue her sweet clit. Her body goes completely lax and I smile as I witness her full submission. “Open your eyes,” I command, and I watch as she struggles to pry them open, but finally does and they land on me and I see that her pupils are dilated and full of lust.

  I know what I’m doing, and I know what I want to hear. I always want to hear it after we’ve fought, and I know the way to get it out of her. Her eyes well up with tears and I watch as one trickles down her face and I wish I could lick it away. I raise an eyebrow at her, as if I’m daring her to come and then she does. Hard.

  “Fuck. I love you,” she whimpers as she grips the sheets underneath her.

  And just like that, I can’t wait another second to be inside of her. I’ve barely let her come down from her high when I’m inside her, my hand wrapped around her throat. “Fuck,” I grunt. “You’re still going. I’m going to lose it if your pussy doesn’t cut that shit out, and I don’t have a condom on.”

  “So?” she manages to gasp out and I instantly chastise myself for sliding in while she’s still riding the high of an orgasm. She’s likely to agree to anything at this moment. Pull the fuck out, Cartwright. I release some pressure on her throat and she sputters slightly as she tries to take a deep breath. “Come…inside…me,” she manages to choke out and I pull my face out of her neck to stare down at her perfect face.

  “Oh fuck…” I grumble as I feel the familiar tingle in my balls. “Leighton, I have to pull out.”

  “No!” she whimpers, and I screw my eyes shut as I feel it coming. “I want to come with you.” I’ve constricted her breathing so her words are coming out breathy and slow and I know she’s about to come again so I release my hand from around her throat. All it takes is two strokes across her clit when I feel her detonate. Her legs slide around me, her ankles locking behind my back to keep me in place as she falls apart in my arms. Her fingers drag down my back so hard I wouldn’t be surprised if she pierced the skin. Her lips are on mine in an instant, biting and then kissing away the sting of her teeth. I come with a roar inside of her, my bed frame banging against the wall as I fuck her relentlessly.

  When I manage to pull out, there’s a trail of cum from my cock to her pussy and I watch transfixed as my cum leaks out of her. I resist the possessive urge running through my veins to push it back inside. I look down at her before I let my head fall to her chest. After a few moments, I ask her, “You haven’t been irresponsible with your pill, have you?”

  “No. Every day, three PM.” And I feel somewhat better about our reckless sex. We typically use condoms, but every once in a while, we slip up and then proceed to spend the next week in a state of paranoia at the thought of an unplanned pregnancy. I fall back next to her in an exhausted heap, her legs tangling through mine as she snuggles into my side. “I meant what I said, you know.”

  “When?” I ask her.

  “I do love you,” she whispers, and I know the only reason she’s saying it is because my room is slightly dark and completely quiet. The air is still and the only sound to be heard is our breathing. The moments just after we have sex Leighton is vulnerable, soft, and it makes me want to tell her everything. Her guard usually goes back up somewhere between five and ten minutes after, so I know I need to speak up if I want to keep her like this.

  I love you, Leighton, let’s give us a shot. I want to whisper these words into the quiet room as her fingertips trail up and down my arm.

  “Leighton—” The sound of a cell phone interrupts me, serving as a harsh reminder that people exist outside of the two of us that may not be totally on board with us giving it a shot. I cringe when I realize it’s my cellphone. I ignore it, knowing who it probably is when I feel Leighton moving away from me. “Wait.”

  “No, it’s fine, I know you probably need to take it.” I can’t see her, but I can hear the pout in her voice.

  I pull her body back to mine and tuck her into my side before I reach for the lamp next to me and turn it on. She squints at the sudden flash of light, and it illuminates the sex haze around us. Her cheeks are flushed, her hair is wild and uncontrolled, and there’s a smile tugging at the corners of her swollen lips. Eventually the phone stops ringing, and I prepare myself to speak again when she speaks up first.

  “Do you want to stay over tonight? Skyler is staying at Aidan’s and Peyton went to party at Georgetown for the weekend.”

  My eyes jump to the clock on my nightstand and I know Alli is expecting me soon. Fuck. “I uhhh, I kind of have plans.”

  “Plans?” she asks, like any plans I have she should be privy to, when realization dawns on her. “I see.”

  “Hey.” I reach for her chin and raise it up for me to look at her. “I’m going to break up with Alli.”

  Her eyes widen and she averts her gaze, letting them float around my room presumably because she knows I can read her the second our eyes meet. “You are?” For the first time, I hear it—the hope in her voice.

  “Fuck.” I grumble as I sit up and pull her naked body into my lap. My bare skin immediately takes notice and my cock jumps in response to her lush curves pressed right up against me. “You really haven’t figured out what you mean to me by now?” She casts her gaze downward as she sinks her teeth into her lip. I grab her face, wanting to look at her while I finally tell her the truth. “Do I have to spell it out for you?” I whisper against her lips disallowing them to touch her but close enough that she can feel my breath. I push the strands that frame her face back and out of her eyes so I can search them for hesitation or doubt over what I’m about to tell her.

  Her eyes flutter closed and her sweet voice surrounds me. “What…what about Alli?”

  I rub my nose against hers. “You mean the girl I asked out to make you jealous?”

  She flinches. “Seriously? Well…it worked.”

  I take a deep breath, preparing myself to speak the words aloud that I’ve kept to myself for so long. “It wasn’t my smartest idea. Leighton…it’s been you for so long.”

  “Me?” she squeaks and I know she’s trying to stall.

  “Yes. You.” Tell me you wa
nt me too, baby.

  I watch as the tears slide down her face and her eyes close slowly. When they open, they’re so bright the water amplifies the honey flecks in her irises. “She said…she said you’d never…want me…”

  “Who said that?” My brows furrow in question and irritation. Whoever said that clearly doesn’t have eyes.

  “Stacey Peters.” She bites her bottom lip out of what I think is embarrassment.

  “Stacey Peters? Like from high school?” That stage five clinger that spent half of our senior year unashamedly sliding into my DMs?

  She nods. “She said you’d never think of me that way.”

  I snort. “And you bought that shit? You’ve dealt with bitchy girls. Hell, you speak fluent bitchy girl,” I tease, and she narrows her eyes at me. “She was jealous, Leigh.”

  Her eyebrows shoot up to her hairline like it’s the first time she’s ever heard the theory that girls take shots at other girls because they’re filled with envy. “Jealous?”

  “Yeah, she wanted me…and I was so fucking into you. I am so fucking into you.”

  “You were?”

  I chuckle and tap my fingers against her forehead. “God, you’re dense.”

  “Shut the fuck up.” She swats my hand away. “So, wait, why are you just saying something now?”

  Because I was a chicken shit? I didn’t think I was good enough for you? I didn’t think you felt the same, and I didn’t want to ruin our friendship? Take your pick, Leigh. “Well, you weren’t exactly sending me signals that you felt the same.”

  “Before or after I spent half of my high school career on my knees in front of you? Jesus, Cartwright, how could you not see?”

  “How could you not see?” I ask her.

  She blinks her eyes a few times, like the fog has been lifted and she can see everything clearly for the first time. “I just never thought…I mean look at you…”

  “I’m not following.”

  “You’re hot.”

  “That does seem to be the consensus amongst the ladies.” She raises an eyebrow at me, and I chuckle. “I’m kidding, Leigh, chill.”

  “But that’s what I’m saying: guys like you date blonde, perky, pretty cheerleaders…the most popular girl blah blah blah.”

  “Who said that’s what I want? Furthermore, where’d you get the idea that you aren’t hot? Because I’m sure you’ve seen the way guys all but undress you with their eyes the second you walk in a room. I basically threatened to do bodily harm to Pat and Dave the first time they met you.” They had been practically tripping over their dicks the day I moved in when she showed up in those tiny fucking soccer shorts with a bottle of tequila.

  “Oh stop. They don’t see me like that.” She rolls her eyes and I snort at her naivety.

  “Right, because I told them you were off limits. Indefinitely.”

  She looks me over like she doesn’t quite believe me, her gaze narrowed and skeptical. “Everett…”

  “Leighton, I want to do this. I want to be with you. Do you want to be with me?” I look into her eyes, the color of onyx, as I see her lowering her guard. Her features aren’t hard or rigid like when we’re outside of this bubble. “Don’t be afraid of…this. I’m not going to hurt you. I’m not going to break us.”

  Her eyes well up with tears like I’ve just spoken her greatest fears in two sentences. I wipe the wetness from beneath her eyes and pull her into my chest. “Say yes, Leigh. Please.”

  “Yes.” She pulls away and stares at me. “Fuck yes.”

  The sounds of Cardi B surround me the second I walk into Alli’s townhouse. Her house has become notorious for her pregames—they are basically full-blown parties before the party, so I’m not shocked by the number of people here. My eyes scan her living room as I watch people trying to bounce quarters into a shot glass and two of my lacrosse teammates playing beer pong. I nod at them as I make my way into the kitchen where I assume I’ll find Alli taking copious shots and selfies with her sorority sisters.

  “EVERETT!” I hear my name squealed by a few different girls as I make it to the kitchen, and then Alli’s in my arms, reaching up to give me a kiss. I quickly dodge her lips and manage to pull out of her grasp without completely embarrassing her. Her platinum blonde hair is curled and flowing down her back and her heavily made up blue eyes are bright and shining, probably due to too many shots. Her lips are bright red, serving as a reminder to keep them far away from any part of me.

  “I’m so glad you’re here.” She giggles. “Do you want a drink?” She holds the red solo cup that smells of straight vodka up to my mouth and I take a step back.

  “No…actually, Alli, do you think we could ta—go upstairs for a second?” I need to get Alli alone, and suggesting we ‘talk’ would be the quickest way for her to avoid me all night.

  “Oh…” She smiles and raises an eyebrow. “Lead the way.” I hear her friends all giggle and cheer, and as we leave, someone screams, “Wrap it up!” just as we make it to the stairs.

  I roll my eyes as I follow her up to her bedroom and shut the door. I’ve only been in here a handful of times, and I’m certain this will be the last. I let my eyes roam over the room as I prepare myself to break up with Alli, and a twinge of guilt moves through me. Not for breaking up with her because fuck that. I want Leighton. But guilty for getting her involved in the first place. Alli is a nice girl, albeit a little clingy and annoying; she’s sweet, and it’s obvious she really likes me, and I’m about to break up with her after I’ve spent the last three months screwing the girl I’m in love with behind her back.

  I feel like a fucking asshole.

  But, I’m not an asshole. I care about people’s feelings, and I hadn’t intended to hurt Alli. I wasn’t even planning to continue sleeping with Leigh once we started dating.

  Alli and I had been dating two weeks when Leighton and I got drunk and accidentally reverted back to our old ways. And then did so three more times that morning.

  She hops on the bed, bouncing a few times because the alcohol probably has her a little disoriented and cocks her finger towards me.

  “Alli…” I trail off. “That’s not why I wanted to come up here.”

  “Oh, come on. When are you going to fuck me already?” She reaches for the hem of her shirt when I hold up a hand. I’ve seen her tits when she flashed me—and Dave and Pat, I might add—but other than that, I’ve kept things to over the clothes action.

  “Stop, Alli. You know what, I should go and we can talk about this when you’re sober.” I reach for the doorknob when I hear her shrill voice piercing the air.

  “Wait! Talk about what?” She’s off the bed and standing in front of me. Her arms are crossed and pushing her breasts upwards making her cleavage more defined. She bites down on her bottom lip, and despite the fact that it turns me harder than granite when Leighton does it, I feel nothing.

  I pull at my ear, which Leighton says is my tell that something is bothering me. A sign I’m sure is lost on Alli. “This…us…Alli, it’s not working.”

  “Wh—what? What do you mean?”

  “This was fun but—”

  “This was fun? What the fuck? You’re breaking up with me?” I hear the inflection in her voice and I’m immediately irritated. Alli has a very high opinion of herself, which is great for her, but the Princess act is annoying as fuck.

  I clear my throat in an attempt to mask the irritation. “Yeah, Alli, I am. It’s not fair to either of us.”

  “What does that mean?” I don’t say anything as I prepare to phrase this as delicately as I can when she snorts. “It’s about her, isn’t it?”

  I close my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose as I kick myself for letting this become about Leighton. “It’s about a whole lot of things, Alli.”

  “Bullshit. This is about your co-dependent, toxic friendship with Leighton.” She spits out her name like it disgusts her, and I bite my tongue to avoid saying anything.

  “This is about doing what makes me
happy, Alli, and about wanting to do the right thing.”

  She takes a step away from me and turns her back to me. Her shoulders are hunched up around her ears, and I can feel the tension radiating off of her in waves. “Do you love her?” she whispers. I don’t say anything and when she spins around, I expect anger or rage but all I see is sadness and hurt.

  “I never meant to hurt you, Alli. That’s on me. I take responsibility for that, I just…I didn’t know how to make sense of—”

  “I get it.” She puts her hand up and lowers herself to her bed. She looks up at me with tears in her eyes. “You do love her.”

  “Yes.” My voice isn’t low or nervous, it’s strong and full of conviction. I may feel bad, but I’m serious about how I feel about Leighton, and I’m not going to downplay that to anyone.

  “Why…why not me?” She doesn’t look at me, her blue eyes fixed on the ground as she speaks her insecurities into the quiet room. “I care about you too.”

  You are the fucking worst, Cartwright. I let out a breath as I sit next to her on the bed. “I’ve never had a whole lot of control over my feelings for Leigh. You can’t control who you love, Alli. I’m sorry I didn’t realize it sooner.” I know I’m skewing the narrative slightly, but I don’t want to dig the knife deeper by telling her I had been very aware of my feelings for Leighton.

  “Does she know how lucky she is? You’ve never looked at me the way you look at her. You think you’re hiding it? You stare at her with stars in your eyes.”

  I want to tell her that I’m the lucky one, but I refrain from saying that or the fact that she should have never tolerated me staring at another woman. “I’m an asshole, and all I can say is I’m sorry, Alli, but there are a hundred guys that would die to be with you.”