by Bruce Thomas
"So much for him being out of here in a few minutes," Anne whispered behind me.
I watched his chest to make sure he was still breathing and I wasn't imagining the sound going in and out of his lungs. He looked so at peace while he was sleeping. His sharp jaw was relaxed and his eyelashes fanned out across the tops of his cheeks.
I stepped up to the bed and pulled him farther down the mattress as gently as I could to not disturb him.
Clearly, he was upset about what happened yesterday and from the looks of it he didn't get much sleep the hours afterwards.
I went to turn him on his side so incase he got sick from the alcohol he consumed he wouldn't choke but the second my arms went around his, he drew me in. I landed pressed against his side with a humph. Janet and Anne giggled from the doorway. Why are they finding this amusing, they don't even like the guy? Two glasses of the cheap red wine were grasped in the palms of their hands. That's why. "Guys, help," I pleaded in a harsh whisper, trying to pry Fred's hands off of me.
"Sorry babe," Janet smirked. What? "But this is too rare and entertaining."
She tugged Anne away from the door. "We'll just leave this open." She pushed the door all the way open with an amused smile on her face. "Goodnight." Anne winked and walked back to the movie playing on the television in the living room. I was beyond confused. They had to be beyond drunk because they would never allow Fred to stay here. And have me in the position. Dammed alcohol.
I laid there, pressed against Fred, with his arms encircling my waist, holding me like a teddy bear. I hesitantly placed my hands against Fred's broad chest, not wanting to cause too much movement, and struggled to back up. I could smell the bourbon on his breath while he snored softly in my ear but I wasn't really disgusted. The nurturing side of me was just glad that he was sleeping and not talking.
I needed to see you.
I looked at his unconscious face. Light stubble was now grazing his chin and jaw making him look older, his features soft and gentle in his slumber. Heat was radiating off his body and I couldn't help but stop resisting and snuggle deeper into his arms. =================
14
Fred's POV
A loud beeping jolted me awake, my head pounding at the annoying ring. Thinking the sound would stop if I closed my eyes again, I gripped my pillow tighter trying to find the comfortable spot that I was experiencing just minutes prior to the annoying shrill.
I buried my nose into the warm material underneath me and inhaled deeply. The scent of lemons and laundry detergents filled my senses putting a smile on my face. Anna smelled like lemons. I wonder if it was her perfume or shampoo that gave off that intoxicating scent.
"Turn it off," mumbled a grumpy voice beneath me. I froze, my eyes popping open wide and alert. I lifted my torso up a little to see that my head was nestled on top of a female's back and my arm draped over her.
I have never woken up next to someone in bed. What the hell happened last night? I pushed down the unsettling feeling of growing panic that filled my throat.
I balanced my weight on my forearms and tried my best to get a look at the face that was snuggled into a pillow next to me. Long brown hair cascaded over the pale pillowcase. Her stomach was pressed deep into the mattress as she tried to drown out the noise and morning light.
I felt all the oxygen leave my lungs when the girl turned her face away from her pillow to see that it was Anna laying next to me. My morning wood hardened more at the sight of her.
"Fred, turn it off. You're closer."
I willed myself to move and shut off the alarm. Silence engulfed the room except for Anna sighing and the beating of my pounding heart.
What the fuçk? I looked around me to see that I wasn't in my apartment and I wasn't in my bed. Short clips came to me in flashes of what went down last night.
I got so drunk trying to make myself stop thinking about the curly haired girl that I only ended up at her dorm room demanding answers. That kiss...Just the thought of it made me want to cover my head with a pillow and scream. I dropped myself back onto her bed staring up at the peppered ceiling. "What happened last night?"
Anna swung her legs over the side of the bed and scratched her head, suppressing a yawn. "Goodmorning to you too," she grumbled. She obviously wasn't a morning person. She stood up exposing tight black pants that would make any man fall to his knees, paired with an oversized shirt. I've seen girls in sexier attire but I had to turn over on my stomach to hide myself from her.
She walked to her dresser and opened the drawers to grab a pair of shorts and turned to me tying her hair up on top of her head. "You accidently fell asleep here. I was going to sleep somewhere else but there were some complications."
I didn't bother to ask what those complications were because in all honesty I couldn't think straight. I moved a hand to my forehead kneading the pounding place. I was getting frustrated because she was acting so calm. Was she used to sleeping in the same bed with guys? I'm pretty sure by the position I woke up in I was...Oh God, I was cuddled up to her like she was my own childhood teddy bear.
"There's some water and something for you to take for the headache,"
she said pointing to the nightstand. Sure enough, a glass of water and two white pills sat beside me waiting for me to take. An emotion rushed through me making it hard for me to make eye contact with her. I've never had someone take care of me in any way. I've never had anyone show me kindness like Anna has. First with her cleaning my battered face, now my hangover.
She hustled around the room grabbing clothes and a robe, which she draped over her arm while she continued to scurry around her bedroom.
"Where are you going?" I asked, afraid that she was running away from me.
"I have class. It's Monday." She sounded winded and a less grumpy now that she was up and awake. She walked towards the opened door and checked to see if the bathroom was available. "I'm going to shower. You are welcomed to find something in the kitchen to eat or sleep longer. I don't think Janet is here." She looked into her roommate's room to see if was empty, no doubt choosing to leave with that Anne girl when I showed up last night.
I smashed my face into an actual pillow and growled. Last night was such a blur but I know one thing, Anna was the reason for my confusion. Ever since meeting her I haven't been able to fully enjoy another girl's company. Sure that didn't stop me from getting the deed done but when ever I was in the zone I couldn't help but get off on the thought that it was Anna I was burying myself in. I even found a girl with the same damn curly hair as her last night but her chest was too small and her hips too boney.
This girl with the smart mouth and attitude was
driving me insane in more ways than one.
I couldn't get her telling me off at my father's house out of my head. I was so pissed to hear her stand up for that fuçker that I nearly lost all control. Yeah, I slept with his girlfriend. I wasn't the only man on this planet that has done that. She needed to calm down and mind her own business.
Her eyes looked so dull and disappointed when she was cleaning up my bloody face, as if touching me produced pain on her part. Well, she didn't have to help me, I could take care of myself. I've been doing it for years. I am a grown man who can make my own decisions in life and I didn't need some small town little princess telling me what to do with my life.
But that anger soon turn to something body consuming and I couldn't help myself. That black dress she wore showed off all the right places and accentuated all of her curves giving her the perfect hourglass shape. Her hair looked soft and, for once straight, her lips a deep red just begging for attention.
I could tell she was inexperienced when I first started kissing her. She held back but soon broke the barrier, molding her lips to mine and pulling at my hair. I don't think I have ever wanted anyone so bad in my entire life than I did when she sighed into my lips. I hate to think that that kiss ruined any other kisses I am to take in the future.
The sting of rejection was so for
ceful I thought a knife had jabbed my heart and repeatedly twisted it making sure it was in there nice and good when she pushed me away. Literally, I stumbled backwards completely lost when her lips disconnected
from mine. I felt like a dog, begging for attention. What was wrong with me? I am Fred Montgomery. I don't beg for girl's attention. Ever. And I wasn't about to start now. Girl just flocked around me and I could take my pick.
Anna was different and she had to know she was getting on my nerves by now. Whenever the word 'no' formed on those pink lips of hers, they would soon pull up in a I-so-own-you smile. Well, she wasn't even close to having any part of me. No one ever will.
I swung my legs over the side of the bed and looked around for my keys knowing there was no other way I would have gotten here. There was no way in hell I would ever think I was drunk enough to take a taxi. I didn't want to stay around long enough to get an ear full of Anna telling me how stupid I was to drink and drive.
I stumbled down the short hall trying to make as much distance from this girl as possible. When I swung the front door open I came short to bumping into Dakota's chest.
"Woah," he said, his hand in the motion of knocking. Red flashed before my eyes. "What the fuçk are you doing here?" I practically scream. Couldn't this guy get the hint that she wasn't interested. Clearly she was...what? Interested in me? I don't know and it doesn't matter. Right now my head was splitting itself in two.
"I walk with Anna to class every Monday. What are you doing here?" He spat back.
"Dakota," Anna said behind me casually. Why wasn't she surprised he was here at 7:30 in the morning. "I'm almost ready." She walked over to the kitchen, her hair wet and fresh faced, to grab a granola bar out of the cabinet.
I turned back to Dakota standing in the hallway holding two coffees with a noticeable smirk on his face. If I could hit him without Anna screaming at me I would. My head can't take her screaming at me right now.
Before Anna could walk past me I grabbed her upper arm making her stop. It was a gesture that I didn't really have an explanation for why I did it. I just knew one thing: I didn't want her to go with Dakota. She looked up at me with those big doe eyes full of wonder. We just stood there staring at each other, hoping that an explanation of whatever was going on would fall into our laps.
Dakota still stood in the hall, an amused look on his face like he expected something exciting to happen. We both expected a fight from Anna.
My grip dropped from Anna's arm as if her skin burned me and I shoved that hand into my pocket. What was happening to me? "Here," she said clearing her throat. She reached for one of the coffees in Dakota's hands and handed it to me. "Have my coffee. It should help with the hangover." She gave me a little smile and with that she left with Dakota, leaving me dumbfounded and even more confused than before.
* * * *
I decided to stay at her dorm until her classes were over, too stubborn to make this that easy for her. It pissed me off that I was so butthurt over this. Grow some balls Montgomery and go find a nice blonde to occupy your time. But I couldn't get myself to leave her dorm.
I sat on her couch watching cartoons on her tv and almost finished the entire box of their cornflakes. A suffocating weight hovered over my chest that I couldn't pinpoint. It became more prominent when I thought of Anna which was almost every second considering I was sitting in her space. Infatuation. That's what this is. There was no other way to explain it. She was fun to see mad and she made it easy, so damn easy, to get her mad. The conversation with Anna about her not believing in love resurfaced. It was strange how she acted around me since the night on my roof. She was never afraid to tell me what she thought of me, per say, but now that hint of timidness that I once saw at the party was gone, replaced with something I haven't seen in a girl's eye before. She seemed almost comfortable in my presence.
And I in hers.
A growl escaped my throat and I slammed the empty box of cereal on the counter top. My eyes flickered to the untouched coffee cup beside me. Like hell I was going to drink the coffee he brought her. I need to get this girl out of my system and move on to a better target. I can tell she finds me attractive. Why else would she put up with me the way she has. We could work something out, though I had a feeling she wasn't the type to be friends with benefits. I don't care what she says, she has 'relationship type' written all over her.
When she got home, I was laying on her bed flipping through one of her textbooks which was rather interesting considering I hated school.
She rounded the corner of her doorframe and dropped her book bag onto the floor. She was humming softly to herself and almost choked on her own breath when she realized I was still here.
"Jesus!" She gasped placing a hand over her heart.
"I've been called many things, including sex God in the bedroom, but never Jesus." I wickedly grinned up at her and lazily shut the book. I looked back up in time to see her roll her eyes.
"You scared me. What are you still doing here?" I uncrossed my ankles and sat up on her bed. "Why was Dakota showing up at your dorm this morning?" I hadn't planned on asking her. I really didn't care, at least not the way she probably thought I cared because I didn't, you know, care.
She stilled and looked up at me from under her hair. "He told you. We walk to class every Monday together. Our classes are in the same building."
"And he Annangs you coffee?" Even I could hear the jealousy in my voice and it made me sick with myself. A smile pulled on one side of her lips. It felt like a blow to the chest.
"I like coffee," She shrugged. I pushed myself off her bed and stalked to the door. "Wait, where are you going?" She called, following me down the short hall to leave.
When I turned to answer her, she bumped into my chest causing me to reach out and steady her before she landed smack dab on her ass. She looked up at me with such hopeful eyes making me want to disappear. She shouldn't look at me like that. I was just giving her false hope by sticking around and showing up unexpectedly wasn't helping either of our cases. I couldn't be what she wanted me to be and I didn't want to be that. Whatever I was thinking earlier about being friend with benefits couldn't happen. I didn't want it to happen anymore.
I didn't want, I didn't want, I didn't want. I had to keep repeating that to myself before I did something stupid again. There were several things that I wanted to do to her but I wasn't going to let myself stoop that low. She was different than those other girls.
I turned back around and walked to the front door with Anna trailing behind me.
"Why are you leaving?" She asked watching my hand pause on the door knob.
I closed my eyes and controlled my breathing. "Because you annoy me," I snapped.
I watched her face as her eyes narrowed in hurt. I trailed my eyes to her mouth where she sucked her lips in taking my blow. I ignored the tinge of pink that rose under the surface of her cheeks. I didn't bother to see her face as I slammed the door shut behind me.
Just because life enjoys my existence so much I walk past Janet on the stairs to the main floor.
"Don't make this a habit, you coming around," she warned, her eyes laughing and her mouth showing off a tantalizing smirk. I snorted out a laugh that held no humor and rolled my eyes at Elmer who bounded around the corner holding her backpack along with his own. His eyes shown no loss of his manhood though I could practically see it under Janet's boots.
=================
15
I sat down on my bed pouting that Fred left.
I spent the whole walk to class this morning with Dakota sending me through the ringer with questions on why Fred was in my apartment this morning. I made up the quickest lie I could come up with, something about how Elmer wanted him to drop something off for Janet, trying to make it revolve around anything but me.
He didn't question our little exchange in the doorway. I hate to admit it, but I thought he was going to get jealous and refuse me to go with Dakota. I wanted to slap myself for even thin
king that. Fred, jealous? No, why would he be jealous of me with anyone? I was just someone who put up with him, gave him a good argument when he needed one.
I was nothing to him, if that.
"Anna," Janet called from the entrance of the front door. "You've got some explaining to do." Her singsong voice made me bite my lip to suppress a guilty smile.
No doubt she intercepted Fred on the way up here.
I walked into the living room to find her sitting at the table ruffling through a magazine while Elmer searched the fridge.
"Hey Anna," Elmer smiled, lifting the orange juice carton to his mouth. Thankfully I despised orange juice and wouldn't be sharing that with him.
"Hi," I said back, sitting next to Janet at the table.
She raised her perfectly arched eyebrows at me along with a overly pleasant smile on her face. I mimicked her waiting for her to speak. I wasn't dishing anything. "Don't make me ask, sweetheart," she joked nudging my arm.
"There's nothing to tell. Honest."
"You know,"
Elmer said standing behind Janet's chair, gently gripping her shoulders and messaging them. "I think Fred likes you, Iowa."
I barked out of laugh while they both just looked at me, their faces set and stone.
"You can't be serious," I droned, cocking my head to the side. "This is Fred we're talking about. He has no emotions to feel." I picked at the end of my shorts at an annoying string that decided to unravel. "I think Elmer is right," Janet said looking up at him over her shoulder. "And I don't like it one bit--no offense babe."
Elmer shrugged and finished off the orange juice, tossing it into the trash can with a flick of his wrist. He turned to us and shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly.
"You have it all wrong. It was just a kiss and--"
"You kissed him?!" Janet gasped leaning forwards towards me on the table. Even Elmer's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Well," I stuttered trying to center myself for this conversation. I didn't mean for that to slip. "He kissed me but it was sort of mutual but we both admitted that it was a mistake and that it wouldn't happen again."