Wanting Winter

by J. L. Ostle

  I want to make sure I’m fully prepared.

  “Whoever you pick, just make sure he respects you and doesn’t treat you like a blow-up doll.” She sticks out her hand for me to shake.

  “Deal.” We shake hands. “So, who are you going to fuck?” I don’t mean to, but my eyes wander back to Colin. His eyes connect with mine and I know this time I’m not seeing things. His gaze stays trained on mine.

  “Hello, class.” Mrs. Prepp, the principal’s secretary, walks into class. “Those organizing the talent show or participating, please head to the gym now.” Karen and I stand up, gathering our things.

  “Oh, sweet, we get to get out of classes. I guess this isn’t going to be so bad after all,” I hear Aaron say and I turn around just to bang into someone’s hard chest, their hands going to my arms, steadying me.

  “You really need to start looking where you’re going, Sasha.” Colin chuckles. His hands are still on me and I notice mine have landed on his chest, and fucking hell it is hard. My dirty mind goes to other things that could be hard.

  “Sorry,” I apologize.

  “It’s no problem.” I look up to see him smiling down at me and I feel him pulling my body a little closer to his. I swear I can feel every hard muscle of him against me.

  “Why are you and Aaron coming? You guys aren’t on the committee.” I feel his thumbs once again stroking my skin, the contact making me break out in goosebumps.

  “Since this morning, we were told we are. Guess we’ll be spending more time with each other.” I step back.

  “You both are on the committee?” Karen asks.

  “Yup, doll face, aren’t you the lucky ones?” Aaron smiles at her and Karen bites her lip. I quickly push her behind me.

  “This can’t be right. I’m in charge. Someone would have told me.” My voice raises a little. I worked so hard on this, and with a couple of weeks to go, like hell I am having these guys goof off while the rest of us work our butts off.

  “Ask Mr. Atkins, he’s the one forcing this.” Colin pulls his fingers through his thick, dark brown hair, causing his bicep to tense up and I shake my head, forcing my thoughts out of the gutter.

  “I will,” is all I manage to say as I storm off to the principal’s office. I’m so pissed off that I want to act like a child and stomp my foot.

  They are not going to ruin my show.

  I’m still storming down the hall when I feel my phone vibrating in my pocket and I take it out, seeing my mother’s name on the screen. Why is she calling me knowing I’m at school? I hit accept and answer.

  “Honey, shouldn’t you be in class?” I roll my eyes.

  “If you know that then why are you calling me?”

  “Is everything okay?” I hear the concern in her voice.

  “I’m pissed off right now that a few asshole jocks are trying to be a part of the talent show that I have worked so hard to prepare and organize.” I huff. I hear feet behind me so I know they are following me.

  “Honey, I know you worked so hard on this but maybe…”

  I interrupt her. “Mom, you’re supposed to be on my side and hate whoever I hate.”

  “Hate is a pretty strong word,” Colin says next to me and I glare at him.

  “Honey, who’s that?”

  “Nosey much?” I spit at him. “Mom, it’s one of the asshole jocks I was telling you about.” He smiles at me, shaking his head.

  “Is he hot?” I stop walking and am pushed forward by Karen bumping into me. I would have fallen on my face if I wasn’t quickly swished up into Colin’s arms.

  “You really need to stop trying to get into my arms, sweets.” He pulls my body flush against his.

  “You’re in his arms?” I hear my mom ask over the phone. “I bet he’s hot,” she says again and Colin’s smile goes bigger hearing it.

  “Mom, he heard you.” I press the phone again against my ear.

  “He must be pretty close to you for him to have heard me,” she says playfully.

  “She’s pressed up against him, Marie,” Karen shouts out, smiling at us both.

  “Oh, are you sweetie?” mom teases.

  “You are both as bad as each other.” I groan.

  “Bet you’re still in his arms, though.” I look to Colin who is still smiling and I quickly step out of his embrace.

  “Can my day get any worse?”

  “Probably,” Karen and my mom say at the same time.

  “I have to go, I need to set my anger on the principal.”

  “Don’t be too hard on him. By the way, I called to say I won’t be home when you get in. I have another date.” She sighs dreamily on the word date. She’s been seeing this man for the last six months and she is so smitten. I promised her that I will meet him once my talent show is over with and he’s free from work. Mom says he’s a very busy man, but he always has time for her.

  “Be good and I’ll see you when you get home.”

  “I may not be coming home tonight if he plays his cards right.”

  I scrunch up my face. “Too much info, Mom. Have fun, wear protection.”

  “Yes, Mom,” she mimics me. “Love you.”

  “Love you, too.” We hang up and I look to everyone and they are all staring at me.

  “So, your Mom is getting some?” Aaron waggles his eyebrows. “She’s quite loud,” he explains. I growl and start stomping back down the hall. When I stop suddenly, to collect my momentum my body is once again pushed forward.

  What is it with today?

  I turn to see Colin chuckling at me.

  “You two are already doing my head in.” I huff.

  “I’m glad I’m doing something in for you.” Colin winks at me.

  “You are disgusting.”

  “You’ll like it.” He winks at me and I roll my eyes and start walking again. When we all get to Mr. Atkins office, I walk past his secretary and knock on his door.

  Excerpt - Chapter 3

  Colin

  I have never met someone as fiery as this girl. I know she’s angry, but the way she bites her lip, which I’m positive she doesn’t realize she’s doing, is making me think of her mouth, and the way she talks to me makes me want to push her against the wall and cover her mouth with mine.

  She is one big tease and she doesn’t even mean to be.

  Walking down the corridor, my eyes keep landing on her fine ass. I love that she is so accident prone; I’ll take any excuse to have her body pressed up to mine. I love touching her smooth, soft skin. It’s like feeling silk.

  She knocks on Mr. Atkins door and he calls out for us to enter. We all walk in, well Sasha storms in, and I lean my body against the wall as I watch her take out her frustration. Poor Mr. Atkins doesn’t know where to look or how to act.

  “I swear to God, this isn’t acceptable. The talent show is literally around the corner and now you let them take part? They’re going to find any way to do nothing but take credit for the work being put in. I will quit the whole entire thing before I let these nimwits ruin it.” Her chest rises as her voice gets higher and my mind wanders off; thinking of her in my bedroom. If she is this passionate about a show, I bet she is a wild horse in the sack trying to reach her next orgasm.

  “Miss Bennett, please take a breath, you know I am relying on you to make this show one hundred percent perfect.”

  “Then get rid of those two.”

  “It’s not just us two,” Aaron adds in with a cheery tone. “We have two other guys helping out.”

  “What?” Sasha shouts. “Are you trying to sabotage this?” She waves her hands in the air and I’m enjoying watching her; it’s taking so much not to laugh since I know she would kill me on the spot if I did.

  “Mr. Baxter is being punished and he is making up for what he did by lending a hand.”

  “Make him do something else.” Mr. Atkins stands and looks out his window.

  “I tell you what, since you are in charge, Miss Bennett, I am going to let you be the boss over them, the
y have to do what you say when you say or the alternative punishment will stand.” He looks to me. Panic already starts to kick in again.

  Fuck.

  Sasha folds her arms and looks up to the ceiling. “Fine, but if any of them think they can slack off, they have another thing coming.”

  “They won’t.” She nods.

  “Okay, right, let’s head to the gym and get this over with.” She walks past us all and leaves the office. I watch as Aaron and Karen do the same, and I am right behind them when Mr. Atkins calls out my name.

  “Remember, Mr. Baxter, if you mess this up, you won’t be playing the next game and that suspension will be in place.” I sigh and leave without saying a word.

  “Fuck, man, Sasha is our boss. Already I can tell she is power mad. She is fucking crazy.” He shakes his head, staring at her.

  “Let’s just do what she says and the next couple of weeks will fly by.” God, at least I hope they do.

  We all head to the gym where half the room has been closed off for the stage area. I see lights placed on top of it, sheets blocking the back of the stage, which I’m guessing is for people to be ready for when they do perform.

  I see all the music nerds working away, setting things up, or making stuff. I see Karen and Sasha head towards the stage and a guy, I think his name is Phillip, jogs over to them and gives Karen a hug before twirling Sasha around causing her to squeal and laugh.

  “I bet they’re fucking.” Aaron laughs, pointing at them. I push him, not wanting to get that image in my head.

  Maybe she isn’t a virgin. That would make my life so much easier if I do decide to make my move. I just hope she isn’t fucking this idiot.

  “You think everyone is fucking.” I head towards Sasha.

  “Most people are, and if they aren’t, they should.” Karen turns and looks Aaron up and down. He gives her a wink, causing her to blush and look away. “She wants me.”

  “Of course she does,” I say sarcastically. “Sasha, where do you want us?”

  “On top of her,” Aaron whispers and I push him again.

  “Ummm, well, I hope you're good with DIY because you will be putting things together.” I nod. “Please be careful.”

  I place my hand over my heart. “You’re worried about me.”

  “I’m worried about the stuff you’ll be making.” She puts her hand on her hip, giving me a stern look, and I know she is trying to be serious but, damn, all I’m thinking about is being inside her. Karen whispers something in her ear and she rolls her eyes and climbs on stage, going through random things, and Phillip leads us to the side of the stage where we need to be.

  An hour or so have gone by and me and Aaron made sure we did what we were told and worked hard on what we are doing. I am a little pissed off with Danny and Nathan since they should be here helping out but never showed.

  The pricks.

  “Okay, that’s enough for today,” Sasha shouts out. “Let’s get some lunch.” She claps her hands and people start putting away whatever they were working on and start leaving the room, heading to the cafeteria.

  “You coming, man?” Aaron asks me.

  “I will in a bit.” I continue finishing off getting the old lights to work.

  “Okay.” He walks away and I stay sitting on the floor. This piece of shit in front of me is starting to annoy me; why can’t we get some new lighting?

  “The school money always goes to the athletic departments,” Sasha says behind me, knowing what I was thinking. I turn and look up at her. “We have to make do with what we have.” She sits next to me. “Even though a lot of important people are coming to this, we still need to make do.” She looks to her hands.

  “I didn’t realize.” Her eyes connect with mine.

  “Why should you? Anything creative or artistic isn’t important in this school, these lights are probably over fifteen years old, but with a bit of tweaking they work just fine.” She grabs one of the lights Aaron was working on and gets to work. After a few minutes, it switches on.

  “You’re good at this.”

  She giggles. “Loads of practice.” I smile at her and she smiles back. “I’m sorry if I acted like…”

  “A crazy bitch?” I interrupt and she laughs.

  “Yeah, one of those.” She shakes her head. “I just want this to be perfect. Like I said, a lot of important people are coming to this, they probably aren’t interested in the show and just feel obligated to be here, but I want to try and make an impression, even if it’s with one person.”

  “Why?” She leans back on her hands and I follow suit as we both look to the stage.

  “All this will look good on my college applications, of course, but music is my life and if I can get a toe in the door to let it be my actual life, I will do whatever it takes.”

  “You’ll be playing?”

  She nods. “Yup.” She pops her p. “I hope I’m good enough, enough to impress someone.” She looks to me and then stands.

  “I’m sure you will be great.” I smile.

  “Thank you.” I am so enthralled with her eyes that when I lean forward to get the screwdriver, I don’t look at what I’m doing. I flinch when I feel something sharp slice my hand and it instantly starts bleeding. I must have touched something sharp on the lighting. “Hurry, come with me,” Sasha says, grabbing my other hand. We jog out of the gym and to the nurse’s office where she just walks in, without knocking or anything, and pushes me on the slabbed bed as she grabs the first aid box.

  “Won't we get in trouble for being here?” I look around the room. Sasha opens the box and starts rattling through it.

  “No, she’s gone for lunch, and besides, no one comes in here during lunch period. Now hold still, this will hurt.” She uses a wipe which has something on it that causes a sting when she cleans the cut.

  “Fuck.” I groan.

  “Don’t be such a baby.” She bites her lip as she concentrates and the pain I was feeling is gone as my eyes focuses on her mouth. She looks back up to me and we both pause, just for a moment, before she shakes her head and grabs a bandage, wrapping it around my hand. “It doesn’t look like it needs stitches or anything.” She puts the first aid box away and puts the used stuff in the trash.

  “Thank you.”

  “Anytime.” She starts to head to the door.

  “Sasha,” I call out and she turns, giving me a questioning look. I jump off the bed and walk towards her. “I was wondering if you’ve ever watched me play.”

  “Sorry, I don’t watch football. I find it very boring.” I chuckle at her honesty.

  “Well, maybe you should watch me train sometime. Tomorrow, come to my practice.”

  “Why would I do that?” She crosses her arms.

  “Because you want to see what the fuss is all about,” is all I say as I walk around her and head to the cafeteria. I really hope she does come.

  I walk into the cafeteria to my usual table, glaring at Danny and Nathan. They wear apologetic faces while Aaron has a shit eating grin, knowing I’m going to give them an ass kicking.

  “Where the fuck were you guys? Do you want me to get suspended? Do you not want me to play in our next game? If that’s the case, just tell me now and I’ll let Mr. Atkins kick my ass out,” I grunt out.

  “Hey, man, we’re sorry, there were a couple of cheerleaders, you know how it is.” Nathan chuckles and I just glare at him.

  “Do you think those cheerleaders will be all over you if you lose the next game? We are a team and we need to help each other out. Stop thinking with your dick, you get me?” He nods.

  “Bros before hoes,” Aaron says, leaning back and I roll my eyes.

  “How was working with the music nerds?” Danny asks me. I don’t mean to, but I look over the room to where Sasha is laughing with her friends and when I look back to the guys, all their gazes are on where I was staring.

  Shit.

  They all give me knowing smiles and I inwardly groan.

  “She is a ni
ce piece of ass.” Danny looks back over to her. “She has that sexy, nerdy, librarian look to her. Is she your next conquest?” Before I have a chance to answer, Aaron starts laughing.

  “He wishes.” He continues laughing. “She can’t stand being around him. You should have seen her before, stomping over to the principal’s office because she didn’t want us jocks to be anywhere near the talent show. He has as much of a chance with her as I have with our English Lit teacher.” Nathan and Danny chuckle with him.

  “I think if he wanted to, he could bag her,” Danny says.

  “You didn’t see how she was around him.” Aaron leans back in his chair. He didn’t notice that she was actually nice to me once we were alone.

  “I agree with Danny boy, if Colin wanted to fuck her, it would happen. Come on, it's Colin. Who says no to Colin?”

  “Guys…” I try to butt in.

  “You wanna bet?” Aaron sits up straight.

  “If you are prepared to lose.” Danny smiles.

  “You are so on.”

  “Guys, you do know I’m right here, right?”

  “You think you could get close to Miss Goody, Goody?” Aaron asks me.

  “If I wanted to, but that’s not the point…”

  “Right, let’s see how far Mr. Player can go then. If he can get her to sleep with him then you win,” Aaron says, interrupting me again.

  “What do we get if we win?” Nathan asks.