Serenity

by Ava O'Shay

  Ren didn’t say anymore. She wanted to get to the party, pull his pants down, and get this done. She didn’t care if it was in the middle of the living room.

  When he pulled up to Allecia’s house, the party was already in full swing. Ren twisted in her seat so they could find a common playing field. They couldn’t get this done with the hostility brewing between them.

  “Okay, what is it you want out of this? Do you want it to look like you picked a hooker up at the corner?”

  “Well you kinda…”

  Ren cut him off. “Look, dude. No one. And I mean no one in this house is going to do this for you so before you say something you’ll most likely regret, think about your answer.”

  His gaze flowed over her, stopping too long at the edge of her skirt. She refused to fidget.

  He ran a hand over his short black hair. He wasn’t unattractive, just not attractive to her. “I’m going in. You come in after. I’ll meet you in the kitchen, and we’ll go from there.”

  “If I make it that far,” she groaned. “I’m going to get the shit beat out of me.”

  “I think I should kiss you before I go in. Get it out of the way.” He smiled, but it looked like a grimace.

  “I don’t really do the kissing your face thing.” Ren scooted back into her seat. Maybe she could get out of it after all.

  “I paid for your time, and I can do with you what I want during that time. I want a kiss,” he yelled at her, and it wasn’t especially giving her a warm fuzzy feeling about this night.

  He wrapped a hand around the back of her head and pulled her mouth to him. His tongue pried at her lips, trying to open them. Pushing himself into her, she felt her control over the situation slipping. She didn’t want to be stuck in this car alone with him. He was much bigger than her and if he pushed things she wasn’t sure she could stop him. So she did what she did best and took control of the situation. If he wanted a kiss, she’d give him the best fucking kiss he ever had.

  Ren wrapped her hand around his jaw and pulled him into her. She let her lips linger while he pushed against her. Slowly she opened her mouth and let his tongue in. Then turned on her skills. Running a hand down his chest, she let it rest when it got to his crotch. His body relaxed. He was putty in her hands, and she let the high she got from turning the tables flow through her. She traced her tongue along the outline of his lips and felt him melt into her. She deepened the kiss until his hands moved up her back, and he moaned into her mouth. His tongue reached out, searching for hers.

  “Whoa there, Sparky.” Ren wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “Treat me with a little more respect or that’s all you get.”

  Ty’s cheeks had a glow about them. “Yeah, Brock was right,” he muttered.

  “About what?”

  “He said you were a bitch, but no one had a mouth like yours.”

  Ren threw up a little in her mouth. She had a lot of practice and direction on how to use her mouth. Unfortunately, none of it was by choice.

  “Yeah and Brock’s a prick.”

  Jolin

  Friday, October 25

  12:05 a.m.

  “This is a bad idea on so many levels.” Akeo ran his hand over his gelled hair.

  “It will b-b-be fine.” Jolin headed up the driveway.

  “Why do you have to talk to her now? Can’t you wait until Monday? I have a bad feeling this isn’t going to end well.”

  “I need to see if she’s with B-b-brock. She won’t c-c-come right out and tell me, and Brock keeps showing up with Ren. I want to know what’s g-g-going on. I want to see her with Brock and know I’m out. I need to know he isn’t with Ren.”

  “And why do I need to be here for that?” Akeo stopped walking.

  “To keep me from d-d-doing anything stupid.”

  Akeo laughed. “That is a broad spectrum. You have a lot of stupid locked up inside.”

  “Yeah. So I guess you know why I need you.” Jolin punched Akeo in the shoulder. “Her parties aren’t too b-b-bad. Her house is really nice. She has a huge hot tub.” Jolin tried to calm Akeo’s nerves.

  “I wasn’t invited.” He fidgeted with the zipper on his coat. “And I am so not going in a hot tub.”

  “No one is ever invited. They j-j-just show up-p-p.”

  “Only the crowd shows up unless they’re a date,” Akeo complained.

  “Then think of me as your d-d-date.”

  “I’m not giving it up on the first date, so get any thought of getting in my pants out of your head.”

  At least Akeo still had a sense of humor.

  “Do you still think of yourself as one of the crowd?”

  That was a good question. He kind of did. It was easy to forget he’d been pushed out. At least not when it wasn’t overtly obvious by the teachers.

  “I still have some p-p-p-ull,” Jolin finally said. Although tonight may be pushing it.

  It was almost one by the time he’d convinced Akeo to come, and he wasn’t sure what they’d walk into. Elizabeth and him would have already left or found a room by this time. He really didn’t want to walk in on her and Brock making out, even though it was what he came here to see. He wasn’t sure what he’d do if he saw them. That was what Akeo was for. To keep him on track. To remember he wasn’t going to let her use her secret powers to use him again.

  The beat of the music shook the sidewalk when they walked around to the back of the house. Akeo’s six five frame made Jolin feel small. He’d never really understood why Akeo was kept out of the crowd. He was better looking than most of the guys on the team. But Jolin knew it all had to do with football. Maybe if they lost the championship this year they’d be taken down a notch.

  A few of the underclassman yelled hello’s and held their red solo cups up in salute as they made their way around the hot tub. Freshman had yet to understand the hierarchy and didn’t know they should ignore them.

  “That is one big ass hot tub.” Akeo walked way to close to Jolin and ran into him when he stopped. “Sorry dude.”

  “It’s not cool to b-b-be all up in my p-p-ersonal space K-Ke. Try to act like you b-b-belong here.”

  Akeo shook out his shoulders and did some weird cracking thing with his neck.

  Jolin rolled his eyes. “Are you d-d-done?”

  “Yep, all ready to go. Gonna find me a babe.” He strutted off toward the house.

  “Yeah you d-d-do that,” Jolin yelled after him.

  Jolin walked around the garden surrounding the hot tub. He really didn’t expect Elizabeth to be in the hot tub, he chatted with a few freshmen. They let him know Elizabeth was around.

  The crowd was thinning as people started hooking up for the next few hours before curfews started to hit. Allecia’s parents set up a game room over the detached garage so a lot of kids were heading that way. Jolin headed into the kitchen to find the keg.

  Instead, he found Ren.

  Ty was slobbering up her neck and running his hand up her thigh while she had her hand on the front of his pants. Jolin froze when he saw them. His hands fisted at his sides. Why was he so mad? She was his lab partner for God’s sake, not his girlfriend. But was she really standing in the kitchen making out with Ty when she was with Brock just a few days ago? Not to mention she was with him a few weeks ago. What was she doing? Jolin tried to retreat, but was pushed forward by someone trying to get into the kitchen.

  “Hey there, Daniel.” Brock swayed a bit, his tilted cup sloshed beer onto the floor. “Sorry, this here is a private show. Gotta move out.” He waved Jolin away like a child.

  Jolin glared at Brock. Thinking hard on how he wanted to word his next phrase, but didn’t have a chance before Elizabeth hurled her body into his, planting her mouth over Jolin’s in a big, sloppy kiss. She was beyond drunk. He didn’t want to kiss her, but seeing Ren in Ty’s arms fueled an anger that had him grabbing Elizabeth by the waist and pulling her into him. His gaze locked with Ren’s in a challenge. If she could flaunt her make-out session, so could he. For a
split second, he saw a sadness flash in her eyes, before the hard shell she wore covered them again. She looked disheveled, but what could he expect when Ty had his hands all over her.

  Elizabeth leaned into him and rubbed his arm. “I didn’t know you were coming.”

  Brock looked at Elizabeth, then back to Jolin. “Come to see if you could get some more.” Brock laughed to himself. “I can add you to the list. Right after Ty here.”

  “Some more what?” Elizabeth purred into Jolin’s neck. “Come on, Jo. Come with me.”

  Brock’s fake smile faded at Elizabeth’s words.

  Elizabeth’s fingers grabbed Jolin’s arm like a vice, and she pulled.

  “What’s her mouth feel like?” Brock’s side hit the wall and more of his beer fell to the floor. “Fuck.” He put the cup to his lips and chugged the rest. “When it wraps around your dick?”

  Lizzie’s eyes filled with concern. “What’s he talking about, Jo?”

  Brock flicked his head towards Ren.

  Brock made a big production of pulling himself together then leaned in way to close to where Elizabeth stood. “Blow job.” He pointed his finger around in a circle indicating a large group, but no one was around. “Best in town I hear. Was it Daniel?”

  Elizabeth let go of Jolin’s arm like she’d been electrocuted. “You had sex with that?” she hissed.

  “Okay. That isn’t even what he s-s-said,” Jolin responded lamely. “Lizzie. I d-d-did n-n-not have sex with her. And she d-d-didn’t give me a b-b-blow job. She wanted to, but I told her no.” His head was spinning. How did Brock even know about the blow job that almost happened? He narrowed his gaze to Ren. Shit. She’d told him.

  Jolin looked back at Brock trying to figure out his partin this mess. He had a smug smile on his face.

  “What’s your game?” Jolin finally asked. “What d-d-do you want?”

  “Everything. I want fucking everything. And I’ll get it one way or another,” Brock snarled. “Either give it up or I’ll take it. I took football away, and I’ll take Elizabeth.”

  Jolin shoved him hard into the wall. Brock laughed at the power he had at slowly breaking Jolin’s world apart. Jolin glanced over at Ren, who stood frozen by the counter. Her expression held no answer to the million questions in his head. But he thought he already knew the answers. He’d been a joke and this thing she was doing with Ty was the punchline.

  Brock laughed hysterically now. His words slurred as the alcohol turned him into an even bigger prick. “You were so easy. I changed partners so she could get to your house and…” He held his hand to his mouth and imitated a blow job moving his hand and tongue in unison. “All it took was one time, and she had your pants down. Jesus, dude. You have no restraint.”

  Jolin grabbed a handful of Brock’s shirt and pulled him into his face. His shoulder screamed at the stress he was putting it under, but he didn’t let go. “She d-d-didn’t give me anything y-y-you asshole. She l-l-lied t-t-to you.” Jolin turned on his heel and headed out the door. “Fuck!” he yelled and punched the side of the house. His PT was going to have a field day on him if he tore any of the ligaments again.

  “Great. Just fucking great. I am such a fucking idiot.” He leaned against the siding and dropped his head into his hands. His already crumbling world splintered even more. He had to talk to Lizzie. He needed to straighten this out. Ren screwed him over. He thought they were building a friendship, maybe more…but she’d been working with Brock. Fuck. He needed to find Lizzie and show her she was still his. Prove he deserved his spot beside her.

  Jolin jumped when a hand slid along his back. “Joli,” Elizabeth whispered.

  “I d-d-didn’t sleep with her. I didn’t do anything. You’re mine, Liz. Aren’t you?”

  Her hand found its way up and under his letterman jacket.

  His skin crawled at her touch, but he knew, without a doubt, Elizabeth was his ticket back. Brock was playing with him, and Jolin needed her in order to stop him. Jolin grabbed her hand and dragged her back to the game room, grabbing a bottle of vodka sitting on a picnic table.

  The room was dark except for a few lanterns sitting around the corners. A few couples were already going hot and heavy. Elizabeth pulled Jolin to a stop and pressed her mouth to his in a drunk, sloppy kiss, her tongue pushing past his lips. Her taste made him cringe. Jolin pulled away and tipped the bottle to his lips, chugging down as much as he could before he started coughing. He pulled Elizabeth into his arms and closed his eyes, praying the alcohol would take hold quickly. Slowly, his lips went numb and his hands started to tingle. He tilted the bottle back once more and chugged it until his eyes started to water. Elizabeth kissed his neck, running her tongue into his ear. Jolin dropped the bottle to the ground and grabbed the back of her head, jamming his mouth to hers in an attempt to push Ren’s memory out. To get back the shitty life he’d lost. To tell Brock he still had Elizabeth and he wasn’t going to give up so easy. He turned and pushed her against the wall, pulling at her shirt, then shoved his hands up to her breasts and squeezed.

  She moaned into his mouth. “I miss you, Joli.”

  That’s all his drunken brain needed. He moved to the front of her jeans and unbuttoned them.Sliding the zipper down, he shoved his hand down the front of her panties. Massaging his finger against her, she let out a low groan. He kissed and sucked at her neck listening to her moan as he worked her over. His phone buzzed against his crotch. Akeo was looking for him.

  He pulsed harder against her, her fingers dug at his back as he pushed her to the limit. The phone buzzed again and pulled him out of the haze he’d fallen into. He stopped.

  Elizabeth grabbed his arm and whined into his ear, “Don’t stop, I’m so close.”

  Reality smacked him in the head. What the fuck was he doing? Why did he have his hand in Elizabeth’s pants? “What do you want from me, Lizzie?” Jolin growled.

  “Fuck me, Joli. I want you to make me come,” she whispered in his ear.

  “Are you mine?” He pushed his fingers into her, making her dig her nails into his arm.

  “Joli,” she whined again.

  “Are you m-m-mine?” he asked again.

  Her body convulsed against his hand as she lost control. She grabbed onto his shoulders, pulling him close to her. Jolin kissed her temple then let her go.

  “Joli.” Her voice was weak.

  “Are you mine?” Jolin’s jaw tightened, waiting for the answer.

  “Joli. You know I can’t. Voting starts this week.” She rested her head on his shoulder. “I’m with Brock now.”

  “I thought it was m-m-my finger in your p-p-pussy. I won’t be your secret fuck.” Jolin pushed her away.

  “Joli,” she complained as she followed him out the door. “C’mon. Don’t be like that.”

  “I’m d-d-done.”

  Who was he fooling? If she snapped her fingers, he’d be back.

  He made his way past the glass doors leading into the house. Ren walked out of the kitchen, and he stopped. A look of surprise crossed her face, her gaze moved to look over Jolin’s shoulder, watching Elizabeth stagger after him. Ren smiled an empty smile, raised her hand and used her thumb to wipe at the corner of her mouth. Ty walked up behind her, buttoning his pants and grabbed her around the waist, pulling her into his body.

  Jolin turned and walked smack into Akeo.

  “Dude,” Akeo said.

  “Get me the fuck out of here.” Jolin walked past him and headed to the car.

  “Joli,” Elizabeth continued to whine.

  Akeo stood with his mouth open, looking from Ren, being mauled by Ty, to Elizabeth, standing in disheveled clothes, then he followed Jolin to the car.

  Akeo opened the driver’s side door and slid in. He lowered his head to the steering wheel and sighed. “You did something stupid.”

  “You left me.” Jolin leaned his head against the window.

  “For like, ten minutes.”

  “I have a whole lot of stupid in me. Didn’t take
long,” Jolin mumbled, enjoying the numbness the alcohol provided.

  Akeo started the car. “Please tell me you did not have sex with her.” Akeo turned onto the main road and was taking some random streets back to Jolin’s house. Buying time Jolin guessed.

  “Because that’s really cold for you to ask me to a party, and then go off with another date.”

  Jolin ran his hands over his hair and let his head fall into his lap.

  “I’m thinking you need to lay off the alcohol if everytime you drink you try to have sex with the past.” Akeo glanced over at him.

  Jolin couldn’t keep his emotions intact anymore, and he cried. He hadn’t cried once since his life was ripped apart. In less than a year he was supposed to be playing football at college. Now he didn’t even know if he was going to college. He’d ruled the school with Elizabeth at his side, and now he was nothing. Maybe his dad walking out of the hospital the day he heard he was done playing football was a sign. A sign that without football, he was nothing.

  Akeo looked over. “Dude” was all he said.

  Serenity

  Friday, October 25

  12:15 p.m.

  When she saw Jolin walk into the kitchen, she knew things were going to go from bad to worse. Brock was supposed to be watching the door and keeping everyone out. Why didn’t it surprise her he’d wandered off? Brock was talking to Jolin and in his drunken state she could only imagine what he said. Elizabeth was hanging on Jolin, and he had pulled her in tight. Jolin’s expression was conflicted before he grabbed Elizabeth and pulled her out of the room. Brock had a look of satisfaction on his face. She could only assume he’d told Jolin she’d been paid to suck his dick. Ren buried her head in Ty’s neck and kissed him behind his ear. A low rumble came from his throat. He liked when she did that. She cherished the control she was taking from him, especially since her control over every other aspect of her life had gone to shit. She lowered her hand to rub his already hard dick. She felt his body shudder at her touch.

  “I turn into a pumpkin in an hour so let’s finish this up.” Ren pushed him so his butt was resting against the counter.