One is Zach Evans. The other is Joe, the kid from the bar and from around her neighborhood.
They both look at Rae with a surprised look, and then they quickly eye Dan Schneider.
This is just great.
"Hey...." Rae tries to smile.
Where the heck is Marina? Didn't she say she was going to find Zach Evans? Now she's the one who finds Zach Evans yet again. And Zach Evans is just standing in front of her, judging her with his eyes... and with this kid, Joe. Why is Joe even here?
"What are you guys doing here? You know each other?" Rae raises her chin up.
"Everyone here should know Zach! This is a Gloucester University party. I go there, well, I'm about to graduate early," Joe grins, then points at Zach, "This guy here is one of the most outstanding—"
"Alright," Rae puts a hand up, "You don't have to introduce him. I know him. I also went to Gloucester." Rae snaps at Joe.
"I never thought you'd come to a Gloucester event...," Zach's eyes dart from Rae to Dan Schneider. And then he looks at the flowers in her hands. She is embarrassed.
"Oh, cool, so this is a college alumni thing?" Dan Schneider smiles politely at Zach.
"Yeah. And I know Rae from college. Did you go to Gloucester?" Zach asks Dan.
"Cool, no. I didn't go to college. I'm Rae's high school friend. My name is Dan. I feel like I have seen you before?" Dan asks, extending a hand to shake Zach's.
"Oh yeah. Are you one of the firefighters in Sudbury? I was just there, I am the designer of that new program you guys are installing." Zach says.
Rae nervously watches them chat. Joe just stands aside, listening, drinking a bottle of beer, looking at Zach like he is an idol. Joe must have been some kind of computer science major or something.
Dan and Zach appear to be perfectly fine with each other, talking about some fire detection devices and trainings. Zach even references his own hometown, trying to decide if Dan and himself have other connections back in high school.
Well, Rae didn't think Dan and Zach could chat so naturally with each other.
What did you think was going to happen, Rae? Of course they are fine. Zach doesn't care who you are with. Dan probably doesn't care that much either.
"So, Rae and I are just about to take off, right?" Dan wraps his muscular arm around Rae's small frame.
"Um, haha, yeah, we really just came here to take a look. I didn't even know what party this is," Rae laughs awkwardly. Yeah, it is awkward. She just loudly announced that she was here basically to crash a party.
"Well, you guys have a good night then. I am just going to hang out here for a little," Zach looks at Rae. He seems to have something to say to her.
"Zach, um, when is the thing you're repairing going to be done, you know, when can I get it back?" Rae asks, trying to hint she needs to talk to him again.
"Oh, yeah, um, should be done tomorrow."
"OK, I'll talk to you later."
Rae then grabs Dan's arm and hurries away.
"What?" Dan laughs, "Is he your ex-boyfriend?"
"Oh my god, no! No way in hell. Not in million years." Rae still walks hastily.
"Then why are you being so weird right now? I haven't even got us a ride. Slow down, let me pull my phone out."
"OK, yeah." Rae stops. She crosses her arms to embrace herself. The bouquet is now on her left side but she keeps the flowers facing up. The night air has got a little cold for her. Dan seems to notice. He walks to her rear side, reaches his hands out to hug her from behind. He tucks his arms under her armpits. His wrists are brushing past her breasts. He leans his head against Rae's right side shoulder.
He continues to scroll on his phone in this position. It's like Rae is a giant pillow he's holding while he calls for a ride on the mobile app.
Rae can't help but lean against him. She actually kind of enjoys this. This is such a nice and romantic gesture that she wishes she had a real boyfriend who would do this with her.
Yeah, Dan doesn't want the title of being her boyfriend.
Ugh. This is so frustrating.
This is probably why Dan doesn't ask any further question about Zach Evans. He's not jealous or anything. Dan is secure and confident in who he is and what he wants.
When Zach asked if he went to Gloucester University, Dan simply and plainly said he didn't go to college. He doesn't care he didn't go to college. He is comfortable with it and he doesn't feel threatened by Zach's achievement.
Gosh, Dan is actually kind of cool.
"Thank you, Dan." Rae suddenly says.
"You're welcome." Dan laughs lightly, "I'm actually not sure what you are thanking me for. You mean the flowers? Or the ride I'm paying for? You can get the ride next time then."
Rae giggles, "I sure will." Rae tilts her head, and she decides to kiss Dan on his chin.
"Oh. You can kiss me now? You really made me work for it tonight," Dan lowers his head and starts kissing her.
They go back to Rae's apartment. They go inside. They start to undress each other. Dan kicks off his shoes and quickly holds her up and carries her to the bed.
Rae knows she isn't supposed to do this again. Oh, what the heck. She is single, and she thinks Dan is cool. Let's just do it one more time.
Dan kisses her while his hands move around her body. His hands stay on her butt cheeks, and he squeezes them and pushes her lower body to him.
He stops a little, and he grabs her hand and put it inside his boxers.
"Feel me, Rae. I've always wanted you to do that."
Rae holds him, feeling his body heat in his boxers, "Always? Since when?"
"Since high school. Since the day you sat next to me, talking to me with your eyes, speaking a language I didn't understand." Dan chuckles then kisses her. He uses his tongue to tangle with hers.
"Why didn't you ever ask me out?" Rae finds a break and asks.
"I was afraid to be rejected by a smart girl. I wasn't the most confident then. But, I am no longer like that."
Rae slows down her hands on his body, "You were not confident? But you were the coolest, the most popular, the cutest guy in school."
"Thanks, but I didn't know what I wanted to do in life. Do you know how that feels? People seem to all know what they are doing. But I was clueless where my life is going."
"Dan. I know how you felt. I was clueless, too. I end up not finishing college. Wasted all the tuition and time. I am 30 years old now. And I still haven't accomplished anything for myself. You are at least doing something for the public and you are very well-respected at your job."
"Oh babe," Dan sits up and pulls Rae up as well.
Rae now sits on Dan's thighs and they are looking at each other.
"I wish I had run into you sooner," Dan kisses her neck and her left shoulder. "You should give yourself some credit. Some love."
Dan then looks down at Rae's thighs sitting on him. His hands slowly slide towards Rae's inner thighs and he pulls Rae's panties aside. Rae pulls his boxers down. He lifts her butt up and he enters her.
"Oh," Rae moans. They both feel the satisfaction.
Rae starts to ride Dan wildly. Rae rubs herself against him while wrapping her arms around his neck. He pushes her butt as he thrusts his lower body into her. His groaning encourages her to go harder and deeper.
Rae wonders, if Dan had asked her out in high school, started dating her, maybe she would've ended up marrying him. Maybe she would've been a housewife, making food for their kids together. Would she have been happier that way?
Would Dan still end up divorcing her because he said marriage isn't for him? Why isn't it for him?
Oh Rae. You'd better not fall in love with Dan.