(James)
It was a beautiful morning. The sun was shining brightly into my room. The cool breeze blew into my room and I still had a euphoric smile on my face. The memory of last night's date was still fresh in my mind and would pop up every few minutes and every time it did I chuckled. Though I was still pretty tired because I hadn't even gotten any sleep. Luckily, since Mrs. Jones wasn't going to come to school today I could sleep in late, so I stayed comfortable on my bed looking at the text I wanted to send to Betty-Ann
*Betty-Ann- Good morning Handsome, so what's up*
*Um well not much. I'm just wondering if you'd like to go out with me again. Maybe to a movie or something. Today I mean or maybe tomorrow. Anytime you're free
"Am I really gonna send this?" I asked myself before my door opened and my dad walked in
"Good morning Jambo," He said
"Hey, Dad. Did you just come back?" I asked, still looking at my phone
"Huh-uh, but what kind of a welcome is that? Come give your old man a proper bird lover, hug" dad said before, I sighed, getting up to hug him.
This was my father. Hubert Cornelius Taylor. He was the Sales Manager at King's Automobiles that Nick's dad owned. Honestly, I've had conflicting feelings about that. He's always gone, but he does make good money. The thing I probably hate the most problem with was that it was Nick's Dad's company. That always left a sour taste in my mouth. Aside from that my dad was a good man, albeit a bit odd. He was obsessively interested in birds and always wanted to share in it, which, thankfully, I didn't
"That's more like it so what were you thinking about," dad asked
"Oh, it's nothing," I said turning off my phone
"Come on, James when did we start lying to each other"
"I think it was the first time I burned the garage down" I answered unsure
"Come on son, when have I ever lied to you. Swear I won't tell," Dad said
"Fine," I sighed reluctantly handing him my phone
"Betty-Ann? Isn't that the girl you had a crush on since you were just a little duckling?" Dad asked
"Yeah, she finally noticed me," I said as he gave me back my phone
"So any advice?" I asked
"Well, see Jambo women are like birds," he said
"Ducks huh," I said, knowing I shouldn't have asked him
"Yep, sometimes you see them and want to get close, but you fear that they're going to peck you, but once you actually touch them you'll see just how beautiful and soft they are," He said
"And that's all the time I have. See you later, Dad," I said, rushing to the bathroom.
After that, I got ready and left, skipping breakfast. Carlos brought back my car last night so I drove to school. As soon as I arrived, I saw the guys having a conversation
"Hey guys," I said smiling. Memories of the date flashing in my mind again
"Sup James" Carlos and Carl said
"Taylor" she scoffed sounding rather upset with me for some reason
"What are you so happy about?" Libby asked
"Nothing?" I chuckled
"Nothing my ass. You still on your high because of your date with Betty-Ann" Carlos teased throwing his hand around my shoulder and I could only laugh
"Date?" Libby asked
"Don't you know our boy here went on a date with Betty-Ann Turner?" Carlos said
"He posted it on Instagram. Haven't you seen it?" Carl asked, his head still in his phone
"No, I left my phone at my house I haven't checked on it yet," she said
"Can we just drop it? It's nothing big," I said still smiling
"What were you guys talking about?" I changed the topic
"We're talking about Fright Night," Carlos said
"But isn't that four weeks away?" I said
"Yeah" Libby answered
"But we're planning from early. Speaking of which we haven't spoken about dates." Carl said
"Yeah Sophie's going with Nick, I'm obviously going with my Shinning one and Carl's...well Carl's going by himself. So who are you going with?"
"Oh, I've got someone in mind," I said, grinning as thoughts of last night once crossed my mind
"That wouldn't happen to be a certain short-haired hottie would it" Carlos teased again. But I didn't deny it. Not long after Sophie stormed off
"What's her problem?" I asked before Libby started marching over to Nick
"Where are you going?" Carlos asked as she stopped in front of Nick as he exited his car and they started talking
"I wonder what they're talking about," Carl asked.
"I'm gonna find out," Carlos said when he saw Nick grabbing her wrist. Not even the slightest delay, we walked over to them
"What's happening here," Carlos asked
"Back off Estevez," he said
"I'd appreciate it if you remove that hand?" Carlos said, glaring at Nick with his fist clenched.
"I'm just here to talk to Sophie" Nick sighed loosening his grip so Libby yanked her hand free
"After what you did, you should be lucky she didn't dump you" I spat
"Stay out of this Taylor. This has nothing to do with you," Nick said glaring at me
"What's going on here?" Betty-Ann's voice said coming over to us
"Great someone else. You know what...I'll talk to her later" Nick said getting into his car and driving away
"Okay. Looks like I missed something. Did I come at a bad time?" Betty-Ann said
"No, it's fine. I'm actually glad you came I wanted to ask you something" I said
"Sure. You can ask me while we walk," she said
"Wait, James. Can I talk to you for a minute?" Libby asked
"Can't this wait Libby?"
"It's about Sophie and its serious" Libby said making me sigh internally
"It's about Sophie and it's serious," I said
"Alright, Do you mind Betty-Ann?"
"Sure, go ahead," she said
"I'll talk to you later, okay," I said
"Okay," Betty-Ann said before she left.
"Carlos I'll talk to you guys later, okay," Libby said sending him and Carl away
"Okay, see ya," Carlos said, kissing her cheek before leaving with Carl
"So what's up?" I asked
"Did you happen to see Sophie last night?"
"Yeah"
"Did say what happened between her and Nick yesterday?" she asked
"She didn't tell you? If she didn't tell you I don't think I should either" He said
"Look, if you don't tell me I'll just ask Nick so to save both of us some time just tell me now," she said before we sat on the lawn where I told her everything
"Are you sure that's all?" she asked
"Yeah, that's all she said then she asked me about my date"
"You mean Sophie saw you after the date?" she asked curiously
"Yeah"
"Did she say anything?"
"Not really, she just asked how was the date?"
"And you said?" she asked
"I didn't say much, I told her we had a good time and then we kissed," I said
"And Sophie knows about this?"
"Yeah, I told her, but then she said she wasn't feeling well and left" I shrugged
"God damn it," she said, jumping up
"I'll see you later, James," she said.
"Um... yeah," he said
After she left I immediately went to look for Betty. It wasn't long before I spotted her talking to some guy. He had a dirt green beanie, a t-shirt with stains on it, and a pair of ripped jeans. Though they were talking Betty-Ann seemed to be looking all over the place as if trying to find a way out of the conversation
"Hey Betty-Ann, what's up," I said, walking up to them
"Who's he?" The guy asked
"He's just a friend," She said
"Really? You're friends with losers now" the guy laughed
"It's none of your business who I'm friends with," she spat at him
"Whatever. Just make sure you're there tonight. The boss doesn't like waiting," he said
"Whatever. Can you just please get lost please?" She said
"Fine, I've got better things to take care of anyway. See you tonight beautiful," he said, kissing her before getting on the bike that oddly looked exactly like hers
"Mind telling me what that was," I asked
"An old acquittance," she said, walking past me
"So you kiss all your acquittances like that," I said
"What's wrong, it was just a kiss," she said before I stopped
"Just a kiss."
"Huh-uh"
"Does a kiss mean nothing to you?" I asked
"Not particularly it's just skin-touching. You don't freak out over a handshake, do you?" she said
"So what are you saying that last night was just a kiss too. Just a handshake?" I asked, clenching my fist
"Yeah, what did you expect from a girl that strips in front of a guy on the first date," she said sarcastically
"So you're expecting me to believe you're that easy. You're saying I could have just asked for sex and you'd just lay down" I said getting angrier
"That was quite a leap from what we were talking about, but it wouldn't be the first time," she said. Her calm demeanor and tone seemed to have a way of pissing me off
"It would have been for me. And you know what..." I said before the bell rang
"I have to head to class," I said walking away. I was pissed and the fact the teacher still left work even though she was absent didn't make it better. My mood remained sour for practically the whole day. So as soon as the final bell rang, I drove home and raided the fridge. I wanted to go straight down to my lab, but I decided to just take a break from the experiments and just watch Netflix. After about three and a half hours of mindless watching whatever was on the Dad's Curved 65-Inch TV, I heard the doorbell ring. Having calmed down a bit I got off the couch and rushed over to the door. Secretly, I had been hoping it was Betty-Ann that had come to apologize or at least talk to me
"Oh, it's you," I said disappointed
"Nice to see you too," Sophie said sarcastically
"Sorry come on in," I said, moving her out of the way
"Thanks," she said, walking in
"So what are you doing here?" I asked
"The assignment," she said
"Okay, but I thought we decided not to study in private," I said
"Yeah, but your dad's here. So I don't think anything like 'that' would happen again," she said making her way to the dining
"Actually he's not. He left saying he was gonna meet up with someone. What about your mom isn't she back too? We can just go to your house," I said
"She didn't come home. Apparently, she's working overtime on the project they had been talking about" Sophie shrugged, taking a seat around the dining table
"Oh well, nothing like that will happen. After all, we're both happily seeing someone now," she said
"Happily seeing someone?" I said a sad smile as I sat at the opposite end of the table
"What's that look for?" she asked
"Nothing," I said
"Come on Taylor you can't lie to me"
"I was just wondering who that girl with Nick was"
"First of all, you weren't and second I didn't tell you so you could use it against me like that"
"Yeah, I'm sorry, but I'm seriously wondering why you didn't tell Libby"
"How do you know I didn't tell Libby?" she asked before I bit my lip realizing my mistake
"... Wait, did she ask you? " She asked,
"Well... um...." I said
"I can't believe she would do that"
"Really?" I asked. That was not something out of the ordinary for Liberty
"Fine, you didn't tell her anything did you?"
"It was either I tell her or she goes to Nick. I figured there would be fewer injuries if I told her."
"Wait, she went to Nick"
"Probably shouldn't have said that," I said mentally kicking myself
"You know what I'll talk to her later. Let's just start the assignment; do you have any pens and pencils?"
"Sure, it's in the garage cabinet," I said getting up
"No, don't get up I'll handle it," she said
"You sure?" I said, sitting back down
"Yeah first draw on the right, right?"
"Yeah," I said before she left. I patiently waited for ten minutes for her to come back and when she did she seemed rather vexed. I watched her, but she didn't say anything as she silently moved back to her seat
"You found the pens?" I asked, curious what prompted the change of moods
"No, but I found this," she said, throwing Betty's black lace panties over to me
"Mind explaining that to me," she said
"Actually, yes I do mind," I said
"Wow, who would have thought the great James Isaac Taylor would turn out to be that guy. As for Turner, everyone knows she's that girl," she said
"And what do you mean by that?" I glared
"The type of girl that gives it up on the first date of course"
"She's not"
"Oh, so I guess her underwear just magically came off her body and got in your car"
"Nothing happened," I snarled
"That's bullshit. I bet you slept with her, didn't you? Honestly, James, I expected you to at least have some class and enough dignity, not to sleep with someone on the first date" she scolded
"NOTHING HAPPENED!!!" I yelled
"And even if something did, it wouldn't have been any of your business. Why the hell do you even care when or who I sleep with. You're not my girlfriend. You're my lab partner so you have neither the need nor the right to question who I decide to sleep with. As my lab partner, I would like for you not to interfere with my personal affairs outside of the projects we are assigned" I said harshly scolding Sophie who looked as if she had seen a ghost. After overcoming her initial shock she took up her bag and got out of the seat
"Wait. I'm sorry," I said, realizing I might have been too blunt
"No, it's fine. I think I should go. Oh, and before I forget I saw your new girlfriend buying something from a real shady-looking guy" she said before she left.
"Shady guy?" I said as thoughts of the guy from this morning crossed my mind
"Why am I even thinking about this it has nothing to do with me anyway?" I sighed slamming my head into the wooden table. I closed my eyes for a second when the doorbell rang again. I got up and went to open the door. Not even bothering to see who it was I yelled
"What Sophie!" I yelled annoyed before I noticed it was Betty. She was shaking with terror, her eyes seemed to be red as if she had been crying
"Betty-Ann?" I questioned
"C-c-can I come in?" she stammered
"Sure, come on in," I said before, the same guy on the motorcycle drove on my lawn before Betty-Ann surprisingly hid behind me
"So there you are, Bitch. I've been looking fucking everywhere for you," he said. The irate tone in his voice and the way his eye twitched as he jumped off the bike and marched over to me showed he was angry.
"Please don't let him near me," she whispered, trembling as she held unto me tightly
"I'm sorry, but you have to leave," I said as he stopped in front of me
"Or what?" he growled in my face clenching his fist
"Or I'll call the cops," I said before he started laughing
"Oh no you're gonna call the big bad policeman" he jeered
"Hold up, don't I know you?" he asked inspecting me from head to toe
"Yeah, come to think about it, aren't you the loser from this morning. Wait, are you sleeping with this bitch?" he laughed
"Leave or else" I warned
"Or else wha-" he started before I cut him off with a punch that left him flat on his ass
"Get up, leave the keys to her bike and walk home before I do something you and I will both regret" I threatened
"Tough guy, huh?" he smirked whipping the blood from his lip as he got up and reached into his vomit green jacket, and pulled out a gun pointing it in my face
"So what you gonna do now. What? Not so tough now, huh," he said before I sighed before Bernard ran out of the lab barking at him
"You gonna sick your mutt on me" he laughed
"A gun is a distance weapon, you know that right?" I said
"What?" he said, confused before Bernard charged at him. He tried moving the gun towards Bernard so I use that distraction to quickly disarm him of the gun before punching him in the mouth again
"Ow! The fuck!!" He cursed
"I'll say it one last time. Drop her keys and leave before I do something you and I will both regret" I said flashing off his blood. He glared at me and clenched his fist, but one growl from Bernard shut him up
"You.....You'll pay for this," he said, throwing down the keys before running off with his tail between his legs. Watching him dash down the street I sighed removing the magazine from the gun and the bullet that was in the chamber before turning to Betty
"Are you okay?" I asked the wide-eyed Betty-Ann
"How did you...?" she asked overwhelmed
"When your ex is a martial arts master you pick up a few things," I said, remembering all the times Sophie forced me to spar with her. Funny enough, that's how I knew I was in trouble with her
"Let's go inside," I said before leading her inside. We went back to the dining room and allowed her to sit in a chair
"Would you like something to drink?" I asked
"Water," she whispered
"Okay," I said going into the kitchen and getting her a glass of water
"Now that's everything's okay want to tell me what that was about?" I asked taking a seat
"I...I don't I'm not ready to..." she said
"Okay, fine, your bike? How did he get it?" I asked
"Yesterday I was riding to school and they blind-sighted me," she said looking down
"So they took your bike?" I asked
"Yeah"
"So who are they?" I asked
"Didn't I tell you I fell in with the wrong crowd? Freshman year, Nick and I followed his brother and his girlfriend and we were introduced to Dick and his crew. Not long we started doing things we shouldn't and staying out late a lot" she explained
"Didn't your mom say anything?" I asked
"Beth doesn't really care, she just tells me to not embarrass her," she gave a hollow chuckle
"This is a bit more than I expected" I sighed
"I know, I shouldn't have gotten you involved in this, but I didn't have anyone else to turn to," she said
"It's alright all the trouble I've been in a small-time gang is the last thing I'm going to be afraid of. I'm just glad you're okay." I said before she smiled
"Thank you for helping me. After the way, I acted this morning I wasn't sure you'd help me. But I still decided to risk it"
"I'm glad you did who knows what that creep would have done to you if you hadn't," I said concerned
"Thanks again for helping me"
"It's really no problem," I said
"So is your mom at the bakery?"
"Yeah, my dad said he was going to meet someone. He must have lost track of time" I shrugged
"So we're alone," she said before I realized it. I was alone with Betty-Ann Turner. That realization made me a little flustered
"I guess, you know I always thought of what it'd be like if you were alone with me. Albeit for a different reason" I said truthfully
"Oh really you really thought of me like that," she smirked
"Yeah, trust me, you've been material for many private experiments"
"I don't know if I should be faltered or grossed out" she laughed
"Not sure, but I'm definitely embarrassed," I said before surprisingly she kissed me
Five minutes later we separated for air and just stared at each other
"Did you mean what you said this morning?"
"About what?"
"Your first time?" she asked before I nodded before she got close to my ear
"Let's fix that. Your room now," she ordered seductively as she got up and went upstairs where I soon followed
"Closed the door behind you," she ordered sitting on my bed and again I did as I was told. After I turned back to her, she motioned me over with her finger
As soon as I was close she grabbed unto me and surprisingly threw me on the bed before climbing on top of me kissing me deeply before breaking for air
"It's about time for a private experiment, don't you think," she said, taking off her top revealing her white bra which made me lose the self-control I had so I flipped her over. Now I was the one on top so I quickly threw my shirt on the floor before kissing her on her neck
"Where did this confidence come from and how can I make it stay?" she moaned at my touch as I explored her body
"Are you sure you're a virgin?" She gasped as my kisses started to lower
"I watched a lot of reference material," I said
Other parts of our clothing started to disappear piece by piece until we were completely naked, allowing us to enjoy each other's company. We were locked in a passionate embrace with Betty-Ann often taking the lead and showcasing many different positions. By the time we ended two hours had passed both of us reaching our final climax. Exhausted, Betty-Ann laid on my chest we were both breathing heavily and were very thankful that my parents weren't home. Betty was a screamer and she was very loud
"Wow... Who knew you were... such a beast," she said in between pants
"Thanks, you weren't too bad yourself... Who am I kidding? You were amazing," I said
"Thank you very much," she said, kissing my cheek
"I've got to ask what does this mean," I asked before she sat up
"Look James, I like you, but I'm not ready for a relationship, especially with you"
"With me?"
"You know what I mean. So I don't think we should start using labels. Unless it's friends"
".... With benefits?" I asked
"Lots of benefits," she said, kissing me deeply again