by Kai Juniper
"Get up," I say.
"What?" She sits up. "We're not—"
"We are." I lift her dress up and over her head, then I kiss her, reaching behind her back to undo her bra. As I take it off, she tenses up and covers herself with her arms.
"No," I say, gently pulling her arms back. I keep my eyes on hers as I lay her back on the bed.
She watches as I strip my clothes off, and continues to watch as I take the condom from the nightstand and put it on.
When I lay beside her, she looks nervous, her eyes darting around the room.
I softly kiss her, then whisper over her mouth. "If you don't want to do this—"
"I do. I'm just worried it'll hurt."
"It will, but I'll take it slow. Stop me if you need to."
I kiss her, and play with her tits to get her worked up again. When I can tell she's ready, I position myself over her and slip just the tip of me inside.
Her eyes are closed and I still a moment as she takes a breath. I slide in a little more, not sure how I'm able to control myself like this. I've never gone this slow.
I go a little deeper. She tenses up and grabs the sheets.
"You okay?" I say, kissing her.
She nods.
I keep going until I'm all the way in. She feels fucking amazing. So damn tight. I slowly pull out, then slide back in, watching to make sure she's okay.
She opens her eyes. "I'm good. Keep going."
I take it a little faster, getting into a rhythm. She moves her hips with mine, and makes those soft moans she made earlier.
I kiss her neck, then up by her ear, and whisper, "You feel amazing."
She softly smiles. Her eyes are closed, and I take a moment to look at her. She really is beautiful. How did I never notice that all the years that I've known her?
I kiss her soft lips as I push deep inside her, before slowly pulling out. She's gripping my back, her fingers digging into my skin. She's going to come again. I didn't think she would, but knowing she might is turning me on to the point I can't keep holding back. I slip my tongue in her mouth as I thrust inside her. I speed up a little and keep going, trying to keep a steady pace but finding myself going faster. This isn't going to last. I'm about ready to burst.
She breaks from the kiss and grips my back. I feel her spasm around me and I'm gone. I come so hard I have to take a moment when it's over.
"Be right back." I go to the bathroom to get rid of the condom, then return to her side. "You okay?"
"Yeah." She stares up at the ceiling. "I just had sex."
"How do you feel?"
"Good. It wasn't what I expected."
"Meaning what?"
She looks at me. "It didn't hurt like I thought it would. It did a little at first, but not much." She turns toward me on her side. "How was it for you?"
I kiss her. "I'd do it again if I could. I'd do it all night."
"That might hurt."
I smile. "I was kidding."
She runs her hand over my chest. "I don't regret it."
"You thought you would?"
"A little. I mean, it's you." Her eyes rise to mine. "I wasn't sure I could trust you."
I don't know what to say to that, so I don't.
"Do you regret it?" she asks.
"No. But I had to talk myself into it."
"You don't have to worry. I'm not going to get all crazy and stalk you now that you took my virginity." She smiles. "I could tell you were freaking out a little when I told you I wanted this."
"Because it was something I told myself I'd never do."
"Then why did you?"
"Because it's you." I smooth her hair. "I don't know what we're doing here, Ella, but I keep wanting more of it."
"Me too."
I bring her in my arms and kiss her, because I want to, and because I don't want to talk about this. Talking about it will make me question it and doubt it and maybe even regret it, and I don't want to do that. I just want to hold her and pretend we're not Ella and Briggs, sworn enemies who just weeks ago couldn't stand each other.
Now I don't know how I'd describe us. We talk to each other like friends, but it's hard to imagine calling Ella my friend, or her calling me that, given our history. And after having sex with her, I'm even more confused about us. But I don't want to think about that, or talk about it.
I don't want anything taking away how I feel right now. Calm. Relaxed. Happy. Never in a million years would I have ever imagined Ella Quinn would be the one to make me feel that way.
Chapter Nineteen
Ella
"Briggs, wake up!" I shake him a little.
"What's wrong?" he asks, his voice groggy, his eyes still closed. Even when he's sleeping, he's hot. He's still naked, so that might be contributing to his hotness.
"We fell asleep. It's almost midnight. I need to go." I start to get up, then feel his arms go around me, pulling me back beside him.
"What's the rush?" He kisses me, then gives me a sexy smile that makes me want him again.
Part of me still doesn't believe we actually did it, that it actually happened.
I had sex with Briggs Chadwick. I lost my virginity to him. And I don't regret it! How is that possible? How could so much have changed in just a few weeks for me to go from hating Briggs to sleeping with him?
"I really have to go," I say, but I don't get up. I don't want to. I want to stay here all night, with Briggs, and be with him again. I have a feeling it'll be even better the next time.
I was thinking my first time would be painful and I'd just want to get it over with. That's how Charlotte described it, along with some stuff I'd read online. But that wasn't how it was for me. It hurt a little when we started, but then it felt good, and it kept getting better. Briggs was gentle and went slow. I was worried he'd race through it, only caring about getting himself off. But instead he was focused on me. He kept asking if I was okay, which was really sweet, like he actually cares about me.
I'm still not sure I trust Briggs, but the more I get to know him, the more I believe he's not the guy who bullied me for years. I don't know why he did that, and I'm hoping someday he'll tell me, but that guy is not the guy I was with tonight.
"We have the house to ourselves," he says, kissing my neck. The gentle touch of his lips on my skin sends tingles through my body and I find myself softly moaning as my eyes fall shut. "You can stay here all night."
My eyes pop open as I imagine my dad getting home and finding I'm not there. "I can't stay. My dad will freak out if I'm not home." I get out of bed and grab my clothes from the floor.
Briggs watches as I put on my dress. "Is that new?"
"Yeah. You like it?"
"It looks great on you. You should wear stuff like that more often."
"Like what? Dresses?"
"Stuff that fits you." He gets up and starts getting dressed. "You always wear stuff that's too big."
"I'm just trying to be comfortable. That's why I got this dress. It looks good on, but it's also comfortable."
"Did you go shopping with Charlotte?" he asks, putting his jeans on.
"No, I went by myself." I go to the mirror to check my hair. "Okay, I think I'm good." I turn back to Briggs. "Does it look like I had sex?"
He smiles. "Your dad will have no idea."
I walk up to him. "Everyone said I'd feel different, but I really don't."
His arms go around me. "You don't feel anything? At all?"
I pause, looking up at him. "I kind of feel like I want to do it again."
"Don't say that or I won't let you leave," he says, leaning down to kiss me.
I pull back and look at him. "I would like to do it again. Not tonight, but maybe..."
"Tomorrow?" I hear the eagerness in his voice and it makes me laugh.
"Maybe, but I have to work." I go around him to the door.
"I'll be with my dad at the office," he says as we go down the stairs. "And I might have to show up at a party tomorrow night, but that
won't be until late."
I let out an exaggerated sigh. "It must be hard being popular. Having to appear at parties so your loyal servants get to see you."
"Hey, don't joke. It's a lot of work."
I roll my eyes. "Yeah, sounds terrible."
He takes my hand as he walks me to my truck. It feels strange to hold his hand, like we're dating, even though we're not. I don't know what we're doing and I'm not sure I want to define it. I'd rather take it a day at a time and see where it goes.
"Goodnight." He kisses me, then opens my door.
"I'm still not used to the door not screeching," I say as I get in the truck.
"Did your dad notice?"
"No, he hasn't been around much since he started dating Susan. If he notices I'll just tell him I did it. Talk to you tomorrow."
When I get back to the house, my dad's truck is there. I quietly go inside, hoping he's asleep. He's not in the living room or the kitchen. He must've gone to bed.
As I tiptoe to my room, his door opens.
"Where have you been?" he asks, sounding angry.
"At Charlotte's. We got dinner and watched movies."
"You sure about that?" He folds his arms over his chest and gives me the look that says he knows I'm lying. But how would he know?
"What's going on?" I ask, just wanting him to tell me.
"I saw Charlotte out with a young man at the restaurant Susan and I went to for dinner."
"Oh." I chew on my lip, trying to figure out what to say.
"Where were you, Ella? And don't lie to me. Were you out with a boy?"
"Yes, but it's not what you're thinking. We were just working on an assignment."
His brows rise. "At midnight?"
"I didn't get there until late, and when we were done we went out to get food."
"Was this Briggs you were with?"
"Yes. He's my partner for chem lab and we have to meet outside of class. Dad, I told you all this. You know I have to do those assignments with him."
"On a Friday night? You really expect me to believe you spent Friday night doing homework with Briggs Chadwick?"
"Yes. Why would I lie about that?"
"A boy like Briggs Chadwick does not spend Friday nights doing homework with a girl."
"What are you implying?"
"That there's more going on here. And I don't like it, Ella. I don't have a problem with you dating, but I don't want you dating a boy like Briggs Chadwick. I've seen him at your school, girls hanging all over him. He's not the type of boy you should be involved with."
"I'm not. I swear, we were just doing homework. Now can I go to bed? I'm exhausted."
He sighs. "Go ahead. We'll talk about this tomorrow."
Why is he being like this? He can't tell me who I can hang out with and who I can date. He doesn't even know Briggs. I thought he was bad too, until I spent time with him. I know he's been with a lot of girls and I'm sure he's used girls for sex, but that's not what he's doing with me. He didn't even want to have sex with me. I had to talk him into it, but it didn't take much to convince him.
I still can't believe we did that. I lost my virginity to Briggs Chadwick. And I liked it. I liked it so much I can't wait to do it again.
The next day my dad tells me we'll be having a father-daughter night, which is just a way for him to keep an eye on me so I don't go over and see Briggs. He even cancelled his date with Susan. It's so ridiculous. I can't believe he doesn't trust me. I know I lied to him, but it was only because I knew he'd react this way.
Come over, Briggs texts, just after six on Saturday night.
It hasn't even been a day since I saw Briggs, but I miss him and want to see him, which is really pathetic. I'd convinced myself that having sex with him wouldn't make me feel closer to him, but it did. It wasn't so much the sex, but how he treated me, with so much care and concern. It was almost like he has feelings for me, but I'm not going to let myself believe that. I don't want to imagine things that aren't there.
I can't leave, I text back. I'm stuck here all night with my dad.
You can't sneak out?
No, he's making us do stuff together. He's only doing it because he thinks I'll go see you.
"Ella?" My dad knocks on my door.
"Yeah. Just a minute."
I have to go, I text Briggs.
"What do you need?" I say, opening my door.
"The pizza's here. But before we eat, we need to talk."
He's going to give me another lecture about Briggs. I don't want to hear it, but knowing I can't avoid him, I follow him to the living room.
"Sit down," he says.
I sit next to him on the couch and notice a piece of paper in his hand.
"What's that?" I ask, pointing to the paper.
"It's a notice from the city. It came in the mail today."
"A notice about what?"
He sighs. "It seems the city has decided our house doesn't fit with their redevelopment plans."
"What does that mean?"
"It means they want to buy our house so they can tear it down."
"Yeah? So? Haven't they tried this before?"
"Yes, but I was able to tell them I wouldn't sell. Now they're not giving me a choice."
"They're forcing you to sell? They can't do that."
"They can. It's called eminent domain. The city can force you to sell your property if it interferes with their plans to develop an area. It's actually quite common. I was worried it might happen when they started building all these mansions around us, but when it didn't, I thought that meant we were safe. But I should've known this was coming."
I take the letter from him and read it.
"What are we going to do?" I toss the letter on the coffee table. "Can we fight this?"
"I'll talk to a lawyer on Monday, but it won't be worth it to fight it. It'll cost me thousands of dollars in legal fees with little to no chance of us winning. If the city wants to tear this place down, they'll find a way to do it."
"Dad, you have to fight this! They can't take our house from us!"
"There's not much I can do about it. They'll pay me a fair price for it. I just wasn't ready to sell."
"When is this happening?"
"I don't know yet. I'll see if the lawyer can buy us some time. I'd hate to have to leave before you graduate."
I shake my head, struggling to believe this. "Why are they doing this? Why now?"
"I'm guessing the neighbors complained enough that the city could no longer avoid it."
"This is because people complained? Are you serious?"
"Honey, I know this is upsetting, but I don't want you to worry. We're not going to be homeless. We'll find a new place somewhere else."
"We can't afford it. House prices around here are insane. It'll cost a million dollars for something even smaller than this."
"I'll find something, but I don't want to rush and buy something I don't want. With you off at college, I might get myself an apartment until I figure out what to do."
"An apartment? Dad, you'd hate that. You like living in a house and having a yard."
"Maybe it's time for a change. Honey, let's talk about this later. The pizza's getting cold."
"I'm not hungry. I'm too angry that a bunch of rich people think they can tell the city to tear down our house just because it doesn't look like theirs."
We go to the kitchen table and my dad eats the pizza while I try to come up with a way to save our house. Later, he lets me pick a movie to watch, but it doesn't make me feel better.
At nine, I tell my dad I'm tired and going to bed, but instead I call Briggs, keeping my voice down so my dad won't hear. I tell Briggs what happened and ask if he has any ideas for what to do.
"It's probably too late," he says. "If the city's already decided this, it's probably going to happen, even if your dad tries to fight it."
"But it's wrong! How can they do this?"
"It's just the way the law works. Did they say what they'l
l pay for it?"
"I don't think it was in the letter. Why?"
"Usually they pay at or above market value, which in this neighborhood could be a million, probably more."
"My dad doesn't care about the money. He just wants his house. He grew up here."
"I don't know what to tell you."
"Tell me what you did today so I can stop thinking about losing my house."
"There's not much to tell. I spent all day with my dad looking at spreadsheets. It sucked. I don't want to talk about it."
"Are you going to the party tonight?"
"Yeah. I don't feel like going, but I'll do it." He pauses. "Shit."
"What?"
"I just got a text from another five-digit number."
"What do you mean? It's not the same one?"
"No, it's different."
"What does it say?"
"Block my number again and I go to the cops. Shit's getting real, kids. Don't fuck with me. I'm the one in charge and your futures are mine. I decide what happens. Don't piss me off." Briggs blows out a breath. "Fuck. This is all Finn and Parker's fault. I knew they'd piss this guy off if they blocked his number. And they didn't do what he asked so now he's really getting angry. Ella, I need to go. I have to call them before they're too wasted to talk."
"Yeah, hey, we never did the assignment. Can we get together tomorrow?"
"Maybe. I'll let you know. If we can't meet, I'll just do it myself. I need to call Finn and Parker and see if they got the same text."
He ends the call and I get my laptop out and search for anything new in the case. The only thing I can find are some stories about the guy we hit, and how the cops had been searching for him for months. There's nothing about the guy's family or anything about him having a funeral. Maybe he won't even have one.
Some of the comments online say it's good the guy's dead, and that whoever hit him shouldn't be punished. But the law doesn't work that way, and if the cops find out it's us, we'll be punished. The thing I can't figure out is why the mysterious texter is leaving me out of this. Even if the video doesn't show me, the guy taking it had to have seen me. He knows I was there, so why isn't he including me in his messages?
"Ella?" My dad knocks on my door.
"Hold on." I get up and open the door. "Yeah?"
