You Belong With Me...?

by O. Fletcher, TIM

  He laughed, “You know me Tara. All I think about is football,” and just like that she was appeased. It seems even the mega-bitch of St. Helena Academy wasn’t immune to the charms of Brad Stevenson.

  “Well, speaking of the Prom. I have to give a speech that night, I’d better go off and get started whilst I have the inspiration.”

  “I could help?” Tara offered in her sweetest voice. What advice could she possibly give to anyone?

  “Sure.” was all he said as they walked off together in the direction of the library.

  It was unimaginably hard to see him act so friendly towards her knowing what I do. Especially when I’m almost certain he was about to kiss me before she interrupted.

  So, asking myself for possibly the millionth time, where does that leave Brad and I now?

  ***

  Over a week passed before Brad even looked my way. It was Friday afternoon and it was friggin' freezing on the field waiting for the game to start. Here’s a little tip for you, don’t chose an instrument that requires a lot of finger movement if you live in a cold climate. Trying to play the saxophone on the pitch in that weather was like asking a stroke patient to do the Macarena.

  Brad spotted me when I was walking off the field towards the stands and quickly ran over to me.

  “Hey!”

  “Hey,” I replied, unsure of… well everything.

  “Did you need a lift home tonight?”

  I considered this for a moment, it was a very cold night and it was only going to get colder and I would have to ride home in the dark in only my band uniform. What harm could a lift do? It wasn’t a vow of celibacy or anything (not that I needed to take a vow for that...)

  “Um, yeah that would be great.”

  “Awesome!” he said with a gorgeous smile, “Meet me at my car fifteen minutes after the game!”

  “Okay,” I said wearily as he jogged off to join his team-mates in warming up.

  The game was great; suspenseful, skillful and best of all we won! (We hadn’t lost a game all season; we were really in for a chance at the championship!)

  I waited for Brad in the stands, watched him chat happily with Tara (to my absolute chagrin) and saw him head off towards his car before I stood up and followed him out.

  He was already in the car with the heat blasting by the time I climbed in, it was so toasty and felt great after being frozen all night.

  “I should probably get my bike…”

  “Nah, too cold to get back out now. I’ll drive you back tomorrow if you like?”

  “Um okay, thanks,” I was still unsure of where we stood.

  “I have some good news, well two different bits of good news actually…”

  “Well go on then,”

  “Okay, first of all I’ve been offered a full scholarship to the University of Washington.”

  Holy shit he’s going to be a pro football player, eventually!

  “Oh my God! That’s amazing!” And so hot.

  “I know right, I hope I can do it, everyone talks about it like it’s the greatest thing in the world, but it’s so much pressure.”

  “I think you can do it Brad, you’re good at everything, remember?”

  He laughed; it was good to see him so happy and relaxed.

  “What was the other news?” I asked, excited now.

  “Oh yes, the situation with Tara is, well different.”

  “Different how?”

  “She’s been so much nicer recently, she said she’s stopped seeing that asshole on the hockey team - his name was Seth - and she says she wants to be a serious couple.”

  How the hell is that good news?

  “Oh…”

  “Oh?”

  “You know I don’t like her Brad, I think she’s just using you.”

  “Of course she is, as I am her but it works and I do like her you know, I just don’t love her,” he retorted. It seemed he was trying very hard to convince me.

  “Well if you’re happy,”

  “Right now, I really am,” he said with a smile, and I felt happy for him. Even if it came at my own disappointment and misery.

  “So, are you doing anything tomorrow night?” he asked

  “Nope, was just planning on doing the usual…”

  “Getting drunk and dancing to Taylor Swift?”

  More like getting drunk and whacking off like a dozen times to the video I recorded of you masturbating…

  “Haha, yeah something like that,” I said as a blush crept up my cheeks.

  We were pulled up outside my house now.

  “So, my dad is out of town for the weekend so you should totally come over and we can hang out or go out or something…”

  “I thought you’d be with Tara?”

  “No, she’s always with her friends Saturday nights.”

  “Ah, okay I guess. I mean it’s not like I’ve got anything better to do.”

  “Great! So come over anytime after 3 o’clock. Just text me before you start walking.”

  “Okay, I’ll do that. Thanks for the ride Brad,” I said as I climbed out of the car and started walking towards my front door.

  Brad’s window went down and he called out “Tyler! Just one more thing”

  I walked towards his window and bent down just a little.

  He whispered, “I don't know if you are aware, but your phone has a little red light that goes on when it's recording video. I just thought you should know for the next time you decide to be a peeping Tom.”

  Then he drove off and I couldn’t move. I stood, mortified, in my drive way for ten minutes before I could make my legs function. I couldn’t believe he knew I filmed him and was so casual about it. Oh God, I was so embarrassed. No, it went beyond that. What I did was illegal. I was a criminal pervert. There was NO WAY I could go over to his house the next day, what the hell would I make conversation about?

  Hold on… if he knew I was watching (let alone recording) why the fuck didn’t he stop or at least close his blinds?

  After I’d eaten dinner and mom had left for work I retreated to my room and closed my curtains. I pulled out my phone and decided to watch that video of Brad again, but not for pleasurable purposes this time. I was looking for signs. And sure enough they were there, now that I know that he knew I was watching I realized that the smirk that happened to cross his face was purely for my benefit.

  So he was putting on a show, for me?

  Seriously Brad was like that annoying Katy Perry song; talk about mixed signals. I kiss him and he kisses me back, he’s Hot then he pushes me away and practically accuses me of molesting him, he’s Cold. He accosts me under the stands and was seconds away from putting his lips on mine, he’s Yes and then he tells me he’s happy with Tara, he’s No!

  I wished this damned tango of ours only lasted the length of the song.

  I spent the night listening and grooving to music (yes Hot n Cold came on a few times deliberately) whilst mulling over the mind fuck that was my relationship with Brad.

  It’s like I’m a cousin that he wants to bang. He can’t help how he feels, but won’t let himself go there or even think about it too much. So he pushes me away hoping to stop the feelings but then he misses me and tries to sweet talk his way back into my life/pants.

  I hoped I wasn’t being too presumptuous in assuming he was into me. I may be naïve and fairly oblivious but I wasn’t a fucking moron. I could read body language to a certain degree and if based on nothing else, the way he was standing so close to me under those stands is enough evidence to convince me.

  So here’s the good news – Brad's into me.

  Here’s the bad news – he probably doesn’t even realize it and if he does he’s too afraid of labels to give me a chance.

  Have I mentioned, fuck my life?

  I decided to take a quick peek at Brad’s window, upon doing so I discovered his notebook against the window. I grabbed my binoculars, it said:

  'IM BORED, TALK 2 ME'

  He had left hi
s blinds open and was sitting at his desk reading a book.

  I grabbed my notepad and wrote back.

  'SUP?'

  I was still a little freaked about the whole ‘filming him jerking and him knowing about it’ incident and was concerned about where this conversation might go… but I grew some balls and went ahead. He knew I filmed him, so what? The most he could do is have me arrested… Oh.

  He wasn’t paying attention so I went and flicked my lights on and off a few times.

  I came back to a new sign.

  'N/M JUST READING, U?'

  I scribbled back,

  'IS THAT THE BOOK U BOUGHT?'

  He answered:

  'YEAH IT’S REALLY GOOD.'

  Okay, what to say now…

  'COOL.'

  Sigh, I’m such a loser.

  'SO WATCHED N/E GOOD MOVIES L8LY? ;)'

  Oh fuck. Why God, why? You know what Brad; two can play at that game. You want me to be embarrassed well guess what, I wasn’t the one giving my gay neighbor the amateur porn show.

  'YEAH I HAVE. THE STAR WAS AMAZING.'

  The look on his face = priceless.

  'OH YEAH?'

  I laughed evilly, I was just getting started.

  'YEAH. HE GOT REALLY INTO IT, PUT ON A GR8 SHOW.'

  He’d been caught out and he knew it.

  I continued,

  'EVEN SMIRKED AT THE CAMERA MAN AT 1 STAGE'

  I could see the blush covering his face from my seat at the window. I felt victorious.

  'I’M TIRED. NIGHT TYLER.'

  Holy crap, I’d managed the impossible. I made Brad Stevenson completely unsure of what to say and I made him retreat from a fight (pen/sword analogy my friends.) Suddenly I didn’t feel so bad about the situation and was even looking a little bit forward to tomorrow.

  Chapter Seven

  I woke Saturday morning (is 11:50am still really considered morning?) with a smile on my face, firstly because I’d had an awesome dream (I was a superhero!) and secondly because the situation with Brad didn’t seem as destitute as it always had in the past.

  Tonight is going to be fun I thought with an evil smirk.

  After I got up and had lunch, I remembered I had to get my bike from school. I chucked on some clothes and decided to walk, it was a nice (rare) sunny day albeit still cold, but I decided I could use the walk to think about a few things.

  It took me just under an hour to walk there, five to remember where I had chained my bike and twenty to ride back. On my way back home I calculated that it wasn’t too far away from Winter Break, and by default Christmas… and the senior Prom.

  For some reason, St. Helena Academy had the tradition of holding its senior Prom the night of the start of the Christmas break. I suppose they thought it was a good idea to get all the excitement put into one time of year so the seniors could focus properly on their studies for the remainder of their high school careers.

  I think that's a cop out. I reckon they just want to recycle the same 'Winter Wonderland' decorations year after year.

  By the time I got home, it was 1:30pm, Brad had said come over anytime after three o’clock but I thought I’d make him wait a little. Six o’clock sounded good. So I spent the afternoon studying for a test and finishing off an assignment.

  At four o’clock my phone let me know I had a message. It was from Brad saying:

  U comin ovr or what?

  I replied,

  @ home doing school stuff. B over when I’m done.

  Was it entirely wrong that I felt really powerful doing this to him? I know it’s mean and rather petty but for once I wanted to be the one in control.

  The clock struck five and I got up and took a shower. Afterwards I preened myself for so long a model would think it was excessive. I put on my best, tightest jeans and a tight green T-shirt that complimented my eyes. I looked good, well for me anyway.

  It was just about 6:00pm when I brushed my teeth and texted Brad that I was coming over. He replied with a smiley face.

  I realized how weird our ‘friendship’ had gotten. It had become a game, going back and forth seeing who would be the one in control. For now, it was me. That could change in the next five minutes and then I’d be left feeling like yesterday's newspaper. I kinda wished we could just go back to the way things were when we didn’t know each other face-to-face.

  My nerves spiked when I stood in front of his door, hesitating to knock for a few seconds. I took a deep breath and raised my hand but before I could make contact, the door opened to reveal the grinning face of Brad Stevenson.

  “Hi,” he said, sounding excited.

  I was suspicious. What in the hell is he so happy about?

  He opened the door the whole way to reveal himself and damn the boy looked good.

  Ah, so that’s what he’s grinning about. Self appreciative bastard.

  We were both dressed in our hottest outfits. He was in sinfully tight, thin black denim jeans and a fucking tank top. That’s not even fair, it’s practically winter for hell’s sake and he’s wearing a tank top! A tight one that fully showed his nipple’s reaction to the cold weather.

  He won the outfit contest evidently. Asshole. I couldn’t take my eyes off him, staring at his butt when he turned around to let me in was almost painful. I sincerely hoped he didn’t want to drink tonight because I’d probably lose it and jump him.

  “Please come in Tyler,” he purred.

  I’m on to you, damn it! You will not win!

  “Sure” I replied in the most seductive voice I could manage. On the way in I ‘accidentally’ brushed my butt against the front of his super tight jeans. He coughed, signaling my win.

  AHAHHAAHHAHHAHAHHA I laughed manically in my head. This was fun.

  “So what do you think about going out tonight?” he asked

  “What did you have in mind?”

  “Couple of bars maybe a nightclub?”

  “You’re forgetting one little thing, Brad.”

  “All taken care of.”

  “…You bought me a fake ID?”

  “Sort of, I have a lot of contacts through my father’s business. One of them is very good with computers and owed me a favor, so,” he paused as he searched through his pockets; “Here it is,” he finished as he handed me an authentic looking driver’s license.

  Wow.

  “Thanks, I really don’t know what to say… wait, how did you get my picture?”

  “I told you this guy is good with computers,” he answered, shrugging.

  We were in his bedroom now, I took a moment to have a good look, as it was the first time I’d seen it without having binoculars attached to my face.

  It was larger than I’d expected and had a walk-in wardrobe that I couldn’t see from my own room. His bed was King sized, covered with red sheets and looked comfy as a cloud. His desk was antique mahogany and held the latest Apple technology including Macbook, ipad and iphone. Brad is seriously a label whore.

  The carpet was cream colored and really soft. There was a huge TV with his PS4 and other various gaming consoles set up against the wall opposite his bed.

  I could also see a closed door that probably led to the attached bathroom (which I really hoped had one of those whole room showers!)

  Basically his room belonged to a kid whose dad had way too much disposable income. I’d be jealous except I knew that none of this stuff was bought because his father loved him, I mean, my mom worked her ass off and we couldn’t afford 99% of this crap but she adored me and I couldn’t imagine a better mother in the world.

  “So I suppose we’ll head out about 10?”

  “Ah, yeah? How are we going to get there…and back?”

  He mused for a moment, “I hadn’t really thought of that. Usually someone offers to be the designated driver…but there’s only two of us and you don’t drive”

  “Why are we going alone, by the way? I thought you’d invite some of your buddies from the football team”

  He looked str
icken for a second. I wondered if it was because he didn’t want his other friends to know we were friends (or friendly?), or because he wanted to spend time alone with me…

  “Ah, I don’t know. Kind of a last minute thing I suppose”

  Aha. That’s why he took the time to make me a fake ID… Liar!

  “Okay,” I said, deciding to let it slide and let him out of an awkward explanation.

  “So how are we going to get there then?” I said changing the subject back.

  “Taxi I guess.”

  My eyes went wide, “Taxi? Into the city? Are you insane? Have you any idea what that will cost?”

  I looked at Brad’s face, it seemed as though he was amused, like he was laughing at me on the inside.

  “It’s fine Tyler, I’ll pay,”

  “No that’s ridiculous, it’ll be well over $100 there and back!”

  “I have a credit card for a reason, it’s okay I can afford it.”

  “Yes, and I can’t which is why it isn’t okay. I don’t want to be a goddamn charity case!”

  Brad looked taken aback. Well I suppose it’s a good thing he doesn’t judge me for not being wealthy.

  “Okay, how about this. I pay for the cab there and back and you’ll owe me two huge favors?”

  Sexual favors?

  I accidentally giggled at my own thoughts, which left a bewildered expression on Brad’s face. He then cocked an eyebrow as if he suddenly heard my train of dirty thinking.

  “You have a dirty mind, Tyler.”

  “What?”

  “I know what you were thinking,”

  “That’s not even possible!”

  “Of course it is, you're sober and you literally just giggled.”

  He had a point, I didn’t often giggle when I was not under the influence except at naughty thoughts.

  Okay, time to change the subject. Like now.

  “So, what’s for dinner” I said cheekily.

  “Hmm, hadn’t really thought about it. I figured we’d just order pizza or something.” He paused for a second then his face lit up, “I know! That can be your first favor for me!”

  “Order pizza?”

  “No,” he grinned like a hyena, “make me dinner.”