by JJ Ross
I figured she had brought the laundry to the den in an attempt to get me to talk, but I just sat there, staring ahead, trying not to show any emotion. I wasn’t ready to tell her. I don’t even know what I would tell her. Could I tell her that Chance and I were a couple?
There was a knock on the back door, and she quickly walked to it. I made no attempt to move. There were only four people that used that door. Chance, Drew, and their parents.
Chance walked from behind my mother as she presented him.
“Sonny, you have company,” she said as she walked back to her couch and continued to fold the laundry. I glanced to him to acknowledge him and scooted to the edge of the couch so he could sit down. He nodded at me and then had a seat. We sat quietly for a few minutes as I flipped through the channels.
“So, you wanna go do something today?” he asked quietly, glancing at my mother.
“Like what?”
“I thought maybe we could go hiking or something.”
I raised my eyebrow at him and shot a quick glance to my mother. She was obviously paying attention, but trying very hard not to let me notice.
“I think that sounds like fun. Maybe we could take a lunch or something,” I offered.
“That sounds good. What time do you want to go?”
“Probably sometime in a little while, would be fine, I guess.”
“Okay, cool,” he finished as he sank into the couch and watched TV with me. My mother seemed bored by our conversation, so she gathered her basket and laundry and headed upstairs.
The moment she left the room, Chance pulled me to him into an embrace and kissed me slowly.
“I missed you,” he breathed. I slowly pulled away from his hold and straightened my hair, searching to see if my mother had walked in or any sign of an audience. I smiled at Chance.
“So, where are we really going?” I whispered.
“No, really, hiking. To talk and spend time together,” he replied.
“Oh. Okay. Sounds fun.”
“You sound disappointed. What were you thinking?”
“Nothing. Hiking sounds fun.”
“Nothing…like really nothing…or nothing like something?”
I smiled at him, “Really…nothing, nothing.” I reached over and took his hand in mine as I turned my attention back to the TV.
I looked down at the view behind me. We were pretty far up, but we only had a little more to go. I wiped sweat from my eyebrow as I watched Chance move on, effortlessly, ahead of me. He stopped and turned around to offer me his hand.
“Come on, Sonny, just a little more of a way to go,” he assured me. I grabbed his hand and hiked by his side. Finally we came to a clearing and I stood in amazement.
The view was absolutely spectacular. I watched as Chance pulled a blanket from his backpack and laid it out on the ground for us to sit on.
I sat next to him and rested my head on his shoulder. We sat quietly like that for a long time, with his arm draped across my shoulders.
Then he leaned into me.
He slowly kissed me and we settled back onto the blanket to look up at the clouds and called out the shapes we saw. We talked about other things after that. School. Sports. Not anything important…or sexual. It reminded me of our relationship before we became a couple. When we were just friends. It was kinda nice, actually.
He propped himself up on his arm to look down at me. I saw nothing but love and adoration in his eyes. Then he gently kissed my forehead.
“I love you, always, Sonny.”
He pulled me into his side as we looked out across the clearing, waiting for the sun to set. It was our special moment.
The ride back home was very quiet. Neither of us had said much since we had left the hiking trails or the meadow. There was so much I wanted to say, but I just didn’t know how to put it into words.
“You’re quiet,” I started.
“Just thinking,” he said and shot me a smile before looking back to the road.
“About what?”
“Stuff.”
“Like what kind of stuff?” I asked, curious to get in his head. He took a deep breath, glancing at me one more time before starting.
“Sonny, that was an amazing afternoon! Really…sweet. I was just thinking about how if just spending time with you is like that, I can’t wait to find out what sex with you is like.”
I blushed slightly, “I love you, Chance.”
“And I love you. I just don’t know how to think about anything else. Right now, I just can’t stop imagining what you feel like. I just want to spend every minute with you, but I don’t want you to ever feel like this is just about sex. I feel like a broken record, but it’s true…so I was hoping, well, today was my way of showing you that we can spend time together without sexual tension. I really enjoyed it. It was like…before.”
“I know how you feel,” I admitted.
He pulled into his driveway and before we parted ways, he grabbed my hand and pulled me into a hug. He looked down at me with his amazing blue eyes.
“I’ll see you later.”
“Okay.”
“Later…tonight.”
“Oh. Okay,” I blushed, understanding his meaning.
Chapter 8
My mother was calling my name from downstairs and I sat up in a panic. I quickly scanned the room. A wave of relief rushed over me as I realized that Chance was not there. At that moment, my mother walked in and looked at me sitting in my bed with a dazed look on my face.
“I was saying, if you don’t hurry and get going, you are gonna be late for school.”
“Oh crap!” I yelled as I ran into my bathroom to take a quick shower.
When I got outside, Chance was waiting. I quickly got into the jeep as he screeched down the driveway.
“Good morning sleeping beauty,” he joked as he drove.
“Sorry, I was running a little late. What time did you leave last night?” I asked as I turned toward him.
“Early this morning, actually. It was about 4 or 5. I can’t believe I fell asleep in your bed. I woke up because I heard your mom get up. I gotta say, I was pretty scared I was gonna get caught.”
I giggled as I grabbed his hand. He pulled my hand to his mouth and quickly kissed it as he winked at me and then turned his attention back to the road.
After school I was waiting in the bleachers for Chance to be done with football practice. After practice, Chris jogged over to me. I inhaled deeply and smiled as he walked up.
“Hey, Chris,” I smiled.
“Hey beautiful,” he said as he reached over to hug me.
“Where’s Chance?”
“Umm,” he started, “Chance told me to tell you he has to stay a little later to review tapes with Coach. I can give you a ride if you don’t want to wait on him.”
“Oh. Okay. I think I’ll just wait on him.”
“Okay,” he said, impatiently, “Are you sure? I mean, I have to head your way anyways to go to Ashley’s. I don’t mind dropping you off.”
He sat down next to me and waited. He scooted a little closer, making me uncomfortable.
“Umm,” I fidgeted, “No thanks. I’ll wait on Chance.” I smiled sweetly.
“It might be late. I don’t mind.”
“Well….I umm…but…”
“No, it’s cool. By the way, thanks for talking to Chance to have him talk to Ashley. She’s great. I’m glad we finally got together.”
More awkward silence.
“So how are you two virgins working out?” He smirked in a condescending way. I felt disgusted instantly.
“What?” I said in disbelief, “that is none of your business!” Who was he thinking he could talk to me about my sex life, regardless if it was with his best friend or not.
“Don’t get me wrong. I think you’re nice, but it’s too much work pretending to be a nice guy just for your V card. I figured you would be more like Mags. I used to think you would be pretty easy, but poor Chance has been walking
around with blue balls ever since you two got together. You could at least suck him off, you know?”
“Oh my …gah…you are such a pig!”
“Whatever…”
“I used to think you were a nice guy. You are such a jerk!”
“Look, if you get tired of telling Chance no, just let Maggie break him in,” he laughed.
“How are you and Chance even friends?! You are disgusting!”
He laughed, “When chicks find out Chance is a virgin or that he won’t make any advances at them because he is too focused on football…they practically come begging me to take them. It’s a win, win situation. I guess I was wrong when I said I thought you were easy.”
“Did you just call her easy?!” asked the voice behind me.
“No, man, I said I thought she was easy…but with her not even sucking you off, we both know that’s a lie.”
“Don’t talk about her like that,” said Chance as he stepped in front of me.
“Chance,” said Chris as he stood up, “Look, man, I don’t have any problems with you, and I don’t want any. I was just having fun with her. Just bang her already. This no sex thing is messing you up on the field. At least before, you were getting your dick sucked.”
“It’s not like that, Chris. Sonny and I…”
“Oh please! I shoulda just screwed her myself and told you whether it was worth your time or not,” he laughed.
Chance started halfheartedly laughing, more of a mocking tone, and then before I knew what was happening Chance had flown forward and punched Chris in the face. I looked around in a panic for anyone who could stop them from killing each other and I started screaming for help as I was pulling at Chance’s shirt, pleading with him to stop.
I was finally knocked out of the way by someone in shoulder pads and the team was pulling them apart. I had tears streaming down my face as I stood in disbelief at what had just happened.
Later that night, I was sitting on Chance’s bed looking at his face. He had a slight cut on his bottom lip, but other than that, he looked fine.
“So….how bad is it?” I asked
“Well, I’m suspended for two games and I’m grounded. Aaaand, because I’m grounded, I can’t go to winter formal in two weeks,” he turned his head from me to look out the window. I could tell he was fighting back tears. We had made plans for that night. It was going to be the night to remember. Winter formal was the perfect night to finally lose our virginity, or so we had thought.
“I know it doesn’t help, but, thank you for sticking up for me like that.”
“Are you kidding,” he sat forward, “He was saying you were easy and you are far from easy…believe me,” he winked. I smiled at him.
“Chance, was that true what he said?”
“About what?”
“Other girls. I mean, if you want stuff like that I could try to…”
“Sonny, it’s not like that. I mean, it was before, but not with you. It’s fine. Really. The point is, I couldn’t let him talk to you like that,” He finished.
“Thank you, Chance…I thi…”
“Sonny, it’s time to go,” said his mother from the bedroom door.
“Yes ma’am,” I nodded at her. She left the room, but I knew she would be right back. I quickly kissed Chance on the cheek.
“Thank you, Chance. And I am so sorry. Really.”
“Don’t worry about it. You’re worth it,” he smiled. I smiled back and then quickly left.
I was bored out of my mind. After a week of Chance being grounded, and not spending time together, I welcomed any and all company.
I sat on the couch with my legs folded under me pretending to be engrossed in the show I was watching. Drew had gotten home earlier that day to start his winter break and was sitting on the couch with me, hanging out, just like old times. Lately, things had been different. Ever since he came home to his surprise party, I had started to notice the building tension between us.
I was older and he was older and so much more mature, not to mention the way his adult body had filled out. I quickly shook the thoughts from my head. I guess any chance I had at getting over him were demolished the moment he hugged me.
If I could die thinking about the way his body molded around mine each time he hugged me, I could die happy. Can you keep a secret?
Chance had nothing on his brother.
Oh yeah. Chance, I reminded myself. Focus on Chance.
“So, before he got in trouble, Chance was going to take you to the winter formal?” asked Drew.
“Well,” I started as I turned to him, “we were gonna go together, but it’s no big deal. I will just go without him.”
“Are you sure? I mean, I could take you, if you want someone to go with you.”
“Really?” I thought it over, “Why?”
“Why not?”
“Cause you are Drew. I mean, you are Drew Mitchell, every girls’ dream and you want to take your next door neighbor to a high school dance?”
He laughed, “I don’t know about being every girls’ dream, but I think that it would be fun. Besides, what are friends for?”
Thanks for the reminder. Friends. As in the friend that lived next door. As in, your childhood friend. He made friend almost a dirty word, just like Chance used to.
“Okay. Fine. Sounds like fun.”
“Good.”
“Fine,” I giggled.
“It will be just as romantic as the night our parents all went to winter formal in high school and fell in love, sigh,” He laughed at his own joke.
“You’re so dumb, Drew!” I laughed harder as I flirtatiously swatted him with a couch pillow. He started laughing as he threw a pillow back. It was fun and silly, and just enough to make me want him a little more.
I was standing in front of the full-length mirror in my room looking at my dress. It was dark blue with a thin ice-blue ribbon sash at the bust line. It was perfect. I had opted to leave my hair partly down, with my curls hanging down my back.
It would have been more perfect with Chance standing next to me, my dress enhancing his gorgeous eyes, but I had agreed to go with Drew, and that was still a pretty good deal.
I turned to Maggie standing next to me in her daring, tight red number.
“You look so hot,” I told her.
“Not as hot as you. You look so elegant, and you’re going with a college guy! What an amazing night for you,” she teased with a wiggle of her eyebrows. I laughed slightly.
“It’s not the same.”
“Well, if you don’t have a good time, let me know and I will gladly entertain your date,” she laughed making quotes with her fingers for the word date.
“Funny. I just wish Chance’s mom would have changed her mind about this, but I guess not.”
“You still have prom,” she offered.
I smiled sheepishly, recalling my vow to myself not to stay a virgin forever, “Yes we do.”
“Anyhow, I’m finished; I will meet you down stairs.”
“Right.”
I walked to my window and looked across at Chance’s window. The light was off. He was probably in the den, sulking, watching TV. He had said he didn’t want to see me in my dress because it made him feel guilty about not being able to take me.
I shook my head slightly as I looked up at the sky. It was a clear crisp evening. The perfect evening for a dance. I took a deep breath and headed down the stairs. Drew was already at the foot of the stairs waiting on me. He held his arm out to me as my foot hit the hard wood of the first floor.
“Shall we?” he smirked. I smiled up at him. He looked so handsome in his black tux with ice blue accents. My mother must have talked to him or at least told him what color I was wearing. He completely complimented my dress.
“Oh wow, Sonny, you look gorgeous, darling,” my mother said as she walked up to me, “Now don’t rush off, let me have my pictures!”
I smiled my best smile for the next twenty minutes as my mother posed me, Drew, Maggie
and her date.
“Okay Mother,” I said finally, “can we please go now?”
“Of course, sorry darling,” she said as she leaned on my father. With that, we rushed out of the front door and into our respective vehicles. Maggie and her date were riding in their own vehicle, so Drew and I were alone in his pickup truck. As he pulled out of the driveway, I glanced up to Chance’s window, hoping I could at least wave. Still nothing.
When we walked into the room, I felt as if everyone was staring at us. I wasn’t sure if it was because of me, or the fact that I had brought Drew. Either way, we had the attention of the room.
Various people, mostly football players, greeted us and talked to Drew. I scanned the room for nothing in particular. I stopped when I saw Chris. Stupid Jerk.
Chris caught my eye and winked as he grabbed Ashley’s backside. I turned away from him and looked up at Drew. He was laughing with Mike, another senior, about “back when”. I noticed the twinkle in his hazel green eyes and his dimples when he laughed. Geez, he was handsome. I quickly tried to think about something else.
“Sonny,” he looked down to me, “Would you like to dance?”
He didn’t wait for an answer. He quickly twirled me onto the dance floor and then fell into rhythm with the beat of a slow song.
“So, Chance hit Chris, huh?” he asked as he swayed to the song, holding me close.
“Yeah…pretty crazy, right?”
“What on earth would possess my little brother to hit a guy he has been best friends with for years?” he smirked.
I blushed as I turned my head onto his shoulder so he couldn’t look into my eyes, “I have no idea.”
“I see. So it wouldn’t have anything to do with the fact that you two have been fooling around, then? It has nothing to do with you two being a couple?”
I quickly looked up to him.
“What? You didn’t think I knew? Of course I know. Chance told me. He’s my brother.”
“Oh,” I managed to say, in almost a whisper.
“Do your parents know anything about you two?”
