Behind the Hood (Behind the Lives)

by Hansen, Marita A.

  “Oh.” Nina looked embarrassed.

  Tama didn’t want to ruin a sure thing. He wanted to get some before he put his foot in it again. “You wanna go up to a room?” he asked quickly.

  She looked unsure.

  “C’mon ... I won’t do anything you don’t wanna do,” he said, certain she was into him.

  She smiled and nodded.

  Tama grinned; happy he’d gotten away with it. He’d be right royally pissed off if she bolted now. He took her hand, led her across the grass and back into the house. The heat inside instantly hit him. He pushed through the partygoers and into the lounge.

  Naf and Corey were sitting on the couch, next to a weedy looking dude. All three guys looked miserable.

  Naf threw his beer can at Tama. “Tama, you prick.”

  Tama ducked. A female swore behind him. Tama glanced at the girl as she started crying over the beer on her tight red dress. He was surprised that Johno had let her in. She couldn’t have been older than twelve.

  He turned back to Naf, giving his mate the look of, “I’m getting some and you ain’t.”

  Naf gave him the finger.

  Tama laughed as he climbed the staircase with Nina. He turned right, checking every room, and getting an eyeful along the way. Finally, he found an empty one. It looked like a girl’s room, covered in posters of boy bands and other popstars. The single bed had a pink duvet, matching the candy floss cabinet.

  Tama shut the door as Nina pulled off her top and sat down on the bed. Man, she had the biggest tits he’d ever seen.

  “Take off your clothes,” Nina said, moving up the bed.

  Fuck, he’d hit the jackpot. All that coy stuff earlier was bullshit. He yanked off his top and jeans so fast he almost fell over. Once he was starkers he jumped onto the bed.

  “Take yours off,” he said.

  She shimmied out of her skirt and G-string, then undid her bra. Tama stared at her tits, amazed by how round they were. They were solid, not needing any bra to hold them up. He’d never had fake boobs before and was definitely game. He crawled up over her and latched onto one. Nina moaned and grabbed his cock. His eyes widened. Shit, she was rough! He grimaced as she squeezed the life out of him.

  “Too hard, babe.”

  She let go. “Sorry. Got a condom?”

  “Yep.”

  He jumped off, and plucked one out of his jeans. He ripped it open, pulled it on, then climbed back over her and slid inside. Definitely a MILF, he thought.

  She rolled him over, sat up, and started riding him.

  Tama closed his eyes. “Yeah ... that’s good.”

  Nina picked up speed, making him moan. Oh man, he wished she was Jess. He could imagine Jess sitting on top, riding him hard, her huge breasts bouncing, just screaming to be touched.

  “Yeah, Jess, that so good.”

  Nina went rigid.

  He opened his eyes. “Why’d ja stop?”

  She frowned then lay down on him.

  Tama rolled her over, and placed his face into her hair. It smelt of a mixture of cigarettes and hairspray. He closed his eyes, and brought up an image of Jess. Hooded eyes, caramel skin, full lips... Nina grabbed his butt. He thought of Jess’s fingers digging in, her breasts under his chest, and his cock buried deep inside of her. He groaned, the heat driving him wild.

  He could hear Jess’s breathy voice, “Hit me ... harder.”

  Tama couldn’t hold back anymore. He lifted her legs over his shoulders and pounded into her, his hips thrusting out of control. He knew he was being too rough by her squeals, but he was beyond caring.

  “Yes ... Jess ... yessss,” he yelled, as he came.

  Tama felt hands shove at his chest. He fell back and landed on the floor. Nina jumped off the bed and snatched up her clothes.

  “What the fuck didja do that for?” he said, stunned.

  “That bloody hurt, and you were shouting out someone else’s name.” She jabbed a finger at him. “And don’t bullshit me about saying Jeez bloody wiz again; I’m not stupid.”

  Tama stood up and rubbed his butt. “I didn’t mean to,” he said sullenly. “And you didn’t hafta push me off.”

  Oh bugger, now she was putting her clothes on. “Oh, c’mon, you don’t hafta leave. Plus, you’re the one who said you wanted it harder.”

  “Not that fuckin’ hard.” She did up her bra and slipped on her G-string. “Plus, I don’t appreciate you imagining someone else while fuckin’ me.” She pulled her skirt on. “Who’s Jess anyway? An ex?”

  “Nah, just someone I want. She’s married to a right bastard.” He took a step towards her. “C’mon. Stay. I’ll take it easier next time.”

  “Nope.”

  Tama pulled the condom off and threw it at the bin, then sunk back on the bed. Bloody stupid bitch; he could have made her come too. Anyway, she wasn’t that great.

  “Whatever. Your loss,” he said.

  Nina shook her head. “You’re an arrogant bastard.”

  Tama scratched his nuts. Why did bitches always call him arrogant? It wasn’t his fault he was good in the sack. Plus, she was gagging for it before he got rough.

  His scowl changed into a grin. “Your tits are fake.”

  “Bastard.” She slammed the door behind her.

  Tama swiped his gruds off the floor. At least he came before she chucked him off.

  The door creaked open.

  He laughed. “Come back for more cock—” He looked up and froze.

  The young girl in the red dress stared back at him.

  Tama grabbed the duvet and covered himself. “Get outta here!”

  “You! It’s my room.”

  “Oh…”

  “Get out!”

  Shit, the last time he’d seen Johno’s sister she’d been a li’l porker. “Just gimme a minute to get dressed.”

  “What were you doin’ in here?”

  Tama rolled his eyes. “Playing with your dolls. What do you think?”

  “I’m telling Johno.”

  “Fuckin’ whoopty doo. Now piss off!”

  “No! You get out. I hafta change.”

  Little bitch talking to him like that. He’ll teach her a lesson—in anatomy. “Okay.” He stood up and dropped the duvet.

  She squealed and ran out of the room.

  Sniggering, he pulled on his gruds, thinking that he was damned lucky that she hadn’t walked in earlier. Yeah, it was good that he’d thought about Jess after all, otherwise he would’ve taken much longer to get off. And tomorrow … he could scream out her name to his heart’s content.

  24

  Jess

  Oh God, she was going to throw up! Jess jumped out of bed and ran for the bathroom. She fell to her knees and grabbed the toilet bowl, emptying her stomach.

  No, no, no, I can’t be pregnant, she thought. We can’t afford another baby.

  Jess got up and turned on the tap. She knew her period was late, but breastfeeding had made it irregular so she hadn’t been worried up until now. Her stomach lurched. She dropped to her knees, refilling the toilet bowl. Mouth rinse and back to bed for her. She only hoped that the morning sickness was just that—it stuck to the bloody morning, and didn’t last the whole damned day like with Jake.

  She glanced at the clock as she crawled under the covers. Damn, nine a.m. already?

  A wail came from the lounge.

  She groaned and pushed off the covers. “Coming, Jakey!”

  She threw on her dressing-gown and lumbered down the passage. Breastfeeding with a sore gut wasn’t going to be pleasant. And what would Nike say? She dreaded telling him ... but then again, maybe she had a gastro bug. Yeah, it could be that. As soon as she felt up to it she’d pop down to the chemist and grab a pregnancy test.

  She picked up Jake, and carried him to the couch. He instantly latched onto her breast. She moaned again. Whatever it was she felt bloody awful. She lay back against the couch and closed her eyes as Jake fed. Once he drained one side, she moved him to the other whe
re he drank his fill. She burped him, then lay him down in the cot.

  The phone rang on the breakfast bar. She headed over and answered it.

  Nike’s mother greeted her. “Jess, how’re ya doin’?”

  “Not too good. Can you take me to the chemist please?”

  “Why? What’s wrong?”

  “Sore stomach.”

  “Food poisoning?”

  “Possibly a gastro bug.” She hesitated. “Or I’m pregnant.”

  “Jess! Oh darling, I’m so happy.”

  Oh man … she knew she shouldn’t have said anything. “I need to check first. And don’t tell Nike either. He won’t be happy.”

  “Why not?”

  “We can’t afford another baby. He’s stressed as it is with work. And I don’t wanna tell him until I’m certain. After all, it could still be a bug.”

  “Okay, love. I’ve gotta be at work by ten, so I’ll be over soon.”

  “Thanks.” Jess hung up as her stomach heaved again. She ran for the bathroom.

  ***

  “You look terrible,” Sally said.

  No kidding, Sherlock, Jess wanted to say, but instead nodded in agreement. Of course she looked like shit; she’d only just gotten her head out of the toilet bowl.

  Sally covered her nose.

  Oh crap, did she smell too? She thought she’d gargled enough mouthwash to sink a ship.

  “I’ll just get my jacket,” she said, heading for the bathroom.

  After gargling some more, she grabbed her red jacket from the bedroom and headed back into the lounge.

  Sally cooed at Jake. She wasn’t the only one looking terrible. Her mother-in-law had dark rings under her eyes and her legs looked swollen and red. One of them had a large plaster on the right shin.

  “Is your oedema back?” Jess asked.

  Sally picked up Jake. “Yes. I banged it yesterday, and now it’s infected.”

  “You go to the doctors?”

  “Yeah, he gave me some antibiotics, then lectured me about losing weight. But the thing is I lost a whole kilo last week. It’s not like I’m not tryin’.”

  “It’s his job.” Jess slung her purse over a shoulder and opened the door. She didn’t want to discuss Sally’s weight problems. The amount of times she’d heard Sally say she’d lost weight you’d think she would be a waif. It made Jess sad. But what could she do? It was up to Sally, plus she didn’t want to lecture her on it. The poor woman got enough from Nike that she didn’t need her adding to the mix.

  Jess locked up as Sally carried Jake to the car. Once everyone was in, Sally backed out and drove off. Jess leaned back and closed her eyes, breathing in and out slowly. Please don’t puke, please don’t puke...

  “You alright?” Sally asked.

  “I feel like spewing.”

  “Just hold on, we’ll be there soon, love.”

  Jess wound the window down. The cool breeze felt good on her skin, calming her nausea down. She so didn’t want to be pregnant right now. Yeah, they wanted more kids, but now just wasn’t the right time, their money worries making things difficult.

  That reminded her. She better check the bank accounts to see what they had left. It had been such a pleasant surprise yesterday when the credit card didn’t decline that she hadn’t thought to check whether it had gone over the limit. She hated paying the twenty dollar penalty. Yep, as soon as she got home, she would pop onto the internet and check the accounts.

  Sally turned into the car park at Claydon Shopping Centre, and pulled up in front of the supermarket. Jess got out; grateful to be on solid ground.

  Sally removed Jake from his seat. “I’ll take Jakey into the supermarket while you go to the chemist.” She locked up, and threw Jess the keys. “Wait for me in the car.”

  Jess caught the keys, and headed towards the mall. A loan shop, bakery, swift store, and a takeaway bar shared the space with the chemist, along with two boarded up shops covered in graffiti and For Lease signs. She covered her nose, blocking out the rancid greasy smell coming from the takeaway bar. She pulled open the chemist door and lumbered over to the counter.

  The assistant behind the counter gave her a brilliantly “bleached” smile. “How can I help you?”

  “I’m after a pregnancy test, please.”

  “Just wait here; I’ll go get a few for you to choose from.”

  Jess nodded glumly as the assistant walked off.

  “Hello, Jess.”

  Jess turned around. A podgy bloke with reddish-brown hair smiled at her. He was dressed in jeans, and a dirty black hoodie that smelt of cigarettes.

  “Hi,” she said, trying to place where she’d seen him before.

  He dumped a few packets of aspirin onto the counter. “You don’t remember me, do ya?”

  “No, sorry.”

  “You were in a few of my classes at Claydon High. I’m Samuel, but people call me Naf.”

  Jess smiled. He was the clumsy clot always getting smacked in the head by balls in gym class. “Yeah, I remember you now.” Her smile dropped. “You were Tama’s friend.”

  He nodded, seemingly unperturbed by her change in mood. “I heard you married Nike. How’s that goin’?”

  “Good.” She gave him a weak smile. There was no need to be rude to the guy. He’d never bugged her at school like Tama. He seemed nice enough too, and probably wasn’t friends with the bastard anymore. She hadn’t kept her high school friends other than Nike.

  Another shop assistant came over and picked up Naf’s aspirin packets, tilling them up. He handed over some money and took his purchases.

  He lifted his chin at Jess. “Nice to see ya again.”

  “You too.” She watched him walk off, then turned back as the first assistant returned.

  “Which one would you like?” the woman asked holding out the pregnancy tests.

  “The cheapest one, please,” Jess answered.

  25

  Tama

  Corey pulled out of Claydon Shopping Centre and cut across the main road. With rush hour over, traffic was flowing freely. He turned right at the roundabout, and headed down Tiri Road. Naf downed some aspirin with Red Bull, then switched on the music deck. Nesian Mystik’s Polysaturated R&B filled the car.

  “Can I borrow your CD?” Tama asked.

  “Fuck, no,” Naf said. “I’ll never get it back.”

  Tama grumbled and pulled the hood further over his head. Not like he had a CD player to use anyway. Effing pigs chasing him out of his home. He looked out the window at the rainclouds. Bloody shitty weather. His forecast for the day: Fucking cold and miserable.

  Tama’s mood darkened as they drove past Claydon High. Two workmen were painting over graffiti on the office walls. Except for the good mates he’d made there, he hated the place. He’d found most classes a struggle. Of all the subjects, English was at the top of his To-Hate list. He’d told the English teacher once to stick his effing subject up his lily-white arse after he’d gotten a D for a debate, because he didn’t speak “Queen’s English.” For fuck’s sake, he lived in New Zealand not England.

  Corey interrupted his thoughts. “Do ya reckon the pigs got Trey?”

  “Nah,” Naf said. “I saw him take off with a coupla chicks just before that bitch called the pigs. It ain’t fuckin’ fair. That pretty bastard always gets more than his fair share of pussy.”

  “Yeah, he does.” Corey stopped at a give-way sign. “But we’re still lucky you overheard that bitch. I would’ve been right pissed off if I got nabbed two nights in a row.”

  “They weren’t after you, dumbarse,” Tama said. “I’m gonna find out where she lives and give her some fuck-back.” He grunted as he grabbed his crotch. “I’ll get it out of her mate somehow.”

  Corey turned right onto Meander Drive. “Why’d she call the pigs on you anyway?”

  Tama didn’t know for sure. Yeah, okay, he shoved her a bit hard when she tried to drag her mate away from him, but it wasn’t his fucking fault that she banged her head.
She was the one who barged into the room yelling and screaming. Shit, she was lucky he didn’t smack her one. He would have done it too, but didn’t want to risk losing her hot friend.

  “She didn’t want me goin’ with her mate,” Tama replied. “Betcha she’s a lesbo.”

  “You don’t think it had anything to do with Maia?” Naf asked.

  Tama sat up. “Why? Did she mention her?”

  “I didn’t catch much. Just heard her ask for the pigs then she said your name. I didn’t wait around for details.”

  “Well, at least you still had a great night before we split,” Corey said. “How many didja get in the end?”

  Tama perked up. “Two. And the bitch’s mate wuz gaggin’ for more.” He laughed. “Literally. I love it when chicks let you spoof in their—”

  “You don’t hafta rub it in,” Naf cut him off. “You and Trey screwed things up for me with Aroha. She wuz willin’ to do me too.”

  The red roofline of Lee’s takeaways and the Meander Liquor Store flew past. Corey slowed down for a speed camera.

  “Aroha’s nasty,” Corey said. “You’ve got shit poor taste, bro. I don’t know how ya could’ve put up with the stink.”

  Tama nodded. “You dodged a STD bullet, man. And I wouldn’t be surprised if that bird has AIDS. She’s always coughing. It’s bloody gross.”

  “I wouldn’t have gone for her if chicks didn’t laugh at me when I try to pick them up,” Naf answered, “Now, if I had a choice I’d go for Nike’s wife. I saw her in the chemist’s. Mmmm ... tasty.”

  Tama whacked the back of Naf’s head. “Don’t talk about her like that.”

  “Ow! Whatcha do that for?”

  “She’s mine.”

  “No she’s not, she’s Nike’s.”

  Tama kicked Naf’s seat. Man, the guy was pissing him off. Naf knew damn well how bad he had it for Jess, he didn’t have to speak smack about her or bring up Nike.

  “She’s way to good-lookin’ for Nike’s ugly mug,” Tama spat. “That bastard doesn’t deserve her, the drug runnin’ crim.”

  “You’re just jealous,” Naf said. “If I looked half as good as Nike I’d be gettin’ laid every night.”