by Ava O'Shay
“Thanks.”
“Ah. She speaks.” He chuckled.
“So your dad’s a copper, huh?”
“Guess so.”
“Must be nice if you get in trouble. Get off pretty easy with a cop for a dad.”
“I tend to be a bit of a disappointment to him so if I did need to get bailed out I think he’d leave me to rot a few days before showing up.”
“At least he’d eventually show up.” Ren leaned back and leveled her gaze at him. “Why do you think you’re a disappointment? I’d think every dad on Earth would kill for a kid like you.”
Jolin shook his head. “I think you greatly overestimate my appeal.”
“You’re a star on the field, Mr. Popular, good grades…blah, blah, blah.” She flung her hand around.
“Yeah well things aren’t always what they seem.”
They ate in silence for a few minutes before Ren blurted out, “Why do you keep following me?”
Jolin choked on his hamburger. Taking a drink he cleared his throat. “Are you accusing m-m-me of st-st-stalking you?”
“If the shoe fits.” Her long fingers picked at the bun on her burger. The cuticles around the chipped black polish were red and raw.
“We’re lab p-p-partners. I’m supposed to work with you which isn’t st-st-stalking it’s being p-p-partners.” He tossed a fry in his mouth.
“Didn’t you already eat?” Her green eyes took his breath away. Jolin waited too long to respond and her gaze turned to irritated. “Hello?”
“What? Yeah. Well school food d-d-doesn’t really count as eating.” Although now that he wasn’t playing ball, he might need to watch his food intake.
The corner of her mouth twitched at his comment.
“I’m not st-st-stalking you. I was simply m-m-making sure you were okay,” he defended.
“Why do you care?” She finally took a bite of the burger. Her eyes closed and he swore he heard her moan. Jolin realized his mouth was hanging open and closed it before she noticed.
“This is a really good burger.” She took another big bite. She ate like she hadn’t had food in a while.
“Hungry?” He laughed.
She hit him in the shoulder with her knee. Jolin pretended to be hurt and fell to the side.
“Oh no. I did it again. Are you okay?” She jumped off the table and knelt beside him, rubbing his shoulder.
Jolin sat up and met her concerned expression. He couldn’t stop his gaze from dropping to her lips. “Can I k-k-kiss you?” he whispered.
Her lids went heavy at his words, but before he could feel her lips on his the shield he’d become so use to pushed the softness out of her eyes. She stood up and lightly hit him in the back of the head. “Asshole.”
“Not the f-f-first time I’ve b-b-been called that today.” Jolin fell back onto the bench, rolling to lie on his back.
“Is it identify an asshole day?” She climbed back on the table and grabbed her drink. His stomach jumped watching her lips wrap around the straw. She stopped drinking and glared at him. “I think we need to get something straight. This…” She pointed from her to him. “Whatever you think is happening. Isn’t happening.”
“We’re lab p-p-partners.” That was the label he’d told everyone else so he might as well use it on her.
She spit soda out of her mouth laughing.
Jolin sat up straddling the bench. “What?”
“You think I’m going to give you another blow job.” She was so blunt he was at a loss.
His mouth opened and shut a few times before he found the words he wanted. “T-t-technically you d-d-did not give me a b-b-blow job so it would be impossible to give me a second one”
She laughed. He took it as a good sign. He’d meant to lighten the mood. “Is there a technical definition?”
“Well…” He thought for a minute. “I think the n-n-name indicates that there is to be a…” He tapped his chin. “Well that something has to b-b-low.”
Her eyes got huge. “I can’t believe Casanova just said that to me.”
Jolin shrugged. “Just s-s-saying.”
“Are you complaining?”
“No. And I’m n-n-not expecting a r-r-repeat p-p-performance.”
“Because you’re with Elizabeth,” she stated.
He shrugged.
Her shoulders relaxed a little. Maybe they could get past the rumors. “She’ll be pissed when she found out we cut together.”
“I like you R-R-Ren. I’m n-n-not asking you to finish what you st-st-started.” He reached out and touched her knee. “I think we should be friends.”
“Don’t you have to check with your subjects? Last time I checked they weren’t accepting new members into the kingdom.”
“I can be friends with who I want.” Jolin tried to sound convincing but he knew it fell flat.
“You got hit harder on the head than I thought if you believe that.”
“I think my reign is being questioned by a new king. I’m going out on my own and I would like you to be my first non-douche bag friend.”
“Although that sounds inviting, I can’t. Friends don’t ask eachother for kisses. Other than being your lab partner, I can’t do this with you again. Don’t come and get me at work. Stop getting involved in my life.”
“I can’t p-p-promise that.”
She shifted, and his hand fell off her knee. “You haven’t lost your title yet. Don’t be so quick to hand it over. Stay away from me.”
“I don’t think I can,” he whispered.
“You better try.” She slid off the table to take her trash over to the can. “I need to get to work. Can you take me?”
“Can I p-p-pick you up?” He walked over to the car and leaned on the roof. “I need t-t-to make sure you aren’t m-m-mugged on the way home b-b-because that would interfere with our p-p-project getting done.”
Her mouth twitched again, but she suppressed the smile. How he wanted to see her smile.
“Lab partners, that’s it. Don’t come get me tonight. Quill is going to be home so he said he’d pick me up.” She climbed into the car leaving him standing outside.
Relationships starting with lies were never good, but he would tell her whatever she wanted to hear as long as he got to see her. If lab partners made her comfortable then that’s what they’d be.
Serenity
Friday, October 18
10:45 p.m.
Ren saw Jolin’s car pull up outside The Perk around ten thirty. Somehow she knew he’d be there.
For some unknown reason he’d made her his project.
“Ren?” Brenda stepped behind the counter. “Your ride seems to be here.”
“I told him not to come.” Ren turned the knob to steam her next customer’s milk.
“An admirer then?” she teased.
“My lab partner slash stalker.”
She tilted her head back and laughed. “Love over chemicals.”
“That would be if we had chem together. It’s more like love over species and petri dishes.”
“Be nice, Ren.” She rubbed her arm. “Go ahead and leave. I’ll sweep up tonight.”
“No. I need the hours.”
Brenda sighed but agreed to let her close the shop. Left on her own she turned up the music and mopped the floor. Stopping by the plate glass window she snuck a look at Jolin. He had his seat tipped back and looked like he was sleeping. His head lifted and a slow smile formed. Without thinking she let her mouth smile back at him. His smile got bigger in response. She shook her head and turned to finish sweeping.
She rushed through her list of duties and changed back into her street clothes. She’d tried hard to keep Jolin at a distance. Brock lent her out to Jolin with no intention of letting her go. It didn’t matter if she liked him. She couldn’t have him. Even if Brock was out of the picture she couldn’t let feelings knock her off track. She had a family to support and in a few months she would get Quill and herself out of here. Her feelings weren’t a factor.
But someone should have told her heart that.
The smile Jolin gave her made her stomach jump. She deserved a little slice of happiness before she walked back through the doors of her hell hole. After the last boyfriend incident Quill told her he’d be home when she got there. She only hoped he didn’t get stoned or drunk and forget about her.
“Hey, babe.”
Ren froze, the smile slipping from her lips. Fuck.
Brock came up behind her, wrapped his arms around her waist, and kissed her temple. She met Jolin’s stare and shook her head no. Please don’t get out of the car. Please leave this alone.
Brock ran his hands down her arms pulling her toward his car. As soon as Brock turned his back, Ren turned around to wave Jolin off. She needed him to let her go. She’d told him to stay away and he hadn’t listened. It was stupid of her to think she could have a slice of happy.
“It’s late Brock. I’ve been at work. I stink.” Ren tried to rattle off reasons why she didn’t want this tonight.
“I need a party.” He took her bag and opened the passenger door. “Get in, it’s freezing out here.”
“Where are we going?” They’d been going to a small beach down by the river but now the weather made that impossible.
“A party downtown, and then we’ll wait and see where we end up.”
“Brock,” she whined.
He held a finger to her lips. “Don’t. Climb in back and change out of that ratty outfit. I have clothes hanging in the back.”
Ren rolled her eyes. The fact Brock had clothes for her was irritating. Quill must have gotten them. It was even more irritating when she crawled over the seats to find an outfit she’d been looking for last week. “Asshole,” she muttered.
“Hurry up.” Brock pulled down the rearview mirror and adjusted it so he could watch her undress.
She dug through a small bag sitting behind his seat. A long sleeve shirt wasn’t in the bag. She pulled the clothes off the hangers and pulled the layers apart. “Where’s the blouse that goes under this?”
“What’s there is there.” He settled back for a show she was doing everything in her power to not give him.
“I need sleeves.” She crossed her arms over her chest and sat in the back.
“Get fucking dressed,” Brock hissed. Turning around, he grabbed her ankle and pulled her toward him. “Get dressed.”
Ren pulled her ankle free and scooted toward the back of his bronco. She sifted through the clothes and decided she could wear the undershirt from work under the corset and tuck the collar down into her bra. When she finally changed from her school clothes to her clubbing clothes, she crawled back into the passenger seat. Before she got completely situated Brock had his hand running up her exposed thigh. Ren twisted out of his reach and pulled at her skirt. “Let’s go.”
Brock reached into the center console and pulled out a joint and a lighter. Ren grabbed it out of his hand and lit up, pulling the rich smoke deep into her lungs. Means to an end, she told herself. Only a few more months and she’d be free.
Ren was very mellow when they reached The Warehouse. Brock didn’t smoke. He was afraid the coach would do random drug testing so he usually stuck to alcohol. He pulled a fifth out from under his seat and chugged a few gulps before stashing it again. He popped a Mento in his mouth and climbed out of the car. Coming around to her door, he grabbed Ren’s hand and dragged her into the party.
It only took Brock a few beers and some dirty dancing before he decided he’d had enough.
“I want to go.” Brock turned into Ren. He brought his lips close to hers and repeated his words. “Let’s get out of here.”
Brock gave her a sly grin, took her hand and led her out of the warehouse and into the parking lot. Her ears rang from the loud music and the cold air hit her like tiny knives, she shivered.
“I have some blankets in back. We’ll keep each other warm.” He winked.
Ren climbed in his Bronco and ran a finger down the window wishing she was in Jolin’s car. Anywhere but here.
“So Lisa wasn’t putting out tonight huh?” Ren shut down her pity party and tried to get a handle on what Brock was looking for.
“She doesn’t know what she wants.” He glanced in Ren’s direction and shrugged. “Don’t really want to do anything that attaches her permanently to me, but you know the game. Until I hook up with Elizabeth she has the connections to get me where I need to be.”
Ren always found their time together interesting. Brock played the roll of the popular jock to a T. But he knew it was all a game. A means to an end he said. Ren used the same saying to help her justify their activity.
Brock turned and climbed into the backseat. Pushing and pulling some levers, he lowered the seat so the back opened into a flat area. Brock’s big body twisted and turned while he placed blankets and pillows along the edges.
His head peaked between the seats. “C’mon babe.” His hand ran down Ren’s shoulder. She slid her boots off, turned and climbed over the console. The lights of the parking lot gave the back of the Bronco a grey glow. He pulled her into his side and covered them in a warm blanket. He sighed and ran his hand up and down her arms. “You still smell like coffee.” He buried his nose in her hair, kissing her temple, his lips brushed the lump along her hair line.
Ren shifted so she could straddle his hips.
Brock cupped her face, then trailed his fingers down and along her collar bone.
His Mento breath filled her nostrils as she unbuttoned his shirt, kissing his chest and running her nails lightly over his hard abs. He scooted down and arranged himself at an angle, giving her easier access. She trailed her finger along the waistline of his jeans before reaching to unbutton them. Brock grabbed her hands and pulled her up. Running his fingers through her hair, he cupped the back of her head and pulled her mouth to his. She took his lower lip in her teeth and tugged. Brock groaned and undid the belt at her waist, tossing it to the side, then pulled her shirt out of her skirt. Sliding his hands up her sides he ran a thumb over her breast. She pulled away and began her downward decent again.
“No babe, not yet.” Brock grabbed her thighs and pulled her into him, adjusting her until she could feel him hard between her legs.
“What do you want?” Ren shifted, and he let out a hiss.
“Move.” He pulled her hips forward, then back, rubbing her against his already hard cock.
His eyes squinted closed and a pained expression came over him. “God I want to be inside you.”
Ren stopped abruptly. That wasn’t their deal.
Brock’s eyes snapped opened. “Don’t worry, babe. Not tonight.” He smiled, but it wasn’t very reassuring.
Ren pulled herself back together and moved off his lap. Undoing his pants, she did what he said she did best. She took control while taking his away.
She’d already climbed to the front seat and was attempting to tuck her shirt in when Brock settled in next to her. “Do you need food?”
“I’m good.” She lifted her hips off the seat and pulled her belt around.
“I’ll give you extra for food. It’s too late to go to the store.” He ran a hand through his hair.
“I said I was good.” Her voice was strained from her awkward position.
“And I said I’d give you extra.”
She lowered herself to the seat and looked at him. She couldn’t figure him out.
“So Ty wants to rent you.” He turned the lights on and drove onto the road.
“What?”
“Ty wants to rent you for the night. There’s a party at Allesia’s Friday. I figured you could do him there.”
“If he wants to take me to a party why doesn’t he just ask me?” Ren pulled her bag from the back then put her seatbelt on.
“He doesn’t want to take you to a party. He wants you to suck him off and the party is a convenient location.” Brock stared absently at the road.
Ren checked her watch. 2:00 a.m. She hoped mom and boyfriend had passed out
already. “I don’t want to.”
He didn’t answer.
“What are you making in this deal?” She ran her fingers threw her hair, then pulled a mirror out of her bag to check her make-up.
“Your cut is bigger.” He turned down her street.
“How noble of you.” Ren didn’t want to ask, but she had to. “How much?”
“Depends on what you agree to.” Brock pulled along the curb and stopped the truck.
“What did you agree to?”
“Blow job. He wanted more, but I said no.”
“Why don’t you ask one of the tarts you hang with?”
“They don’t put out. What makes you think they’d go down on a guy?”
Ren laughed. “You’re an idiot if you think Jolin wasn’t getting some.”
“So he confided in you when you were on your knees.” Brock smiled at her.
“You’re an ass.” Ren pulled the strap of her bag over her head.
“Are you in?” He reached over and grabbed her shirt, pulling her to him. “It’s a night of free beer and one hundred bucks.” She kept her gaze on his, not letting her hard shell break. He reached into the console and grabbed a roll of bills. Then pulled her mouth to his while pressing the money into her hand. “Get some food. I don’t want to fuck a skeleton.”
His words filled her veins with ice. She just needed a few more months and she could leave. Ren climbed out of Brock’s car and stood on the curb until he drove away.
Jolin
Friday, October 18
11:30 p.m.
Ren was heading for Jolin’s car when Brock appeared out of no where.
“What the fuck?”
Brock ran his hands down Ren’s arms pulling her toward his Bronco. Jolin wiped the window again hoping somehow Quill’s form was distorted by condensation but it wasn’t. In a split second Ren turned her head to look at him. Her look told him everything.
