Underneath the Sycamore Tree(79)

He helps me guide him inside me, then set a pace. I have no idea how good it’ll feel from this position, but I can’t help but quicken my movements when he hits me in just the right way until my head tips back and a familiar, warm feeling fills my stomach.

It isn’t until he thrusts up the same time I move down that I’m yelling his name and breaking apart. He supports me when I turn to jello, flipping us back around until he’s slamming into me over and over so hard the headboard hits the wall.

The sound of the bed creaking and metal frame smacking drywall has me writhing again as he starts twitching inside me. When he thrusts one more time, I come with him for the third time in less than an hour, holding him to me so tightly he couldn’t pull away if he tried.

We’re both sweaty and out of breath as we lay there. “So?” I whisper, finally letting him pull out and roll onto his side.

His amusement comes off in waves. “I’ll talk to Jefferson about UM on Monday.”

I smile and fall asleep.





Chapter Thirty-Nine





April and May brings more sunshine than showers, which I’m thankful for. The warmth breathes life into everything and everyone, which adds to the anticipation of June’s graduation. The seniors are talking about their trip to Orlando, the staff is chatting about summer vacation, and all I can think about is not dealing with Rachel anymore.

I know I should believe him if he says nobody will bother me when the new school year starts, but I can’t anticipate that. Usually I could brush off comments because they don’t matter compared to everything else, but the malicious taunts I’ve dealt with whenever Kaiden isn’t by my side has been brutal.

All thanks to Rachel.

I know it’s jealously. I also know there’s a chance it’ll all be better once she graduates. Then again, all it takes is one person to start a riot before others join in. Her friends have.

Instead of cute pictures of mice drawn on sticky notes, I find doodles of rats and whales on my locker and assigned desks. The first few made me roll my eyes as I balled them up and threw them away before Kaiden found them.

Then came the whispers.

The pregnancy rumors.

The stares.

Brother fucker is my new nickname.

Someone called me a dyke once when I walked down the hall, and my fingers instantly went to my hair and played with the short strands.

At first, I expected the talk to die down on its own. When it didn’t, I thought Kaiden would kill it because there’s no way he hasn’t heard people say anything about me. Unfortunately for me, the same reason people don’t talk back to him is why they don’t bring up gossip on touchy subjects.

They’re scared of him.

I can’t blame anyone. He may be more approachable, at least in my eyes, but that doesn’t take away his painted on scowl from seven thirty to three. They see him as untouchable in the halls and invincible on the field. It’s a deadly combination for someone like me.

But I’m not helpless.

Not even when Rachel approached me asking if I could be part of the school’s annual fashion show…as a plus size model. Apparently there’s a club here that earns credit at the community college for people interested in designing, and they pair up with local stores to get material for the event. It’s a cool idea.

That’s why I smile and tell her I’d love to but already have plans with Kaiden. Being petty has never been who I am, but it seems appropriate for the situation. Giving Rachel the gratification of wearing me down by calling me fat or something else doesn’t sit well with me.

I’m stronger than that.

I always have been.

On practice days, I’ll split my time between watching Kaiden and reading in the library. Once, I saw Mr. Nichols and helped him organize his classroom to make room on the bookshelves for new reading material. He offered me copies of books that were no longer part of the curriculum, so I went home with five worn paperbacks that I read within two weeks.

Kaiden likes calling me a teacher’s pet, but I think it’s his way of not showing the jealousy that I still giggle over whenever he finds me in Nichols’ room.

Annabel and I talk on and off every week, but we never try hanging out. She gets nervous when Kaiden approaches us if we’re speaking after class or walking down the hall together. At first I thought she had a crush on him, which made my vision filter with green. Her dodgy eyes and distant expression tell me it’s something else. She’s uncomfortable.

We may have never become besties, but I thought we were on some spectrum of friendship. She sat with me once at lunch but left early when Kaiden and his friends joined. She’ll tell me about a book she’s reading and make recommendations on what I may like but then walk with her eyes down if someone sees us. There’s never been anything more and I never thought to ask why.

Sometimes acceptance is easier.

It doesn’t make it less lonely though.

Kaiden says that most of the girls at Exeter aren’t friend material anyway, but I don’t think that’s true. His perception on people is different than mine. I try seeing the good in them. He says he sees them for what they are.

The bullies.

The fakes.

His protection is fading because people see him as something different. A graduate. A softie. After all, he’s taken me of all people under his wing. Someone unlike them.