Chapter 24 - Adrian

It was Wednesday evening and we three were on our knees, just inside the front door. It was Avett’s idea. He said it was the best way to butter Sir up so that he’d let us go to the party. I was still uncertain about the whole party thing, but I didn’t mind kneeling. At my side, Lily appeared to feel differently.

“This floor is so hard,” she said, shifting uncomfortably. “Are you sure he’s actually close?”

“Any minute now,” Avett said. He was unusually still, with his eyes trained intently on the door.

“Shouldn’t we be doing homework or something instead?” She asked. “You know, so he doesn’t regret deciding to let me spend the night?”

“Shh—” Avett said, cocking his head like he’d heard something. When he decided he hadn’t, he answered, “This is better, trust me. He’ll love it.”

I bent to rest my head on Lily’s shoulder, then hooked her index finder in mine. “He’s been missing you a lot,” I said. “He’ll just be happy to see you.”

I could hear the smile in her voice as she asked, “Really?”

“Mm-hmm!”

Suddenly self-conscious, she tugged at her shirt. “Avett ... Do you think maybe we should have our clothes off?”

“Shit!” He jumped to his feet. “You’re a mastermind. Quickly, now,” he said in a rushed hush, and proceeded to strip. Before she could second-guess herself, Lily followed suit, nearly tripping as she shed her jeans and taking hold of my shoulder for balance. I yanked off my own clothes, my heart rapping annoyingly quick against my ribs. Avett gathered our clothes into a rumpled pile, scooping random socks and underwear off the floor, then shoved everything into a nearby coat closet and slammed the door. He peered out the window. “Coast is still clear.”

“Phew,” Lily said. We sank back to our places.

The polished wood floor wasn’t any softer under bare knees. Lily was squirming right away. “I’m cold,” she said.

We both reflexively looked down at her nipples. “We can tell,” Avett said.

She crossed her arms across her chest. Avett leaned way down until his hair brushed against the floor, looking between her legs. She pinned her thighs together. “Um, excuse me? Can I help you?”

He popped back up. “Sorry, just trying to check whether you have a tampon in.”

She flinched. “I don’t, okay? Not that it’s any of your goddamn business.”

“Jesus. Chill,” he said, palms to the air. “Not everybody has access to your top-secret menstruation files like Sir. Some of us have to rely on our senses of sight and smell to draw conclusions.”

A quiet moment passed.

“Hey, Avett,” she said finally. “Try not to let those panties go missing, ‘kay? They’re new.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

A key clattered in the lock and the door swung open. “Welcome home, Sir!” We all sang in unison, beaming up at him just as rehearsed.

The door softly clicked shut behind him as he looked down at us, utterly caught off guard. We continued to blink and grin despite the sudden puff of frigid air wafting past us. Once he’d fully processed what he was looking at, he just laughed. It wasn’t the reaction I’d anticipated, but it wasn’t the worst response in the world, either.

His eyes twinkling with amusement, Sir said, “And just what exactly are you three little rascals up to?”

Avett had an answer at the ready. “Just making ourselves look presentable for our favorite Sir, of course,” he said. “How do we look?”

“Why, you look like a bunch of tasty little morsels I want to gobble right up,” he said, kicking his shoes off.

“Ooh, ooh, eat me first, Sir!” Lily exclaimed, waving her arm.

“Let me just get the barbeque sauce.” Sir bent to plant some sloppy kisses on her head, followed by Avett’s.

When he got to me, I wrapped my limbs around his leg like a koala on a branch. “I think I might pair better with a nice marinara, Sir,” I told him.

He laughed. “I’ll keep that in mind, cub.” He dropped his bag and reached to unbutton his coat.

Avett leapt to his feet. “May I take your coat, Sir?”

Sir let him help him out of his coat. Awkwardly holding it, Avett planted himself between Sir and the closet.

I tugged on Sir’s pant leg to distract him. “Sir, can I have a train ride to the living room?”

“Okay,” he chuckled. “All aboard!”

Lily took that as her cue to latch onto his other leg. With slow, strained steps, Sir began to cross the foyer. We hung on for dear life, giggling at his “chugga chugga” sound effects.

“End of the line,” Sir panted when we reached the couch, and we released him. Breathless, he sunk into his seat. “Phew, you two are heavier than you look. I’ll get to skip leg day this week.”

“How was your day, Sir?” I asked, wrapping my arms around myself instead. Lily was right: it was cold as hell in here without clothes.

“It’s far better now, pet,” he smiled. Noticing my prickling skin, he tossed me a throw blanket. “Here, boy. Make yourself comfortable,” he said, putting his feet up.

I gratefully shrouded myself with the thick, fuzzy blanket and sat by his feet.

“Avett, turn the thermostat up,” he called.

“Sir, yes, Sir,” Avett answered from the foyer.

Sir looked around at Lily. “And you...” He patted his lap. “Right here.” Blushing and grinning, she climbed into his lap and curled up like a cat.

Avett lingered in the doorway. “Can I fetch you anything, Sir? Cup of tea? Glass of brandy?” He paused. “ ... Bottle of lube?”

“I’m fine, thank you,” Sir laughed. “Come, sit.”

Avett obediently crossed the rug and dropped to the seat beside Sir. He began to stroke Lily’s hair.

Sir sighed in content. “Thank you for the wonderful greeting, my loves,” he said. “That was a very pleasant surprise.”

“Just think,” Avett said. “With all three of us around, you could be greeted like that every night.”

Sir shot him a look, but couldn’t disagree. “Very true,” he said cooly.

“But that’s not what this particular brown-nosing is about,” Avett said, waving his hand. How tactful.

“No?” Sir cocked an eyebrow. “Enlighten me, then.”

Avett cleared his throat. “Well, you see, Sir, for transfer students such as Adrian and myself, it can be quite healthy to mingle with our new schoolmates at a more casual social function outside of the classroom. Such as a party, for example.”

“A party?”

“A party, yes. To really immerse ourselves in the social culture of school, you know. It’s good for morale and, um ... work ethic.”

“Is that right?”’

Avett had apparently reached the end of his prepared thesis. “Yep.”

“Where is this party?”

“At Lily’s roommate’s boyfriend’s family home.”

Lily piped up, “Hunter is a good friend, Sir. He’s very nice.”

“Yes, yes,” Avett said, stroking her hair clumsily like he was petting a hyperactive dog. “He’s a super swell guy.”

“He’s a bookworm, too, Sir. Just like us.” Lily nuzzled happily into his lap.

“Hm. And when will this party take place?”

“Friday,” Avett said. He stumbled over his words to quickly clarify, “Seeing as Adrian’s birthday isn’t until Saturday, I don’t think it should conflict.”

“Mm-hmm.” Sir looked at me.

“I’d like to go, Sir,” I said, trying to sound convincing. “It’ll be fun.”

“And you aren’t only saying that because Lily and Avett want to go?”

I shook my head. I was mostly saying that because Lily and Avett wanted to go, sure. But I also wanted to eat Halloween candy.

“‘Course he isn’t, Sir,” Avett cut in. “He’s a party animal at heart. Let him let his hair down; it’ll help him come out of his shell.”

Sir sighed. “I’ll think about it.”

Avett beamed, already considering the proposal a success. “Splendid, Sir! Just you watch: a bit of socialization will make our grades skyrocket, I swear.”

“Uh-huh.”

I was more than ready to shift gears. “Sir, are you sure you still want leftovers tonight? If I started now, I could cook something in time.”

“I’m sure,” he said firmly. “I have other ideas for pre-dinner activities.”

“You do?” Lily lifted her head a tad.

“Like what?” Avett pushed it back down, petting faster.

“A game, perhaps.”

I swallowed hard. Frightening memories flashed across my mind like lightening. “Not hide and seek, right?”

“Definitely not hide and seek,” Sir chuckled. He moved his foot closer to my face. “Here, pet.” That shut me up. I relaxed and brought my chin to the cushion, my cheek to his warm sole. He finally went on, “No, this game is one I invented quite recently, actually.”

“What’s it called?” Avett asked. Knowing Sir’s naming conventions, the title would probably reveal the rules.

“Hmm, let’s see...” Sir scratched his chin. “We’ll call it ‘Torture.’”

“Torture?!” Lily yelped.

“Settle down, kitten,” he chuckled. She did. He explained, “See, I’m always hearing about all the ‘torture’ going on in this house. Back in my day, torture was associated with stringing people up by their thumbs and waterboarding.”

“Watersports?” Avett asked.

“Waterboarding, ” Sir repeated. “Pay attention, Avett.”

“Sorry. Please continue.”