Chapter 40

I reached over and grabbed my phone from the night table. Renée? Goddammit. Did I get pulled out of--

My erection was just a morning wood. I was glad I hadn’t sprayed everywhere. Groggily, I found and answered the phone. I heard Dad muttering as he walked past my door.

“Who’s calling those kids at ten to seven?” He muttered

“Girls for Dean it seems.” Mom said judgmentally.

“Dean!” Renée shouted in my ear. She immediately followed up with, “Sorry Dad. Didn’t mean to wake you. Uh, Connie. No, I didn’t say Dean. I said ... Uh...”

“Morning, what the hell?” I said picking the sleep snot from my eyes. I pulled my phone from my ear. Incoming call from Kia. What the hel--Holy shit it worked!

“You remember!” I put my phone back to my ear.

“Remember what, young man?” The gruff fatherly voice on the other end scared me.

“Your daughter and I got paired together for an English paper. I was supposed to send her the file last night and--”

“Why not just give it to her when she went to your place for dinner last night?” He growled.

“Because your daughter is beautiful and I don’t think right when I’m around her.” I answered. Mom knocked.

“Honey, maybe hold off on the phone calls until after breakfast.” She said and walked away. I almost missed Renée’s dad’s grudging respect for my supposed honesty. “Send her the files then. She’ll get her phone back when her friends come and pick her up.”

I heard Renée bemoan “Dad!” before her phone was hung up. I had another incoming call from Pat.

“You’re awake.” I whispered.

“Goddammit. I’m going to find you and fuck you to death.” She immediately hung up. I got a bunch of texts from unknown numbers. Zoë burst in my room.

“I am not your fucking secretary.” She hissed as another person called her. “What did you do?”

I smiled. I swung my legs out of bed. “I fixed it.”

“And now Marin has your number.” Zoë texted. “I’m getting a shower. Shame mom and dad are up and witnesses.”

“Yeah, shame that.” I grinned. She gave me the finger. I stood up. Stretched.

“This is Connie! Fuck me! This is what happens to you?”

“U shouldnt have done this God I gotta exercise.” Followed by. “Hannah, add me to your contacts.”

“I’m not pregnant.” I smirked at Suzi’s. Apparently I had her number from before. I couldn’t remember why I had it.

“Young lady, it’s polite to knock.” I heard mom saying from the front door with a smile.

“I’m sorry. I gotta talk to Dean.” My first visitor was excited.

“I’m sure you do.” Mom said. “Now sit down, he’ll follow the smell of bacon and be right with you.”

Mom knew me well. I strutted into the kitchen. Kia was there, smiling behind her braces, her dark dyed hair was tied back in a loose ponytail. She was wearing fluffy jogging pants and a bland sweater. It could’ve been her PJs. She gave me the stink eye. I waved.

“Hun...” Mom said out of the side of her mouth to Dad.

“What babe?” Dad asked as he pulled his hand back from the bacon resting on the paper towel. Too hot.

“Let’s give Casanova Jr the room with his friend, OK?” She tugged Dad’s t-shirt sleeve.

“OK, but only because bacon can cool on the dining room table.” He dragged the paper towel and pile of pig meat onto a plate and laughed at me like a supervillain. Mom rolled her eyes.

“What does she mean Casanova Jr?” Kia asked.

“She found Pat in my room and I had Renée over for dinner yesterday.” I said.

“And then we all went to Connie’s.” Kia nodded. Her cheeks went pink. “We all went to Connie’s. Wanda’s an evil mastermind.”

“Apprenticemind maybe, there were no,” I looked to the dining room and lowered my voice to as inaudible as I could. She had to read my lips but she did comprehend. “Dick Olympics after all.”

“Says the guy who broke the seal a whole box of cherries.” She hissed back louder. “Dear God. How did I wake up?”

“I twisted everyone’s dial. When I was down in the sub-basement.”

“Zoë, give your brother some priv--Or don’t.” I could hear Mom’s eyes roll as Zoë strode by her.

I sent Wanda to voicemail. Zoë strolled over to the fridge and grabbed the milk. She drank it straight from the carton.

“Everyone?” She asked me after a belch.

“What do you mean everyone?” Kia narrowed her eyes.

“You, Xiomara, Liz, Connie, Renée, Suzi, Andrea, Wanda, Laurie, Marin, Pat, and Hannah.” My sister shrugged.

“Yeah, everyone.” I smirked.

“She never said Vanessa.” Kia pointed out.

“Well, then not everyone.” I said.

“Oh that poor girl.” Kia sighed. She kicked me.

“What was that for?” I asked rubbing my shin. She hopped out of her chair.

“Ruining me for other men.” She said loud enough for mom and dad. Mom grumbled. Dad tried not to laugh. Kia gave me the finger and stormed out.

“The bacon!” I gasped and ran to the next room.

“Not even going to do anything about her being pissed off?” Zoë rolled her eyes. “I guess it’s on me.”

“Don’t make things worse for your brother,” Mom said to Zoë. “Get fed, and then go to school.”

Our phones hadn’t shut up since we had woken.

“Marin’s going to sext you.” Zoë declared and shoved her head over my shoulder waiting for the next message. The bus was coming up the street. Kia appeared at a run. She was looking hot in a tank top and tight jeans. Greens and rust-orange. No way would she wear white, black, blue, or pink on Earth. I waved.

“Shut up.” She snarked at me when I arrived. “I told mom we’re dating again.”

“OK.”

“So that means don’t get caught with other sluts.” She poked me in the pectoral with every word. I snatched her finger.

“Right, sorry.” She murmured. “I mean call me when you’re going out with others. And don’t flirt with Laurie.”

“Boom!” Zoë hopped and tapped my phone to bring up Marin’s message. “Boo! Still wearing a bra! Boo!”

I looked down and smiled at the message that had been sent to me. Kia shocked me with a flick to my ear.

“Seriously, fuck this up and I’ll tell people about you two.” She warned. The bus driver opened the door and I walked into Kia’s butt. She elbowed me. “Come sit with me.”

“Hurry up, Ms Parker. I have another two runs after I drop you guys off.” The bus driver moaned. Kia muttered an apology. I was going to follow her into the seat. Zoë grabbed my bookbag and force marched me down to where Xiomara was sitting. It was Zoë who wolf whistled at Xiomara’s cut-offs. I just leered.

“Shut up.” Xiomara muttered. I froze. She hadn’t texted me. She hadn’t--

“When I passed out in the box, did you keep going?” She looked up at me paler than she might. I dove into the seat and hugged her. Laurie bitched at the freshmen boys the seat ahead of us who had been ogling Zoë and Xiomara. Soon Kia, Laurie, Xiomara, and Zoë had the back two rows to ourselves. “Well?”

“I woke up here before you did, didn’t I?” I asked.

“So I kept going?” She worried. “I wouldn’t do that.”

“I feel bad for Andrea, she was sitting up on a stool with nothing to slump on.” Zoë laughed.

“Hopefully Vanessa caught her.”

“Oh my God! She’s the only one awake?” Xiomara looked like someone had run over her puppy. “She must be so scared.”

“Not scared enough to pass on Dean’s cock.” Laurie pointed out.

“I don’t know why I didn’t change her.” I said. “I guess I didn’t believe I was getting yet another girl.”

“Yeah, maybe you should scale back some.” Kia said.

“I’d be fine with just me.” Xiomara glared at Kia. I froze. I was trying to think of something to defuse the two of them but no words came. Kia smirked first.

“I am jealous as fuck and I still want you to be happy with him.” She laughed.

“Oh, thank God! I thought I was the only one being a bitch!” Xiomara sighed. She grabbed my arm and leaned her head on my shoulder. “I told mom we’re dating now.”

Zoë laughed the rest of the way to school. Laurie had a snicker or two. I tried to be positive about the whole thing. We got out in front of the school. Connie and Renée were waiting for us right at the bus door. Wanda and Hannah were making their way over from their bus. Elizabeth kicked me in the butt. I was surprised to have her ninja up behind me.

“What’s going on?” I asked her.

“Think you could start calling me Liz?” She asked.

“No.” I shook my head. She smiled as brightly as I did.

“Marin’s bus comes just before the bell.” Hannah poked my shoulder for attention. She looked tiny for a much bigger woman. She slumped, she crossed her arms in front of her, she looked miserable. I smiled as wide as I could to see her. She shook her head.

“We’re going to make her run and eat better.” Wanda said on her crutches. “Now, you didn’t tell me about this. I saved myself for during wakeup hours because I was afraid of the crowd.”

“You’ve got stagefright?” Connie sniffed. “Hardly.”

“Hi guys,” Andrea came over. “I broke up with my boyfriend. I really liked him.”

“You could’ve--”

“I cannot be two men’s girl.” She shut me up.

“Damn, me neither,” Connie nodded. “I tried it a few times. You just feel like garbage too often.”

“I haven’t.” Renée beamed. “One man woman for both of my very long lives. I cannot wait.”

“You son of a bitch!” I was shocked to hear Suzi shout and stamp her way over to us. Her mom looked worried and happy. She was watching me. I waited until the safest bet for valedictorian was right up in front of me. “I’m not pregnant.”

I took a few steps back from the push. I looked at her wide-eyed. Suzi’s head fell. She realized her mother had heard that.

“That’s a good thing.” Mrs Lang said as she stepped forward. “Mr Baxter? Am I going to have to speak with you?”

“Not immediately,” I worried. Suzi turned. She sneered at me over her shoulder.

“It does sound like I need to talk to my daughter.” She said. “I’m sure we’ll be speaking soon.”

“The good news is Mom’s going to murder you.” Zoë grinned. I scowled. “What? Your room is bigger than mine. I want it.”

“Sisters...” Xiomara shook her head. “Anyway,” she rapped Connie’s shoulder. “Where’s a good place to take this privately?”

“C’mon, we’ll go to the cheerleaders lockers.” Connie waved overhead. We all started following. I was the center of attention. Andrea was looking at me with puppy dog eyes. It was unnerving, the devotion, but I loved it all the same. We made it to the gym building doors when a white Dodge truck pulled up. Some private school douche was driving. The truck was so high up I couldn’t see the girl in the passenger seat as she rushed out of the vehicle.

“Trishie!” I grinned and she stopped herself from throwing a hug at me.

“Shut up.” She looked cute in her sweater vest and skirt school uniform. She twisted on her black sneakers and ripped up vest, blouse, and bra to flash the driver. “There! Thanks for the drive.”

We were all looking at her when she turned around. The truck slowly reversed and left to head up town. Pat tilted her head at us. “What?”

“You just--” Andrea murmured.

“With another guy.” Xiomara pointed with anger on her lips. I was about to say something to calm them down. I wonder what those words could’ve been.

“Meh, relax,” Zoë said. “She got a free ride out of it.”

“I guess.” I scratched my head. Pat grinned.

“Don’t worry. Going back to natural red soon. I know how you like it.” She fluffed her pink streaked black hair. “Where are we going?”

Apparently, I was being led straight to the girls locker rooms. I stopped.

“No one’s in there, besides, there’s an annex out the back that’s totally not connected to basic change rooms and showers.” Connie grabbed my belt. I was all in at this point. Well, Mom was already due a call from Suzi’s mom.

“What do we need to discuss?” I whispered.

“It’s a change room, not a library, Dean.” Renée rolled her eyes. She seemed excited to bring me into the back. There were doors, separating the team lockers from cubbies for gym class. I felt better when I was behind them.

“Not discuss. I was promised a turn.” Wanda grinned. I held the door for her and then everyone else.

“If that’s the case, let’s grab some tumbling mats from the storage locker.” Renée said pulling on Connie’s sleeve. Connie rolled her eyes.

“The things we do for you.” She grinned at me. They left. I looked around. My phone buzzed.

“Now that’s a sext!” Zoë beamed looking over my shoulder to see Marin’s nipples.

“Damn, she’s still so pretty without the aliens helping.” Elizabeth crossed her arms over her sweater as she looked at my phone.

“Shit, is that out back on the sports field?” Pat had my hips and looked around my elbow. “That girl’s got balls.”