Well, nobody else was gunna, & this has been stuck in my head for awhile...
This may or may not stay a one-shot, depends on how people like it.
A seventeen-year-old Wybie groans when the midsummer sunlight hits his face. God, his hangover hurt. Cracking one eye open, he looks at the alarm on the bedside table, the glaring red letters telling him it was 6:28 in the morning. Groaning again, Wybie drops his head back onto the pillow, planning on seven more hours of sleep.
"Wybie," his eyes snap open. The whisper is harsh and sharp, yet questioning and feeble.
Standing on the other side of the room, is Coraline. Her blue hair is a refined mess, one that says someone has been trying to restore some order. Her arms are draped self-consciously over her sides, holding the over-sized tee shirt to her small frame. His over-sized tee shirt.
"Whu…?" His head's too heavy for him to formulate an intelligent question. When did she get here? He doesn't remember her saying she was coming over…none of this makes sense. Wybie finally notices his surroundings. They're not in his room, they're in hers.
The girl shifts uncomfortably, tracing an invisible pattern on the floorboards, watching intently, as if it's intriguing. She swallows hard before looking at him disbelieving.
"You don't remember?" her voice is strained, like she's trying not to cry. The look in her eyes causes fear to rise in Wybie's chest. Don't remember? Don't remember what?
"I-I…don't…" He swallows, realizing that somewhere in the course of all this he has found himself in a sitting position. Upon this realization, he swings his sleep-heavy legs over the edge of the bed, rubbing his temple with his fingertips. Returning his hand to his side, it brushes against bare skin. Glancing down, he sees he is wearing only his boxers, just a thin layer of black fabric with mini Jolly Rogers all over it.
Studying Coraline, he knows she's hiding something. "I don't remember, Jonesy. I…tell me. Please?" he murmurs.
Trembling, she shakes her head. "We screwed up Wybie."
"Screwed up? Wha…I…what do you mean?"
"We screwed up." her emphasis on the word was painful. "We…were pretty drunk last night," Wybie stares at her blankly.
"Okay," he says stupidly. He remembers the party, Tim's idea; Coraline's parents were out of town for the weekend. Word got around fast. He wasn't quite sure who brought the beer. But he remembered drinking more than he should have, stumbling, laughing… but nothing about her. Nothing that could lead to him being here with her.
"We…we" Coraline starts of awkwardly, afraid to continue. Instead, she gives him a look. Slowly, realization starts to set in. Oh God. No. It couldn't have been that; she can't mean that. Oh God.
"Y-you mean…" he can't finish his sentence. He looks at her with questioning eyes. This can't be right. Wybie wants her to say he's wrong, or stupid. Just for old time's sake.
"Yes Wybie." she finally snaps, then lowers her voice. She sighs shakily "We slept together."
Mouth agape, it starts to sink in. God…oh God. That's just…no. She…must be lying. She's lying…there's just no way. The facts set in, and it seems…plausible. Not okay, definitely not okay…but plausible.
"No…," he shakes his head, his wide eyes concentrating blankly on the floorboards. Coraline only nods her head, as Wybie stays silent.
Internally, it's a different story. Coraline- really? Of all people, Coraline? He grew up with her, hell, he saved her life. Sure, she had grown up, and was no longer flat as a board. But still, it was Coraline. No matter how pretty she had gotten or how many times looking at her had caused a flutter in his chest that he always did his best to stifle.
Of course, there had been moments where he allowed himself to think of her like that. To consider the idea, and entertain it. But there were always very clear rules to follow.
Getting drunk, getting into bed with her and forgetting about it, was NOT in the plans.
He never thought she would cross the line. Never thought she'd even think about kissing him, let alone act on it. She did kiss him right? He doesn't remember, but she might remember something…or everything. What if she didn't act on it? What if it was all him…
"Oh God…oh God. Jonesy, I-I…didn't, I mean…like, I didn't…" Wybie chokes, unable to say it. Let alone think it.
"No Wybie, you didn't force me."
"That's…good." He runs his hand through the mess of brown curls. He feels so stupid. He wants to be cool about it, tell her that he'll fix everything and make it up to her. But he can't, their situation wasn't exactly you sweep under the rug and pretend it never happened. No, this is front-and-center and it creeps him out that she knows, but he doesn't. She knows how things went.
"Yeah," she murmurs, breathless. Wybie looks at her, half in awe, the other half just plain spacing out.
"Um…we did…use…protection? Right…?" he asks her, mentally cursing himself for sounding like a wide-eyed little kid, innocent and clueless about the world. Coraline says nothing, and only bites her lip. "J-jonesy…?" he stutters, her pause can't be good.
"Yes, we did." she finally muttered, Wybie heaved a sigh of relief. The silence is awkward & heavy, Wybie feels like he has to break it.
"I'm sorry, Jonesy…I really am & I"
"Damn it Wybie!" she cuts him off. "It isn't some national tragedy, no one died, so just stop…just stop apologizing!" Wybie studies her more, and realizes she's crying. Coraline never cries.
It wasn't ideal, but it meant something to her. Wybie was sure it was her virginity, and whatever happened last night served as a milestone to her. And then there's him, acting like the world is going to end because of it. Well, doesn't he feel like shit.
"Ugh, it's too early for this," Wybie groans, swinging his legs back on the bed as he flops back down. Coraline gives him a sideways glance, but carefully makes her way to the other side of the mattress, and lays down on her side, rigidly, facing him. Wybie puts his arm around her waist & pulls her close. Coraline stiffen even more, if possible, but eventually melts into the embrace.
"I'm sorry. I mean, for being idiotic."
"It's okay," she offers, her voice shy. His eyes are closed but he swears he can see her fighting back a smile.
"I just wish…it didn't happen the way it did." he sighs. "…wish I could remember." he mumbles, falling asleep.
"Do you now?" Wybie's eyes snap open again.
"No! No…not like that…I just" he defends blindly, until he sees the small amused smirk on Coraline's face. She giggles as he pouts moodily at her.
"Not funny." after this he closes his eyes, still wanting sleep. This silence, however, is more comfortable.
"So, Wybie…this…I mean, like, you and me…could it…" Coraline struggles with her words after she gets the courage to speak up. Wybie cracks one eye open.
"Yeah," he answers her invisible question of a possible relationship. "It can." he offers a soft, gentle kiss on the cheek. "We'll take it slow, kay? As slow as you want. Last thing I'd ever want is to hurt you." he smiles warmly, even with both eyes closed already.. "What time is it?" the random question makes Coraline giggle for a second.
"7:02. Why?" Wybie merely shrugs in response. Coraline snuggles into his chest, while his arms wrapped protectively around her slim form. "Hey Wybie?" she whispers.
"Shush. Sleeping time now." he tells her.
"Wybie?" she tries again, but he's snoring lightly.
"Wybie…" she drags out in sing-song. Nope, he's still snoring.
"Wybie." her patience running thin. And he's still snoring.
"Oh come on! Nobody falls asleep that fast!" She would've hit him by now, but she can't move her arms.
"I do." he tells her quickly before snoring again.
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