I'll Tell You Something, I Think You'll Understand
(The Beatles: I Want To Hold Your Hand)
It was a very silent car ride to God-knows-where and Cath couldn't help but roll her eyes when she looked at her boyfriend. Every so often he'd reach over to touch her, but he'd never take his eyes off of the road. That just made things feel even worse. She was irritated because they left behind almost all of her things and she didn't know when they would return, but at the same time she understood that what Levi was going through was something much bigger than her laptop and clothes. At least she had little Baz.
Finally fed up with the lack of noise, she took his phone and started skimming through the music. He had a lot of Led Zeppelin, but other than that it was pretty diverse. When she decided there was too much to choose from, she checked his playlists. There was one for almost every situation: "Workin' out", "Christmas Party Time", "DID SOMEONE SAY FIESTA?", "Thyme 4 Work". She giggled when she came across one called "I Miss My Cather :'((((".
"Who is this?" Cath asked as a song began to blast from the portable speaker on his dashboard.
"Walk The Moon. This album just came out a couple weeks ago." Levi spoke up, "John and I went to Lollapalooza last summer and we really liked them."
"When you are close to me I shiver..."
"It's really fun music." He smiled. Cath felt herself relax, it was nice to see him smiling again.
"Shall we get intimate again? I think so, I think so."
"This playlist is called 'I miss my Cather'." She unbuckled and switched seats with the little rabbit.
"Oh, yeah. They're all songs that make me think of you." Levi blushed and rested his hand on her thigh.
When she looked through the songs, her heart practically fluttered. The playlist had over 40 songs on it:
I've Just Seen A Face (The Beatles)
All My Lovin' (The Beatles)
No You Girls (Franz Ferdinand)
I'm Yours (Jason Mraz)
Your Body Is A Wonderland (John Mayer)
All My Love (Led Zeppelin)
Thank You (Led Zeppelin)
Sea Of Love (Cat Powers cover)
My Girl (The Temptations)
Shiver Shiver (WALK THE MOON)
I Can Lift A Car (WALK THE MOON)
Plus so many more.
There were just such gooey love songs on it (The exception being the vast numbers of Kanye West songs). Cath gave him a kiss on his jawline. Levi pulled the car over. They were out on the side of an old gravelly road surrounded by rows of crops, listening to the music pour out of the speakers.
"I yelled at my mom." Levi sighed, "And we left your laptop behind."
"Yeah." She said.
"We can go back later. She'll be at church today and she'll be there praying my badness away."
"I don't think she's mad at you, Levi. I think she was scared."
"I just really want to see my grandma," He leaned against the window and wrapped his arms around his knees so he was facing Cath, "But I don't even know which hospital they took her to."
"Well, I think we should find some shade and take a nap." Cath forced a smile, "You're upset, and tired, and stressed, and there is perfectly good bedding back there."
"Let's just go to John's." Levi suggested, running his hands through the blonde mess on his head. His hair was getting too long and he'd needed to shave for several days, "We can pass out in his basement for a while."
John lived in a traditional red, ranch-style home with big bushy fields of berries. His basement was turned into a guest room which he happily let them stay in. Cath watched Levi strip down to his t-shirt and boxer briefs, then slid under the covers. They snuggled up close under the fleece blanket and tried to catch up on some lost sleep. Levi was snoring lightly within minutes, but Cath was too wired up to fall unconscious so easily.
She tried to get comfortable for what must have been a half hour before she eventually went upstairs for a glass of water. John was on the couch watching American Horror Story and stuffing popcorn in his mouth, letting her rabbit eat the pieces that he dropped. Cath sat in one of the brown leather recliners.
"Are you okay?" He asked, setting aside his ridiculously oversized popcorn bowl.
"I'm fine."
"Okay." John was chewing on his bottom lip, "Do you want some popcorn?"
Cath gave an exhausted smile, "No, thank you."
He turned to the TV again.
"Hey, John..." She coughed.
"Yes?"
"How often does Marlisse fight with Levi?"
"Her favorite child and only son? Not often." John's big, brown eye widened, "definitely avoids it in company."
"She came barreling into his room and started yelling at him," Cath explained. "She called me a whore and he told her to get the fuck out."
"No way?" He was shaking his head, "hm well, never. That never happens."
"Okay, then this is serious." She frowned.
They sat around watching the screen, talking every so often, and sometimes Cath even dozed off. When a door creaked open, they sat up and looked to see a very groggy Levi with terrible greasy hair and bloodshot eyes. He plopped down on the cushion next to his best friend and threw his legs across him. John patted the hairy calf on his lap.
"You okay?"
"I guess." Levi shrugged, "Where's Baz?"
"Here." He pulled the little red ball from the other cushion and passed him over.
Levi rubbed noses with him, "Did you get any sleep, Cather?"
"Not really, no." She said.
"Oh... well we can go get your things later. I need to see my grandma today, and my sisters are going there after dinner tonight. I can have Abigail get your things. Or Shiloh, she'll remember your books."
"Your mom isn't going?" Cath scoffed.
"I think she's waiting for my dad to get home before she goes."
"Levi, where are you going to stay?" John asked, "You can bunk here until my parents get back, but I don't know if they'll be okay with you both staying the whole summer."
"Thanks, John." Levi smiled, "I'll take you home tomorrow, alright Cather?"
"No, I want to stay with you." She protested.
"This isn't my house, " He sat up and kneeled down in front of her, "I think one more night is a safe idea."
"Fine."
The day passed by slowly, attempting to watch the entire season of American Horror Story. It made things worse that it was going to be their last day together. Cath wanted it to be fun. It most definitely wasn't fun until Levi suggested they needed to take showers. Or rather, a shower.
"C'mon, Cather, let me show you where the bathroom is." He said, guiding her downstairs to the guest bathroom.
As soon as they hit the stone tiles Levi lifted her onto the countertop and started kissing her neck. His beard was scratching her skin but she kind of liked it. He bit her where her neck met her shoulder and Cath couldn't help but groan. Levi grinned and pulled away to look into her eyes.
"I'm sorry this week was so shitty." He unbuttoned her shirt, "Can I try to make it up to you?"
"I actually had a nice time with you, well, whenever you were around," She said as coolly as she could manage while his hands worked off her leggings, "But I would love to get into that shower with you."
"I'm glad."
Levi took his clothes off like it was nothing, but standing in her bra and panties, Cath felt oddly exposed. He had seen her naked plenty of times before, yet somehow both being naked together, in a strange place felt like she was letting him see her in a totally different light. The steam from the shower felt really inviting when it hit her skin. Levi stepped in, letting the droplets run down his body, and looked over at her expectantly.
She took a deep breath, removed the rest of her clothes, and hopped in next to her boyfriend. He leaned over to kiss her and began to rub a bar of soap along her back in circular motions. As his hands went lower hers made their way up to his hair, massaging his head with a fruity shampoo. His fingers slid between her thighs and inside of her. Cath groaned as his thumb brushed against her clit, teasing and never staying there quite long enough. The two fingers inside of her were moving in such a nice rhythm, she could feel her knees getting wobbly. Levi held her against him for support as her breaths began to get uneven, but didn't let up. After another few minutes of his slick, soapy hand moving quick circles around her clitoris she let out a sharp gasp and fell into his arms unable to stand straight when she came.
Once Cath caught her footing again, she looked over the perfectly sculpted torso in front of her. It was all she could really tolerate looking at, because she knew if she were to look up to his face or down to his erection, that would be the end of her virginity. The idea of losing it in the shower was the only thing stopping her from going all the way with him at that moment because something in her mind told her that shower sex, although was allegedly sexy, was not the best first time postion. She wanted it to be a little more special than falling over in a soap bubble mess.
Levi laughed and pulled their bodies together again, "Don't worry, we don't have to go any further than that."
Cath exhaled, unable to ignore how hard he felt against her stomach.
"Maybe just a little further." She giggled, getting down to her knees.
"Gross." John sneered as they entered the living room again, "Please don't talk to me about it."
"We all have our vices, Jonathan." Levi sprawled out, fully dead weight, across his friend's lap, laughing at the look of true disgust on his face, "But don't worry, no technical baby-making actions occurred in the making of this shower."
"Don't be rude, Levi." Cath rolled her eyes, "although, isn't this where the T-Birds start to sing 'Tell Me More?'"
"God, no." John was frowning, "I'm not really interested in hearing your sex life."
She shot him a hopeful glance, "really?"
"I'm really not," He was trying to get Levi off of him, "Levi, you're smashing my dick, man."
"Don't tell me what to do, Johnny." Levi snickered. "But, it's getting late, do you want to go grab some food with us before we take off to the hospital?"
"No, that's alright, you guys should go out without me if you're forcing her back home so soon." He winked, "But honestly, Cath, if you want to stay here too, you can. Don't let dummy over here tell you you're not welcome to stay awhile longer."
"Really?" She smiled.
"Yeah, I just don't want to hear you two tearing up the bedroom downstairs." He said, half jokingly.
"Deal." Cath gave a wry smile, "Why does everyone assume we're attached at the genitals?"
"Because 'we all have our vices,' Catherine."
"My name isn't Catherine."
"It isn't?"
"No, it's Cather." Levi interjected.
John adjusted his glasses and smiled, "Sorry. And I hate to seem so bitter. Talking about sex makes me really uncomfortable."
"It's okay, I truly understand." Cath nodded, "Thank you, John. It's nice of you to let me stay."
"How could I say no? You brought a bunny." He finally pushed Levi off of him, "Now go eat dinner and get your shit."
When they sat down to eat, Cath got a good look at her newly hipsterfied boyfriend. His hair looked so intentionally unkempt and his beard looked much fuller now that it was clean. He was wearing a flannel shirt and his black, work skinny jeans. She had to laugh aloud.
"What?" Levi grinned, looking around the restaurant.
"You!"
"Me? What did I do?"
"You're just really cute." She giggled, "You look like a cookie cutter hipster."
"Well isn't that an oxymoron." He smiled, watching her face as she continued to laugh, "Have I told you that I loved you today?"
"Not that I can recall."
"Well, I love you." Levi nudged his foot against hers.
"I love you, too."
They played footsie while they waited for their food. Moments like these were her favorite; just the two of them, flirting, nothing to worry about. He asked her about growing up, avoiding sensitive topics, making jokes, and teased her playfully. Cath watched him when he'd go off on tangents about how cute her stories were. Sometimes it was terrifying to feel so comfortable with another person, but she was so happy to have him. He was the best thing that's happened to her. It made her wonder if that's how everyone felt when they were in love.
"Hey Levi?" Cath took a bite of a french fry.
"Hmm?"
"Why is John so anal about sex?"
The word choice wasn't the best and Levi lost it.
"You know what I meant." She was doubled over from laughter as well.
He spoke when he gained composure again, "John has childhood... trauma."
"What happened?"
"Don't talk to him about it alright?"
She nodded.
"Well, when he was little his mom went absolutely insane, I mean, she was on a lot of drugs back then, but not the right kinds." Levi put down his burger, "I guess what happened is she blamed him for his dad leaving, and she... I guess she couldn't stand to be reminded of him."
"Was she physically abusing him?"
"Not exclusively." He swallowed hard. "She just neglected him a whole lot in general. I don't want to speak out of place, but she messed him up, downstairs." Levi gestured to his lap, "he's pretty well adjusted though. Just anxious and a little sex-phobic now."
"Oh my god. Poor John..."
"He's okay, his aunt and uncle took him in. He's lived with them since he was four, that's why he says they're his parents."
Cath was tearing up, "that breaks my heart, John's such a sweet guy."
"Let's talk about something else." Levi kissed her fingers.
Their waitress came by and Levi ordered dessert to lighten the mood. They joked about opening a pie bakery in a 1950s style diner that they would call "The Pie-ner". Cath smiled at the idea of Levi prancing around in a little, white half-apron and his all black Starbucks garb, with flour in his hair. He smiled too, and she could tell he was picturing the exact same thing.
