Living in a trailer park may never be temporary but working at a gas station was. I told myself that every shift I went to. I was pretty sure the hours I worked were illegal but jobs were hard to come by in Forks and if I didn't work then I didn't eat. And if I didn't work then the trailer park actually did become temporary because that meant I couldn't pay my portion of the rent. I worked Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from eleven at night until seven in the morning. It was definitely illegal but I made more there with the overnight differential then I could even dream of making anywhere else. Plus, there were always Friday or Saturday shifts I could pick up — someone always wanted the weekend off.
Working at a gas station, especially at night, was the easiest job I had ever had. Most of the time I just sat there. And sure it was boring. And sure I was sleepy. But it was just so damn easy and I was paid good money for it. There were many nights when no one came into the tiny gas station at all. I could bring my homework or a book from the library and just sit on the counter for eight hours. And now, thanks to Sarah, I had an iPhone with unlimited data to keep me occupied. In the morning, I would walk home to the trailer park and get into bed for a half hour before heading to school.
It wasn't exactly a glamorous job, nor was it a job I wanted to brag about but I figured there were worse jobs I could have and at least at this one I got to take home any expired food I wanted. Expired chips still tasted like chips to me.
I had been kind of embarrassed to tell Seth about my job but I had made a point to tell him because I was already stretching the truth about my home life and any further withholding of information felt like a straight up lie. He hadn't exactly been surprised by my admission that I worked in the middle of the night but he hadn't exactly been thrilled.
"So you walk back and forth in the dark?" He had asked me.
"It's really close." I defended. "And it's a super easy job — hardly anyone comes in."
Thankfully Seth hadn't pressed me as to why I needed a job so badly that I worked in the middle of the night. If he could tell I was relieved when he changed the subject and didn't ask me any more questions, he was nice enough not to say anything. Instead, he made a point to text me while I was working or call me so we could talk. I had been clear that I wouldn't let him talk to me past one in the morning, even if he wanted to. Just because I had to stay awake, didn't mean he had to. He had school in the morning too and I was pretty sure he wasn't taking a nap after school like me to prepare for my work shift.
Tonight I felt especially restless. I had already mopped the floors, everything was restocked, and I had even reorganized the water bottles by pH levels. Seth had stopped texting me back five minutes ago and I wondered if he had fallen asleep. I hadn't seen him for the rest of the week after hanging out at Sarah's on Monday and, even though we had texted and talked every single day, it just wasn't the same. I had declined the offer of a shift this weekend, deciding I'd much rather spend time with Seth than have an extra one-hundred dollars. The bell above the door dings and I spin around from the chip display in surprise since I hadn't heard a vehicle pull up or saw any headlights in the windows.
"Ooh, Pringles." Seth says, eyeing my stacked chip display. I stand there in shock that he's really there for a couple seconds before quickly crossing the store and wrapping my arms around him. He gives me exactly the reaction I want, winding his arms around my waist and leaning down to brush his nose against mine. "Hey, you."
"What are you doing here?" I ask. I hadn't expected to see him until tomorrow night at Jason Q.'s party and, as much as I hated to admit it to myself, I missed seeing him in those three days it had been since Sarah's. I probably could have seen him sooner but I didn't have a car — or even a license — to visit him in La Push and I felt guilty asking him to drive to me everyday. Besides, I wasn't interested in inviting him to my trailer and I couldn't just invite him over to Sarah's house everyday for the rest of my life. Picturing someone as beautiful and perfect as Seth in my dirty trailer just made me feel sick to my stomach.
"I told you, Pringles." Seth says in a matter-of-fact tone, then finally rewards me by brushing his lips against my own. I think he meant it to be a quick kiss but I lean in closer and continue to kiss him before he can pull back.
"I missed you." I mumble against his mouth and he chuckles before trailing his hands down my sides. In one quick movement, he has pressed his fingers to my thighs and scooped me up in his arms. I yelp in surprise but he places me on the counter and presses his lips back to mine. I find that this is a much better angle to kiss him at. He's almost a foot taller than me which means our kisses have been a combination of him leaning down and me leaning up. With me seated on the counter we are almost even now and I sigh happily into the kiss. I had been sleepy before but now I feel wide awake.
The bell above the door dings. Seth jumps back from me and is ten feet away before I can even realize what has happened. A middle aged woman with a knowing smirk is standing in the doorway.
"Welcome to Forks' twenty-four hour gas station!" I chirp, wondering if I sound as breathless as I feel. This job wasn't exactly a job where you had to greet customers but it always seemed more weird not to. And I feel like I have to say something considering the woman has just seen me making out on the register.
"I'll be quick." The woman promises. "Bathroom…?"
"Back corner." I explain, gesturing to the far corner of the store. Seth waits until the bathroom door closes before sauntering back over to me. I am prepared to tell him to leave and that I'll see him tomorrow but as soon as he presses his lips against my neck, I melt against him. Not for the first time, I wonder what Seth sees in me. He is unbelievably gorgeous and funny and so damn nice. I can't believe that he saw Sarah and I next to each other and chose me, decided I was worthy of his affection.
"There's cameras in here." I breathe out, my cheeks feeling warm once he starts to nuzzle my neck, up into my hairline.
"You're the one with your hands up my shirt." He accuses. While Seth had kept his hands propped on the counter on either side of legs, I had somehow pushed his shirt partly up and had my hands pressed against the smooth planes of his chest. If possible, I blush even brighter and snatch my hands back. Seth laughs easily but doesn't move away from me. Instead he pulls me even closer, sliding me until I am at the edge of the counter and pushing open my legs with his hips so he can step between them. "I'm all yours, Sweetheart." I melt all over again if possible but instead of pulling him closer, I push on his chest.
"You have to go." I groan.
"What?" He responds, looking a bit shocked and his grip on my waist softens just slightly.
"I really need this job and you're going to get me fired if you come around here and keep making me want to make out with you." I sigh in explanation. Seth rolls his eyes but doesn't move away from me. "You'll see me in like seventeen hours."
"Too far away." He groans and moves closer like he's going to kiss me again. I hear the bathroom door open and that's all the excuse I need to duck past him and jump off the counter. The woman walks down one of the isles, picking up random snacks and I walk around the register to ring her out. Seth lets out an over exaggerated sigh but ambles over to the sunglass display and begins trying glasses on, staring at his reflection in the small mirror.
I ring out the snacks and take the crumpled ten dollar bill she hands over, only half paying attention to her. The rest of my focus is on Seth who is now trying on a shiny, red pair of glasses and making faces in the mirror. The woman follows my line of sight and lets out a quiet laugh, making Seth whip his head in our direction. He shoots us both a megawatt smile and I roll my eyes.
"Have a good night." The woman says cheerfully, gathering her items and her change and giving me a look that that makes me want to blush. Seth keeps the red glasses on and comes back over to the register once she leaves, leaning his elbows onto the counter and moving closer to me.
"We're still on for tonight?" He asks, pulling my hands into his.
"Yes." I sigh, "I don't know why you keep on asking."
"Just making sure you haven't changed your mind." He shrugs. "It's okay if you have." I free one of my hands from his and reach up, removing the glasses from his face, unable to take him seriously while he is wearing them. Our conversation from Sarah's earlier this week is still fresh in my mind. The idea of Seth thinking I'm ashamed or embarrassed of him twists my stomach uncomfortably and makes me want to tell him everything about me.
"I like being with you and Collin, nothing has changed." I promise. "It's a party, it will be fun."
"Okay." He finally says with a firm nod of his head. "I'll see you at Jason's — Sarah already sent me the address."
"You have to call him Jason Q." I let him know. "Trust me, it's a whole thing."
"Okay," He laughs, "See you at Jason Q.'s."
Then he pecks me on the lips and takes off out the front door of the gas station. I crane my neck, looking for a car he might have driven here but I see nothing.
There were five Jason's in the Forks High School senior class. Five. And they had all been in classes together since preschool. They also all happened to be best friends. Jason A., Jason M., Jason C., Jason P., and Jason Q.
Jason Q. wasn't really a Jason Q. He was also a Jason M. but rumor had it that the real Jason M. — Jason Mallory — had pushed Jason Q. off the jungle gym day one of preschool and Jason Quinton Marks had been forced to go by Jason Q. ever since. Jason had an older brother who failed out of Peninsula College and instead lived for his little brother to throw parties so he would have something to do on the weekends. I was pretty sure Jason Q. didn't care because his brother always supplied the alcohol and didn't really seem to invite many — if any — of his own friends.
While I had on a jean skirt and tight top, Sarah had lost the battle of trying to get me to wear heels tonight and I'm glad for it as we make our way through the woods to Jason Q.'s house. Sarah is half stumbling over herself while trying to find even ground to place her heeled feet and her friend Jill is doing the same. I probably like Jill Crowley the most of Sarah's friends. She was nice enough to me and seemed to stay away from the Veronica's of Forks High School.
"I'm so glad you came out with us." Jill says to me, almost as if she can hear my thoughts.
"Oh, please," Sarah rolls her eyes, "Emma is going to ditch us as soon as her boyfriend gets here."
"Boyfriend?" Jill asks in surprise, looping her arm through mine and pulling me closer to her and Sarah.
"I'm not gonna ditch you guys." I roll my eyes. Sarah ignores me and turns her attention back to Jill.
"Emma has the hottest boyfriend ever." Sarah explains to Jill. "His name is Seth and he is madly in love with her."
"He is not—" But my protests are lost over the sound of the thudding bass as we get closer to the back porch and the party. Jason Q.'s house was perfect for throwing parties. It was far enough off the road that you couldn't see the high schoolers on the front lawn and the nearest house was far enough away that they couldn't hear the loud music. Back when Jason Q.'s older brother, Austin, had been in high school, he had found a clearing in the woods, not far from his house, where everyone could park their cars. As we approach the house, I can see the party has already spilled outside. Even though it is cold, there are a good number of people leaning against the railings of the back porch and a few are adding wood to a bonfire that is a little further back from the house.
This was not the first time I had been to Jason Q.'s house. I hadn't gone to every party but I did go to enough to know what to expect. Every person we pass greets Sarah and a lot of them acknowledge Jill and me as well. Once inside the house, we squeeze our way through the crowd to make our way to the kitchen. For how cold it is outside, it is already warm in the house with the number of bodies. The entire Junior and Senior class must be here. And, as we walk through, I even see some Freshmen and Sophomores.
"Hey!" Dylan says from his spot near a game of beer pong as we approach. "You made it!" Jill and I both give each other a look as Sarah bolts away from the two of us and over to his side. Dylan's greeting was clearly only for her.
"It's kinda funny to see her squirm for once." Jill whispers to me, keeping her arm looped through mine. We bypass the game and head towards the fridge and the alcohol.
"Holy shit, Emma!" Jason Q. yells as we approach. I can see his face is already red and he looks like he has probably been pregaming since school got out at three. "Guys, look! Emma came to my party!" Jill and Jason C. both snicker at his excitement. One of Dylan's friends, Joey, gives both Jill and I a look then rolls his eyes.
"Yup." Joey deadpans. "We all see her."
"Let me get you a drink!" Jason Q. says, but instead of grabbing for the fridge, he reaches for me. I yelp in surprise as he pulls me out of Jill's grasp and tight against his side, his heavy arm draping around me.
"I've come to other parties of yours." I insist, struggling to remove myself from his grasp. I crane my head to look for Sarah but she's completely preoccupied with Dylan and the game of beer pong going on. Jason M. seems to be giving Lily a pep talk on how to make it in the cup from her spot across the table. I turn my eyes back to Jill and Joey.
"Help her." Jill hisses at Joey, hitting him in the stomach. He had been staring down the front of her shirt and quickly raises his eyes once he realizes she is paying attention to him.
"Huh?" Joey asks in confusion before trailing his eyes over to me. I give him a pleading look but he just grins. "Naw," He shakes his head, grabbing a new beer from the fridge and expertly opening it against the counter before offering it to Jill. "She looks like she's having fun."
"Careful, dude," Jason C. says, "I've seen her boyfriend and you would definitely lose." Jason C. pulls on Jason Q.'s arm until it's loose enough for me to duck under. I spin out of his grasp and Jason C. catches me before I fall into the island countertop.
Jason C. — Jason Cheney — is my favorite of the five Jason's, mostly because he is nothing like the other four. I'm convinced that if they didn't have the same name, he never would have ended up in their friend group. While the other four played every sport they could, Jason C. was captain of the debate club and Vice President of the science club. He was the exact opposite of the rest of his friends and arguably the nicest.
"Thanks, Jason." I say, giving him a grin
"Boyfriend?" Jason Q. asks, looking devastated.
"That would be me." Seth's voice is right behind me and I spin back around, launching myself at him. He catches me easily around the waist and pulls me close into a hug, rubbing his nose against mine. "Hey, baby." He whispers. I pull back slightly, aware of our audience, but let Seth keep me close to his side and his arms around me as we lean on the counter next to Jason C.
"Well, shit," Jill says, shaking her head in surprise, "Sarah was right. He is hot and so are his friends."
"Is that all girls care about." Collin sighs, plucking a brand new beer out of Joey's hand and opening it with his teeth. He spits the cap across the kitchen and it lands in an already overflowing trashcan. He leans gracefully against the island counter top and tilts his head towards Jill. "I'm more than just looks, Sweetheart."
"Col-lin!" I snap my fingers, leaning forward in Seth's grasp towards the two of them. Jill already has a glazed over look in her eyes. "You are not sleeping with my friends. Go find Veronica or something."
"I was told we do not like Veronica." Brady says loyally, snatching the beer out Collin's hand before he can even take a sip. He chugs a gulp of it and shoots me a lazy smile. "Hey, Em."
"I wasn't going to sleep with him!" Jill flushes but she is still leaning closer to Collin and Collin has the biggest smirk on his face. Jason C. laughs and leans around Jason Q., pulling four more beers out of the fridge and handing them out to Collin, Seth, and I.
"Veronica's not that bad." Joey mumbles, taking the last beer that Jason C. holds out.
"Just because she gave you a blow job underneath the bleaches one time does not make her that great." Jason C. reminds him. Joey flushes and Jill and I snicker.
"Wait, so you do have a boyfriend?" Jason Q. asks me, seeming to catch up with the conversation. "I thought you didn't date?"
"No, idiot," Jason C. rolls his eyes, "She just didn't want to date you." Jason Q. harrumphs but drops the subject.
"I didn't realize I had competition." Seth whispers, leaning close to my ear and placing a kiss just behind my earlobe.
"He's just messing around," I roll my eyes, "There's no competition." Jason Q. had asked me out before — more than once — but I knew he wasn't serious. He just wanted to sleep with me and I had made it clear I wasn't interested in him at all. He never acted even remotely interested in me while we were at school so I was pretty sure the alcohol was what was fueling his behavior.
"Hey, I'm Jason C." Jason Cheney interrupts, sticking his hand out to Seth. "You're friends with the Cullen's, right?"
"Yeah, I'm Seth." He seems a little taken aback but sticks his hand out to shake Jason's hand.
"My brother, Ben, was friends with Bella in high school. I was at her wedding — I was pretty sure you were there." He explains. I don't know who the Cullen's are or who Bella is but Seth nods his head and drinks some more of his beer. Once I'm convinced that everyone is preoccupied with themselves and the attention is off me, I turn around in Seth's arms and stand on the tips of my toes so I can kiss him.
"Hi." I whisper against his lips.
"Hi." He mumbles back. I abandon my beer on the counter next to him and trail my hands up his chest until I reach his cheeks, holding his face to mine while we kiss.
"I told you she was going to ditch us." I hear Sarah say from somewhere behind me. I pull back from Seth in surprise, having momentarily forgot we were in the middle of a busy party.
"Hey!" I complain, turning to face Sarah. She is leaning into Dylan's side, a huge smile on her face. Jill is laughing too. "I didn't ditch you, I'm right here."
"Well mentally, you're in Seth's pants." She snickers.
"Come on." I groan, "Look at how hot he is. I haven't seen him since Monday." I know that's not technically true but I didn't really count the gas station early that morning as seeing him. I glance up at Seth and grin at how flushed his face is. I realize he's embarrassed at being called hot. With how beautiful his entire friend group is, it has to be a common occurrence for them all to be flirted with and called hot but his embarrassment makes me wonder if that isn't the case.
"I have it on good authority you were making out in a gas station at 1:00 am." Collin says, sending me a wink and reaching over to pull on a piece of my hair. I hadn't told Sarah about Seth's gas station visit and now it's my turn to flush.
"Oh?" Sarah asks, eyeing Collin curiously.
"Besides, haven't you grown sick of Sethy yet?" Collin continues, twirling a piece of my hair around his finger. "We all know I'm the hot one of the group."
"Hands. Off." Seth growls at Collin, slapping his hand away from me.
"Oh, Collin." I laugh, shaking my head at him. "I would not consider you the hot one of the group. And besides, I think Brady is more my type." I turn my attention to the other boy. He had been mid sip of his beer and half chokes, shaking his head at me.
"Thanks a lot, Emma, turn Seth against me why don't you." Brady laughs. "I'm the one whose ass he's gonna kick at work on Sunday."
I tilt my head up and press my lips to Seth's jaw, grinning up at him. He rolls his eyes but rewards me by relaxing against me. I'm content, I think I could stay right here in Jason Q.'s kitchen forever as long as Seth's here. Seth has pulled me against him so that my back rests against his chest. He's abandoned his beer and has wrapped both arms around my waist. He sighs quietly and dips his chin to rest on my shoulder.
"Are you really working on Sunday?" I ask softly. I know it's selfish for me to want to spend the whole weekend with him but we both spend so much of the week at school. I wanted to spend every second of the weekend with him that I could.
"Only at night." He promises me. "I'm all yours during the day."
"Good." I say. I finish my beer and take the red cup Sarah holds out to me. I sniff it, realize it's vodka, and cheers her before tossing it back.
"Hm." Collin wonders. "What is Emma like drunk? And are we going to find out?" He waggles his eyebrows at me. I open my mouth to answer but Sarah beats me to it.
"Emma never gets drunk, at most she's slightly tipsy." Sarah rolls her eyes. "She has too much of a tolerance, she's been out-drinking her mother's boyfriends since she was fourteen." I give her a sharp look but she doesn't seem to notice.
"Oh?" Brady asks, raising his eyebrows at me. I shake my head and roll my eyes, trying to play her statement off as a joke. I know Sarah isn't trying to make me uncomfortable and she thinks fourteen year old me taking shots with my mom's friends in exchange for twenty dollar bills is funny but I don't think it is. Especially when Seth and Collin and Brady are listening and probably judging me.
"Seth and I call next game." Jason C. yells over to the group playing beer pong and I feel relieved for the distraction. I shoot him a grateful look. Jason M. gives a salute and tosses the ball, landing it in the opposing side's cup.
"Come on." I say, pulling out of Seth's arms but grabbing his hand in mine and following Jason towards the pong table. I grab two fresh beers on our way past the fridge and hand one to Seth. I'm not surprised that Brady and Collin trail behind us, Collin smiling at every pretty girl we walk past. I let go of Seth's hand as he helps Jason re-rack the cups. Seth gives me a slightly disappointed look as he seems to realize playing pong means he can't hang half on top of me.
"Is he always like this?" I ask Brady, nodding my head towards Collin who is slowly making his way towards us and introducing himself to every girl he's passing. More than a few are staring after him looking a little starstruck. Brady laughs and throws an arm around my shoulder, pulling me to his side.
"He's looking for his soulmate." He whispers, leaning in close like he's telling me a secret.
"Soulmate?" I repeat, feeling surprised. I thought Collin was just looking for a girl to sleep with tonight. What kind of sixteen year old boy wants to find a soulmate? "Does he really believe in that stuff?"
"You don't?" Brady asks. He takes my beer out of hands and pops the top off easily with one of his thumbs before handing it back to me.
"Thanks." I say, taking a sip. "I don't know if I do. Do you?"
"Have you met Sam and Emily? Or Jared and Kim?" Brady asks, rolling his eyes and taking a sip of his own beer. "Yeah, I believe in soulmates."
"And Collin thinks he's going to find his soulmate in Forks?" I ask, scanning the party and the faces of my classmates. I can't seem to imagine any of them being Collin's soulmate.
"Well, Seth found you, didn't he?" Brady says, winking at me. I flush in embarrassment at him implying that I am Seth's soulmate. There's no way that someone like Seth would get stuck with me as a soulmate. I glance over at Seth. As if feeling my eyes on him, he turns to look at me, giving me the biggest smile, before shooting a ping pong ball at the opposing teams cups and missing completely. I laugh as Jason C. pats him on the back before taking his own shot and landing it in the front cup.
"Aw, Em, I leave you for one second and you move on to Brady." Collin pouts, finally making his way over to us and leaning against the counter on the other side of me.
"Did you find your soulmate?" I ask him, bumping my beer bottle against his.
"No." He sighs dramatically. "Unfortunately, not all of us meet pretty girls skinny dipping and know they'll like us even if we eat all the sugar cookies." I laugh and he rewards me with a grin that I'm sure would make more than a few girls here beg to be his soulmate. I squeak as Brady lowers his hand to my waist and picks me up easily, placing me on the counter to sit between the two of them.
"Much better." Brady says, "You're too short down there."
"You guys don't have to babysit me, you know." I say, swinging my legs off the edge of the counter.
"Yeah, we do." Collin says. "We can't have you getting into trouble."
"What Collin's trying to say," Brady rolls his eyes, "is that Seth isn't going to have fun if he's worried about someone falling into you or a Jason hugging you — and we want Seth to have fun — so if he knows you're with us, he won't be as worried about you."
"Huh." I take another sip of my drink, thinking about his words. I watch Seth shoot the ping pong ball and make it in a cup before he high fives Jason C. "Why do you care if Seth has fun?"
"We're brothers." Brady shrugs in explanation. He says it as if it should be obvious. The whole group of them do act like brothers. I wonder if that's a Quileute thing or just a boy thing in general. I've never met a group of guys who act like such a family. But I've also never met any group like theirs…
"Seth's happiest when he's with you." Collin explains. "So why wouldn't we want him to relax and have fun at a party with you?" They're talking about Seth as if he's stressed out but he hasn't given me any indication that's the case. Early this morning in the gas station and then now at the party he has only acted like his normal carefree self but I wonder if that's not actually the case. I can think of more than one fun thing Seth and I could do that would help him relax and probably make him pretty happy but I don't say that to Collin. It's only a couple more minutes before Jason M. and Lily beat Seth and Jason C. Seth takes Collin's spot at the counter and leans into me, wrapping an arm around my waist.
"Wanna go somewhere?" I whisper in his ear. He pulls away and stares wide eyed, before nodding his head. "We'll be back." I say to Collin and Brady, jumping down from the counter and grabbing Seth's hand. Collin and Brady trade a smirk and a glance and I pretend I'm not embarrassed that they definitely know what we're about to do. I glance around to see if anyone else is paying attention to us but they're not, so I pull Seth into the laundry room and lock the door behind us.
I knew for a fact that Sarah had hooked up with more than one guy in Jason Q's laundry room. There was only one window and it was high up — in no way near where anyone could see in — and the door had a lock. As soon as the door is locked, I pull Seth to me, kissing him. He picks me up immediately and sits me on top of the washing machine, standing between my legs like he had at the gas station.
I sigh against his lips and pull him as close to me as possible, tugging on the hem of his t-shirt. He pulls back from my mouth and helps me pull his shirt over his head. I study his chest. He's perfect.
"Earlier…when I called you hot…that made you uncomfortable?" I ask, trying to understand his thought process. I trail my hands over him, up to his shoulder and then down his arm. His muscles shudder underneath my touch.
"Not really…" He trails off, running his hands around my waist and down my sides to rest on my bare thighs. "Girls just don't usually…say things like that about me. There's always been someone else they've liked more. Collin is the popular one at school and before that it was Jake…" I can tell he's uncomfortable about his confession and my heart breaks a little at his vulnerability. I know what it's like to be a second choice. I just can't imagine any girl whose spent more than thirty seconds with Seth to not love him.
"I have never met anyone that I like as much as you." I promise him, leaning back in to kiss him. I try to show him, with my mouth, how much I care about him and how amazing I really think he is. Seth and I kissing just works. It's not sloppy and we don't hit noses…we just fit perfectly together. I feel even more turned on now that I can stroke his bare chest.
His fingers brush the inner part of my thighs and I open my legs more to him in anticipation. Like with most things, Seth is moving slow, like he's worried I'm going to tell him to stop. I sigh in happiness when his fingers connect with my center, brushing over my underwear. I can feel how wet I already am and the anticipation is about killing me. I remove my hands from his chest momentarily to pull up my denim skirt higher, making it easier to open my thighs to him. One of his hands moves up to the top of my underwear and hooks around the band.
"This okay?" He asks. I nod my head avidly and lift my hips to help him pull the underwear all the way down.
"Please don't stop." I respond. Thankfully, as soon as the underwear is out of the way, his fingers are on me again. He moves one finger along my wet folds sending a shock through my whole body. I moan and buck my hips forward and closer to him. He's kissing me again, along my neck and down my collarbone, following the line of my v-neck top. While he uses one hand to stroke me, the other palms by breast through my thin shirt. I can feel my nipples harden at the sensation. He slips one finger inside of me and I moan happily. He pulls it out and strokes up and down my heat, circling my clit, before slipping two fingers into me. I cry out against his mouth in pleasure. I had fingered myself before but it never felt like this.
"Seth." I sigh. I have to remove my hands from his chest and lean back on them as I'm worried I'm going to fall over. He chuckles quietly and removes his hand from my chest, instead choosing to stroke up and down my thigh before joining his other hand at my center. His fingers thrust in and out of me while his other hand massages my clit.
Like this, all thoughts leave my mind. I'm so hyper aware of him and his body and his magical fingers touching me. I never want to leave his side again and I can only imagine what it would feel like to have more of him in me. It only takes a couple more thrusts of his fingers before I am clenching around him and shuddering.
"Seth!" I moan again, pulling myself closer to him as I ride out my orgasm. I press my face into his neck, panting. His fingers lightly stroke me as I come down from my orgasm.
"Was that okay?" He asks, biting his lip when I pull back. I chuckle at his nervousness and lean up to press my lips to his. I was pretty sure my body's reaction showed how amazing that felt.
"Oh god, more than okay, that was…" I trail off, unable to describe how he made me feel. "Your turn." I say, jumping off the washing machine, turning, and pushing him to lean against the dryer. My skirt is pulled up against my stomach and I tug it down a little, feeling too self conscious not to.
"I don't want you to feel like you have to." Seth says, leaning back. I'm already reaching for the button on his pants.
"I can literally feel you through your jeans, you really want to go back out there right now?" I ask.
"Well…no…you just don't have to if you don't want—" He cuts off with a moan as I cup him through his pants.
"I want to." I mumble, tugging on the zipper and pushing his pants down. I stand up on my tip toes for a second and press my lips to his before hesitantly reaching into his boxers. I wrap my hand around his length, stroking gently. I hadn't actually fooled around with anyone before. Sex with James had happened so quick — he hadn't even taken my shirt off — and he definitely hadn't made sure I was satisfied. But I want to do this with Seth and I want him to feel the pleasure he just gave me. I use my other hand to push his boxers down. He pulls his lips away from mine and lets out another moan as I stroke him up and down.
"What do you like?" I ask shyly, sinking down to my knees.
"God…" Seth sighs, "Anything you do."
I grin up at him, already feeling wet again by the noises he's making and knowing that he is making them because of me. I spread the pre-cum around his head and use my hand to pump him a few times before leaning forward and taking him in my mouth. Before this moment, the idea of giving a blowjob to someone seemed scary and dirty. But, with Seth, I don't feel scared at all and it doesn't feel dirty. I feel great and I'm surprised by how turned on I am by the action. He's salty and sweet and I take a little more of him in my mouth before sliding back up his length. His moaning is so hot. I pull back, continuing to stroke him and look up to make sure I'm doing okay. He's leaning back against the dryer and gripping the edge with his hands. His mouth is open and his head is tilted back.
He looks like he's enjoying what I'm doing.
I take his mushroom head back in my mouth and bob my head up and down, taking a little more of him each time I go back down. I know I can't fit all of him in my mouth. He's too big. So I stroke whatever is remaining of his length.
"Fuck—" Seth moans. "I'm not going to last, Em."
A small part of me is concerned that I'm not doing a good job because shouldn't his hands be on me? Like in my hair or something? Instead they remain gripping the dryer. But it's not like he's telling me to stop. And he's still hard so he must be turned on. And I've never made a guy make the sounds he's making.
I pull back and lick up his shaft before swirling my tongue around his head. For a split second, one of his hands comes to rest on my hair but he removes it so quick and has it back gripping the dryer that I wonder if I imagined it. I take him back in my mouth again, working my tongue around him as I move up and down.
"If you…if you don't wan't me to come in your mouth, you have to stop now." Seth gasps. I pause in my licking and stroking, keeping my mouth on him but looking up. What is he—? Oh. Oh. The idea of him coming in mouth turns me on even more. I really wish he was touching me while I was touching him but I feel too shy to ask and the laundry room also doesn't have a practical place for that position. I nod my head up and down, trying to let him know that yes, yes I would like him to come in my mouth. The only thing that really does is make my mouth bob on him a little more.
"Emma." He moans softly. I grip his shaft a little harder and push him further into my mouth, into the back of my throat. "Fuuuuccckkkkk…" He groans as he comes. I swallow everything and only pull back once he's gone slightly limp. I smile happily at him as I stand and he pulls me tight against him, pressing his lips to mine.
"I haven't done that before." I admit shyly once he pulls back.
"Me either." He says. I know I shouldn't be surprised since he just admitted to me that girls were usually interested in other guys instead of him, but it's just hard for me to believe that someone who looks like Seth hasn't been with a bunch of girls.
"Have you ever…um…had sex?" I ask, blushing but needing to ask anyway. I didn't want to assume he hadn't. I hadn't been fingered or given a blow job before but I wasn't a virgin. Seth hesitates for the briefest of moments but then shakes his head no. I do feel relief at that. The idea of Seth being with another girl and making those sounds he just made for me for her, hurts my heart.
"You?" He asks. I panic for the briefest of seconds. Of course that was going to be his next question. I didn't want to lie to him and…besides…he'd be able to tell if we had sex that I wasn't a virgin…right? I just don't want him to think I'm a slut like Veronica had suggested.
"Yeah…" I finally say slowly. "Just one time with one guy…no one important." I hope that implies to him that he's important to me even if I don't really want to say it out loud. I have a feeling almost like he's disappointed in me for a split second but he just nods his head.
"I probably should have told you how pretty you looked before I took your clothes off, huh?" He says, pulling his boxers and jeans up. I laugh as he breaks the tension and find my discarded underwear, shimmying them on and pulling my skirt into place.
"I'll forgive you." I say, tossing his shirt to him. "Do you think anyone noticed we were gone?"
"Uhh…" Seth reaches out and adjusts my shirt so it's centered. "Yeah, they definitely did."
"Shit." I sigh, running my hands through my hair and trying to smooth it down. "Do I look like we've been fooling around?"
"Uhh…" Seth doesn't answer the question and looks down at his feet before back up to my eyes. "Yes?"
"Shit." I repeat, continuing to fidget with my hair and outfit.
"Come here." He sighs, pulling me back into his arms and leaning down, pressing kisses all over my face. "You look beautiful like always. Do you really care what any of them think?"
"No?" I respond, but it sounds more like a question. Most of the people here already had an opinion of me and most of those opinions probably weren't very nice. But I didn't actually care what they thought of me. Because I didn't really care about most of them. I cared what Sarah thought of me but, most likely, she would be proud of me for hooking up with Seth in the laundry room. And I cared what Collin and Brady thought of me but I knew they wouldn't accuse me of being a slut. And, besides, they were the ones who said Seth needed to destress! I liked some of my other classmates like Jason C. and Jill but I couldn't imagine them trying to embarrass me. Who really cared what the rest of them thought?
"Well, Collin can cause a big distraction and then we'll sneak out of here and no one will even be paying attention." He promises. I roll my eyes at his logic.
"You're right, I really don't even care." I laugh, "I'm sorry, I'm just being dumb."
"No you're not," He says, grabbing my hand and pulling open the door, "Come on, this is gonna be good."
"What—?" I start to ask as I follow him out of the room and back into the party. It's still very loud but suddenly almost all the noise cuts off. For a very self-centered second, I think everyone must be staring at Seth and me, but then I spot Collin who has now climbed onto the top of the ping pong table and gathered the attention of the entire party.
"I just have to let everyone know—" Collin calls loudly, keeping everyone's attention on him as Seth and I expertly cut through the groups of people, no one paying any mind to us or where we are coming from. "Sarah Adam's is the love of my life!"
"Oh my god." I choke out a gasp of laughter. What is he doing? There are multiple 'awws' that go through the crowd and cat calls from various guys. I stand on my toes to find Sarah. She's standing on the ground next to the ping pong table and doubled over laughing, sloshing her cup of vodka all over the place. She scrambles up onto the table next to Collin.
"I just have to let everyone know," Sarah calls out just as loud, taking both of Collin's hands in her own, "That I cannot love you because Brady Fuller is the love of my life!" She dramatically wrenches her hands from Collin's and holds them out to Brady who had been laughing, standing next to the table. Brady's eyes widen into his trademark deer in the headlights look as he glances around in a panic. Some of the underclassmen who clearly don't know Sarah and her antics gasp but most others laugh.
"I'll be the love of your life, Collin!" Jill calls from somewhere in the crowd waving her drink in the air. He shoots her a grin and a wink. And then the loudness and the talking start up again. Collin jumps gracefully down from the table while Dylan helps Sarah. She's leaning in close to him and looks to be talking a mile a minute. He's laughing and nodding his head at whatever it is she's saying. I yelp as Collin wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me against him, forcing me to drop Seth's hand.
"How was that for a distraction?" He whispers in my ear.
"How did you know—?" I start, staring up at him in confusion. It had been a great distraction but how did he know that was what Seth had suggested. I was positive Seth hadn't taken his phone out to text him. Collin gives me a wink and a squeeze before releasing me.
"Oh, Jilllllll!" He calls, sauntering away from our group and towards where Jill had yelled to him minutes before. I roll my eyes at his retreating figure and turn back to our group. Thankfully, it seems Jason Q. has found different people to hang out with since he's nowhere in sight. Seth is talking with Jason C., Jason A., and Lily. I wrap my arms around Seth's waist and he pulls me against him.
"I'm going to go get us drinks." I say, leaning up to nuzzle the side of his face. He seems to glance over me for a split second before nodding his head pressing a quick kiss to my lips.
"I need another drink too." Brady says, grabbing my hand as I start to walk away. I nod my head and let him lead the way, the groups of partygoers parting much easier to let him through than they would have if it was just me.
"Um, Brady?" I ask as we get closer to the fridge.
"Yeah?" He asks, tugging me a little closer and angling his head towards me to let me know he's listening.
"Earlier…when we were talking about soulmates…you didn't really mean what you said about Seth—" I start but stop in surprise when he raises a finger to his mouth. No one who is near us is paying any attention and we aren't talking that loud but I wait until he's tugged me past the kitchen and into the dinning room. There aren't as many people in here as there are in the kitchen and living room.
"What's up?" He asks, acting like what just happened wasn't weird. I decide not to press it. Maybe someone was near us listening or maybe I was talking louder than I realized. I do have a slight buzz from the beer and vodka I've had.
"What you said earlier or implied really…" I trail off. "You don't think I'm Seth's soulmate, do you?"
"Why does it matter if I do?" He asks, cocking his head to the side.
"That's like…a lot of pressure." I admit. The thought had been in the back of my mind since Brady had made the comment earlier and then Collin seemed to reiterate it. It didn't change how I felt about Seth but it made me feel guilty knowing I was lying to Seth about where I lived and my life. What if in some weird twist of fate I really was his soulmate? And this was how I treated him? "Seth doesn't think I'm his soulmate, right?"
"Where's this coming from?" Brady asks, shaking his head and ignoring my question. "Did something happen?"
"No, no." I assure him. "I just…I don't know if soulmates are real or not but, if they are, I don't think I'm Seth's soulmate."
"You make him really happy and I think he makes you happy too." He says. "What's wrong with thinking he's meant to be with you?"
"I…think…he probably deserves better than—" I swallow the lump in my throat.
"She's fucking fine. Tell him to chill out." Brady snaps suddenly, whipping his head back towards the party. I jump in surprise and lean around him to glance through the opening of the dinning room. I can't see Seth or Sarah from where we are. But I can see Collin, standing at least a whole head above most of the other students. Jill is standing next to him talking but he's staring right at me.
"Brady…"
"Sorry, sorry." He apologizes. "I do think your Seth's soulmate but that shouldn't stress you out because what does my opinion matter anyways?"
"Let's just get drinks." I shake my head and tug on his hand to pull him back into the kitchen. All the good beer is gone but we grab three cans and head back over to the group. Seth is where we left him but looks unbelievably tense. He relaxes slightly when I hand him a beer and wrap my arms around his waist, leaning into his side.
"What's wrong?" He asks, leaning down and nuzzling the side of my face. I kinda want to ask him the same thing. I know there is no way he could have had any idea what I said to Brady — we were too far away and it was too loud — but I still have a weird feeling that he just knows what we were talking about.
"Nothing." I assure him, opening my can of beer and taking a big sip, hoping to calm my nerves. Seth studies me closely for a couple moments and lightly strokes the bit of exposed skin at my waist between my shirt and the skirt.
"Are you sure?" He asks. I lean up and press my lips to his with the hope of distracting him. It seems to work because when he pulls back he has a grin on his face.
Maybe I did believe in soulmates.
This was the longest chapter I have ever written for a story! I hope you guys liked and didn't get bored part way through…I was so inspired while writing and it just kept going and going and going lol