On Pins and Needles

Jake bit his lip to try and control himself. Ho could Tobias think it was ok to sleep with Rachel? He slowly turned to face Rachel, fixing her with a glare. She just looked back at him with pursed lips.

"I can't believe you did that," he exploded.

"I'm sorry that it upsets you that I have a social life. But you know what it's my life, Jake. I can live it however I want," Rachel retorted.

"No, Rachel. Having a social life means going out to the mall or the movies. It doesn't mean going around screwing guys who are dangerous," Jake rebutted, fuming.

"Oh, so now Tobias is dangerous. You've been a complete asshole to him lately," Rachel accused.

"Me? He's the one who can't keep it in his pants," Jake shot.

"You never liked him, did you," Rachel seethed.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Jake argued back.

"Everything! You never liked him so now when he needs someone to be there for him, you can't stand to see it happen," Rachel said, storming from the barn. Cassie shot Jake an exasperated look and went after her friend, leaving the guys standing there.

"Man, I don't understand girls," Marco sighed.

"Prince Jake, I am confused. What has happened that has made you so angry?" Ax asked. Jake took a deep breath before answering his question.

"Tobias and Rachel had sex...do you know what is?" Jake answered, trying to calm down.

"S-sex...what is this sex?" Ax asked.

"You know...making babies," Marco tried to simplify it for their alien companion.

"Oh...how does one go about doing such things on this planet?" Ax inquired, looking very interested.

"You don't need to know that, Ax," Jake stated firmly.

Outside a little ways into the woods Cassie had finally caught up with Rachel. Rachel turned around and stopped walking.

"You know Jake is just worried about Visser Three finding out," Cassie tried to defend her friend.

"No, he's just being a typical guy," Rachel spat darkly.

The two girls spotted a patch of grass a few yards ahead and headed for it. They sat down, taking in the warm air. Cassie finally turned to the blond next to her.

"So...what was it like?" Cassie finally asked, blushing.

"It was...like nothing I've ever felt before. It hurt but it was exciting at the same time," Rachel answered, laughing a little.

"So was he good?" Cassie probed.

"Yeah...I mean he'd never done it before but it was like he knew what he was doing anyways," Rachel giggled.

"Where'd you do it?" Cassie inquired.

"What's with twenty questions?" Rachel teased.

"In the clearing that we usually meet up in. I didn't want my mom or sister to walk in. It was kind of liberating...being outside," she finally answered.

"I really hope it helps. We need him focused," Cassie commented.

"I know...he showed up at school today. Poor Herald looked like he was going cry," the blond said after a minute.

"So that's where the hicky came from," Cassie snickered and Rachel nodded.

"I got the feeling he wanted...to do it there," she admitted, not looking at her friend.

"Seriously? You didn't did you?"

"No...I told it wasn't the place," Rachel answered.

"Hey you want to come over for dinner? My Mom's been asking about you," she offered. Cassie nodded and they both stood up.

The rest of the week passed uneventfully. Tobias had disappeared again but it gave Jake some time to try and fix things with Rachel. They were standing in the hallway near her locker.

"Sorry I've been such a jerk lately. I guess I just wasn't ready to see you take that step," Jake apologized.

"I know. But we're growing up, Jake. Hell, we're in the middle of an interspecies war," Rachel whispered.

"Forgive me?" Jake asked.

"Yeah, I forgive you. Just..leave Tobias alone, ok?" she answered.

"Ok...I'll try," he promised and headed off towards his next class. Rachel pulled open her locker and a note dropped from the top shelf. She picked it up and opened it. It read

Rachel-

Meet me at our spot after school

She smiled a little, tucking it into her notebook as she headed for her next class as well. The rest of the school day passed slowly and Rachel found herself staring at the clock for the sixth time in the last ten minutes. She let out a groan just before the bell rang.

"Finally," Rachel muttered to herself. She managed to avoid running into any of her friends on her way out of the building. She took off at a sprint towards the woods. She reached the clearing to find it empty.

"Tobias," she called out. She didn't hear the soft 'thud' behind her.

"I see you got my note," he replied, wrapping his arm around her waist, pressing his lips against her neck.

"I'm glad you came," he added, his hands slowly pulling the hem of her shirt out of the waistline of her pants.

"Where have you been?" she asked, shivering slightly.

"Around," Tobias answered. He spun her around and pressed her against a tree. Before she could ope her mouth to say anything he kissed her. Caught off guard, she broke the kiss abruptly.

"What?" he asked, looking her straight in the eyes.

"I just wasn't expecting that," she answered, taking a deep breath.

Tobias gave her a smile and pressed his lips against hers again. This time she didn't resist. She barely noticed his hands unzipping her pants, pushing hem off her hips. She wrapped her arms around his neck, slipping her tongue between his lips. He let out a sigh and unzipped his own pants. In one motion he pushed her panties down her legs and slammed into her. She had to reak the kiss.

"Ah," she cried out

Tobias continued to thrust, keeping his balance with the tree trunk behind Rachel. She moved with him, not caring that her back had started to ache. Neither of them heard the approaching footsteps.

The rest of the Animorphs had gotten worried when Rachel didn't show up at Cassie's barn. They'd stopped by her house and found she wasn't there either. They were heading in the direction of the clearing.

"You're sure she'll be here?" Jake asked Cassie.

"Well...no but she said they usually meet up here," Cassie answered. Ax had gone on ahead of them a few yards. His brow knit together as he watched the two figures moving as one. He hurriedly sprinted back to Jake and the others.

"I have found them," the Andalite announced. Jake caught sight of Rachel and Tobias right after they'd zipped up heir pants. They were still making out. He stormed towads them.

"Was that...sex?" Ax asked Marco.

"Uh...can we talk about that later, Ax? Right now we need to make sure Jake doesn't kill bird-boy," Marco answered. The three of them ran after Jake. Jake reached the tree and grabed Tobias by the shoulder, landing a punch to his nose.

"The fuck is your problem?" Tobias spat, wiping at his nose.

"Jake...you promised you wouldn't," Rachel shouted at her cousin.

"He's not even using protection," Jake shot right back.

"That's not your issue," she cried.

"I'm getting really tired of you trying to interfere," Tobias hissed, tackling Jake to the ground.

"Both of you stop it!" Rachel ordered. She grabbed Tobias by the back of his jacket and started to pull. Marco ran to help her. It took Ax and Cassie to keep Jake from fighting back.

"Can you please stop fighting over me? Rachel begged.

"He just needs to keep his nose out of other people's business," Tobias spat.

"I really hope this territorial shit stops soon because it's like trying to babysit two-year-olds with you two around," Rachel sighed.

"Just walk away guys," Cassie ordered, starting to drag Jake away. Marco let go of Tobias' left arm and followed.

"I have to go," Tobias mumbled and morphed into his hawk form. Once again Rachel was left to watch after him.