Silly me assumed that it was obvious that the guy who Mina is sleeping with in the last chapter was Kevin. DUH! Come on guys this is a classic character combo. Sigh well I hope you enjoy this chapter and its even clearer to what is going on.
1/24/08
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It was another week before Serena saw Darien again.
The usual group was at a local pool hall that was a local college hangout. The pool hall was dimly lit and smoky even though the smoking laws had been in effect for a year plus already.
Serena was sitting on the sidelines along with Ami watching the three different tables being used. Lita, Raye, Jason and Zach were playing on one table while Nate and Kevin were playing one another. On the last table was Mina and Darien whose table was also the closest to Serena while the Lita's table was the farthest.
Serena glanced over at the farthest table and saw Jason oogling Raye as she was bent over the table lining up a shot.
'Damn,' he thought to himself as his eyes took in her beauty. He was a bit smug with pride knowing that she was his.
Raye missed the shot and cried out in anger and frustration. She turned to see Jason standing behind her and glared at him, daring to say something or laugh.
He did neither and instead went up for his turn and successfully make a different shot. He moved to line up another shot, putting him across from Raye on the other side of the table.
He winked at her before checking his angle. Raye bent over the table giving Jason an eyeful of her cleavage that was threatening to spill out of her low cut black shirt.
He blinked a couple times trying to clear his thoughts when he noticed a few other guys staring down her shirt as well.
He narrowed his eyes before taking the shot, landing it solidly into the pocket.
He stood up and glared at the guys' oogling his girlfriend who was still leaning on her elbows on the table. One of the guys oogling Raye felt the death rays Jason was trying to shoot out of his eyes and nudged his friends.
It was like a domino effect as they all noticed the angry boyfriend, looked away and went back to their own game.
Raye didn't notice this really as she looked up through her thick lashes and gave him a sultry grin. Jason went to her and pulled her up by her waist before pulling her roughly to him.
She gave a small whine that only he heard and acted hurt by his rough manhandling.
"You love it," he said to her before kissing the pout from her lips.
She gave a little moan before wrapping her arms around his neck, pulling herself up to even the playing field.
Or rather, even the kissing field.
"Oh please, get a room you two" Zach said, while Lita and Mina made gagging noises. Nate had come up behind Lita and Mina and said "Oh so does that mean that all that making out and sex we've been having is a chore?"
"NATE!" Lita said as her face turned crimson and she punched his arm.
"OUCH!" he said, rubbing the spot where Lita had hit him. Mina scoffed at Lita and said "Whatever, you know you love it".
"True. Why else would I put up this abuse," Nate said.
"Fine. You can sleep at your place tonight. Alone"
"Aw, baby. C'mon I was just kidding," he whined before following her towards the bar.
Mina rolled her eyes and glanced over at the other table where Kevin was. Since his game with Nate was over, Kevin was sitting off to the side, drinking his beer.
A brunette wearing a short mini-skirt and a low cut tank top sauntered up to Kevin.
Mina didn't hear what they were saying to each other and narrowed her eyes as Kevin smiled. He actually smiled at whatever the brunette was saying. Mina watched as the brunette brushed her fingers along his chest and rested her hand on his arm. Mina started to glare and her grip on the pool stick she was holding was threatening to snap the stick.
Mina caught herself and loosened her grip on the stick. She slowly glanced around to see if anyone noticed and let a secret sigh of relief when no one did.
She fantasized about taking the pool stick and shoving it up the brunette's ass and roasting her over a spit, then feeding the cooked girl to her family. Unbeknownst to them of course.
'Whoa,' she thought to herself. 'When did I get to be so violent? I have got to stop watching those gore films'.
Mina's latest movie choices had been leaning towards the Rob Zombie genre. And since Serena was somewhat terrified of major thunderstorms, there was no way she would watch movies from the Rob Zombie persuasions with Mina. So Mina ended up watching them herself.
'I wonder if Kevin likes Rob Zombie?' she wondered to herself. 'Wait a minute, is she leaning in closer? Is he seriously going to let this fly? UGH OH MY GOD WHO CARES IF HE LIKES ROB ZOMBIE. I AM ABOUT TO GIVE HIM A REAL LIFE REENACTMENT IF SHE-' her thoughts were cut off when indeed the brunette moved in closer and Kevin stayed where he was, thus closing in the distance between him and the brunette. Their personal bubbles were melding and Mina wanted nothing more than to suffocate them both.
The brunette was leaning against Kevin and he was saying something to her when his eyes met with Mina's.
There seemed to almost be a string of electricity that came from both of them meeting in the center causing an invisible comical explosion.
Mina was the first to look away and she moved towards the other table to stand next to Ami.
"Hey Ami" she said, as she tried her hardest to not look back towards Kevin.
"Hey Mina. Having a good time?" Ami asked as she took a sip of her soda. Mina looked at Ami in her sensible jeans, top and cardigan that slightly clashed with the environment. Ami always looked very studious. She was more of a Ralph Lauren Polo ad while Mina currently felt like shit in her oversized old shirt and sweats.
Mina was usually dressed up like she cared but for some reason when she woke up today she just looked at herself in the mirror after brushing her teeth and said 'Fuck It' and pulled on a sweatshirt and curled up in her bed. Class, smlash.
Ancient Greek History wasn't going to tell her what to do about Kevin.
Kevin. Oh. Kevin.
She thought about that night when he had asked her to stay.
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FLASHBACK
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The following morning was a bit chilly. They were each curled towards each other under the covers with only their heads peaking out from the covers. Their legs were intertwined and they looked peaceful.
Deep even breaths that seemed almost synced together.
Breathe in.
Breathe out.
Breathe in.
Breathe out.
In.
Out.
In.
Out.
The peaceful atmosphere was interrupted by the shrill sound of an alarm clock.
Neither of them moved at first.
The shrill alarm kept going off only now the beeping was faster, trying to instill a sense of urgency in them.
She gave a little groan and rolled over, causing her to face the offending alarm clock. She opened one eye and glared at it, but not moving anymore to reach out and shut it off.
She was about to elbow him when he came out of the cocoon of warmth that they had created and reached over her to slam his hand on the alarm clock.
The silence that followed seemed strangely as loud as when the alarm clock was going off.
He sat up further and scrubbed his face in his hands. He stretched, popping a few kinks here and there. Scratching his chest, he didn't disturb her but his sitting position allowed a draft of cool air into the cocoon, which really bothered Mina.
She rolled back over and stared at his bare muscular back. She never thought a guy's back could be so sexy, but for some reason his was.
She didn't know what their relationship was now that he had asked her to stay the night before. She didn't want to make any assumptions.
Were they together? Was this way of him saying that he wanted more?
WHY COULDN'T HE JUST SAY IT?
Well, Mina it's not like you're jumping up to shout what you really feel or want either.
But at the moment, she was cold and he was ruining their cocoon. She was only wearing a pair of underwear, having slipped off her skinny jeans before truly settling in with him for the night.
She reached out and pushed at his hard back and pulled the covers tighter around her. This also caused the covers to uncover him.
He sneezed as the covers no longer generated any warmth to fight the slight chill in the room, but she didn't say "Bless You". Instead, she just settled in the charcoal sheets even more.
He looked back at her and found her staring back at him.
He didn't smile or frown - his face was blank.
Mina didn't smile or frown either. She wanted him to be the one to make the first move.
It wasn't like they had never fallen asleep together and woken up together. However, this was the first time that he had asked her to stay the entire night.
Usually if either of them fell asleep, the other would not disturb the one that fell asleep. She never once did spend an entire night. She usually woke an hour later, got up and left. Or he left. Whichever, they were always at his place, as he had no roommates.
He was the one to take the initiative the night before and now that she knew that he was capable she wasn't about to give up him acting first.
The ball was in his court and as far as she was concerned it was staying in his court.
He glanced over at the clock and moved to get out of bed.
"Wait" she said. She rolled her eyes mentally and wanted to smack herself in the forehead.
What happened to the plan to keep the ball stay in his court?
Well, then again she was never really that strong-willed.
"Can we just, talk about this?"
"Talk about what"
She sat up at this and looked at him like he had grown an extra set of eyes.
"What do you mean what? This! You just asked me to spend the night with you. You. The human rock wanted something. I thought that—" she stopped herself.
"Nevermind. Whatever," she told him and then got out of bed herself. She grabbed her jeans and grabbed her shirt.
'Screw the bra' she thought to herself, as she grabbed her sweater. She put the sweater on and ran her fingers through her hair. She then split her long hair down the middle before tugging each half over her shoulders to cover her breasts.
It wasn't like a thin shirt and a sweater was going to hide the fact that she was braless.
She couldn't help the fact that she was perky.
She wanted to stomp out of his bedroom, but managed to walk instead.
All the while hoping that he would say something or better yet – stop her from leaving.
Tell her to stay and explain his request last night or even tell her if they even had a relationship.
She already had on both of her shoes and her bag on her shoulder, and he still hadn't said or done anything.
"Asshole" she whispered. She grabbed the handle to the front door and paused, straining to hear some kind of movement but instead she heard the shower being turned on and opened the door.
She slammed the door shut and stomped down the hall. She viciously punched the button to call the elevator and was still fuming as she got into her car and drove towards her apartment.
"Motherfucker" she muttered to herself, before slamming her palm on the steering wheel.
She shook her head and felt tears start to well up in her eyes.
She became even angrier with herself and cried harder.
Her vision was slightly blurred but she kept brushing her tears away.
She parked her car and by now was down to sniffling. She opened the door to her apartment. She knew that Serena wasn't up this early and thanked whatever god was out there for that. She didn't want any questions or pity at the moment.
She wanted alone time.
To handle the new revelation to herself.
She had fallen for Kevin.
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That was about a week ago.
Since then, he had made no efforts to contact her and she didn't seek him out either.
Even in her loneliest nights.
Neither of them were going to make the first move.
So they metaphorically stood at a fork in the road.
Even though she had been the one to initiate whatever it was between them, he seemed to be one ending it. He was basically withholding sex from her until she said it first.
It wasn't a secret that Kevin liked Mina. That was the only reason why Mina gave into him. But when she wouldn't acknowledge him publicly, he didn't seem to have a problem with it.
Oh how wrong Mina was.
And how the might flirt had fallen.
Three little words. That's all that she wanted from him.
Not of the 'love' kind either. It couldn't be that hard right?
But apparently it was as he had yet to say anything to her.
No he wasn't looking for love out of her either. All he wanted from her was some kind of public acknowledgement. He wanted her for himself exclusively. He didn't want her to seek any other male's attention and to deter the ones who sought her out. He knew that she was terrified of commitment, he didn't have a lot of faith in relationships either but there was something about Mina that drew him to her.
But he couldn't say just say that to her. He wasn't wired that way.
But he still felt something for her and he wanted to say so but he also secretly hoped that she would say something first so that he wouldn't have to.
Thus their current predicament.
He was getting fairly annoyed with the brunette who was wearing way too much makeup and perfume. He stifled another sneeze he felt coming on.
Out of the side of his vision he watched as Mina moved over to talk to Ami. He wanted to get away from the annoying brunette and go over to her.
So he did.
"Excuse me," he said to her, interrupting the brunette's attempt at a witty banter, and walking away from her. The brunette was quite put off and pouted as she watched him head over to Mina.
Sorry honey, but blonds really do get all the luck.
Mina didn't notice Kevin come over as she talked with Ami.
"Mina," he said to her "Can I talk to you for a minute?"
Mina and Ami both looked over at Kevin.
"Um, I'm talking with Ami here"
"It's okay Mina, we can catch up more later"
"No, Ami, its –"
"Go Mina" Ami said, uncharacteristically pushy as she got up and left Mina. Proving her point that their conversation was over.
"What Kevin?"
"I think you know what"
"Look Kevin, it's been fun and all but I am no man's booty call. Boys are MY toys."
He frowned at her and was about to say that she wasn't that to him when she interrupted him.
"It's been a whole week already. I am not waiting around for your head to come out of your sorry ass to give me the time of day. I can tell the time myself. I do wear a watch"
He frowned even more at her choice of words. 'What in the world is she talking about?'
Mina knew she was babbling but at the same time her babbling kept her from jumping him and screwing him right there on the floor of the pool hall.
God he looked good.
Wearing a light wash pair of jeans, sneakers, and a gray v-neck shirt that had faded out letters on it made him the picture of a typical college student.
But to Mina who was slightly embarrassed by her own miscellaneous assemble - he looked damn fine. If her agent saw her, she would be having a heart attack.
Mina's agent believed that models should always look like models no matter what time of day or day of the year. "You never know when a client is watching or who could become your client," she had always said to Mina.
But what Mina's agent didn't know wouldn't kill her.
To Kevin, Mina looked beautiful no matter what she wore.
He especially liked her when she was au natural when she woke up in the morning. Her sleepy blue eyes that blinked slowly and her small morning smile was something he loved. Though he had only seen that particular look once and she didn't even know it.
"Mina, can we get out of here to talk"
She looked at him and shrugged. "Fine, whatever. Let's go"
They both left without saying a word to anyone.
However, their departure together was not unnoticed.
"Hey where are Mina and Kevin going?" Zach asked.
Everyone had already finished with their respective games of pool and were now sitting in a large booth. Baskets of fries with burgers and drinks were scattered on the tabletop.
"Dunno," Darien said before taking a bite out of his own burger. He chewed slowly and glanced quickly at Serena who was chowing down on her own burger.
"Slow down Serena! Please actually chew your food," said Raye.
Serena stuck out her tongue, which had bits of her burger on it before continuing to eat at her quick pace.
"Ugh, disgusting" Raye said. She leaned back in her chair that had Jason's arm slung over the back. He rubbed her shoulder and gave her a smile when she looked over at him.
She placed her hand on his thigh under the table and rubbed it slowly up and down. Jason's eyes widen slightly as her hand crept higher and higher.
She grabbed a fry from his basket and slowly chewed it. Acting oblivious to her other hand that was rubbing his thigh.
He grabbed her hand before she was practically rubbing him through his jeans. How was he supposed to get up and walk out with an obvious boner?
Raye acted innocent as she held his hand under the table.
He kissed her on the spot behind her ear, knowing that that spot was guaranteed a reaction from her.
Raye shivered as she left a streak of heat shoot through her. She glared at him but he just grin back at her. His eyes telling her, 'you started it'.
She leaned over and whispered in his ear, "Let's get out of here".
He smiled made no move to get up. Raye frowned as she expected him to make the appropriate excuse and get up. She wanted to go.
They were losing precious time when they could be having sex that much soon if he would get up.
But he made no move to get up, instead finishing the fries in his basket.
He liked the salt from his fingers, sucking slowly on his pointer finger. Raye watched him and squirmed in her seat slightly at how erotic she found him doing that.
Images of him sucking on other various parts of her flashed through her mind and she felt her face flush.
Were there even any more fries to be eaten? Did he have to be so damn sexy? Why were they still here? These thoughts ran like a mantra through her mind and Jason never made the move to get up to leave.
Well, if he wasn't going to do it, then she was.
"Well guys," she announced cutting into others' conversation and standing up quickly. "This has been fun but we have to go" She grabbed his hand and pulled him up. He quickly maneuvered her to stand in front of him, hiding his somewhat obvious arousal through his cargo shorts. He placed both of his hands on her waist holding her front of him as he smiled and made the appropriate good-byes to everyone before leaving.
"Don't forget about tomorrow night!" Serena called out to them as the two all but ran out.
Jason turned back and raised a hand signaling that he heard.
"Aw, they are so cute!" said Lita. Serena couldn't agree more, or be even more jealous.
"He is so whipped," Nate said before he quickly retracted as Lita glared at him, "I mean, yeah. They're great!" Lita was still glaring at him, but he kissed her cheek and she blushed.
Lita still acted like a teenage girl when it came to Nate and his public displays of affection. She was strangely shy about them but Nate obviously wasn't. She wasn't as shy as Ami, but then again Ami was in general a quiet shy person.
The rest of the group continued to hang out, enjoying each other's company.
A few other friends joined them at the table and somehow the conversation about a friend with benefits was brought up.
"No way, those relationships never work," said Susan – a girl who was in Zach's cellular biology class
"What are you talking about? Of course they work. In fact they are the best kind of relationships," said Neil, a guy who was in Darien's accounting class.
Serena only needed one man's opinion – Darien's.
"I think that they would work," Serena said, Everyone's attention was turned focused on Serena as she was the only girl so far who had expressed faith in the relationship.
"Probably works best if both parties are honest," she added in, slightly embarrassed at the attention and Darien staring so blatantly and intensely at her. His face gave no indication of his own opinion.
"Girls always make it messy," someone said.
"Whatever, sex in general makes it messy," another countered.
"Girls are way to emotional about it. They start wanting more and then you try to break if off but they cling to you like glue"
"Whatever, I've heard of guys who are that way"
"Okay name one that we all know"
"Well that's too hard, we don't know who you know"
"You have no proof"
"There is no such thing. Guys never get emotionally attached. We remember the main objective. This is a win-win situation for both parties"
"Guys are only ever concerned with one thing. Why buy the cow if the milk's free"
"Hey I happen to like my cow"
"You better like your cow or you're going to the meat market"
"Baby…"
"Okay either way let's agree to disagree. I still think it works if everyone is honest and open about it"
"Yeah the whole point is to just to fuck and not to have the extra stuff".
"Exactly".
"Guys are such pigs. Too lazy to actually get to know the girl"
"No see, girls just make it super hard sometimes and well.."
"Well nothing, relationships are more than just sex"
The argument went on for a few more minutes before it was interrupted by the pool hall flashing its lights twice signally that it was the end of the night.
Everyone got up and made their way outside.
Once outside, sober people were found and cars were filled beyond capacity before leaving.
Ami drove Serena, Zach and a couple other people to their respective homes.
Serena thought back as she got ready for bed.
Darien never did state his own opinion about a friend with benefits relationship.