Author's Notes: I had a hard time with this chapter. I knew I was going to when I couldn't even find Eric's voice. I hope you don't think some of his dialogue is going too far. Please let me know if you think it does.

Continuity Error Last Chapter: Otis couldn't have been conceived on the table by the river, since Jean told Jakob they moved there after he was born. Damn. Not changing it.

No actual sex this time.

P.S. During April 2020, I added a scene to the end of Chapter 16. See the notes at the end of that chapter.


Chapter 21

Day 5

Otis matched his speed with Eric's as they rode to school along the forest-enclosed roads.

"So how was your weekend?" Otis asked.

"It was great," Eric said, enthusiastically. "Our cousins were part of a visiting group from our church in Rwanda. Pastor's son was so hot. I think he fancied me."

"Did anything happen between you?"

"It was a church thing. Nothing like that happens at a church thing," said Eric, shocked Otis would even ask.

"Are they still in the country? Maybe you could meet outside the church thing?"

"They've gone up to Scotland," Eric said, sadly. "I do have a photo of him. A group photo."

"Can I see?"

"I'll show you later."

"I thought you had lost faith in the church."

"I found it again."

"How?" Otis asked, genuinely curious.

"For the first time, I felt I belonged there," Eric said quietly.

Otis thought about asking more but realised Eric would tell him in his own time.

"That's great," he said.

"So how was my little Oatcake's weekend with Maeve?" Eric asked, slyly.

Otis smiled to himself. "She had to work. We didn't get to spend the days together."

"Work?" asked Eric, puzzled. "Where does she work?"

"Over in Southclyde. She got some last-minute shifts."

"Bummer."

"I did stay at her place on Friday night, though."

"You slept in Maeve Wiley's bed?" asked Eric, shocked and pleased.

"I slept on the lounge."

"Of course you did," Eric said, disappointed in his friend yet again.

"And I cooked her dinner at my place on Saturday night. Mum was out with Jakob."

"Awww," Eric mock-swooned. "A candle-lit romantic dinner for two. How sweet."

"There were no candles."

"What did Chef Otis Ramsey cook for his new girlfriend?"

"Lemon butter chicken breasts. And we had strawberry cheesecake, but I didn't make that."

"You can still eat strawberry cheesecake?" asked Eric, shocked. "If I ate as much as you that time I would still be throwing up."

"You still can't eat bananas?"

"What's that? There's no such thing. Bananas do not exist in my universe."

"What about banana-flavoured things? Are you able to eat those?"

"Nothing that is related to the long thin yellow thing is ever coming near this mouth ever again."

"You should join a support group with Ruby and Olivia."

"And you never thanked me for that imagery."

"I've never been interested in Ruby or Olivia."

"I bet if I had convinced Maeve—"

"Don't, Eric," Otis gently warned him.

"So what did you two get up to afterward?" Eric asked, believing he knew the answer and sighing internally. "More dancing?"

"No, we didn't actually dance on Saturday night."

"So what did you do? Watch a movie?"

"We made out."

"Did you grab her boob again?"

"Yes."

"Dirty boy," Eric smirked.

Otis smirked to himself and said, nonchalantly, "And I fingered her."

Eric struggled to retain control of his bike. "What?"

Otis' smile widened. "And she gave me a handjob."

Eric almost lost control of his bike. "What?"

"And we engaged in oral gratification."

Eric recovered control of his bike and stopped in the middle of the road, watching Otis recede into the distance. "What?"

When he regained his composure, Eric grinned and lifted his arms to the sky. "Hallelujah, Lord," he cried, jubilantly.


Otis parked and secured his bike and heard Eric's voice calling him. He took off his helmet and watched as Eric dismounted from his bike and steadied it within the bike rack.

"Finally, Oatcake. Finally." Eric squealed with delight.

"Settle down, Eric. You'll burst something," Otis said, smiling at his friend's enthusiasm.

"Why are you just standing there? Why aren't you shouting it from the rooftops? You have had your fingers in Maeve Wiley's vagina and your penis in her mouth? You have hit your personal jackpot."

"Eric…" Otis said, smiling a little less at his friend's enthusiasm.

"Well, not the full jackpot," Eric continued. "That'll only happen when your penis is inside Maeve Wiley's vagina."

"Eric…" said Otis, mostly still loving his enthusiasm but wishing he would settle down.

Eric leaned forward eagerly. "Was she any good? Did she deep throat you? Does she have good tongue action? Does she use her teeth? Omigod, Maeve Wiley uses her teeth."

"Eric…" said Otis, now feeling his friend was pushing too far.

"Did you come in her mouth? Did she swallow? Omigod, she swallowed. Maeve Wiley swallowed my little Oatcake's man-juice."

"I never said—" Otis was now definitely certain Eric had pushed too far.

"Your face is telling me everything. Maeve Wiley swallowed your cum."

"Eric, would you settle down, please?" There was enough genuine annoyance in Otis' voice to calm Eric for the moment.

"She did swallow," he muttered defiantly.

Otis took a deep breath and calmed himself. "Maeve has told me I can tell you what we got up to because she's going to be talking with Aimee, but I'm not going to give you any details."

Eric stared at him, lips pressed together to prevent himself speaking.

"Alright," Otis said, giving in. "She did swallow but that's all I'm going to say about that."

"You need to eat more pineapple."

Otis hesitated then smiled to himself. "That's what Maeve said."

"She really loves you," Eric said.

"I really love her," said Otis quietly.

"So did you give her a little tongue action?" Eric asked, slyly.

"I started to," Otis said sheepishly. "Mum caught us."

"Ohmigod."

"That was so embarrassing."

"And I didn't get the call to help carry your pine box? You have so changed since I last saw you."

"Maeve just… she makes me feel so normal about it."

"It is normal, Oatcake."

"I know."

"I still can't believe you did all that in three days. I told you she had magic powers."

Otis smiled sheepishly. "I was just…"

"So horny you couldn't help yourself?"

"Wanting to be intimate with her," Otis said with an attempt at dignity.

"You are so in lo-o-ove."

"Yeah," Otis murmured, smiling shyly. "You were right, Eric."

"Of course I was," Eric said, then frowned. "About what?"

"About being in love with Maeve back then. If I could have admitted it to myself, maybe I wouldn't have hurt her. Maybe I could have told Jackson to…"

"Fuck off?"

"Yeah."

Eric studied Otis. "She's forgiven you. Put it behind you."

"Yeah."

"Oatcake, you have been given your dreams on a platter. Do not fuck this up by overthinking things. She's in love with you. Now, go and start shagging and make little Oatcake babies so I can be their uncle."

"Give us a break, Eric," Otis said, laughing. "We're sixteen."

"I thought Maeve was seventeen." Eric gasped in realisation. "She's seventeen. Ohmigod, you are dating an older woman. You are a toy-boy."


Aimee stood by her locker and handed an orange hat to Otis who took it gratefully.

"Thank you," he said, relieved.

"Maeve said you wanted it. Didn't know whose it was. Almost threw it out."

"I'm so glad you didn't. It's Eric's."

"So did you have a good weekend with Maeve?" Aimee asked, smirking slightly.

Otis smiled. "We had a good time. Well, I did. Maeve can tell you her side."

"If she didn't have a good time, you'd know."

"Yeah."

"Can I ask you a question?"

"You just did, so I think the answer is probably yes."

"Smartarse," Aimee smirked.

"What do you want to know?"

"If someone tells you something, like, maybe they don't like birthdays, is it right to want to throw a little birthday party for them?"

"It's alright to want to do that," Otis hedged.

"Yeah, but is it okay to actually do it?"

"I hate ethical dilemmas," Otis sighed.

"But you're so smart."

"Why don't they like birthdays?"

"Something about celebrating squeezing random vaginas."

Otis frowned and thought for a moment then a smile broke across his face. "Celebrating being squeezed out of a random vagina?"

"Yeah, that's it. How did you know?"

"Do I know this person with such a cynical view of her birth?"

"Maybe," Aimee smirked.

"Are you planning a big party?"

"No, she doesn't like big parties so I just thought I'd invite a few people. Dinner. Munchies. Booze. A cake. Maybe a sign."

"That sounds nice. I can't see how she can have any objection to that. But maybe the sign is a bit much."

"It wasn't going to say 'Happy Birthday'."

"What was it going to say?"

"'We Love You.' It's the same sentiment, isn't it?"

Otis pressed his lips together and nodded. "Is it supposed to be a secret?"

Aimee shook her head. "No, you can tell her. Find out if she's okay with it."

"That way if she doesn't like it, she can be angry with me?" Otis asked, wryly.

Aimee smiled. "Better to be angry with your boyfriend than your best friend."

Otis shook his head. "Okay, I'll talk to her."

"So you and Eric'll come?"

"I'll ask him. I think he'll be there."

"Great," Aimee said, then glanced down and lost her smile. "Is that for me?"

"What?"

"I was joking when I said I wanted to test you out."

Otis noticed the direction of Aimee's gaze and glanced down and leapt back, horrified, using the orange cap to cover himself as best he could.

"I'm sorry. No… it's… Maeve… Excuse me…"

Otis hurried away. Aimee smirked as she watched him go.


Otis and Eric sat on the bench overlooking the wall where Maeve changed his life forever, slowly eating their lunches.

"You really do seem different, Otis," Eric said.

"More confident?" Otis asked.

Eric nodded. "Yeah. It's really weird."

Otis smiled to himself. "That's Maeve. That's thanks to Maeve. When she kissed me, it's like she unlocked something within me."

"Yeah, your boner."

"More than that. She allowed me to accept that finding her attractive… wanting her that way… was okay."

"I kept telling you that."

"She also told me she'd been m… w… flicking her bean about me. For a while now. That made me feel really good."

"I kept telling you that."

"And when she let me touch her… down there… it felt so good. The feel of her. Seeing that I was, y'know, pleasing her. I just kept wanting to do more. While I was feeling that I could handle it. I wanted to get to the next checkpoint. And the next one."

"Checkpoints are where you start from next time."

"Well, I wanted to complete as many levels as I could."

"Just say you wanted to get to third base," Eric sighed.

"We're not using the baseball metaphor."

"So why didn't you go all the way?"

"I still don't think I'm ready for that."

"Does Maeve want to?"

"Yes. She's told me. But she's willing to wait."

Eric noticed a shift in Otis' mood.

"Why has a little raincloud come over you?" he asked.

Otis was silent for a moment, gathering his thoughts. "There's something I need to tell you. I told Maeve and I think you should know."

"Told Maeve what?"

Otis took in a deep breath and released it. "The reason I've… had issues when it comes to my own sexual desires."

Eric held his breath, dreading the next words.

"When I was four I caught my dad having sex with one of his patients. I told mum and that's when they started arguing. Ever since then, once I began experiencing all those things, you know… a boy my age is supposed to be experiencing… all I could think of was that. Dad fucking. Mum yelling. Me causing the divorce."

Eric was silent for a long moment, looking gently at his friend. "Shit, man."

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner."

"No, I get it, Otis. It's okay."

"It caused a lot of shit to happen."

"Thank goodness Maeve's helped you stopped carrying that shit, eh," Eric said, nudging his friend uncertainly.

"I'm still carrying a lot of that shit. That's why I don't think I'm ready for actual sex yet."

"You never know. You could just shove it in and see what happens."

"I think Maeve might have something to say about that."

"Her consent was implied. You think she would say no?"

"She knows what could possibly happen."

"Fuck, man. What could happen?" Eric asked, frowning.

"The same thing that happened with Lily happened with Maeve."

"What happened with Lily?"

"She touched my cock and I freaked out."

"Lily touched your cock?" Eric asked, shocked.

"While we weren't talking. I tried to lose my virginity with her. Did not work out. Full-blown panic attack. Fainted. And when I was fingering Maeve the first time, she touched me and the same thing happened."

"Worse than your normal?"

"Much worse. So much worse. I am so lucky. Maeve listened to me. That helped me. She's the first person I ever told. You're the second."

"Shit, man," Eric said again, stunned.

"I'm going to go talk to someone about it."

"Good," Eric said.

The bell signalling the end of lunchtime rang.

"I'll tell you more some other time, if you want," Otis said as he stood up.

Eric nodded as he stood.

"So you actually tried it on with Lily?" he said, trying to lighten the mood. "I'm proud of you, man. I said you'd like her."


Jackson entered the study room and stopped as he saw Otis sitting on the far side of the room, facing away, head down studying a book. Jackson almost turned and walked out again then stopped himself.

Taking a deep breath, he walked over to sit down opposite Otis who looked up. Jackson watched the open look on the other boy's face harden.

"I'm sorry, man," Jackson murmured.

Otis said nothing but his anger was clear.

"I shouldn't have said that," Jackson continued.

Otis remained silent but his glare held onto Jackson.

"Yeah," murmured Jackson and stood, walking away.

"I'm glad you told her," Otis said.

Jackson stopped and turned around, saw Otis had turned to look at him.

"I think she was going to tell me she liked me before you spoke up," Otis continued. "She deserved to know what I'd done before she did that."

"It was still a shitty thing, man."

Otis took a breath and swallowed. "Maeve told me she doesn't like big romantic gestures. That's why I told you to always go bigger."

Jackson frowned.

"I was hoping she'd tell you to fuck off. Among other things. I just didn't think about the pressure it would have put on her to say 'yes'. I deserved to have that happen."

Jackson stared at him, still frowning.

"What I didn't deserve," Otis continued, "was to have you put me in that position in the first place."

Jackson returned to sit opposite Otis.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"You never asked me if I agreed to help. You just shoved the money in my hand and assumed I would. You never listened to me when I tried to give the money back. And when I told you about all those things she liked, I was trying to get you to understand that you needed to listen to her. See her. Find out from her what she liked. Who she was."

"I was trying to but she was just shutting me out," Jackson almost whined.

"Then maybe you should have taken the hint."

"Then I'd never have been with her."

"We're not entitled to a relationship with a particular person, Jackson."

"Yeah," Jackson muttered. "It's just dumb luck, innit?"

"You were listening?"

"She was listening."

Otis stared at Jackson silently for a moment then came to a decision. "Maeve did like you. Said she was happy enough being with you and she doesn't regret it. Mostly," he said quietly. "But she wasn't getting the real you, was she?"

"I like some of that stuff she's into."

Otis sighed and started packing his belongings into his bag. "You should try to listen to people, Jackson. Don't always be so full on. And don't just assume because you want someone, they're going to want you back."

"You're actually with her?" Jackson asked, hesitantly.

Otis nodded.

"I can't wish you well, man," Jackson murmured.

Otis nodded. "If it makes you feel better," he said as he stood up, "it really hurt seeing the two of you together."

Jackson recoiled in sudden disgust.

"What the fuck, man?" he said.

Otis looked at Jackson, noticed where his disgusted gaze was pointed and glanced down.

"Oh… no… fuck… no… go away…" Otis said as he hurried from the room, his bag held before himself.


Otis was at his locker as Eric arrived.

"Ready to get smashed?" Otis asked.

"Oh, I can't," Eric said, dismayed. "Didn't I tell you? I have detention."

"Why?"

"I punched Anwar and called Mr Hendrix a drunk."

"I'd heard you punched Anwar but… Mr Hendrix is a drunk."

"I don't think he likes being reminded."

"I'm sorry, Eric," Otis said, quietly. "I know that only happened—"

"I should have found a better way to deal with my anger," Eric said.

"I wish we weren't... I wish I hadn't left you. I wish I'd told you to wait for me. I wish I hadn't hurt you. I wish I could have talked to you. I wish you'd punched me instead."

"I shouldn't have put my things down," Eric said quietly.

"No, Eric. It was your birthday. I should have been there for you."

Eric gave Otis a wistful smile and shook his head. "I didn't understand at the time, but when it comes to Maeve, I'm going to be second. Doesn't matter how long I've known you. I get that now."

"You're always first," Otis said, punching Eric gently on the arm.

Eric looked at his friend fondly. "That's so sweetly stupid, Otis."

"Equal first?" Otis asked, scrunching his face.

Eric shut his locker.

"At least you can go see Maeve now," he said. "Get a little more oral action in."

"Oh, she's spending time with Aimee. Which reminds me."

Otis reached into his bag and handed Eric the orange hat.

"My hat," Eric exclaimed, excited.

"Maeve asked Aimee if she could look for it."

"So what are you going to do if you can't see Maeve?"

"I've got to make an appointment with someone I can talk to. I can start making calls."

"Have you thought of talking to Jean?"

"Not yet. I need to talk to someone who doesn't have their own barrow to push. Someone who's focus is solely on helping me heal and not… anything else."

"You should talk to her," Eric said quietly.

"I will."

"Because I don't think you caused the divorce."

"What do you mean?"

"Do you really think that's the first time Remi cheated?"


Aimee and Maeve sat on folding chairs in front of the caravan, smoking.

"He turned so red," Aimee said, laughing.

"He blames me for them," Maeve said, grinning. "Says I broke him and he can't control them."

"Tell him Steve's going to beat him up."

Maeve smiled and took out her phone and started typing.

Aimee says Steve's going to beat you up

"He really did seem… you know…" Aimee said.

"He is," Maeve smiled to herself. "I call him Jawbreaker."

"Did you…?"

"Uh-huh."

"And did he…?"

"He started. His mum interrupted us."

"Oh, that is so embarrassing. Was she mad?"

"She was cool. Just wanted to make sure we were using condoms."

"And did you…?"

"Not yet, but she doesn't need to know that."

Maeve's phone beeped and she checked the message.

Tell her I'm sorry. Tell her it wasn't about her

You want me to tell Aimee you think she isn't attractive

That's not what I mean

Was nice knowing you, Milburn

Maeve rested her phone in her lap and smiled.

"He cooked me dinner on Saturday night," she said. "It was really nice. Then we started making out and spent the rest of the night naked. I've never done that. Not even with Jackson."

Aimee shook her head, fondly. "Never seen you like this, Maeve."

Maeve was silent for a moment. "I can't believe it's only been six days," she murmured.

"But you've liked him for a while. At least since the night you turned up at my place with him."

"Longer even than that. Before Jackson's big song."

"So why did you go with Jackson?"

"Because you were telling me to. Because I thought muppet was telling me to. Because Jackson did like me. Because I thought maybe I could really like him."

"I was only telling you to go with Jackson because I didn't realise you liked Otis then. If I'd known I would have done a mind map with him in it so you could choose."

"I didn't realise I liked him like that. At the time. I know now I was falling for him after—" She hesitated, changed her tone. "We were texting. Sending dirty drawings we found around the school. I think that's when I fell in love with him. I know I was smiling every time his name came up on my phone. I just didn't realise. I should have."

Maeve's phone beeped.

Is she really mad

Would I lie about something like that

Tell her I had one with Jackson as well

You want to sleep with my ex-boyfriend as well as my best friend

You're fucking with me, aren't you

I hope we will be

Death of me, Wiley

If you get one when you see Ola I will be

She's not coming here till next term

She still works at the shop, doesn't she

Don't jinx me

Talk later

I'll call around eight

Love you muppet

Love you frog-fucker

"What'd he say?" asked Aimee.

"Nothing."

"People don't smile about nothing."

"Just… pet name."

"What does he call you?"

Maeve hesitated a moment. "Bananacake. Because of the Speedy Grill shirt."

"Steve calls me 'Princess'. Only person I've ever liked calling me 'Princess'."

"If muppet calls me that, I'll deck him."

"You and your feminine principles," Aimee said, shaking her head, then corrected herself. "Feminist. See, I'm learning," she said, proudly.

Maeve grimaced ruefully. "I'm sorry."

Aimee shook her head. "Steve did it as well. I know you didn't do it to make me feel stupid, it just felt that way sometimes."

"You're not stupid, Aimee. You just see the world in a different way. You focus on the things that are important to you. It's good."

"So why didn't you go all the way?" Aimee asked.

"We… we've decided to wait a bit for that. Right now, anything up to third base is good enough. Going down," she clarified.

"Was he any good? I bet he was really good."

Maeve sighed in wonderment. "Magic fingers. He was incredible. Went straight for my girl button and sent me into the stratosphere. And one time, he just kept going and going. God, I have never felt anything like it. It was like I just kept topping myself. It was too much in the end."

Aimee nodded in equal amazement. "Steve does that. He's the only guy who's ever done that to me. I couldn't believe it the first time."

"Otis isn't as good with his tongue but he promises to practice. A lot," Maeve said, smirking.

"Steve's really good. The way he runs his tongue along my petals and flicks my bud. Best since Bruce Holman. Better."

"It still felt good. He may have got better if his mum hadn't interrupted."

"You never said what she was like. Was she as cool as she seemed?"

"Yeah," Maeve said, smiling softly. "I mean, Otis has issues with her but that's what you do, isn't it? Have issues with your mum?"

"Don't get me started."

"But she's like him. Mostly helps me relax. Otis talks about having four walls of trust. A place to feel safe to talk about things. They both make me feel like they're my four walls of trust. Like I've known them forever. Just hope I don't fuck it up."

"Don't do that, babe," Aimee said, a gently pleading tone in her voice.

"I always do, don't I?"

"Stop that," Aimee gently commanded.

"I just want this to be different."

"It will be. You've finally met a really nice guy."

"Jackson was a nice guy."

Aimee was silent for a moment, then said, hesitantly, "I never saw you smile with Jackson."

Maeve looked at her, pondering. "I did," she said eventually. "We had some fun times. I've got proof. Photos. Oh, no, Jackson has proof," she corrected herself. "Photobooth."

"Did you ever tell Jackson you loved him?"

"He said it to me. After the dance."

"You said Otis told you he loved you. Have you said it to him?"

"We've been saying it all the time," Maeve said, marvelling at herself. "Hadn't said that since Mark Johnson."

"Fuck Mark Johnson," Aimee spat out.

"Never again," Maeve said, wryly. "Have you said it to Steve?"

"Once."

"Has he said it?"

"Once. Not at the same time. Said he didn't want to make it an automatic response."

"That's a good idea," Maeve murmured.

"So we say other things."

"What other things?" Maeve asked, genuinely curious.

"Just little things. Nice things."

There was silence between them for a while then Aimee asked, "Did you tell him about your mum?"

"Yeah, a while back. And I told his mum at dinner. And about Sean."

"Did you tell him about Elsie?"

Maeve took a puff from her cigarette and said nothing.

Aimee sighed. "She's your sister, Maeve."

"Half-sister."

"Still your sister."

Maeve was silent for a moment. "Haven't told him."

"I'd love to have a sister," Aimee said.

"You've got me," Aimee smirked.

"We don't argue. I'd love to have a really good argument with my sister."

"Why?"

"Just would."

"Elsie's three. I think I'd win."

Aimee's phone beeped and she looked at the message.

Hey, Princess. Finished for the day. Where are you

Still with Maeve. Do you want me to come over

Yes but stay with Maeve till you're ready

Won't be long

I don't want you dumping your friend just for me. Have some girl time together

I really like you

I think you're wonderful

Aimee put her phone down and noticed Maeve smiling gently at her.

"You're smitten, too, Aimes," Maeve said fondly.

"Why did it take us so long to find the really nice guys?" Aimee asked, wistfully.

"Have to fuck a lot of frogs until you find your prince."

"I thought it was kiss. Why would you fuck a frog?"

"Why would you kiss a frog?"


Maeve lay on her bed, phone pressed against her ear and lips pressed together to stop herself laughing.

"I was talking to Miss Sands after class," Otis was saying, "trying to get the stuff for the Aptitude Scheme and she turned away to get the papers and when she turned back, she squeaked and wouldn't look at me. I didn't even realise until she put the papers on the desk and said she had to take a leak and hurried out. And then I noticed."

"You want to fuck the teacher, too?" Maeve tried for mock-outrage. "That's such a cliché."

"I can't help them."

"How come you don't notice them? Are you numb down there?"

"I don't know. I just… maybe I've spent so many years trying to ignore them that they just blend into the background."

"Your boners definitely do not blend into the background."

"Just my luck, when we finally try to… y'know… the damn thing will go on strike."

"So did you alphabetise your music collection?"

There was a brief silence then Otis said, "Yes."

Maeve frowned. "You're right. That doesn't work as a euphemism. Did you really alphabet—"

"I flogged the bishop. In the book closet."

"Jeezus," Maeve laughed.

"I panicked. I wasn't going to run down the corridor. You know how far that loo is. Everybody was around."

Maeve shrugged. "Girls' one is ten feet away."

"Like I'm going to run into the girls' toilet to wank off."

"Next week I'll sneak you in."

"I don't want them to be happening next week. Not at random."

"Just… try to put it so it won't show so much if you get one."

"I miss just having the one in the morning."

"Maybe you've got a backlog and when you catch up, they'll stop."

"You're really enjoying this, aren't you?"

"Just wish I could enjoy it in person."

"So what did you get up to today?"

"Reading, mostly. Finishing the homework from last week."

"I did miss seeing you."

"I know," Maeve smirked. "You were saying."

"Not because of that. Just because… well, when I'd suddenly see you in the corridor between classes. I miss that."

"Me, too," Maeve murmured.

"I talked to Eric. Told him about dad."

"What did he say?"

There was silence on the other end of the call.

"Otis…?" Maeve asked, concerned.

"He doesn't think that was the first time dad cheated."

"What do you think?" Maeve asked cautiously.

"I don't know. Do you think he would have cheated before?"

"I don't know your dad," Maeve said, as neutrally as she could.

"You really don't think I caused the divorce?"

"No," said Maeve, firmly.

Otis was silent for a moment. "I made my first appointment."

"That's brilliant. When?"

"I got lucky. Thursday. Late."

"Where?"

"Over at Southclyde. I'll have to think of something to tell mum why I'll be late home."

"Just tell her you're with your girlfriend."

"Yeah, I can do that now, can't I?"

"Yeah."

There was another silence before Otis spoke again. "Jackson apologised."

"How did that go?" Maeve asked, quietly.

"I told him I was glad he told you and I deserved to have it happen."

"Oh, Otis," Maeve groaned softly.

"You deserved to know the truth, Maeve, if we're going to be together. Imagine if we were together now and you didn't know."

Maeve was silent for a moment then asked quietly, "Does he know we're together?"

"Yeah. Says he can't wish me luck."

"Understandable," Maeve murmured.

"I know," Otis said.

"I wish I'd dealt with that better. I wish I'd dumped him right after I sniffed your jumper."

"You did what?"

Maeve blushed.

"Maeve…?"

"I sniffed your jumper, alright," she snapped, embarrassed.

"When?"

"Just… Jackson was skipping training and hanging out with Sean and… I saw your jumper where I dumped it and… I sniffed it."

"Because you like Nutella?"

"Because I liked you, dickhead," Maeve said, smiling to herself.

"So when was that?"

"After I decided to go for the Aptitude Scheme."

"When was that?"

"After you told me you liked my essay."

There was silence from the other end until Otis said, "You asked me how I was."

"What?"

"The day after we talked about your essay, you asked me how I was."

"And you freaked out."

"Oh, Maeve…"

"Was I really that bad?"

"Maeve…"

"Honesty, Otis."

"Let's not talk about this over the phone. Did Aimee give you all the stuff I gave her?"

Maeve was silent for a moment, then said, "Yeah. I'll read about the Aptitude Scheme later."

"So what is that about? I only know it's for the really smart kids."

"Sean says it's a bunch of geeks sitting around talking astrophysics and shit."

"And what do you say?" Otis asked, cautiously.

Maeve took a few breaths before answering. "It's a bunch of kids doing everything they can to get out of this shithole town."

"Really smart kids. And one of those really smart kids is definitely going to make it."

"We hope."

"Don't do that, Maeve," Otis said gently.

"You're the reason I went for it," she said quietly.

"I thought Miss Sands was pushing you to."

"But you're the one who made me agree."

"I didn't do anything, Maeve."

"You believed in me." Her voice was so soft she wasn't sure if he could hear.

After a moment, Otis said quietly, "What's not to believe in?"

After a moment, Maeve said quietly, "I really did miss you today."

"We'll see each other tomorrow."

"Where are we going to meet? At the clinic?"

"Meet me outside school. I'll give you a lift on my bike."

"I think I'll fall off the handlebars."

"You'll be sitting behind me."

"Sounds cozy," she murmured.

"I'll bring a spare helmet."

"Thanks for coming with me."

"How long before we get the results?"

"Depends on the tests. Could be a couple of weeks."

"How do they take samples? Do they stick anything in your nose?"

"No," said Maeve, laughing.

"That's the one I'm really squeamish about. Sticking things in my nose."

"They've never stuck anything in my nose."

"I had a dream about that last night. That they stuck a cotton bud in my nose."

"You don't have to worry about that."

"I think someone would need to hold me down if they did that."

"I think I'd need that, too."

A comfortable silence settled between them.

"Was Aimee really offended?" Otis eventually asked.

"Nah, she found it funny."

"I'll never be able to talk to her again."

"She was also impressed."

"Maeve…" Otis whined.

"Suck it up, muppet."

"Isn't that your role?" Otis said, hesitantly.

"Pervert," Maeve said, smiling.

"Mine is more of a licking thing, isn't it?"

Maeve rolled onto her back, smile increasing. "Who knew Otis Milburn could be such a pervert?"

"Getting my tongue down there and flicking your bean?"

"I am telling everybody that you're such a pervert."

"I really liked last night," Otis murmured.

"Yeah, me too," Maeve sighed.

"Was I any good at it?"

"You really don't know?"

"Well, it was my first time at phone sex."

"You got me off."

"Do you want to do it again?"

"I thought that's why you were being a pervert."

"Do you want to take the lead tonight?"

"You can, again. But something different."

"How different?"

"That's up to you."

Otis was silent for a moment, then said, "I've thought of something but I'll need to find out something first."

"Find out what?"

"Which one's Eustace and which one's Bettina?"


Author's Notes: Not pleased with this one – I wanted it to have a light touch as it flittered across moments from their day even while dealing with a couple of 'heavy' plot beats – but it's the best I can do when a severe case of writer's block is overwhelming me.

I hope it's not too disappointing considering the long wait.

I promise I will write a full phone sex scene at the appropriate moment.