Goh stared across the table and maintained eye contact with the woman sitting opposite him. With a subtle smile, he chuckled once and continued with his self-description.
"Basically, my goal was to catch all the different types of Pokémon in the world. Over time, I've started to focus more on learning about them and becoming their friends."
The woman blinked and nodded approvingly. "That's really cool, Goh," she said sweetly. "It sounds like you're a pretty good trainer."
Goh grinned and felt excitement rush through him. This was going really well!
"Eh, it's taken me a while to learn all of this," he said in a dismissive tone. "I've had a lot of people help me out along the way."
The woman canted her head to the side and her eyes sparkled. "So, what's your favorite Pokémon?" she asked.
Goh pursed his lips before answering in a proud voice. "Well, for the longest time, I really wanted to catch Mew and I thought of that as my favorite Pokémon. However, now, I like all of my Pokémon. They're all so different and neat. It's hard to pick just one."
The woman shifted her position and put her right elbow up on the table. She rested her chin on her right hand and stared at Goh with wonder in her eyes.
"I really like Pokémon too," she said in a happy voice. "I've always thought trainers were so brave, going on adventures and doing battles, like you hear about."
Goh felt like this was his opening. He slightly leaned toward the woman and put on his best suave expression.
"Well, I understand that. I've had a few close-calls myself."
A bashful expression formed on the girl's face. Her cheeks turned a bit rosy and her eyelids fluttered.
"Oh," she breathed. "What happened?"
Goh couldn't resist grinning and pausing a moment for dramatic effect. "So, this one time, I was actually trying to catch Mew as part of an elite capture team."
"Oh, wow!" the woman replied in a soft voice.
Goh nodded and leaned closer toward the woman. "It was really dangerous!" he said in a low voice. "I was up the side of a mountain and Mew's attacks nearly caused it to collapse."
The woman's green eyes widened in surprise. "You actually saw Mew!" she gasped, lowering her right arm so it rested flat on the table.
Goh grinned again. "Yep. I didn't catch it, but it was something I'll never forget."
The woman's eyes flicked downward for a moment before she met Goh's gaze. The look she sent him made his heart jump and his loins tense. She was interested!
"I've never met a trainer who battled a legendary Pokémon," she breathed, clearly enthralled by his story.
Goh swallowed as his heart began to race. Now was the time to make his move.
"Well, I've actually encountered more than just Mew," he replied.
A look of wonder and amazement formed on the girl's face. Before she could say anything, Goh continued.
"I've seen Moltres, Zapdos and Articuno!"
The woman gasped. "No way!"
Goh nodded and continued. "I've also ridden on Lugia!"
The woman's mouth was hanging open in amazement and her green eyes sparkled in wonder and admiration.
Goh shrugged and tried to look humble. "But, that was all a while ago. I haven't gone on a big adventure lately."
The woman suddenly looked surprised. "Really, why not?!"
A bashful expression briefly flitted across Goh's face. "Well, I've actually been trying to find a girl I can start something with. You know, kind of settle down a little."
A look of understanding and subtle excitement formed on the woman's face. She nodded and her lips turned upward in a smile. With her cheeks turning a shade of red, she spoke in a squeaky, shy voice.
"Have you had any luck?" she asked.
Goh's heart was racing. "Not yet," he said.
The girl giggled and looked embarrassed. "I guess that's why you came over and talked to me," she commented.
Goh chuckled and nodded sheepishly. "Yeah, basically."
The girl chewed on her lower lip and then spoke in a low voice. "So, do you have any more legendary Pokémon stories?"
Goh's mouth was dry as he formed the most critical words of the exchange. "Yeah, I've got a lot actually," he said. The woman smiled and he continued before she could reply. "I've also got a bunch of pictures and keepsakes back at my apartment."
The blush on her cheeks increased and the woman fidgeted with her fingers. "Your apartment," she said shyly.
Goh nodded. "Yeah," he said tensely. "If you wanted, we could go there. Or we could stay here. It's your choice."
Her blush deepened more and it took a moment for the girl to overcome some shyness. Her green eyes finally met his and she spoke in a low, sultry voice.
"I've always thought Pokémon trainers were really handsome," she said with a naughty snigger.
Goh felt like he could jump out of his seat and through the roof. "So, you wanna go?" he squeaked.
The girl giggled and nodded. "Sure! It sounds like fun!"
Goh let out a huge, tense breath and drummed his fingers on the table. It had taken all of his skill and experience, but he'd finally done it. He looked over at the beautiful, green eyes and a silly grin spread across his face.
"So, how was that?" he said, sounding winded.
Chloe pursed her lips and rocked her head from side to side, considering the question. "Well, you were polite. That's really important." She leaned back in the chair at her dining table and put on a thoughtful expression.
Goh nodded eagerly, liking the positive feedback. "Okay, okay," he said.
Chloe glanced at him and chuckled. "You didn't try to push her into coming to your apartment. That's really important."
Goh nodded again.
Chloe glanced around her apartment as she continued to think. "You also made it pretty clear that you wanted to take her to bed. That's also important, so she knows what she's in for."
Goh continued nodding. "Okay, good; anything else?"
Chloe shrugged and looked out of ideas. "Just be friendly, like you were. Chat about stuff and don't be pushy about sex. Remember that it may take more than one encounter to get her to come home with you."
Goh nodded once last time. "So, you think I'm ready?" he asked tensely.
Chloe chuckled. "You've still got a long time before you're a Romeo, but I think you can get a girl."
Goh felt positively elated. He grinned and shifted eagerly in his chair.
"Oh boy! I hope tonight's the night!" he said breathlessly.
Chloe simply stared at him with an amused expression on her face. She finally sighed, shook her head and stood up. She took a few steps toward her living room and glanced around.
"Everything's all packed up, so if you do get a girl, you can bring her back here," she said over-her-shoulder.
Goh rose from the table and moved to Chloe's side. Since he was still living at home, and his parents wouldn't let him bring a girl home, Chloe had agreed to let him use her apartment as a love nest. She'd even stored all her personal and feminine furnishings so the apartment looked like it was Goh's. The hope was that Goh's date would be more impressed by him claiming that he had an apartment, rather than him saying that they had to go to her place to make love.
"I really appreciate this, Chloe," Goh said sincerely. "It looks great!"
Chloe nodded and straightened a picture of Goh and his Pokémon sitting on an end table next to her couch. "Just make sure she doesn't open the closet or the dresser. That's where my clothes and stuff are."
Goh swung his arms in eager anticipation and glanced around. He'd run a few scenarios in his mind of how he could make love to a woman inside Chloe's apartment. There were a few possibilities…..
"So, you're okay with me….. doing it with a girl… in your bed….." he asked tentatively.
Chloe scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Well, I wouldn't have made the offer if I wasn't," she said in a sarcastic tone.
Goh nodded. "Okay, cool….. I was just wondering… uh," he said, his voice trailing off.
"I already bought new bed sheets," Chloe deadpanned.
The two of them exchanged sidelong glances and laughed nervously. Chloe rolled her eyes and started walking toward the front door.
"Just don't break anything," she sighed in a resigned voice, "and please don't make a mess! I don't wanna clean that up!"
Goh nodded and idly clapped his hands together. He looked toward Chloe and watched her slip on her white high heels and straighten her dress. She was wearing a cream colored, button-up blouse and a dark blue, mid-thigh length skirt. Her maroon hair was done up in an elegant bun behind her head. She'd really gone all out on her appearance!
Tonight, he was planning to try and find a girl. However, while that was going on, Chloe would be consummating her relationship with her boyfriend. Goh had never met Clifton as Chloe had only been dating him for a few weeks. Things had progressed very quickly between them.
"So, you're sure about this Clifton guy?" Goh remarked.
Chloe half-turned and looked at Goh. "Oh…. yeah," she replied, nodding a couple of times. "I'm really sure."
Goh felt a strange sensation in his stomach at the thought of Chloe sleeping with a guy. He really didn't want her to get hurt.
"Okay," he said, looking down at the floor. "It just seems like it happened really quick, is all."
Chloe chuckled and stared at Goh. "Says the guy who's looking for a one-night-stand," she quipped.
Goh gritted his teeth and grinned sheepishly. "Yeah…." he said slowly.
Silence hung in the air for several second before Chloe stepped toward the door. "Hey, I hope you have a good time Goh," she said in a subdued voice. "Good luck."
Goh walked up to the door and looked Chloe in the eye. "And you have a good time with Clifton!" he said directly.
Chloe blushed, averted her eyes and nodded. Seconds passed and Goh spoke up in an awkward voice.
"Hey, uh, Chloe….." he began.
She looked up at him.
Goh nervously pursed his lips before continuing. "Since you're gonna be with Clifton tonight….. It's not…. the wrong time of the month for you‑"
Chloe sharply kicked Goh in the shin.
"OW!" he cried out.
Chloe glared at him for a second and then her expression softened. "I'm the one who taught you about all that, remember?" she said pointedly.
Goh rubbed his throbbing shin against his opposite leg. "Yeah," he replied. "I just wanted to make sure you're okay."
Chloe sighed and smiled faintly at Goh. "I'll be fine," she said quietly. She made a move toward the door but turned back toward him. "Thanks, Goh!" she whispered gratefully.
Goh nodded and sent her a tight-lipped smile. Chloe pulled open the door and took a step outside. She paused and cast a glance back at her best friend.
"Hey, make sure the girl you get is a good one, okay!" she said in a heartfelt tone.
Goh nodded and smiled. "I will!" he replied.
Chloe nodded as well and shifted on her feet. "Stay safe, Goh," she mumbled. She then turned and started walking down the hallway.
Goh blew out a breath and stood at the open door for the better part of a minute. He finally got around to checking his pockets to make sure he had all he would need for the night. He grabbed the spare key Chloe had left for him, stepped outside, locked the apartment and set out for his big night!
Goh slowly made his way down the sidewalk in one of Vermilion City's commercial districts. The sky was completely black save for the multicolored light which rose up from the city. The sidewalk was well-lit and he proceeded ahead, feeling a growing sense of anticipation as he neared his goal. He'd picked out his location for trying to get a girl nearly a week ago. His practice with Chloe had built his confidence; however, the real thing was still scary. He reached his destination and turned on a heel to face the building.
His chosen spot was an unassuming bar near the city center. It wasn't a high-end joint but that was part of Goh's plan. He knew that he probably wasn't going to land a rich or affluent woman. He just wanted to find a nice girl who was looking for some companionship and a fun evening; someone who didn't have really high expectations. Goh figured that after he'd gotten some experience he'd start trying to work his way up to higher-class establishments. He spent a moment psyching himself up before he strode forward and entered the bar.
The inside of the establishment was fairly typical of a bar. There was a long counter with stools, a bunch of tables with chairs and a few simple bar games people could play. There were about a dozen people inside the bar and Goh quickly noted that five of them were women. Four of them looked to be close to his age and they were fairly attractive. He blew out a tense breath and walked up to the bar. He planned to order a drink and then begin his work.
Goh glanced around as he made his way to the bar. He was particularly interested in a woman sitting at the far end of the counter. She was shapely, blonde haired and fair skinned. She was wearing a simple, dark green shirt but it had a low-cut v-neck which showed off the top of her attractive bust. She also was wearing matching dark green pants and dark brown heels. As he sat down on a stool, Goh decided this woman would be his first attempt. He couldn't help but grin as nervousness and excitement swirled together inside his stomach.
The bartender glanced at Goh and a disapproving expression formed on his face. He was an athletic man of average height and he was wearing a dark red t-shirt with blue jeans. His skin was well-tanned and his black hair was styled in a short crew cut. He took a few steps toward the new arrival, his eyes full of cynicism.
Goh glanced at the bartender and he gave him a small wave in greeting. "Hey," he said, his voice sounding anything but confident.
The bartender came to a stop. "Hi," he said in a gruff voice. A second passed and he continued. "Are you here all by yourself?"
Goh nodded. "Yep! I'm just hoping to meet someone," he said, glancing to the side at the woman in the dark green outfit.
"Uh, huh," the bartender said skeptically. Another few seconds passed and he shifted on his feet. "Can I see some ID?"
Goh hesitated for a moment and then reached for his wallet. "Sure, here you go," he said, producing his credentials. Goh understood the man's skepticism about his age. Both he and Chloe still looked like they were teenagers, even though they'd passed out of that age range a couple of years ago.
The bar tender looked at the ID, looked at it a bit more and then held it up to the light. He finally shrugged and handed it back to Goh.
"Okay, just had to check," he said nonchalantly.
"Sure, no problem," Goh replied in a friendly tone.
The bartender drummed the fingers of his right hand on the counter before continuing. "So, what do you wanna have?"
Goh glanced at the many bottles lining the wall behind the bar. "I'll have a ginger ale," he finally said.
The bartender's face fell slightly and he struggled to keep from rolling his eyes. "One ginger ale," he said, turning and walking toward the storage cupboards.
Goh felt a rush of pride over ordering a drink at the bar. He'd wanted to get something which resembled a beer, but he didn't want to get anything alcoholic. He hoped the bottle would make him look cool and manly.
After he and Chloe had turned 21, they'd decided to go out to a bar together and test a few drinks to see if they were as big of a deal as adults made them out to be. They'd had an interesting time and ordered various beers and shots. The night had ultimately ended with both of them lying on the floor of Chloe's bathroom, periodically puking into the toilet. After that experience, they'd both sworn off alcoholic beverages.
The bartender returned with Goh's ginger ale and passed it to the young man. Goh took a swig from the bottle and glanced around again. His eyes fixed on the blonde haired girl and he decided that it was time. He took another swig and slid off the bar stool, ginger ale in hand. It was time for him to become a man!
Goh strode to the opposite end of the bar and sat down next to the woman in the dark green outfit. Up close, she was really attractive. Goh guessed that she might be a year or so older than him. Her blonde hair was slightly longer than her shoulders and it was styled so it had a lot of volume. Goh swallowed his fear and spoke up in as confident a voice as he could manage.
"So, you come here often?" he asked with a tense grin.
The woman turned her head and fixed her dark blue eyes on Goh. She had a subtle smile on her face and spoke in a kind voice.
"Every so often," she said in an even tone. "I like coming here after work."
Goh's heart was hammering inside his chest. He took a quick breath and prepared to use all the techniques Chloe had taught him. He started to open his mouth, but the woman spoke first.
"Let me guess," she said softly, leaning closer to him. "You're wanting to ask me out?"
Goh couldn't believe his luck. She'd just saved him minutes of verbal maneuvering.
"Uh, yeah!" he said, excitement evident in his voice.
The woman smiled kindly and nodded in understanding. "Well, sorry, but, I'll save you some time. I'm not interested."
Goh felt like he'd just slammed into a brick wall. What had he done wrong? He hadn't even said anything.
"Uhhh," he replied.
The woman shifted her gaze and looked toward another young girl, in the back, sitting at a booth, staring at her phone. "You seem nice. Try your luck elsewhere."
Goh didn't know what to say. "Uh, okay," he replied mechanically. He slipped down off the stool and started walking toward the girl at the booth.
As he walked, Goh tried to figure out what he'd done wrong. Maybe he just wasn't her type? Maybe she liked older men? He didn't know, and frankly, he didn't have time to dwell on it. His next target was right in front of him. He stepped up to the booth and the girl looked up at him.
She was about his age, thinly built, pale skinned and wearing glasses. She had some odd symbols tattooed in black on her right forearm and small, gold earrings hanging from her earlobes. Her hair was brown with some lighter streaks, shoulder-length, and very straight. She was wearing a black pair of pants and a dark blue, open-front vest with a white t-shirt underneath it. Goh also noted that, even though she was very skinny, she had a noticeable bust which stuck out from her chest. She looked nerdy and attractive. He liked his chances!
"Hey, mind if I sit down?" he asked.
A mischievous smile played across the girl's lips. "Sure!" she replied coyly.
Goh sat down and placed his ginger ale on the table. He kept his hand over the label, hoping she might think it was something stronger. She eyed him and Goh felt his heart rate increase. It was time for his second attempt.
"So, you come here often?" he began, sounding a bit more confident.
The girl laughed briefly and smiled. "Actually, this is my first time. I've been checking out the bar scene recently."
Goh nodded and smiled. "Oh, are you new to Vermilion City?"
She shook her head. "No, I just turned twenty one a month ago." She made a flourish with her arms and held them out to the side. "I'm spreading my wings, you could say."
Goh nodded in agreement and continued smiling. She seemed playful. He liked that. "Yeah, I turned twenty one not too long ago too."
She leaned forward and rested her elbows on the table. "It's fun isn't it!" she said in a warm tone.
"Yeah!" Goh replied, not sure what she was referring to.
The girl eyed him again and Goh felt his loins tingle. She was attractive and flirty. He really hoped he could get her to come back to Chloe's apartment.
The girl playfully bit the tip of her tongue before speaking in a melodic voice. "So, what do you do?"
Goh quickly dug into his memory. He and Chloe had mostly practiced him asking the girl questions, but they'd also done a few scenarios where Chloe had done the asking. He pulled out the response which painted him in the best light.
"I work at Cerise Labs!" he said with a proud smile.
Recognition dawned on the girl's face and she nodded quickly. "Ah, Cerise Labs! I like them! They're one of the good places."
Goh felt giddiness surging inside his stomach! He couldn't believe this was going so well!
The girl continued "They're way better than those other places which keep Pokémon locked up in those terrible little balls!"
Goh felt like he'd just been yanked off a fast moving train. "Uh, terrible balls?" he posed.
The girl's expression became downcast and she frowned. "Yeah, Pokéballs," she spat. "I like Cerise Labs because you guys have that big open park where the Pokémon can be free. But I hate those other places which treat Pokémon like they're prisoners!"
An ominous feeling started to grow inside Goh. "Really?" he said simply.
The girl nodded. "And don't even get me started on those Pokémon trainers who go around capturing Pokémon and battling with them!"
Goh started to deflate. "Oh….." he said in a subdued voice.
The girl kept going in a passionate voice. "Pokémon are so cute and wonderful. It's terrible to take them out of their natural habitat and drag them all over the place."
"Oh…" Goh said in a low voice.
The girl drummed her fingers on the table and shook her head. "Ah, forget it. It's just one of my things," she said, trying to lighten the mood.
"Sure, no problem," Goh said. However, his voice had lost all enthusiasm. He decided that it probably wasn't a good idea to try and bring this girl home. He didn't want to imagine what she might do if she found out he was one of those trainers.
Goh thought for a moment and recalled one of Chloe's lessons about gracefully getting out of a situation. He decided to ask question and then excuse himself.
"So, what do you do?" he asked.
The mischievous smile returned and the girl spoke in a low voice. "Well, I'm a cashier," she said coyly. "But, I'm off tomorrow. And tonight, I'm hoping to find someone to hook up with!" Her eyes tracked all over Goh.
Goh felt himself dying a little on the inside. This would be really, really easy. It would also be a really, really bad idea. He decided to take Chloe's advice and not try to bed a girl who might kick him in the crotch if she got to know him too well. Before he could say his piece, the girl spoke again.
"So….. what are you doing tonight?" she asked with obvious implication.
Goh smiled sheepishly and pointed back at the bar. "I'm planning on drowning my sorrows," he said with a grimace.
Without waiting for her to reply, Goh rose from the booth and started walking back toward the front of the bar. As he walked, he took a swig of his ginger ale, briefly wishing it was the real thing. As he approached the bar he saw the blonde haired woman was still sitting where she'd been before. Goh paused for a moment and then decided to try again. Chloe had told him that some girls played hard to get and that he needed to be persistent to show he was serious.
Goh slid up to the bar and sat down to the left of the woman. "Hey, hello again," he said in a friendly tone.
The woman turned and looked at him with a kind smile. "Any luck?" she asked.
Goh shook his head. "Nope, that's why I'm back here," he said with a chuckle.
A very amused expression played across the woman's face. She mused briefly and eyed her suitor. Goh felt hopeful. He'd made her laugh. Maybe he could convince her to give him a chance!
Goh grinned and pressed forward. "So, what do you do for a living?"
The woman let out an amused sigh and pursed her lips. "I'm an accountant," she said simply.
Goh was about to ask the follow-up question but the woman held up her right hand to stop him. "Okay, hold up," she said. She looked Goh in the eye. "What's your name?" she asked in a sweet tone.
Goh wasn't sure if he should be excited or disheartened. "Goh," he said, putting as much optimism as he could into his voice.
The woman smiled kindly and continued in a polite but firm tone. "Goh, sorry, but I told you, you're not my type."
Goh internally debated between giving up on her and continuing forward. He decided on the latter option. He had to show he was persistent.
"Well, how can you be sure?" he asked in his best, suave voice. "I don't even know your name."
The woman laughed and Goh felt a ray of hope. She leaned her right elbow on the bar and rested her chin on her palm.
"It's Susan," she said.
Goh put on a sly grin. "Susan, that's a nice name!"
"Thank you," she said in a perfunctory but kind voice.
Goh hesitated for a moment and then kept going. It seemed like he was making progress.
"I'm a Pokémon trainer," he said in an eager voice.
Susan straightened up on her stool and smiled at Goh. "So I guess you like catching Pokémon," she stated.
Goh nodded. "Yeah, I've caught tons," he said quickly. "I've been all over the world and seen hundreds of different Pokémon."
Susan was unfazed. "And I guess, tonight, you're trying to catch a girl and take her home?"
Goh paused for a second and then smiled. "Yep, that's the idea," he said, shooting her an interested look. He suddenly realized that Susan might not be the type of girl who went to bed on the first date. "Of course, if you'd rather take it slow, I'm okay with that too," he added quickly.
Susan half coughed, half laughed, and slowly shook her head in amusement. She sent Goh a sympathetic look and spoke in a soft voice.
"You're persistent, I'll give you that," she said.
Goh really hoped she was about to give him a chance.
She sighed regretfully and continued. "If I was interested, I'd go out with you, Goh. But, that's not in the cards."
Goh felt his spirits drop again. "Uh, why not?" he nearly pleaded.
Susan merely turned back to the bar. "Like I said. You're not my type."
Goh felt at a loss. Was it she didn't like Pokémon trainers? Maybe there was another reason. Maybe she'd just broken up with her boyfriend and she was feeling sad?
"Have you got a boyfriend?" Goh probed. "It that why you're not interested?"
Susan merely chuckled and shook her head ruefully. "Good luck elsewhere, Goh," she said in a send-off sort of manner.
Goh's shoulders slumped. He turned and started to walk away. As he did so, he glanced toward the front of the bar and saw the bartender and another male patron glancing in his direction and looking extremely amused. He frowned and scanned the venue for another girl he could pursue. He'd show them! He'd take a girl home before the night was through.
After a quick scan of the bar, Goh settled on a small, nerdy looking, girl with black hair. She was wearing a very simple grey t-shirt and blue jeans. He nearly drained his ginger ale and started walking toward the booth where she was seated.
The girl looked up and smiled at Goh as he approached. "Hi," she said in a soft yet inviting voice. Her amber eyes were bright and full of mystery.
Goh returned her smile and gestured to the empty booth across from her. "Mind if I join you?" he asked.
The girl grinned and chuckled. "Sure!" she said in a sweet, excited tone.
Goh slid into the booth and set his ginger ale on the table. He eyed the girl for a second but she was the first to speak.
"So, are you looking for a date?" she said in a happy voice.
Goh was pleasantly surprised. "Uh, yeah!" he replied, a smile spreading across his face. "How'd you guess?"
The girl's expression became a little bashful and she wiggled shyly in her booth before answering. "I saw you asking the other girls, so I figured you're looking for someone to take home."
Goh couldn't believe his luck. "Yeah, I am!" he said, feeling excitement rush through him. He finally took a good look at the other girl and saw that she had a couple of odd rings on several of her fingers. A strange, metallic pendant hung around her neck. Her body was skinny and she didn't have much of a bust. Goh found that he didn't care all that much about her lack of curves. He could always find a well-endowed woman another night.
The girl giggled and nodded. "I am too," she said in an excited voice. "That's why I'm here."
Goh's heart started to pound. Finally, he'd found the right one.
"Uhhhh," he breathed, drool filling his mouth as he smiled giddily.
The girl continued to grin and absently scratched at the table with her right index finger. "I'm Leyla. What's your name?"
"Goh!" he said quickly.
Leyla's smile grew more playful. "Goh," she said kindly. "Would you like to come back to my apartment with me?"
Goh couldn't believe this! Not only had he found a girl willing to sleep with him, he also was going to avoid returning to Chloe's apartment and risking Leyla realizing that the place wasn't his.
"Yeah, sure!" he said enthusiastically, "sounds great!"
Leyla chuckled again and eyed Goh with a silly, girlish expression. "And, I'm guessing that you want to do a bit more than just watch a movie and have a drink?"
Goh felt his manhood already responding to the situation. He swallowed some drool and replied breathlessly. He thought he'd never get the chance to use this line.
"Well, as long as you're bed is nice and comfy," he said with a goofy smile.
Leyla laughed briefly and blushed. She bit her tongue and then continued in a tense, excited voice.
"Well, actually, we might not need a bed," she said in a very shy voice, "if you're up for trying something cool."
Goh's curiosity was more than peaked. What was Leyla interested in? Maybe the shower? Maybe a bathtub?
"Sure, what is it?" he replied quickly.
The girl cast a bashful look down at the table and tapped the tips of her fingers together. "So, I like training psychic Pokémon," she said in a small voice.
Goh nodded. "Okay," he replied.
Leyla chuckled and continued. "I have a Kadabra and a Hypno, and… they help make things really fun and interesting."
Goh wasn't sure where this was going. "Uh, how so?" he asked.
Leyla's face turned red and she struggled to overcome shyness. "So, Kadabra can use Psychic while we're… making love. She can suspend us up in the air."
Goh couldn't help but cant his head to the side in awkward uncertainty. He'd NEVER heard of this ANYWHERE.
"Uhhhhh, floating in the air….." he replied slowly.
Leyla nodded in an animated fashion. "Yeah," she said eagerly. "I know it sounds strange, Goh, but believe me, you've never experienced sex until you've done it floating in midair."
Goh's expression didn't change. He was still trying to wrap his mind around the idea. Who came up with something like this?
Leyla giggled again and looked down in embarrassment. "You wouldn't believe the positions you can get into," she said in a mischievous voice. "It's really exhilarating!"
"Yeah….. I'll bet," Goh said cautiously. He eyed Leyla carefully. She seemed really nice and well-intentioned. Maybe she was just kinky? Maybe she just liked to experiment with really strange and exotic ideas?
Leyla anxiously tapped her fingers together and glanced up at Goh. "So, what do you think?" she asked.
Goh swallowed down his doubts and smiled. "Sounds like it might be fun!" he said tensely.
Leyla's face scrunched up in happy excitement. She let out a girlish whine of eagerness and wiggled in her booth.
"Oh, boy," she in a quiet voice.
Goh felt a small rush of sensual energy, however it was heavily tempered with uncertainty. When he'd first started out tonight, he'd imagined taking a girl to bed in an actual bed, not being suspended up in the air by a psychic Pokémon. Additionally, Goh wasn't sure how he felt about a Pokémon being present during their intimate time. This certainly wasn't what he'd expected.
Leyla was still blushing when she leaned across the table and whispered to Goh. "So, before we go, I wanna know. What's your dream girl look like?"
Goh thought it was an odd question for her to ask. Chloe hadn't practiced this sort of scenario with him; however, he knew not to be honest and say that he liked busty, curvy women. Leyla didn't fit that description at all and she definitely wouldn't appreciate his preferences.
"Umm, well…" Goh hesitated. "I like girls with bright eyes and kind spirits," he managed.
Internally, he cringed. His answer hadn't sounded very sincere. To his surprise, Leyla sniggered mirthfully and struggled to keep from laughing. When her belly stopped jiggling, she spoke in a kind tone.
"I really wanna know Goh," she said sincerely. "Serious, if you could have any type of woman to bang, what would she look like?"
Goh really didn't know what to make of this question. Was this some kind of cruel setup? He didn't know, but Leyla seemed really honest. He decided to take a risk and be honest too.
"Uh, well….." he began, a guilty expression forming on his face. "I've always wanted to do it with a really hot and….." he froze as his mind failed to come up with an elegant word for breasts.
Leyla giggled again. "So you like big boobs!" she said in an amused voice.
Goh's face became hot from embarrassment and shame. "Uh, yeah….." he replied awkwardly.
Leyla continued giggling. "It's okay, Goh," she said in a dismissive tone. She wiggled her shoulders, pushing her very modest bust forward. "I know I'm not all that much to look at."
Goh swallowed nervously. "Uh, it's totally fine!" he said quickly. "I… uh…. I mean…."
Leyla casually waved a hand to silence Goh. "No, what I'm saying is that it doesn't matter what I look like. You can still bang the girl of your dreams tonight."
Goh looked at Leyla with a look of utter confusion.
Leyla sniggered, turned red and continued. "See, Hypno can hypnotize both of us so we see what we want to see," she said excitedly.
"Uhhhhh…." Goh replied with mouth partially agape.
Leyla grinned and kept going. "She can make me look like I've got double D boobs if that's what you want," she said. "She can change the color of my hair, my skin. Basically, whatever you want!"
Goh's face was scrunched up in utter befuddlement. How had she come up with this?
"Uh, whatever I want huh," he said in a low voice.
Leyla nodded and smirked mischievously. She leaned a bit closer and whispered some more. "But the best part is that she can make it all last way longer than it usually does."
"Uhhhhh," Goh replied, completely at a loss for words.
Leyla continued whispering. "You know how usually you can only do it once or twice before you get tired?" she asked.
Goh slowly nodded.
Leyla grinned. "Well, Hypno can keep both us going way longer. It's really amazing!"
"Uh, huh," Goh managed in reply.
Leyla blushed and spoke again. "I'm not bragging, but my record is fifteen!"
Goh looked surprised at her boast. "Minutes?" he asked, thinking that wasn't all that impressive.
Leyla just grinned and turned a deeper red. "No!" she said bashfully.
Goh's eyes widened. "Oh!" he replied.
Leyla sniggered and Goh remained frozen. He finally collected himself and spoke up in an uncertain voice.
"So, you'll look like whatever I want and I'll look like whatever you want?" he asked.
Leyla nodded several times. "Yep!" she said eagerly. "Isn't it fun?!"
Goh really wasn't sure about this. He could handle being suspended in midair. He could wrap his brain around endless pleasure. However, being hypnotized into seeing someone who wasn't actually there just seemed really odd and sort of wrong.
"So, what do you like?" he asked cautiously.
Leyla grinned and spoke quickly. "Hypno knows exactly how I like it. Big and muscular, green eyes, short brown hair," she glanced down bashfully before continuing. "And very and long…."
A grimace was fixed on Goh's face as he weighed what was certainly to be the most interesting and weird experience of his life. Sex was right there for the taking; by all accounts, really amazing sex with the girl of his dreams. All he had to do was be hypnotized and lifted up into the air by a Kadabra…
Goh looked at Leyla and she looked back at him. She pursed her lips and spoke in a soft voice.
"So, what do you think?" she asked.
Goh laughed nervously and used his right hand to slowly turn his bottle of ginger ale atop the table. Was it finally time for him to become a man?
A minute later, Goh was walking across the bar, draining the last of his ginger ale and setting his sights back on Susan. From all signs, she liked good ol traditional sex; none of this Hypno and Kadabra craziness. He stepped up to the bar, set his empty bottle down on the wooden surface and hopped up on the stool to the right of Susan. The slightly older woman turned and looked at him with an amused and chagrined expression.
"Back again, huh," she remarked.
Goh nodded. "Yep, I think you're probably my best bet," he said offhandedly. "I'm not big on Hypno."
Susan sent him a curious look and pursed her lips. Silence hung in the air before Goh continued.
"So, an accountant, huh," he began.
Susan sighed and rested her elbow on the bar. She turned her head to look at Goh and smiled politely.
"Goh, I told you, it's not gonna happen with me," she said in a soft voice.
A consternated expression played across Goh's face. "Why not," he replied in a disappointed tone. "At least give me a chance."
Susan dipped her head for a moment in exasperation before fixing Goh with a tense expression. "Goh, look, I know you want to find a girl who'll be with you, but that's not how I roll."
Goh looked confused.
Susan sent him a sympathetic look. "Sorry, but in this case, opposites don't attract, understand?"
Goh looked down and, out of the corner of his eye, he saw the bartender and another patron glancing his way, looking extremely amused. He felt frustration and annoyance surge inside him. He wasn't going to be defeated so easily!
Goh turned back to Susan and flashed his best smile. "Okay, so, what do I have to do to make them attract?" he said optimistically.
Susan simply stared back at Goh and slowly let out a breath, completely at loss for words. A moment later her gaze flitted toward the entrance of the bar and she sighed in relief.
"Oh, thank goodness," she breathed.
Goh glanced to the side and saw that another woman had entered the bar. He guessed that she was about a year or two older than him. She was wearing a formal, tan business jacket with matching slacks. She was well built and had short cut brown hair.
Goh didn't think he'd have any luck with the new woman. She looked a bit too formal and professional to go out with a guy like him. She kept walking toward him and Susan. As she drew closer she cast a friendly glance at the woman Goh had been chatting up.
"Susan," she acknowledged in a midrange voice.
"Barb," Susan replied in a kind tone.
Barb moved and sat down at the booth to Susan's left. The two women exchanged a glance and looked at Goh.
Goh smiled and leaned toward the bar so he could clearly see both of them. "So, who's this?" he asked in an upbeat voice, "friend from work?"
Barb's eyebrows went up and she glanced at Susan in amusement. The two women exchanged looks and Barb sniggered while Susan appeared embarrassed. The two of them leaned a bit closer to each other and then turned to look at Goh.
The young man from Vermilion City glanced between the two women, noting their expressions, demeanor and how close they were to each other. A terrible sensation of embarrassment and humiliation started to form in his stomach.
"Ah!" he said simply.
Apprehension and giddiness knotted together inside Chloe's stomach as she walked with Clifton toward his apartment building. She was standing to his right and her cheek was pressed against his shoulder. The fingers of their hands were interlaced and they stepped quickly as the cool of autumn sent shivers through them. Chloe's boyfriend leaned his head to the side and sniffed her maroon hair. The move caused a thrilling bolt to shoot up Chloe's spine, making her emotions churn.
Part of her couldn't believe she was doing this. Was this really the only way she could ever be happy? She steeled herself and mentally went through all the justifications for going to bed with Clifton. She really liked him and could see herself marrying him. Since they were going to be sleeping together when they were married, sleeping with him now wasn't really a big deal. It was just getting a head-start on things, right?
They reached the front entrance of the apartment complex and Clifton turned to face Chloe. Her boyfriend was about a head taller than her, muscular and fair skinned. Chloe couldn't believe she'd gotten so lucky to go on a date with him. His, intense blue eyes bored into hers and his short-cut, spiky black hair was still perfectly styled. His angular jaw framed his suave expression and Chloe's insides simmered as his lips turned up in a coy smirk.
Chloe started to open her mouth but Clifton made the first move. He stepped forward and took hold of her left shoulder with his powerful right hand. At the same time, his left hand dropped to her waist and Chloe felt a spark of excitement sizzle in her loins as his fingers curled around her side and squeezed the fringe of her petite right buttocks. The girl from Vermilion City gasped in a breath and tried to steady herself but Clifton moved again. He pushed her backward and Chloe had to take a couple rapid, off kilter steps to keep from falling. A second later, her back roughly impacted the concrete structure of the apartment complex. The jolt caused Chloe to squeak in surprise and shock. She gasped in another breath and looked up at her boyfriend. His face was less than an inch from hers and his eyes burned with desire. Chloe felt his grip on her tighten and a moment later his lips pressed against her.
Clifton's presence was intoxicating and overwhelming. Chloe's muscles felt limp as her body turned to putty in her man's powerful arms. His mouth worked on-and-around her lips, delivering kiss after kiss to her. Her heart began to pound and she gasped for breath through her nose as she felt the coolness of her boyfriend's saliva all over her face. She felt his hot breath tickle her nose and she struggled to match the movements of his lips with hers.
After a wonderful minute of intense oral exchanges, Clifton slid his lips across her cheek and sucked on Chloe's left ear. He took a hot breath and then whispered in a low, ragged voice.
"I love you so much Chloe!" he breathed.
Chloe felt excitement and arousal surge inside her chest. "I love you too, Cliff," she breathed.
She felt her boyfriend grin and then he started to kiss her cheek. A dozen seconds later, Clifton suddenly pulled away and grasped hold of her hand. Chloe barely had time to get her bearings before her man pulled her toward the entrance. She staggered a couple of steps but quickly moved to his side. He entered his code into the keypad and the door unlocked. He tightened his grip on Chloe's hand and pulled her past the entrance.
Chloe felt her heart rate and her nervousness increase steadily as they moved upward toward Clifton's apartment. She once again reassured herself that she was making the correct choice in going to bed with him. Even though this was their fourth date, she felt it was time to take this big step.
Their first date had been spontaneous. She'd met Clifton in the park after work and they'd just started talking and walking together. The walk had led to dinner and that had led to a long walk in the night. Clifton had been very bold and started to touch her shoulder and lean close to her. Chloe had kept things from escalating and instead asked if he wanted to go on a second date. She knew if he was only looking for a one-night-stand, she'd never hear from him again. Instead, he'd happily agreed, and three nights later they'd found themselves in a nice restaurant downtown.
Chloe had never experienced genuine flirtation and she'd found herself blushing and giggling as Clifton made coy comments and cute quips. After a wonderful dinner and a long walk, Clifton had put forth the idea that they could spend the night at his apartment. Chloe had almost taken him up on the offer, but instead, she'd insisted on a third date. Once again, she wanted to see if her potential boyfriend would stick with her, despite the lack of sex. To her amazement and elation, Clifton agreed to a third date and five days later they went to a romantic movie of her choice.
After the movie, they had a lovely dinner at a nice restaurant and started to discuss their relationship. This time, it was Chloe who raised the subject of sex. She decided it was time to see if Clifton was the real deal or not. She bluntly told him about her lack of a bust. She informed him that her body didn't possess curves. She quizzed him about his past lovers and asked him how many women he'd been with. When he replied that she would be his ninth, she was frankly shocked at his honesty.
Her next question was if being with him would be safe or not. Among her many reasons for not wanting to casually sleep with her various boyfriends was that Chloe didn't want to contract any sort of illness. With her background in science, she understood all-to-well the pitfalls of heedless intimacy. Clifton had assured her that there was nothing to worry about, but Chloe had insisted on being certain. She'd been sure that this request was going to drive him away, but Clifton had agreed to take a test. When the results showed that he was telling the truth, and there was nothing to fear, the plans had begun for this night.
At first, Chloe had wanted to hold off on sleeping together, but as time had gone on, she'd become more and more enamored with Clifton. He'd jumped through every hoop she'd put in front of him and treated her with respect. He wasn't only after sex, like some of the men in her past, he was after her heart. Finally, Chloe had set aside her doubts and agreed to a night of carnal indulgence. It would be her first time and she was immensely excited. Additionally, Clifton had promised her a night she would never forget. With all the experience he had in making love, she knew the encounter was going to be a magical one!
With Clifton firmly gripping her hand, the two of them exited the stairway, giggling excitedly and sharing intense glances. Chloe was glad the hallway was deserted. Anyone seeing them would immediately know what their intentions were. Chloe was still very modest at heart and didn't want the fact that she was about to be ravished in the bedroom to be known by anyone but Goh.
They reached the door of Clifton's apartment and he turned so he could send a sizzling grin toward her. Without pretense, he grabbed Chloe's shoulders and pushed her back until she impacted the door. The collision jolted Chloe and made her adrenaline flow. Clifton was strong and powerful and he really liked asserting himself. She looked up into his smoldering eyes and felt her heart overflow with warm passion. A second later, he leaned forward and engulfed her mouth in a wet, writhing kiss.
All Chloe could feel was lips, tongue, hands and hot breath. Her body started to burn with arousal as her sexual drive came fully awake. She'd never felt this way with a man until now! She'd only ever experienced this sort of pleasure during quiet, guilty, indulgences, in the dead of night, all by herself. The knowledge that a man wanted her and that this wasn't only a one-night-stand, filled the maroon haired girl with intense, sensual energy.
Clifton pulled back and stared deep into Chloe's eyes. Her face felt wet from the lip locking and she took couple ragged breaths as her heart pounded inside her chest. After what felt like forever, Clifton grinned and whispered in a sultry voice.
"Ready to have your mind blown?!"
A silly and excited grin formed on Chloe's face. She still couldn't believe she was doing this! She swallowed her doubts and nodded rapidly. Clifton chuckled at her reaction and pulled out his key. A moment later, the door swung open and Clifton pushed Chloe inside.
Chloe had only a brief moment to look around her boyfriend's apartment while he shut and locked the door. She saw things were mostly in order but there was some messiness apparent. She saw a recliner, couch, coffee table, and television. There was a doorway which led to the kitchen but Clifton returned to her before she could see more. Again, without pretense, he grabbed hold of her torso, gripping both sides of her ribcage, and pushed her back against the wall which concealed the kitchen from view.
Outside the apartment, Chloe's passions had been aroused, inside, she felt positively mad with desire. She instinctively reached up and began fumbling with her blouse's buttons. She'd purposely worn a button-up blouse so she could seductively pop buttons loose in the bedroom. Now, she simply wanted to get the thing off so Clifton could have access to her body.
One button came undone and Clifton made another move. He aggressively pressed his lips against hers, causing the back of her head to roughly bump into the wall. He also reached up with his right hand and gripped the base of her neck, squeezing her collarbone. Chloe felt his thumb briefly press against her throat while, at the same time, his left hand abruptly pressed against her chest, where her right breast would be, if she'd possessed one.
Chloe moaned and gasped as pleasure lanced through her torso. Her flesh was flat but it was still very sensitive to stimulation. She loved Clifton's touch, but she also felt nervous worry shoot through her. In the back of her mind, she couldn't help but wonder if her boyfriend would be comparing her to his past bedfellows. She knew she had to be the least endowed of all of the women he'd been with and she didn't want her lack of feminine hardware to drag down their encounter.
Chloe flinched as Clifton worked his fingers against her nonexistent bosom. Without any warning, she made her own move. She reached over with her right hand, seized his left and promptly pulled it downward. With a shift of her legs, Chloe opened her lower half up and pressed her boyfriend's fingers against the soft flesh of her crotch.
Chloe saw Clifton's eyes widen in surprise. She could hardly believe she'd done the act herself. It was bold, sensual and out-of-character for her. However, she really, really wanted this relationship to work. She couldn't dazzle him with sumptuous boobs to gaze at and grope, but she could offer him her virginity to explore and conquer.
Clifton didn't waste any time and Chloe squeaked in surprised elation as his experienced fingers worked and pressed all the right places. The girl from Vermilion City gasped and gazed into her man's eyes. She knew she'd made the right choice.
Clifton sniggered and returned Chloe's stare. "I guess you really want it!" he said in a low voice.
Chloe could only chuckle and nod her head. Clifton grinned, moved closer to her and grabbed hold of her. With a rapid move of feet and hands, he pulled her toward a dark room. With a flick of his right hand, the lights snapped on revealing the thing Chloe had been anticipating all evening; the bed.
Chloe swallowed excitedly and kicked off her high heels. She turned around so she could resume unbuttoning her blouse but Clifton simply gripped hold of her shoulders. He gave her a push and Chloe staggered back until her legs hit the foot of the bed. She started to fall backward and she felt a moment of panic. She briefly flailed her arms before she landed atop the soft mattress. She took a gasping breath and stared up at her boyfriend. He really liked taking control!
Chloe giggled excitedly as Clifton grinned and pulled off his shirt. Seeing his fit and athletic torso made her eyes widen and her skin tingle. Sex with him was gonna be amazing! She started to work free a few more of her blouse's buttons as he crawled up on the bed and moved toward her.
With her blouse three quarters undone and her bra clearly showing, Chloe slid her legs apart so Clifton could place his left knee between her thighs. She abruptly realized that she was still wearing her skirt and she quickly flared her legs in the air while using her hands to pull the covering free. She tossed the skirt aside with a giggle and Clifton moved in!
He first lowered his head and brushed his nose against her exposed panties. Chloe squealed gleefully as a thrilling lightning bolt shot upward from her loins. Clifton smiled and started crawling upward toward her head. He dipped his face into the opening of her blouse so he could kiss her chest. Chloe still felt a little apprehensive about letting him see her nonexistent bust, but she knew it was only a matter of time before he laid eyes on every inch of her body. She only hoped the embrace of her loins would make up for her lack of definition.
Clifton finished his advance and paused a moment before dipping his head. His lips met hers and she welcomed him with an enthusiastic kiss. She ran her hands over his powerful sides and muscular shoulders. A moment later, she flinched as his left hand started to explore her nether regions. He really, knew what he was doing! A shiver went through Chloe's body as his fingers swirled atop her panties. She gasped and looked up into the eyes of the man who was pleasuring her. He grinned intensely and Chloe felt love and desire fill her heart. Finally, there was a man who appreciated her!
Agonizingly sensual seconds passed and Chloe struggled to keep from crying out as pleasure rocked her body. She clamped her mouth shut, but muffled moans still escaped her lips. Her man chuckled and spoke in a low, sultry voice.
"Ready for more?!" he breathed.
Chloe squeaked and tried to say 'yes.' What actually came out of her mouth was less than intelligible, but the sentiment was understood. Clifton let out a manly hum and Chloe felt his fingers shift to the side. Her eyes began to water as her boyfriend slipped his digits beneath her panties and touched her incredibly sensitive flesh. With a gasp and a writhe, Chloe drank in the erotic feelings erupting from her lower half. No one, other than herself, had ever laid hands on that part of her body. She simply couldn't describe how wonderful the experience was. With a feminine whine, she closed her eyes and let the sensations wash over her.
She heard Clifton hum in satisfaction and enjoyment. She felt him shift atop the mattress. She shivered as his fingers explored a bit more. She then felt him place his right hand atop her collarbone and some of his weight press down on her chest. Chloe took in a breath and started to moan. Suddenly, she felt Clifton's hand slide upward to her throat and his fingers close around her neck.
Utter panic and terror shot through Chloe. She gasped loudly and flailed her arms. With a quick slash of her left arm, she knocked Clifton's hand free of her neck and crawled away from him on her elbows. Her eyes snapped open and she stared at him with an expression of shock and fear. She clutched at her neck, feeling shaken. He hadn't choked her at all, but the sensation of her throat being grabbed was one of the scariest things she'd ever experienced.
Clifton looked surprised. "What's wrong?!" he asked in a perplexed voice.
Chloe almost choked on incredulity. "What's wrong?!" she said, her voice breaking from emotion. "You grabbed my neck!"
Clifton continued looking puzzled. "Yeah… so?" he replied.
Chloe scoffed. "You can't just do that Cliff!" she said sharply.
Clifton looked annoyed and motioned his hands in a dismissive manner. "Oh come on! I've done that with all my other girlfriends. They really liked it."
Chloe just shook her head. "It's not okay, Cliff. Not with me."
Clifton looked down at the mattress, an unhappy expression on his face. He pondered his response for several moments before he looked up at Chloe.
"Okay, sorry! Let's just get back to it, okay?"
Chloe swallowed nervously and felt fear and worry rise up inside her. Clifton's action had completely changed her view of him. Before, his pushing and shoving of her had seemed romantic and assertive, but now it seemed ominous. His pursuit of her and willingness to jump through her hoops now seemed to only reflect his desire to get in her pants. Despite whatever he thought, it wasn't okay to grab a girl's neck without asking. She realized now, he just didn't care or think about her feelings.
"Uh…." Chloe replied hesitantly, averting her eyes. "I don't know…. Cliff."
Clifton looked deflated. "Come, on. We had something really good going!" he said in an annoyed voice.
Chloe swallowed again and started scooting off of the bed. "I think I should go," she said in a timid voice.
Clifton let out a frustrated sigh. "Chloe!" he groused.
Chloe's feet hit the floor and she pulled her blouse closed. A shiver went through her as she realized she was in the apartment of a man who might not be willing to take no as an answer. She took a shuddering breath and stood up.
"I'm sorry, Cliff!" she said in a quiet, sincere tone.
Clifton frowned and rotated on the bed so he faced her. "Let's talk about this first!" he said.
Chloe quickly fastened a few of her blouse's buttons so it wasn't hanging open. Barely half of the buttons were done and several of them were crooked but she didn't care. She simply wanted to get out of the apartment. She reached down with her right hand and grabbed her skirt. She then grabbed her high heels with her left and started walking toward the bedroom door.
She'd taken five steps when she heard Clifton slide off of the bed. Her heart began to pound and fear crawled up her throat. She really hoped things didn't take a turn for the worst.
"Come on, Chloe, I'm sorry!" Clifton said in a half remorseful tone.
Chloe stopped a couple steps short of the front door. She started awkwardly pulling on her skirt, glancing over her shoulder as she did so.
"I'm really sorry, Cliff!" she said, in a trembling voice.
The next few seconds were the longest and tensest of Chloe's life. She finished pulling on her skirt, slipped on her heels and walked to the door. She reached for the door handle; Clifton made no move to stop her and she pulled open the door. Holding her breath, she stepped outside and shut the door. She took several quick steps away from the apartment and started breathing again.
As she walked down the hallway, toward the stairs, Chloe glanced over her shoulder and suddenly felt doubt and regret rise up inside her. In the moment, inside the bedroom, she'd been afraid of Clifton and that he would force himself on her, but when she'd broken things off, he hadn't done anything to stop her. He'd even partially apologized for his stupid action. She began to wonder, had she overreacted? Had she just blown up a potential relationship because of a single mistake during sex?
Maybe Clifton really was a great guy like she'd thought? Maybe he just had a terrible approach to sex? Maybe she'd jumped to conclusions and been unfair? Maybe she should have given him a chance and talked with him, like he'd asked?
A couple of tears flowed from Chloe's eyes and she squeezed them shut while shaking her head. She didn't know what was in Clifton's heart or what his true intentions were. She only knew that she hadn't felt safe around him. Whether she was right or wrong in her assessment, she probably would never know.
Chloe reached the stairs and started descending. She stopped in an isolated corner at the ground floor and rebuttoned her blouse so it wasn't a disaster. She straightened her skirt and smoothed out her clothes so it didn't look like she'd just come from someone's bedroom. She then let out a big sigh and headed for the apartment complex's exit.
Chloe slowly traipsed up the steps of her apartment building until she reached her floor. Her shoulders were slumped and her face was downcast. She'd had time to think about her short relationship with Clifton and, in hindsight, she felt humiliated and foolish. It was obvious to her now that he had only been out to sleep with her and wasn't interested in a serious relationship. The signs had all been there, she'd even known deep down in her heart he was just out to bed her. She'd just been so focused on getting a boyfriend that she'd ignored common sense. Although it hurt, not sleeping with Clifton was probably the right decision.
With a sigh, Chloe walked down the hallway, toward the door of her apartment. She was curious if she would find the small Cinderace sticker attached to the door which was the subtle signal she and Goh had agreed on. If the sticker was there, it meant Goh was inside her apartment, finally experiencing his dream of being with a girl. If there wasn't a sticker, it meant either Goh had been unsuccessful or he was elsewhere.
Chloe stepped up to the doorway and saw that light was peeking out from underneath the door. There was also no sticker to be found. She paused for a moment, considering the situation. Goh was clearly inside, but the question was had he been unsuccessful or had he merely forgotten to put a sticker on the door? Chloe scrunched her lips up in indecision. The last thing she wanted to do was walk in on Goh making love to a woman.
Chloe leaned close to the door and pressed her right ear against it. She listened for a few moments and wasn't able to hear any sounds indicating that intimate activity was currently underway inside her apartment. With a huff and a grimace, Chloe steeled herself and hoped that she wasn't about to make a terribly embarrassing mistake. She pulled out her key and unlocked the door.
The door swung partway open and Chloe carefully stuck her head inside. She still couldn't hear anything suspicious and so she took a step inside.
"Goh!" she called out, her voice sounding loud in the silence of the apartment.
"In here, Chloe," Goh replied from inside the kitchen.
Chloe let out a sigh of relief before she shut and locked the door. She strode into the kitchen and saw that Goh was sitting on the vinyl floor with his back against the line of cabinets. He was holding his phone in his left hand and looking up at her as she came into view.
"Hey, Chloe," he said in a downcast voice.
"Hey, Goh," she replied in an equally dower tone. It didn't take a genius to figure out how their evenings had gone.
The two friends stared at each other in silence for a few seconds before Chloe spoke up.
"So, did you have any luck getting a girl?" she said, doing her best to sound upbeat.
Goh frowned and shook his head. "Nope," he said flatly.
Chloe sent him a sympathetic frown. "Oh….. sorry," she replied.
Goh nodded in acknowledgement but didn't say anything.
Chloe paused awkwardly for a moment and then continued. "So, how'd it go?" she asked.
Goh pursed his lips and looked nonplussed. "I don't wanna talk about it," he mumbled, averting his gaze and looking at the floor.
Chloe nodded and said nothing. Seconds passed and Goh slowly looked back up at his best friend.
"So, how'd it go with Clifton?" he asked.
Now it was Chloe's turn to look nonplussed. She paused for a moment and then looked away, toward her refrigerator.
"I don't wanna talk about it," she mumbled.
Goh frowned and nodded solemnly. Silence hung in the air for several seconds until Chloe glanced at Goh and walked to her refrigerator. She opened the freezer portion of the appliance and pulled out two pint containers of ice cream. She grabbed a couple of spoons and stepped over so she was standing next to Goh. With a kick of her feet, she discarded her high heels and lowered herself to the ground, letting her back slide down against the cabinets behind her.
Chloe offered one of the pints of ice cream to Goh. He looked over and saw it was Super Creamy Caramel, his favorite flavor.
"Huh, thanks," he said, taking the container and a spoon.
Chloe nodded. "No problem," she replied.
Goh set his phone in his lap and opened the container. Chloe opened hers as well and promptly scooped out a large bite and shoved it into her mouth. She closed her eyes and let out a sigh as she reveled in the blissful deliciousness of Super Cherry Chocolate Chunk.
Goh swallowed a bite of his own ice cream and a though suddenly occurred to him. "Hey, how'd you know to get ice cream for tonight?" he asked, surprised that Chloe would have their favorite comfort treats ready for them after they'd both experienced a miserable night.
Chloe shoved another scoop of ice cream into her mouth and sucked on the spoon. She glanced over at Goh and spoke in a distorted voice.
"Woman's intuition!" she remarked.
Goh pondered the reply for a moment and then shrugged in agreement. Given their track record on relationships, he probably wouldn't have bet on their success either.
The two of them spent a few minutes drowning their sorrows in sweet deliciousness before Goh spoke up.
"So, are you still going with Clifton?" he asked diplomatically.
Chloe had just eaten another bite of ice cream and she still had the spoon in her mouth. She shook her head and spoke with her mouth full of the treat.
"It's over," she said flatly.
Goh frowned and nodded. "Sorry," he mumbled.
Chloe nodded in acknowledgement but didn't say anything else.
Another minute passed and more ice cream was consumed. Neither of them wanted to discuss what had transpired that night and so silence reigned until Chloe glanced over at Goh and spotted his phone lying in his lap. She'd seen him looking at it when she'd first arrived. Given how his night had gone, she had a feeling what he'd been doing. She swallowed a bite of ice cream and opened her mouth to speak.
"Were you watching another of those silly videos?" she deadpanned.
Goh froze and his eyes widened. Chloe was fully aware of many of his habits, embarrassing as they may be. However, they'd never really discussed his 'silly videos' and her suddenly bringing it up was a surprise. Goh sent his best friend a sheepish expression and replied in an awkward tone.
"Yeah," he managed.
Chloe showed no reaction. She simply dug her spoon into the half-empty container and moved another bite of ice cream to her mouth. She sucked on the spoon and then suddenly spoke up in a distorted voice.
"Fire it up," she said directly.
Goh blinked in surprise. "Uh…" he replied hesitantly. "You wanna watch… that…"
Chloe pulled the spoon from her mouth and spoke in a critical tone. "Last time I checked, Goh, neither of us is getting any action!"
Goh pursed his lips and nodded in agreement. Chloe was right. They'd both struck out at love that night. Without giving it much thought, Goh picked up his phone with his left hand and put the pint of ice cream in his lap. He held the device over to his right side so Chloe could see it and tapped the button to reactivate the phone. Chloe scooted over so her shoulder was pressed against his and Goh tapped the phone to resume the silly video, something he immediately regretted.
Shame and embarrassment suddenly washed over Goh as Chloe was treated to the sight of a muscular man and a shapely woman engaging in the activity both of them had hoped to sample for themselves that night. Goh's face became hot and he felt like he could crawl into a corner and die of humiliation. What had he been thinking?!
Groan and moans emanated from the man and woman as they acted out their passions in an athletic manner. She was on her back, atop a bed, and he was looming over her. Just as Goh thought he could stand the embarrassment no more, Chloe spoke up.
"He's hot!" she commented in an offhand manner, eating another bite of ice cream.
Goh's embarrassment suddenly receded. He glanced over at Chloe with a surprised expression.
"Really?" he asked.
Chloe nodded and sucked on the spoon for a few seconds before adding another comment. "He's going a bit fast, though. That probably doesn't feel good for her."
Goh glanced at the video and then back at Chloe. "You think so?" he asked, clearly curious.
Chloe nodded. "I know so," she replied absently.
Goh started to nod in acknowledgement but froze mid motion. "Wait! How would you know?!" he asked abruptly.
Chloe glanced over at him and silence hung in the air. She raised her eyebrows, hoping Goh would get the hint. When he didn't, she partially rolled her eyes and spoke in a disapproving tone.
"Cause I'm a woman, Goh," she said in a low voice.
Goh pursed his lips, but still looked perplexed. "But, you've never been with a guy, right?" he replied.
Chloe simply stared back at Goh, offering no response whatsoever. After several seconds of silence, the maroon haired girl scooped another bite of ice cream into her mouth and went back to watching the video.
Goh frowned and joined her in watching the video. He ate another bite of ice cream as the couple changed positions and began making love anew. Chloe scooted a bit closer and he could smell the remnants of her perfume from earlier in the night. It was a scent he loved; indescribable, mysterious and sweet. He hoped his future girlfriend would also like the perfume. He'd be sure to ask her to wear it.
Time ticked by. The gasping, moaning and cries of pleasure continued and Goh couldn't shake a persistent thought from his mind.
"Hey, Chloe?" he whispered. "If you're still a virgin, how do you know‑"
"Shut up, Goh!" Chloe hissed under her breath.
Goh pursed his lips and dropped the topic. He'd have to be content with being curious and not knowing.
Their conversation ceased and their attention focused on Goh's phone. More ice cream was consumed but the bites came slower and slower as the intimate action on display became more erotic and visceral. Soon, the two best friends were completely captivated by the sensual action they'd missed out on that night.
Goh awkwardly shifted his body and tried to subtly bring his legs together. He felt embarrassed to be obviously excited in Chloe's presence and he didn't want her to see. He surreptitiously glanced over at her, hoping that she hadn't noticed the small bulge in his crotch. He was relieved to see she was focused on the video. His gaze lingered on his best friend and he suddenly realized that Chloe's face and neck were flushed red.
Goh felt a strange type of excitement flutter inside him. He'd always been immensely embarrassed by his tendency to watch silly videos when he was feeling alone. He'd been afraid of Chloe's judgment, but now, seeing that she was excited by the video just like he was, he felt a strange sort of kinship with her. Like they were two lonely souls desperately trying to find companionship.
Goh swallowed some drool and eyed Chloe's rosy flesh a bit more. He'd never noticed how hot she could be when she was wearing a nice outfit. He wondered how in the world she was still a virgin after all this time! She was definitely going to make some guy very happy some day!
The gasping and moaning intensified in the video. It was clear the encounter was nearing the big climax. Goh and Chloe leaned in a bit closer so they could see all there was to see. Their cheeks briefly brushed together as they crowded in. They awkwardly shifted and murmured apologizes.
Chloe glanced to the side and sniffed in amusement at how Goh had twisted his legs, trying to hide his arousal from her. The realization made her skin burn a bit hotter and her loins tingle just a little more. She squirmed briefly, barely resisting the urge to sate her desires.
Goh glanced over at Chloe and saw she was even more flushed than before. He was about to return his gaze to the video when he glanced down. Chloe had pulled her knees up toward her chest and this had caused her skirt to bunch up around her waist. From his position, Goh couldn't see her panties, but he knew they were exposed.
His best friend was holding her ice cream and spoon in her left hand while her right was hanging down between her legs, dangling precariously close to her nether regions. Her fingers twitched and he could tell what she wanted to do. This realization made Goh's blood simmer. He hadn't known about this side of Chloe! He felt even closer to her than before. She really was a great friend!
Their attention returned to the video and they stared wide-eyed as the couple finished their deed. There was plenty of groaning, moaning, gasping and swearing as the man and woman writhed and rolled with each other. The video ended and Goh and Chloe blinked as if coming out of a trance.
Goh coughed and set the phone down in his lap.
Chloe cleared her throat and quickly ate a couple bites of ice cream.
Goh followed suit and ate a bite of the sweet treat. Awkward glances were exchanged. Neither of them quite knew what to say. Finally, Goh spoke up.
"This was really good, thanks!" he said, his mouth full of ice cream.
Chloe sent him a tense, sidelong stare. Goh returned it and suddenly his eyes went wide.
"Uh! I meant the ice cream!" he quickly added, pointing at his container with his spoon.
Chloe looked away and cleared her throat again. "Yeah, of course," she said offhandedly.
"Mmm-hmm," Goh hummed in agreement, trying to distance himself from the mistaken implication.
They exchanged another awkward glance and both of them ate more ice cream. Soon the containers were empty and the two friends stood up. Silence continued to reign. This time it was Chloe who broke it.
"You know, I'm not sure why people watch those things," she said. "But, I guess it beats being lonely. Right, Goh?"
Goh pursed his lips and thought for a moment. "Yeah, I suppose so," he began. He shrugged in a casual manner and looked indifferent. "I mean, I mostly watch those videos for educational purposes."
Chloe narrowed her eyes. "Educational purposes?" she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Goh managed a sheepish grin. "Yeah…. You know…. so I know how to properly…. do it."
Chloe simply stared for several seconds before rolling her eyes. "Okay, Goh," she said in a disbelieving tone.
Goh nodded a couple of times and awkwardly glanced around the apartment. "Well," he began abruptly. "It's getting late. I guess I should be getting home."
Chloe nodded solemnly. "Yeah," she replied. She paused a moment before continuing in a sincere tone. "Sorry you didn't get your girl tonight."
Goh smiled appreciatively. "Yeah. Sorry it didn't work out with you and Clifton."
Chloe nodded and smiled. Goh waited a moment before he slowly turned and took a step toward the door. Three steps later, Chloe suddenly spoke up.
"Hey, Goh!" she began.
Goh turned around to face her.
Chloe bit her tongue and continued. "Are you planning to try some of the things they do in those videos?"
Goh was surprised by the question. "Uh, I guess so. It looks pretty sexy."
Chloe quietly sighed and subtly shook her head. "Goh, if you try most of those things in bed, the only thing you'll be getting is a swift knee to the groin."
Goh frowned. First at Chloe's critique of his abilities and second at the thought of his future lover slamming her knee into his most treasured organ.
"Uh, okay," he mumbled.
Chloe folded her arms and sighed. She looked down at the floor, wiggled her toes and then spoke in a resigned manner.
"If you want, come on by tomorrow and I'll show you some things which will actually work."
Goh felt a very strange excitement surge inside him. He knew Chloe couldn't be offering what it sounded like she was, not that he'd take her up on it anyway. But, just the idea of her making the offer made his body twitch and his excitement peak.
"Uhhhhhh," he mumbled, his face turning a shade of red.
Chloe's face scrunched up and blush spread on her cheeks. "On the videos, dummy!" she said sharply. "I'll show you what they're doing wrong!"
Goh laughed tensely. "Yeah, I got that," he said awkwardly.
Silence hung in the air yet again before Goh spoke up.
"So, dinner tomorrow?" he proffered.
Chloe nodded. "Sounds good!"
Goh tried to keep a straight face but couldn't. "And then…. video afterward?"
Chloe nodded again but said nothing.
Goh nodded and then awkwardly pointed at the door. "I guess I'll get going."
"Sure," Chloe spoke up. "Have a safe trip!"
Goh flashed her a smile. "Sure!" He stepped to the door and opened it. He then turned around and waved at Chloe. "Sweet dreams!" he said.
Chloe giggled and nodded. "Sweet dreams, Goh," she said kindly.
The door shut. Chloe let out an amused sigh and shook her head. The night had been a total disaster and yet she didn't feel all that sad. Clifton was gone, but her time with Goh had left her feeling sexy and confident that she would find a guy. It was just a matter of time.
Chloe's thoughts drifted to what she'd watched a few minutes earlier and, without warning, her desires suddenly resurfaced. Her body began to burn and her skin to tingle. She'd never watched such a video before. She'd read books, watched romantic movies and used her imagination to explore the realm of sexuality. Seeing intimacy in such a raw fashion had been beyond stimulating. Having Goh sitting next to her had only made it more intense.
Sweat started to bead on Chloe's forehead. She shifted awkwardly on her feet and then made a beeline for her bedroom. Her skirt hit the floor just outside the doorway and she began unfastening her blouse's buttons. A second later, she locked herself inside, crawled on the bed and set about completing the work that Clifton had originally started and Goh's silly video had greatly inflamed.
Sometime later, Chloe emerged from her bedroom, wearing her pajamas and a goofy smirk. She grabbed a snack and sat down on her couch. As she munched on her small meal, she reflected on the night's events.
All-in-all, things hadn't turned out too badly. She'd avoided sleeping with a potential loser, she'd had a fun, if weird, time with Goh and experienced the best ever time by herself. Chloe couldn't help but smirk as she imagined that Goh would no doubt be doing the exact same thing she'd done when he got home. Theirs was a strange friendship, for sure.
She laughed as she thought about the next day and that she would be watching another video with Goh while giving him advice. It was gonna be weird and awkward, however, if it led to another moment alone, like she'd just experienced, she wouldn't complain. It was more action than she was getting in her love life.