For the record, Jasmine herself had thought this was a terrible, terrible idea.

And that was coming from HER; the queen of bad ideas. Who broke her foot trying to do a cartwheel on a tree branch and who thought she would make bank selling lemonade by those quiet men who hung out behind the gas station and sold stuff in little packets (Huey had dragged her home, turns out they were drug dealers. Who would have guessed?).

But Huey was the big brain man. So if it was his idea, it had to be a good one, and she was just overthinking as usual. Right?

"Why are you shivering."

Jasmine jumped at his voice – she couldnt stop being on edge.

"It's cold." She muttered back. Huey grunted, unimpressed, sneaking his arm around her waist to pull her to his chest. Her naked waist.

Because that's what she was. Naked.

"Half naked." She hissed to herself in reminder. She still had on her underwear – but with how vulnerable she was feeling she might as well have been.

Huey's hands roved across her skin, examining. And though his touch was almost clinical, never lingering, Jasmine thought she would combust right there in his lap.

" See ?" she breathed, when the silence had begun feeling like a fire against her temples, " I'm perfectly fine."

Huey pressed against the bruise on her back in response, his eyes boring into hers. Her wince was impossible to mask.

" Why are you lying to me. Again." Huey spoke through gritted teeth.

She shivered again, looking down. His warm hand wrapped around her chin, forcing her to look back up at him. He lifted her head up so high that the top of it grazed against his chest, and even in their current circumstances this was a comfort.

" Well ?" he hissed down at her.

She hated it. Hated how he had her, bare again, back arched, tits (almost) out, face imprisoned between his fingers. Hated how unphased he seemed, how his eyes never left her, angry and demanding.

He was probably used to being in this position.

If what Riley referenced was true – he had probably seen a bunch of naked girls – like Wayward.

Way skinnier, way tighter ass Wayward.

Jasmine pulled away slightly. "Can I put my clothes back on ?" she muttered, voice wavering. Something flashed in Huey's eyes – he dropped his hands as if her skin was fire.

" Jasmine of course." He moved from her, and she tried to ignore the newfound coldness on her back as she rushed to dress again. "You never have to ask me that." He continued. " Never."

She looked up at him from her bed. He was leaning on her desk chair, eyes trained on her ceiling fan.

"Or with anyone else?"

His eyes slammed onto her face.

" No." he spoke calmly. "No one."

Jasmine shivered, standing up to walk towards him. " Did I prove it at least? That I'm fine ?"

He didn't miss a beat. " No."

Groaning, Jasmine threw up her hands. "Well I don't know what to tell you."

"How about the truth?"

Jasmine glared, wrapping herself into an anxiety hug. Huey hated when she did that – he thought it was childish, that she needed to just work through her emotions like an adult.

She didn't care today though – she needed it. And maybe she enjoyed getting under HIS skin for a change.

With an irritated huff, Huey pulled her arms apart, holding her wrists delicately. " Tell the truth for once today."

And Jasmine couldn't take it anymore. Like the rain outside, her tears fell hard and plenty. Everything – the aches, the emotional confusion, it all fell through those tears that were beginning to soak through Huey's shirt.

"I'm sorry." She sobbed into his chest. " I couldn't stop them."

" Jasmine stop what ?"

" The feelings…" she clutched him tighter, gasping for air between hiccups. " I'm not as sex rehearsed as you Huey. I didn't k-know how to not get m-my feelings involved, and I r-ruined everything, my body HURTS-"

She sobbed a little louder as Huey dropped her wrists, his hands moving to cup her neck. He craned her head upwards, gently, until she opened her reddened eyes to find him looking down at her.

His eyebrows were furrowed. " I knew you were in over your head. I should have protected you, and for that failure I ask your forgiveness."

Jasmine's eyes lowered, and she spoke without thinking. " I don't regret the sex."

Silence. Her eyes moved slowly to his, widened. As usual, his face gave nothing away. But she felt the surprised twitch of his fingers on her neck – the small intake of breath in his lungs.

" Oh ?" he asked quietly.

Her bones seemed to clatter under his gaze. " I mean for the project !" she rushed to get out, heart pounding. " I feel, no offense Huey, that the only regret I have is in it beig so rough. I'm nervous it will give me a bias."

What. Was. She. DOING ?

His eyes remained blank as she continued, rambling like a madman, " I'm worried me only having it one time and it being rough will create some bias. And I'll look inexperienced, and bad at research. Not that YOU'RE bad Huey, you were really good I believe, I could barely-"

" What are you really trying to say Jasmine ?"

His fingers on her neck tightened slightly, and the press of his fingers on her skin made her feel strange things – made her feel justified in her current stupidity.

Despite the thundering outside, Jasmine could hear his heartbeat as clear as her own. Yet his eyes remained impassive. Though she knew him well enough to know there was a glint to his gaze that she rarely ever saw. Something dark and without a name.

It was becoming clear through the way she couldn't stand that gaze on anyone else, how her own eyes couldn't pull away from his body, that she wanted him. After all the emotional toil he has put her through, she felt she DESERVED him. It could be the sex she was after- had to be the sex- and her needing it again so badly would be an interesting point to explore in her project. How the first time having sex can create false notions of love and reshape reality.

Because that was what was happening. False feelings because Huey is apparently some sexual god-like asshole. It wasn't her true feelings.

But that didn't change that she wanted him now. That she would combust if she didn't feel him inside of her one more time.

It was clear their friendship was altered – undone by her own hand. But at least, she could keep him this way. If it was the only way they could remain close, she would hop in bed with him in a heartbeat.

" I'm saying I need it more. Different ways. To fully understand it, and to be desensitized to it. After that I should be over these feelings, and my work will be less biased."

His mouth opened - to reject, she was sure. But she knew she couldn't handle rejection, so her hand clamped over his lips.

And if looks could kill she would be dead.

"Please. I know it's' confusing. But I promise-" his eyes narrowed- " PROMISE I'll be good. After time it wont get to me as much. I could go to someone else-" he moved roughly under her hand- " BUT I am more comfortable with you. Please Huey. This project means a lot to me."

Her hand trembled as she removed it from his tense lips. His stare never wavered.

It stayed on her for a while and Jasmine was sure she was going to crumble into dust onto her floor.

And then finally, some merciful god shined down at her, and he finally spoke.

" Would now be a good time for us to proceed in your experimentation ?"