29
CLARITY
Shivering, my phone in between my legs and the side of my face, I struggle to speak.
I push into Natalie's chest again. "She's not breathing!" I scream on the phone at 9-1-1.
"Calm down, ma'am, tell me the emergenc—" The phone slips from my shoulder, falling flat onto the water on the floor. Crap .
Hard sobs rake through my body as I push my weight into Natalie's chest once again. Leaning down, I pinch her nose, tilting her head before pressing my mouth to hers, blowing air into her parted mouth.
Returning to her chest, heaving one more push, Natalie's body jerks, water spewing out of her mouth.
I inhale a sharp breath. “Natalie, God. Natalie !" Tears continuously stream down my cheeks as I lower myself, turning Natalie to her side so the water can escape her.
Her face, returning the color, twists into sobs as soon as the water is done leaving her.
She looks up at me, tears filling her eyes, and I pull her into a hug.
We're both soaked to our skins, sitting on the cold floor in cold water, shivering. But my friend is okay.
She cries into my neck as I hold her tightly, breaths of relief leaving me.
"I'm sorry, Clarity," Natalie attempts to say, but a raspier version escapes her. "I didn't want to die. I wasn’t thinking. I just—"
"Shh," I hush softly. Knowing the feeling too well. "It's okay, I get it. But you're alive; that's all that matters. Right?"
She nods, breaking into a spree of coughing.
I stand up with her, an arm wrapped around my neck. Grabbing a towel from the holder, I wrap it around her shoulders, telling myself my friend is okay and willing myself to stop the tears from running down my face. I should be the strong one here.
A knock on the door frightens me. "Mrs. Red, Are you alright? Mr. Grey is attempting to call you." Charles' voice comes through the front door as we exit the bathroom, cold and dripping wet.
Natalie turns to me. "Who's that?" she asks quietly as I walk her to the couch and set her down.
"My... bodyguard friend."
Walking to the door, I open it, revealing Charles. His eyes search my drenched body, widening in surprise at the sight.
He steps closer. "Ms. Red, are you alright?"
"I'm okay, Charles. Can you please tell Olias to come here?"
He nods, slipping out his phone, and turns around before I close the door.
Natalie sits on the couch, an extra blanket around her.
Sympathy fills my veins. Guilt follows right after.
I sit beside her in silence, SpongeBob playing on the TV.
"My mom died," Natalie quietly blurts out. She sniffles, bringing her knees to her chin, "My mom died, and my dad doesn't even accept me as his daughter anymore. The whole supporting-who-your-daughter-like thing was too much for him, I guess. And then the thing with you happened. I fucked up my only friendship by accident. So yeah, Christmas was just a shit show and my feelings got the best of me today when I realized..." She laughs humorlessly, "When I have no one ."
She turns to me, crying a river of tears. My eyes are peeing as well.
I turn, hugging her. "You have me. You always will, Nat. I'm sorry I hit you."
"I deserved I—"
"No, you didn't. You were a good friend who got me into college and helped me when I needed it the most. I'm sorry I didn't see that."
A frantic knock on the door for several minutes cut our crying session in half, and I let go of Natalie to open the door.
Olias stands on the other side, Charles on the side of him, looking down the hall. His hand comes to the side of my arm, taking me in. My clothes are beginning to dry a little, but the lower half of my jeans are still wet.
"What the fuck happened?" He asks, scared, breathing hard from running up the stairs probably.
Looking back at Natalie, her eyes glued to SpongeBob on the screen and the cover around her, I press my lips together.
"She... was having a hard time and needed my help. I helped her." I say quietly.
He looks past my shoulder at Natalie, and I can see his realization in his eyes. He sighs, "Shit."
I nod, letting him in. Natalie looks up and sees Olias, then waves sadly.
Olias waves back before turning to me and threading his fingers through his hair. "What do you two need? How can I help, baby?"
"Get the water off the floor while we change into dry clothes?" I suggest. He looks down the hallway at the water on the bathroom floor and nods, walking to do just that.
Calling Natalie into her room, she walks in and holds herself, her curly hair starting to dry now. I dig into her closet, pulling out an extra pair of sleeping clothes for both of us. There's no way I'm leaving her alone.
"Here, put these on," I tell her, passing her the clothes. She starts to change in front of me, and so do I, peeling off the wet clothes.
After we change into comfortable attire, Natalie says, "Thank you."
I tilt my head. "It's your clothes, there's no need to—"
"No... for saving me in there. Thank you."
Smiling softly, I come to her, wrapping her into one of my famous man hugs. "You would've done the same."
She sniffles, nodding, "Ten times over."
Pulling away from each other, she walks towards the door and opens it. Olias, I see down the hall, is soaking up water with a towel and wringing it out in the sink. Repeat.
"He really does love you a lot," Natalie says beside me.
I stare at Olias, who hasn't noticed us watching him nearly finish cleaning the water off the floor after only several minutes.
I nod. "I know. Come on, SpongeBob is waiting for us." After this night, a little yellow elated sponge seems perfect to brighten the mood. We walk together towards the couch, grabbing the blankets and covering ourselves, blocking the cold draft filling the apartment. Her head leans on my shoulder, and she laughs at a scene on the screen.
Olias, walking around the corner, huffing, looks at us for several minutes before smiling. I smile back.
He bends over, takes off his shoes, places them beside the door, and walks over to us.
"Joining our SpongeBob marathon?" I ask. "You don't have to, though."
He grabs a folded blanket on the edge of the couch and flaps it open. "Now, why would I miss out on that?" He sits beside me, the couch dipping in his direction, allowing me to lean into him and Natalie to lean on me. "I'd rather hang out with you two than the guys. They're fucking annoying."
Natalie laughs at his comment. "You're definitely squidward, Olias."
I giggle, agreeing.
"Then you're fucking Patrick," he says jokingly.
"Um, no, I'd fuck Sandy, actually."
I burst into laughter, Olias sorting and shaking his head.
"A squirrel ? Really." He questions.
Natalie nods. "Mhm, full-on bestiality—" She barely gets the word out and immediately starts cracking herself up with laughter at her own words, and Olias’ face fills with disgust. Natalie's body shakes at my side.
Olias only shakes his head. "Don't fucking talk anymore." Humor laces his words at their ongoing joke that I don't understand.
I tilt my head. "What's... bestiality ?"
They both look at me momentarily before cackles fill the living room shortly after. Confusion crosses my face. But it's also one of the only times I've seen Olias genuinely laugh in front of someone other than me. Whatever the joke is, I'm glad he gets along with Natalie.
Olias wraps an arm around my neck, kissing my forehead. "Don't worry about it, baby. It's not important."
Natalie hooks my arm with hers, leaning her head back on my shoulder. "I think we can agree that Clarity is definitely SpongeBob."
I don't mind being Mr. SquarePants, so I shrug, accepting it.
After several minutes, or maybe hours later—I'm not sure—we transferred to the carpet below. Pillows sit under our heads, me between the two, as SpongeBob still plays on the TV.
At some point, Natalie fell asleep, leaving Olias and I barely awake.
"Ready for the New Year next week, Clare?" He mutters quietly. He brushes my hair out of my face as I nod.
"Remember that Christmas party we never got to?"
He nods. "You want to throw a New Year's one?"
I bite my lip with as much excitement as I can pull out of the drowsiness quickly falling on me. "Yes, at the house. But more for Natalie than anything."
Wrapping an arm around me, he mutters one word. "Done."
***
OLIAS
New Year's Eve usually consists of dinner with my parents and sister. Every. Year.
It was just the four of us for the longest, and before I met Clarity, I dreaded the new year ever since they died. I didn't want to spend it alone, just like I thought I'd spent the past few days alone.
But standing here, wearing a white flannel and a gold chain around my neck, as Clarity suggested to match her dress, things have changed. They have changed for the better. I walk towards our room.
It's nearly seven, and the sun is set. The house is filled with music, and alcohol is ready in the living room.
Clarity has been fidgeting all day. Not once has she sat down as if we were hosting a party for hundreds.
No one has even arrived since we told them to come at eight. But Clarity? She was up at six in the morning.
I peer into our bedroom, watching Clarity as she pulls up her New Year's dress—a gold one, tight on her body, shaping every curve and dip of her body. Her hair is down, curled at the ends. Looking in the mirror, not noticing me at her side yet, I take in her look.
Her thighs, the shape of her hips, the shimmering white high heels she wears.
She's fucking stunning.
Holding a long black box in my hand, I slide it into my pocket.
Clarity groans at her failed attempt to zipper the back of her dress up.
I smile, walking into the room, causing her to turn sideways to look at me.
"Olias!" she exclaims as if she had forgotten I was an option for help. "Can you help me, please?"
I approach her from behind, placing a hand on her hip. Dropping my head, I kiss her neck. "Of course." I feel a shiver run through her.
Looking at her through the mirror, we watch each other while I find the zipper of her dress and pull it up.
I wrap my arms around her waist as she inspects herself in the mirror from head to toe, tilting her head.
"Do you think I should switch dresses? I don't know about this one," She rubs a hand over her stomach.
I furrow my brows. "What's wrong with this one?"
She shrugs. "I just look a little... fat now. I have a tummy, and in this tight one, it shows."
Is she drunk? What is she talking about?
"So what if you gained a little weight? It means I'm doing my job right, my pretty girl." I kiss her neck.
Her face only grimaces, and it confuses me. What did I say wrong?
I turn her around to face me as her tears fill her eyes. She has makeup on, and I don't want her to ruin it. She spent nearly two hours doing the damn thing.
Pulling her flush against my front, I take her lip in, kissing her deeply.
Then, pull back enough to speak, "Why are you crying?" I stroke my thumb against her jaw. "Talk to me, I'm listening."
She sniffles. "I look different from when we first met. And I'm scared th— that you won't... think I'm pretty anymore."
I won't think she's pretty . I nearly laugh at how ridiculous that even sounds in my head. She can't possibly think that.
Pressing my forehead onto hers, I grip her hips. "You're fucking gorgeous, Clarity. Yeah, I've gotten you to eat more because you weren't doing it enough with that bastard. But that doesn't mean you don't look just as beautiful, baby. I love every part of you, especially the ones you don't like. Do you know why?"
She shakes her head; her eyes are still red, but I can tell she's feeling better already.
"Because as long as you're my girl, it's my job and always will be to make sure you know you're the sexiest woman in this fucking world. You hear me?" I run my hands along her body. "I don't care about your weight or how much you eat. I don't care if your body changes. You look beautiful regardless, and it hurts me that you even slightly think that's not true."
She's smiling now, blinking rapidly to avoid crying, I assume. Then she hugs me, lifting a little even in her heels to wrap her arms around my neck.
I hug her back, gripping her ass just because it's mine to grip.
"Am I not telling you enough how beautiful you are? Hm?" I question, genuinely wondering. "I tell you every day. What am I doing wrong?" I need to know. If I can change something to make her feel better about herself, I need to know what it is.
She shakes her head, looking at me. "No, nothing, Olias. It was just me. You're... perfect ."
I sigh, dropping my head to her neck as I hold her. "I love you."
"I love you more ," she giggles as I gently kiss her neck.
I shake my head. "That's not possible, Clare." Digging in my back pocket, I smirk. "I got something for you."
Her eyebrows raise, and it doesn't seem like she is on the verge of tears anymore. Someone pat me on the fucking back.
"What is it?" she grins, showing her pearly white teeth.
I pull the necklace box out of my pocket, holding it between us. She shifts excitingly in her heels, a hand on her mouth.
Slowly, I open it for her, showing her the forty-eight-thousand-dollar diamond necklace I bought her after the accident with Natalie. She's been through so much and seen so goddamn much, and she never complains. She deserves this.
She gasps. " Olias !" The large, giddy smile on her face causes a smile to stretch ear to ear on mine. "Oh my God . That's..."
I take it out of the box carefully, throwing the box on our queen-sized bed at the side. "You like it?" I hope so.
She looks at me. "I freaking love it! But you can't expect me to accept it. It looks like it cost more than my entire tuition ."
I shake my head. "Your tuition was fifty-two thousand. This was a little less than that."
She squints up at me, pausing her movement. "Why do you know my tuition cost?"
Shit.
I didn't want to tell her I paid it for her, but after hearing her talk about taking out loans, I did it a few days ago. She has specifically told me not to spend money on her.
"You needed it," I try to reason, my voice pathetically small in worry of her getting mad.
She crosses her arms. "Yeah, I did, but I don't want to be your leech. What if you spend all your money on me and lose the company?"
I only laugh at her scenario. "Clarity, there's not even a possibility that I run out of money or lose the company. Now turn around, shut your little mouth, and let me spoil my girl."
Pressing her lips together, our eyes stare in a contest. I raise my eyebrows, and she breaks her serious expression, blushing and smiling. "Okay, fine, you win. "
She spins around and faces the mirror. I nod. "Good girl." Her cheeks beam red, and the makeup blush is just adding to it.
Wrapping the necklace around her neck, she bites down on her lip, staring at it. I clip the back, then look at her reflection, touching the diamonds.
"Thank you," She whispers. "For this and for paying my tuition. I can't get you anything as good as this. I'm sorry in advance for my poopy gifts."
Pulling her along and around, I walk towards the bed. "The only gift I'll ever ask of you,"—I start, lowering her on the bed, my knee sliding her legs open. I kiss her, drunk off her touch on my sides— “is you in my bed, naked, wet, and ready for me."
Her eyes jerk wider, her break switching gears as my hand travels down her body and under her dress. I grip her thigh.
"We—" She swallows hard. "We can't; they'll be here in ten minutes."
I smirk. "Good thing we only need five."
I pull her laced white panties down as a thin line of her wetness sticks to the material already. Look up at her with a raised bro. "Trying new things on?" I say, hinting at the laced underwear.
She nods.
"Get more. You look hot," I can feel the rasp in my voice as I speak to her, my throat aching to taste her.
Sliding the dress up her hips, I pull her to the edge of the bed, kneeling on both knees on the floor. “You always seem to have me on my knees one way or another,” I utter.
She looks down at me, and my dick stiffens more than it has in my pants. Her big brown eyes catch mine as I pull her legs over my shoulder, her heels hanging over me.
Looking down at her pussy, soaked to the brim, I lower my head between her, blowing softly against her clit.
She moans, "Olias—"
Her voice is cut off as I drag my tongue up her pussy, collecting her wetness and taste her. She moans, finding my hair and pulling as I go back in, sucking on her sensitive little clit.
Her thighs squeeze my head, but I spread them with my hands, providing me more access to what's mine.
Slipping my tongue inside, she gets loud, groaning and whines. She could play that sound she makes on repeat and wouldn’t get tired of her whimpers.
I hum, vibrating my mouth against her pussy, flicking my tongue on and around her clit. The wet sounds fill the room. I want nothing but for her to take my dick, but there's no time. I twitch under my slacks as she raises her hips, grinding herself against my lips.
Fuck that, fuck time. Standing, I quickly open our dresser. I grab a condom, ripping it open.
Between her legs, I unbuckle my pants as quickly as I can, dropping them and my boxers to my thighs, freeing and sliding myself inside the condom.
I sigh, lowering myself over my beauty, who’s waiting patiently and anxiously to be satisfied.
She grabs my face, her eyelids low and pleading, begging for me despite her worry on time.
My face burns from how turned on she's made me, her pulling my hair again, adding to it, the pain soaring so good through my veins.
I slide my hips in between her legs, positioning myself with her hole before inserting myself entirely. We both let out a long moan, mine brushing against her neck.
She squeezes and contracts and— fuck, she feels so good every single fucking time. How could she ever think I'd change the way I see her?
With my hands on the sides of her face, I lower myself, kissing her before pulling out and ramming back inside. She gasps sharply.
"Fuck, Clarity," I whimper.
"Oh God," She squeals repetitively as a knock on the front door finds our ear. She gasps, and I shake my head.
"Nu-uh," I tell her. "I'm not stopping until you cum."
She bites her lip, driving me fucking insane. "What if they ... Oh," I must've hit a spot because she cuts herself off, her head digging into the pillow below.
"What was that? Finish your sentence, Clarity," I bend her knees closer to her, reaching deeper inside.
She moans, her eyes rolling to the back of her head. Knocks at the door continue.
Her legs begin to shake, her jaw dropping to the floor as I thrust into her. I grab onto the bed sheets beside us as I cum with her, the feeling of her walls contracting tightly around me, sending me far over the edge.
" Shit , you're so beautiful," I gasp, spilling into the condom, her warmth wrapping me, dripping down her ass.
Knocks bring Clarity and me back to earth. She puts a hand on her head and lifts up as I slide out of her. "Olias, the door." She stands up, fixing her dress and hair.
I grab her arm, quickly kissing her cheek twice. "Relax. Go to the bathroom and clean up quickly. I'll get your underwear."
She takes a deep breath and nods, walking to the bathroom.
I fix myself up as well, grabbing her clean panties from her underclothes drawer and walking to the bathroom to pass it to her. It takes her a few minutes to freshen up again. The knocks are getting heavier. Michael even calls my phone.
She walks out and looks as if nothing has happened between the couple minutes that have passed.
I hold out my hand, and she takes it, smiling, still flustered with pink cheeks.
Walking to the door, cutting off a knock, I open it, revealing everyone expected to come.
They were talking amongst themselves, their voices echoing in the hallway. Once they realized I had finally opened the door, they looked my way, cheering.
Michael holds up a hand. "Happy New Year, Olinda!" I shake my head at the hug, but he brings me into one anyway.
I sigh, giving in and hugging him back.
"What took you so long?"
I shrug. "Sleeping."
Be squints his eyes, smirking as he looks between Clarity and I. "Sleeping, sure."
Everyone fills in after him, Kyle holding a glass of wine, Tanner, then Natalie holding Sabrina—the French girl from that go-kart place— hand.
Natalie grins, stopping in front of Clarity and me. Clarity gasps at their connected hands and greets her friend. Sabrina waves, and I nod.
"Oh my gosh, you two look amazing." Clarity says, inspecting their outfits. "And together, congrats!"
"Thank you so much, Clarity!" Natalie says. "Happy New Year."
As they speak, I close the door when I feel someone else stop it.
I pause, opening the door again, to see the last person I expected to see.
Jasmine.
She looks different since the last time I saw her, her hair slightly darker blonde, curled. She smiles a small smile, and the urge to shut the door in her face before Clarity can see her nicks at me.
I get in the light of the sight of Clarity and Jasmine. "What the fuck are you doing here? I didn't invite you, and Clarity damn sure didn't, so get the fuck away—"
"She invited me, actually."
I laugh humorlessly, "Sure she did. Goodbye, Jasmine."
"Olias, just ask her yourself. She called me yesterday and said she got my number from your phone."
I haven't called Jasmine in fucking forever, yet I don't remember blocking her so that story does work. But hey, would Clarit—"
"Olias," I feel Clarity's hand on my shoulder. "Is that Jasmine?"
What in the fuck? So, I was just not a part of this arrangement, I guess.
"Baby," I start, hesitating to let Jasmine in. Clare's too nice for this. Too nice to say no.
She grabs my hand, "I wanted her to come. It's a new year, and I want us to have no enemies."
I whisper. "She's an exception."
She shakes her head, " No , she isn't."
Sighing, I opened the door wider and let Jasmine in. Looking past me, she sees Clarity and smiles. "Hey," she says awkwardly.
“Hi,” Clarity says weirdly, stepping in front of me.
"I wanted to say I'm sorry," Jasmine apologizes. "To both of you."
I go to walk away, but Clarity squeezes my hand hard.
Jasmine continues, and I listen, bored. "I didn't want to... get in the way. You two clearly have something I wanted." She raises a bottle of vodka as if that was a good enough excuse for what she did to us. "I brought vodka."
Clarity nods. “Thank you, Jasmine. But I didn’t call you here to party with us… or your apology. I called you here to tell you that what you did wasn't okay.” Her calm words surprises me. “I don’t know what you’ve been through in your life, but taking it out on people won’t get you anywhere…”
Jasmine only stares at her, tears making her eyes shiny. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her cry… I hold back a bored sigh.
“You two look… great,” Jasmine's voice quivers, and she gives us a small smile.
Clarity squeezes my hand. “Thanks. I hope someday you find sunshine this year,” she says with true hope—pure kindness.
“I hope so, too,” Jasmine whispers, backing away from the door.
Clarity holds the door, going to close it, “Happy New Year.” The last thing she says to Jasmine before she shuts the door close and turns to me. Her eyes drooping with sadness.
“Was that the right thing to do, Olias? I feel like I was mean, too mean. I just wanted her to know she hurt us—”
I shake my head, kissing her. “You did good. Better than what I would’ve done.”
***
I poured Clarity her fourth glass of wine while she dances to the music with Natalie and Sabrina, and I set it on the glass coffee tables for when she returns.
Kyle sits on the opposite couch and stands up. "I love you guys."
He's drunk.
"Sit down ," I say.
He shakes his head. "Especially you, Ollie. You're my brother, for real. I love you."
Michael nods. "Yeah, me too. I love you, Olinda. And your girlfriend, for giving me a new nickname for you." He winks.
I roll my eyes. They all must be drunk.
Tanner speaks right after. "Yeah, you're a massive dick, don’t get us wrong, but I still love your ass, bro." He stands up from the couch and walks over to me with open arms.
I glare at him. "Sit the fuck down."
Tanner shakes his head. "Nope. Come on, fuckers, Olias wants a juicy group hug."
Michael and Kyle all cheer, standing up, and I contemplate running away into my room. These fuckers.
They pull my hand and lift me off the couch roughly, and I can't help but smile crookedly as they surround me with a hug.
Fucking hugs.
I like them.
All because of her.
"I love you all too..." I mutter.
Michael barks out a laugh. "She really is rubbing off on you. I never thought I'd hear you say that in a million years." The other two agree, laughing.
Several snaps and cameras flash to light up the room. We pull from each other, turning around to see the girls taking pictures of us.
With her bottom lip out, Clarity looks in admiration at me, holding her phone up. She walks over, and I close my eyes. She bends me down slightly to kiss my cheek. The smell of wine on her breath hits my nose.
"You're adorable," she says.
"I'm not."
She pokes my nose. "You are. Now turn up the TV. It says twenty seconds before the new year!" She voices so everyone can hear.
Shit, already?
Nervousness hits me.
Gasps fill the hair, and Kyle, by the music, turns down the volume to silent as I turn up the TV with the remote.
We gather around the couches, standing as the countdown starts, everyone joining in.
"TEN!" We shout, Clarity locking my hand in hers. I stare at her, feeling time slow. She's everything to me.
"SEVEN!" She's my heart. My soul. “FIVE”
"THREE! TWO!" My medicine .
She grins, looks at me, and points to the TV at the glowing New Year's ball.
"ONE!" She's my will to fucking live.
I drop to one knee, slipping my hand into my inside pocket, pulling out a small square black box I've been saving for last, just as everyone screams Happy New Year.
But Clarity, she's staring at me on the floor, kneeling while I open the small box and show her the big, shining silver engagement ring inside.
She gasps so loud the whole room looks our way. But my eyes stay planted on her beautiful face.
I smile at my sweet girl. "I've never been so sure about something more than my love for you, Clarity Red. Please, marry me?"