Chapter 11 Three’s A Crowd
Play Single by The Neighbourhood
“Hey Jackson. It’s Nova as I’m sure you can tell.
” I twist a strand of hair in my hand as I continue talking to the voicemail I’m surprised I haven't filled. “Please just talk to me. Let me explain.” I stare at the phone in my hand, wondering what I would even say if he actually picked up. “I’m sorry.”
I hit the end call button, sliding the device back into my pocket.
Saint sits down next to me on the trailer’s porch.
He pulls a menthol cigarette out of its paper like box, sticking it between his lips.
“Still no answer?” He asks as he lights up the end.
The tobacco immediately begins to burn, sending little wafts of smoke into the hot air around us.
It’s been three days since either of us had heard from him, but as far as we were aware he hadn’t outed us.
Saint let me know that Abby had been staying at her mom’s again.
After he ran after me back at the diner, she accused him of caring too much.
Putting too much of himself into me. That’s a bit of an understatement.
I had thought to myself, though I didn’t respond.
The idea of being the reason behind her moving out, even temporarily, made me feel gross.
Yet here I was, practically in Saint’s palm.
We had been non-stop texting or calling since I had left.
Today I finally was able to see him again, since he had promised mom he’d patch up the hole in the bedroom wall.
“Nope.” I respond, plucking the cigarette from his mouth. I drop it down to the concrete in front of us, rubbing the toe of my sneaker into the burning stick. “Have you heard from him?”
He frowns down at the now shredded remains of his addiction. “What was that for?”
“What was what for?” Mom asks, pushing open the screen door behind us. She plops herself onto the other side of Saint and without waiting for an answer asks, “Do you have a cigarette I could borrow?”
Saint snorts, a smile tiptoeing onto his face, before he pulls the box back out and hands one to mom. “Do you need a light?”
She shakes her head, pulling her own lighter out from her overall’s pockets. After taking a long inhale she speaks up again. “I think everything is ready for the sale. After that’s done, we’ll have a little over a month until Dad is home. I want this place to be perfect for him.”
I take out my phone again, peering down at the date to see that it’s already August third. His first week out of the six he’s supposed to spend there have flown by. I purse my lips, hoping it’s going to work.
“We’re almost done with the housing project Mr. Harper had taken on,” Saint looks over to my mom, “once that's over, I can come help out.”
Mom dramatically places her hand over her heart, sighing. “Saint you’re like the perfect son I never asked for.”
That brings out a laugh in all of us. Mom catches my eye in the midst of it all, giving me a wink. It’s her way of silently showing me how happy she is to see me smile again.
“So what are you two fish up to today?” She asks.
“Fish?”
I roll my eyes. “Don’t ask,” I mumble.
Saint shakes his head as if he’s talking to the two most outlandish people to ever exist. He turns to me, a panty dropping smirk displayed in between his cheeks. I have to stop myself from staring too long, not with mom this close.
“Well?” She butts back in, waiting for an answer.
“There’s a small concert happening in Boston. I was hoping Nova would join me, but I haven’t actually asked yet.” Saint tells her, although it sounds more like it’s pointed at me.
I push down the giddiness building in my stomach as he and mom both turn to look at me, waiting for an answer. “I’d have to change.” I respond, doing my best to sound unphased.
Saint raises his eyebrow with amusement as he watches my pathetic attempt at being nonchalant.
He’d been telling me about this concert for two days now, and I had shared in his excitement over the local band that was going to be playing.
When we were younger we had always bonded over our similar tastes in music.
I can remember the day Saint got his hands on a CD of Days Go By.
At the time it was the newest Offspring album, and he had been eager to blare the songs through the run down boombox that sat in his room.
His mom had grown sick of us shouting the words at each other, and had forced us to go outside while she caught up on her tv shows.
We had been so small then, so wide eyed and ready for what the day was going to bring.
This band was rumored to play familiar music, occasionally covering other’s songs. Saint had been over the moon at the idea of heading into the city for a night.
“Well then go change, missy!” Mom huffs out giving me a small smile. “You’ve been living like a cave dweller here for the past three days. I’m surprised you even made it outside.”
Her words have me internally cringing. Saint doesn’t need to know the details of my latest bed rot, or how he was the only thing that could drag me out of it.
To save myself the embarrassment of pushing further, I pick myself up from the porch.
The two of them grin at me, their victory boosting the shared excitement.
I make my way down to the bedroom door, swinging it open to expose the pile of water bottles littered across the left side of my bed.
Ignoring them to the best of my ability, I make my way to the dresser.
A pair of ripped mom jeans and a simple black t-shirt feel appropriate for the occasion.
So I slide them on, taking a moment to smooth my hair from where the static of the fabric had gotten ahold of it.
I can’t hide how nice it feels to finally take care of myself again.
While I haven’t left the house, I’ve still been able to stay on top of my personal hygiene. That was a victory in itself.
Before leaving my room, I quickly stop at the long mirror that stands against my wall.
Its white, plastic frame has seen better days but it still gets the job done.
I take in my outfit, slightly turning to see how the clothes fit my body.
Then I decide to top off the look with a peach colored lip gloss.
I rub my lips together, watching as the sheen coating spreads over them.
The fantasy of Saint ruining the shine with his lips on mine sends butterflies into my stomach.
He had easily fit back into my life, like two jagged puzzle pieces, unable to fully connect anywhere else.
“I like that color on you.” I spin around at the intrusion, seeing Saint standing in the doorway. One of his arms is stretched up, letting him grab onto the frame of the entryway.
A few of his longer strands of hair hang deliciously in front of his face. Not quite enough to cover his eyes or make him seem like a teen going through a phase, but enough to give him that “bad boy” edge.
“What? You’ve never seen me in black before?” I tease as I walk towards him. I do my best to get him out of the room and away from the embarrassing sight of the plastic mountain. Thankfully he follows me down the hall and back out into the living room with no questions.
I stop just short of the coffee table, scanning the room for my wallet, before I feel the heat of his breath coast down the nape of my neck.
“I wasn’t talking about the shirt, Nova.
” Saint leans closer in, his bottom lip grazing my ear lobe.
“I meant the light pink gloss. It matches other parts of you very well.”
His words leave me blushing, feeling as shy as a girl would on her first date. Saint’s hand reaches up to push my hair over the opposite shoulder, leaving plenty of room for him to lean in and softly kiss my pulse point.
His touches feel so forbidden and my senses heighten as he gently sucks on the now fading hickey he had given me back at the apartment.
Mom could come through the front door at any time.
She doesn’t deserve to be disappointed anymore.
But with the way arousal begins to pool between my thighs, and I feel like I’ve taken the most euphoria heightening drug, how am I supposed to stop?
“Saint!” I finally whisper-shout. His hands had begun to roam over my breasts, transforming my nipples into stiff peaks under his touch.
“My mom is bound to come back in at some point. We need to stop.” Though even as the words leave my mouth, my hands float upwards, gently placing themselves on top of his.
I squeeze lightly, giving him the okay to explore with a firmer hand.
He kisses along the edge of my jaw, sending a shiver of pleasure shooting down my spine. “You have no idea how long I’ve waited for this.”
His words melt me into a puddle and I lean back into him, giving him better access to my body.
He takes his time stroking up and down my curves, leaving my clothes in place.
If we were alone, I’d be tearing them off myself.
I’ve been straining for his touch, missing how full he had made me feel.
Touching myself had only barely eased the ache these past few days.
“We need to get going.” Saint murmurs into my ear before releasing me. His fingertips ghost against mine, almost as if he wants to hold my hand but knows he can’t. Not here, with prying eyes.
Play First Date by blink-182
The large brick building comes into view. A huge light up sign stands proudly outside, illuminating the name of the band playing tonight along with two headers. The excitement bubbles up inside of me as Saint throws the truck into park. He glances over to me, biting his lip.
“Thank you for coming.”
I feel the smile overtake me before I can stop it. “Thank you for inviting me.”
He reaches across the console, lightly squeezing my thigh, before unbuckling the seatbelt.
We both hop out of the car, meeting at the front where the headlights illuminate us.
Dusk has begun to fall, creating an orange glow around us.
He stretches out his hand for me to take, and when our palms connect the electricity of his touch surges through me.
Saint gently leads us to the back of the line.
Everyone around us chattering about their excitement, only amplifying mine.
I hadn’t been to a concert in a few years, and I forgot how wonderful it feels to share your joy with so many people.
The anticipation leaves my heartbeat fluttering inside of my chest.
Saint keeps me connected to him as we slowly make our way to the front.
The bouncer at the door checks both our IDs before sending us on our way.
I pause with amazement as we enter the venue.
The interior looks like it has previously been a warehouse, with an opened ceiling that leaves all the pipes bare.
For the most part the floor is level, although it has a slight edge along both sides.
A stage sits front and center, illuminated by bright blue lights that shine down from different directions.
I follow Saint towards the front, wiggling in between the other concert-goers. It’s a tight fit, but with a perfect view, who am I to complain? Especially when Saint stands behind me, wrapping both arms protectively around my body.
His tight hold emulates my own little bubble, keeping me nice and safe.
I look up, twisting my head slightly to take him in.
He gazes down at me while a small smirk plays along his face, and when he leans down to kiss my forehead everything feels as though it’s in slow motion.
The serotonin from his touch streams through my bloodstream, allowing me a glimpse at genuine happiness.
At this moment, it’s just us. The other bodies that flow in next to us are nothing but objects taking up space.
I could live in this moment for the rest of my life.
I look forward just as the extra lights shut off, leaving us in total darkness. The blue lights that dance across the stage slowly transform to red as the sound of a guitar begins to fill the air.
“Boston!” A loud voice shouts through the speakers, “Who’s ready for some music?”
Mine and Saint’s cheers mingle in with the rest of the shouts as the band begins to appear on stage.
The guitarist picks up speed, turning the few notes he was playing into the beginning of their opening song.
The base grips onto my body, almost tighter than the hold Saint still has on me.
Together we sway with the crowd as the lyrics begin to float through the air.
They sing a tale about two people falling in love under a tyrannical rule.
It would almost be depressing if it wasn’t for the fast pace of the music behind the words.
I lean into Saint, letting the music settle into my bones.
Occasionally his hands grip harder on me as someone bumps into us.
The protectiveness leaves me feeling treasured.
Like I’m something worth keeping safe. The words ‘I love you’ almost catch behind my teeth, but instead they slip out. A whisper that goes unheard.
He doesn’t love me back. He had already made that clear, but with how rapidly he has consumed my mind I can’t help the way I feel.
A part of me believes it was always meant to be us in the end, even if I had gotten lost along the way.
Maybe someday Saint will see that too, but for now I’ll take what I can get.
These hidden moments of lust that dance between us, the late night calls and shared memories.
Somewhere in the dark where I can be his, even if only for a little while.
A buzz tickles against the small of my back. I attempt to step forward, the surprise leaving me spooked. “It’s okay,” Saint shouts into my ear as he leans down, “it’s just my phone.”
I let out a small laugh of embarrassment before slightly stepping to the side so he can take the device out of his pocket.
His face lights up from the glow as he uses one hand to unlock the phone.
The other stays wrapped around my waist, almost as if he’s worried I could disappear if he doesn’t keep ahold of me.
“Luke’s here,” he shouts, looking down to me to make sure I heard him. I give him a slight nod, saddened by my time with him being cut short.
“Let’s go meet him?” He asks, nodding his head towards the back of the venue. I give him a smile, hoping it masks my disappointment, and nod.