A lump forms in my throat. I know what he says about her. I’ve seen them with my own eyes and the walls here are paper thin. Hell, the whole trailer park can hear them.
“What do you think?”
“I think I need to go check the pizza.” I chicken out of telling her what I wanted to say. That I wouldn’t know having not experienced it myself. I’m scrawny and girls don’t look at me the way Stephanie looks at my brother.
I get the pizza out and offer her a slice, but she shakes her head. “Suit yourself.” I end up eating the whole damn thing. “Won’t your folks be wondering where you are?” I question when it starts getting dark.
She shrugs. “I don’t care if they do. They just ignore me when they are there anyhow. I just stay in my room and wait for them to fall asleep, so I can sneak out and be with Derrick.” Her dad’s the only attorney here in town and her mom runs a daycare center. My brother and me are the trash from the wrong side of the tracks.
“I know that feeling.”
“You mean your Dad?”
I nod, and she gives me a weak smile. “We don’t need them. We have Derrick.”
I snort. “Yeah…sure we do.”
Her hand pushes at my chest. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nuttin’. Forget about it.” I’m not gonna tell her Derrick fucks anything with legs. I’m not gonna tell her he fucks that old hag who manages the trailer park, so she doesn’t kick us out for not paying our rent. I’m not gonna tell her that he fucks whores every time he goes out the door to hang with his club.
“Does he have someone else?”
I roll my eyes and turn my attention back to my homework. “You should go home.”
“I’ve seen you, you know. I know you hide in the closet and watch Derrick fuck me.”
“Shut up,” I growl, slamming my math book closed.
“It’s okay, Justin. Nothing to be ashamed of. To tell you the truth, I like it when you watch.” She leans in close to my ear. “It turns me on when I feel your eyes on me. It’s why you can hardly look at me now, because you feel guilty, but don’t worry it’s our secret.” Her breath clings to my ear, daring me to turn my head into her and kiss her.
“Go home, Stephanie.” Tears burn in my eyes. I hate her. But even as I think about telling her so, I know it’s a lie. I don’t know what she sees in my jerk brother. He’s a fucking loser.
“I’m bored.” She smiles at me and licks her teeth. “Are you a virgin?”
“No!” I start to get up, but she straddles my lap and rubs against me. Her sweet floral perfume invades my senses. She smells so pretty. Too good for a nobody like me.
“You are, aren’t you?” Her hands cradle my neck.
“So what,” I croak.
“Let’s play a game. For every answer you give me about what your brother does behind my back, I’ll let you touch me anywhere you want.” Taking my hand, she places it on her breast. “You know you want me…I can feel just how much.”
I’d like to say I push her away, but I don’t. I kiss her instead. Her lips move against mine, hot and tasting of her strawberry flavored chewing gum. My hands are on her shoulders and I don’t know where else to put them. I’m nervous. My palms are sweaty and I’m breathing hard as my pulse races. If my brother were to catch me kissing his girl he’d kick my ass into next month.
Stephanie pulls back, smiling at me. “Not bad.”
; I put my hand to my mouth, spitting her gum out.
“You ready to play my game, Justin? Are you ready to play with me?” She lifts her shirt over her head, exposing her pink lace bra. I shift in my seat, squirming at my body’s reaction to her cleavage.
“What do you wanna know?”
“Everything,” she whispers, placing my hands back on her breasts. “Everything.”
Chapter 3