Bad For You

eighteen

After I climbed out the window, I doubled back and grabbed the condoms from my nightstand.

The ones from the school nurse.

I eventually mustered up the courage to go to her office and ask for some. She smiled at me and handed them over without asking any questions. I thought it would be awkward. I was embarrassed as hell to be asking her. I even thought she would announce over the school loudspeaker that I was having sex or worse, call my mom and tell her. But she didn't make a fuss or act like it was a big deal.

Maybe it wasn't. Maybe I was the one overreacting.

She also promised me that the exchange would stay completely private. Just between us. That made me feel a little better about the whole thing.

I don't know why I took them with me. I'm sure Theo had condoms at his house. Or maybe he didn't. Either way, I wanted to be prepared.

"Will your grandma be awake?" I ask as we pull into his circular driveway.

"Nah," Theo shuts off the engine. "She goes to bed pretty early. That woman could sleep through an earthquake."

Good. I didn't know if I'd be loud or not, and although the house was big, I wasn't entirely sure it was soundproof.

Somehow his house is even more beautiful at night, and leaves crunch under our feet as we make our way up the pathway and inside. Theo shuts the door behind him and I exhale.

"Want something to drink?" He asks.

I furrow my brows. "Like water?"

He smirks. "No. Like an actual drink."

I don't want to get drunk, but maybe a little buzz would help calm my nerves. I nod and follow Theo into the living room where he opens the liquor cabinet and rummages inside.

"Do you even know how to make drinks?" I ask skeptically.

"Yep. My grandpa taught me how to make a mean old fashioned. Behind my grandmas back of course."

I giggle. "Of course. I'm sure she would not have approved."

Theo grabs a bottle of whiskey and I follow him into the kitchen where he pulls out two glasses and some other ingredients. I watch, fascinated, and more than a little turned on as he whips up our drinks and garnishes them with an orange slice.

"Cheers," he grins and we clink glasses. I take a sip. It tastes bitter yet sweet, the two flavors contrasting each other yet combining to make a perfect combination.

"My feet are really ugly," I blurt out.

Theo pauses mid sip. "Huh?"

"My feet," I gesture down toward them. "They're horrible. Like with callouses and stuff. I probably even have an ingrown toenail or two."

Stop talking. Stop talking now.

But I can't. It's like suddenly I'm word vomiting. "It's from ballet," I explain. "Pointe shoes really mess up your feet. No matter how much you pad them, your feet will look fucked up. That's why I never wear shoes or anything that show my feet."

New game. Take a shot every time I say 'feet.'

Theo stares at me before bursting into laughter. "That's-" he doubles over laughing again. I wait patiently for him to regain his composure. "I don't care about your feet Rose."

"You sure? You might change your mind once you see them."

"I'm not going to be focused on your feet," he replies. "Trust me."