Teacher's Pet

CH12

I open the door to Starbucks for Trixie, but I am greeted with the harsh reminder that rush hour exists. Though the Starbucks isn't all that far away from the school, I don't think there are any students here. There better not be. The price tag probably deters them, all things considered. Quite useful, really.

Trixie wraps her arm around me, which I nuzzle into a bit. God, people are so hard to deal with. I already told her what I wanted, so I could avoid speaking to the barista. I'm sure they're a lovely person, just talking is hard. Thankfully, though, Trixie understands. I stand by Trixie's side as she orders a coffee and a tea, respectively.

The barista calls it up further down on the counter, where I notice- shit. Fucking shit. Holy shit. We're in shit. And we can't even make an excuse. It's Pearl. And her clique. At least she doesn't go to my and Trixie's school, though.They could've very easily taken a picture and are waiting to email it to the principal, all shit considered. I nudge Trixie, whispering to her that Pearl's right there. She glances to their table before quickly grabbing the drinks, one in each hand, before muttering an even quicker 'thank you' to the baristas.

She walks us both out to the car, practically hopping into it, grabbing me and helping me buckle in. She practically speeds off, haphazardly turning onto the main road, muttering curse words through her perfect pink-painted, overdrawn lips. We stop at a red light, and I just have to give into the temptation of kissing her lips. I lean in, lightly tilting her head by her chin so her lips meet mine. She doesn't hesitate, kissing me back instantly. I smile, pulling apart after a second or so. Wouldn't wanna hold anyone up.

We get to my apartment, this time sober. We're in the parking lot, sipping our drinks.

"Did you figure out where I hid that bottle?" Trixie asks. Wait... I thought she took it? To be fair, she never said she did. Still, though, where'd she put it? Then again, that's like, the whole point of hiding something, right?

"No, actually. I thought you took it." I reply. She chuckles, taking a swig of her tea.

"I'll tell you when we get to your unit." She opens the door, waiting me to follow suit. I comply, grabbing my keys out of my backpack. We go up to my unit, and thankfully my mom isn't home. Trixie kicks her shoes off, hanging her coat up in the closet, as I do the same. She sets her cup on the table, sitting down on an adjacent chair. She sighs, smiling.

"Baby... I really love you, y'know? I haven't really said that, but I do." She tells me, unprompted.

I move closer to her, sitting in the chair next to hers.

"I love you too Trix. Honestly, I have since September." I respond. Trixie smiles, turning slightly towards me.

"I don't think I'm fully ready for a "relationship" yet, to be honest, but I do wanna be with you." I tilt my head, showing my confusion. She quickly elaborates, "I'm still getting over my whole thing with Violet, so I don't want to slap on the title of "dating" yet. I don't wanna get hurt again, y'know? I mean, I don't think you would hurt me, but I also don't wanna take that risk, Kat. I wanna love you, and I wanna be loved by you, but I don't think I can take all the commitment and devotion right just now. I'm sorry I'm unloading this out of nowhere, but I just realized that I hadn't told you before, and I don't wanna lead you on or anything." Trixie rambles.I get it, though. I do. Labels and commitment and everything's hard. I like what we have now, in all honesty. I like that we just exist with eachother without all the lovey dovey shit.

I nod quickly, smiling. "I get it Trix, I do. Commitment's hard, and I wouldn't expect that out of you now. The only thing I really need is the knowledge that you're here, and you'll be here with me." I say. She smiles, leaning over to me, planting a kiss on my forehead, hugging me.

"Anyhow, you want vodka?" Trixie laughs, breaking the silence.

"Maybe not at this hour specifically, but later yes." I join her in a small fit of laughter.

She directs me to my room, plopping me on my bed, covered by its quilt. Well, technically, my dad's. She moves the bookshelf, revealing the bottle behind it, hidden behind my copious notebooks I keep stashed there.Trixie sees my shocked face, and she laughs. Her wavy blonde hair covers her face as she abruptly moves.

She sits down on the bed next to me, placing the bottle on the floor. Trixie looks around my room, taking in every doll and bone and painting, seemingly committing it all to long-term memory. I laugh, getting up to put the bottle on my desk so it doesn't accidentally get kicked. Trixie gets up and moves the bookshelf fully off of my door, only now realizing I was unable to before.She chuckles, turning her head down slightly.

Trixie lays down on the innermost portion of my rather small bed, pulling her phone out. I lay down, cuddling her torso, watching the mindless YouTube Shorts, which range from everything between wall paint shades to videos about amputees and their goals to marine biology. It's only noon, but time flies by when you're doing nothing.