"Sex isn't the most important part of a relationship. It's just a bonus."
Renna has been told many times that sex is an important part of life and vital in a relationship, but as a sex-repulsed asexual, she has no desire for sexual intimacy- -ever...
Inside her apartment, Jensen worked to set up her PlayStation while she made some sandwiches for lunch. She use some leftover chicken from her dinner last night and added some salad to the slices of bread.
Placing them onto two plates, her phone—face down on the counter—buzzed. She picked it up to find a notification from Instagram.
'Ben R. Over wants to send you a message.'
Pinching her brow together in confusion, she opened Instagram and found the message request. Ben sent three messages, two of which were photos.
She gasped. The photos were of her and Jensen. In the shopping centre. One of them holding hands and the other with their arms around each other.
The message below it read:
'Do you really think he'll love you?"
Her blood ran cold. Chills crawled over her skin. Stomach flipped. She couldn't move. Couldn't take her eyes from the screen. Stared at the pictures. Re-read the message. Fear gripped her heart like an icy hand, digging razor sharp nails in deep.
With a little bit of thought and re-reading the obviously fake and immature name of the sender, she had a pretty good idea of who it was. Levi. She had blocked him on everything after a few more texts begging her to take him back, and assumed that was the end of his communication. She hadn't thought about him making a fake account to reach her.
She couldn't think of anyone else it could be other than him. He was there. At the store. No one else would want to harass her with creepy photos. A stranger could take photos but wouldn't be able to find her Instagram profile without knowing her. It had to be him.
What do I do? Block him? Report him? Should I reply? Act stupid and ask who it is, or tell him to leave me alone?
"All done." Jensen stepped out of the bedroom.
Renna jumped, and rushed to turn her phone off and place it face down on the counter. She smiled, hoping the panic didn't shine through. "Great. Thanks. Lunch is ready too." She passed him his plate. "Do you want to play now?"
"Yeah, sure."
They made their way into the bedroom. Renna gave her phone one last glance but decided to leave it on the counter. Sitting on her bed, leaning against the wall, they sat their plates on their laps. Jensen passed her the controller and took the other one for himself.
"Okay," he said. "This is your game so you take control."
She followed his instructions and figured out what to do and where to go. They selected their characters; Jensen a mouse, and Renna a panda.
Starting the game, they didn't have a chance to eat until they finished the round. Jensen took two bites, Renna took one, then they began the next round.
They ate between rounds until their sandwiches were gone. Jensen finished first and when Renna finished in the next round, she took the plates and left to get some water.
After pouring two glasses, she picked up her phone to check for another message. She never thought there would be another, but she found one. Another photo. The two of them. Walking. Outside her apartment building.
He's outside. Or at least he was. He followed me home. Is he still out there? What do I do?
Putting her phone down, she walked around the counter and checked her door, making sure it was locked. She brought the cups of water into her bedroom and gave one to Jensen. They returned to the game, and for a few moments every now and then, Renna became lost in the fun and her body relaxed. But every time, her thoughts drifted back to the messages and Levi, and her muscles tensed.
Should I tell Jensen? What would he do? Go down and confront him? I don't want him to get hurt. He might not even be there anymore.
She decided not to say anything, hoping the problem would go away.
After several rounds—some repeated after failing to hit the goal—they stopped. Laughing about their frantic state during the last seconds of the round, Jensen put his controller down beside him and turned to face Renna.
During the game, he had shuffled down to sit on the end of the bed. She had done the same during all her excitement of the game but only made it to the middle of the bed.
"We would have gotten a higher score," he said through his laughter, "if you had stopped throwing all the items at me and helped."
She threw her head back with laughter. "Says the guy who tossed the three meals into the bin instead of serving them."
"Because you were distracting me by throwing fish at me!"
She laughed harder. Dropping her controller beside her, she flopped back onto the bed, laughing to the ceiling.
The bed shifted and his head appeared over top of her. He lay beside her, his head propped up on his arm leaning on his elbow.
Their laughter calmed. She smiled, staring up at him, her heart fluttering. He held her gaze. The world faded away. Everything became distant, leaving the two of them alone. She bit her lip, and he glanced down at it for a second.
He leaned down. Slow. Her stomach somersaulted, but she couldn't decide if it was from excitement or nerves.
He moved closer. His mouth parted. Soft breath hit her face. A second quick glance to her lips. He stared at her, his eyes asking for permission.
She knew she should close the gap; confirm her approval for him. But her body wouldn't move. Her mind whirled and her heart pounded. He moved closer, and like an instinct set into her bones, her head flinched, pulling away ever so slightly.
She almost didn't notice the movement herself, but he did. He stopped. Stared. And smiled. Moving closer—faster— his head titled up and his lips connected with her forehead. She melted, relaxing.
As he held the position, she took a deep breath and closed her eyes, opening them again when he pulled away.
In a soft, gentle voice, he said, "I don't want to do anything to make you uncomfortable. And I'm not going to force you to do anything you don't want to. You just have to say the word, and I'll back off."
She nodded, smiling. How did I think Levi was sweeter than him? He's the best. The complete opposite to Levi.
"Can I ask you something?" he asked. She nodded but he continued, reassuring her. "If you don't want to answer it, you don't have to, just say so. But I need to ask." He paused. His expression serious. "How bad was it that night?"
Without a further explanation, she knew what he was talking about. Her heart dropped into stomach. I don't want to—to talk about it. I didn't want to—Why did he—What do I say?
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