your city gave me asthma // Wilbur Soot

twenty-nine

It's strange what oxytocin can do to a girl. In the past month, nearly every day, and sometimes even twice a day, I've hooked up with Joey. We're keeping it quiet, too. He swears he hasn't told anyone, so only Maddie and Claire know.

Also in the past month, I haven't missed a class. I always come to school looking nice and able to ignore Claudia. I've only smoked around once a week, just for fun. I haven't talked to Wilbur since we broke up.

Shockingly, I'm doing well.

Of course, I still miss him. I still plan on going back to him the second he moves here. But it's still nice to have some... company while he's not here. And damn it, it's some good company.

Claire and I walk out of astronomy together and to the parking lot. I twist my hair into a braid as we cross the lot to her car, and as my hand goes to open the door, I hear my name called out.

I turn and see a dark blue truck, just a few spots away. Joey is sat in the driver's seat with a wide smile, waving at me.

"One sec," I tell Claire before walking over to him. "Whatcha doing here?"

"I heard there was this stunning girl who went here who gives amazing head."

I laugh and rest my elbows on the door. "Oh, really?"

"Yeah, I had to come check her out." He grins, giving me a quick kiss. "You know her?"

"Mmm, don't think so." I giggle, giving him another kiss. "Seriously. Why are you here? You're not really allowed to park here during school hours."

"I mean, I was gonna text you, but I figured I'd surprise you. And with you in that skirt, I can finger you on the way to your house."

I slap his arm and glance around, hoping nobody heard. "Joey! You can't say that shit."

"Sorry," He says with a grin, lowering his voice to a whisper. "So, you getting in or what?"

"Guess so," I say, giving a third kiss before walking back to Claire's car. "Joey's taking me home."

"You guys act like you're dating." She tells me with a smirk, pulling her sunglasses down. "Has someone moved on?"

"Nope! If Wilbur showed up right now, I'd kick Joey straight to the curb."

Claire shrugs and gives me a doubtful look. "Alright, love. Have fun."

"She will!" Joey calls out. I tell him to be quiet as I get into his passenger seat, setting my bag on the floor.

"You're so annoying," I groan.

He grins and leans over to me, placing his hand on my thigh. "Aw, you love it."

My shirt barely gets over the towel around my hair, tilting it over and making me rewrap it. I pull on a clean pair of shorts and slip back under the covers, leaning against Joey as he scrolls through his phone.

I pick up my own phone as it starts ringing, seeing the caller ID reading 'Wilbur'. I haven't talked to him in so long, and I suddenly feel a spark of hope. Was he able to somehow graduate early and can move here now? Did school get moved online for some reason?

"Hey," I say, sitting up straight. I bring my knees to my chest, rubbing my smooth legs.

"Hey, Skylar." Wilbur responds. God, I've missed his sweet voice. His cute accent.

"How are you? We haven't talked in forever."

"Yeah, uh, I'm fine." I hear him sigh. "You could've told me you got a new boyfriend."

My heart drops to my stomach. "What?"

"This random girl on Instagram sent me pictures of you kissing some guy in a truck. I doubted it at first, but her bio has your school in it."

Claudia. She was in the fucking parking lot when Joey was picking me up. Of course she was. She can not fucking give me one second of peace. "Wilbur, he's not my boyfriend. I promise. Please, believe me."

"So you just kiss your friends?" Wilbur asks, his voice cracking. "I don't remember you kissing Matt when you were here."

My chest rises and falls faster as my breathing becomes rapid. I can hear my heart beating out of chest as my fear becomes real. "We're just having sex. I know you don't want to hear that, but that's all it is, I swear."

Wilbur takes a few seconds to respond. "You've been having sex? Are you fucking serious, Skylar? You couldn't just wait some months?"

"I'm lonely, Wil," I whisper, tears pooling in my eyes. "I'm filling the hole in my heart with sex, and I know that's fucking dumb, but it's true."

"I've been lonely too, Skylar. But I haven't even thought about another woman." Wilbur begins to raise his voice, making my tears finally fall down my face. Joey sits up, giving me a concerned look, but I ignore him. "How could you do this to me? All I think about, every second of every day, is you. Every day I have been waiting for the moment I can finally hold you and kiss you again, yet you're off fucking another guy? Who even is he?"

I pause before answering. It's too late to lie to him. And I owe him more than that. "It's Joey."

Wilbur is silent, I can only hear his breathing. After a couple of seconds, he hangs up. I'm confused and immediately text him.

Me: Wil come on.

Me: please talk to me

Me: let me explain

Wilbur: I'm so insanely pissed off right now Skylar

Wilbur: I told him to back off of you and of course he didn't fucking listen.

Me: baby please

Wilbur: Fine. Explain what the hell is going on.

Me: a week after we broke up i literally hadn't left bed since and Claire forced me to go out. she told me i'd feel better if i had a one night stand since i'd been so insanely touch deprived without you. Joey was at the party and we hooked up and just kept doing it. i'm sorry. we're not dating or anything like that. when we see each other we have sex then he goes home that's it.

Wilbur: It's been going on for that long?? Over a month?? And you do it often???

Me: baby please i promise i'd drop him the second you come here you know i love you so much

Wilbur: I can't even think straight right now. I will text you again when I'm ready to talk.

Wilbur: And please get fucking rid of him. If you really love me, you'll stop seeing him. That's all I ask, even though apparently, it's a lot to ask.

I click my phone off and set it down. I lift up my shirt and bury my face in it, soaking the cloth with my tears. Joey wraps his arm around me but I quickly push him off.

"Get out!" I yell. None of this is his fault, but I can't help but be angry right now. "Just go!"

"Sky," He says, reaching out to me, but I turn away. I pick up my phone and call Claire, watching as Joey grabs his keys and walks out.

"Hey love," She answers. "How's your fuck buddy?"

I ignore her question. "Do you still know where Claudia lives?"

"Uh, yeah. Why?"

"Come pick me up." I sigh. "I'll need a getaway car."