The Other Team

girlfriends

I knock on Clarissa's door. "Hey, max" Clarissa greets me welcoming me in. "You like you've been crying, what happened" she touched my shoulder affectionately. "Well, my mom's okay. That's what matters" Clarissa nods. We were still by the doorway, but she was walking to the kitchen to probably get something to eat. I followed her.

I walk towards her kitchen. She looks like she's about to say something but I'm assuming is Mrs. Astor walks in from the living room. "Oh, hello who is this?" She prompts. "Oh, hello I'm Max. Max Mayfield" I reach my hand out to shake her hand. She accepts.

"Oh, well hello max! I'm assuming you're one of Clarissa's friends" I pause not really knowing what I am to Clarissa. Friend, girlfriend, just someone you can hit up for sex. Regardless I nod. " you could say that" Mrs. Astor Gave a confused face but still had the same happy smile.

"Well max, would you like to stay for dinner. We're having steak." She offered me. The steak reminded how when I would stay for dinner at the Byers. (Which was almost every night) Jane asked hopper if he could put a special seasoning on mine. She knows me so well.

Mrs. Astor leaves to do some mom thing. Clarissa turns to me, and grabs both my hands. "So, what are we" she wondered. I tilt my head in thought, "I don't really know, you tell me" I leave the question open to her. "How about girlfriends" she asks hoping I'll say yes. "Sure" she pulls me into a hug.

I sit down at the table, it's so new to have a family sit together and have dinner. "So max, how old are you" Mr. Astor asks. "I'm 16" I eat a piece of steak after he asks. "Do you have a car" he asks a little more sternly, "George!" Mrs. Astor lightly slaps his forearm. "Don't interrogate the poor girl" Mrs. Astor defends me. "No, it's fine. Really" I turn to mr. Astor "I don't have a car because, my mom thinks I have to be 18 to be able to drive a car" I didn't like lying but what was I gonna say?

Oh yeah, I'm super poor and live in a trailer park. And my mom is in the hospital from overdosing. Let me stay in your house till my mom gets her shit together.

Mrs. Astor was talking about something that happened at her work while Mr. Astor rambled on something about the government. I was too invested in the food, it had been so long since I had a home cooked meal.

My hand was resting on my lap until I feel another hand in mine. I stop chewing for a second and look to Clarissa sitting next to me. I look to her then my hand then to her, I grip on to her hand not wanting her to think I don't want to hold her hand. Mrs. Astor notices me acting weird, and speaks up "max, what's wrong? She leans forward in concern. "Oh! Nothing, Nothing's uh, wrong. The.. streak is really good, who made it?" I look around nervously. I was probably just nervous cause of Clarissa, and butterflies. Though this didn't feel like a good nervous, like I was gonna be sick. "I did I cooked them on the grill!" Mr. Astor exclaims excitedly. Guessing no one had asked him about his grilling skills. "Well, they amazing" I point my fork at the plate.

Then I notice Clarissa's hand move from my hand, and to my upper thigh. I try to keep my eyes on my plate and face down but my face is burning red. I felt like I was gonna throw up. Then her hand moves to my inner thigh and I had enough. "Okay!!" I move her hand from my leg and everyone looks up concerned. "Okay... I'm gonna go use the bathroom real quick continue on without me" I clumsily scramble out of my chair and hurry to bathroom tripping on my way. I find the bathroom close the bathroom door behind me and slump down the door. But that didn't last long and next thing im throwing up.

Why don't I want my girlfriend to touch me? I know I'm gay that's not the problem. Clarissa's pretty, yeah sure. Aren't you supposed to like physical touch with a partner. Iv'e dated a lot of girls before but I don't like going past kissing, but I do it anyway to make them happy.

I wash out my mouth and chew on some gum, then walk down the stair. "Max, are you okay? Im getting worried" Mrs. Astor worried. "Trust me ma'am I'm fine, but I'm gonna get home. Y'know... curfew." I say awkwardly. I say my farewells to her parents. "Bye, maxie" Clarissa pulls in a hug the nickname is definitely not for her to see only one person. I didn't want to stay so I just played along. She looks at me with a look of slight lust. I scurried out quickly.