Author's Note: vickiwaitingx
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1993 - "Sophomore Year"
Nathan Lorenzo
By the time Sophomore year rolled around, everyone knew some form of our truth. Reece and I didn't even care while holding hands or kissing on campus sometimes.
Even Kevin felt jealous, but I offered middle fingers at almost every opportunity. Hilarity ensued time and time again.
"Mom visited the car dealer not too long ago. Don't freak out, but I might get a car of my own soon." Reece and I sat together during lunch out of habit.
"Tired of paying for cabs with Vinny, huh?" Reece laughed to herself while reaching for French fries at the moment.
"Yeah and she knows that I can't piggyback rides with you to get around all the time." I shrugged without hesitation.
"You'd owe me gas money for sure, Lorenzo." Reece winked and leaned in to feed me one of the fries. I laughed carefully while chewing midway.
"Don't play around like that, Miller." I teased right back and she only smirked, shaking her head in that moment.
"Less threatening because of your accent. I'm not convinced, Nate." Reece soon wiped her mouth to rid of smeared ketchup at this this point.
"We could do this the easy way or the difficult way. Either you stop teasing me like this and we'll finish our day like civilized people or I'll meet you blocks away from my apartment after finishing homework and I'm fogging up your car windows. Be glad it might rain tonight." I tilted my head soon enough.
"How would you fog up my windows?" Reece bit her lip and folded both arms. I didn't hold temptations back anymore.
"I can think of several ways, Reece." I licked my lips in this painstakingly slow motion.
"Finish class before I actually take up the offer, which is very tempting right now." Reece stood up and walked over to the garbage can. Her strut nearly prompted those jeans to jiggle from side to side.
"I hate you." I mumbled under my breath after suddenly looking down towards my lap at the table.
So damn hot. I thought to myself.
__
"Don't leave me." I trembled against her sweet lips and somehow pulled away before anyone else noticed.
"We'll never make it out of the parking lot if you keep looking at me like that." Reece kissed my lips instead. I felt intoxicated once more, but still held back.
"Look, if you ever want to stop this whole friends with benefits scenario, it's okay." I promised out of nothing short of respect.
During that summer after Freshman year, Reece and I visited each other at the park one night and ended up kissing a little too deeply on the bench.
Next thing I knew, we raced back to her car in the pouring rain that wouldn't even stop thundering overhead.
Honestly fill in the blanks and we've been enamored this way ever since. At least we both understood that feelings were mutual. I'd be a fool to take advantage.
"Baby, at this point, you're the only person on campus who's even allowed to touch me like this. Honestly, I'd feel like I'm cheating if someone else is around in that way. Even if we're not truly in a relationship." Reecevspoke up with her own truth again. I understood completely.
"Me too." Trembling my voice, I cupped her face with both hands and kissed Reece deeply as we stood together on this sidewalk.
***
Another perfectly earned weekend.
Rain tapped on these four car windows and somehow blended with the parking lot darkness. I rested my on her chest in this back seat.
We didn't make love that night, but I simply vented in her arms between raindrops.
That absolutely comfortable silence fell time and time again as I finished speaking.
Despite brilliant grades this semester and happiness with Mom at home, stress somehow continued piling up for me.
"Something doesn't feel right. I don't know what's going on." I shook my head soon enough.
I now sat between the legs of her jeans and faced the window. Furious rain still poured outside.
"Everything okay with your father? You've talked to him, right?" Reece questioned.
"Yeah. The other day he called and we caught up. He's still gushing about you and me." I awkwardly laughed to myself.
"That's sweet, but am I the problem? Like you said, we can stop anytime." Reece sighed out loud. My heart dropped.
We repositioned ourselves and I took off my jacket and to rest my body over herself. Even our jeans could've meshed together.
"No, you're perfect." I lowered my voice to reassure this beautiful girl and stared into those gorgeous brown eyes.
She reached upwards to hold my face with one hand I would never forget her next few words.
"I love you, Nathaniel." Reece whispered and I immediately noticed the honestly falling tears in that moment.
"I love you too." I leaned in to kiss her gentle lips and we stayed in the car until midnight before leaving.
__
I actually figured out that dreadful gut emotion at this point. My mind still jumbled with several questions.
My heart dropped all over again as silence fell in the kitchen that next morning.
"Your father wants a divorce for good this time. That's why he hasn't visited us recently." Mom sniffled between words.
"Are you serious, Mom?" Now, I didn't even want to believe this horrible moment in time.
"Yes. I'm so sorry, Nathan." My mother apologized. This was not her fault. At all. Tears fell for both of us by now.
I walked around the kitchen table and my mother stood up from her chair to embrace my honestly quivering body.
