(OLD VERSION) Pitted Cherries

Chapter 4 (Alex Carr)

I'd just barely opened the front door to my house, when my phone started ringing. James' name shone in bold, white letters on the screen. I'd just dropped Cameron off at his friend's house; he didn't have a car here to drive himself, and Brynn was at her roommate's house, getting ready for a party. They'd both be gone all night. I contemplated letting the phone ring until it eventually sent him to voicemail, but I didn't. I held the phone up to my ear.

"Hey, babe. Wanna hang out?" he asked.

No.

"Uh, sure," I heard myself say.

"Awesome. On my way over."

I hung up. "Godammit."

No one was home, so I didn't have an excuse for him not to come. He lived close; everyone lived close. I probably had about ten minutes to myself before he would be here. I frantically bounced about my house, unsure of what to do, trying to get excited for my boyfriend to come over. I stood up and sat down over and over, shaking my hands out, unable to feel comfortable enough to ease my nerves. I grabbed a pillow off my couch, slammed it to my face, and let out an ear-piercing scream.

You're not gay, you're not gay, you're not gay.

I said it aloud. "You're not gay, you're not gay, you're not gay."

What the fuck am I doing?

It was seven thirty, and I knew that since he waited all day to make this call, he probably didn't just want to watch a movie. The amount of anxiety I was feeling was uncomfortably intense, and I felt like I needed to kick something. Or scream. Or anything to let .

It wasn't like he was forcing me to do anything, so why was I forcing myself? I couldn't figure out why I felt the need to appeal to his wants and needs but not my own. I was being ridiculous and antsy, stomach churning like I could throw up from the anxiety at any minute.

I looked down at my outfit. Black jeans, a navy tank top. Do I have to dress up for this if he's just going to undress me?

I heard a car outside. A car door slam. Footsteps were audible from the open window. It wasn't a good thing that I felt like I was in a horror movie. I was the girl about to scream, horrified by the appearance of the newly introduced villain. The first one killed- plucked off and gutted so quickly I was merely an afterthought, hardly mourned by anyone at all. Anticipation built up inside me; I felt nauseous. The sharp knock at the door was its own form of a jump-scare. I walked to the door, legs oddly shaky and opened it.

I took in the sight of what I'd been dreading so terribly. James really was beautiful; he had dark, curly hair with natural, blonde highlights, like surfers usually do. He had tanned skin that was, for lack of a better term, perfect. His eyes glistened blue, contrasting brilliantly against his skin and hair. He was tall and strong; he'd been playing basketball since he was little, and that's when he'd met Wesley, on the team at our school.

He pulled me towards him with strong hands, smiling a wide smile. "Hey, babe."

I smiled a little, breathing in the strong masculine scent of his cologne, hoping I looked convincing. "Hey."

He bent down to kiss me. I let his lips lock on mine, trying not to think too much. Pulling away, he looked at me. "Feel like watching a movie?"

He sat down on the couch, his legs spread wide apart from each other. I sat down a few inches away from him, and without missing a beat, he pulled me towards him, closing the gap between us. I stiffened and forced myself to relax again, letting my head rest on his shoulder. It's okay; he's your boyfriend.