KISS: Casablanca High School

Ch 36: Wait A Minute (Gene)

I stared at the ceiling and sighed, heart heavy in my chest. Cher slipped an arm around my shoulders, pressing up against me. "Aw, baby, what's wrong?" she purred. 

I shrugged, keeping my eyes trained on the ceiling, tracing the path of a thin crack that snaked across it. "I dunno. I just feel like I made a mistake fighting with Paul. He's been a really good friend to me and I just feel like it shouldn't have ended like that," I said after a pause. She ran a hand through my hair, resting her head against my chest. "Aw, you don't need to beat yourself up over it. You didn't do anything wrong, Paul was the one being stubborn. If he doesn't want to apologize for what he did, then you don't have to forgive him." 

I stroked her head absentmindedly, feeling her bare chest pressed against mine. "Yeah I know, it still just feels wrong." She gave me a look, batting her eyelashes and stretching across me to switch off the light. "I know what'll take your mind off of it," she whispered. I smiled in the dark and pulled her closer. 

She sat watching me get dressed later, perched naked on my bed with the sheets partially wrapped around her. "Tell you what Gene, I did miss the good times you give me," she said with a grin. I struggled to return the smile, buttoning the polo shirt and running a brush through my hair before twisting it into a bun. "I've got practice, I'll see you after that. We end at 7 but my mom's going to be back around then so we'll have to go to your place," I said, leaning over to kiss her. She grabbed me, pulling me closer, tongue exploring the inside of my mouth as her hands wrapped around my shoulders. 

Reluctantly, I broke away, giving her a soft smile. "Save it for later. Now get out of here, I don't want my mom to find you." 

She laughed, throwing on her clothes and kissing me again as she walked out of my room, running a hand along my shoulders as she passed. "I'll see you after your practice." 

I grabbed my backpack and left the apartment, locking the door behind me as I headed toward my car. I turned the key in the ignition and listened as the engine sputtered for a moment before finally roaring to life. One of these days it was going to die on me and I was going to be screwed. 

I pulled into my usual spot and sat looking at the picnic tables, watching as Paul and Ace and Peter and Eric sat talking happily. To my surprise, Bruce walked over and sat with them. Ouch. Stung being replaced. Paul looked over at me and we locked eyes, staring at each other for a moment before he lifted a middle finger and turned away. Ouch. 

The bell rang and they scattered. Heaving a sigh, I grabbed my bag and headed off to calculus, catching up with Eric and Bruce and Peter. "Hey Gene, do you know what the plan for practice today is?" Eric asked, giving me a crooked grin. "No idea. I think we're going to be working with the full team today and probably just practicing takedowns with people in our weight class," I replied, shouldering my backpack. 

Bruce let out a sigh. "Aw, dammit. Did we get anyone who's also like 172 by any chance?" Laughing, I shook my head, giving him a friendly nudge. "Nice try, Kulick. You're still stuck with me." 

After crossing the freezing street, we joined the others waiting outside of Aucoin's door. I was not looking forward to this class, or any of the other ones to be honest. At least people actually talked to me in this class. 

I took my seat next to Paul in gov class, looking at my desk with a sigh. He completely ignored me and I returned the favor. My heart was heavy as we sat silently next to each other. All I wanted was for him to apologize for being so stubborn so we could be friends again but no. The others were all talking happily, leaving me sitting on the outside of the conversation once again. 

Practice wasn't any better. Coach had split us up just like I thought he would, and I stood across from Bruce, mind totally somewhere else. "Gene." "Hm?" "Do you want up or down?" "Oh! I don't care, you choose." Bruce sighed, folding his arms across his chest. "Yeah okay, I'll take up." 

I dropped to my knees, feeling his arm circle around my waist as his other hand grasped my wrist. "Ok, go," I said. He chopped my elbow, pushing me into the mat and wrapping an arm around my neck, rolling me onto my back and holding me down against the mat for the required three seconds, before sitting back on his heels, crossing his arms and staring at me. "Gene, what the hell was that?" 

"Well it felt like a pin to me--"

"I've almost never been able to pin you, and definitely not in like ten seconds. Seriously, what's going on with you?" 

I shrugged, pushing myself to my feet. "I don't know, guess you just got lucky." He gave me a curious look and I shrugged. "You did good, that was pretty much perfect. Let's just run it again." 

Bruce stood up and extended a hand, pulling me to my feet. "Alright fine. You going to try this time?" I forced a smile and nodded. "Hah, yeah. You want up or down?" 

Later, much later, I stepped out of the wrestling room, watching my breath frost in the air as snow started to fall. Shivering, I pulled my jacket tighter around my shoulders and walked toward the parking lot. I could hear the sound of basketball practice going on and stared through the windows, watching Paul and Ace play. Shaking my head, I kept going, unlocking my car and turning the key in the engine. It took even longer for it to start up this time, and I drove home with my heart in my throat, windshield wipers doing what they could to clear the snow away.

I ran up the concrete stairs, pushing open the front door and kicking off my shoes as I walked toward the kitchen. "Mom? You home?" I called. No response. There was a post-it stuck on the table and I read it with a sigh. "Gene--Had to work a double shift, see you at 3. Dinner in the fridge. PS Don't be awake when I come home." 

I pulled out my phone and hesitated, fingers dancing above the screen for a moment before I finally sent the text.

Turns out I've got the place until 3 am, come over if u want

see u in 10 :)

I sighed, sitting at the kitchen table and staring at the wall. I had the girl of my dreams who was happy to sleep with me whenever, so why wasn't I happy? I mean come on, did I really miss Paul and the others that much? 

The doorbell rang and I opened it to find Cher standing there in a croptop that was way too tight for her, giving me a playful smile. "You miss me?" A warm smile spread across my face and I pulled her inside, planting a kiss on her plump lips. 

I guess I was happier than I thought.