Koda's Thoughts
"Ohhh giiirrlll, that ring is gorgeous!"
It was a nice afternoon that I spent with Brad back home in California. We were sitting out by the lake at the back of The NBHD house with a plate of celery and carrots between us and crackers with steadily melting cheese. The sun was baking up ahead, warming our flesh and scorching all metal. I was sitting out there with him on the account that he insisted we hang out once I got back from seeing the boys.
"Thank you." I said, turning my hand to examine the band. "It's the same one my parents have."
Brad, who had been laying in his anti-gravity chair with his sunglasses on and one of those dish things people sometimes used to tan, looked at me with his mouth open. "And how'd he come across that?"
"He had to ask my dad for my hand at some point in time." I turned to look over the lake. "Yeah, surprised the hell out of me too."
"I'm sure it all did." he grabbed a melted cheese cracker. Once he chewed it, he leaned over and lowered his glasses just a little off his eyes. He looked identical to Paul Walker with his fluffy blond hair and half crooked smile.
"So tell me; how was the engagement sex?"
I groaned and laughed as he began to laugh. "I knew you were going to ask that." I said. We spent the next following seconds laughing until I nodded. "It was good as always. Hardcore."
"I heard you fell out of the closet you two were banging in right into the path of your parents."
"And how'd you hear that?"
Brad shrugged and snatched a carrot. "Alexi's brother works on crew."
Alexi was Brad's boyfriend.
"Which one is his brother?"
"Bylo."
I nodded. "'Tis true my friend. 'Tis true."
Brad and I shared the next hour with one another before he left and I slipped back into the house with our trays and chairs. My body was tanned and hot, but otherwise fine. I ran upstairs, deciding ultimately to go to work a day earlier than I was supposed to. I took a quick shower and stared at my stitches in the mirror. About that time I received a call from my doctor.
"Come in tomorrow for a check-up." the receptionist said. "One o'clock sound fine?"
"Yes ma'am." I said. I figured I was due for a check up on these stitches.
I gathered my things and started down the steps, but something caught me. I paused, mid-movement and stood at the top of the stairs for a good minute until I moved back and began down the hall. I stopped right at the second door on the hall and stood there for a moment. As if controlled by an unforeseen force, I opened the door and went into the room.
Dust flickers moved in the sunlight from the balcony. The room was chilly but warm from the heat outside, and smelled loosely of cologne and leather.
And skin.
I went and sat on the black blanket on the bed, looking in the direction of the floor but not seeing anything but the carpet fabric. I caught the outline of my body in the mirror across from me on the white dresser. I didn't look at it, didn't want to because it would break the spell. So I sat there.
I began to lay back and right myself on the bed until i was resting my head on the black and white pillows. The sun shine heated me up and a bird chirped and sent its shadow across the wall. As I watched the shadow, my hand drifted down my side and across my hip bone. There was the cold button and the zipper head. Looking up at the patterns in the ceiling, I opened the button and undid the zipper and slid my hand under the fabric of my underwear. My hand traveling down increased my heart rate until it beat rapidly in my chest. I then stopped and pulled my hand out at the same pace I slid it in and stared at my hand.
