Living With The Manwhore (In Progress)

Chapter 9: Bam-Bam In The Ham

Sitting on the steps of the library, Bianca stares at me with a slack jaw as I finish telling her how Jax attacked Charlie. However, I leave out the latest encounters I've had with Jax, including the one that led to the now faded mark on my neck. I don't know how I'm feeling so the last thing I want need right now is Bianca wildly speculating the reasons behind Jax's behavior towards me.

"Should've known Julian was sugar-coating the whole situation. He made it sound like Jax only pushed him" she finally closes her mouth.

I shake my head, "Of course Julian would try to cover up what really happened, he's his friend. No, it was way worse. Jax had his hands around Charlie's throat."

Bianca takes a moment to speak, looking deep in thought. She taps her nails against her chin. I'm pretty sure she's sensing that there's missing pieces to the story that I'm not giving her. Fuck.

"What I don't understand is why Jax did that. You don't just walk up and strangle a dude. Are you sure Charlie didn't provoke him in some way?" she asks, brow arched.

"Absolutely not. From what Charlie tells me, Jax opened the door and attacked him. No provocation at all," I say, adamantly.

She nods, acknowledging me. But I can tell she's still skeptical about the whole situation like she knows there's more to the story than I'm letting on.

She squints her eyes looking at me intensely, I nervously glance away. Bianca has always been able to smell bullshit coming from a mile away, like a truth sniffing bloodhound.

After a second she lets it go, "Well Jax has always been a hot-headed asshole. Who knows his reasons for anything." She shrugs, "How's Charlie doing after all that?"

My phone vibrates in my hand, I look down and smile. Speak of the devil. Opening the message, I laugh when I see the gif of Michel Scott in his Prison Mike bandana. Charlie and I have been casually texting back and forth for the last few weeks. Sometimes it's random stuff like a gif or a meme he came across, sometimes it's a good morning or good night text, or just asking how my day is going. He never fails to get a blush or smile from me.

"Oh, I know that look" Bianca interrupts my thoughts.

I look up from my phone still smiling, "What look?"

She snorts and points a finger at my face, "That look. You like him. You want him stuff your muffin! Tickling your pickle! Bam-bam in the ham!"

Oh lord, not again with the 'Lacy needs to get dicked down for the first time' conversation. Bianca finds it a crime that I'm still a card-carrying member of the V Club.

"Bam-bam in the ham?" I belly laugh.

She nods enthusiastically, "You know, what I mean! Gland to gland combat, getting bone honed, dipping the wick, pulling-"

"Yeah yeah, I get it" holding my hand up, still laughing.

Bianca pretends to straighten her invisible necktie and folds her hands in her lap in mock seriousness.

"Now tell me, do you like him?"

That gives me pause. I mean I think I do. Am I attracted to him, yes. Do I get butterflies when I see his name pop up on my phone, yes. Do I find his obsession with the Marvel Universe utterly cute, yes. Check check check, so why can't I actually say the words?

"I don't know" my answer is honest.

All the humor leaves Bianca's face, she leans towards me and places a gentle hand on my knee.

"What do you mean you don't know? Lacy you either like the guy or you don't, it's that simple" she pushes.

She's right, it should be that simple. I've been talking to Charlie every day for three weeks, I see him in class, we work together on our project, I've been spending most of my free time with him. The answer should be simple. Damnit Lacy, why can't it be easy?