Bullied and the Bitch

Chapter 16: Marriage Already?!

Things are pretty busy for a while. Our routines are busy ones, what with me at the construction site between school and lugging about groceries for El, and El cooking, cleaning, gardening for our family. Our family. I never knew it could be so nice to have a family, especially one so large. I hang out with them too, quite a bit. Simon and Samuel keep lending me their dirty magazines, even though I assure them that I don't need them. I don't tell them why, though. I hang out with Vincent occasionally, when I have to borrow his computer. He doesn't seem gay to me, but I know that I expected otherwise mostly cause of my personal prejudices.

I spend time with Elianna and Eddy too, even though I'd always believed I sucked at hanging out with kids. Eddy sometimes comes into my room and shows off something else he'd carved. I indulge him, for some reason. He's a pretty cute kid, and he's the younger brother of my girlfriend. For some odd reason, Elianna really likes me too. Not so sure why, but sometimes she asks me for hugs. At the most random moments. Brianna would have looked at the three-year-old in disgust, and tell her that there was no way in hell I was hugging her. But I just hug Elianna, even though it sometimes meant getting oatmeal all over my clothes.

They were still mostly clothes I shared with Simon, Samuel or Vincent, who didn't seem to mind me borrowing their clothes. But I had managed to buy some lately with the money James had given me for Christmas and sometimes Janice brought some second-hand stuff for me to wear. I was a little squeamish about putting it on, then realised – the stuff I was sharing with my house-mates are more or less second-hand too. Besides, El washes clothes pretty thoroughly and I trust her.

El and I don't get to go on any dates, but the nights are feverish with enough body contact to keep me wanting more. So neither she nor I have any complaints.

Life is blissful, and so busy that time goes by quickly. The next thing I remember...

"I love you," El whispers into my ear. My latest explosive orgasm is fading, one of the many I have experienced in the last two weeks. No matter how many times I had it though, the addiction didn't fade in the slightest. I'd want to experience it again as soon as I can.

"What?" I ask, sure I'd heard her wrong. It's hard to tell when your whole body feels like it's floating, you know?

"I love you," she repeats, more clearly now.

I withdraw from within her, a slick motion with all her juices lubricating the way, and pull off the condom, careful not to spill any of the semen. I tie a knot, wrap it up in tissue, then put it aside to throw later.

"Okay," is my intelligent reply to her admission that she loved me. I had no idea what to say. I mean, I liked her. Really. More than anyone I'd ever gone out with. Even with all the women hitting on me daily, and the cheerleaders trying to grope me, I didn't entertain them. The thought of sinking myself in them felt wrong and repulsive – reminded me a bit of that obese bitch who had tried to force herself on me, even though they didn't look anywhere near as unattractive as she did. But still, it had to be El. But did I love her?

"Hmm. Come back to bed," she tells me, patting the spot beside her. I go hesitantly. Was she about to rage at me for my simplistic reply?

I lie beside her, and she just cuddles against me. Her breathing evens out. She's falling asleep, I realise.

"That's it?" I ask her, too confused and needing an answer or I'd never be able to rest. Her eyes open and even in the dark I can see her blink at me blearily.

"What's it?"

"Aren't you angry that I didn't respond to you that I- um," I say, not wanting to say those three words. This isn't particularly a male issue for me. I'd never been good at saying those three words. To anyone. Not even my pets ever got it from me.