An Accidental Midriff

The Tummy Tutor - Part 4

The lunch line snaked all the way around the cafeteria, and Stephanie contemplated going the rest of the day without food. But her mind was quickly changed when she noticed Ben standing at the end of the line talking with a couple of his friends. She skipped over before the line could get any longer and secured a spot behind them. He still hasn't noticed me. She composed herself, gathered her courage, and tapped Ben on the shoulder. 

The tall, cute boy swept around gracefully and met her eyes with a dimpled smile. His jet black hair was combed back and to the side—pompadour style. A pair of black studded earrings decorated his earlobes and matched the fitted black t-shirt and black ripped jeans he wore. The white converses offset the look with enough pop. She was captivated. 

"Hey," he said. The natural smile never disappeared from his chiseled face. 

"Hi," she chirped cutely. She swept her hair over her shoulder. The movement caused Ben's eyes to glide down to her belly, which had become even more exposed due to the sweeping motion. She blushed and was thankful that he was still infatuated or at least interested in her. Her jeans were low-rise and had a habit of sagging a bit which only contributed to the stunning amount of lower tummy she was showing off. Ben's eyes were locked on the bottom hem of her little crop top, and she wondered if her bellybutton was peeking from under the shirt. She blushed, and was reminded once again of how much belly she had deliberately put on view—just for you. 

Ben was entranced for a bit, then clenched his jaw. "You look really nice today. I like your shirt." His eyes looked back into hers. 

She looked away shyly, "Oh this old thing?" She grabbed the bottom hem. Her fingers grazed her pudgy tummy and sent a wave of embarrassment through her. "It's alright I guess."

Ben drew his lower lip between his teeth. "I think it's great. Reminds me of Christmas. Like a lil present." 

Stephanie giggled as her cheeks turned pink. "It does have a Christmas vibe to it."

He lifted an eyebrow. "It really does, I mean aside from the fact that you probably wouldn't be able to wear it in cold weather." 

"I guess that's true," her eyes darted down to her plump belly, which was protruding out. She sucked in her tummy a bit. "My belly would probably get cold wouldn't it?"

Ben's eyes widened and a flush crept up on his face. "Uh.. um, yeah probably."

There was no going back now, Stephanie had him right where she wanted him. "Would you keep me warm?"

His mouth opened, and he stuttered a bit, but before he could say anything, a couple of voices behind them in line interrupted—"Yo!" "Move up!" 

They had been so immersed in conversation that, unbeknownst to them,  the line had advanced a decent amount. Stephanie smiled nervously but Ben simply rolled his eyes as the couple meandered the belt-lined queue. They even passed by Carol and Maggie, who were well along in the line as they snaked around. They were snickering in their usual manner. She wasn't mad at them, but a little loyalty would have been nice. She leered at them as she walked by. 

Ben couldn't help but look at Stephanie as she walked next to him. She had a certain confidence that was amplified by her decision to bare so much skin. But it was countered by an innocent and nervous aura. She kept her arms close to her vulnerable midriff, and he could tell that she was a little insecure about showing off her tummy. These observations combined to create a cute and impossibly attractive impression on him. 

The conversation was never picked up again. Yet, as the two waited in line, Ben had made the first move. He brought his arm around, and Stephanie nestled against his shoulder. His long arm hung down over her torso. She noticed his fingers playing with the fabric of her crop top, and for a moment, thought he was going to pinch her shirt and lift it up to expose more of her soft, teasing skin. She carried that suspense with her all throughout the line. 

"Welp, lunch is a huge disappointment," she muttered. Brown and gooey sloppy joe bubbled on the styrofoam lunch tray. A sorry side of steamed carrots and broccoli accompanied the messy monstrosity. 

"It's not as disappointing if you don't have high hopes going in," Ben explained. "Still, this is pretty awful." 

With trays in hand, they walked into the lunch room. Large cafeteria benches dominated the expansive hall. Students were everywhere. Talking, laughing, gossiping, sometimes even throwing food at each other. It was a bit overwhelming for Stephanie, who preferred to eat her lunch underneath a secluded tree in the yard. She heard a large thud, and turned to see that Ben had thrown his lunch in the garbage. 

"I'm not subjecting myself to that torture. I'm gonna hit the vending machine. Want something?" his jaw tightened. 

Stephanie could only manage an infatuated nod as his mouth curved into a smirk. He spun around and walked back into the halls. 

So there she was: in the middle of a chaotic cafeteria with perhaps an even more chaotic lunch bubbling on the tray in her hands. She began to make her way to a table when she heard a squeaky voice shriek, "WATCH OUT!" and then... the impact.