Stretch Marks.

Part 3.

Saygun's POV
Prom

"So was it Adrian? Or Mark?" I would prefer it if he was just late, due to a wardrobe malfunction. But even if that were the case, it wasn't true because the bag that undoubtedly held the contents of his livelihood was in the seat behind us.

He sighed and took a hand from the steering wheel to wipe at his face. Nothing was there, but that was a definite sign he was uncomfortable. "It was Mark... Adrian's there already."

I found myself laughing, and if Ely hadn't of been driving, I knew I would've hit him. He knew it too. "Okay, as you know I'm far from dumb, so explain to me why you'd treat me as such. I'm not the only reason you're going to this dance, am I?"

He roughly sighed, before uttering a very loud, "FUCK." Pausing there I'd already gotten my answer. I knew I wasn't a priority. I never had been.

"You were at first. And then Marcus called with a run, that guaranteed me money out the ass. I thought it was just going to be an on-the-way drop-off, but instead, it's bigger than that. I was only late though because I forgot to grab your corsage and had to make another trip. I'm sorry."

I breathed deeply. I knew why he did this. And knew the benefits, a big drop could give him. I also knew the downsides of this shit, and I hated being a part of it. He knew that too. Tonight wasn't about him though, so I let it go. I wanted to hopefully have a stress-free memory, and a golden time with my friend... maybe even more.

"Sorry doesn't change anything... but you can make it up to me. Show me the best time tonight. Even if you have to take drastic measures."

That was my roundabout way of telling him I wasn't mad, but also that he wasn't forgiven. Placing his hand on my thigh, I received the most award-winning smile from him as he parked the car.

He jogged over to my side and grabbed the door before I could even grip the handle. Offering me a hand, he helped me out of the car effortlessly. I had to turn around to get my purse out of the seat, but when I turned to face him, he wasn't looking at my face. He had been checking me out.

I'd never been at the end of the sultry gaze he was throwing me, but it made me feel hot. I was never the apple in anyone's eye before... well not to the extent that Ely was making me feel. "You look good, mama." Catching each other's eyes, he sent me a smirk before getting his bag out of the backseat. Slinging it over his shoulder, he guided me up the pathway towards the back end of the school where a bus and several photographers were waiting.

The exposed skin on my back that he was touching felt warm and tingly. It made me wonder if this was what people meant when they said their body was on fire. I'd never felt like that. I'd never wanted somebody as much as I wanted him, in that moment or any other time. Moving a little, I felt his hand drop, lightly grazing my ass, before he instead grabbed my hand.

I knew showing up with Ely was a shock for everyone. Not saying that I wasn't popular or couldn't pull him. But I was popular, and knew without a shadow of a doubt, that I couldn't pull him. I was... different. For lack of a better word.

Everyone knew me. Everyone talked to me. I helped people. I wasn't shy and was even in several clubs around the school. I was in drama, and performed, usually winning every talent show. I was valedictorian. But I was fat. Everyone has that one thing that they think is their downfall, and my weight was mine.

I was easily the girl everyone knew... but no one wanted to date. The girl you got advice from on how to ask someone else out. The girl whose house you went to for homework problems, but not to pick up. My "friends" ranged from football players to chess players. And from nerds to head cheerleaders. But friends and lovers were two different things, and I didn't have a good start in the "lover" department.

When we got to the bus we easily linked up with Adrian and Deja. We took some pictures together and claimed seats on the bus. Ely was kind of quiet, besides his sporadic conversations with Adrian. I was so stuck on trying not to hyperventilate that I didn't even catch most of their conversation. Deja, who was nicknamed Drama, was sending me calm-down texts, as well as 'YAAASSSSS BITCH' messages. And as funny as I didn't find them, I couldn't help but laugh.

"You good baby? You haven't said one thing since we got on the bus, what's up? Talk to me."

His voice was low and steady, and very close to my ear. I don't think his personal space invasion was on purpose, but if he got any closer, my body was going to react to my mind's feelings.

"Do you think this was a good idea? Like you know how I feel, I know how you are... was this smart? People are staring, and I'm slowly coming unglued..." I trailed off. There was so much more that I wanted to say. So much more.

"Fuck these people. I'm not here for them. I'm here for you. I asked you, and I did it because I wanted to."

"But..."

He shook his head. "No buts. If I didn't want to be here, I wouldn't be. Whether it's obvious or not, I'm feeling you too."

My mind drifted back to a week prior when I told him that I liked him on more than a friend level, and how he shied away. Granted, I'd also asked him to take my virginity at the same time, but whatever. He just abruptly cut the convo, hugged me, and bounced. Reasons why I was acting awkward around him now. Reasons why we were supposed to talk before we got on the bus.

Not giving me a chance to react he kissed me. It was only a peck, but it was new for me. Hell, the fact alone that he... anyone was showing interest, was new for me.

I grabbed one of his hands and laced our fingers. "You don't have to do this. I don't want it to be uncomfortable after this."

Shaking his head and smiling, he caught my lips again. "I'm doing it because I want to, not because I feel forced. There's a benefit on both sides from this."

I smacked my lips. "And your benefits would be?" I think this would be considered flirting.

"I get to hit, and you get some dick. Sounds like a win-win to me." My eyes involuntarily turned into slits, and as a reflex, I punched him dead in his arm. His manish, unfiltered words were never something I was a fan of, and he knew that. That's why laughter radiated through him.

His Doublemint fresh breath was felt before he even said anything.

"You better save that energy baby. I like to be a little rough, can't have you tapping out too soon. And besides, if anyone's going to be hitting anything," his hands roughly gripped my hips, before I found myself being firmly placed on top of his lap, "it'll be me." He found a spot through my hair on the side of my neck and kissed it.

As annoyed and turned off at his words as I usually would've been. I couldn't bring myself to be this time. I knew Elijah was well-endowed from a run in we'd had, when his towel fell while we were studying at his house one time. And from a few stories I'd heard from around the way, I also knew that he knew what he was doing. I wanted to find out for myself tonight. What he could do. What he felt like. What he could make me feel like. What he could make my body do.

We sat through the rest of the bus ride with me placed on his lap sideways. His arms wrapped firmly and unchanging around my waist. And me with tight thighs from his mini assault on not only my senses but my mind as well.