Chapter 17 - I Could Make Clifford The Big Red Big Dog Look Like An Albino
I spent the next day trying to hunt Drew down so I could give him back his notes which had surprisingly come in very handy for my test.
His messy hand writing was difficult to decipher, kind of the like the guy himself, but he came up with some thought provoking analysis about the poems which I would have to discuss with him as the detail in them even surprised me. I had known Drew was a smart guy but the depth of his knowledge and understanding shocked me to the point where I suspected that he probably spent all his spare time revising as by his own admission he needed to get away from this town and away from his volatile, ignorant pig of a father.
Dina and Lucy decided to join my search for Harries as they whined and moaned about River Island not having a student discount – like most of their clothes are for us young people so some appreciation would be nice.
“I can’t pay full price for a dress of theirs” I bellowed, utterly horrified by the notion. To say I was on a money lockdown would not be an exaggeration – I could just about afford Primark let alone Prada.
“Bitch, please: I cannot pay for a dress at Topshop without using my 10% discount unless I hide my receipts and bags from my parents when I get home,” Lucy huffed angrily while I nodded sympathetically.
Dina, whose whole wardrobe was like a Topshop department store and was nice enough to let Lucy and I raid her clothes for a night out, pushed her long blonde hair behind as walked alongside us in the direction of the Science department.
“It’s so unfair because like old people don’t even shop there so we should totally get a discount so they get more young customers,” she mumbled. “They do really nice bras though,” she concluded while I rolled my eyes.
“Oh no,” I told her. “Last time I got a black, lace bra from there the stupid male shop assistant actually had the nerve to look at the bra and then my boobs and he fucking laughed! Ok, so it may have looked a little big on me but dammit I’m a 32B!”
That revelation caused quite a few of the other students to stare at us and as heat reached my face I was glad I couldn’t blush because if I could I was sure I would make Clifford The Big Red Dog look like an albino. I need to keep the volume down.
“At least your boobs don’t jiggle every time you run for the bus,” Lucy scoffed as she looked down at her chest. “These babies are both a blessing and a bloody nuisance.”
“And we all know how all the guys want to play with your big babies,” I teased as we came to a stop outside of the Careers department which was about as handy as Robin Thicke deciding to be a bastard and telling girls we ‘want it’ despite our protests that no, Robin, we most certainly do not.
“It always pisses me off when guys try to cop a feel when we’re making out because there’s no finesse to their actions,” she hissed as memories of such events probably rolled around in her dirty, experienced mind.
“You’re preaching to the choir, sister,” I said shuddering at the thought of Harry’s sleazy hands under my shirt. “When I used to make out with Harry his shirt always used to come off but I kept myself covered with a sheet or my shirt because I wasn’t comfortable and he kept asking if I had deformed tits.”
“What a prick,” Dina said while giving a quick glance at my chest that caused me to stifle a laugh.
“It’s not like I forced him to take his shirt off, you know,” I bitterly informed them. “But he felt that I was obligated to do the same and I used to tell him to button it so we could finish making out before my parents came back home with Jake in tow to see him over their virginal daughter slowly taking her ‘innocence’.”
Dina shook her head in disgust. “That wasn’t nice or fair of him.”
“Dina, does Harry seems like a nice guy with the way he cheated on her or how he lied?” Lucy shot back while I bit my bottom lip because his words still stung: You’re a freak, Sophia.
“You want to know about unfair?” I said trying to push thoughts of Harry out of my clouded mind. “My grandma has a freaking toy boy!”
Dina and Lucy gasped at the fact that Grandma Davis had shacked up with a guy 20 years her junior. I tugged at my boyfriend jeans, or as we'd call them if we weren't so scared of gender nonconformity, 'jeans' as my friends got over the shock and bombarded me with questions.
“Omg!” Lucy exclaimed in a high pitch voice which she only ever uses on major things like when we thought we saw Alex Pettyfer in London but it turned out to be an hobo or in this case my grandma’s sex life. “Who is he?”
“His name is Enrique,” I relayed in a very bad Italian accent. “And apparently my dad was telling Uncle Bob over the phone that he’s a sexy doctor that was looking after my mother when my grandmother was visiting. It was love at first sight over the bloodied patients and drunk man calling the hospital staff wankers as my grandmother strolled up to Enrique and told him not to be ageist and ask her out. Us Davis women are nothing but smooth.”
“Doctor?” Lucy said mischievously. “Bet he gives your grandma regular check-ups alright.”
I gagged. “Ewwwww! Please no! It’s bad enough that my grandmother is getting more than me.”
“Maybe Enrique, the Italian Stallion, can help you with ideas for the fundraiser for the Gay-Straight club. I mean I thought my strip poker idea was pretty good.”
“Yes, but I do not want to see a bunch of horny boys with prepubescent bodies take off their clothes and salivate when you whip your top off to show your girls.”
“So, you have no ideas then?” Dina asked sympathetically.
“I was thinking about doing a themed dance. Like everyone comes dressed as a movie character or something.”
“That’s really good!” Dina cried while Lucy nodded in agreement. “Why can’t you do that?”
“Because,” I mumbled sadly, “like you’ve seen some of the people we go to college with…I need a big platform to get the message out and convince them to come and plus then I have to book the hall for the dancing. I really want to do this right but it’s so hard trying to take off with the idea because I know most students will be sceptical. I don’t know where to start.”
“How about you two start by finally telling me about what your brother was saying about you wanting to lick Drew’s abs yesterday?” Lucy interrupted as Dina and I made not so secretive eye contact.
I was stopped from telling Lucy all about my dirty depths of my imagination by the image of Drew strolling out of the science department with such confidence that I wondered if I almost imagined him telling me he was shy. He strutted to the opposite side of the building, not noticing us standing on the other side of the corridor, and I couldn’t help but notice that he had that sexy tousled, bed hair thing going on as his dark hair contrasted with his white jumper. Bet that jumper keeps his warm on this cold day…I wish he would keep me warm. I MEAN IT! I mean I wish *it* would keep me warm of course.
“Come on,” I urged my friends as we had fallen behind Drew and he was too far ahead to hear me calling him. “Harries!” I shouted to no avail as Drew turned a corner as other students’ side stepped to let us past while giving us the evil eye.
“He walks really fast,” Dina whined as she tried to catch her breath while I muttered ‘bastard’ under my breath. “Look, he’s walking into that room! RUN FOREST RUN!”
We bolted like madwomen so we wouldn’t lose Drew and I cursed him relentlessly in head for being so fast. Bet the other girls don’t complain about his quickness. UGH! SHUT UP YOU PERVY BRAIN.
As we came to a stop outside the room I cringed when I saw that we were in the P.E department and had somehow found ourselves outside of a door labelled ‘BOY’S CHANGING ROOM’. It wasn’t like I could just walk in and hand over Drew’s notes while a bunch of naked guys looked on in amusement at a lanky, awkward girl not so secretly checking out their abs.
“I’m not going in,” I announced.
“Neither am I,” Dina and Lucy said at the same time while I looked at them in askance.
“Lucy, you’ve seen most of them naked anyway so this is like a big reunion of all your hook-ups,” I mock whispered. “Maybe you can all share notes and you can tell all the rubbish shags about how to improve with your worldly knowledge.”
“If I walk in them in all my hotness then all the boys will get a little too excited and I don’t think that’s what our curriculum means when it encourages us to play with balls,” she explained. “I’m single-handily bringing sexy back.”
“Do you have the receipt?” I said as Dina burst out laughing.
“It’s your notes, you go in,” she urged as I shifted uncomfortably. “Just hurry up otherwise I’m gonna be late for my next lesson and I really want to see this.”
No way in hell was I going in but that didn’t mean that Drew couldn’t come to me. I smirked as I stalked by friends, who wore a look of shock on their faces, and headed to the big, menacing door that held all the fit guys that our college had as they all studied P.E and spent some serious time at the gym. I wouldn’t mind working out with them…bet they could teach me how to stretch my muscles and everything. NO, SOPHIA! Not the time, not the time.
I brought shaking hand up to knock only to stop when my friends started shouting in my direction.
“TELL THEM TO DROP THE TOWEL, GIRL,” Lucy shouted as Dina giggled from next to her as she adjusted her black dress which showed off her enviable legs.
“Remember they’re more scared of you then you are of them,” Dina added.
As I brought my hand up to give them the middle finger I felt it smack against something hard that refused to move no matter how hard I pushed it back. The hardness of the object coupled with my friends gleeful expression caused me to turn around slowly as dread washed over me.
My eyes widened when I saw that my hand was pressed against the chest of Seth Michaels, arguably the hottest guy in the year, and I quickly snapped it back to my side as I thanked the heavens he was wearing a shirt. Not that I doubted for one second that Seth had an amazing body as Lucy shared her carnal knowledge of him and as I took in the way his shirt rode up as he ran a hand through his wet hair revealing the path to heaven and his adorable dimples I didn’t give a shit that he only lasted seven minutes or wore a pink thong in bed.
“Hey,” I croaked.
“Hi,” he drawled in a deep voice and I hated that I had been reduced speechless by a cute guy.
I kept reminding myself that he was only a guy to get my power of speech back as silence consumed us as I smiled like a fool at this fine specimen of a man. Seth was man no doubt about it because he stared at me with those kind eyes that waited patiently for me to stop acting like a school girl seeing One Direction for the first time. You don’t need to ride on Seth’s horse, I chastised myself, get your own fucking horse! Stop acting like a drooling idiot.
“I…” I said in an oddly high pitch voice which I wasn’t accustomed to. “Can you please give Harries something from me?”
He got this adorable confused look on his face. “Harries?”
“I mean Drew,” I quickly amended. “He’s this big, slightly moody man child who’s freakishly tall and has the stupid smirk,” I babbled on nervously as Seth look at me with concern. “You know he’s that man who has the tattoos….I mean boy, not man! Well I guess he is a man but it’s like that song by Britney…not a girl but not yet a woman…and just give this to him please minus this stupid speech.”
I handed him the big folder as I realised Seth Michaels was the only guy on the planet who could get me, the queen of steel, babbling like a person who had obviously forgotten to take her medication this morning.
“Will do,” he said smiling down sweetly at me and I almost sighed in contentment. “Never knew Drew had such an adorable girlfriend.”
It was amazing how I snapped out of my awe by those simple words. Not because he thought Drew and I were going out but because he thought me acting like a fan-girl was ‘adorable’. Hell to the no. Like is this what guys liked? When girls were reduced to a pile of humiliation? I guess smart girls like smart guys a lot more than smart guys like smart girls.
“I’m not his girlfriend,” I said in a firm voice as I regained my self-respect. “And just give him the folder, okay?”
I walked away before he could reply and before my urges got too much and I pushed him out of the way so I could get a glimpse of the college talent.
“Did he hit on you?” Dina gasped as I came to a stop by her and Lucy.
“Oh yes,” I lied. “Right after all the guys in the changing room did a little strip tease for me. What do you think?”
“I’ve already hit that thing,” Lucy said smugly.
“I really need a hot make out session and soon,” I concluded as I realised that I had been boy deprived for too long. Finn doesn’t count. The thought of Finn made me feel all sort of guilty and that in turn made me angry because I had nothing to be guilty over – we weren’t a couple and I had made that very clear that day in my bedroom.
“Maybe Enrique can hook you up with one of the cute medical interns,” Dina supplied unhelpfully. “And you and your grandmother can go on double date.”
“The Davis ladies out on the prowl…lock up your sons and grandsons,” Lucy giggled.
……………………………………………………………………………………..
At the end of the day I stayed behind as I had gotten a text from Drew asking me to meet him at the college’s front entrance for some reason he didn’t specify.
The dark clouds bruised the sky as I patiently waited for Drew to arrive and I tucked myself up in my faux fur coat as I shivered under the touch of the cold English weather. I was freezing my arse off and was about to call Drew to shout at him for his tardiness when I saw him stroll up with pathway, wrapped up in a long black coat that even in the distance brought out his emerald eyes. He was no Seth Michaels but he was attractive in his own way. Like the way his arms flexed as he tugged at his beanie hat or when he smiled a genuine smile like he was doing now.
“This best be good, Harries,” I warned as he simply grabbed my hand to lead me to the side pathway where the students usually entered from. “Where are you taking me? I’m not making out with you behind the sheds!” It came out quite shakily as I realised that would be a good way to warm up.
“You wish,” he scoffed as we came to a stop outside the entrance. “Look,” he gently coaxed as I rolled my eyes.
I quirked an eyebrow, confused as I stared at the blank brick wall. “I think you need to go Specsavers because all I see is a wall.”
“No, silly,” he murmured in a low voice but his glee was still easily detected. “Look at the ground.”
My eyes shifted to the ground and a gasp left my mouth as I stared in wonderment at the sight before me – there was a big banner with the words ‘MOVIE NIGHT DANCE – SHOW YOUR APPRECIATION OF LOVE BY COMING ON 22ND MARCH, 7.30 PM TO THE EASTSIDE THEATRE. ENTRY £3”
“What the hell is this?” I asked even though I knew the answer. “You bought me a banner? You bought me a freaking banner?”
“I called in a favour from a friend who works at the local photography shop but I’m still out of £50,” he explained as I stared at him in complete awe and shock.
“Did you really buy me a banner?” I couldn’t help but ask. “You like spent money to buy me a banner for the LGBT club?”
“Do you have some sort of medical issue where you keep repeating the same thing over and over again?” he teased as his lips curved up in a small smile at my reaction.
I shook my head in disbelief that Drew actually went out of his way to help the club but safe to say that I was still a little pissed that he went behind my back.
“I didn’t even confirm that there was going to be a dance so how could you just carrying out this advertisement without consulting me, the club president?” I asked as the surprise had worn off by this point.
“I heard from Matt who heard from Lucy that you were struggling to implement the idea and I knew that if I threw you into the deep end that you could handle it,” he told me in a honey-toned voice that caused my senses to go into overdrive. “You just need a little push and I thought your message should reach a wider audience and I know that it’s important to raise awareness about this so that when Jamie reaches college he isn’t alienated."
I remained speechless as he continued and I leaned into him because I could feel the warmth radiating off him in this cold weather. “Sophia, it’s probably not going to work to get people to stop homophobia.”
“It’s not?” I asked breathlessly.
He shook his head. “It’s not like people are going to have a little dance then decide to stop being arseholes and open their minds,” he explained as my face fell. “But your good will have an effect because even if you get one person to think or act differently then it’s worth it. Most people will continue to talk without thinking but you know you’ve done your bit and I know you won’t give up trying.”
“Of course I won’t give up,” I screeched. “If you use the term faggot, retard or a slut as an insult or because you genuinely think it’s an acceptable way to address people then I’m sorry but I’m gonna call you out on your shit.”
“Davis,” Drew chuckled. “If you want to fight all of the above that you just mentioned then I suggest that you put the banner up already because it’s bloody freezing.”
“You staying to help me?” I asked as Drew rolled his eyes.
“No, I’m going home where it’s toasty warm. I got also got you a ladder so hop on and go fight evil,” he mocked as his face scrunched up all adorably.
“You know,” I began in a low voice as I stared back down at the big banner. “Just when I think I have you all figured out, Harries, you surprise me by going and doing something so out there and…cause me to question everything,” I told him honestly as I kept staring at the colourful banner because I couldn’t bring myself to meet his gaze.
It was true. Drew always went and challenged my previous judgements of him and I liked and hated it both in equal measure. I felt so stupid for actually admitting that to him but I had a feeling he knew anyway so it wouldn’t make much difference.
Suddenly I felt something press against the side of my face and when I looked up I saw Drew putting his beanie hat over my hair which the wind had caused to go in every direction. He pulled his hat over my head and his hands moved down to linger by my now heated cheeks.
“So you don’t get too cold when you’re putting the banner up,” he smirked as my heart beat out of control at the close proximity.
He was so close that I could see slight stubble adorning his face, the way his lips were all plump and pouty and how he smelled all musky and nice. I couldn’t explain it for the life of me. It was all happening so fast and quick and out of nowhere – I was feeling something that was close to butterflies swirling in my stomach that was unnerving. What was that? Fuck this shit.
I moved out of his hold and shifted awkwardly as I definitely wasn’t expecting to have that reaction and the fact that he had done this was completely mind blowing. I offered him a small smile as he smirked that fucking stupid smirk that caused my blood to boil in both anger and attraction because it made him look all boyish and cute.
“Have fun,” he declared as I snapped out of my weird daze.
“You’re really not staying?”
“I know you can handle it,” he declared as he turned around to walk away from me so all I was faced was with his retreating figure.
“Harries,” I shouted as he turned around with a raised eyebrow. “I just…thank you,” I said sincerely as he looked at me solemnly.
“You’re welcome,” he replied back with a grin. “Try not to fall now and break your neck,” he chuckled as I looked back at the task at hand.
He had done it for the club so we could help people like brother and it was absurd for me to have assumed that it had all been for me.
The boy had now landed me in a heap of trouble as I had only a short while to sort all of this out but somehow he knew that I worked well under pressure and the memory of his sweet, handsome smile caused my heart to beat that bit fast and my knees trembled as I remembered the tingles that ran through me at his touch. It was like a jigsaw puzzle that I was slowly piecing together but the thought of what I would see scared the shit out of me so I decided to push it to the back of my mind.
“And I’m a man, not a boy,” Drew shouted over his shoulder as I vowed to kill Seth for telling him what I had specially told him not to. “I can show you if you wish,” he said suggestively.
“Not interested,” I shouted back as my hands found his soft hat which covered most of my head. "Not interested," I whispered into the cold of the night.
So what do you think? Let me know your thoughts! Think Drew was sweet or are you a hardcore Smuffin supporter? What was that Sophia felt? Want him to buy you a banner and give you his hat? Let me know.
Song is Forget by Lianne La Hava. Listen because it's amazing.
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