All characters in this story are over the age of 18.
*****
The phone rang twice before he picked up, concerned. "Hey love. What's wrong?"
I was in hysterics, but I managed to mumble out that I couldn't go home and I had no where to go.
"Where are you?"
"In front of school. I'm a mess. I don't know what I'm going to do..."
"Sit tight. I'll be right there."
Then he hung up.
I was caught off guard, but I was thankful. Mark Alster, my past math tutor and now friend, was coming to save the day... again.
Nothing had ever been this bad, but he had always been here for me. I knew I could trust him.
It took him 15 minutes to get to school. He pulled up in a Gray Audi, and rolled down the window.
"Put the cigarette out and hop in."
I squash the cig, get into the passenger seat of his car.
I know my face looks wrecked from tears and blubber, but he smiles at me and says, "You look beautiful."
"Bullshit." I respond immediately, without thinking.
I want to take it back, but he starts laughing so I assume that it was ok.
"Mr. Alster-"
"My name is Mark, Jos."
It felt weird, but I said, "Mark, I don't know how I can thank you for this."
"Don't thank me yet. You may start crying again when you see where I live."
I giggle, then say, "Wait, we're going to your house?"
Mark smiles, says, "Yup. I don't think you want to be home, and I have no place else that I can take you, so you'll be with me."
I nod slowly. I'd never been to a teacher's house before, but then again, he wasn't really a teacher to me anymore.
We get to his apartment soon, and I don't know how to describe it other than small and clean.
When we get inside, he says, "Go take a shower. You smell like rain and sadness."
I laugh, but say, "I have nothing to change into."
He shrugs, says, "My girlfriend isn't much bigger than you. You should fit her clothes."
I nod slowly, and for some stupid reason, I feel sadder.
"Before you ask, she isn't going to be here for a while. She's traveling to Germany to see her parents."
I blush, say, "Um, where are the towels?"
"You're adorbs. They're in the closet in the bathroom."
I nod, walk away from him and peep in rooms to find the bathroom. When I find it, I walk in and lock the door.
I take my clothes off, put my Rage Against The Machine Radio on. The first song that starts is Rage's cover of How I Could Just Kill A Man.
I let the water get as hot as I can take it, and just stand there, singing the song and staring at the ceiling. When I snap out of it, I'm wrinkly and I quickly apply soap and rinse. I hop out of the shower and get a purple towel from the cabinet.
I lower the music, and slip out of the bathroom with the towel wrapped tightly around me. I find Mark sitting on the couch, laughing at the television.
I smile at him, so at ease and calm.
I was as calm as a bomb, as of right then.
Mark looked at me on the commercial.
"Have a seat." He says, smiling.
"Um," I say, still lacking clothes. "Ok."
I sit next to him, try to prevent any slits in the towel.
Of course, the whole shit goes loose.
I scream and start crying, hiding my face.
"Baby," Mark says softly, standing up.
"Don't look at me!" I yell, turning my back to him.
"There's nothing to be ashamed of, sweetheart. You're beautiful."
I stop eventually, turn back towards him.
He's smiling softly, holding his arms out.
I run to him and he holds me. He goes to sit on the couch and I sit on his lap.
"I need you to tell me what's wrong." He whispers.
I look into his eyes, and they are concerned.
I spill all that had happened that day, from the smoking to the yelling, and all the while he's rubbing small circles on my bare arm.
I'm fully aware that I sit naked on his lap, but I try not to think of it too hard.
He stops running circles on my arms when I get to the part about sex.
