Part One
"Hey guys... I'm going to have a friend over tonight to watch a movie. Does that interfere with anything you have going on?"
I paused in the doorway to the living room, waiting for my roommates to respond. Jens looked up and replied immediately, his German accent making the words clipped, "Oh, yes, that is fine. No problem," Roger's grunt sounded vaguely like an affirmation, and Andy didn't look up from his reading.
"Andy?"
He glanced at me, face cold, and said, "Do what you want Emma; I'll be at the library."
Breathe in... Breathe out.
"Ok, thanks. If any of you want to join us, we'll be starting around 8. I don't know what we're going to watch though." Grunts all around.
I retreated to my room, where I closed the door softly, resisting the temptation to slam it. I also kept my screams of frustration to myself. Barely. I did stomp though. Twice.
Argh!!
After allowing myself a moment of rage, I tried to reign the fire back in.
Breathe in... Breathe out... Your life is too good to be bitter about Roger and Andy being terrible humans. Really. Remember Emma... The best revenge is living well. They're jerks because they're miserable.
It hadn't always been like this. A mere four months ago we had all gotten along and lived happily together. Andy and I were best friends and, while we weren't as close with Jens and Roger, the roommate situation was one of the best I'd ever had.
Then came the day that Andy declared his love for me. When I told him that I would never return those feelings, things went bad, and fast. Jens was amiable, as always. Andy and Roger did whatever they could to make my life miserable. I'd heard, "Fuck bitches" more than I cared to. Same old story, just a different dick.
Hell hath no fury like a
woman
scorned? Please. Andy could teach anyone a lesson on bitter.
At first I was angry at his betrayals, big and small, that came fast and furious in the aftermath. These days I was just trying to make it one day at a time until our lease expired. Enjoy my life. Some days it was harder, when he was being especially unpleasant. When I remembered how close we had been, before.
It's a good life. You have friends. You're going places.
I caught sight of myself in the full-length mirror that covered the entire back of my bedroom door.
And you're getting more play than all of them put together.
A devilish smile twitched across my lips and the green eyes staring back at me warmed. My thoughts turned to Raven...
*****
Raven and I met online, on a kinky networking site, and after only a few messages decided to meet. Our attraction was immediate, intense.
We talked for hours about everything that came to mind. School, fitness, boys, girls, kink, costume parties, and our taste for all things meaty. In our mid-twenties, pursuing doctorates, cute, and kinky, we shared many common interests. We both understood trying to balance exploring our sexuality and growing up in a circumscribed world. Dichotomous living. Good girl by day, bad girl by night.
It felt so
good
to sit across from someone so like myself and talk without fear of judgment or embarrassment. There were differences, too - the good kind. The force of Raven's personality breathed from her pores and washed over me in waves of heat.
On the surface we skirted around the possibility of being intimate; the subtext read: "Let's fuck."
Our server cleared our lunch plates, but we stayed on, staring at each other as the conversation flowed easily between us. I was sad when it came time to leave.
Sitting in her car, I wasn't sure how to say goodbye. I felt like a teenager again. Then she reached out, tucked my hair behind my left ear, and leaned in to kiss me.
Soft lips. Pale skin. Bright blue eyes boring into mine.
My breath caught and I met her kiss, lips gently pursed. Chaste, but swimming with desire. We separated, and my heart sped up under her predatory gaze. My thoughts raced.
My what big eyes you have... The better to see you with, my dear.
I didn't want to go, but I had plans. And I was going to be late as it was. "Uh... I- I enjoyed lunch Raven. Really. I look forward to seeing you again - soon." I'm sure that I blushed, suddenly feeling shy.
"Oh, me either, Emma." White teeth flashed between soft pink lips.
My what big teeth you have... The better to bite-
I cut that thought off with a jerk of the door handle. When I reached my own car, I fumbled a minute, looking for my keys and phone. I had not expected things to go so well,
at all
. Feeling giddy, I set off for home.
*****
I came back to the present with a sigh.
Oh Raven. The boys are going to DIE when they see YOU, my special lady friend. Mmmhmm.
I blushed and warmth flowed through my limbs, making my entire body tingle. Giggling, I spun on my heel, long brown hair fanning out behind me, and began preparing for our visit.
*****
Two hours later I found myself standing in the same spot, wearing only a short pink robe and matching fuzzy slippers, surveying the room and running through the to-do list in my head. Everything put away... check! Fresh sheets... check! Shower... check! Hair... check!
Now I just need to figure out what I'm going to WEAR.
I shrugged out of my robe and stood in front of the mirror, naked. Head tilted, I studied the sight in front of me. French-manicured toes curled into the rug as my eyes ran from my slender calves, up my muscled thighs, and paused at my freshly-shaven pussy.
Yes, underwear!
I riffled through my lingerie. My underwear obsession had left me with a wide variety of choices in all colors of the rainbow. I settled on one of my favorites - bikini underwear in jade satin overlaid with fine black fishnet and the matching bra.
Turning to catch a side view of myself, I nodded in satisfaction at how the underwear cupped my round bottom and cut flat across the crests of my hips, highlighting both the strength and curves of my torso. Abdominal muscles stood out against the soft rounding of my belly. Hard, but soft too. A study in contrasts.
My eyes continued their journey upward and I admired how the jade and black colors in the bra brought out those same colors in the tattoo just under my left breast. A triskel in black and jade, three swirls symbolizing the stages of womanhood, stood out starkly against my pale skin.
When I reached my 34D breasts, my brows knit slightly. Voluptuous. That's one word for it. Annoying. That's another word. What girl complains about big breasts? Me! Standing in my bra and underwear, I could appreciate how those feminine curves might appeal to someone and I loved the dips and swells of my body. But it's hard to find clothes that fit both my trim waist and generous breasts.
Tough life.
I smirked, sliding hangers back and forth.
Casual... but not dumpy. Cute... but don't try too hard. Sexy... but not slutty. Oh, the calamity!
I giggled, jittery with excitement, and shook my head.
Focus!
Fortunately, working a minimum wage retail job to get through grad school had had some benefits - like a closet full of great clothes. Finally, I settled on a white skirt and dark green polo shirt. White sandals and large silver hoop earrings completed the outfit. I swished my long brown hair and nodded at myself. There was no guarantee that tonight would lead to carnal delights, but I was ready, come what may!
Part Two
Tap-tap-tap-tap-ta-
"Emma?"
My leg stilled and my head jerked up to look at Jens. "Yes?"
He grinned, his thin face boyish and his light blue eyes alight as he teased me. "Is your friend the girl you met last week?"
"Uh..." My brow furrowed. "What makes you ask?"
"You're nervous."
"Oh. Well, um, yes. Raven is coming over and we're going to watch a movie." I grinned, and he chuckled.
His ponytail swayed when he shook his head, "Oh Emma."
"What?! Don't judge me Jens!" I laughed harder.
One thing I missed most about getting along with Andy and Roger were times like these.
Guys, when broken hearts aren't in the mix, are... easy. Hard to offend, easy to entertain, chill. I had recently started making more female friends, and enjoyed very much having them, but it certainly involved a lot more work.
I jerked out of my nostalgic reverie with a snap at the sound of my iPhone rat-a-tat-tat-ing against the table, Halestorm's "Better Sorry Than Safe" blaring:
I'm not scared... Because I know there's something out there waiting for me-
"Hi!" I stuck my tongue out at Jens, who was fluttering his eyelashes and guffawing at himself. "You're here early? Great! Go to the side door and I'll let you in."