"Val!" I almost jump in my seat as Hardin screams my name from across the chair in front of me in the Steam Beans Cafe. "What happened Hardin?" I ask him, a little worried.
"The Badass Babe, she...OH MY GOD..." he trails off. He is exhilarating as he continues, "She published another story. I think I am gonna go crazyyy."
Oh, tell me about it. It's not the first time he has reacted this way, every time that writer publishes a story, okay 'an erotic story', he goes crazy. What can I say? He's been an enthusiast since forever. Yep, forever, we are 21 now and have been best friends since Kindergarten.
I don't know, whether I should be happy that I have got such a wonderful fan or be jealous that he admires a girl who is not me. Technically, it is me, but he doesn't know that. Hell, nobody knows that. I am Valerie Renshaw, 21, aka The Badass Babe, writer of some sizzling erotic stories, which are apparently being read by my best friend, Hardin. No one knows that I am into this stuff. It's my secret. I started writing these stories for a reason and the reason is right in front of me. I know, I know, The Friend Code and all, but look at him, he is so sexy at 6 feet tall, light grey eyes and that fucking jawline with that sexy beard. I can't resist myself having sinister thoughts about him. He doesn't have any idea about it, but it's just that he is the one on my mind while I write these steamy stories. I always write the things I would like to do to him. If only I could...I push these thoughts aside. I don't want to lose this amazing bond of friendship that we share.
I know there is no harm imagining about him this way, he's single, I'm single, sorted. I ravish him in my thoughts, write about it and publish it, simple. Sue me, but, my sultry imagination is liked by many people and especially by him. I don't know, whether I should be smug or angry, happy or jealous. Jesus Christ, I have mixed feelings right now.
Even now, having him in front of me reading my story has him so engrossed. He thinks that I am not paying attention but I can tell, he is turned on right now. The way he is shifting in his seat tells me that he is hard and it has me almost smiling. I try to stifle my smile, but, I can't. I am smiling full-fledged now. I feel smug that I did this to him, I got him hard and the mere thought of him being hard makes me wet. Truth be told, I'd love to do these things to him in person rather than writing them. But, I know it will never happen, so I put those thoughts aside and control myself and focus on my laptop in front me. I am doing some changes in my upcoming story.
After what seems like an eternity, he looks up from the screen of his laptop. I can see that he is flushed and he's taking shallow, ragged breaths. I know that he is super turned on right now, and is in need of a release. But, we are in a cafe right now.
I ask him trying to hide the amusement in my voice, "Is everything okay, Hardy?" I can't, I break into laughter. He is shooting daggers at me with his eyes.
"Oh! poor baby...why do you have to read these in public? This is the fourth time, it has happened." I say in between laughing.
He gets up from the chair and goes towards the restroom without uttering a word. I laugh harder now. I can't help but feel that this situation is super hot.
He comes back after a few minutes. I can tell, he looks relieved now and I know what he did in the restroom. I laugh silently.
As he sits on the chair I say in my usual perky voice, "I see Hardy."
"What do you see, Val?" he asks sheepishly.
"That the chore has been carried out." Both of us burst into laughter.
"But, Val, on a serious note you need to read these stories. They are so fucking arousing. Try them someday." he winks at me.
"Sure, someday" I smile shyly.
I think to myself, it's me, who wrote them and it's you, who is the protagonist but I remain silent.
"I am jealous of that lucky bastard" he says with a lopsided grin.
"Jealous? Jealous of whom?"
"The Badass Babe's lucky boyfriend, silly. God, he gets to enjoy all the stuff she writes. Wish, I were him..." he says wishfully.
"My god, Hardy, you are soo into her. But, hey! how do you know that she has a boyfriend, she might be single as well." I say as a matter of fact.
"I don't think so, but, you know what, it's in my bucket list to meet her once, just once."
"What are you gonna do if you do get to meet her?" I ask with curiosity
"I am gonna RAVISH her and there are so many things I would love to do with her like take her in the dog..."
"Jesus Christ, stop it already" I whine and leave the cafe.
I don't know why but it doesn't feel good to hear him talking about ravishing some other girl. Even though, that girl is me, I don't have it in me to listen to his sexual fantasies about The Badass Babe who is a sexy temptress and me, I am just a normal girl to him. I sigh and head towards my home. I don't know why, but, I feel sad right now and I don't want to think about it anymore.
****
Val leaves the cafe with me laughing there. Jesus, I was just mocking her. She thinks I'm into that writer. Well, she doesn't even know the half of it. The thing is, I am into HER. I've liked her for a while now, but never had the balls to say it to her. I know, I know I am breaking The Friend Code, but how can I resist myself? I mean just look at her, those piercing green eyes with that sleek blonde hair reaching till her lower back and that smoking hot body. Ooff. All the while, reading those erotic stories, it's Val who is on my mind. Whatever the story is about, I imagine myself and Val doing all the nasty things. I know, I shouldn't think these things about my best friend but, I can't help it.
I realise, I had dozed off thinking about Val and me and The Badass Babe's stories. I think I should go to Val's house and apologize for being a jerk. As I gather my things and start to leave the cafe, I see that Val has forgotten her laptop. I go towards her chair to pick up the laptop. As I start to shut it down, I see something on the screen that has me completely taken aback. I see the same site on which The Badass Babe publishes her stories and I cannot believe my eyes that the portal in front of me shows the username 'The Badass Babe'. I can't make coherent thoughts. I grab the table for support, as soon as the realisation hits me that Val, my best friend, is THE BADASS BABE. I don't know if I should be happy or nervous about it. I kept bragging about banging her in front of Val. SHIT. I think she is pissed off, I need to get back to her right now.
On my way towards her house, my mind is jumbled up with so many questions like: