C H A P T E R O N E
Stairway to Ejaculation
Summer of 2020
Shinganshia, Marialand
This is where they stay crunk, throw it up. Dubs on the Cadillac. White tees, Nikes, and gangstas don't know how to act. That's what Ciara raps about on the speakers of my black PT Cruiser. I roam down Titan Road curving a few kilometers from the ocean. An open mall strip rests on the bank, and new clothes sit on my passenger seat. I drive away from the ocean, going back to my home of Shinganshia. Her Germanic style can be seen on hills beside a mountain. This is an old song of Ciara, but it's a classic, and I'm vibing with her with my shades on. My sun kissed face is clear and I just trimmed my mustache. I feel good, good as this girl going off on the radio. I bounce in my seat, whipping my head side to side. Once Ludacris comes on the track, I spit the lyrics with him. I'm flipping my middle finger in the air. I go five above the speed limit, eyes on the lookout for a white Ford with lights and sirens sitting along the banks of tall grass. They're sitting there, and I can't help but smile with vengeance. I keep my finger in the air as I pass. Around here, we don't ride slow, and the cops think they're slick with their hiding places.
The song fades to end, and Aaliyah is next on my R&B playlist. A girl that was gone too soon. I turn up my radio louder, roll the windows, and pick up my speed. "It's been a long time, we shouldn't have left you, without a dope beat to step to." The male repeats 'step to' and ends with a 'freaky-freaky'. The lyrics hit closer to home than the road I'm on. My lip pinches into my cheek as I picture my high school graduation. It's been a year, yet somehow I'm still feeling attached to Trost Academy. I started off with no friends, gained a spark of popularity, then graduated with no one. I mean, I do have my best friend, Armin Arlert, but he's off to a prestigious college across the state. There was Mikasa, but I believe I burned that bridge. "What would you do to get to me? What would you say to have your way? Would you give up or try again, if I hesitate to let you in?" Gosh, those lyrics hit hard, especially after our last conversation.
"And if at first you don't succeed, dust yourself off and try again." I sing along with a smile on my face. The wind blows through my long dark locks, flat ironed and the top half put into a bun. The freeway leads straight to the gate kilometers away. "Again, again." I exhale her lyrics, not meaning to lose my smile and stare off. Aaliyah is suddenly cut off by Mary J. Blige. "Got my head on straight, got my vibe right, I ain't gonna let you kill it. See, I wouldn't change my life's just fine." She repeats 'fine' as I smirk and hurry to answer my iPhone X seeing the name 'Reiner'.
I answer without hesitation. "Hey, Reiner. What's up?" My face tenses as I wait for his response.
"Eren, hey. Are you busy?"
My head shakes. "Nope. Just heading home. Why? What's up?"
"I'm thinking about you."
I bite my lower lip, gripping the steering wheel tightly. "You are?"
"I am. What will it take to get you to drive to Trost?"
My shoulders shrug. "Gas money."
Reiner chuckles. "You know I'll front for that. Bring your cute ass up here?"
I smile. "I'm on my way."
xxx
The ride started with Mary J. Blige and ended with Ashanti. I'm ready to rock with Reiner, scream 'Aww baby' over and over. The rolling of the beats remind me of Reiner's thrusts, he's so passionate, sporadic, and hard. I had enough gas to make it to Trost. Through grassy fields with trees in the distance and farms sporadically placed. Past small cities hidden away from the freeway, all the size of a blink of an eyes. And through a mountain that separates the counties of Paradis. Eventually, I arrive in civilization, where the freeway got more packed and modern. The city is always vibing with energy, progressive in their architecture but not so much in their nature. It's a different feeling here than Shinganshia, like entering a whole new country.
Reiner lived north of the college district. The city starts flat then rises into steep hills where Trost University held it's high status. His dorm was in the outskirts of the school, I have to pass through suburbs before entering the business district. Reiner a football player going for the national league, modeling for a local agency on the side for money. That man makes my breath hitch, just the hard look he carries in his sleek demeanor. A man with taste but little money, luckily street and grunge his look. It's different from mine, I enjoy feeling tight and exposed in some way, whereas he wore baggy clothes over his beefy body. I did not expect him to accept my request on Grindr, nor did I expect him to be the Reiner Braun from my high school.
Ashanti's song ends just as I pull into the high condos. I park closest to the door, inside music is playing loud. As I get out, I recognize the rapper as Chiggy. The song is 'Holidae In', the song he played when he picked me up the first time. My smile returns as I stare at his open window. It's dank out here. I go up to the door, reaching for the knob. I'm nearly knocked off the porch by the heavy door suddenly swinging open. I back away with a deep frown. If it were anyone else, I would be the one apologizing.
"Eren..." The horseface's eye twitches. "Why are you here?"
My head tilts. "Why else would I be here, Jean?"
Jean Kirstein lifts his head, making a strained smile. "It's a good thing I have class. I hate hearing you moan."
"No, you love it." I smirk. "I'm sorry you have class."
"I'm sorry you don't have a job." He says blankly.
My eye twitches. "I do have a job."
"You're right, I'm sorry. It's upstairs, yeah?" His thumb points at the stairs. As I glance, I realize the song has ended and silence falls on the hallway. "You're late."
"Shut up, Jean." I shove past him, hearing him laugh as he leaves. Just as my foot hits the carpeted step, the song is cut off by another. This one is slow with an acoustic guitar. The flute gave away its title, 'Stairway to Heaven'. I smile again as I go up. Room 5B is unlocked. I stand in front taking a few deep breaths and fixing my hair before opening the door. Inside is cleaned to the best of a college bachelor's ability. I reach the stereo as he sings. More instruments are introduced, and the pace has picked up. My head turns west and the angel himself stands at the kitchen entrance, leaning against the wall with two bottles of JΓ€germeister. My smile grows to a grin as I lay eyes on the short-haired blonde. Instinctively, I bite my inner lip and pop my thickly groomed brow. "Hi Reiner."
"Eren." He lifts off the wall and flashes that fantastic grin. "There's a feeling I get, when I see you." Reiner steps just an inch closer. The tone changes just as the lead mentions his feelings of looking west.
"I get the same feeling." I play along, scanning his body. He wore just a white baggy tee and red basketball shorts with Nike sneakers bigger than Lebron's. We stare at each other for a second, embracing each other's company. "It's been how long?"
"Too long." He says. "Four months, to be exact." He comes closer handing me the bottle. His hand reaches around my waist. "If there's a bustle in your hedgerow, don't be alarmed now." Reiner yanks me close, tilting his head toward me. I stare into his crystal blue eyes, gazing and unable to look away. "It's just spring clean for the May Queen."
I kiss him. He's taller than I am, which is staggering because I'm six feet in height. His rosy lips are so warm, so easy to smash my face into. My eyes roll to a close. My body feels like it's melting. We go deeper as the drums go on, both putting the glasses next to the stereo. He pulls me close, hovering his lips over mine as he sings, "Your head is humming and it won't go, in case you don't know." He grinds his heavy meat into my groin. It's hard. "The piper is calling you to join him." We return to one another. Reiner touches every inch of me, increasing in speed as the tempo crescendos. He's having a hard time controlling himself, as am I. We're breathing into each other, moaning from the heat. I'm shoved, nearly picked up to be taken to the back.