Some people might say that there are two types of people in this world -- leaders and followers. I tell those people they haven't met Riley Granger yet, because my long-time friend defies any description.
I met Riley when we were both sixteen and had that attitude teens have, believing that we could take on the entire world. She was brash and impudent, but only when she needed to be. If she thought her cause could be best served by remaining quiet, that's what she did. People didn't know what to make of her. I was in awe of her, despite my being nearly 6 months her junior.
Riley came from an unusual home. Her father and mother were divorced and her mother had remarried -- another woman. Back then, it wasn't legal like it is now, but for all intents and purposes, Riley's mother Silvia was married to a woman named Samantha. Here's where it gets weird -- Silvia still lived with her ex-husband, Riley's father Erik -- and so did Samantha -- who was
his
mistress!
Growing up in a household like that, nothing intimidated the attractive, petite brunette. The word "spitfire" was tailor-made for Riley and she wore her personality on her sleeve. Riley could not tolerate stupid people or rude people and several students -- and more than a few teachers -- were on the other end of one of Riley's tongue lashings. With Riley, respect had to be
earned
-- it was not given.
Naturally, with all of that going for her, plus a great butt, sexy little wiggle and gorgeous green eyes, it was inevitable that I would fall for Riley. I pined for her all throughout school, but as far as Riley was concerned, I was just a pal, someone to hang out with, grab a slice of pizza or go for coffee.
All of that changed our senior year, after we both had turned eighteen. It was a month or so before Christmas. Riley had been dating Steve Reynolds, our school president and captain of the football team. I couldn't stand him -- then or now. He was a pompous, self-important jerk at the time with too much money and too little personality. All these years later, he hasn't grown up, he's just smart enough to surround himself with employees that make up for all his shortcomings.
Anyway, just before Christmas break, I happened to be walking to my locker when I saw Steve and Riley and they were arguing --
loudly
. I saw him reach for her arm and grab her and he was obviously hurting her. She let loose with a series of epithets that would have made a sailor blush. The other kids were getting out of the way, Steve weighed in at 250 pounds and stood over 6'3" tall. Not one of the kids around them was going to put a stop to this. Shit, the brain-dead morons didn't even go to get a teacher to help.
Okay, so I had to play Sir Galahad and come riding up on my white horse to save the damsel fair. I moved fast and insinuated myself between Steve and Riley. "I think the lady would like you to leave her alone, Steve," I told him. The look on his face was one of pure rage; he was going to hurt me if I pushed this any further.
"What are you going to do about it, huh Stan?" Steve said, taking a swing at me. Before he knew it, he was flying through the air and crashing hard into Lisa Benton's locker, putting a huge dent in it. As I couldn't stand the stuck-up bitch, I really didn't care. He came charging back at me, but I hit him once, twice, three times and down he went.
I had been a student of martial arts since I was 6 and was a brown belt, only a few months shy of my black belt. I didn't advertise it, because it's a handy secret to have and besides, it's supposed to be used defensively. I looked down at the dazed Steve and really, really wanted to break that rule -- but I didn't.
Then
a teacher shows up, of course. He looks over at Steve, looks at me smiling with smug satisfaction and looks over at a still-shaken Riley. It was Riley and me who got hauled down to the principal's office and grilled by the VP and Principal like we'd done something wrong.
Again, they picked the wrong girl to challenge. Riley tore 'em both new holes, she could swear like a sailor when she was mad and Riley was livid. She said that "fucker Steve" almost tried to rape her and if they didn't do something, she was going to press charges and make one hell of a scandal. She told Mr. Styles that Stan had only come to her defense and that Steve, who had a good 4 inches and 50 pounds on me, had threatened me. Both of the administrators wanted to know how I managed to handle myself, so I had to come clean about the Judo and Karate. Everything I said confirmed Riley's story, so we were told to go home for the day. As we were leaving, I heard Steve's name being called over the loudspeakers and it was not in a pleasant tone.
The next day, I heard that the rotten shit had been told to step down as school president. They probably would have made him quit being captain of the football team too, but we were on a 9-game winning streak and they didn't want to lose him. I still think they were all a bunch of cowardly shits. The guy attempted to rape Riley and all they made him do is step down from a job where he basically didn't do anything in the first place.
I tried to put it out of my mind because I had exams to worry about and needed to study. A few days before exams, Riley approached me and gave me a quick peck on the cheek. "That's for last week," She smiled. "Hey, do you need someone to help you study for the French final?" She asked.
I shook my head. "I don't have to write it, remember? My mother's French, I've been bi-lingual all my life. I'm the top student in the class."
Riley looked at me like I was the biggest dunderhead in the world, which I probably was at that point. "Would you mind helping me study?" She asked. I looked at her with her skirt hiked up to
there
and in high heels and knew I wasn't going to pass up an opportunity like this. I nodded and she told me to be at her place at 7 PM. I was a stickler for punctuality even then, but if I wasn't, there was no way in hell I was going to miss a chance to spend as much time with Riley as I could. I rushed home, gobbled down -- something -- grabbed a quick shower and hightailed it over to Riley's.
I rang the doorbell and she yelled out "It's open." I went inside and I bet they heard my jaw hit the floor in Quebec.
Riley wasn't dressed for studying. She was wearing this two-piece lingerie top, a skimpy yellow top and at matching panties with pink bows at the sides. She smelled great and looked a bit --
wilder
-- than she normally did in school. Even then, I picked up on the fact that whatever she had in mind, studying wasn't it. She walked over to me with a sensual little saunter and threw her arms around me.
"I changed my opinion about you the other day," She purred, kissing me and then leading me to the couch. "I used to think of you as a pal, but you were so cool, so strong and confident. You aren't at all like Steve, who has to prove to everyone he's this big, strong guy -- you just did what you had to do and did it. You stood up for me; do you know how cool that is to a girl?"
I went to say something, but she put a finger to my lips. "Stan, do you know what we were fighting about?" I shook my head, she went on. "He wanted me to fuck him for Christmas -- he said that we'd been going out for a month and if I cared about him, I
had
to fuck him. Arrogant jerk -- it's up to me to decide who I fuck, right?"
I nodded and went to speak again, but Riley was on a tear. "I'm not a virgin Stan -- I like sex and I'm good at it -- but he's not getting this body. Thing is, now all I can think about is how sexy you were yesterday and how cool you were about all of it -- and how much I want to fuck
you
. I think I'd like that Stan -- I know I want too -- do you want to fuck me, too?"
I'm not 100% sure about exactly what I said, but I know I sure as hell said something that made it clear just how much, because Riley began removing my shirt. "You know Stan," She giggled, "If you had been paying attention, you might have realized I had an ulterior motive. The second-highest student in our French class is
me
." She giggled again.
She had my shirt almost completely off when I realized it was only a bit past 7 and her parents might come in at any moment. Riley saw a brief look of panic on my face and figured it out. "Relax Stan," Riley smiled. "My parents have gone away for a few days and even if they did come in, they'd probably give us privacy. They're pretty offbeat when it comes to sex, you know?" Riley's lips were on my neck and for the first time in my life, I felt ready to have sex. I hadn't before -- not ever and boy, was I ready. It wasn't as if I hadn't dated or been interested, but my parents taught me the value of being a gentleman and I hadn't yet been with anyone who had been "ready". It was different with Riley, as she was ready and more than willing. It didn't hurt matters any that I'd been harboring a torch for her since Grade 10!