Note: this story is about Jeff's perspective of "Kelly's Festival Transformation". It's not required, but suggested to read that first. Enjoy! - bro_souffle2018
*****
A hiss rang through his dorm as Jeff cracked one of the leftover beers his dorm mate had left in their mini-fridge before going home. He'd been nervous through this whole week and needed something to help him calm down a bit. He didn't know why he was feeling this way. He trusted Kelly. She'd been so happy with him when they were together, and he couldn't imagine her getting into trouble.
Still, her going out with her friends to a late-night electronic music show, with all the wild people he was sure would be there, the people doing drugs, and her new independent life had his anxiety levels spiking. He knew he was probably freaking out a bit and it would be fine, but that didn't stop him from worrying. About what exactly? He didn't even know, if he was being honest about it.
It could've been partly because college had turned out to be quite a bit harder than he'd been used to and he'd been stressing out about it to her. Up until then he'd been the one to help talk her through her problems - her insecurities, worries about school, parents, whatever, but now it was her turn to talk him through his troubles as he told her how much harder this was than high school. He'd wanted to go into a computer science program and the one class he was taking for it was by far the hardest. The thought lingered in the back of his head about what he'd do if he couldn't cut it in the most basic class in his favorite subject.
Not that he had a ton to be insecure about. Jeff didn't consider himself a nerd or anything; he liked sports - fantasy football, watching his college's teams, he even played tennis when he could find a partner. He did like online culture, memes, video games, that kinda stuff as well. And he knew technology would be a great place to get a job after college. It wasn't the sexiest of interests, but he knew he liked it, and Kelly had always supported his love for it.
They had gotten together when he'd helped her through math class. They had happened to sit next to each other that year and, while he'd been a natural at it, he'd noticed her stressing out more and more in every lesson. It had taken some courage, but he'd worked up the nerve to ask if she needed help one day after class. She'd started with a "maybe", followed by an exasperated "yes!" to him. Math was his element, and he found himself to be confident in talking to her in the context of helping her study. After her understanding of the material began to improve, she'd asked how she could repay him, he'd nervously said with a date, and they'd been together after that.
In the past 6 months, Kelly had started exercising quite a bit more and Jeff couldn't help but notice that her body had filled out nicely from it. She'd gone from a skinny, small frame to a much more lean, curvy, sexy physique, and Jeff wasn't complaining one bit. It happened after her friend Sarah had first convinced her to start running, and then weight training; she had found a spark from fitness life she didn't know she had.
Sarah. One of his biggest worries was her friend Sarah. Since the first time he'd met Sarah, Jeff had gotten a bit of a "vibe" from her. Something about her just seemed...antagonistic toward him, even if her words had been nice enough. But more than that, she was always pushing Kelly toward a somewhat wilder persona. Sarah was the one that had gotten Kelly and him the booze, and then the weed when they'd tried them together their first times. He remembered getting the text from Kelly one day after a tanning session with Sarah, when she proudly revealed she'd taken her top off by the pool. Jeff had been angry when he found out about it although he didn't let Kelly know. He just thought girls with boyfriends should be more conservative with their bodies when they weren't with him was all. He knew Sarah had been the one to encourage her to do it though...so having her tagging along at a party like this one with Kelly felt like a potential catalyst for poor choices.
Sipping his beer, he checked the clock: 8 PM. She'd be getting ready with her friends by now. Knowing he couldn't text her a hundred times like he wanted to, he typed out a singular message that he hoped would convey all of his hopes for her that night:
[Stay safe ok? Don't get too wild!]
Hitting 'send', he dropped his phone on his desk and sat down at his computer. He'd have to play some games to take his mind off things: things like how long it was going to be before she texted him back. Settling himself in his chair, the phone chimed. A message from Kelly read:
[I will :P]
The rock in his chest dissolved. How could he be so worried? His innocent, cute girlfriend wasn't going to do anything.
He fired up his newest favorite, a futuristic first person shooter with a storyline he could absorb himself with. He'd already played the first level and was excited for more.
Playing through for a long while, he kept his mind on what he'd write as a review of it for his online buddies. Level after level, he did his best to immerse himself in the story. He raised his can to drink, but noticed it was empty. Getting another from the fridge, he checked the clock.
It had been an hour and a half since his last text. She'd have to have been at the show by now right? He pictured her in the crowd at a festival, surrounded by other young partiers. Would it be the worst if he checked up on her just to see how she was doing? Picking his phone up, he began to type before abruptly stopping himself. Maybe he should wait a little longer? It couldn't be that bad to be a caring boyfriend could it? The alcohol had him feeling a bit more at ease with his decision:
[Hey baby]
[Having fun?]
The messages were sent. She'd reply when she could; it might be a while anyway if she's busy having fun, he thought pragmatically. Turning back to his game, he unpaused and shot an enemy soldier before returning to cover. His phone dinged again and he paused to look:
[I am baby!]
He grinned. Her response was quick and coherent. And why wouldn't it be? Maybe she even was bored and wanting to leave already. There was simply nothing to worry about.
Except...well...what kind of fun was she having? Was she dancing? Who was there? Why was she enjoying herself? Was she drunk? Or stoned? Or both? He wanted to call her then...just to know what was happening. Looking at his phone, and her message, he thought about how happy he was with her response just seconds earlier. He turned his phone over. Don't be that guy, he thought to himself. He unpaused the game and charged at a new squad of soldiers.
He allowed himself to become engrossed with the game's story. Several more levels later, his phone chirped. Instinctively, he checked it - it was a notification from another app. Seeing that another hour or so had gone by, he noticed she hadn't sent anything since the last message. She had to have been having a great time; she was usually pretty good about her texting.
Or what if...what if she didn't want to text him back? What if she was having fun with someone? Someone she didn't want to know she had a boyfriend? A picture came into his head of her dancing with a faceless guy. Her body up against his, his hands on her, making her feel sexy...
He typed out a message only to immediately put his phone down. He didn't want to be a controlling boyfriend. He didn't want to upset her on a night she was supposed to be having fun.
But...what if she WAS thinking about...being bad? What if she just needed to remember she had a boyfriend? He decided that it wasn't so bad to ask for some kind of response since it had been a while:
[Hi baby]
[Can you take some pics so I know you're ok?]
He dropped his phone. Once again almost immediately his phone sang.
[Of course I'm ok. I'm with my friends]
He frowned and his shoulders slumped. How could he have been so worrisome...and weird? Why'd he ask for pictures? What if he was upsetting her? What if HE was the reason she got carried away?
His phone sang once more.
