Author's Note: All characters are 18 years and older.
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The next day, Ed once again tried to get Charisma alone during lunch, but she managed to find her friends first. The clique of cheerleaders giggled at each other over some stupid thing.
*C'mon, Ed! Let's find someone else.* Perry suggested.
"Mrs. Parker again?" Ed considered, heading toward the library.
*Naw...someone new, guy. Don't you want to 'play the field'?*
Inspired, Ed headed out to the playing field, but everyone there seemed to be in groups. Then he had an idea and went under the bleachers, where he found a couple of seniors: Cora...something, and another girl he didn't know.
"Ugh...our secret spot isn't so secret anymore...seeya, Cora," the other girl said as she tossed the remains of her cigarette and trudged off the other way.
Cora, an elfin, auburn-haired retro grunge chick, with the requisite flannel overshirt and oversized jeans, regarded Ed as he approached. "Ed, right? You smoke?" She took a puff from her cig.
"Umm...no," Ed responded. She knew his name?
"Then what'cha doin' here? This is the unofficial smoke pit." The school had closed the official one the previous year. She held out her half-finished cancer stick to him.
Ed paused only a moment before he took it and pulled a drag off of it. Then he started hacking up a lung.
Cora grabbed it back with a smirk. "Poser." Then she paused, looking at his crotch. "What the hell is that?"
Ed looked where her eyes were pointing. Perry was writhing within his pants. "Perry?"