Page 74 of Bad for Me

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It was the weekend,and I didn’t want to get out of bed.

I had nothing to look forward to except cooking and cleaning while mom was at work—our normal routine. It was part of the deal, actually; I didn’t have to pay rent if I kept a clean house and made dinner when mom got home from work.

Which just meant there was zero opportunity to run into Ava, the sunshine in my dark skies.

Pulling on some sweats and my Middlebury hoodie, I headed to the kitchen and start cleaning.

It wasn’t long before the trash was full and as I took it outside to the curb; I noticed Coach Kelly and her husband packing up their sedan and leaving.

Butterflies stirred inside my belly, and after I dropped the bag inside, I jogged over to their house.

I knew she kept a spare key under her doormat, a secret I learned watching her fumble with grocery bags when she left her car running one evening.

I looked around the quiet neighborhood, making sure no one saw me as I lifted the mat and slipped the key inside the lock.

Her scent hit me like a slap to the face, and I pressed my back against the door, inhaling greedy breaths of apple and cinnamon.

Her house was decorated with trophies and photos of her years as a cheerleader, and I brought my fingers to my mouth as I looked at each one.

Ava proudly huddled amongst her peers as two other cheerleaders held a large trophy in the air.

A beaming graduate, with her arms draped around what I assumed were her parents.

I hugged myself as I walked, taking in her dramatic white curtains and linens—everything clean and pristine. Just like her.

When I made it to her bedroom, I was nearly shaking. The euphoria of exploring her room while no one was home made me dizzy, but the rush it gave me was addictive and I continued.

She had a lace nightie laid out on her bed, baby blue with a matching robe. I picked up the robe, wrapping it around me and tying the belt. I sat on the edge of the bed, touching the books and glasses on her nightstand. I took the glasses and put them on, laying down against the feathered pillows. I looked out the window, the same window I watched her through just last week. Lust prickled up my spine, and I ran my hands over my breasts, pinching my nipples and imagining it was Ava’s hands and not my own. I pulled the robe over my nose, my other hand creeping down between my hips. I inhaled her musky, apple laced scent as I made it to my warm center.

Don’t touch yourself…

I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to ignore Ava’s voice inside my head. It was futile. The brat inside me wanted to make myself come on her bed and relish in my twisted little lens of her bedroom. But the need to make her proud overtook my desire, and I stopped.

What was I doing? Breaking and entering, knowing full well if I got caught, I’d violate my probation. I needed to get back home before anyone knew I was here.

A loud crash came from the other side of the house, and I jumped, scrambling to the doorway so I could peek around it to make sure I was still alone.

Ava’s black cat scurried away from the entryway, a tall vase of flowers tumbling to the floor.

I released the breath I didn’t realize I was holding in, relieved. I ran to the door, quietly pushing it open and replacing the key under the mat. I made a mad dash for my house, not realizing I still had on her baby blue robe until it was too late.

13

I THINK WERE ALONE NOW

Monday before ‘The Big Game’

Ava

I was wound so tight that I paced my office. The big game against UVM was this Friday, and I didn’t want to wait until then to see her.

Would it be out of line to seek her out? Maybe I could wait outside my house and pretend to be busy with something until she was walking home from school.

I felt like a predator, but a predator waiting for prey thatwantedto be prey.

Demanded it, actually.

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