Page 22 of Corrupt Obsession

2 MONTHS LATER

Violet sungalong to the upbeat playlist she created to keep her motivated when she had to cook, clean, or do laundry. Her clean clothes pile that she’d ignored for almost two weeks was driving Lynne crazy, so she’d finally given in and was folding and sorting.

She paused frequently to check her group texts. Her nerdy friends were asking if anyone had finished a project that was due next month, while her girlfriends gossiped about crushes and boyfriends. The group chat she was in with Jesse and their mutual friends asked if they wanted to go to the movies on Friday. Jesse hadn’t responded. She could hear the TV going in the living room and the low rumble of Jesse and Dad’s voices. Since it was Wednesday, there was no rush for him to answer, but she suspected he would say yes.

She hung her tops and jackets in the closet before she carried neat stacks of clothes to her drawers. As she surveyed her underwear, she frowned. She walked around the bed and looked under it to make sure she hadn’t missed any stray clothing before she went to her hamper and dug around.

It was the strangest thing… Certain panties had an uncanny habit of disappearing during a wash cycle and reappearing during the next. It was hard to be certain since she didn’t do laundry consistently, but sometimes she’d wash a specific pair for an outfit and when the day came, she couldn’t find them. The panties always magically reappeared at some point, but sometimes she felt like someone was pranking her. But why would anyone take her underwear? Even stranger, why would they fold and put them back after using them?

A series of chimes on her phone distracted her from her bizarre underwear problem.Vi, what’s going on with you and Tobias? Allison said she saw him pass you a note in class?!

You andTobias? Sincewhen?

I’ve never even heard him talk.

OMG, what did the note say?

Tobias was a quiet guy she had History with and who haunted the school library. They crossed paths often, since she hung out after school when Jesse had practice. Tobias was always scribbling in a notebook. One day, she asked him what he was writing and was dumbfounded when he showed her pages of poetry that sounded like Shakespeare. Tobias was awkward and terribly shy, but when he was talking about poetry, he became animated and incredibly passionate.

Tobias and I are just friends. He’s a poet, she shared.He’s been asking for my opinion on some of his work.

There was a long pause as the girls digested this. She hadn’t known how to react when Tobias started asking her for feedback. She’d been flattered but had no idea what the poems meant. Knowing how much his art meant to him, she didn’t want to hurt him, so she said things like, “powerful,” “moving,” or “I really like the direction you’re going in.” That seemed to be enough for Tobias.

Are the poems about you?Marie asked.

That had occurred to her, especially when a few mentioned a girl with hair that mimicked the ripples on the surface of the ocean and eyes the color of amber. But he’d also handed her poems that spoke of ravens, dragonflies, and roses, so…I don’t think so. I think he’s just happy to share them with someone.

He’s in love with you, Georgia gushed and added a row of heart emojis.

“Lights out, honey,” Mom called through her closed bedroom door.

“Okay!” she called and rolled out of bed to brush her teeth.

Although she was getting a little too old for Mom to give her a bedtime, she didn’t fight it. No matter how much sleep she got, mornings were always a struggle for her. Somehow, Jesse managed sports, school, and homework effortlessly on only four or five hours of sleep. Everything came so easy to him. If she didn’t love him so much, she’d hate him for being so perfect.

She hopped into bed and turned out the light, but continued texting. When most of the girls signed off for the night, she rolled her eyes when Georgia started messaging her directly. Her friend was convinced that Tobias had a crush on her and that she was in denial. When she insisted they were just friends, Georgia demanded to see his poems to determine for herself whether they were about her or not.

She hadn’t realized how much time had passed until she heard Jesse and Dad making their way to their rooms. She heard Jesse’s door close and, ten seconds later, her parent’s door at the end of the hall.

She yawned and placed the phone face down on the nightstand, unable to continue debating with Georgia. She’d tell her friend she’d fallen asleep, which they both should be doing right now. Why had Allison brought that up? Now, the girls would be watching her and Tobias like hawks in class and Georgia, being the bold, curious soul that she was, may askTobias outright if he was in love with her. She sighed. She’d make sure to talk to Georgia tomorrow before she pounced on poor Tobias.

She pulled the covers up to her chin, turned on her side, and tucked her arm under her pillow just as the bathroom door swung open. She blinked, sure her eyes were playing tricks on her. Did the door open on its own? Just as she was about to raise her head to get a better look, Jesse stepped into her room. She opened her mouth, but whatever she meant to say was forgotten when she registered that he wasn’t wearing any bottoms.

Her eyes snapped shut, but the image of his penis jutting out beneath his t-shirt was burned in her brain. What was happening? Did he forget to put on pants before he came to talk to her? Was he sleepwalking? His footsteps were muffled by the carpet, but she felt a soft whoosh of air as he stopped beside the bed.

She waited with bated breath for him to reach out and shake her awake, but he just stood there, hovering. Did he know she was awake and wanted her to acknowledge him? But why would she when he was half naked?

She heard a long, deep inhale. Was hesniffingher? No, he couldn’t be. Why would he…? Jesse’s muffled groan scrambled her thoughts before she heard an odd noise, something she couldn’t place. A minute that felt like an eternity passed before curiosity got the better of her. A nightlight placed near the foot of the bed allowed her to see what was happening when she cracked one eye open.

Shock reverberated through her. Jesse was touching himself. No, not just touching, but stroking rapidly.

This had to be a freaky hallucination, or maybe she’d fallen asleep and this was a nightmare. This couldn’t be happening in real life. Jesse couldn’t be standing beside her bed, masturbating. She closed her eyes, unable to comprehend whatwas happening. She willed herself to wake up, but the dream continued. She lay there, paralyzed in her body, as the sounds of Jesse pleasuring himself assaulted her ears. It went on and on. She didn’t know what to do, so she played dead. She didn’t realize she was holding her breath until her lungs protested. She panicked when she had to take a gulp of air, but thankfully, she wasn’t the only one who gasped.

Jesse made a noise, almost like he was in pain. Unable to bear the suspense, she peeked again and saw him grip the head of his penis. When his breath hitched, her gaze rose. The primitive elation on his face made her insides squirm. A grunt was her only warning before something spurted on her sheets. She was too stunned to flinch when some of it hit her cheek.

Jesse panted as he spread what he’d spilled over her bed. When his hand came toward her face, she stopped breathing. His hand stopped inches from her face, fingertips twitching before it retracted.

A flash of light scared the bejesus out of her. She clamped her eyes shut, terrified he’d seen them open. She would just die if he… She heard a soft scrape and then nothing.What the hell was happening?She opened her eye just a sliver. Jesse’s face was illuminated by her cell phone in his hand. A message must have come in, which is why it lit up and caught his attention. He scrolled on her phone. She frowned, surprised he knew her password. He grunted and set the phone facedown as she’d had it before he turned on his heel. Her stomach flipped at the sight of his muscular butt as he disappeared into the bathroom and closed the door soundlessly behind him.

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