Page 18 of Fighting the Tide
I storm out of the class as the teacher yells after me, but there’s no way I can stay in that room for a second longer.I burst out of the building and into the courtyard, not sure where to go, when I smell nicotine.
“Nolan?”Brooke steps out from behind the same tree I caught her and Kasen making out against a few weeks ago and I snarl in her direction.
“Is he there with you this time?”I feel like my chest is expanding with hot air as I stare her down, my blood on the edge of exploding.
“Who?”Her brow lifts as she gives me a slow once-over.“Are you okay?”
“Kasen!”My bellow circles around the courtyard, my echo mocking me with his name.
“No.”She shakes her head, looking at me with confusion.“I swear he’s not.”
Logically, I know she’s telling the truth, but all form of logic has escaped me when I stride over to her and fist the front of her school blouse, dragging her body against mine.“I never want you near him again.Understand?”It’s irrational, the things I’m saying, but I need to hear her say she understands.
“Yes.”She nods, her hazel eyes searching mine with bewilderment.“Yes, Nolan, I—”
My mouth crashing into hers cuts off her declaration, and my tongue pushing beyond her lips has her molding to me like putty.She begins to kiss me back with a ferocity and I swallow her moans as her hands travel along my back.
The taste of tobacco on her tongue has me pulling back as she trails after my mouth, seeking more.“Let’s get out of here,” I suggest, releasing her blouse as her eyes widen.
“Are you serious?”The glee in her tone has me rolling my eyes as I adjust my bag on my shoulder and my erection in my pants.
“You’re a delinquent, Brooke Eastham.”I grab her hand and lead her out of the courtyard.
“I like when you call me names, Nolan Sears.Are we going to see a movie?”Her other hand wraps around my wrist, making our connection intimate.
My addiction to the movies has spiraled out of control and instead of quitting before I get caught, I nod my head emphatically.“Let’s go see a movie.”
She squeals and grips my wrist tighter, her long red nails scraping into my skin.The bite of pain has me hardening in my pants, and for the first time, Brooke Eastham is shining in a different light.
I could one-hundred-percent say our friendship was purely platonic before, though that would no longer be the truth now.
Once again, we’re seated in the back row and when the theater darkens, the electricity around Brooke and me crackles with tension.My heart begins to beat into my ears as the music plays and the opening credits ofTommy Boycome up on the screen.I can feel her eyes on the side of my face, and I try my best not to swallow because I know I’ll look just as scared as I feel.I have very little experience when it comes to the opposite sex, and that’s not from a lack of wanting it.I’ve just been hyper-focused up until now.My future and my mother have always meant more to me than any stupid high school crushes, but I can feel the shift happening.Now I understand how being so hormonal is addictive.
I prop my elbow up on the armrest between us and run my fingers along my chin, trying to exude confidence.I had my first full face shave last week and the stubble pricks into my fingertips as I wonder if she notices, or if my five o’clock shadow of sporadic growth turns her on.
She leans in closer and I swear I’m about to jump up out of my seat when her lips press against my cheek.I turn to ask her what she’s doing, only to brush my mouth along her tongue.
“I want to kiss you, Nolan,” she whispers against my lips.“I want to taste you.”
“Okay,” I mumble and lean in as she pulls away.
I give her a confused look as she shakes her head and says, “You’re so cute.”Her hand lands on my lap as she gives my genitals a rough squeeze through the material of my dress pants.I stiffen in my seat as she chuckles and begins to undo my pants.“Relax.”
Sweat breaks out along my forehead as the sound of my zipper roars through my ears, then her head is in my lap and she’s freeing me from my boxers.My hands raise slightly as I begin to feel like I’m at war with myself because I want to stop her, but I’m also curious about how it will feel.So instead, I don’t do anything, and when she envelops me with the warmth of her mouth, my body turns lax and I fall back against my seat.
A week turns into a month, and then suddenly it’s the last day of school.I’ve spent most of my time using the new camcorder Brooke has let me ‘borrow’ and editing my piece for the submission to Columbia.A Day in the Life of Nolan Sears.I know it sounds generic, but it’s my life, and lately, it’s been anything but.My days are filled with school, which I have been attending enough to pass with still great grades, and my evenings are spent with Brooke.I no longer need to clean houses with my mother to save for equipment, thanks to Brooke, but on the days she’s too tired, I help her and pick up the slack.
Brooke and I see about three movies a week, and each time, I find her head in my lap and the film lost to the throes of pleasure.I’m addicted to her mouth and I will admit, I want more.We’ve been limited on where we can be alone since her parents have come back home, and I don’t want to go all the way in the back seat of her car.It’s not how I want to remember my first time.
“Hey.”Her sultry voice hits me a few seconds before her arms slip around my waist and her warm body presses into my back.
“Hey,” I croak out as I look around the school parking lot.I don’t know why I’m so nervous about people seeing us together.Maybe it’s the ridicule I know I will hear when they see the poor boy chasing around the richest girl in Chatham.I know how it will look and I don’t want to be accused of using her.
I’mnotusing Brooke Eastham.
“There’s a party happening tonight on the beach.The end-of-year bonfire.Do you want to go?”The thought of another beach party has my stomach crashing as I remember the last one.I was with Avery and I saved Brooke from jumping into the raging waves of the ocean.
Avery and I have barely spoken in the past month, and whenever I feel like she’s about to broach the subject of our broken friendship, I immediately leave her presence.It’s not that I hate her, if anything, she’s still my best friend, I just don’t want to have to face what she said to me because I’m not so sure she was mistaken anymore.
