Chapter 1- Mr. Cranky
2262 Words
EMILY
"So you're telling me that I might be pregnant?!" I narrow my icy blue eyes at Curt as he mumbles his ridiculous speculation. All I wanted was to vent about my delayed period, but he immediately threw the pregnant card at me.
A soft chuckle escapes his filthy mouth, which I find incredibly annoying. To make things worse, he absentmindedly brushes his nails against his cheek, a habit that makes me want to scream in frustration. Don't get me wrong, I love chickens and other feathery little bits. They're just innocent beings who just want to live peacefully. But this guy right here can get on my nerves sometimes.
And to make matters worse, he adds, "Or maybe you've just gained some weight. You really need to cut down on those fries and give them all to me instead."
I ignore his suggestion because we both know that's never going to happen.
"Do you think I should go see a doctor? Ugh. But what if I have some cancer or something? No…I can’t die yet! I haven’t even had my first kiss yet!" I dramatically confided in him, hoping for some support, but he’d been completely absorbed in his phone, barely acknowledging my existence. I sneak a peek, only to be taken aback a split second later by his explicit choice of content. He couldn't even bother tilting his phone away from my line of sight, leaving me a bit uneasy.
"Can you at least pause that video for a second and listen to me? This is a matter of life and death, Curt!"
"Jeez, relax! Whatever happens, whether you're pregnant or not, always remember that behind those clouds..." he trails off, his eyes still glued to his phone. I brace myself for yet another useless piece of wisdom.
"...is an airplane."
Cringe. He insists on this pregnancy idea, even though... I'm clearly a virgin.
Finally, he leans back in his chair, tearing his gaze away from the pornstar’s shaking fake boobs on his phone. We’re currently at the university food court and it’s nearly empty at this hour.
"I’ll just go home then," I utter with a sigh, frustration spreading through every fiber of my being.
Finally, he gives me his full attention. "Okay, sorry, I’m here now."
He reaches for my hand and gazes at me tenderly. "What do I have to do to make you feel better?"
I stare back blankly, without blinking.
Curtis Jackson is my best friend—my closest and most trusted confidant. Ever since Katie, my best friend since grade school passed away due to complications from asthma, I don't think I can navigate college life without him.
Since Katie's death, I've been living like a zombie. I never imagined that college would be this stressful. I thought it would just be a slightly more challenging version of high school. But college has its own set of challenges. There's more homework, longer classes, and an intense workload. And the worst part is…everything has been reset to zero.
Katie and I were supposed to conquer college together, and we did, but only for a short while. Right before the start of our sophomore year, she unexpectedly left this world, leaving me behind.
When I found out about her death, it felt like a punch to the gut. I felt abandoned, like a wet little kitten left on the streets for the first time. We had been inseparable since grade school, always sharing similar interests and never having a single argument. We even decided to pursue Psychology together. We dreamed of living next door to each other when we had our own families.
"I'm always here for you, Em. Remember that," Curt says, gently caressing my skin with his thumb. A small smile forms on my lips, appreciating his affection.
"It's getting late. You should go home. I'll walk with you," he offers.
"It's alright, buddy. I actually prefer to be alone tonight," I say, giving him a polite smile. Normally, he would walk me home after our last class, but I need some alone time tonight.
Back in junior high, we were paired up as lab partners and we instantly hit it off as friends right away. Despite our contrasting personalities, I immediately felt at ease with him. It could be because we both prefer solitude. Now that Katie is gone, he's the only one that I have.
Thinking back to those days, my heart feels empty. I don't think I'll ever truly move on from her passing. Screw that b***h – she chose the perfect time to escape from my immaturity. I haven't even adjusted to college yet, and now I'm dealing with health issues.
Curt and I ended up pursuing psychology, and our class schedules are practically identical. I honestly don't know how I would make it through the day without him.
He recently mentioned that he has noticed a change in my behavior—always troubled and in pain. At that moment, I couldn't hold back anymore and I ended up telling him everything. It was a long overdue release after months of keeping it all inside.
It feels strangely liberating. Unless you're an extreme introvert, it's impossible to bottle up everything inside.
The thing is, my period hasn't arrived yet. If I had engaged in any kind of s****l activity with a guy, I would be certain that I'm pregnant. It's been two months and approximately three weeks since my last period, and these occasional painful cramps which go with all my mood swings and alienated feelings during classes make me want to go somewhere where I could sleep forever. I can’t even move properly because my lower abdomen feels so bloated.
But I can’t be pregnant. I-am-a-virgin, and when I say that word, it means everything, in every way – my lips, my hands, my mind, and of course, my innocent holes. There were no drunken nights where I could have been drugged or blacked out either. I'm just not a party girl or something.
I've never even had a boyfriend. Many people assume that Curt and I are dating, but regardless of what they think, he's just my friend. He's like a brother to me. My family even considers him a part of our own. He's always welcome to come over to our house, which is just a few meters away from campus.
To be clear, I'm not a lesbian. I'm simply a hopeless romantic. I want a guy who will sweep me off my feet, quite literally. He'll catch me as I fall into his arms, and our eyes will meet with an undeniable force, a connection that sparks electricity and leads us to get to know each other more. Eventually, we'll fall in love, get married in a beautiful church ceremony, adopt a couple of adorable pets, and live happily ever after.
You’re talking about a fairytale, Honey. Wake up.
I believe that upon being born into this world, someone has already been planned and destined for us – someone who will leave us breathless and make our hearts beat faster than we knew possible.
I definitely don't want someone who will flirt with me the same way he does with every other girl, say all the same things, and then wreck my precious virginity on our first date.
Okay, enough with the daydreaming. You’ve still got some problems, hunny.
But am I losing my mind? Is there a possibility that I'm pregnant?
I don't want to tell my mom about this because she'll definitely drag me to the doctor and they'll poke and prod me. I despise doctors, hospitals, and especially needles. I hate them with passion.
But what if I'm dying?
Yes, girl, you're dying and you'll die a virgin. Double time, habibi!
Wait, now my subconscious knows Arabic? My brain really is something else nowadays.
What am I thinking? Maybe I'm just overreacting. Or maybe it's just the lingering effects of that video on Curt’s phone earlier.
But you didn't watch, did you?
Okay, fine. I just took a little peek. I couldn't help it. The actor had...well, let's just say he was very well endowed, and it was...intimidating.
My thoughts consume me as I trudge along the darkened street outside the school campus. Our modest bungalow is located on the main street, just a few blocks away from our department hall.
The moon shines brightly in the night sky as I gaze up at its ethereal beauty. I close my eyes and let the moonlight wash over my pale skin, feeling the cool breeze gently tousle my long black hair. Lost in my thoughts, I imagine myself on a peaceful island, surrounded by loved ones and experiencing pure joy.
Suddenly, a loud honk breaks the silence, jolting me back to reality. I realize with embarrassment that I'm standing in the middle of the road, blocking the path of a sleek grey Porsche. Hurriedly, I scurry to the sidewalk, my heart pounding in my chest. As the car comes to a stop, a man steps out, catching my curious gaze.
He's wearing a fitted black undershirt that accentuates his toned upper body, and his rugged jeans cling to his muscular thighs. Intricate rose tattoos peek out from beneath his shirt sleeve, hinting at a deeper story, and another one that I couldn’t make out in the dark peeking from the left side of his…nice-looking chest.
Oh my… He looks like he just jumped off the cover of a GQ magazine.
Suddenly, the cold night air feels so humid. My eyes trail up to his face as I get a better view of him. Sweet sister of a frog, I have never seen someone this attractive before. His facial features are so perfectly manly they appear to have been carved out by a master sculptor and no, I’m not exaggerating. My pupils had to have dilated even more as I realize that, holy s**t, he indeed is a modern-day Adonis. Dark stubble marks his jawline, which is so defined and sharp that I may slice my finger upon touching it.
Just like in the movies, my world stops as I continue to gawk at him. Everything in the background blurs away as he walks, his black boots lifting effortlessly as if he’s the king of the underworld. He rakes a hand through his dark tousled hair and pierces me with the sexiest eyes I have ever seen, literally gleaming in the moonlight. I catch myself nibbling my bottom lips as I drink at the sight of him.
He walks closer and closer towards me, leaving only a few inches between us before he stops. I can now tell that he’s a few more inches over six feet. My heart is racing wildly as I stand there like a statue – wide-eyed, mouth slightly open, totally looking like a complete i***t.
I gasp as he leans his head down next to my ear and in the most sensual and masculine voice that I have ever heard, he whispers,
"Get the f**k out of my way."
His words send shivers down my spine, and I struggle to find my voice.
"Huh?" I manage to breathe out, my mind reeling from his proximity.
He straightens up, his piercing green eyes still fixed on me. His handsome face contorts into a displeased expression as he speaks again.
"Are you planning to die or what?"
His voice, both irritated and beautiful, resonates in my ears, momentarily drowning out the sounds of the night. I'm left speechless, unable to find the right words to respond.
"I'm sorry, what?" I finally manage to say, my voice barely above a whisper.
"I had been blowing my horn for the past full minute, but you were just there standing, eyes closed, and arms wide open in the air. Are you on drugs or something?"
His voice begins to sound muffled, probably because my heart is beating like a freaking drum, coursing blood through my ears…and to the rest of my body.
But wait, did he just ask me if I was on drugs?
"What? Drugs?"
He rolls his eyes and sighs in frustration. I probably should feel angry that he’s just insulted me, but why did I find that gesture hot?
"Just move, alright?" he says dismissively, turning his back to me.
His crankiness is oddly making him more appealing. I’m left there standing with my mouth open. My eyes suddenly have minds of their own, attaching themselves to his sexy butt as it sways back to his car. He starts his engine, signaling me to move the hell out of his precious way.
I scold myself inwardly, questioning my reaction to a freaking stranger.
Is this the first time you've seen a man, Emily?
I shake my head, trying to regain my composure. There’s something about his irritability that is somehow…I can’t find the exact word to describe it, but definitely not irritating.
My chest heaves with a mixture of confusion and desire as he drives away, his head popping out of the window to catch my eye one last time.
"Watch where you're going next time, kitten," he says with a wink, his words sending a thrill through my body.
Kitten...
On normal occasions, I might have cringed hard at that nickname but the way he said it lingers in my mind, stirring something deep within me.
As he disappears into the night, I feel myself warming up and something between my legs twitches and starts to get really…wet.
- Writer
