High School Affairs (MB Story)

Stuck On You

(Chris POV)

"August," An officer calls to me. I look up slowly, morning light shining through the barred window. I sit up carefully and hop down off my bed and walk over to the bars. "Congratulations, someone bailed you out."

The barred door slides open and I just stand there motionless. This is just another one of my dreams, I've been having a lot of them lately. Well that's what I thought until the guard reached forward and gripped my arm tugging me out the cell. I realize that as he locks the cell door again that this is actually happening, someone really has bailed me out. I turn slowly to see Slim sitting up in his bed.

"You're free son." He says with a crooked smile.

I grip the bars of the door and sigh. "Damn Slim, I wish I could take you with me."

Slim smiles a little. "Me too, I wish i could see this pretty little Tamara girl that's gotchu sprung." The mention of her name makes my stomach flip.

"I'll be back to visit you Slim. You're one of the realest guys up in this place." I tell him as the guard taps his foot impatiently.

"You better come to just visit too. Don't let me see you locked back in here boy. This place aint where you supposed to be." He says sternly.

"Yeah Slim, I hear you." I say to him. He nods before laying down on the bed and rolling over.

As I turn away from Slim I catch Mac looking at me from his spot on his bunk. I nod at him and he nods back with a cold gaze in his eyes. Then the guard leads me past all the cells and down the long corridor.

We stop at the desk to pick up my clothes and belongings. "Do you know who bailed me out?" I ask. The guard shakes his head, thrusting my stuff back into my hands. I follow him down another hall towards the waiting area. I twist my clothes in my hands nervously. Who will be waiting on the other side? My mom? Cousin? Aunt? Dad? Ha, yeah right.

When I step into the waiting room my eyes widen with shock. I stand motionless in the doorway, clenching and unclenching my bag of belongings in my hands.

"You're the one that...that bailed me out?" I ask, still in complete shock.

"Yeah, surprise." She says standing up and walking towards me. I stare at her still in a trance, starting to believe I'm dreaming again. "You just gonna stand there or you wanna get out of here?"

"I don't get it Autumn. Why are you bailing me out?" I ask, standing completely still.

Autumm shrugs. "Because, I've been so busy apologizing to Tamara I didn't notice that you deserve an apology too. I'm sorry for what happened at the party,it wouldn't have happened if I was in the right state of mind."

She looks so hurt, like just talking about that party pained her. It sure as hell brought back memories I don't want to remember.

"Can we just start over please? Just creat a whole new friendship from scratch." Autumn says, looking up to me with questioning eyes.

"Alright, how about this. We clear the air right now and never ever discuss what happened that night ever again. Deal?" I ask her.

She smiles, a warm genuine smile that I haven't seen from anyone in a long time. "Deal," she says shaking my hand. And just like that, the awkwardness between us disappeared.

"Thank you," I say hugging her. "Thank you for bailing me out Autumn. This means so much to me."

Autumn giggles and hugs me back. "I just want things to be normal again. I miss my friends, I miss being happy. And everyone misses you."

As I hug Autumn I realize there's no spark. No pounding heart. No shaky hands. No hitched breathing. So that proves it, me and Autumn are strictly friends because my mind is still wrapped around Tamara.

I happily follow Autumn to her car. It's hot out and i begin to sweat as soon as i set foot outside. After sliding into the burning hot leather seats Autumn cranks up the air conditioning. I tell her about my weeks in jail and she chuckles as I mention Mac hating on me.

"Where did you find 30 thousand dollars to bail me out anyway?" I ask Autumn.

"Inheritance money from my grandfather and some from my saving account." She says simply like it was nothing.

My eyes grow wide. "What!? You mean you used money that your dead realitive left for you, just to bail me out?" She nods and I squeeze my eyes shut. "I gotta pay you back for this."

"Chris, get your panties out your crack. You don't have to pay me back. I owe you." She says turning the corner.

I don't bother arguing with her because honestly I didn't have 30 grand to pay her back with. But somehow I'm going to pay her back, I just don't know how yet.

After a while of driving we finally pull up at my house. I thank Autumn for the ride and begin to get out until I notice that's she shut off the car and climbed out too. Figuring she's just being nice, I let her follow me up to my house and unlock the door. I go inside and it's extremely quiet.

"Ma?" I yell, hearing my own voice bounce back to me. As soon as I figure she's not home, there's suddenly a burst of noise as people climb out from behind couches, under tables and coming out of the kitchen.

"WELCOME HOME!!" Everyone yells. I jump at the sudden burst of noise and Autumn laughs behind me.

"What the f--" I stop when I notice my mom rushing over with open arms. She slams into me hard, almost making me fall over. Her arms are so tight around me I almost lose oxygen.

"I'm so glad you're home. I'm so sorry I couldn't get you out earlier." She cries to me. Those words pull at my heart and I hug my mom tighter.

"It's not your fault though. I shouldn't have gotten myself mixed up in that mess anyway. I should have told you from the start what was going on." I say, hearing how hoarse and weak my voice sounded. I wanted to cry but I couldn't let it out here. Not in front of all my friends.

As soon as my mom steps back, I'm smothered by Alicia, Jaida, Serena and Jasmine. That sweet girly scent that girls have fill my nose and I inhale deeply. Even though I'm getting hot as hell, it's finally starting to sink in just how much I missed my friends and how alone I've felt in jail.

"Do you know how awkward it's been without out you? Pull something like this again Chris, see what I do to you." Jaida yells at me.

I roll my eyes at her. "Girl your little self won't do nothing. Swerve," I say pushing her to the side playfully. She laughs as I walk over to Jacob, Craig and Ray.

I expect them to give me some kind of brotherly fist punch or something, but instead they pull me into a tight hug. Jacob's hair brushes against my face, Craig squeezes the life out of me and Ray gives me a gentle side hug type thing.

"Man things have definitely not been the same with out. I was missing my other half for two damn weeks." Craig says to me.

"Well I'm back now bro, let the chaos begin." I say smiling. Ray starts to speak but my mind has now wondered off to the person leaning against the wall with her arms crossed. She meets my eye and her gaze drops to the floor, suddenly interested in the dirty brown carpet.

I shove my hands in my pockets and walk over to her. I stop right in front of her but she refuses to look up. Slowly, I press the toe of my sneakers against hers signaling that I'm not moving until we talk.

"Stare at the floor all you want, it not gonna open up and swallow though." I say to her.

"Welcome back," she mumbles finally looking up at me. Her eyes were dark, I can't read her expression. No sadness, no happiness, no anger. Just...blank.

"Thanks," I say. "No hug, smile...nothing?"

"You going to jail doesn't change anything, Chris. If it wasn't for them dragging me hear I'd be at my house watching tv and eating ice cream right now." Tamara says.

"T you know what happened between me and Autumn meant nothing! Autumn's a good friend and I like her but she's not you." I say with a weak voice.

Tamara smirks and shakes her head. "Are you expecting me to crumble into your arms now. Crying a river and saying how much I missed and how much I need you?"

"Yes, well that's what I was hoping. Until I remember that I'm talking to stubborn ass Tamara." I say to her, getting angry with her and myself.

"I'm not stubborn!" Tamara snaps at me.

I roll my eyes. "Stop lying to yourself. You walk around here like you're so strong that you don't need anyone. You know, I've thought about what makes you so damn special that I can't get you out my head. You're like...a drug. So addictive and I can't figure out why."

"You would compare me to a drug wouldn't you. Seen as how you've been on them." She says to me, no hesitance in her voice.

That one dug deep and it took all my will power not to flip over this coffee table. Tamara steps up close to my face.

"Doesn't feel too good to be feeling like shit right now does it?" She hisses at me.

"T, please don't do this." I say dropping my eyes to the ground.

"Do what!?" She exclaims. "Be honest? Well I'm sorry but that's what people with souls do. But maybe you wouldn't know because you don't have one."

Tamara twirls away from me and I feel myself getting frustrated. That breaks the barrier that's keeping me sane. I grab her roughly and push her against the wall. She looks up at me, surprise flashes across her face then it disappears just as fast.

"I have no soul? Are you freaking crazy!?" I yell. I see my friends turn around to see what's going on as Tamara stares up at me with a bored expression. She was really starting to piss me off. "T, it was ONE mistake. I risked my life for you and you won't give me a chance. I put EVERYTHING on the line for you. I risked my mom, my friends, everything...FOR YOU! Why can't you look past this one mistake and understand the fact that I LOVE YOU!"

I bit my tongue hard as soon as the words left my mouth. I said them...scratch that I YELLED them. I didn't mean to say it like that, it slipped. I've been wanting to say it for a while but not like that. It's too late now, the words are out. The most powerful words just tumbled out my mouth and everybody heard it.

Tamara's expression finally changes to one of pure shock. Her eyes widen slightly and her lips part like she wants to say something but can't find the words.

"Why are you so hung up on me?" She asks, genuinely wanting to know.

I shrug a little. No girl has ever messed up my head like this before. So why is Tamara, a long term friend, doing this to me.

"Cuz you're my pot of gold." I tell her.

She gives me a confused look. "That was really corny." she mutters.

I laugh and sigh. "Tamara. I'm sorry for taking you for granted and screwing up everything so quickly. But I swear, in that jail cell, I had a lot to think about and you're the main thing that I thought about...you're the only one I thought about. It was hard to get you and I lost you so easily. I'm sorry, I messed up in the worst way possible."

Tamara stares at me, her arms still crossed but her face is a little softer than before. Cautiously, I slide my hands around her waist and pull her into me. I wrap my hands around her, feeling the lump in my throat as I hold back the emotions threatening to spill out.

Tamara gently closes the small space between us and wraps her arms around me. That one motion makes me bite my lip hard and squeeze my eyes shut. Is she forgiving me? Please let her be forgiving me.

Tamara breaths close to my ear. "How do I know you're not bluffing when you say you love me?" She asks.

I pull back from her a little and look in her eyes. "Because I'd risk everything for you again and again as long as you're mine." I tell her. "Plus, you're the first girl I've ever said I love you to."

"It's true!" Craig pipes up from his spot on the couch.

Tamara glances back at him before turning back to me.

"Dont hurt me again." she says in nearly a soft yet strict voice.

"T I'm not gonna hurt you again. Loving you while you don't love me is enough to kill me. There's nothing worse than that." I say. I must sound like some love quote. But it's true, the way she looked at me with hate was like torture and I was dying slowly.

My body reacts before my mind can. I lean forward quickly and kiss her, savoring the feel of her lips against mine. I feel like my body is on fire and any minute I'll explode from happiness. Tamara clenches my shirt in her hands, pulling me so close to her that I feel like we're one person. As my lips moved against hers, the anger, pain and sadness all washed away. I wish I could just pause this moment so that it never ends. The way there is no space between us. The way our mouths fit together. The intensity that lingers in the air makes everything seem much more passionate. Only God knows how much I've been craving this moment and now that I've got it I'm not letting it go.



The burning stares I can feel from my friends and mom reminds me that we have an audience.

I pull away from T, grateful for the gulp of air I take in. I'm not ready to let her go and if I have it my way I won't ever let her go. She wraps her arms around my waist and I press her tightly against my chest.

Tamara reaches up and brushes her finger tips across my face. "What happened to your face?" She asks.

"Let's just say I wasn't the most popular person in jail." I say shrugging a little. "This boy Mac had it out for me."

"Did you beat his a-- I mean butt." Alicia says, catching herself before she let out some foul language in front of my mom.

I shake my head. "He beat me with a phone until I passed out." My mother gasp as Ray burst out laughing. Everyone shoots him a glare as he struggles to hold in his laughter. I half expected him to start rolling around the floor dying from laughter but all he could do was gasp for breath.

"He beat you with a pay phone? What is the world coming to?" He asks, still gasping for breath. I laugh and roll my eyes at him.

"Aww it's just like old times."Serena says happily. I agree with her, the mood is no longer awkward and tense. It's light and playful like it usually is with all of us.

"Well then, this was some welcome back party." My mother says beaming happily at me.

Craig pouts and looks around. "Party? I don't see any cake around."

I have a good joke about Tamara's butt I decide not to ruin the moment. I turn around and hug her tighter, burying my face in the crook of her neck. She smells really good and her skin feel soft against my nose and lips.

Tamara's thumb strokes the little curls of hair on the nape of my neck. "I never thanked you for everything you've done for me." She says in my ear.

I shrug it off. "Don't worry about it T. I'd do it again if I had to, you're my everything."

She lets out a soft relieved sigh, reminding me how tired I am. I kiss her neck gently and look up to find Autumn staring at me. She flashes me a thumbs up and I smile at her, giving a quick wink.

......

Its not over yet!! One more chapter soon ^_^