Chapter 227: B - Friends again?
I’m only a stone’s throw away from Ordrienne High. On that last stretch, I barely have time to wonder if that bastard Tyler really dumped Naomi… when my answer comes from her screaming like crazy in the middle of the school courtyard.
“Bastard! I hate you, you piece of shit!” she screams into her phone, angrier than I’ve ever seen her since I’ve known her.
It’s not hard to figure out who she’s talking to and, well, at least Tyler kept his word.
I pick up the pace as soon as I see Naomi running toward the school gate in tears.
She sees me, but pretends I don’t exist and keeps running.
She rushes through the gate and heads away from the school – probably on her way home.
I should go after her, but the fact she saw me and ignored me tells me I should let her calm down before I try to comfort her.
But someone doesn’t agree with me.
“Shouldn’t you go after her and try to comfort her?” Kimberly asks, suddenly appearing behind me.
“I don’t think this is the right time.”
“So… now that your ex is single again… I guess you’ll do everything you can to get back together with her, right…?”
“Actually, Naomi and I were never together. It was just an excuse to spend time with you without making you worry I’d jump you out of nowhere.”
Instead of answering, she suddenly jumps onto my back, wrapping an arm around my neck like she’s trying to choke me.
“I already knew that, idiot. Do you seriously think I’m dumb enough to believe you two were actually together? Telling me now is an insult to my intelligence!”
“T-Then why the fuck are you choking me…?”
“My arms just moved on their own, that’s all. Anyway…”
Her voice softens, even though her grip doesn’t loosen in the slightest.
“…why did you go through all that trouble? I mean… why did you want to spend time with me…?”
“I made a bet with Naomi the day you transferred to Ordrienne High — twenty bucks says I’d fuck you within a month. That’s all.”
“Oh, really? Well, for the record, I figured that out too!”
“Then why the fuck are you squeezing even harder?!”
“Sorry. My arms moved on their own again,” she mutters, finally letting me go.
Anyway, change of plans.
After seeing Naomi run out of school in tears, I told myself I’d give her some time to calm down before making my move.
Yeah, I did give her some time – about a minute.
They say you should strike while the iron’s hot, right? And right now, Naomi’s definitely burning.
I secretly follow her, with Kimberly refusing to get off me.
I was worried she’d go straight home, which would’ve made it impossible to talk to her, but luckily she stopped at Central Park.
Now she’s slumped on a bench, a bottle of vodka in one hand and a joint in the other.
Poor girl… She must be completely devastated…
“So you’re really going to breathe down my neck while I’m trying to make things right with my best friend?”
“Following you twenty-four seven is the only way I can be sure you won’t hurt anyone.”
“Who the hell am I supposed to hurt?! Anyway, do whatever you want, but stay back, okay? This is between me and Naomi — it’d be pretty rude to eavesdrop on someone else’s conversation.”
“Why? Afraid I’ll see your softer side? There’s nothing to be embarrassed about.”
“I’m not embarrassed at all — it’s called privacy! So stay where you are.”
She smiles and nods, and I slowly walk up behind the bench Naomi’s lying on.
The smell of weed and alcohol hits me even from here. No wonder everyone walking by is keeping their distance.
I just hope no cops show up, or this is going to turn into a real mess.
Without a second thought, I sit down beside her.
Kimberly doesn’t take her eyes off me for even a second, but at least she has the decency to keep her distance this time.
My chest tightens the moment I see Naomi’s face.
She’s breathing in shaky sobs, crying nonstop. Tears run down her cheeks, her eyes are swollen and unfocused, and she looks like she’s barely holding on to consciousness.
After a long silence where she doesn’t even acknowledge me, she slowly turns to look at me.
She just stares without saying a word — probably waiting for me to speak first.
“I heard you dumped Tyler. Actually, everyone heard it after the scene you made at school. Saying something like, ’I’m sorry. You two were such a cute couple,’ would be bullshit — I’ve always hated that guy, and you know it. But I hate seeing you like this because of some asshole. So if there’s anything I can do… well, that’s what friends are for, right?”
“Oh… now you’re calling me your friend…?”
“I never stopped thinking of you as my friend — not even after you decided to cut me out of your life just to chase after that guy.”
She shakes her head with a resigned sigh.
“Axel… you still don’t get why I cut ties with you? Seriously…? You’re even dumber than I thought. You know… maybe I really should become a lesbian. A girl would probably make me happier than any guy ever could… and she wouldn’t break my heart!”
“Just so you know, most of the women I fuck are married. Some of them even have kids my age. It isn’t about being with a man or a woman — it’s about being with someone who has their head on straight and puts you first. Anyway… I’m not as stupid as you think. I know exactly where I screwed up, and I’m sorry. I really am. I’m sorry I called you a slut. You know damn well I didn’t mean it and I’ve never actually thought that about you. It just slipped out because I was pissed off. That’s all…”
Naomi raises the vodka bottle to her lips, but I snatch it out of her hand before she can take a drink.
I dump the little bit of vodka left onto the grass.
Then I do the same with the joint, except instead of throwing it away, I bring it to my lips.
That sweet, tempting smell of weed had already made me want to take a couple of hits.
“Ugh… Yeah, you just proved you’re an idiot. Sure, having my best friend call me a slut sucked, but that’s not what really pissed me off. What pissed me off was how little respect you had for me. Even when I had a boyfriend, you kept trying to fuck me, and you’d get mad whenever I turned you down. Ever since we fought, you and Kimberly have gotten… really close, and I’d never have sex with you knowing you’re with her. That’s why I’m mad at you, Axel…”
“I only did that because I didn’t think it was that serious for you. That’s all. Anyway… I don’t know what you’ve got in your head, but Kimberly and I aren’t together.”
“Axel… please don’t treat me like I’m an idiot. It’s obvious you two are together — you’re glued to each other every minute, even right now. Is she over there spying on us because she thinks something might happen between us? I guess she doesn’t trust you very much, and maybe you should ask yourself why…”
Oh… so she noticed we were following her…? That’s definitely Kimberly’s fault!
And she’s supposed to be a Monster Slayer…
Yeah, next time I’ll do the stalking by myself.
“It’s true we’re always together, but… let’s just say it’s a long, complicated story that has nothing to do with love or us being together.”
“Y-You’re serious…?” Naomi murmurs, staring into my eyes.
“Yeah. And if you don’t believe me, I’ll prove it.”
“H-How…?” she stammers, her cheeks turning red.
“Well, since you already noticed Kimberly’s spying on us…”
My hand rests against her cheek, my fingertips getting wet from her tears.
I lean in until my lips meet hers… and kiss her.
Our lips press together, still damp from her tears. My tongue slips eagerly into her mouth, and after a brief moment of hesitation, she wraps her arms around my neck and kisses me back with the same passion.
She throws herself at me so hard that I end up lying across the bench with her on top of me.
Damn, the alcohol and weed really lowered her inhibitions.
I love it when she’s like this.
Still, kissing Naomi again after everything that’s happened stirs something inside me.
I get hard instantly, and she grinds against my cock so intensely I almost cum in my pants.
If it weren’t broad daylight, I’d probably fuck her right here on this bench without caring that Kimberly’s watching us from behind a tree just a few meters away.
Honestly, knowing she’s watching would probably make it even hotter.
“So, Naomi… friends again?” I ask, pulling my lips away from hers for a moment.
She smiles and nods.
There’s no trace of the despair from before on her face anymore — it’s like Tyler’s already been erased from her mind.
“Yeah, Axel. Friends again!”