“Hanging on?.. I haven’t…”“You stop,” Jenn repeated. “You don’t sit that close. You don’t share lunch. You don’t walk her to class holding hands.”Bree stared. “You noticed all that?”“I notice everything,” Jenn said.“Then you noticed she reached for my hand first.”Jenn’s jaw flexed. “I noticed it won’t happen again.”“You can’t control her,” Bree said. “And you can’t control me.”“You’re wrong on one count.”Bree folded her arms across her chest. Defensive. Aching. “So what, then? I lose my friend because you decided I should?”“Or,” Jenn said, and then she paused, like she was combing through the meanest version of herself and choosing something marginally less cruel, “you make a deal.”Bree narrowed her eyes. “What kind of deal?”“You stay away from Evelyn,” Jenn said, and then, because she didn’t like how desperate it sounded in her head, she wrapped it in something else. “And I’ll take you out.”Bree blinked. “On a date?”“A real one.”“Like..dinner?”Jenn snorted softly. “If
Bree had been circling the campus for almost half an hour, clutching her books tight to her chest. Her eyes darted around the lecture halls, the cafeteria, the courtyard benches…No Evelyn.Finally, she spotted Jenn leaning against the railing outside one of the upper corridors, scrolling lazily through her phone like she owned the place. Bree swallowed, nerves prickling up her arms.She stepped closer. “Um… hi.”Jenn didn’t look up right away. “What?”“I..I was wondering if you’ve seen Evelyn,” Bree said softly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “I’ve been looking everywhere. She was supposed to meet me after class, but…”Jenn’s eyes lifted slowly, sharp and amused. “And why do you think I’d tell you?”Bree hesitated. “Because you’re her…” she bit the rest back, correcting herself. “Because you know her better than anyone.”Jenn slid her phone into her pocket, pushed off the railing, and closed the space between them. “Yeah. I do.” She tilted her head. “Come on. I’ll show you w
Bree showed up with a tote bag and a nervous smile. Evelyn had already set up the console on her bedroom TV, two controllers blinking like little hearts. “Mario Kart?” Bree asked, slipping off her sneakers. “Always,” Evelyn said, pretending her stomach wasn’t knotting itself into a sailor’s nightmare. “Jenn’s out all day.” “Good,” Bree said before she could stop herself, then colored. “I mean…” “I know what you mean.” Evelyn grinned. “Come on, rookie.” They fell into the easy rhythm of trash-talk and laughter, knees touching on the carpet, voices kept low out of habit in this big echoing house. Bree kept glancing up at Evelyn’s mouth when she laughed and Evelyn pretended not to notice and offered her the better controller. Halfway through a cup, Bree leaned into her shoulder in triumph. “Yes! Did you see that drift?” “I’m seeing a lot of beginner’s luck.” “It’s not luck.” Bree bumped her again, softer. “It’s chemistry.” Evelyn’s pulse skipped. “With a video game?” “With my
Jenn’s smile kicked cruel again. “You learned ‘please’ yesterday just fine.”“Yesterday you didn’t snub me.”“Yesterday you didn’t hold anyone else’s hand.”Evelyn pushed her chest. “You don’t get to police me.”“I don’t want to police you.” Jenn’s hand slid beneath the hem of Evelyn’s skirt, palm warm to the inside of her knee. “I want to ruin you.”Evelyn caught her wrist. “You’re not touching me.”“Then why are you shaking?”“Because you’re infuriating.”Jenn hummed. “Say you don’t want it and I’ll stop.”Evelyn couldn’t make out the words. She pushed Jenn’s hand back down her thigh and Jenn let it go, brows lifting like..interesting. Evelyn dodged under her arm, sprinted for the far side of the room. Jenn didn’t chase. She simply turned, slow and patient, and watched Evelyn circle, breathing hard.“This is childish,” Evelyn said.“This is foreplay,” Jenn corrected.“Go to hell.”“Take me there.”Evelyn made a break for the door again. Jenn cut her off with two long strides, caught
Classes dragged, but the moment the last bell rang Jenn was waiting outside by her car, leaning against the sleek hood like she owned the world. Her eyes found Evelyn instantly.“Get in.”Evelyn froze on the steps. “No. I’ll take the bus.”Jenn’s smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Church girl.” The two words were quiet, but the edge in her tone was sharp as glass. “Don’t make me say it twice.”Students filtered around them, too busy to notice the storm simmering between the two girls. Evelyn swallowed, jaw tight, and marched to the passenger side. The door slammed louder than she meant it to.She buckled in and angled herself toward the window, arms folded like a barrier. Jenn slid behind the wheel, the purr of the engine filling the silence. For a few minutes, Evelyn thought maybe she’d get away with the quiet.Then Jenn’s hand landed on her thigh. Heavy. Possessive.Evelyn flinched. “Don’t.”Jenn’s nails dragged slow circles over the fabric of Evelyn’s skirt. “Still thinking about her? L
Jenn was already buttoning up her jeans when Evelyn pushed into the bathroom without knocking. The mirror fogged faintly from Jenn’s shower, and she was leaning over the sink, dark hair damp, adjusting her collar.Evelyn hovered at the doorway, chewing her lip. “Jenn?”Jenn caught her eyes in the glass. “What?”“I… I wanted to ask…” Evelyn shuffled her feet, voice dropping, “if you could… do that thing again. The thing from yesterday.”Jenn’s reflection broke into a slow, wicked grin. She turned, leaning back against the sink with her arms folded. “What thing, church girl?” The nickname came out, sharp and teasing, the way she’d always used it when she wanted to get under Evelyn’s skin.Evelyn’s cheeks flared pink. “Don’t call me that.”Jenn raised a brow, pretending not to understand. “What thing? Be specific.”Evelyn’s blush deepened, but she squared her shoulders. “The thing you did… to my clit…to my pussy” The words came out blunt, almost shameless, though her voice shook. “With y