41 | 𝑆𝑡𝑢𝑝𝑖𝑑, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝐶𝑢𝑡𝑒

Oh, shit.

That's the warranted response after getting dropped off at an animal shelter that thinks you're engaged during a school club meeting.

Victor exchanged a fearful glance with me as I held hands with Sullivan, discreetly beckoning my head to the familiar walls of the animal shelter. Clem gathered us in groups, leading us towards the shelter with a beaming smile of excitement. He danced in his shoes, smiling towards a blonde haired woman as he introduced, "This is Emily, she will be showing us around--"

Her eyes scanned over our group before landing on Victor and I. "Oh, wait, how was your wedding?" She began grinning extra wide now.

Everyone craned their necks back towards Victor and I who inched apart and I decidedly looked backwards also, staring at empty space. Victor quickly nudged me as an indication that they were still looking at us. I nodded my head. "Yeah, my---mom," I deadpanned. "She got married." I gave her a death glare and Emily nodded slowly, changing the subject after a confused shake of her head.

"Proceeding that--"

Jay turned to me and asked, "your mom didn't get--"

I nodded stiffly. "Just--don't ask." I looked back up to Emily who was guiding us through the familiar walls of the animal shelter. Waving her hand over with a smile as she gestured to the  familiar face, Keith.

I glanced between the both of them, kind of hiding my face as she explained what we were doing. "You guys will clean up the pens and go outside for our annual sale! We sell all sorts of toys, food, and animal necessities. Let's hope to raise up enough money for some renovation for these cute little faces."

After a while of cleaning, tidying up, and organizing the site, we were waved over to the rectangular tables in front of the animal shelter. The plastic tablecloths flapped in the sharper breeze. I stood awkwardly, eyeing the five tables as people gathered in clusters. Some strangers were already being welcomed onto the property as the faint music blasted in speakers on either side of us with the additive of people's conversations mingling within my ears.

The sky was perfect for this occasion, bright and blue, the sun melting clumps of leftover snowfall. When I was going to head towards Penelope and Jay behind a table, Emily appeared by my side.

"Hey, I'm sorry if I ruined the surprise or--"

"No." I chuckled. "We're uh... going through a rough patch in our marriage and I was holding my... ex-lover's hand. Yes. That's it. My husband is okay with it. Open relationship?" I suggested with a pitchy tone.

"Okay, how's Banjo?" she asked.

"He's now Moose," I told her wisley. "But he is doing great, we're all one big happy family now." I nodded my head in approval before Emily was called over by Clem and Keith.

Somebody planted a kiss on my cheek, making me freeze, and I turned around to see Sullivan carrying a cardboard box, grinning towards me then gazing over my head, making me look to see Victor Vislocky slamming his eyes down to whatever was in his hands.

"You free tonight?" Sullivan wondered.

"Well, yeah, I guess so." I paused, watching as he distanced himself from me and began walking to a storage unit of cardboard boxes off to the side. I bounced by his side enthusiastically. "I was thinking, maybe, would you want to do something special? Like, we're approaching nearly a month of dating."

He started, "yeah, sure. We could umm..." We were alone from everyone now in the storage units of the back of the animal shelter. The faint dog barking and howling, along with their laughter and conversation were all behind me. "We could do this." He situated the box down and attacked my lips in a rough, slobbery kiss.

I tilted my head up, disconnecting our mouths. "Let's try going slower?" I offered, knowing that Victor typically made it this weird fast-slow motion that seemed to do crazy things in my mind, and other places... if I'm being honest.

I coiled my arms around his neck and brought him down on my mouth, sucking tenderly on his bottom lip, feeling the vibration of his moan spiral inside of me. I felt my heart start to pick up speed and begin to actually enjoy what was happening. I tightened my grip around his neck and held on to his kiss longer.

After fluttering my eyes closed, pressing my body up against his, he brought my back against the steel interior of the storage unit. His adventurous hands drove down my blue jeans after fondling with my yellow tube tank. His mouth explored lower, sucking at the soft spot on my neck, making me tilt my head back in relief. Though it wasn't as good as I would've liked it to be, it was progress from the first time.

His fingers slipped down the zipper of my waistband and dipped into my undergarment. I knew he still needed to work on that, because the second finger went and I released a quiet yelp that transpired into, "I want to blow you." Anything to relieve what he was trying to do.

"Or..." His finger slid out of me as he toyed with my underwear. "We could take things to the next level?"

I squinted. "What does that--ohh. I'm not so sure I want to do it in an animal shelter," I retaliated calmly. "That alright?"

"I mean... sure. I guess the dogs are kind of a cock-block," he jested, kissing me tenderly on the lips and making me smile. "You alright with this?"

I bit my lip and he hesitated. "I'm just afraid someone might catch us." I looked around the front of the animal shelter, but the door was closed. We were alone, but I could still hear their voices through the thin walls.

He tucked a curl behind my ear. "We don't have to," he promised, appearing to be handling the rejection well. I felt my cheeks warm at the thought of his genuineness. "Ready to head back?"

"Yep." I smiled.

♡♡♡

After the animal shelter volunteer work, the bus dropped us off at the front of Fox Point High and we all decidedly walked into the center of town. Sullivan and I were holding hands, but I was prioritizing my eyes on Victor who was conversing with Jay and Penelope. I was proud of him for socializing out of his comfort zone.

Olivia pointed to Phoebe's Candi store and said, "we should go in! I've never been inside but I heard it's so good."

Rowan agreed and before we knew it, we were all entering between the double glass doors and into the pink and yellow enclosed store. There were neon signs and ice creams decorating the pink textured walls to look like the sweet treat. The yellow half of the wall wrapped around the length like bands. Sullivan gave my hand a squeeze, uttering into my ear, "wanna share something? I have to watch my weight also."

I adjusted to the words as my eyes surveyed over the delicious buffet of ice creams. "Yeah."

As we were ambling through the ice cream and candy parlor, our attention averted to the wooden shelves where beautiful, intricate candies, individually wrapped in transparent plastic was placed. The colors were bright and we all became mesmerized standing before it.

"Oh my God, you Guys!" Olivia exclaimed, beckoning a hand over to us. "We should get matching bracelets."

"Cliche much?" Rowan tested with a few laughs.

"I think it's cute," Penelope added shyly, brushing a few strands of crimson red hair out of her face. She looked over to Jay who met her eyes, smiling briefly and agreeing.

Sullivan scoffed. "for a five year old, maybe."

I didn't say anything. I agreed with Olivia how cute that would be, but with my hand attached to Sullivan's, I felt that I owed him the right to keep my mouth shut at the moment, however, to my dismay, Victor implored, "what about you, Rhy? What do you think?"

I looked to the bracelets, then back at him. "Up to you guys. I think it's cute," I told him, but Sullivan gently tugged on my wrist, shaking his head at me.

"How about you guys get the bracelets then," he expressed, dragging me up to the cashier and ordering an extra small chocolate chip cookie ice cream.

Was this bitch planning on splitting that? I might just eat two of those by myself. Hell, make that at least five.

The cashier grabbed a chocolate chip cookie with a thin wrapping and passed it over as Sullivan patted his denim jeans for his wallet. "Shit, I don't have it on me. Do you mind?"

I nodded leisurely, slipping out my wallet and handing over a couple of dollars. We walked outside of the parlor, despite me wanting to stay and hang back with them. He sat me down on a bench and we looked out to the highway, lined with bits of traffic since we were in the dead center of town. He released my hand, breaking the decorative cookie in half and giving me a slither of a piece. He had the bigger half and that bugged me.

I spitefully, and wearily, ate my cookie in silence as we overlooked the cars, casually dipping our spoons into the small serving, but it was scraped clean by time my tiny green spoon went in for a sixth time. I took tiny mouse-like nibbles out of my cookie, wanting to savor every bite.

The silence was a little uncomfortable as if we had undiscussed tension, but when I heard the door open and a small jingle follow, as well as the variety of voices with different octaves of laughter, I pivoted excitedly to see our group. I looked over the bench, pursing my lips and wanting to see what they were doing.

Victor conversed with Rowan now and they were having a great time. Kayla was joining Jay and Penelope's side as Olivia was a part of both conversations. "I love them!" Kayla emphasized, holding out her wrist.

"I'll meet up with you guys," Victor called, giving a hand motion to them as he deviated and stood behind the bench with a radiant grin. "Mind if I steal your girlfriend, real quick."

"You've never seemed to mind before, why ask now?" Sullivan twisted in his seat before standing up, cookie crumbs dusting off his t-shirt.

"What are you talking about?" Victor implored, narrowing his eyes. He wore his lip ring that day and his usual black clothing. I stood quickly between the two, holding my small half of a cookie in my hands.

"Like you guys haven't been hanging out alone---"

"We're best friends, Liv," I defended, my voice curt. "If you can't accept that Victor is gonna be in my life then---" I went out of breath, struggling to comprehend what I was about to say, but since they were waiting for me to finish, I clarified, "then we'll have to work something out."

Sullivan bowed his head, then looked up to Victor. "Just stay away from her. I know how you can be." He scowled before starting to walk around the bench to the group, standing a few feet ahead, eating their candies and ice cream.

Victor charged and intervened, stepping in front of him and towering over, though they were roughly the same height. "Now what the fuck is that supposed to mean?"

"Like I didn't just watch you fuck Azariah and throw her to the curb--"Sullivan said, but Victor propelled forward his fist curling around the collar of Sullivan's t-shirt as he tugged him closer.

"I'll stay out of your relationship with her as long as you stay out of mine, is that clear?" he declaimed, raising his eyebrows. I watched from afar, seeing the heat rise to Victor's face as he threatened him under his breath. Everyone seemed to be watching now and because I was scared, a small voice told me I should intervene, however, I found Victor awfully attractive which is why I didn't intervene.

Sullivan looked down at Victor's grasp on him before raising his fist and swiping his hand across his cheek, stealing Victor's lip ring with a harsh tear. He threw the piece of jewelry to the ground when Victor stumbled back, hand to his lip, hunched over his knees, squeezing his eyes shut.

"Don't act tough with me and stay away from my girlfriend."

He waked away and I helplessly stood out of breath. Before I could register what happened, I ran to Victor, my eyes worrisome. "He defended me!" I whispered happily.

"Yeah, I fucking kinda got that," Victor snapped with a cracked voice, raising his eyes up to mine. "Just go join him--"

"No, you had something to tell me." My voice lowered as I saw the blood splatter the ground. My hand unhurriedly met his wrist, yanking gently and with reluctance, he parted his hand from his mouth, revealing the blood surrounding his lip piercing.

He winced, shaking his head. "I'm fine." He stood up, sighing and searching the ground. "It'll heal, but help me find it--" He started scanning when I pulled him aside.

"Vicky, are you okay? I mean... actually okay?" I tilted my chin before I broke off a half of my half of a cookie, handing it to him as the laughter of our friends bounded around the corner and they disappeared, fearfully looking over their shoulders back at Victor. The orange glow floated over the town as the street lights and Christmas decorations flickered on.

He forced a smile and took the piece of cookie, biting into it. "I don't know how to feel about you dating someone who hates my guts."

"He'll get over it."

"I don't know if you realize," Victor started with a pointedness to his words. "But you defended me back there. Thank you."

I nudged his shoulder making him playfully stumble in the movement of the shove. He rolled his eyes, walking around the bench after collecting his ring and seating himself. "Well, I got you something."

"You did?" I pressed, evidently intrigued as he started pulling out something from his denim pocket.

"So, hear me out--" he started, holding something between his pocket and grasp. "All the bracelets had animals on them and I kind of thought of an old conversation we had?" he attempted, his voice higher than usual. "It might've been stupid."

I couldn't help but stare at his lips, only because his bottom lip was swollen and he was talking with blood in his mouth. The red liquid dribbled down his chin and was staining his jeans with dark patches, I still wanted to kiss him.

Whoa. My eyes widened at my epiphany--the thought that wasn't mine, and unfortunately, he took my expression as if I was afraid of what he was saying.

"No," he went on, "It's cute, it's stupid, but cute. Kinda like you--" He laughed and I smiled brightly, slapping his forearm.

"Watch it!" I chuckled to myself, shaking my head and gesturing for him to go on. I somehow inched closer and our legs were touching. "Come on, I'm impatient."

"I know that, and I like torture," he teased making me roll my eyes again after seeing his cocky lopsided grin, antagonizing me alone. He sighed and gave in. "Alright, alright," he prattled, slipping a thin string out of his pocket. It was hot pink with a mockingbird on it. "I don't know if you remember, but I called you a mockingbird--"

"And I called you a kangaroo," I concluded with an audible breath hitch as if it all came full circle. He handed me the bracelet and I held in my two palms as if my life depended on it. I was looking down, studying the pendant of the green, blue, and purple mockingbird.

He then slipped out another bracelet, this one navy blue and it had an ivory kangaroo. I gasped again and he was laughing. "Perfect, I know!" He was doubling over with laughter, my chortles adding on top.

"Wait... I have a crazy thought."

"What's that?" He looked suspiciously at me, as if whatever I was going to say was bad news, but I laughed and handed him the pink bracelet.

"I want you to wear the mockingbird. So it's like I'm always with you." I gave a reassuring smile, then my typical begging eyes. "I know you want to--"

Victor tossed the blue bracelet to his side and swiveled around me, handling me so that I sprung out of my seat, landing habitually on his lap, my legs on either side of him. I straddled him on the sidewalk in town and all I could think about was how ridiculously cute he looked, unafraid of who could see us.

"Then I will." He paused, handing over the blue bracelet while looking up at me through his thick lashes. "Only if you wear the kangaroo?"

"Always." I slid the pink bracelet on his wrist and smiled gratefully when he drew the blue one up my forearm. I relaxed on his lap and was staring admiringly at the cute cartoon kangaroo on the bracelet. "Victor?"

"Full name?" He smiled anyway.

"Just thinking... how much would you kill me if I asked about your past right now?" I offered, looking down at his lap as I inched closer to his waist, straddling him firmly.

"Lil' bit," he admitted. His two fingers walked up my leg. "How about this... we run."

"I don't run."

"Okay," he breathed exhaustingly. "We walk, at a fast pace when it gets dark," he released.

"Where do you want to go?" I implored, toying with the zipper of his leather jacket, hiding his black tee. The pad of my thumb wiping over the blood that dotted against his leather jacket. I wanted to clean up his chin, but he didn't seem to be in as much pain as he was in before and with what was happening between us, I decided on just letting it naturally happen.

"I don't care where we go," he admitted, "I just want to fall to the ground laughing with tears."

"No pressure?" I sarcastically commented. "That sounds like a lot of pressure on me to make that happen. I don't think I can do it."

"Believe me, I know you can." He paused. "Because you have."

♡♡♡

I was young when I realized what a crush was. It was someone you thought about freely, imagining impossible fantasies, reinterpreting the past. It was someone you could significantly overanalyze, their laugh was music and made your heart literally stop. It was someone who could make you feel like you were the only two on Earth, someone who gave me hope, gave me a challenge, and gave me motivation to be better. I realized I had a crush when I saw their imperfections and fell harder more.

But the problem was; I was dating Sullivan.

"Hurry up, slow poke!" he shouted beneath the fluorescent street lamps. It was pitch black with the exception of the stores lining the sidewalk and still open with neon 'OPEN' signs in our face. Their minimal light gave us some direction, as well as the traffic and blinding headlights in our view.

"I--can't," I heaved breathlessly, my smile breaking my words as I huffed for air. When I reached him, he was standing and overviewing the town. "Are we almost there?" I lifted myself up, but I noticed now that he was holding a lighter.

He looked at me, passing me a rolled up piece of paper. I took it and he gestured for me to put it between my lips. I did as told while I looked at his amidst his mouth, lit with an ember. His one hand cupped my neck without giving me room to control my head and he cupped the blunt in his other hand, blocking the wind as he sparked it with a singular flame.

"How's that, twin flame?" he teased me.

"Fuck you!" I laughed while I spoke and we dragged our feet down the sidewalk under the orange lights guiding the way.

"I was being nice!" he protested with his hands held in surrender, talking with the paper in his mouth.

"You were mocking me," I described, and just as we were surpassing a dark alleyway, he latched onto my hand and yanked me into it. There was a silver ladder against the brick wall siding. "Where are we? This looks familiar."

"Philly? Remember him. Record store guy." He beckoned a hand to the sign in my face and I was flooded with memories. I liked this feeling. When I met Victor's eyes, he was halfway up the thin metal ladder that was four feet off the ground, attached to the bricks. He was holding out his hand with the blunt in his mouth. "Princess, give me your hand."

I walked over, inhaling the tainted air before taking the blunt and parting with it, then popping it back in my mouth. I reached my hand out and he lifted me just enough for me to throw my foot onto the first bar. We started to climb up after he let go of my grasp.

He swayed his leg over the ledge of brick and called over to me, "you got it?"

I resurfaced, bobbing my head up from behind the brick as I nodded, trying to ignore how we had to have been at least fifteen feet, or twenty, or more high. "All good," I sang. He grabbed my arm, hauling me up and walking the surface of the roof-top and before my eyes was the town basked in night and lit with people's activity.

"I might be too mesmerized to make a joke," I told him, smiling helplessly.

He shrugged, seating himself on the edge and waving me over. I was afraid, but walked over confidently and he held my hand. The blood dried on his chin as he mentioned, "maybe you can take Sullivan here."

I frowned, seating myself opposite of him on the brick edge. "Why would I do that?"

Victor's laughter spiked. "So we can not-so-discreetly push him off of it."

x