Chapter Three: That Could've Gone Better

chapter song: AVOUTERIE by Describer

After class, I headed over to the spot Kaliah and I share only to bump into the biggest dickhead of them all, Jared Reeves.

"Hey, Jo. Where ya' headin'?" he shoves me back.

"A magical place called none of your fucking business. How 'bout that?"

"Don't get smart with me dyke."

"I already am smart. That's how I got into this college. With my brain while you got in here on a scholarship based on your ability to not already have brain damage."

"Watch your mouth, lesbo."

"Yeah, a lesbo I am." I give him a cocky smile

"R-Rug muncher." He stutters, finally seeing that his name calling doesn't do anything.

"Wow, that's new to your vocabulary. Surprised you can do research, but hey, rug munching pleases the ladies, something you don't know how to do. I hear nothing but girls talking to other girls about how quick you are to finish and how they're left unsatisfied and you don't even do oral, but you always get so angry when they deny you that pleasure." I cross my arms.

That seemed to have pushed quite a few buttons since I was met with a fist to the stomach and me falling on my hands and knees. A harsh kick sent me fully to the ground, coughing.

He crouches down, with an angry smirk, "Ya see what happens when you open your ugly ass mouth? Maybe next time you'll watch your mouth when I tell you to watch your mouth."

"Eat shit, asshole." I spit at his feet.

He sucks his teeth and stands up, kicking me in the face then walking away.

I roll onto my back, groaning in pain. He's a piece of shit and he'll get what's coming to him eventually. Sitting up, I whip the blood dripping out of my nose. I sigh in annoyance and stand up walking back to the spot I share with Kaliah. I always have an excuse for bruises if she sees them or when she sees them. When I do get clocked or whatever it is that he does to make my nose bleed, I just tell her that I get occasional nose bleeds and she believes it. I lie and make excuses to keep her worries and suspicions down. I don't need drama and I don't need Jared coming after me more than he already is.

She sees me and runs over, "Oh no, another one? That's, like, fourth one within the last 6 days."

" I know, but it's fine. I'm ok as always." taking my small packet of tissues out and wiping my nose. "Anyway, what do you want for lunch today?"

"Um, well they have some burritos today."

"Ok, I'll get you a burrito and I'll stop my the vending machines." I lean down and kiss her forehead.

"Thank you, babe." She smiles up at me.

I walk to the ladies that are always selling lunch and I buy a burrito for her. I always pack my own lunch because it's really easier for me for some reason, don't ask why. I'm just paranoid about school food. I head to the vending machines to get her and I a bag of sun chips and a drink for us both. As I walk back to her I see that she's talking to Jared. I stop and sigh, checking my phone, I wait for a little bit until he's gone then I walk back over to the table and set her food down in front of her.

"Thank you!" She unwraps her burrito and takes a bite, happily.

I take my lunch out of my bag and open it and eating it. We sit in silence as we eat for a little bit. You can tell she wants to say something, but she seems uneasy about it.

"Spit it out." I set down my fork and look at her.

"What?"

"I see you sitting there. We've been together for seven years. I know when something is on your mind."

"Oh, yeah." She looks away.

"So what is it?"

"Are you really sure you want to do the open relationship thing?"

"You seem so passionate about it and I'm willing to try. And I know we both don't want to admit it but our relationship is on a rocky path right now and if you think this'll help I'm all for it because I love you." I lean over and kiss her, she returns the kiss.

Pulling away she says, "Ok, lets do it then."

"Good."

Three Days Later

After class, Kaliah and I have lunch as always but we end up talking about something I thought we'd never have a real conversation about: a party. There's a party happening later tonight and we decided that it would be a great opportunity to maybe try and get our-self out there, mostly me, with our new open relationship status. I agreed to go to the party and actually try. Since we've started the open relationship I've seen an improvement, we talking more before class and during lunch and she's even started letting me walk her back to her dorm.

When I head back home after taking Kaliah home I shower, clean up, make and eat dinner then relax. The part isn't until twelve so I have time. When I check my phone I finally decided to check my social media, I rarely do that since I don't see the point, but Kaliah made me get Instagram so I could follow her. I open it and I'm greeted with a beautiful photo of her. I like it and click on her profile just so I can stare at her gorgeous face. I scroll through her account and like all of her amazing photos. I'm smiling the whole time until I get to a picture of her and Jared. He has his arms wrapped round her waist from behind with his head on her shoulder. Her head is propped against his and the caption is "Hot mans" with two heart emojis. I stare at it for a bit longer with a weird feeling in my stomach. I close the app and sit up. I'm confused about what the hell that was. I stand up and walk to the bathroom to start getting ready and to take my mind off that picture.

It's 11:25 by the time I reach the dorm building Kaliah stays in. I text her I'm outside as I set my bike up in the bike rack, the building the party is at is in walking distance. She texts back saying she's heading down and I wait for her outside. After about four minutes she comes down, smiling at me.

"Sorry I took so long, my phone was on the charger and I was still getting ready."

"It's all good." I smile and walk over to her, taking her hand, "You ready to go?"

"Yes! Let's get to that party."

"Ok, then. Onward!" We start walking and she giggles.

After a five minute walk we finally reach the party. We're early but she goes in anyway and I follow behind her, letting my hand slip away from hers. When she walks in I watch her walk down a hall as if she knows the place. I find a couch and sit down on it and sigh. After a calm fifteen minutes the house starts filling up with people. I start to get nervous but I do my best to keep myself calm since I have to stay here for Kaliah. I have to stay here and try to find another girl to....sleep with? That sounds so weird. I have to sleep with another girl to save my relationship and to make my girlfriend happy? Now that I think about it it's the most fucked up thing I've ever done to keep my relationship from crumbling in my hands.

"You're thinking mighty hard." A feminine voice says.

I look up and see the most hottest girl I've ever seen, besides Kaliah of course, "Uh, yeah. Sorry." I look around and see that I'm sitting in the middle of the sofa. "Oh, sorry, did you want to sit here?" I scooch over.

"Yeah, but I mostly wanted to talk to you." She sits down next to me, up close, "I've seen you around campus and you always look how you did just now. You and I have the same writing class and you're really quiet. I also think you're hot," she chuckles, blushing.

I stare at her, "Oh, uh, yeah." I laugh awkwardly. "Sorry, being really quiet comes with some downsides, such as not being able to properly hold a normal conversation."

She laughs, "It's ok, I needed my friends to give me a pep talk then a literal shove to come over here and talk to you."

I smile, "Well, I'm glad you did."

She moves a little closer, "So, what are you doin' here? I don't see you at parties often."

"Was that a way of saying 'You come here often?' 'cause if it is it was smooth."

"Thank you and yes it was my version of, 'You come here often.'"

"Well, to answer that, no. I do not come here often. Partying is never my thing. I'm a sit at home and watch movies kinda gal."

"Oh, I like that. That sounds so nice right now." she smiles.

I smile back. "Yeah, it's the best way to spend a night with a person."

"Oh, I have a better way." She leans in more and kisses me.

It was a great kiss. Her lips were so soft and smooth. She tasted like fruity alcohol, kinda bitter but sweet at the same time. I kissed back, letting my hands go forward to her waist, bringing her closer. I completely forget that I have a girlfriend, a girlfriend that I'm technically doing this for. I slide my tongue in and she welcomes it. It feels like forever until we pull apart and she stands up, taking my hand and leading me to the stairs. My head is foggy and I'm a little out of it. I then remember what I'm doing, before freaking out I stop myself and remind myself that I'm doing this for a reason. A small surge of confidence is shot through me and when we get to the room I'm the one who takes the reins. That's my job in my own relationship, the rein-taker. I have her pinned to the wall, setting my lips on hers again. I hold her hips, but she moves my hands up to her breasts. This does something to me, and not a good thing. Kaliah's image shows up and I pull away.

"Wha-What's wrong?" She stutters, out of breath.

"I'm sorry. I can't do this." I step back, looking down.

"Why? Did I do something?"

I look at her, "No, it's not you. My girlfriend wants an open relationship. I thought I could do it, but it feels like cheating even though I have her permission."

"Hey, it's ok. Maybe thinking about her didn't help?"

"Yeah, not at all. I felt guilty thinking about her."

"Then, think about me."

I smile a little, ready to try again, "Ok, that might work."

"Good," She then grabs the back of my neck and brings me back to her lips.

Switching spots and moving her backward to the bed in the center of the room, I push her down on the bed and stare at her to remind myself, that it's this girl who I don't know the name of and it's not Kaliah. I climb over her, kissing her neck gently. I run my hands up her thighs, feeling her skin under my fingertips. Then she moans and it immediately pulls me out of my thoughts and back to reality.

"Nope, I'm sorry. I really am. I hate doing this to you but I can't."

"It's ok. How long have you two been together?" She sits up as I sit on the edge.

"About seven years. We've been together since freshman year of high school and we've only known each other. Each other's lips, touch, hands, everything. I get why she wants something new without breaking it off, but when we got to this year I really thought we would be one of those rare, rare couples that we would get married and grow old and end up being each other first and last." I sigh and hang my head.

"Maybe you will, maybe she hasn't gotten with anyone yet."

I chuckle, "No, she's definitely already gotten with someone. All the guys always say that she's the hottest girl on campus."

"Wait, you're dating Kaliah?" She says in disbelief.

"Yeah, but the only thing she tells people is that she has a girlfriend."

"Damn, your girlfriend is shady."

"It's fine, not like anyone knows who I am."

"Still."

"Thank you for talking to me. I don't have anyone to talk to accept Kaliah and yet I still don't talk to her a lot. She's always busy or I'm always busy."

"You're welcome. I'm Kaycie." She holds her hand out.

I take it, shaking gently, "Nice to meet you Kaycie. I'm Jo"

"That whole thing felt robotic, but it's ok robots are cool."

"Thanks? I don't know if you're calling me a robot or cool or both."

"Obviously both." She giggles.

"Ok then." I chuckle and stand up, I hold out my hand.

"What are you doing?"

"I failed to have sex with you, but I'm not going to fail dancing with you."

"Oh, how gentle like." She takes my hand and I pull her up, leading us out of the room, downstairs and to where everyone was dancing.

That's how I spent my night. I danced with Kaycie all night long until the campus security came and shut it down and we ran out. I walked her back to her dorm and we exchanged numbers. Before she let me leave she kissed me once more but on the cheek. My ride home was great. I watched the sun come up and it was beautiful. I didn't do what I went to that party to do but I guess I made a friend and made out with a pretty hot girl. Once home I received a text from Kaycie saying: 'Sleep well and thanks for making out with me.' I chuckle and reply back with a 'No, thank you.' It was great. First time making out and feeling up a girl that isn't my girlfriend. Letting my phone fall out of my hand, I fall asleep out of pure exhaustion.

...

Thank you once more

Love Boat.