"He said Tony's Deli. It's right over there, Jack."

Jack made a hard right turn, screeching the tires, and I hopped out before he could even switch the gear into park.

"Nate!" I shouted.

"Over here," I hear his weak voice call out to me from behind a stack of wooden crates.

I ran toward his voice and was horrified by the sight of his blood-soaked t-shirt. His entire right hand was painted red as he pressed onto the wound on his abdomen & his face was damp with tears.

"It hurts so much," his speech slurred. "It won't stop bleeding. You gotta take me to my friend's house, he'll know what to do."

"No, we have to get you to a hospital," I insisted as I heard Jack's running footsteps behind me.

"I said...take me to my friend's house. Big Mike. I'll tell you how to get there. Just...hurry."

I quickly looked at Jack. "Help me get him into your car."

"What? No, are you crazy? Call 911, he'll bleed all over the seats too," Jack disgustingly replied.

"Fuck yo seats," Nate spat.

"Jack, I swear to God!" I gave him the evil eye.

He bounced on his toes with hesitation to help and then finally gave in. We brought Nate to his feet and he groaned in pain. I sat in the backseat and had him rest his head in my lap as Jack drove.

"Take Miller Road to High Street to Franklin and it's the house with the red SUV," Nate uttered.

"Pretty vague directions," Jack replied.

"Jack..." I shook my head and looked down at Nate, feeling his forehead. "Nate, do you mind telling me what the hell happened?"

His fingers wiggled on the towel I gave him to press onto his wound & try to at least slow the bleeding.

"Fuckin' Foosh," he began.

"Foosh did this?! Your own friend?" I yelled.

"Let me finish," he replied. "Foosh owed this guy some money and he couldn't find Foosh. He found me first. Told me to send him a message and the message was him stabbing me in the fuckin' stomach."

"Oh my God," I whispered. "Why do you hang out with these people, Nate?"

"I already told you."

"I'm sorry but how do you know this guy?" Jack interrupted.

"She is allowed to know dudes that aren't pretty boys," Nate snapped.

"Guys, not now," I stated. I wondered if Nate was the oil to everyone's water. His only solid bond has been between his boys. I wanted in, too. But right now, I needed to focus on getting him to safety. "Let me see how it looks."

I turned the car light on and made Nate move his hand, lifting the towel & his shirt. It didn't look good. It was starting to look blue & purple.

"What?" Nate looked up at me, unable to see his wound at the same scale.

"I'm sorry," I said to him. "Jack...take us to the hospital. And Nate, whatever you're worried about as far as hospitals go, I'm sure it'll be fine. If you get questioned I'll just say I was with you and we got mugged and you fought to protect me and they stabbed you. That's all."

Nate's jaw clenched and his lips pursed tight. "I said...no hospital."

"You're going! Your wound is infected. If you don't die from bleeding out, you'll die from blood poisoning," I explained.

"What do you care if I live or die," he coughed.

"What? What kind of stupid question is that? Of course I care."

Nate gulped and turned his head to face the front of the car. When we arrived at the hospital, Jack and I got him admitted into the ER and nurses rushed to Nate's aid. We waited in the waiting room for what felt like forever. Andrea texted me, asking where I was but I simply told her I was out. Jack was being a diva about being out this late when he had class in the morning. Getting annoyed after a while, I told him to go home and that I'd just call an Uber.

It wasn't long before the nurse came out and told me that Nate was okay. He lost a lot of blood and they had him on an I.V drip but they stopped the bleeding & stitched him up. As expected, there was questioning and I said what I planned on saying. Our stories had matched up and I was allowed to see him. He was silent and seemingly still pissed off at me for bringing him here.

"You're welcome," I began the conversation.

"For what?" His attitude was at an all-time high...so was his ruffled hair.

"For saving your life, perhaps?"

"...Thank you." He turns his attention back to his television, switching between the news & cartoons.

"Did they say when you could be released?"

"Tomorrow. But then I'll still need to stay in bed."

I sighed. "I'm so sorry this happened to you, Nate."

"Shit happens."

I chuckled. "Do you always have to be such a tough guy?"

He scowled at me. "Yeah. Only way to survive."

I scoffed. "Please don't talk to me about survival."

"Why not? Don't tell me Little Miss Perfect actually went through struggle in these streets," he weakly laughed.

"Yeah well," I said while looking at the floor. "I was never Little Miss Perfect. I was always Little Miss Couldn't Find Any Cute Clothes Her Size. Little Miss Don't Look In The Mirror. Little Miss Finally Being Visible In Public. I used to hate myself. And most of the time, I still do."

"I don't see anything to hate," he spoke softly.

"Just because you can't see it, doesn't mean it isn't there."

I ended up holding my breath for a bit because I was late to process Nate's heartfelt compliment.

"Nate! Oh my goodness, baby!" I hear a female voice shout behind me. I turned to see a girl with curly blonde hair & enough confidence to wear the shortest of shorts and a top that might as well have been a bra. She didn't even notice my presence and went straight to his bedside. She tried to hug him but he winced in pain."

"Oh, be...careful," I said automatically. They both gave me different looks. Her's translated to who the fuck are you? And Nate's, well, he looked like he was mesmerized, quickly shaking it off.

"Mya, this is Liv. She saved my life," Nate said.

"How nice of her," Mya said. She looked like she was ready to cut me.

"Anything to help a dying friend," I nervously chuckled knowing my sense of humor would not be victorious in that moment.

Mya took his hand and turned her attention back to him. "I missed you baby."

Baby?

And just like that, they kissed. Nothing was making sense. Not too long ago, he was on a date with Andrea. Then he kissed me in front of the coffee shop. I tried not to analyze things too much but it was absolutely bugging me. I had to get out of here.

I held on to the strap of my purse that went across my chest, quickly glancing down at my fingers still slightly stained with Nate's blood.

"Of course," I mumble to myself. Nate heard me and broke the kiss.

"Of course what?" He asked.

I kept my thoughts to myself and shrugged. "Nothing. I gotta go. I hope you...feel better."

Nate nodded as I backed away. I knew that he knew there were things being left unsaid. Not the deepest of things, but...things. Our communication was absolutely screwy.

+

The next week flew by. I still haven't heard from Nate. Not even Gilinsky. I really wanted Nate's explanation about his little girlfriend but didn't want to be the first to bring it up. If he felt as little as an ounce of what I've been thinking in the deepest corners of my confused mind, he would've at least texted.

But now it was Friday and it was time for Sammy and I to actually be alone. Being on speaking terms again, Andrea had picked out an outfit for me; a black and dark blue polka-dotted romper with sandals. Slowly but surely, and I'm not sure if it were just because of the borrowed clothes, I was starting to like my body. My thighs still rubbed together but it felt nice having clothes that hung loose on my body, for once.

Knock knock knock

I heard Sammy's footsteps approaching the door. When he opened it, he looked so happy to see me. And with his smile, I was happy to see him too.

"Damn girl," he said as he twirled me around. "You look good in that."

He bit his lip and I was ready to sit on it. Wow, it's really been that long, huh?

"I hope you don't mind, I ordered two pizzas," he pointed to the boxes in the kitchen.

"You live alone?" I asked, walking further into the apartment.

"Nah," he answered. "I have a roommate, Cameron. He's just studying abroad in London this semester."

"Must be nice." I took a seat on the nearby couch and scanned through the stack of DVD's on the coffee table.

"Beer?"

"Don't mind if I do."

He took two bottles out of the fridge and managed to carry those and two paper plates of pizza with him.

"Impressive," I chuckled, taking what's mine.

He sat down next to me and pressed play on the remote.

"What are we watching?" I asked with a mouth full of pizza.

"This really boring movie I had to watch in Film Appreciation. It's a good story but it's boring, if that makes sense." He took a swig of of his beer, looking as cool as possible.

"Why would you pick a boring movie to watch?"

"So that we could talk...or not."

The way he said that & the way he looked at me had made my panties metaphorically throw themselves off his balcony. Maybe it's because it's been two years since I last had sex and I was long overdue, but I wanted Sammy right then & there. And I wanted Nate & Gilinsky to burst through that door and have their way with me as well; each of them hungry for me and pleasuring themselves as they waited.

I was too deep into my disgusting thoughts to notice that I was involuntarily fanning myself.

"Are you okay? Do you want me to turn the A/C on?" Sammy asked.

"Huh? ...Oh...um, no it's fine. Just...hot flashes." I shoved the rest of my pizza into my mouth, washing it down with beer and concealing my burp that was to follow.

"Hot flashes at 21?" He laughed.

Cut to an hour into the boring movie and it was the movie that was watching us. Sammy was on top of me on the couch. He was an excellent kisser. A smooth kissing connoisseur. His subtle giggles as he kissed me only made me kiss him deeper. He paused and smiled at me, biting his lip as he caressed my cheek.

"I want you to stay the whole weekend," he spoke softly, giving me a pop kiss.

I was shocked. The last time I heard those words was back in 4th grade when my new friend was being entirely too clingy after throwing her first sleepover.

"I...I-I don't have a change of clothes," I managed to speak.

"So wear mine."

"And what about underwear?"

"I'll run out and buy you some while you're asleep." He gave me another pop kiss. "There's just so many things I wanna do to you, I mean with you."

"Nice save," I laughed. But I was turned on.

Eventually I agreed. When I texted Andrea the news, she gave me about four dozen exclamation points.

Sammy and I madeout some more and he reached into the small drawer beneath the coffee table and pulls out a condom.

"Condoms in the coffee table?" I asked.

"Cam's idea," Sammy chuckled pressing his lips back to mine. He reached around behind me and unzipped my romper while I unbuckled his belt. I ran my fingers across the smooth band of his briefs and then onto the tight skin right above it.

He slid the romper off my body and I was embarrassed that my bra & panties weren't even matching. But he didn't care, stating they match better with the floor. It was like we tore at each others clothes like wild animals. Regardless, he was gentle with his hands, gentle with his lips, and gentle with his strokes. I've waited so long for this moment, to finally have sex. For the longest time, I thought I'd probably never do it again because no one would be interested. But here was Sammy, moaning in my ear, making me come over and over again. Look who's messing up couches now.

The next couple of days were bliss. Saturday morning he brought me breakfast in bed wearing only his briefs & black-framed glasses. On the tray was also a pack of 4 pairs of underwear and I died laughing. He wore me out after that. 12 noon. 4:30 PM. His face was between my thighs at 8 and didn't come up for air until 9:45.

It was now Sunday and we were both craving pizza again. He rested his chin on my stomach as he drew circles around one of my nipples with his middle finger.

"What kind of pizza do you want," I asked, sounding very tired.

"I want a supreme," he responded sounding equally tired. "Then I want you."

I felt him growing against my leg. This guy is like a machine, just ready to go whenever.

"Here," he hands me his phone. "The number's already saved."

I found the pizza place in his phone and as it began to ring, he travels lower & kisses my inner thigh. I soon felt his tongue run over my most sensitive spot, causing me to suck air in through my teeth. I grabbed onto his hair as he grabbed onto my thighs, tasting me with an impatient appetite. When the guy answered the phone, I tried my hardest to sound normal. Sammy was playing a lovely game and I couldn't turn down a challenge.

"Um, h-hi, I'd like to place an order," I gulped. "For delivery?"

Sammy looks up at me and smirks while still licking me clean. The pizza guy repeats the phone number and address they have on file.

"Mmhmm, correct," my tone went a little higher. My body trembled as Sammy began to lightly suck & nibble.

"Umm j-just a large supreme pizza and that's it," I said quickly. I was losing the game...in a way.

The delivery guy takes his time to repeat the order. Sammy moans, causing vibrations and I slammed my hand down on the bed, grabbing the sheets.

"Yes that's correct...mmhmm, thank you bye." I quickly hung up and let out the loudest moan while Sammy continued to happily have me for a snack.

+

The next day in class, I kept getting pictures sent to my phone from Sammy.

Thinkin about you right now, is what one of them said; accompanied by a picture of his wet abs & his hand lingering right around his V-line and the picture cuts off right before the main thing I wanted to see. He had just gotten out of the shower and I was ready to ditch class to go over there considering I was squeezing my legs together in my seat.

My science teacher decided to have storytime yet again and he brought up his thorough knowledge of plants & photosynthesis. He also brought up his many trips to plant nurseries and Nate immediately popped into my mind. The feeling between my legs had subsided and I remembered I had a heartbeat.

I was tempted and I used up all my strength trying to stop myself from contacting that asshole. But I couldn't take it anymore. I had questions that needed to be answered.

ME: We need to talk.

I spent 15 minutes being anxious until he finally texted back.

NATE: Come over then. 6731 Eaton Lane

I became restless after that. I still had a few more minutes to go until class was over. But once it was, I was the first one out of the room.

________

Author's Note: What do you think is gonna happen when Liv goes over there? hmmmm

Vote & comment!