This had been them since junior high school, their friendship had always come with many benefits. Sneaking around shaded corners, behind girlfriends, lovers, they would always find their way back to each other.

A note was dropped off at her office this morning with one ticket to their show at the Avenue. The only items written on the paper were a hotel, its room number and three words scratched large and bold into the paper, NO PLUS ONE! She knew exactly what that meant he wanted her to come alone. She would never even dared to bring her to one of his concerts. It was always comical to see such strong exertion of the word NO. Though she was fearful of the day when those words wouldn't be there, or two tickets would arrive or perhaps one day no ticket at all.

"I'm not a fucking tree, Prince." She smiled looking at him beneath her, smoothing her hands over the dark hair that scattered across his chest. Slightly tugging at the black ribbon that encircled his neck.

"No, but you are My Fucking Tree." He took her hand and kissed it as she unraveled the ribbon. Bending down she gently nuzzled his skin underneath as it became exposed, her hair falling over him like a gilded curtain. God, she had always driven him crazy, her legs, her smile, how her mouth always said she took no shit from him, but her eyes would betray her every time. She had walked through the doorway and he was only able to utter two words,"You're Late" before grabbed for her. It had seemed so long since he had seen her, 5 months since Sam's last October.

Pulling her body close to his he effortlessly rolled them over so he laid between the length of her thighs. He watched her as she giggled underneath him. The slight tinkling, the way the freckles on her nose scrunched and her eyes sparkled, the way it was a whole body laugh as she shook trying so hard to stifle a snort underneath him, he had always been captivated by this sound. "You know the only reason I've ever called you a tree is because your last name is Birch, right." The serious overtone in his voice left her very suspicious, clearly he was lying.

"You're such bad a liar." Eyeing him she had never really believed any of the words that fell from his perfectly formed lips.

She looked up to him as he crouched over her, like some alluring deadly animal waiting, just waiting for the right moment to strike. He had changed so much within the past few years. Every time they would meet he had a different style completely separate from the year before, as if he was morphing into a new persona, much like some kind of exotic butterfly. If this was him now she wondered how mesmerizing his final form would be.

He went from a young boy to an enigma of a man, his once solid build had become supple, lithe, still just as smooth and golden as it has always been, but leaner... different. Now he seemed otherworldly, and suddenly she would question why he would still even bother with her. She was the same as she had ever been, and she would silently panic when he would stare at her a little too long. What if he had been sizing her up, what if he was wondering why he had spent so many hours in her arms, between her legs, but then he would smile and she would see the glimmer of the boy she knew. He was in there just wrapped in a much different package.

This new wrapping exuded sexiness, neither quite masculine or feminine, but she had figured the purest form of all sex, just sex. She had always noticed it bubbling under his surface as they were younger, it was nice to see that he and everyone else had embraced it.

"What are you thinking?" He asked as she became lost in her own thoughts, but honestly there was only one thing he wanted to hear. The moment he asked her, he caught her off guard as he took a bright pink nipple in his mouth and sucked hungrily. He took the hardened nub between his teeth and nibbled slightly. The more her body writhed beneath him the more he was encouraged to suck a little harder, bite a bit more deeply.

With a small gasp she answered. "That." She smoothed her hands through his dark hair, the curls that had once been so defined now lay fallen and tangled against the side of his cheek. She let out another small moan as he alternated breasts between mouth, fingers, the lace that covered his palm abrasively scratched against her skin as he worked.

He circled his hips so he would impatiently thump against her pelvis. Eventually throughout the night he would find himself buried deep within her again, she had always been so tight and slick, as she took him in. The knowledge that he was the only man she had ever let between her thighs got him off possibly more than the act itself.

"So what is left on the list?" She gasped barely making it through the sentence, before a moan would catch the words in her throat.

"I added a few more things." He grinned slyly his hand moved down her abdomen, a finger slowly rimming her belly button before grazing against the blonde hair just beneath.

"We'll never finish if you keep doing that." She thought back to that stupid list that he had been carrying around since high school. During that time they were able to put a small dent in it, but as they parted ways after high school they seemed to make the most of these little visits when he found himself again at home. After three years of hotel trysts they were inching closer and closer to the end.

"That's kinda the point don't you think." He smiled looking up from between the delicate orbs he had been so hungrily devouring.

_______________________________

She sat in the front of a Buick Skylark on her father's used car lot. The once bright silver paint had started to fade into a dull gray, as spots of bright orange rust had begun to discolor the metal around wheels. The interior though was in pristine condition. Her long legs swung over the tufted navy leather of the passenger seat as she rested against the glove compartment, listening to music so loud it was a wonder she was even able to study.

"Sly huh!?!" Prince smiled as he crawled into the back seat.

Instantly butterflies began to whir in her stomach as she recognized the deep voice that screamed at her from the back. The past week he had been everywhere constantly trying to get her attention. Avoiding him was key, but he had made it very clear he was aware just how uncomfortable he made her and kept trying to push that button. She didn't understand why the sudden interest in her, he was Prince Nelson, a basketball player and she was well just her.

Turning down the volume she looked at him earnestly as he perched on the leather seats in front of her, arms wrapped around the head rest. She couldn't tell if he was focusing on her or up her skirt. "So in the library the other day, you said you thought I was someone else, who was all that intended for anyway?" She tried to keep a straight face, but she really wanted to ask him how exactly the butter churner or standing wheelbarrow worked.

"Anyone really, whoever is interested. I've made a To Do list. You didn't look interested so I thought I'd move on." He gave her a cocky grin and allowed his fingers to accidentally brush against her legs. His large brown eyes focused on her and wondered if all the rumors he had heard were true. Surely they couldn't be, he saw the way she looked at him when she thought he wasn't looking. Passing in the hall, the cafeteria or on the green, her eyes would linger a bit too long on his face, his hands, a sliver of skin as his shirt pulled up as he reached into his locker.

"So then why are you in the back seat of my car?"

"One, I'm pretty sure this isn't yours and two, I'd like to try to convince you." He said coolly shrugging his shoulders as if he really didn't care to do much convincing.

"You know I heard you talking yesterday. What exactly do they say about tall girls? Cause I'd like to verify that statement." As she walked by a group of boys in the yard the bottom of her stomach dropped out as she heard Prince's voice make it's way over to her. He was so vaguely presumptuous in his statement, and she tried so hard not to look his way.

Leaning over the space between the front seats he got as close as he could to her and whispered, "They taste so sweet."

"Well then how many tall girls have you tasted lately?" She tried to face his gaze head on, but of course she was the loser in that staring contest. Looking away briefly, his intensity was making her very nervous.

"None yet, but I'm sure I'll be able to verify that statement real soon." He sat back in the seat, that grin still etched on his face.

"So is there another tall girl you're harassing?" She chuckled sitting up and peering into the back seat. Knowing his reputation there where probably many.

Edging his lip with his finger he looked at her through heavy lids as she stared at him in the back, her eyes wide and green like an ocean. "No, Barbi just you. It's always been just you." He had been chasing her around for a week and she had to loosen up sometime, at least this is what he had hoped.

"Oh God you think you're so smart, don't you. Besides it's Barbra." She huffed wrapping her arms around the headrest he had just left. She couldn't believe he knew her name, but then she began to panic... why did he know her name.

"Yes, that's why I'm not the one studying." He thought it was so comical watching her. One thing would come out of her mouth, and the complete opposite would hide in the shadows of her eyes, hoping not to be found.

"At least I actually go to school."

"Hey I'm there, I just don't really go to the classes I'm supposed to."

"Whatever, get outta my car."

"Somehow I don't believe you. You're telling me this is actually as far as you'll go?" His statements always seemed so cryptic. She didn't know if he was making an innuendo or if he was actually asking a question. You could never call him on it though, cause then he'd turn it around and act of you were the one with the dirty mind.

"O.K. Well it isn't mine... yet. It will be though. I keep having to convince potential owners it's haunted. If I can keep it on this lot for 8 more weeks, it will be all mine." She loved this car for months, she had begged pleaded with her father for this car, but money was money. She could hear his stern voice as if on constant repeat... " A car is a serious responsibility."

"Haunted huh? What do you think this is Scooby Fucking Doo?" He laughed at the ridiculousness, maybe the rumors about her being too smart to fuck around with were wrong as well.

"I know, it just came out and I've been running with it ever since. See that's why I am in here studying. We all can't be geniuses like you Prince." She was flustered. Actually admitting her scheme out loud made her seem like a complete nutcase.

"So you know my name huh?" He smiled watching his name form as it left her lips. He delighted in the sound as it traveled the space between them.

"How could I not you are supposed to sit right next to me in Geography class. Do you know how many times I've heard your name called out to an empty seat this semester? Prince, Prince, Prince."

"Call my name again. I like the way it sounds."

"Oh God shut up." She huffed again and sat down facing the front window, away from him. She smiled brightly but tried desperately to hide it from him.

"Wait I sit next to you?"

"Well if you ever came to class you would." After she was able to pull her wistful smile back down she sat up again to face him.

"Maybe I'll have to do just that then."

"Imagine you finally going to class just because of me." She feigned flattery, but she felt the excitement in her stomach at the thought of him finally occupying the seat next to her. Well for the few weeks left in this semester at least.

"Baby for those legs I'd do just about anything."

"OK then you need to go to Reading and Math too."

"Are you in those classes?"

"No." She shook her head lightly.

"Well then I'll just stick to Geography, for now. Maybe next semester you'll be in a few more of my classes. We can definitely study each other... I mean with each other." He smiled sitting up to her just a few inches from her face.

She rolled her eyes."If you're not in class what do you do all day anyway?"

"Stuff." The music room was like a second home to him. He had spent so much time on any instrument he could get his hands on that everything else just seemed to slip away. He had set a goal for himself and nothing would get in the way especially not anything as trivial as schoolwork.

"You're never going to graduate by just doing stuff."

"When you're a genius like me a diploma doesn't really mean much." Sitting back down he stretched his arms over the length of the back seat. "Hey there's lots of space here, have you ever been in the backseat of your car? Why don't you come join me?"

"Listen unless you are planning to buy this car I suggest you shove off."

"But I heard there were ghost, come back here and protect me." He looked around the back seat and something caught his eye underneath the front seat. Pulling it out a mischievous grin crept over his face. "Wait Wait. I think I found out why this is your favorite car."

"Cause it has an 8 track player."

"No a girlie magazine." He held up the glossy paper and reveled in her reaction to the naked female on front. Damn maybe the rumors where true. Still he was intrigued to see just how accurate they were.

She looked down a slight blush on her cheeks and crawled into the backseat.

"Wait so I can't get you back here, but she can." Holding up the centerfold he looked at her.

"Well she is a lot prettier than you." She smiled so pleased by the wit of her statement.

"Well she isn't prettier than you." He slid his body between her legs as they rested on the seat in front of her. He crouched over her, his arms gently gliding against hers as he stretched to meet her face. He watched her eyes looking for clues, he couldn't read anything, usually she had been so easy. She sat there as if they were casually having a conversation, and he wanted a little more than just words. "Can I kiss you?" He asked and watched her eyes light up and again that flush begin to build over her cheeks. The answer was clearly yes, but no words left her lips. He hesitated, but then felt her soft lips pressing against his. He smiled against her lips as he hadn't expected she would ever make the first move. His tongue began to lightly trace over her sealed lips, she refused to open.

Her arms crossed over his back pulling him closer to her as she dipped underneath his shirt feeling the heated flesh underneath, the softness of his back against the rough weave of the sweater he wore. She had never been kissed before, she wasn't even sure if this could even constitute as a kiss. All she knew is she wanted to feel his skin against hers, wanted so badly to open up her mouth so she could feel the sensation of his tongue caressing hers. But she was terrified. She pulled away from him, and watched as disappointment flooded his eyes.

"Can I kiss you again?"

"Don't push your luck."

"I can push a lot of other things." He smiled wickedly grinding himself against her.

"Hey KIDDO." Barbra's father screamed from across the lot looking for the car she had stowed herself away in. Usually the music blared so loudly it was an easy find. But the eerily quiet lot made it a bit harder to track her down. "Honey!"

"Oh shit my Dad!" She pushed him down into the floor boards quickly. He crouched down between her legs just out of the sight line of the front seat. But within perfect view of her thighs and what lie between.

"Hey whatcha doing?"

"Just studying, Dad." She nervously slid the magazine in the floor so her father wouldn't see that either. So much for studying when her book was still in the front seat.

"Well your mom's got dinner, so come on in."

"Be right there." She winced with a smile as she felt Prince's hand traveling up her inner thigh. As her father shook his head okay and walked away she smacked his hand. "Really Prince." His head bobbed up and he sat next to her in the bench seat shaking the hand that she had just hit.

"So what time is Geography tomorrow?"

"9:00."

"I really like what I saw down there do you have any of those in blue?" He squeezed her upper thigh, letting his fingers dip a little too close to the gap between her legs.

He kissed her cheek. "Maybe next time Barbi, I can show you how I use my tongue." He then slipped out of the car as quietly as he slid in. She could hear him singing as he met the sidewalk ...

"When you know that you're never number two,

Number one's gonna be number one,

ohh oww oohh"