◤ chapter seven ▸ dead of night ◢

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         THE FIRST TIME FLASH acted on her proposal was a week after they made it. They hadn't seen each other again during that time, which wasn't really surprising seeing as they didn't go to the same school or hang out before they made the deal, but she couldn't help but think that this first time would be awkward.

         To begin, she didn't even know if Flash had ever been with someone before. He could be a virgin and she could be his first time ever and that was scary. And then of course she had only ever been with Caden – that motherfucker. The boy who took her virginity and broke her heart repeatedly. Well she's done crying over him and feeling bad, she was way over it and done.

         Tessa had been in her apartment alone, chilling that Friday night and scrolling through her phone, hoping that someone would call and tell her that a party was happening. Then she remembered that it was Caden and his connections that knew where the parties were and she wasn't in their circle anymore. But Rylie seemed like a partier and could know something yet there was something keeping her from calling her friend.

         That was when she got the text from Flash.

         Can I come over?

         And who was she to deprive him? She was the one who wanted this with him and she didn't have any plans. There was no reason to say no and there was nothing in her that even wanted to. Flash was hot and she wanted a piece of him and plus, it had been too long since she had sex. She and Caden never went this long without fucking and she missed it.

         Not sex with him. No, she didn't miss that at all, but she just missed it in general and here was this hot guy asking her for some. Fuck yeah she was going to agree.

         Course – she replied, finishing it off with her address and apartment number for him to get there.

         She stood up from the couch and went to change her outfit a bit. She took off her pants and changed her underwear to something lacier, taking a look at her shirt and deciding that it was good enough to pass. Further into her relationship with Caden she stopped caring about trying to impress him with her looks, they were going to fuck either way, but this was her first time with Flash and it needed to be special which meant she needed to look as good as she could.

         He wouldn't know that she was doing this either way, so it was fine. She went to wait on the couch and he didn't keep her too long as thirty minutes later there was a knock at her door. Smirking to herself, she got to the door and unlocked it. "Hey," she charmed him in a greeting, "Come on in."

         "Thanks," Flash replied, stepping through the doorway and into her apartment. He looked at her, obviously taking in her appearance and how he could see her nipples through her shirt. Her smirk grew.

         "So," she started off, leading him to her bedroom, "Ever had sex before or is this your first time?"

         "I've had a couple one night stands," he told her and she nodded, "Never had something like this."

         "Well, I haven't either. I just had a manipulative boyfriend, but who cares about that?" she rhetorically asked, not giving it much thought and not thinking about how Flash's mind was beginning to spin with the little information she had given him.

         She leaned in closely to where their lips were almost touching. Her eyes couldn't help but dip to his and he did the same. "Are you sure?" she asked him, wanting the confirmation again.

         "Yes," Flash breathed out and she didn't waste any more time before bringing their lips together. She placed her arms around his neck, bringing him close and soon after Flash grabbed her waist and pulling their bodies together until there was no space.

         Nothing but the clothes between them separated their bodies and soon that would be gone as well.

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         Hours later, in the middle of the night, Tessa laid in her bed with Flash lying beside her. Neither of them were asleep and their hands were intertwined and she stared up at her ceiling. "You know," she startled the silence, "I was honestly surprised that you were the first one to call. I thought it was going to be me."

         Flash shrugged, "I needed a release. Had a bad day."

         "I get that," Tessa said, not asking further as it was clear he didn't want to talk about it.

         "I'm surprised that your parents aren't here tonight," Flash brought up and her eyes grew sad, the twinkle dying.

         She gulped but told him, "They never are." And that was the sad truth. The terrible truth of Tessa Cormac who had parents that didn't care about her. They never wanted a daughter so it was okay to leave her behind with sadness growing inside her as she threw herself to anyone that gave her attention and praise. Fuck them. Except, of course, she couldn't hate them.

         They were her parents and she would always love them, always want them around even if they couldn't stand to be in the same room as her. Hell, even the same country. That's how bad she was to them.

         Flash looked at her and there was a bit of understanding in his eyes. "I get that," he whispered, "Kinda."

         She couldn't help but laugh, "We're fucked, aren't we? I mean, I know I totally am. What about you?"

         "If you ask anyone at my school about me, they'll call me an asshole," Flash confessed to her, "So yeah, I'm fucked as well."

         That should have been a sign. It really should've been. But Tessa had always been bad at seeing what wasn't good for her, always blind to the red flags waving wildly in the wind trying to get her attention. That was okay, though, it was fun while it all lasted. It always was.

         "Good," she told him, even if it wasn't good at all. Nothing about it was good, but at least she didn't feel so alone knowing that they were in the same boat.

         She leaned over, pulling herself to straddle him and brought him in for another kiss. It felt good to not be alone, to have someone in her bed that understood her, that wanted her and wasn't dreaming about someone else while they fucked her.

         It felt so good she never wanted it to end. It was glorious and never ending and she wanted to stay like this forever. But these things never stayed good, not for Tessa at least.

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         The next morning Flash left before Tessa woke up. It was for the best, who wanted their fuck buddy to still be there when they woke up? They weren't in a relationship, they weren't friends, so why would he stay? There was no reason to and he didn't want to make it awkward when they were just starting things. He wanted to keep this. It was good.

         And he needed something good in his life. He really did. It felt like nothing was good in his life anymore and then here was Tessa; someone who didn't know him in any way but what he wanted her to know and what Rylie told her. Someone who didn't see his reputation at school and never knew what he was like there. Someone who didn't live across the street from him or in the same building and knew exactly the hell his home was.

         Didn't see his father being dragged out by the cops...

         With Tessa, he could bring a blank slate version of himself and make a better version of himself. Something good that people actually wanted to be around. Because no one except the friends he had already acquired wanted to be anywhere near him. He was Flash Thompson the bully; the replacement on the Decathlon team; the one they called when someone else was sick.

         All because he wasn't smart enough to be one of those who actually got to stay on the team, be an official member no matter what. It wasn't like he didn't try, he just wasn't good enough. He was never enough. Not smart enough, not athletic enough, not a good enough son. He was just subpar and that was never what people actually wanted.

         And there were people that tolerated him, like Betty and Rylie. For some reason they could actually put up with him and wanted to meet with him even outside of school, which he still didn't understand why. He didn't question it or bring it up to them though, not wanting to risk them questioning their actions as well and stop hanging out with him. That was the last thing he wanted.

         It was weird to have people who actually wanted him around, but he didn't object to it when Betty wanted to meet up that Saturday for some ice cream even though it wasn't the right weather at all. He didn't say no, though.

         So that was how he ended up at Patty's Ice Cream Parlor hours after sleeping with Tessa and leaving her apartment. Betty looked like a complete mess with bags under her eyes and strands of her hair sticking up in the back, signaling that she hadn't brushed it at all.

         "Rough night?" he finally asked once they had gotten their ice cream and were going to sit down at a booth.

         "You can't even believe it," Betty started off, "So, I was at the Bugle late yesterday because some people can't fucking write an article properly and guess what?"

         She took a pause and Flash raised an eyebrow, "You can't actually expect me to guess."

         Betty just rolled her eyes at him. "You're no fun, but whatever. Holly fucking Parkinson got an internship there too."

         "Oh no," Flash said sarcastically and she just glared at him.

         "I can't believe you. You know that she's the bane in my existence. She probably just applied and got in to spite me and make even the Bugle a living hell for me."

         "Isn't it already a living hell?" Flash questioned, recalling all of the complaints Betty had for the company even though she always got offended when he suggested applying for an internship someone else.

         "Yeah, but that's beside the point. It's even worse with her there. God, she's like the devil. Wait, scratch that – she is the devil. Like Lucifer herself," Betty babbled on while Flash ate his ice cream.

         "I thought Lucifer was a dude – I mean the TV show says that he is," Flash pointed out.

         Betty rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on. Lucifer is seen as some tempting devil who seduces everything, obviously a woman. No guy can ever be so attractive."

         "You're just saying that because you're gay."

         "And because I'm right," Betty added, not arguing with his previous statement. "But I always am, aren't I?"

         He didn't respond and she glared at him again. "Say it."

         "What?"

         "That I'm always right!"

         "But are you?"

         She kicked him under the table, causing him to swear as she smiled victoriously. "Alright, alright," he crumbled, "You're always right or whatever."

         "Good. Glad that we can all acknowledge that fact," Betty said, "Anyway, I didn't say anything to her last night and she kept her distance – good – but I still feel like punching her in the face. Like why is she doing this to me?"

         "Oh, I don't know. Maybe because she had no idea that you worked there in the first place and is actually interested in journalism?" Flash asked.

         Betty gave him a look. "Everyone knows that the Bugle is my thing – mine! Obviously she knows too and is just doing this to spite me. God, I hate her."

         Flash shook his head and rolled his eyes at his friend but didn't say anything. The whole feud between them was stupid and he didn't want to comment on it any more than he needed to.

         Betty took a bite of her ice cream and they sat in silence for a second before she said, "And yesterday during chemistry she totally threw me under the bus because she knew I wasn't paying attention but still had Miss Jameson ask me a question that I so didn't know the answer to."

         "How terrible. It's the end of the world, isn't it?"

         "Flash! You're supposed to be on my side and support me!" Betty whined, a pout forming in her lips.

         "My bad. Here, is this better? How could she do that to you! It's just the worst!" Flash acted and Betty was tempted to kick his shin again but decided against it.

         "You're the worst. I need to put up posters for a new best friend," Betty said.

         "I thought you'd just get Sabrina or Rylie to take my place. A lot easier than interviewing people to see who's best," Flash thought about it, not taking her threat seriously.

         Betty titled her head and contemplated what he was saying, "You're right, that would be easier, but they aren't you. My new best would have to be just like you except like asshole-ish, you know? Sabrina and Rylie just don't have her personality so they can't take your place."

         "Oddly, that's very comforting."

         The Brant girl smiled at him, brightening him. "You're welcome!"

         He smiled back at her and it wasn't fake. He was happy, even if it wasn't going to last, he was still happy.