37. Bath… together? Natalie My mind blanks out again. Why do I lose my to ability think around this boy so fucking often? “If they didn’t want us to take a bath… ‘ He said an innocent line. And what did my perverted mind register? ‘Want us to take a bath…’ ‘together’ is the word, my filthy mind added there. Fuck!! I need some action, with immediate effect. I should meet Ira tonight. Probably tag along to some party. Pick up some boy who will fuck my brains out. So I would stop imagining the unladylike things involving my hot neighbor. That’s the only way. Then I take a bath. A cold one… I feel much better, less slimy, and minimally horny afterwards. Wish I had an extra pair of clothes, but that’s alright. I come out and see Jacob asleep on the edge of the bed. Isn’t he afraid to fall down? Delicate equilibrium though. I sit on the other side of bed, he turns to face me while laying. He isn’t asleep after all. “Nice bath?” He asks with his eyes still closed. “Yup!” Don’t ask for details. “What are your plans for the rest of the weekend?” Ok… Small Talk? “I don’t know… Right now, I’m focused on whether we can make it out of this place or not.” He opens his eyes perplexed. “What is that supposed to mean?” “I couldn’t help but wonder, you know,” I tell him in a low voice. “Isn’t it odd that they invited us this far from our town? Then insist we stay in their guest room. We must have lunch. I mean, those are lots of red flags…” “So you smell foul play?” He asks, amused. “When they kill us… It wouldn’t be funny anymore.” I hiss at him. He chuckles and turns to lay on his stomach facing me. “Doesn’t it sound like a long shot? Come on! Coco is involved here.” “Sounds like a perfect bait to me… Probably they drop Coco to random places and lure people in with compensation to drop her.” I shrug. “Coco wouldn’t kill us… And those sweet little girls?” He says. “Girls are part of the facade… Coco is a victim here… Maybe we could take Coco and run away.” Jacob lets out a loud laugh and I cannot stay serious either, so I grin with him. After a while, we decide to join Coco & the rest of the family in living room. When I try to open the door, it’s locked from outside! I look at Jacob in panic. Jacob laughs and knocks at the door. ”Girls were messing around. I heard them lock the door earlier.” He knew but didn’t tell me. Jerk. One of the girls opens the door and runs away, giggling. Coco comes and attacks us. I don’t let her kiss or lick me. Sorry, girl! I can’t take baths again and again. She wouldn’t be around us anymore… But she is happy here. Much happier, I think. After lunch, we take some photographs with Coco and her family, then we finally leave for the bus stop. “I am glad you came with me.” I smile at him. “Anytime Jacob.” “To be honest, it annoyed me when you hopped in without even asking-” “Yeah yeah I know. But I made your day better.” I dismiss him, grinning. “Well, that you did!” It was a wonderful day. I was feeling heavy when I first learned Coco is going away for good. But now we know that she is much happier with her real family. “Natalie…” “Yea…” I turn my head to listen to him. His eyes are focused on the road, but his expression is grim. It sends a shiver down my spine. What is he about to say? “Don’t shut me out again, Ok? I like your company… If you don’t feel the same way, just tell me… Don’t shut me out without having a word.” “I won’t.” I was trying to take control, but that was a bullshit strategy. I hope Jacob doesn’t shut me out. People have ghosted me, dumped me, and treated me like dirt. All those past experiences have put me on edge, so I have a hard time trusting. 38. It’s Official Jacob Natalie insists I should leave as soon as I drop her at the bus station. I ignore her and park my car to help her with the bus. Just in case it’s late or something. “I told you I have plenty of time to trek. It’s not late yet.” She is worried I might not reach my campsite before sundown. Turns out the bus is indeed running an hour late. This is worrisome. But I don’t tell her. We sit side by side on the sidewall of an office building near the bus stand. “I am glad they offered us a place to rest. Because I am still tired.” She says, stretching and twisting her back. I look at her, amused. “And you were so convinced that they were about to murder us.” “Oh! they totally were…” She shrugs. “But I probably scared them away.” I grin at her. “Then I should take you with me tonight for trek and camp. You could act as my bodyguard.” She laughs. “Too bad you don’t have an extra tent or something.” “We could always share.” It would be nice to cuddle her. I think to myself. She swallows and turns her face away from me. What happened? Was I over the line? I look at my watch to see half an hour has passed. “What if there was no bus from this town? What would you have done?” I ask her to change the topic. She looks at me. Her cheeks are red. “I guess in that case, I would have ended up in your tent, Jacob.” It’s my turn to fluster. Mere thought of her being with me in the same tent does something to me. Something I haven’t experienced before. I can feel heat spreading down my cheeks and… Wow! I think… I just got my first boner caused by a girl. My thoughts are suddenly jumbled. I cannot keep eye contact with her. I clear my throat and look away from her. Ok.. It’s official. I am definitely not asexual. To save us both from more embarrassment, the bus we are waiting for enters the bus stand. Once I see her off, I sit in my car smiling, reminiscing the day I spent with her. I always thought I would end up alone. Probably this is a sign my life won’t go in that direction.