6 comments/ 48211 views/ 7 favorites Dandelion By: ufpe How strange it felt to be lying next to such a young temptress, after years of lonely dejection. The waif had entered my life unexpectedly, with loud attire and greased hair that was strangely out of place for the delicate features it crowned. Lost and lonely too, she fronted an indifferent attitude and a vehement distaste for authority. One third my age, her speech was filled with colloquialisms I'd never heard of, while her mannerisms reeked of immaturity. Beneath her oppressive front, however, I could sense her fear. Leaving the remnants of her tattered relationships with her peers, she had determinedly set out in search of herself, only to find a world of coercion and ambivalence. I had found her alone at the grease burger dive, having spent the last of her worldly savings on caramel colored bubbles, fumbling with some cheap jewelry that dangled from her dirty yet delicate neck. There were tears still forming in her eyes. I sat across from her with my normal complement of the morning rag and a pink bubbly concoction that vaguely resembled the homemade lemonade on the menu. I glanced at the forlorn figure from time to time in sympathy, seeking the redeeming attributes in her behaviors with futility. The sport page held far more allure once it was encountered, and soon all of my attentions were focused there. I never saw her slide in the booth next to me, and was quite unaware of her presence until she burped noisily. I glared at her, molested and somewhat surprised. "I need some money," she blurted abruptly. Ignoring the request to return to the latest scores, she shook my arm pensively, and tried to capture my gaze in her own desperate one. "How much. . ." "Hundred or so." Not knowing her desperation I retorted; "Go ask your Mommy." That hurt her and she began to withdraw. "I'll fuck you!" She was reaching. "IRS beat you two it kid, excuse me." I started to fold the paper. "I'll scream rape." "Let me plug my ears." She muttered something that almost made me blush, effectively dispensing the last vestiges of my sympathy, and I stood as best I could to seek refuge at the park just around the corner. Maybe my local chatting companion Mabel would be there, and we could share our wisdom whimsically as her wiener dog tried to hump my leg unceremoniously. "Look Mister; I'm hungry and tired, and I just need a little help." "That's better," I breathed while still attempting to get around her. "All I got is a five." I took out my wallet and emptied the bill that I had been saving for a movie later in the week. "Get a bite and call someone, OK?" "I ain't got nobody. . ." Her voice trailed. "Good song - Santana, isn't it?" Her smile was genuine. "Yeah. . . thanks." "Despite dating myself while robbing my recreational resources in less than a minute, I felt relieved as she moved her legs and allowed me to escape. Smiling at her briefly, I headed for the park bench that was all too familiar, unaware that she was just a few steps behind me. Mabel wasn't there; probably had to bake something for the church. Musing it was a good thing since I was scantily clad in walking shorts and her dogs' claws were never trimmed. Glancing towards the little house that I owned across the noisy street from the park, I recalled I had virtually raised my daughter alone there after my betrothed left for a stud with a much higher bankroll. There was comfort in its worn stucco and creaking hardwood floors. With a sigh, I crossed the busy street and walked across the small yard to the comfort of the enclosed porch where I had spend many an evening watching the cars scurry past and the children playing on aging swing set that was raised shortly after I set up housekeeping. The little waif stood on the sidewalk watching me; not unlike a lost puppy in search of a new home. After watching her for a few moments, I slid into my favorite lounge chair and gestured for her to come on up. There was enthusiasm in her steps. An offer for a real soda and some home made cookies enticed her life history with such fervor that I found myself at a loss for words. She needed a refuge to rebuild her self-esteem, and she needed discipline to cope with the many personal defeats that had previously all but destroyed her. Not about to enter into forbidden territory, I coaxed her parent's phone number from her, and while she took her first shower in days, I gave them a call. It was brief, and the message was quite clear; dispelling any doubts I had in her blatant honesty. Semi-educated, and as stubborn as my great grandmother, Anna had literally alienated herself from her family and was learning that life was far more than trend setting attire and Hip Hop musicians. I could feel her desperation as she came from the shower wrapped only in a towel, and knew what she sought even before she vented. After watching Anna devour two man-sized TV dinners, three large tumblers of milk, and the remnants of the spaghetti I'd thrown together during the previous weekend, I set her up as comfortably as I could in the tiny bedroom that used to be my daughters, and stumbled to the sofa with a glass of wine for my daily dose of sensationalism compliments of the local news network. Despite the clips designed to hold my attention through the battery of commercials, I found my thoughts straying towards an uncertain future with Anna, and the lifestyle changes her co-occupancy would evoke. Barely able to support myself on my meager retirement, the only apparent resolution was for my young house guest to accept her immediate initiation into the working world and her share of household responsibilities. I could offer her little outside of the security of a caring environment which would probably be far too little for a rebellious cast away. The bed beckoned comfortably, and I slid between the sheets with my mind in overdrive. As the reassuring waves of rest overtook the remnants of my minds chaos, the vision of angelic innocence appeared at the doorway. Stray rays from the street light illuminated the delicate creature wrapped only in a tattered white sheet, stirring the sleep from my eyes and a nagging warmth in my groin. She slid beneath the covers wordlessly, and within moments she was asleep with her armed wrapped around my torso and her head tucked securely in my armpit. A kiss to her forehead as my hand moved to her soft and slender forearm, and I, too, forgot the world for one more night. When I awoke, Anna was gone, the sheet she wore still crumpled beside my bed. The faint smell of ham and eggs drifted through the air, as I rose and showered to confront her with the financial dilemma her presence evoked. The kitchen was empty; but there was a warm breakfast with a small dandelion on the plate and a scribbled note on a paper towel that stated simply: 'C U LATER.' Perhaps Anna had figured out from her meager surroundings and the lack of food in the refrigerator, that there were much better places to be. It was one of the best hand and egg omelets I've had in years, and her bed was neatly made with a several dandelions bunched on the middle, but the thought of her leaving without a word saddened me. She was young and pretty, and she'd do well I thought, as I threw the laundry into the machine a brought out some chicken to thaw from the freezer. It wasn't until I pulled the clothes out of the dryer that I recognized her tattered skirt and blouse. Maybe there weren't better places to be. The video store just down the street had been looking for help for several weeks until I walked in and offered my services. The work was easy and the pay a notch above minimum wage but the owner was desperate and so was I. Starting immediately, I tagged a note on the door letting Anna know of my whereabouts and struggled to absorb a multitude of terminologies and new technologies. One of the perks was free movies to view and the hours offered minimal conflicts with my normal routines. By eleven in the evening, I was relieved to go through the lock down procedures and stagger home on feet that had doubled in size. She was waiting on the porch in a waitress outfit she had borrowed from one of her new co-workers. A half eaten pizza lay in a box beside her along with several bags of left-over entrée's she rescued from their apparent demise in the dumpster. Anna began to babble of her day and her dreams until I stood her up and hugged her with all the love that welled up within. As we withdrew, a silent tear graced her cheek, and words were lost. Staggering into the shower, I began to lather my aching limbs, unaware that she had disrobed and snuck in to the steaming refuge behind me. Her gentle hands began to lather the soap residue on my back as gentle kisses followed down my spine. Turning to behold the firm, fragrant waif whose eyes glowed with love, I found the strength that comes from a thousand lonely nights filling my hands, as I caressed her delicate lines and explored her intimate recesses. She orgasmed almost immediately when my trembling hands cupped her vulva; she was a virgin. I hurriedly left the steamy stall ashamed and frightened. Locking my bedroom door as I hurriedly entered, I slept alone, chiding myself for violating the confidences I was trying to create. Sleep did not come easily that night, and the steady rainfall that heralded the morning was a mere precursor to one of the worst days of my life. Anna was gone, her bed never slept in and a one word note on the kitchen table that merely proclaimed 'Sorry.' I searched for her everywhere but she was unheard of; a shadow that had swept through my life like a spring breeze and left without closure. By the time I entered the video store, I was tired and saturated but determined not to fail as I had so recently in my own home. Another sleepless night followed my labors, and the dawn found me searching the local establishments with new fervor but to no avail. By the time I stumbled onto my porch, I had accepted my failure and vowed never to ride the "rescue" train again. That was until I glanced across the street and spied a huddled figure on my favorite park bench. Fearing it was Mabel, I hurried across the wet pavement, getting doused unmercifully by several cars as they raced through the puddles. Approaching the huddled figure, I paused when I noted the leg humper was nowhere in site. That is when Anna turned to face me with such overwhelming sadness written on her face that me knees almost buckled. Recovering quickly, I ran to her and swept her tiny figure into my lonely arms. The attempt to carry her home in my arms failed miserably within the first few slippery steps. Undaunted, she grabbed my hand and we raced through the park and onto the patio. Between tortured breaths we kissed for an eternity, melting our fears with the warm passion we shared. I pulled her through the front door and into the shower. As I detached the house key for her to use, she fumbled through her pocket and thrust a handful of wilted dandelions into my face. As we traded tokens, she excitedly babbled of the loneliness she felt and the significance of the wilted flowers that followed her everywhere. For her, dandelions were beautiful, rugged, and enduring; able to adapt to most any environment and make the best out of it. With a knowing smile as my response, I cranked on the hot water and slowly began to uncover the beautiful charms hidden beneath the dripping wet rags. She was beautiful and sensitive despite what the cruel world had thrown at her. Exploring her tender beauty under the steamy spray, I let my mouth descend first on to the hardened nipples, once erect from the cold, but now engorged with anticipation before descending down on to the sensual lips that my hands had anxiously caressed several night earlier. The sweet nectar of her youth flooded my mouth with just the lightest caress of my tongue, and I continued to suckle her intimate treasures until her knees buckled from orgasmic overload. From her kneeling position, she quickly recovered and eagerly began exploring the intimacies of my unique masculinity, probing and caressing new life into the tired flesh that had long ago resigned itself to the companionship of my hands. Her tiny breasts were a delight to caress and her long sinewy legs were as smooth as silk as they encircled my own. Touching and teasing, she brought me precipitously close to my own orgasm before I could withdraw and escort her to the comforting confines of my bed. I took her virginity that night with all the gentleness and sensitivity my wisdom and experience could afford; delighting in the forceful spasms of her sex heralding the onset of her numerous orgasms. It was only after exhaustion overcame her, that my seed erupted within her with more force than I thought capable of delivering. We slept soundly in each others embrace. I stirred early, and disentangling myself from the delicate spread eagle waif I had ravaged the night before. The sheets were awash with our drying passions and my muscles were alive with agony. I brought her breakfast in bed, as it was her day off, and played with her treasures until she could bear no more. Once more entering her delicate essence, I watched as she twisted beneath me in orgasmic torment, mewing and gasping until she finally collapsed amidst a pool of her delicious ejaculate. My shift arrived far too soon, and the sadness in her eyes was painfully evident until I reassured her that I'd "C U Later." That was some time ago; there were many challenges in our way, but her gentle untiring love and my dedication and experience brought us through. A cautious friendship was soon established with her kin so that when they passed away tragically, Anna was left with more than enough to support her comfortably with her thoughtful investments. Mabel latched onto a retired trucker who didn't seem to mind the dog, and they joined us every Thursday for dinner. Anna took my position in the video store and within six months became the manager of a thriving business that recently added two new locations throughout the city. I spend my time keeping Anna happy, and writing, realizing that a new beginning was somehow forced into my life and that I've somehow become the rescued rather than the "rescuer." We always have a bowl of dandelions on the kitchen table. Dandelion Wishes Hey guys. This story is a little something something I whipped up. I had the idea and I wanted to put it out there. I love the feedback, so keep it coming. I had the hardest time titling this sucker, so if you guys have any suggestions PLEASE let me know. And if the story sucks, be honest with me. I like constructive criticism. AND THANKS STALKER!!!! ;) Love you guys, **LilMami** ************************ "I'm Trey." Avery stood beside her best friend staring up at the beautiful creature who called himself Trey. ************************ Avery and Tamara had gone to the food court of the mall to buy something to eat. It was something the two friends did at least once a week. They would browse through the stores in their jogging pants and University t-shirts. Avery settled on her usual blueberry Icee, and she sipped on it while they passed the shopping stores. "Brain freeze...oww...oww" she cried out, slamming her eyes shut. "Don't you hate it when that happens?" asked an unfamiliar gruff voice. "I usually just press my thumb up to the roof of my mouth." Avery smiled and stared. He was cute. He had blonde hair and deep-set green eyes. He wore a black DC hat, and pair of white sunglasses sat on top of it. He had a piercing in the left corner of his bottom lip. He wore a green t-shirt, a pair of black jeans that were a little snug, and skateboard shoes. "I'm Trey by the way." "Nice to meet you Trey" she managed to squeak out after a long awkward pause. "Pleasure's all mine, uhh..." he started. Tamara nudged Avery with her elbow, causing her Icee juice to slosh around. "Oww...Avery! Avery. Hi. I'm Avery" she stammered, smoothing down her pixie cut black hair, while feeling her brown cheeks flush. "Pleasure's all mine, Avery" he smiled. "I had a cherry Icee, see ahhh..." he said, sticking out his tongue for her to see. "Wow. Nice man. Real nice" his buddy Quan chimed in. "Don't be jealous dude, cause you aren't talking to the pretty ladies." They were pretty. Tamara was a little tall, and had wavy shoulder-length hair. She had greenish-brown eyes, that rooted from her mother being white. Avery was on the short side, and had short black pixie hair, and large brown eyes. The girls were inseparable, though they couldn't be more different. Tamara was the loud outspoken one, and Avery was the one to blend in with the crowd. "Whatever. Hi I'm Quan" he said, reaching for Tamara's hand. "Tamara." "Tamara" Quan said letting the name slip off his tongue. "Well it was really nice meeting you two ladies, but me and knucklehead here gotta be going. But I'd love to get your number" he said looking at Tamara. Numbers were exchanged, and the boys left. "They were kinda cute" Avery said. "Yea, especially that Quan. His golden brown skin and all. I mean the white one's cute too, but the brother's fine." "Oh whatever, Tamara. Trey's way cuter. And did you see that lip ring? Sexy." "Is that why you stood there staring like a lost puppy?" Tamara laughed. "Oh hardy har, Tamara. So funny." The two girls finished their route through the mall before deciding to go home. ************************ The next few days consumed of numerous texts between the two. Whenever she saw his name flash on her screen, her face would light up in excitement, wondering what random thing he would say next: "I wonder if the teenage mutant ninja turtles ever fought over chicks." Avery shook her head and laughed. What was he talking about? "Lol. What?" she typed. "IDK. I'm watchn cartoons and eatin Froot Loops in my underwear." "Lol. Wow." "I mean Im eatin while in my underwear, not eating out of my underwear. Lol." "Ewww!! That would be kinda gross, u think?" "Depends if they were clean or not." "Lol. Whatever. I got work to do. Later." "K. Toodles babe." Avery stared at her screen. Babe? He called her babe? She placed her phone on her coffee table, and walked over to her computer to finish up her communications paper. Moments later she heard her phone buzz again. She rushed over to it and saw his name. "Ninja turtles kick ass. :)" She couldn't help the wide smile that formed on her face. ************************ "Whatcha doin?" he texted. Avery had been sitting on her couch, channel surfing. "Nuthn much." Perfect. Since u aren't doin anything, think u could meet me somewhere? Avery looked at the time. 11:45 p.m. What could he possibly want to do this time of night? "Well, it's kinda late, Trey." "I wont keep you long. Promise." "Where?" "Park." "Ok." Avery threw on some blue jeans, sneakers, and a hoodie and was off into the breezy night air. She found him sitting on a park bench smoking a cigarette. "Oooh, a dandelion" she said, bending down and picking up the puffy white flower. "I love these things." When she was a kid, she would pick them and make wishes while lying out in the grass. Did those wishes come true? Sometimes. She sat down beside him, closed her eyes, and moments later blew at it, sending the feathers flying in the wind. "So, why are we out here so late?" she asked pulling her jacket closer to her body. "'Cause. It's peaceful out here this time of night. You don't have to worry about kids running around, dogs barking, or old people." Avery laughed. She'd been doing a lot of that lately. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were just trying to get me alone" she joked. She looked at him and smiled, anticipating one of his silly responses, but he said nothing. He just stared at her with those piercing green eyes. She cleared her throat quietly. "I mean... I was just..." "Avery?" "Yea?" "Shut up." Avery stared at him in confusion. His face was way too serious for him to be kidding around. But she wasn't having that. He wasn't going to talk to her that way. "You don't tell me to shut up." "Well I just did, soo..." "Well I'm not. I don't know who you think you are." "The guy that's about to kiss you." Avery swallowed a huge lump in her throat and stared. Seconds later, his lips crushed hers. His hands moved around to cup her face, intensifying the kiss. Avery moaned when he slipped his tongue into her mouth, brushing it against the roof of her mouth. She could taste the metallic of his lip ring mixed with the sweetness of his tongue. Her head swarmed and the only coherent thoughts she could muster up were naughty ones. The longer they kissed, the damper her panties became. She shivered when she felt his fingers find their way under her jacket and shirt, and tickle her back. They then moved around and caressed the tender flesh of her stomach. They moved up to massage the underside of her breasts when she finally came to her senses. She couldn't do this here. Not now. "Trey" she moaned against his lips. "Mmmhmm?" "We can't do this." "I know. Our pants are still on. That makes it kinda hard." "Trey, I'm serious" she laughed after she pulled away from him. "I know. I know, babe. Let's go before we give the owls a good show." ************************ Avery sat on the side watching Trey skateboard. He was really good. He did ollies and grinds like there was no tomorrow. That was until he somehow slipped off his skateboard and twisted his ankle. "Oh my god. Are you okay?" she asked running over to him. "Fuck no!" he screamed in pain. "Damnit. Oh God. I'm sorry, Avery. Yea, I'm okay. I just need to chill." "You need ice. And painkillers. You wanna go to your house?" "No. No. I don't wanna go there. Let's go to your place. Girls always have painkillers and shit." Avery helped him up and walked him to the car, and drove to her place. When they got there, he took some Tylenol and she had him lie on the couch with his leg elevated. "I feel better now" he said tossing the bag of frozen vegetables to the side. "No, you have to keep that up there. And lie down" she said rushing over to him. Guys were so hardheaded. "I'm going to," he said, grabbing her arm, pulling her closer to him. "I just plan on doing it with you." Before she could think about what he said, she was lying on her back on the couch and Trey was lying above her, positioned between her legs. Clothes flew, and before she knew it, he had one of her legs up in the air as he entered her slowly. He held it there with one hand, and tweaked her hardened dark nipples with the other one. Avery's moans and whimpers urged him on, and his hips picked up speed. He held up the other leg and pummeled into her, enjoying watching her breasts giggle with each thrust. Avery felt so full. No one had ever made her feel that good during sex. His moans and dirty words of encouragement turned her on even more. She felt her fluids flow from her pussy to drench this thick member. "Mmm. You're gushing for me baby? Getting that pussy all wet for me?" "Ummhmm. Yes. I'm so wet for you Trey." "Baby, this pussy's so good. It's so good babe." Watching him lick his bottom lip did wonders for her. And that lip ring. She didn't know what came over her, but she said things that she didn't know existed in her vocabulary. "You want me to show you how good it is, baby? You want me to beat this pussy?" he asked thrusting harder and deeper into her opening. Avery lost it. Her pussy clenched and tightened around his pussy, aiming to milk him for all he had. He quickly pulled out and shot his load on her belly and chest. Avery closed her eyes and felt him get off of her. Was he going to leave her like this? She opened her eyes and saw him in search for something. "Ahh" he said while snapping his finger, and he disappeared into the bathroom. He came back with a damp washcloth, and wiped his load off her. He leaned down and kissed her after staring at her for what felt like forever. "I gotta go baby. I'll text you later." With that, he dressed and left. ************************ Time seemed to fly by with Trey. She'd only known him for about a month in a half, but Avery loved being around him. He was so carefree and free spirited. He was a fun person to be around, and with him, there was never a dull moment. They had gone skating where they'd laugh at each other while they busted their asses. They went to movies and sat at the very back throwing popcorn and sneaking in make-out sessions. They had competitions at who could hawk the biggest lougy or burp the loudest. He always won. Guys are good at gross stuff like that. They would meet up at her place and hump like rabbits. "How come we never go to your place?" she asked while playing with his lip ring. "Because I don't think we could find our way around with all my shit scattered around in there." "It can't be that bad, babe" she giggled. "It's worse. I'm a pig." His place was a mess, but that wasn't the only reason. He felt like a pig. ************************ Avery didn't know what to wear. Given the type of person Trey was, she was sure many 'out there' people would be there, and she wanted to fit in. After tossing half of her closet on to the floor, she settled on a pair of dark jeans and a black beater. She combed down the sides of her short pixie hair and spiked up the middle, forming Mohawk. She topped of her look with a few gold bracelets and Nike sneakers. There. Edgy. "What time are the guys supposed to be here?" Tamara shouted from the living room. Quan and Trey were throwing a house party, and they invited lots of people, including the girls. They were so excited. The two relationships had been going smoothly, and things were looking good for them. "Trey's gonna be here around 8. Quan has to be there when people start arriving, so he's not coming" she answered walking from her bedroom. Tamara was her polar opposite. She dressed in a short form-fitting tube dress that stopped mid-thigh. She wore ankle boots and let her dark waves frame her face. "Okay." Tamara scanned Avery over. "So Miss Thing, how's everything with you two?" "Good. Things are good" Avery said nervously. "Why?" she asked suspiciously. "Cause, we don't hang out as much as we did before you two started hangin' out. I guess you guys have better things to do...like each other." "Shut up Tamara!" "What? I'm just saying. Its obvious you fucked him." "Nuh uhh" she said childishly. "Nuh uhh you didn't fuck hum, or nuh uhh it's not obvious?" Tamara asked with a sideways grin. Avery thought about it. "Is it really that obvious?" she asked quietly. "You're sprung girlfriend" Tamara replied, placing a hand on her hip. "No I'm not" she sighed. "It's just... I really like him, Tamara." "And I know you do Avery, but you gotta be careful with dudes. You two haven't known each other all that long. Just slow it down a little." "Okay." "Okay. Now..." she said looked at her gold watch, "your little friend is late. You better call him and tell him to hurry his ass up, I wanna see Quan." ************************ The party was everything Avery had suspected. If only they had planned it on a night it didn't rain. People who looked like rockers, kegs, guyliner, piercings, clouds of smoke, and sounds of electric guitar filled the house. She was having a really great time, but she felt so out of her element. She looked around nervously whenever Trey would leave her side. He felt her discomfort, and told her it would be okay. To relax. He looked so good in his 'Famous' shirt, DC hat, and black jeans. And that lip piercing. It did wonders for her. Trey's phone buzzed and he looked down at it before excusing himself to answer it, leaving Avery in the middle of the dance floor alone. She searched around for Tamara and saw her on the couch with Quan. She walked over to them. "Hey Avery. Where's Trey?" Tamara asked. "He had to take a call. He'll be back." Quan gave Avery a sad smile before going to look for Trey. He found him in one of the bedrooms. "Alright. I will. Ok. Bye." Quan only caught the end of Trey's conversation, but he knew who he had been talking to. "When you gonna stop this charade man?" he asked aggravated. "Charade? What charade?" "You didn't tell her did you? You're playin with this girl. She likes you man and I think you should be honest with her." "Dude, I'm not playing her. I like her too. We're just having fun and I've never been dishonest with her" he said matter of factly. "No, you haven't lied but he haven't told her the truth either." "What the fuck man? What exactly do you want me to do?" "Whatever man, I don't have time for this shit." Quan sighed and turned to leave. "Just know this... if you don't tell her, I will" and he disappeared down the hall. ************************ Avery and Tamara were dancing when Quan came back into the room. Moments later, Trey reappeared with a new demeanor. He didn't look happy. He looked...serious? Serious was so not Trey. "Hey you wanna get out of here? Go somewhere quiet?" he asked her, placing a hand on the small of her back. Avery stared up into those green eyes and got lost like she always did. She nodded her head in approval before he grabbed her hand and led her through the crowd of drunken people. "Where you goin?" Tamara yelled at the retreating bodies. Avery turned and waved with a mischievous grin on her face. ************************ They sat in the car outside of her apartment as the tears streamed down her face. She couldn't breathe. She didn't know if it was from the steady crying she had been doing for the past 10 minutes, or from the pain she felt in her chest. Trey reached over and put his arms around her, pulling her into him. She wanted to push him away. Slap him. Scream at him. But she couldn't. She gave in to his warm embrace and sobbed. She grabbed at his shirt and screamed into it. She couldn't believe this was happening to her. She trusted him. Damnit she loved him. "I'm sorry Avery. I'm so sorry. I never meant for this to happen. I like you a lot. But I love her." That was all she needed to hear. He loved his girlfriend. Like she loved him. She stopped crying, and sharp hiccups escaped from her throat. She backed away from him, and nodded before opening the car door and getting out. She softly shut the door back and walked towards her building. Her heels clicked, splashing in the puddles on the concrete. The rain caused her hair to cling to her head. Her salty tears mixed with the raindrops, and she wiped them away as she entered the complex. Trey sat in the parking lot. How could he had been such a dick? Why hadn't he been honest with her from the beginning? When he told her he had a girlfriend, she had just stared at him in disbelief. The more he talked about her the more she broke down. He watched as her soft brown shoulders slumped in disappointment. She lowered her head and he watched as her small hands came up to cover her face. He listened as her light sobs and sniffles turned into deep cries of pain. He watched as she held her chest as heartache fled through her. That wasn't the reaction he suspected. He expected her to slap him. To yell at him. To call him the piece of shit he truly felt like. Instead, she cried and Trey felt pangs shoot through his chest watching her. When he told her he loved April, he felt her stiffen up and compose herself, before leaving without one word. ************************ Avery stood in front of the mirror and looked at the drained and helpless girl who stared back at her. That girl was a mess. Her mascara stained her face and her hair dripped. Her usually bright and expressive eyes were reddened and puffy. Her nose had a red tint and was stuffy from all of that crying. Avery turned her back on that girl and stripped herself of all of her clothing, before getting in and sitting on the shower floor as the hot water cascaded on her shivering body. ************************ I told her. Quan stared down at the message on his phone. Eh figured it hadn't went well. The message was too short. He looked over at Tamara before walking her to his car. This was going to be one long ride. When he was done explaining the whole situation to Tamara, she stared open mouthed at him. Then the hysterics started. "What?! He did what? And you knew about this? What the fuck, Quan?" "I know Tamara, but I didn't know." He exhaled deeply before continuing. "I thought she knew. He said that he was going to tell her about April. I thought he had. I swear I did." "You knew he had a girlfriend though. You knew he was fucking my best friend and he had a girlfriend. What kind of friend are you?" "Don't do that!" he interrupted. "Don't put this shit off on me, okay? I said I didn't know he hadn't told her. I thought they were just friends. I didn't know they had sex until tonight. I saw how she looked at him. How they acted towards one another. I saw him in the back room on the phone. I told him if he hadn't already told her, it was time to man up before I did. I don't wanna see Avery hurt either. So don't you try to twist this around and make me feel like the bad guy." Tamara said nothing. She rode shotgun as Quan sped down the wet highway. She didn't know where they were going. If they were going to Avery's, she would hold her friend. Be that shoulder to cry on. If they were going to Trey's she would be the iron fist to lay his ass out. Be the one to tell him what she thought of him. They pulled up to Avery's apartment. They parked right beside Trey. He was lying with his head on the steering wheel as his hands rested on it. Tamara quickly unfastened her seatbelt to get out and let him have it. Quan grabbed her thigh and shook his head. "What?" she asked. "Avery. Go check on her." Tamara turned her head to look at Trey before she got out and ran against the rain towards the apartment. Dandelion Wishes Trey heard someone knock on his passenger side window. He looked up and saw Quan. He unlocked the door and got in. "I fucked up man. I really fucked up this time." "You did the right thing, Trey. I just wish you had done it from the start." Quan studied Trey. His eyes were rimmed with red. Like he had been crying. Any other time he would have teased the hell out of him. Crying is for pussies and babies Trey would always say. But this was different. "Maybe I made the wrong decision, man" he sniffed. "I mean, you should have seen her. She cried so much and there was nothing I could do to stop it." "Avery's a good girl man. So is April. You always get the good ones, but you always find a way to fuck it up." Trey looked at him saddened. "What man? It's time to be real." Trey nodded, and he turned to stare out the windshield as the rain pounded down. "But was April worth it? I love her. With all of my heart. But we have our ups and downs. Downs more than anything. I just feel like I can be myself with Avery. With April, I have to be this different guy. This serious dude who's serious about planning a future and shit. I just wanna have fun. Live in the moment. I can do that with Avery." "Well man. It's up to her. But first thing's first. You need to call April." ************************ Tamara knocked on the door and waited for what felt like forever. Nothing. She'd been standing outside of Avery's door for at least 5 minutes. She knew Avery was home. She decided to search for the backup key Avery had stashed. She found it and quickly went in. She called out for her. No answer. She walked through the small dark apartment and saw that the light coming from the bathroom. As she walked in, she saw Avery's wet clothes lying in a pile on the floor. She turned and saw something in the shower. She was curled up in a sitting ball with her face tucked into her chest as the water assaulted her body. Tamara softly called out to her, but she wouldn't answer. She slowly walked over to the steaming shower and opened the glass door. Avery remained in her sitting position. Tamara turned the knobs on the shower, and shut it off. She watched as the water dripped off Avery in a pinkish tint. Not this. She quickly grabbed a towel and wrapped Avery in it. "Come on babe. Let's go" she said softly while trying to fight back tears. Avery stood on weak legs as Tamara ushered her out of the shower. "I wanna be the one he loves, Tamara" she whimpered. "I know Avery. I know. He doesn't deserve you though, babe." Tamara stared at Avery's bloodied wrists. Avery hadn't done that in years. Tamara thought she was past that. "Babe what did you do? Why did you do this?" she asked dabbing at her wrists. "I'm sorry, Tamara. I'm sorry." "We're gonna get you through this okay?" Avery said nothing. She nodded and rested her head on her friend's shoulder, crying for what felt like the umpteenth time tonight. ************************ Trey knocked on her door. Dandelion clocks in one hand, and the other hand in his pocket. He was nervous. He had broken things off with April that night. He had told her what he had done and how he felt about their relationship. He loved her, but he wasn't in love with her. She'd been upset at first, but she seemed to take it well. She had said that it was for the best. She didn't want him to feel as though he couldn't be himself with her. She needed someone who was ready to commit to her and only her. Now he stood outside of Avery's door. It had been about 3 weeks since he'd last seen her. He hoped she would forgive him. Avery opened the door and he was greeted with a beautiful smile that quickly faded. "Hey." "Hey, Trey. What are you doing here?" "I umm... came to give you this" and he handed her a homemade bouquet of dandelions assorted in fluffy whites and bright yellows. "I remember you said these were your favorite." She smiled at the dandelion and reached for it. "I have one too," he stammered. "I thought that maybe we could make wishes on them." Avery nodded. "Okay. You first." "Umm...I wish that you could find it in your heart to forgive me. I'm sorry. I broke up with April. I love her. I do. But... I think I love you too. Only difference is, I think I'm in love with you." Avery stared at him as he blew away the feathers. If only he had said that a few weeks ago. "Your turn." "Okay. Well, I wish you all the luck in the world with finding someone you can truly love, be honest with, and cherish." She smiled as she blew at the flower, watching the feathers fly. She then handed him the stem. "Goodbye Trey." She stepped back into her apartment before shutting the door. Shutting Trey out, and leaving him standing there heartbroken.