Driving Lessons

Chapter 16

 

Sybil spent the night with me and it was good for both of us. We made plans to keep in touch. She left before eleven on Sunday morning and I waited until a little after on the chance Marianne changed her mind.

Before leaving campus I parked the car and went over to Greek row and waited not in front of the Xeta House but Sigma's instead hoping to see the girl. I wanted dearly to be able to salvage something from this trip.

This is the ending and beginning of this story. I never saw or heard of Marianne again. I hope she's happy. I know she did have moments of great joy which is more than some people get.

I still held back ten percent of my pay; this went into a savings account. The rest went to my parents. About five months later the plant reopened and my dad was back at work like many of the men in town. I bought a motorcycle, quit my job and rode to the university where I picked up Sybil who was flunking out. We went to New York City where we lived together happily. I got a job working on a film crew and when an opportunity arose to work in LA I took it. Sybil remained in New York.

All of that is another story.

I got back home before four and went straight to work. Jethro handed me a slip of paper and said, "Give this to Randy. He's in thirteen."

I went in without knocking; this was one of the common rooms. I could see Darell fucking a girl on the floor, another guy had his back toward me doing her mouth. I took him to be Randy.

Darell saw me and motioned with his eyes to the other but neither stopped. Randy finished, backed away and I saw the girl had long dark hair. Her eyes were shut as she thrust back to meet Darell's.

Candy shouted, "Fill my ass. God this feels good." She shook her head and prompted him, screaming and suddenly stiffening, arms rigid, as she rose up and flung her head back. She remained motionless for a long minute and resumed meeting Darell's thrusts.

I handed Randy the note. He began putting his clothes on and I think that's what caused her to open her eyes.

She saw me, no expression on her face, shut her eyes and said, "Fill my ass." She shook her head, her hair falling in front of her face, hiding it.

Darell reached and grabbed some of her hair, jerked her head up, pulling her back to him.

"God yes," she shouted.

Randy left the room and I leaned against the wall and watched. It was a good show.

Darell rammed her hard three times and they both froze. She screamed and raised further up, her hands leaving the floor. She gave a shudder, he released her hair, and she fell to the floor.

Darell, his dick wet and dripping, said, "She's all yours," and left the room, carrying his clothes.

I didn't move and neither did she. Her hair fanned out on the floor and she was twisted some onto her side so I could see a breast.

I tried to remain detached, but watching that foot move, pushing on the floor and relaxing, gave me an idea how she felt. She was incapable of sitting, much less standing.

I think if our relationship had been physical, I wouldn't have felt so betrayed, especially if our relationship had been like Marianne's and mine where secrets were the norm.

She rolled onto her back and I don't know what it is but a woman's breasts in that position hold a special fascination for me. Any woman on her back triggers an automatic sexual response.

"Take your time," I said.

Not a word.

It was maybe five minutes later she got up and put on her clothes, not looking at me, but not ashamed of her graceful animal beauty.

"I thought you said you were a virgin."

"I was. A technical virgin. I never lied to you."

"Okay. I believe you. Was?"

"Virginity has a market value. I sold mine. He's old, not too bright, rich and now I live well and my family, too."

"Does he know about this?"

"No reason for him to. It doesn't matter. There are things he can't give me. Money, yes."

"Okay. Marianne's gone. You know that?"

"I know that. Look, Brian. I can't stand here forever. I have things I need to do."

"I need to get back to work, too. How long?"

"Randy and Darrell? Since I started here. That's part of the job description. Jethro, too. Only them. And I remained a virgin. It wasn't something I planned. Okay. Look, Beth needed an abortion which means she needed money and she couldn't do any of this. So I did, for her. Understand? Remember Beth?"

"Abortion?"

"She told you she was pregnant, remember?"

"She said she thought she was pregnant. There's a difference."

"It's the same thing. What matters is your reaction, Brian. Remember what you said?"

I didn't at that moment but it came back. I try harder now to be a better person. And I try not to let my feelings of guilt swallow me.

"I'm sorry."

"You could tell her that. She was desperate so I helped her. I'm not sorry I did it." She wound her hair around a hand and threw it over a shoulder. "I didn't like you. I didn't expect to fall in love with you. That's dead and gone just like my virginities. I'm happy and Randy and Darell help me out sometimes."

"Okay. I'm sorry."

"You should be."

"What about Marianne?"

"Brian, I'm not going to fuck you. Ever. I'm not sure now it ever would have happened. I was playing with fire, loving you and hating you. I'm happy now. Things are settled. I don't have to worry about you finding out. I don't care any more, Brian. It's over."

"I know that. Look, I'm trying to understand."

"I thought I could help Marianne. That you could help her. I should have known better. I knew you and still did it. Look, do you ever spend any time on the wrong side of town? Never, right?"

I shook my head. I had no reason to go down there.

"I saw her being used like she was an animal in the street there. You did that to her."

I shook my head.

"I know where she is now and how she got there. You turned Marianne into a slut just like her sister. There's something about you, Brian, that hurts women."

I just watched her.

"Marianne's problem was her sister's lack of control, her sister's drinking problem. Her sister's—There's no reason to go on. I can tell you were Bethanne is. Do you want to know? Bethanne would like being publicly fucked. She's who you should date. She's just your type. I have her phone number. You should call her up. You should."

She tried to push past me. I started to stop her and dropped my hands to my side. "Goodbye, Candy."

"I don't want to ever see or talk to you. I'll tell Jethro to make sure you're not around when I'm here."

She brushed past me and I let the door shut behind her. I felt like I was going crazy. It wasn't like she said. Not Marianne.

Jethro knocked and came in. "All taken care of? You need to pick up Sue downtown. She's wanted here for a special. When you get back there's a party upstairs. As a break. Maybe you don't need it."

"I'm okay."

"You don't look it but you'll live."

So that was the last I saw Candy face to face. Jethro made sure to keep us apart. Darell and Randy never acted as if anything were different but I'd never been friends with them and never tried.

A year after Sybil and I were settled in New York, I got an envelope with a newspaper clipping. No return address and only our parents knew where we were and this wasn't from them.

The clipping showed a photo of Candy as a bride and old man Barkley. The caption and story were about his second marriage. No note and I still have no idea who sent it, but guess it was Jethro, the only person with connections to track me down.

I can't imagine Candy being happy, less able her than Marianne. I hope she ended up getting both what she needed and loved.

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