Storiesonline.net
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                               Nosy Witch
                                by Argon

Copyright© 2012 by Argon


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Description: Halloween is when Emily Brewer has her worst and best moments. How many bad moments will it take until the best comes around?
Winner of the 2012 Halloween Story Contest.

Codes: MF cons rom dru het slow
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October 2002 - Burn the Witch

Hansel and Gretel finally pushed the evil witch into the big oven and latched the iron door. From inside, the witch's pitiful cries could be heard, but the two children did not show any mercy. They took more gingerbread from the house and traipsed towards the back of the stage where they disappeared behind the curtain.

The audience, mostly parents, applauded good-naturedly while the students of Edna Monrose Junior High School came to the front of the stage and bowed. Of course, Hansel and Gretel were the main characters and they were played by Zach Adams and Julia Monrose, the kids of two prominent local families who contributed heavily to the school. Both kids received their applause, but when Emily Brewer who had played the witch stepped forward, the clapping went up one notch. Emily, with her copper-red hair, her green eyes, and her pointy nose was perfect for the role, and she had played it with enthusiasm and considerable acting talent. She was one of the cutest girls in the class and certainly the smartest. She bowed one more time, beaming with pride, before she stepped back to where Mrs. Monrose already fussed over her precious daughter.

Mrs. Monrose looked at Emily with a smirk. "You did quite a good witch, Emily," she stated regally. "Then again, with that nose, what else can you play?"

Emily could only stand and stare at the woman.

"What? Did nobody ever tell you?"

There was a mirror to the side of the stage entrance for the performers to check their costumes, and Emily looked at herself. A long, thin nose with a bump was all she could see. Tears welled up in her eyes, and she fled the stage. Emily could already imagine how the next days would be like, with Julia Monrose repeating her mother's words ad nauseam. She wanted nothing more than to hide for the next weeks or even years.

In the following nights, lying in her narrow bed in the small bedroom that she shared with her two younger siblings, Emily racked her brain to come up with a solution. She knew about the possibilities of plastic surgery. Straightening or shortening a nose was no magic at all. Yet when she used the ancient computer in the community library to find out more about rhinoplasty, she quickly realized the folly of that idea.

Talk about sticker shock! Prices were in the range up to $ 8.000, and no surgeon would touch her before she was sixteen. Her father's health plan at the sawmill did not cover anything beyond basic health care, and her father was just a foreman with five mouths to feed. No way he could come up with that amount of money.

In the small West Virginia community where they lived, jobs for junior high school students were rare and they payed only pittances. There was no way for Emily to come up with the money for the rhinoplasty. The prospects were dim, too. Scotstown did not even have enough jobs for all the men, and women had an even harder time finding employment. Emily knew that her own mother was looking for ways to supplement her father's wages by sewing dresses for people. The sound of the sewing machine was a constant companion in the trailer where they lived. Yet, her mother earned barely enough to finance her own and her kids' clothing.

No, if Emily wanted her nose fixed, she had to get out of Scotstown, and there was only one way – finish school at the top and get a scholarship for college. Get a degree, get a job, earn money, and then find a topnotch plastic surgeon! In those days in November 2002, 13 year-old Emily Brewer committed herself to a plan.

October 31, 2006 - A Friend for Life

Emily Brewer was preparing herself for the annual Halloween party at Henry Monrose High School. She had spent more than a week to obtain the cloth she needed, to cut the patterns, and to sew her costume. Now she tried to judge her appearance in the smallish mirror in the shared bedroom. A smile spread over her face. The costume was picture-perfect.

In some way, Emily had taken the words of Mrs. Monrose to heart. If she was limited to playing the witch, she would play the witch. Every year so far, Emily had won the costume contest over Julia Monrose. Not even the tailor made princess costumes her mother had made in Raleigh could change that. Halloween was Emily's night, no matter how shy, how withdrawn, how bookish she was during the rest of the year.

Now for the piece de resistance! At a flea market two towns over, Emily had found Fido. Fido was a raven. A stuffed raven. Her father had fashioned a wire contraption to affix the stuffed bird on Emily's left shoulder, and tonight would be Fido's premiere. Grinning, Emily attached the wires to the lashes on the shoulder of her costume and studied her mirror image again. Yes! That ought to do it. Emily nodded to her image.

Her father drove her over to the gymnasium where the ball was held. Emily alighted from the truck and quickly ran over to the entrance. She had not many friends at school, but Marty Connolly was a kinda-sorta friend, or maybe he was just a fellow nerd. Predictably, he had a felt pen lightning on his forehead and was wearing horn-rimmed glasses. He was too tall and skinny to pull off a convincing Harry Potter, but Emily had not the heart to tell him. He looked like he was bursting with news.

"Hey, Marty! You look like you'll pop a stitch if you can't get it off your chest."

"Just heard it from Duke Holloway. Monrose Construction is going belly-up. Tucker Monrose filed for bankruptcy this afternoon."

"Oh shit!" Emily aid softly. That was the worst of news for Scotstown.

Tucker Monrose owned Monrose Plywood, Monrose Timber, and Monrose Construction in Scotstown, a business inherited from his father and grandfather. He was Scotstown's inofficial dictator providing more than half of the jobs and sixty percent of the town's tax income.

He was married to a woman from a good Virginia family, a real charm school-bred Southern Belle, and together they had ruled over the small town. Unfortunately, in the last winter, the good Tucker suffered the mishap of a small coronary while dipping his wick into another man's inkwell, namely the Reverend Calhoun's young wife. With the EMTs responding to the emergency call, the scandal became public within hours. Leonora Monrose immediately filed for divorce. She tried to take her husband to the cleaners, tried to drain him of all his assets, but it came out that there was not much to drain – Tucker Monrose was deeply in debt.

With his separated wife dragging him through the mud and with the medical troubles on top of it, the construction company lost a lot of work, and now it was crunch time. Emily felt a little guilty. Her father was safe for the time being. Monrose Timber was not in trouble. Other families would suffer badly, however, while Tucker and Leonora Monrose slugged it out in court and in public.

"That sucks, Marty," she said sympathetically. "What do you think? How many will be laid off?"

"Don't know. Jeez, it's time to graduate and shake the dust off our shoes." Like Emily, Marty wanted out of Scotstown right after graduation.

Just then, the door opened and Julia stepped in. Emily caught a glimpse of Leonora Monrose's car as it drove off, and there stood Julia. She was wearing a stupid princess costume again, but this year she did not show her trademark pearly-whities to her court of friends. She looked as if she had cried.

Emily and Julia had buried their hatchet two years before. Though Emily felt self-conscious in the presence of the picture-pretty blonde, she felt no animosity anymore. At one point during freshman year, both had sat in the bleachers during PE class both suffering from menstrual cramps. Julia had surprised Emily by apologizing for her mother's tactless taunt after that school play more than a year before. Emily had not thought that the blonde princess would even remember the incident, but apparently it had weighed on Julia's conscience ever since.

That afternoon, the two girls agreed on a nonaggression treaty. They were not friends as both moved in different circles. After all Emily's father was a mere foreman at Monrose Timber. Yet they never spoke bad of the other either, and one time, Julia had driven Emily to the hospital after her father had had a work site accident.

Julia saw Emily and Marty. "H-hey, Em. You ... you look great ... you always do ... I..."

Emily was a kindhearted girl and she sensed the state Julia was in. With an apologizing glance at Marty, she stepped up to Julia and wrapped the surprised blonde in a hug.

"I just heard, Julia. I'm so sorry. I can't imagine how you must feel."

"I-it's s-so t-terrible! Mom and D-dad have been fighting all day. She c-called him a d-disgrace and a ... Oh God, she was like a madwoman. S-she's going back to Virginia, imagine that! She leaving me behind. All because I asked her to back off and th-think of the workers and their f-families. Sh-she's ruining everybody, and sh-she doesn't even c-care! How c-can I look p-people in the eyes now?"

"Sshh! Julia, this isn't your fault," Emily soothed the sobbing girl. The she espied Frances Denham, one of Julia's friends, and she waved at her.

Frances came over reluctantly. "Hey Em. What's up with her?"

Emily rolled her eyes. "Didn't you hear?"

Frances shrugged. "It's not like the world will go under."

"To Julia, it feels that way," Emily returned. "Listen, can you look after her?"

"Shit, no! This is the Halloween Ball. I'm not going to babysit Julia all evening."

Emily's eyes narrowed into angry slits and her posture changed. It was Halloween, her night, and she would not take shit from nobody, least of all from Frances.

"Until yesterday, you were her friend," she snapped.

"Until yesterday, she was fun," Frances answered dismissively.

"Oh, boy! You really are a cold-hearted bitch," Emily shot back with venom.

"Mind your own business, hook nose!"

In a heartbeat, Julia was on her feet. Her eyes were still wet with tears, but her voice belied her unhappiness. "You fucking bitch! Get lost and don't show your fat ass anywhere near our house again! We're through. And tell your mother that I'll rather join a convent before I'll marry your stupid brother! Scram!"

Frances mumbled a few things, but she did not dare to face down her former friend. In the end she turned and left Emily and Julia alone.

Julia nodded sadly. "Yeah, well, she was never a good friend, just some leech I tolerated out of stupidity. That's over for sure."

For the next hour, the two girls sat and talked, and slowly, Julia calmed down. Emily even talked her into dancing with a boy, and she accepted invitations herself. This was her night after all. Her nose did not matter this night. She danced and talked urgently to each of the boys. Some protested, some were reluctant, but most of them agreed to follow Emily's wish.

A little before midnight, the polling began for the best costumes. Emily sat with Julia who was suddenly a little sad again. She forced a weak smile on her lips though.

"Better get prepared, Em! Your moment is about to come."

Emily just smiled back at the girl, feeling for once self-assured. "Who knows? There are some neat costumes tonight."

"But yours is the best, Em! It always is, but this year ... You're just wonderful!" Julia blurted.

"We'll see," Emily answered serenely.

Then, when Mr. Hicks, the principal, announced that the prize for the best female costume went to Julia Monrose, she smiled with satisfaction.

Julia cried all the way to the podium, all the time on the podium, and all the way back to their table. She cried when she hugged Emily.

"You are a wonderful person, Em!" she managed to say.

Emily just smiled while holding her new friend tight.

°°°

Normally, after the rush of Halloween night left Emily, her life returned to normal. This time, it was different. There was no school on the next morning, but at eleven o'clock, Julia Monrose drove up at the Brewers' trailer. The Brewers lived on their own little patch of land, and they owned the trailer, but it was still a part of Scotstown where one rarely sees a European sportscar.

Emily's mother was raking leaves when the unexpected guest arrived and she was a little worried at first. "Good morning, Miss Monrose," she offered. Julia was still the daughter of her husband's boss.

"Good morning, Mrs. Brewer. Is Emily still sleeping?"

"No, she's up and working on her college application. Why don't you go in and see her?"

"Thank you, I'll do just that," Julia answered politely.

She found Emily at the table in the main room of the trailer surrounded by application forms. "Hey, Em! Busy?"

Emily nodded shyly. Halloween was over, and Emily was back to being the wallflower. "I ... I'm working on the financial support papers. I may have to apply for student loans."

"Where do you plan on going anyway?" Julia asked.

"M-Marshall," Emily answered shyly.

"For real? I'm also going to Marshall! How great is that!" Julia gushed. "We could be roomies."

Emily's eyes bugged a little. "You'd want me as your roomy?"

For an answer, Julia stood close and hugged the sitting Emily. "After last night? Emily, you'd be my dream roomy. You're pretty, you're crazy smart, and you're a good person. Oh, wait! Would you want me at all?"

"I'd love to," Emily almost whispered. Pretty?

°°°

October 31, 2007 - Getting Screwed

With the Wednesday classes finished, Emily Brewer returned to Commons where she roomed with her best friend Julia Monrose. They were both freshmen at Marshall after graduating from Henry Monrose High School in June.

They had vastly different backgrounds. Julia was the scion of a family that had de facto ruled their hometown, Scotstown, for over a hundred years. Her mother was a Southern Belle, her father employed most adults in the town. By contrast, Emily was a rube, the daughter of a sawmill foreman. Her parents were hardworking people, but money was tight, and there were two siblings to feed and clothe. Julia had a trust fund from her grandfather that paid for her education, while Emily had worked hard to earn a full scholarship. Yet and undeniably, they were best friends.

She found Julia sitting on her bed and drying her glorious blonde mane.

"Hey, Jules! Why are you even blow-drying your hair?" Julia would wear a skintight catwoman costume to the Halloween party this evening, complete with black hood. Her hair would be plastered to her head in no time.

"I'm vain, what can I do?" Julia laughed back. "Go hop into the shower, girl. We need to get going!"

They planned to attend a Halloween party at Commons organized by the students council. It would also be the first anniversary of their friendship. Not that they had became lovers. Neither of them felt the inclination to go beyond hugging. Yet, it felt good for both of them to have each other. With her family in ruins for all practical purposes, Julia relied on Emily for emotional support. On the other hand, Emily learned many social graces from Julia.

Oh well, Emily mused, almost four years to go for a college degree, another year or two of work, and she could be pretty, too. Just $8,000 for a rhinoplasty.

Even so, Emily planned to have fun this night. It was Halloween, her night. She dumped her bag and stripped quickly. Wearing panties and bra only, she opened the bathroom door and slipped in. Thank God for a neat roomy! Julia had showered before her, but the shower stall was free of hairs and soap residue. Emily quickly shed panties and bra and stepped under the shower.

An hour later, after a few hasty bites to eat, the two girls walked the short distance to the dinner hall. They were early. The music had not even started yet and they laughed about their lack of cool. What could they do? They were freshmen after all and they were supposed to be a little dorky.

The dinner hall filled slowly, and a junior by the name of Walt Mason took over the DJ duties. At first Emily and Julia danced together. Few other people shared the dance floor, and they were quite a sight. Catwoman and Madam Mimh swaying in harmony quickly attracted a group of solo guys who tried to show off their moves. Grinning at each other, Julia and Emily left the dance floor and returned to their table. They found the free seats had been taken by two guys, and a third chair was blocked by a purse. One guy was dressed as Batman, while the other was clearly uncomfortable wearing a pirate costume. Captain Hook was easy on Emily's eyes though. He had brown eyes and straight black hair tied back in a pony tail. His nose was narrow and straight, not too long, and his smiling lips revealed a set of movie star quality teeth. Emily sighed involuntarily.

Meanwhile, Batman was already focussing on Catwoman. "Hey, you look cool. You want I show you my cave?" The line was delivered with an outrageous grin, a grin that revealed two missing incisors.

"Been tangling with the Joker?" Julia shot back with a grin.

Batman self-consciously touched his front teeth. "No, more like an evil linebacker. It's hard to get on the team, and those damn implants will take another month or more."

"So, your playing football?" Julia asked, while Emily's attention shifted back to Captain Hook.

"You're playing, too?" she asked, just to say something.

"No, God forbid! I'm too lazy," the pirate laughed easily. "One jock per room is enough. And that crow is just too cool!"

"It's a raven," Emily corrected him with a sniff. "Its name is Fido."

"Pleased to meet you, Fido," Captain Hook grinned. "I'm Tyler, Tyler Ambrose."

"Emily Brewer. You're a freshman, right?"

"Yep. I saw you at orientation. You're kinda hard to overlook with that hair."

Yes, Halloween was her night! This night, she could forget about her nose. It was her night, her power, and – please, pretty please! – her guy for the night. For Emily was desperate to finally get her cherry picked, now that she was a hundred miles from home. Tyler just seemed like the perfect picker. She tossed back her hair.

"I did not see you. Where are you from?"

"Raleigh," he answered.

"Big city boy, huh?"

"Yeah, my father has a job there. He's a bank manager. You?"

"I'm from Scotstown. It's a small town, mostly timber and plywood industries. Marshall offered me a free ride, and so here I am."

"Full academic, wow! So you're not just gorgeous, you're a genius too."

She gave him a cuff. "I'm not gorgeous, and I know it."

"But you are! You..."

He stopped and looked up sheepishly. Emily looked up too, and into the angry face of another girl. This one was tall, with big boobs, but not particularly long legs. To Emily she did not look very pretty, but that could have been the angry scowl.

"Gorgeous, huh?" she asked snidely looking Emily over. A cruel smile appeared, but before the remark about Emily's nose could be uttered, Tyler found his voice.

"Emily, this is Penny, Penny Edwards. She's my girlfriend."

"Hey, Penny," Emily offered, trying to be conciliatory. "I didn't know that Tyler wasn't alone here. Sorry."

"Well, he isn't. And even if he were, he wouldn't waste his time with some rube. Good God, don't they have plastic surgeons where you come from?"

"Hey, that's not..." Tyler started, deeply embarrassed, but he did not have a chance to finish. Julia shot up from her chair so fast it toppled over.

"Listen, you bitch!" she snarled. "I'll count to three and if you're still here, you're gonna need a plastic surgeon yourself! Take your cheap hair extensions and your bolt-on tits and beat it!"

"Why, you tramp!" Penny started, but Tyler was up now, and he pulled her away from the table.

"I'm sorry for the mess I caused," he said over his shoulder. "Really sorry."

Batman stayed back. "God, what a nasty piece of work she is!" he exclaimed. "You're lucky you've only met her tonight. Me, I have to deal with her whenever she shows up at our room to gripe about some stuff."

"I'm gonna pull her hair out!" Julia steamed. "Em, she was just being nasty. You really look gorgeous, doesn't she, Tom?"

"You're the cutest witch I've seen in my life," Tom smiled at her showing his missing teeth again. "Don't let Penny get to you. She's just jealous and her bitchy self."

Emily shook herself to get control of herself again. The evening was ruined for her.

"I'm okay," she lied. "Let me go to the bathroom for a moment."

She left the table and walked aimlessly around the gymnasium. Suddenly, this was not her night anymore. She contemplated to leave and turn in early. Just sleep and try to forget this.

"Hey, baby! Where have you been all my life," a voice close to her ear sounded, and she almost jumped out of her skin.

It was a guy. He was not half bad looking, no scratch that – he looked great. Blonde hair in a crew cut, a button nose, and a square chin. He was wearing a tennis outfit, Adidas, no less, and for a moment, Emily asked herself the reason for this peculiar "costume". He wore a chunky wristwatch on his well tanned wrist. A Rolex Emily saw. Money, probably a trust fund kid, and a bit of a poser too. She shrugged.

"In Scotstown," she replied.

"You're a freshman, right?"

Emily nodded. "Yeah. Why?"

"Because I never saw you before, and I would have noticed if I had," the guy answered suavely. One of his pals at the table snorted.

"Hey, why don't you sit with us for a minute or two. We're juniors, and we've got some real stuff to drink."

Emily shrugged. It would beat going back to her room. She sat down beside the "tennis pro" and faced him.

"I'm Emily."

"Brent. Here, have a glass of the good stuff."

Emily had only very limited drinking experience, and she did not register the vodka in the juice Brent offered. She took a sip and liked it. She took another sip. Okay, maybe this could still be a fun night.

°°°

Emily woke on the next morning with a bad taste in her mouth and a bad headache. She also had a feeling of discomfort between her legs. She opened her eyes. Okay, she was in her room. Across from her, Julia was snoring softly in her bed, her blonde hair fanned out like a golden halo on the pillow. Emily looked down at herself. Her pajama was put on haphazardly with the top buttoned wrongly. Carefully, she swung her legs out from under the cover and tried to stand. Dizzy! She sat for a minute and tried again. A little better.

Suppressing the sick feeling in her stomach, she staggered into the bathroom and switched on the lights. Her makeup was smeared all over her face, and her hair looked caked on the left side. She lifted her hand and tried to feel the texture of the caked hair. It was sticky. With sudden urgency, she reached down with her hand and under her pajama bottoms. When her hand came up again, she saw traces of blood mixed with a sticky white goo.

Nausea welled up, and she had barely the time to bend over the toilet before her stomach heaved up its contents. She was shivering by the time it was empty, and she quickly stripped her pajama and cranked on the shower. She stopped. Hot water would be a bad idea for her caked hair. Better rinse it first with lukewarm water. She bent over the sink and doused water over the left side of her head with her hands. It took some time, but then the stickiness washed off. Still shivering, she stepped under the hot shower.

Standing there under the pelting droplets, she tried to remember the last night. Tyler and his bitch of a girlfriend. Herself wandering around afterwards until this guy – yes, Brent! – talked her into sitting at his table. The orange juice had tasted well, too well, and she became a little loose. Then other memories flashed before her eyes. She in a car, a BMW, in the backseat, her skirt bunched up around her hips and Brent between her legs. The stinging pain when her hymen burst, and shortly after that, Brent's grunting and humping. The next memory was of Brent helping her upstairs, even unlocking the door for her. She leaning against him while he stripped her awkwardly. He must have helped her into the pajama, too.

Emily exhaled and relaxed. Brent had dropped her off at her room and looked after her. That was nice of him, right? He must be rich, and he was good looking. A junior, too. Perhaps she could see him again later, perhaps at lunch?

Emily finished her shower and rubbed herself dry. She felt better already. If only she could remember the sex! This was a bit disappointing after all the hoopla. Then again, Brent would not be averse to a little repeat performance with a sober Emily, would he?

Two hours later, Emily and Julia walked over to the cafeteria. Julia was a little bit hungover, too. She, too, had gotten lucky the night before, with Tom the football player, and she'd only gotten back to their room in the wee hours. According to her, Tom was a good guy and a gentle lover in spite of his rugged appearance. She would see him again later.

Emily told her friend only little about her nightly escapades. She wanted to see and speak to Brent first before she made any announcements. She only told Julia that she had spent the rest of the evening with a good looking junior.

They were standing in the food line when Emily heard voices from behind the partition between the food line and the tables.

"Freshmen are the best!" a guy claimed. "Hey, Brent, how did it go with that redhead?"

Emily cringed when she heard Brent's voice. "What do you think? Nailed her in the backseat. She was still cherry, would you believe it! Thank God I opted for leather seats. God, it was messy."

"You're the man! Jeez, but that nose! Didn't she poke your eyes out?"

Laughter rose at that table and Emily felt her sickness well up again.

Brent laughed smugly. "Man I simply pulled her skirt up over her head. From the neck down there was nothing to complain. A little small around the tits, but man, her nipples are something else."

"Still, that nose!" somebody protested.

"Shaddup, Markinson! I still shudder when I think of the ugly broad you nailed last year. At least, little Emily didn't give me the clap."

"Think she'll remember?"

"Ugh! I hope not. I mean, she was really out of it. Well, I'll just tell her that she must have mixed me up with someone."

"So, did you mark her?"

"Yep. Full facial and into her hair."

"Score, man! You have the pics?"

"Well, I most certainly do."

"Show them, show them," at least five guys chanted.

At this point, Emily was violently sick and trembling and almost paralyzed. Julia had heard the whole thing too, first with disgust, then with alarm, and finally with fury. She stormed around the partition.

"Hey, are you crazy? Gimme back my cell!" Emily heard Brent shout.

"Oh yeah? Make me!" Julia's challenge could be heard. "You wanna explain to the Provost how you have pornography on it? You wanna explain how you made a freshman drunk so you could fuck her? Be my guest, asshole!"

Silence followed Julia's last words, and she appeared around the partition and steered Emily out of the cafeteria.

"Oh, Emily, darling! I'm so sorry. What a stupid asshole!"

Emily walked beside her friend like a zombie.

"Em, I've got the cellphone. I'll delete everything, okay? Oh, darling, I'm so sorry that I left you alone!"

Emily shook herself to will away the sickness. "It was my fault. How could I be so stupid? Why would any guy want anything of me except to put something over my head and fuck me?"

"Em, how many time do I have to tell you..."

"It's no use, Jules. I know you mean well, but I have to face the facts. I've got to finish college, then earn enough money for a nose job. After that, I can find a guy. Before? No way. Not with this face fin!"

Julia was also crying now, but she also kept grumbling things in between. Back in their room, Julia made her friend some tea and persuaded her to lie down. With Emily in bed, Julia put on her coat and went out in search of her new friend, Tom.

°°°

A week later, Brent Thurgood III. ran into a smallish sophomore student named Elmer Hargrove while taking a corner. He was annoyed and he pushed the little runt into the wall. Turning, Thurgood suddenly found himself face to face with six pissed-off looking varsity players.

"Hey, shithead! Why'd you push our kicker around?" Mr. Tom Carruther, offensive lineman, asked belligerently.

Brent Thurgood barely had the time to think 'Oh, fuck!' before Tom and one of the linebackers did tackle practice with him in the middle. Lying on his back in pain, he heard the angry whisper in his ear.

"You touch Emily one more time, and you won't get up again after we're finished with you, asshat!"

Oh, shit! She must be that troll's girlfriend!

"I didn't do any..."

"Shut your mug! Remember: you touch her and I'll bury you!"

Right then, feeling the pain of his broken ribs, Mr. Brent Thurgood III. decided to pursue his further education in a healthier environment. He also decided to ask his future conquests whether they had six foot five boyfriends before he messed with them. It took him a few minutes to get on his feet and to stagger into the nurse's office. The nurse did not believe his story that he had run into a door, but she had him transported to the ER to get his ribs taped. Two weeks later, Thurgood transferred to WVU.

October 31, 2009 – No Pain

There he was again! Tall and trim, definitely not skinny, but not too muscled either. He wore his longish black hair in a pony tail again. The checkered woodchuck shirt was far too wide, and the blue jeans were a comfortable fit. Tyler Ambrose was definitely cool! Not to mention that he was smart too. He aced just about any test that came his way and Emily was pretty much the only person in the junior class to keep pace with him.

Only, Emily wasn't cool. Emily wasn't good looking. Emily had her hair in an unruly mop to make sure that it covered her face. If only her hair had not been so freakishly red! She stood out like a sore thumb with that copper top, always had. And the worst part was that even with that hair obscuring most of her face, her monster nose was still peeking through like a shark fin over choppy waves.

It was still her curse, that nose was. Long and thin and with a bump it ruined what could have been a pretty face. Almost two more years of college, and then a job! Her plan was still to save up enough money to pay for a decent nose job.

College should have been a fresh start. However, the Brent disaster had burned her badly. Emily had become a recluse afterwards, refusing any invitations and limiting her social contacts to a few female friends, the less-than-pretty ones, the ones with issues. She accepted that any real social life would only start after college, when she could finally afford the coveted downsizing of her beak. That was the goal, but when she looked towards the dais where Professor Merrill read Macro Economy, she could not help but notice Tyler Ambrose and imagine what it would be like to go out with him or with guys like him after her nose job.

They had spoken to each other a couple of times over the course of the last two years, and he had always been friendly. Oh well, he was just a good guy who tried to be nice to the ugly chicks. He was even nice to Martha Potts, and poor Martha looked like a beached whale on her good days. Emily made it a rule to brush him off. She did not need any further humiliations. Still, when she heard the rumors that he had been dumped last summer by that bitch Penny Edwards, her crush on Tyler was hard to control.

Finally, Merrill wrapped up his lecture. To her own surprise, Emily discovered that in spite of her fruitless daydreaming she had pretty much kept up with the material. He was a flashy lecturer who presented his material with enough flourish to keep the students awake. Still, she would not apply for his course. Rumors were he was a real jerk with his students. She dumped her notebook into the satchel bag and hurried towards the exit.

"Emily, wait!"

Emily turned around halfway and saw Julia, her closest friend and room mate. She caught up with Emily, a stunning girl with short blonde hair.

"Hey Jules!" Emily smiled, for once feeling comfortable. Julia was her rock.

"We're set to go trickin' and treatin' tonight, right?"

"I don't know," Emily hedged. She had skipped last year's Halloween activities completely after the disaster the year before.

"Oh, please! It's going to be fun. Come on! What can happen with Tom around?"

Julia was her best friend and frequently on the receiving end of Emily's nose-related rants. She did not ask much in return and Emily had not the heart to refuse her. She sighed. Going trick and treating had always been one of her favorite things. With her thin, long nose and her mop of red curls, she had been going as a witch for as long as she could think. It was one role where her face fin actually helped. Wearing a witch's costume made her comfortable. It was like having an excuse for her nose.

She shrugged at Julia and forced a smile on her lips. "Okay, I'll be along. Start at seven?"

"Tom will pick us up," Julia beamed.

°°°

Emily had a new costume that she had sewn at her mother's machine during summer break. It included a formfitting bodice accentuating her trim waist and a skirt that was wide and flowing. Instead of a high witch's hat she wore a violet headscarf over her red curls, and she had accented her eyes with black liner. She was more Brothers Grimm than Disney. When she inspected herself in the mirror she could see nothing amiss. Finally she fixed Fido who normally adorned her book shelf onto her shoulder.

Julia squealed with admiration when Emily presented herself.

"God, you look great!" she gushed. Julia herself was dressed as Catwoman again, and since she had a trim, catlike body, she pulled it off very well.

"Ready?" Emily laughed.

"Yeah, let's go. I heard some of the others are also out there tonight. We better get hopping before folks run out of treats."

As if on cue, Tom showed up. Ever since the fateful night in freshman year, Tom and Julia had been an item. With his front tooth implants in place, he was a good looking guy, if a bit on the gigantic side. He and Julia were an unlikely couple, but Emily knew how much her friend felt for Tom.

"Hey, gorgeous!" he greeted Catwoman before he gave Emily a hug. He was about the only male with whom Emily had any meaningful contact. "Listen, girls. I hope you won't mind, but I brought Tyler along. He's at loose ends."

"Well, as long as that bitch is not with him anymore..." Julia shrugged. Then she looked at Emily. "Are you okay with that?"

Suddenly very self-conscious, Emily nodded silently.

Tom had moved in with Tyler in his off-campus apartment after the split with Penny, but Tyler had kept his distance from Julia and Emily. Now he was waiting downstairs. He was wearing a very convincing "Professor Snape" outfit, his black hair hanging into his face. His eyes lighted up when he saw Emily, but he also seemed apprehensive.

"Thanks for taking me along, guys."

They took Tom's venerable Honda Accord for the drive to a housing neighborhood where they spent the next one and a half hours pestering the residents. Julia and Tom had a ball, but Emily was self-conscious around Tyler, and it seemed that Tyler was similarly insecure.

They all climbed into the Accord again for the drive back to campus and the Halloween party at Commons. It started at eight. The admission fee covered drinks, and as upper class students they were allowed to drink beer or wine. Emily had a glass of decent California Cabernet while Julia preferred beer. The girls made their rounds through the haphazardly decorated hall, greeting those whom they knew and recognized in their respective costumes.

Emily received much attention for her costume, and for once she felt like she was accepted and acceptable again. She even danced with a few guys, but she always drifted back to the table where Julia would wait with Tom and Tyler. She also drank more Cabernet than planned, just to do something while sitting there with Tyler at the table. After the third or so dance, when she returned to the table, Julia and Tom were still dancing. Emily sat down reluctantly opposite Tyler.

"Umh, Emily, I would really like to apologize to you," he said into the silence.

"For what?" Emily asked.

"I ... I guess I flirted with you back then. It made Penny mad, and you had to take her shit. I'm really sorry."

Emily shrugged. "It happened. I screwed up too, that night."

"Yeah, I heard some stories about Julia going apeshit on a bunch of juniors. Are you still mad at me?"

"M-mad at y-you? Why?"

"I don't know. I mean, you always look away when we meet, even in class."

Emily took a big gulp of wine to mask her confusion. "I guess I'm a bit shy," she offered.

"Why? You're gorgeous." He smiled. "I hope the Sorting Hat will place you in Slytherin."

Emily pointed at the raven on her shoulder. The red wine was getting to her. "That's a raven, and I plan to be a Ravenclaw!"

"Fits," Tyler smiled. "Will you give your old potions teacher a dance anyway?"

With a giggle, Emily agreed. That was uncharacteristic for her, and she sort of watched herself as she stood with Tyler. She felt a little awkward dancing with the stuffed bird on her shoulder, but she pulled it off. When they returned to the table, Batman and Catwoman were sitting close. Emily and Tyler settled down at the other end of the table, but Emily jumped up immediately to visit the bathroom. She really had to check her appearance. Once inside the ladies room, she realized her stupidity. What if Tyler took this the wrong way? She rushed through her make up, but when she returned to the table, he was indeed gone. Emily just slumped down on the chair and groaned. She had fucked up. For once, she'd had a chance to talk to Tyler, and then she did something stupid! 'Idiot!' she scolded herself.

"Hey, Em! What's the matter? You're upset or something?" There was Tyler, bless his heart, with two glasses of Cabernet. "I thought I'd get us fresh drinks?"

A great big brick dropped from Emily's soul. With her eyes still brimming, she beamed at Tyler.

"Gosh, I'm sorry! I thought that I'd given you a wrong signal or something, you know, running for the restroom without even saying a word."

"I just assumed you had to pee badly," Tyler grinned.

"Ladies don't have to pee," she informed him. "Ladies go to freshen up!"

"I have a sister, and I've had to hear her every morning when she went to 'freshen up'. She was peeing, believe me!"

Emily shook her head. "You're kinda weird."

"Good weird, or bad weird?"

"I'm not sure yet. Thanks for the wine, by the way. Cheers!"

"Cheers! To the prettiest girl in Ravenclaw!"

Emily had to giggle. She was feeling good by now. Tyler was joking with her, even flirting. This was her night after all, and she was feeling no pain. Then she felt an overpowering urge and for once, she followed it without thinking. She got up and plopped back down in Tyler's lap. Looking into his face she saw him smile.

"That's what you get for shameless flattery!"

"What do I have to say to get a kiss?" he asked with a wink.

Emily shrugged and had another sip of her wine. "You'll have to find that out by yourself."

It took Tyler only three attempts to find the right term of flattery, and their first kiss lasted for a very long time. What was weird was that Emily's nose never seemed to get in the way as it had in her past dalliances; or perhaps Emily simply forgot about her nose for once.

"Let's go to our place and order pizza," Tyler suggested when he came up for air, a suggestion that also met with unanimous approval from the other side of the table.

They all rose from the table, more than a little buzzed from the wine and beer, and left Commons. Tyler and Tom's shared off-campus apartment was not far away. It did not look too dirty. The living room was dominated by a thirty-inch LED TV and a big-ass stereo system. The two sofas looked ancient but were surprisingly comfortable, and the two couples each plopped down in one of them. Pizzas were ordered by phone, and Tyler broke out a bottle of wine from his private stash.

°°°

Emily was snuggled against Tyler and she felt his left hand on her upper arm as he held her tightly. The pizzas had arrived and were history by now. Julia and Tom had retired, and Tyler had switched on the TV to drown out any noise that may come from Tom's room. They had picked a rerun of the third Harry Potter movie, but they hardly watched it. They just talked. Emily felt like she could talk about everything, and Tyler listened with a goofy smile on his face. A few times he moved his face closer to try for another kiss, but Emily evaded him.

"Aw, come on! You don't have to kiss the ugly girl."

"What ugly girl?" Tyler answered sounding confused.

"Me. Me'n my ugly, long, hook nose!"

"Jeez, Emily, that's a load of shit. Nothing's ugly about you."

"Yeah, yeah, I get it. You're being the sensitive guy. Cut the crap. I can take it. Wherever I go my nose arrives a minute earlier. I can use it as sun dial. People suffocate around me 'coz my nose hogs all the air. See, I know all the puns."

"Yeah, you're a twenty-first century Cyrano de Bergeràc," Tyler smiled back. "Can you do poems too?"

"Naw, I suck at lyrics."

"So you don't want to kiss, why?"

"Coz I have plans, Mister! Plans involving you." She giggled. "I've set my eyes on you, Tyler Ambrose. I watch you aaaallllll the time."

"You do? Why?"

"I like your butt!" Emily giggled. "I wanna squeeze it one day. I watch you, coz you're the guy I'll hunt down once I'm ready."

Tyler found that hilarious. "Yeah, right! So when are you going to be ready?"

"Have to get that beak fixed first!" Emily lectured with her finger pointing at the offending appendage. "Two more years, maybe three, and I'll get it fixed. I'll be pretty then, and you won't stand a chance."

She was babbling, and she would have continued for the entire night but for Tyler suddenly taking a firm hold of her face and kissing her. At first, she squirmed trying to get away, but then she gave in and melted against him. Incredulously, she stared at the young man on whom she had crushed for two years. He smiled at her.

"Emily?"

"Y-yes?"

"I didn't know, I mean, about you being interested in me. You were always looking away when I looked. I thought you didn't like me."

"I th-thought it w-was h-hopeless," she whispered. "You w-were with P-penny, and sh-she's pretty and all, and I have this ugly n-nose."

She froze when his face moved forward and then his lips were on her nose. He kissed and nibbled on it and even bit into the tip. Then he let go and looked at her.

"What moron told you that your nose is ugly?" he asked softly.

"E-everyb-body," she stammered, almost sobbed.

"Idiots!" he spat. "Emily, you're adorable. I can't get enough of looking at you. Don't you know you have the most intensely green eyes? Don't you know how beautiful you are when you laugh? Your hair is almost glowing in the dark, and Jeez, what I can see of your body, oh man!"

"Yeah, but my n..."

"Yes, it's a bit above average length. It fits though. I'm trying to imagine you with a button nose." He shook his head. "No. Wouldn't do."

Emily giggled. Fortunately there was enough of the red wine in her system to reduce her inhibitions.

"Are you trying to get into my pants?" she asked him bluntly.

Tyler grinned that goofy grin. "What if I am?"

"It may just work. Will you take me to your room?"

"Is that the wine talking?" he asked earnestly. Being forty pounds heavier he was not as affected as Emily.

She shook her head, her feelings washing over her. Tyler was making sure that she wasn't too drunk. He wouldn't take advantage of a drunk girl. "No. I'm havin' this really nice dream. Don't wake me."

"What dream?" Tyler asked.

"I'm just pretending that I'm still cherry and you'll be picking it. God, Tyler, I wish it would've been you then. That guy Brent, the one who took my cherry, he was such an asshole. You're not an asshole, Tyler, are you?"

"I try not to be," he answered giving her a soft kiss on her lips before he stood and pulled her up from the sofa. She leaned into him and turned up her face.

"Just don't make fun of me tomorrow, will you?" she begged.

"Fun of you?"

She nodded. "You know, telling the other guys and stuff. How I nearly poked your eyes out with my nose."

"Somebody said shit like that before?"

She nodded, unable to meet his gaze.

"Jeez, what a stupid motherfucker!" His hand forced her chin up. "Emily, let me show you how much I want you."

With that, he pulled her towards the far side of the living room. There was a bathroom, and Tyler found a new toothbrush for Emily in a cardboard box under the wash stand. They brushed their teeth side by side, exchanging looks via the mirror. There was a small jar of moisture cream on the shelf, a leftover from Penny as he explained, and Emily used it and tissues to remove her witch makeup. Then it was time. Tyler led her to his own bedroom.

"Looks tidy," Emily could not help but remark. It did.

"I'll relay the appreciation to Mrs. Thurmond." Seeing her questioning look, he grinned. "Our landlady. She comes twice a week to clean up. It's an extra hundred bucks per month, but Tom's such a slob, and I don't want to clean up after him all the time."

With apprehension, Emily opened her corsage and stripped off her upper clothes. Opening the waistband of the long skirt she let it fall down her legs and into a puddle around her feet. She stepped out wearing nothing but wool stockings and cotton panties. Bending over, she peeled down the stockings.

Tyler had been stripping off his garments too, but when he saw Emily in just her panties, he stopped and shook his head.

"God, you're so beautiful!" he exclaimed in a husky voice that sent shivers down her spine.

He nearly fell over his own pants in his hurry to get over to where Emily stood. Then she was in his arms, feeling his naked belly against her own boobies. His hands wrapped into her red curls, pulling her face up for another burning kiss. She moaned into Tyler's mouth while her breasts rubbed against his torso.

Somehow they stumbled and fell onto the bed with Tyler landing on his back and Emily sprawled over him. His hands held her under her arms and he pulled her upwards until his mouth could reach her boobies. They were on the small side but pointy and sensitive, and Emily squealed when his lips closed over the tiny pink nipples.

Emily had no experience with boys or men. She knew that she was sensual but her libido suffered under her low self esteem. Now with the alcohol still in her blood she gave in to the delicious feeling emanating from her breasts. Relieving some strain from Tyler's arms, she supported herself over his feasting mouth allowing her lover's hands to roam freely over her back and further down.

She squealed again when Tyler's exploring fingers ran under her panties, along the crack of her ass, and straight for her lubricating pussy. God, she was sopping wet! She hunched lower, rubbing her crotch against the bulge in Tyler's jockeys. He humped her from below adding to the friction, and she began to seriously grind her pelvis against his boner. She felt that overwhelming need to be filled. It was overriding all other considerations, and she pulled her breast away from his mouth. She scooted down and looked down into his eyes.

"Take me!" she whispered. "Please, take me now!" She saw the doubt in his eyes and she had to smile. "Please! I need you!"

He nodded and with his left hand he fished in the drawer of the night stand. He came up with a small tinfoil square. She felt how his hands pushed down his own Jockeys before he hooked his thumbs under the waistband of her panties. She wiggled her butt to help him, and soon she pushed them down the rest of the way using her own toes. Then he was fumbling with both hands, putting the condom on his straining erection.

"Okay, I'm ready!" he whispered.

Breathing in, she aligned her wet opening with the swollen tip of his cock before she exhaled and sank down. Ouch! Too tight! Much too tight. Wet as she was, this thing did not fit right away.

"Easy, Emily. Take your time!" he whispered to her, his one hand on her hip while the other caressed her face and pulled back her hair. "God, you look beautiful!"

The warm rush she felt at his words made her relax, and with the next attempt, the tip of his cock gained perhaps an inch inside her. She breathed deeply to relax, but she felt as if she was bursting at the seams of her pussy. With just one sexual encounter to her credit, her pussy was in no way used to being stretched that wide and it took some willpower to continue in her quest. It was ten minutes until her pussy lips finally rested on the wiry curls at the base of Tyler's member.

"Ooof!" she giggled, still breathing deeply.

"God, Emily, you're so tight!" he moaned under her.

"I ... haven't ... done ... this ... a ... lot," she panted, trying minuscule movements. "Only ... once ... anyway."

"Emily?"

"Yessss?"

"You feel wonderful," he said through gritted teeth. "I won't last long."

"Nooo! Wait! Not now!" she pleaded, not wanting to end the experience just yet.

"Emily, kiss me please!" he asked her, pulling her down already.

Their lips met again, and Emily lost herself in the play of their lips and tongues. Squealing and whimpering, she let him ravage her mouth, probing it with his tongue and sucking on hers, nibbling on her lips and raining kisses over her face. A dam burst inside her then, and she felt herself melting under his kisses. Suddenly the feeling of being stretched gave way to the feeling of being deliciously filled. His member moved easily inside her now with the walls of her pussy relaxing, and he humped against her from below, pulling out and pushing in, pulling out and pushing in.

"Tyler!" she gasped into his mouth. "Don't stop!"

"I'm trying," he squeezed out.

Suddenly, she felt herself being lifted and turned, and now he was hovering over her, his dick still hard inside her pussy and his hips forcing her legs wide apart.

"Omigod!" she wheezed feeling the deep penetration.

She felt the air squeezed from her lungs with each of his deep strokes. Desperately, her hands clawed at his back trying to pulled him closer, deeper inside her. He gave her stroke after stroke, hesitating at the apex and then plunging down. Each downward thrust was greeted by a wail now as Emily's lungs and voice chords slipped from her conscious control and became hardwired to her pussy. Pull out - plunge down! Pull out - plunge down!

In the middle of that haze she registered Tyler's desperate moan, and then she felt his member pulsing inside of her.

"Oh, God! Emily!" he cried.

She felt it then, his passion, his passion for her. Her hearing became muffled, her breath short, and then a big hot wave washed away any conscious thought. Nothing counted anymore, only being close to Tyler was important, and so she clung to him with all her strength while his hips jerked against her.

°°°

Something warm and wet touched her face and she opened her eyes in wonder. Tyler held a warm wash cloth and wiped the sweat from her face and chest.

"Hey, you're back," he smiled.

Emily shuddered through an aftershock. "Oh my God, what was that?"

"I don't know. It started as sex, but then it went out of control. How do you feel?"

"Don't know. Some parts of me haven't given me a status report yet," she giggled. "God, is this what sex is like?"

He shook his head. "If yes, then I was a virgin until this evening. Emily, you're truly something else!"

He was wiping her lower body clean now, and she went through another aftershock when he ran the cloth over her pubes.

"Should I find you a T-shirt or something for the night?" he asked, still wiping her body with the cooling cloth.

The question surprised Emily. "Do you want me to stay the night?"

"Of course! Are you nuts? How can I let you go now? I want you close, I want to smell you and feel you. I'm also hoping for an encore tomorrow morning," he added with a leery grin. "So, T-shirt?"

She shook her head. "No, if it's all right with you I want to feel your skin against my skin."

"Yes! My kinda girl!" he pumped his fist, only to bent over her and blow a raspberry on her tummy.

"Eeek!" she squealed, but then she giggled. "God, you're still drunk!"

"No, it's you. You're my drug," he maintained. "You're highly addictive, too."

"Goof! Stop this nonsense now or we'll never get sleep."

"Sleep? There's so much to learn about you. For instance, were you already this adorable as a child?"

"Why is it that men always have this need to talk after sex?" Emily asked rhetorically and with a wide grin on her face.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. You just want to roll on your side and start sawing logs. And then you wonder why men feel exploited!"

She turned serious. "Tyler, this feels like a dream. Not just the sex, but also the fun we're having and being so close. Will any of this be left when I'll wake up tomorrow?"

"Today. It's after three. Emily, I hope this is just a start."

She snuggled close. "Good enough for me," she mumbled against his chest.

°°°

The pipes of the shower in the adjacent bathroom made a hellish racket. Emily opened her eyes only to pinch them shut again with a groan. She managed to crack her left eyelid open, enough to see the dial of her wristwatch. Ten-forty. Too early! Her hand felt around and found Tyler's naked chest. Sighing, she scooted closer. With her head on his chest and her right leg thrown over Tyler's, she dozed off again.

She felt much better when she woke up the next time. Perhaps it was the tight embrace in which she found herself or the hand that stroked her hair tenderly. She opened her eyes and smiled up at a rumpled looking Tyler. He grinned back.

"Hey, you! Feel okay?"

Before she answered, she stretched her body and examined the feedback from torso and limbs.

"Yeah I guess. You?"

His thumb ran playfully over her right nipple. "Perfect," he declared. "How 'bout a shower and then breakfast?"

Her insecurities flared up immediately. "You don't have to ... I can shower at the dorm and be out of your hair."

"Whoa! Why?"

"I ... You..." she stammered.

"Emily, the dream isn't over yet. Not for a long time. I was hoping for a little touchy-feely fun in the shower, then a breakfast for champions, followed by some quality time with you on my lap."

"Oh!" she gasped. "Really?"

"Yes, really. Unless you want to leave. Did we go too far last night? Are you uncomfortable?"

"No, last night was wonderful. I guess I'm so used to being dumped, I expect it."

"You've got to be kidding me. Emily, is this about your ... Oh shit, I'll just say it – is this about your nose again?"

She buried her face against his chest and nodded. "I'll get it done as soon as I can scrape the money together. Two years tops. I need six- to eight thousand dollars if I want it done by a top specialist."

Tyler was silent for a moment, so long that Emily lifted her face to look at him, fearful that she would see rejection, even ridicule. She saw only a puzzled expression.

"Why would you want to go through surgery?" he finally asked. "You're a really gorgeous girl. How do you know that you will look better with a different nose?"

"I did some computer simulations. I want the bump removed and everything shortened."

"Emily, when you look in the mirror, do you see yourself as ugly? I mean, not what you think other people say, but your own true feelings?"

"That's hard to keep apart. They call you hook nose for a few years, and you'll start seeing it their way. Besides, it tends to get in the way."

"You mean when you're kissing? Steric inhibition?"

She hit his chest. "It's not funny. I bumped my nose against the boys' noses all the time."

"We didn't seem to have that problem last night. Maybe, it was because you felt awkward kissing. Maybe, the boys were just clumsy. Come on, every nose gets in the way unless you tilt your head a little."

She shrugged. It sounded logical when he said it, but then again, he was not cursed with such a protrusion. It was easy for him to be reasonable. She was surprised when his palm caressed her cheek.

"Can I at least fill in as your boyfriend until you get too beautiful for me?"

That made her eyes pop open. "You wa-wa ... Boyfriend?"

"Yeah. I guess I'm applying for the job."

"Why?" she whispered hoarsely.

"Because I'm crazy about you, Emily. I want to find out more about you. I want to spend time with you."

"You're crazy!"

"Yep, that's what I said."

"No, I mean, what will the other guys say?"

Tyler shrugged. "What can they say? More to the point – what the fuck do I care? Emily, last night, was it just physical for you? An adventure? A one night stand?"

She blushed violently. "No, I told you that I've been ... well, crushing on you."

"So, what's the problem?"

"Nothing, I suppose. So, you want to duke it out for three years until I get the downsizing?"

Suddenly, she saw him smile and he tilted his head.

"I'll cut you a deal: you and I will go together, and if we're still together in a year, I'll loan you the money for your rhinoplasty. No interest, no conditions. You can pay me back or not. Unless..."

"Unless what?"

He smiled at her. "Unless I can convince you that you're already far too pretty."

"Do you have that kind of money?"

"Small trust fund from my granddad. I'll get full control of it when I'll turn twenty-one."

"Jeez, this almost sounds like I'll get paid for being your girlfriend."

"Don't sweat it. How about if you hit me for the loan this time next year, you'll get it. Even if we break up before."

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why me? I mean, Penny is beautiful. But I, I'm..."

"Just as beautiful. You're also way smarter, way more fun, and much better in the sack," he grinned. "I wasn't lying when I said I never had sex like last night."

She nodded slowly. "I'd love to be your girlfriend. About that loan, I have to give it some thought. Let's wait until next Halloween before I make that decision. Do you really want me? I mean, can we be seen together, like at Commons?"

"If you are willing to be seen with me," Tyler laughed. "Emily, I have no reservations. None. Get used to it. As big as you think that nose it, it's not nearly big enough to keep me from wanting you."

"Okay," she whispered.

"So again, shower?"

The smile returned to her face. "Let's!"

°°°

November 1, 2010 - The Morning After

Emily squinted in the sunlight and grabbed for her shades. There, much better. It was a gorgeous fall morning, and she was driving Tyler's car. They had spent quite the night, and now Emily was at the wheel while Tyler caught some more shuteye on the passenger seat. The engine of the SX-4 was purring pleasantly, and the fresh air coming in through the vents was exhilarating. A quick glance to the right told her that Tyler was still sleeping peacefully, and she fought the temptation to touch him. Let him sleep.

They were on their way to Scotstown, to spend a few days with her parents. It would be the first time for Tyler to meet the Brewer family. It was exactly one year now that she and Tyler were a couple, and already she felt that she would never let him go willingly. In spite of his warning, he had never once mentioned their implicit deal concerning a loan to finance the rhinoplasty. He had not tried to talk her out of it either. He had just loved her for a full year, in every aspect that this word could imply.

Emily had given back her love, losing all anxieties, all inhibitions in his presence. Her long repressed sensuality and sexuality had come to the fore, and she basked in his desire for her. She was confident enough now to initiate the sex, sometimes dominating their love play, and sometimes yielding to her lover's whims. This morning, she had woken Tyler with a blowjob, sucking him, and then riding him hard. Perhaps, that was why he needed the nap. She giggled softly.

"What's so funny?" his voice sounded. "You sure sound full of yourself."

"I was just thinking of this morning."

"I created a monster."

She had to giggle. "No, you just woke it. Come to think of it, I woke a monster this morning."

"God, you're something else."

"Tyler?"

"Yes, baby?"

"I love you."

"I love you too. Why now?"

"You have to ask that?" she asked, reaching out with her hand.

He squeezed it, and Emily felt the still unaccustomed pressure from the ring. It was a brand-new ring. The evening before at the Halloween shindig, dressed as witch and wizard, Tyler had taken her hand and asked her if she wanted to marry him. Taken completely by surprise, Emily had stammered, but she had stammered a "yes". Now the ring was on her finger and whenever she felt it, a warm rush swept over her.

That last year had been amazing. She and Tyler had spent every free minute together. They had spent a week last summer in Raleigh with Tyler's family and when they left, Emily had felt almost at home with the Ambroses. When they returned to campus, they had moved in together in another off-campus apartment while Tom and Julia took over the old one. The months spent together had convinced Emily that Tyler was indeed the right man for her.

"Good thoughts, Emily?" Tyler whispered.

"Oh God, yes! It's been a wonderful year." She looked at him for a brief moment. "Tyler, why did you propose yesterday?"

He kissed her forehead. "You have to decide whether to take me up on my offer. I guess I wanted to make it clear that I'll love you whichever way you decide." He paused briefly collecting his thoughts. "In the last year I have discovered so many reasons to love you and nothing can change that. Emily, I love you the way you are, but I'll even love you with a perfect nose. That's how strong I feel."

Emily shook her head. "I think I'll pass on the rhinoplasty for now. I'm not saying never. I might just feel the need again one day. I just feel that if I had the surgery now, it would be like saying that your love isn't enough for me. I'm still a bit self-conscious about it, but I'm getting better. That's been your spiel, right? To make me feel so loved that I would forget about the surgery?"

Tyler shook his head. "I'm only reacting to you. You're the one who's lovable."

"Okay, sweet talker, I'm taking a rain check on your offer."

"Can you pull over? I don't think driving and kissing are a good mix."

She stopped the car on the shoulder and leaned over. He kissed her softly, and no, her nose was no hindrance to kissing at all. He smiled.

"So I get to keep my nosy witch?"

She gave him a playful swat. "I guess you do. You're touching me so often with your magic wand that I begin to feel pretty."

"I'll accept that blame."

Emily giggled happily. "You'll get a full dose of my magic tonight."

They had booked a room in the motel since the trailer was too small to house a guest. Her mother had grumbled a bit, but then, Emily was a college senior living on her own, and there was nothing she could say to change her daughter's mind.

"Oh my! I hope my wand will rise to the challenges," Tyler returned the banter.

"Oh, it will. It always does." She turned serious. "Tyler, no dream lasts that long, does it? It must be real."

His kiss answered her question. Taking a deep, satisfied sigh, she put the car back into gear and got back on the road. Two more hours to drive, she thought happily. It would be the first time that she would feel happy in Scotstown since junior high school.


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The End
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Posted:  2012-10-31
Last Modified: 2012-11-19 / 02:56:29 pm
Version: 1.10
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