You're the Cherry I'm a Cigarette

Alex

My grandparents were going out tonight to have dinner with their friends. I was elated because that meant I could have Jack over while they were gone. I texted Jack to come over in the next twenty minutes once my grandparents were gone. Right now they were lecturing me and making sure I would be safe at home by myself.

“Here are the neighbors’ numbers, you call them if you need immediate help. And here is the non-emergency police number just in case.”

“Grandma I’ll be fine. You two will only be gone two hours.” I chuckled.

“I just want to make sure you’ll be okay here all alone. You sure you don’t want to come with us?” She asked for the third time.

“I’m positive! I don’t want to ruin your outing with your friends.” I told her, and she playfully rolled her eyes.

“Okay Alex, we’ll be back soon. Here’s some money just in case you want to go get something to eat.” My grandpa told me as he handed me a twenty-dollar bill. “No one is allowed over while we’re not here, Okay?”

“I know I know. Now you two go have fun, well as much as you can without me.” I joked, and my grandma chuckled. She kissed me on the forehead and I got up to follow them to the garage and watched them get into my grandpa’s car. I waved as they let drove out of the garage and then I let it down after them.

I exhaled and walked back into the kitchen. I wanted to see if there was anything in the house to eat so I could just keep the money my grandpa gave me for later. I idly unlocked my phone and called Jack. I didn’t tell him my grandparents were leaving earlier today because I wasn’t sure if I wanted to risk getting caught, but I changed my mind. He answered after a few rings.

“Hey babe.” He said sounding out of breath, and making my cheeks burn.

“Hey, what are you doing? It sounds like you just finished running a marathon.” I chuckled.

“No..I...um just finished making a few sales, but what’s up?” He was talking pretty fast. It sounded like he was busy.

“Oh I just um wanted to see if you wanted to come over sense my grandparents went out to eat? But you sound kind of busy...” I trailed off.

There was a long pause before he answered me back.

“Jack?” I called out to see if he was still on the phone.

“...Yeah yeah I’m here, um I can come by there in thirty minutes.”

“Okay, I’m not sure how long they’ll be gone, but we should be able to hang out for maybe an hour.”
“Cool, I’ll be there soon. Bye.” He rushed out and hung up.

I huffed and closed the refrigerator. I wonder if he was being like this with me because of what happened last week. Maybe he was planning on breaking up with me because I wouldn’t put out.

“Ugh why am I so stupid.” I groaned out loud.

I grabbed my Sea salt popcorn and went to watch TV to ease my mind. My heart was starting to race at the idea of Jack actually breaking up with me. I was going to have to do something to show him that we could still be together. Maybe I could give him a hand job; it wasn’t much but it could help. I shouldn’t be afraid to jerk him off, I do it to myself all the time. No no what am I thinking? I don’t have to do anything sexual to keep Jack. He said so himself. I’m just over thinking this whole situation. Jack probably just had a bad day.

It was an hour later and Jack still hadn’t arrived yet. I wasn’t sure what time my grandparents were coming back. I just assumed Jack and I would at least have an hour and thirty minutes to spend together; now we only had thirty minutes. I picked up my phone to call him, but I heard his car pulling up outside. I sat my phone down and walked to the front door to greet him. I was kind of bummed out that he was late, but I didn’t want that to show. I smiled as I saw him walk through the door and he returned it.

“Hey!” I exclaimed and reached up to kiss him. To my surprise, he turned to the side so I could kiss him on the cheek instead of his lips. What the hell was that?

“Hey Lex, Sorry I’m late. I had to take a shower.” He told me. I could see his hair was still wet.

“Um it’s okay. I’m thinking we only have thirty minutes until my grandparents come home now.”

“Okay well we can do whatever we want. For the next thirty minutes I’m all yours!” He cheered.

“There isn’t a lot we can do in thirty minutes. I guess we can go to my room and watch TV.” I said, and he gestured for me to lead the way.

We walked upstairs and went to my room. I turned the TV on to Futurama and Jack kicked his shoes off and made himself comfortable in my bed. I laid down next to him and he placed an arm around my hip. I smiled and cuddled into his side. I wanted to enjoy our time together instead of feeling paranoid.

“You know, you’re the best thing that’s come into my life.” He said sweetly.

“Are you high?” I asked, and he laughed.

“Surprisingly no. Why? Does it seem like I am?” He asked. I didn’t want to bring anything up, but it was the only way to fix this problem.

“Well it’s just you’ve been acting funny all day.” I mumbled.

“I’ve only been here for like four minutes.” He exaggerated.

“Well yeah but you like rushed me off the phone, and you were late coming over, and you wouldn’t let me kiss you on the lips.” I complained, and he sat up higher than me, on his arms. I looked up at him and my heart stopped. I could hear that he was talking to me but I couldn’t take in anything that he was saying. I just stared up at him. More specifically at his neck. There were three red marks on the right side of his neck and they looked like hickys. He can’t be cheating on me. He’s not! It’s obvious those marks came from something else. Even though he was late, took a shower before coming over, and wouldn’t let me kiss him on the lips. Ugh just ask him where the marks came from. Do it. Ask him right now!

“Alex!” He said while snapping his fingers in my face.

“Huh huh sorry what?” I said as I was pulled from my thoughts.

“I was talking and you spaced out. Were you listening to me?”

I could tell him no and bring up the marks on his neck. That was the only way to clear my worries.
“Yeah of course.” I lied. He placed his hands on my face and made me look up at him.

“I’ve just been under a lot of stress, babe, nothing you need to worry your pretty little head about. Okay?” He told me and I did my best to nod. He kissed me on the lips this time and released my face.

“What were you doing before you came over?” I asked and he sighed.

“I already told you I was making a few sales. Do you not believe me?!” He snapped. Where was this coming from?

“N-no Jack, I-I just trying to ask what did you do today.” I stammered. I was partly lying, but he sounded so guilty.

“Shit Lex I’m sorry, like I said I’ve been stressed out today.” He apologized again and I tried my best not to roll my eyes.

“It’s okay.” I mumbled and sat up. I moved over to one side of my bed as far from him as I could get.

“Please don’t be mad at me. I really didn’t mean it.” He said and I just shrugged.

Jack crawled over closer to me and tried to kiss me but I turned to the side like he did me earlier. I didn’t like treating him this way, but I also didn’t like being yelled at. Jack pulled away and sighed.

“I think you should leave. My grandparents could be back any minute now.” I said, while looking down.

“We should still have at least twenty minutes.” He said, going off of the thirty minute time limit I gave us.

“I’m starting to get worried they’ll come home early. Maybe we can hang out another day.”

“Okay, I’ll definitely make this up to you. It’s my fault for being late.” He said and I nodded.

Jack grabbed his things and followed me downstairs. I opened the door for him and he stood there like he was waiting on something.

“Goodnight, Jack.” I told him to signal he could leave.

“Can I have goodnight kiss first?” He asked, desperately. I nodded and stood on my tippy-toes to reach him. Jack connected our lips and I let him wrap his arms around me. I was only intending for it to be a small peck, but I couldn’t pull away once we started. I didn’t want to. I let jack lean me against the wall and deepen the kiss more. His tongue slipped past my lips and I moaned as our tongues touched. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him down closer to me. He winced a little as I touched his neck and I remembered why. I quickly pulled away from him and my suspicion and annoyance returned.

“Why’d you stop?” He asked.

“Because it’s time for you to go.” I answered, and he sighed.

“Call me before you go to sleep tonight.” He said with begging eyes.

“Okay. Goodnight Jack.” I said for the second time tonight.

“Goodnight.” He walked out and I closed the door behind him and placed my back against it. I felt so frustrated, I really wanted to cry. I’m not crazy, those had to be hickeys on Jack’s neck. There was nothing else that would make marks that close on him. And I know those weren’t from me. They were fresh, like he was with someone right before coming over. Whatever is going on I’m going to get to the bottom of it.

~The Next Day~

I wasn’t avoiding Jack at school. I didn’t want him to know that I knew/thought he was cheating or whatever. Mostly because I wasn’t positive myself. I needed more proof before accusing him of doing anything. I walked to History, the class I have with Kellin. Luckily he was already sitting at his desk cause I was going to ask him for help. I sat my backpack in the floor and sat down next to Kellin.

“Hey how was your weekend?” He asked.

“Horrible. Yours?” I answered.

“Oh no, what happened?”

“Can you keep a secret?” I asked and he quickly nodded. Kellin and I have only known each other for a little while but he seemed pretty trustworthy. “I think Jack might be cheating on me.” I said and he gasped.

“Do you have any idea who with?”

“No, and I’m not entirely sure. I just...I dunno I think I saw Hickeys on his neck.”

“Alex, you can’t go off of what you think you saw. You need stone cold evidence before accusing him of doing anything.” He said, and I lightly chuckled.

“Are you actually sticking up for him?” I jokingly asked.

“No, well I guess. I just don’t want you to make a mistake and mess up your relationship over nothing.”

“Yeah I know. Maybe those weren’t even hickeys. It could have been a rash or anything really.” I chuckled at how dramatic I was, thinking Jack would actually cheat on me. “You know, I was actually considering going to like second base with him because I didn’t want him to be turning to someone else to get his sexual needs filled.” I said and Kellin laughed.

“You have nothing to worry about. Like I said, I’m sure Jack can take care of those needs himself.” He said and I nodded.

“Thank you for bring me back to my senses, Kellin. I really owe you one.” I thanked him.

“Don’t mention it.” He smiled.

We went through the rest of class and the bell finally rang. I wanted to hurry and find Jack, so I could show him I wasn’t angry at him. I picked up my backpack and made my way towards the cafeteria. I saw Jack talking with a guy in the hallway, so I walked his direction.

“I don’t sell that either. You’ll have to get it from my supplier later.” Jack told the guy.

“Come on, Jack. You can’t get a few and bring them by for me?” He asked desperately.

“Nah man. I only deal weed. Anything stronger you’ll have to get from someone higher than me.” He sighed.

“Ugh alright. I’ll catch you later.” He said and walked off. Jack shrugged his shoulders and turned around and bumped into me.

“Ow, hi.” I said and he chuckled.

“What’re you doing standing so close behind me?”

“I just missed you.” I said while glancing down at the ground. I felt embarrassed for treating him horribly over paranoid thoughts in my head.

“Oh, I just wanted to give you space. You seemed pretty mad at me Saturday.”

“I was but I had no reason to be.”

“What’d you mean?”

“I don’t know I just thought that you were getting bored with me not wanting to do anything sexual. But I talked to Kellin and-“

“-What’d he say??” He cut me off in a frenzy.

“I’m trying to tell you, geez. He said that I was worried for nothing, that you could just entertain yourself.” I chuckled. “I don’t know why you don’t like him. He seems to like you.” I commented, and Jack cleared his throat.

“I um… can we go get something to eat?” He questioned.

“Yeah of course.”

Jack placed his hand out and I happily grabbed it.

Notes

Everything is fine and nothing matters (for now)!