A Tantalizing Kiss

I pulled my shirt on, rolling up the sleeves to my shoulders. The coolness of the locker room felt nice against my hot body. My skin felt sticky from the layer of sweat that still remained on it. I ran a hand through my damp hair, breathing in deeply.

Beside me, Rodger was spraying deodorant into his pits. He left his shirt off, staying in
his soccer shorts and sneakers.

I put my bag back into the locker, clicking the lock shut. I leaned against the wall, waiting
for Rodger to finish up.

“That was brutal today.” He mumbled, tying his shoes.

I nodded, exhausted. “We’re not cross country, why the hell did we have to run so
much?”

“Cause we ‘need to improve our speed’” Rodger said, imitating Coach’s voice, poorly.

I laughed. “Hey man, I have to go talk to Coach before we go.”

“I’ll meet you by the car.”

I took off, walking over to the Coach’s office. There was a room deemed ‘athletic offices’
near the locker rooms. Four desks were set up for the four main coaches at our school. All
other coaches were given a draw in the filing cabinet for anything.

I walked into the office, heading over to Coach’s desk in the back corner. He sat resting
his chin in his hand, playing solitaire on the computer.

“Hey, Coach.” I said, getting his attention. He raised his eyes from the screen, locking
with my own.

“Yeah?”

“I won’t be here for practice tomorrow.” I said, feeling my face heat up.

“And why not?”

“I uh….” Embarrassment flooded over me. “Mrs. Stein said there’s a meeting for the play
tomorrow…”

Coach frowned, “You’re missing practice for some play?”

“Well… yeah.” I stumbled over my words. I looked away from his eyes, staring at the
computer mouse on the desk.

“Mase, I’ve known you for three years now. You’re not an actor. Whatever girl is in this
play will appreciate you more if you kick ass on the soccer field.”

“It’s not just that, Coach. I’m failing Drama and you know if I fail two of my classes I’m off
the team. I need the extra credit for my team’s sake.”

Coach sighed, “You can’t be serious.”

“I unfortunately am.” I bit my lip nervously. He was not taking this as easily as I had
imagined.

“I’ve known Stein for years.” He said “She’s going to expect the determination that you
aren’t going to want to give. She’s going to cut into your soccer time.”

“I can’t afford to fail this…”

“What if I got you a tutor?”

“I have one.” I mumbled.

He glanced down at his hands, defeated. “Alright, Johnson. I can’t stop you from joining
the drama club if you want to. Just remember which team comes first.”

I smiled lightly, “Don’t worry. I won’t.”

“Good. Now get out of my office.” He waved “I need to find my last ace card…”

I rolled my eyes, walking out of the office. I jogged lightly down the halls, my legs
protesting against it. The meeting had taken longer than expected though, and Rodger
wasn’t going to be too happy about this.

I met him out in the parking lot. He was leaning against his car, texting off of his phone.
As I approached, he climbed into the driver’s seat, starting the car up.

He drove out as soon as I was in the car.

“Thanks, man.” I said, buckling my seat belt.

He shrugged, “What did you need to ask Coach about?”

“Nothing important.”

He didn’t care to press the matter further. Rodger reached over, turning the radio on.
The bass thudded loudly from the volume as we drove. Rodger rolled down the windows.
The rushing air felt wonderful on my hot face.

It took roughly ten minutes for Rodger to arrive at Joey’s apartment. He dropped me off
at the door, turning the music down low enough to remind me that he was ready to bang
Joey if she was ever lonely.

I rolled my eyes, walking into the house.

Rodger had always had a slight crush on my sister. I thought it was disturbing at first
when all he would talk about is getting her in bed.

Now I’ve come to ignore it.

Joey’s fully aware of this too. Unfortunately for me, she will flirt with Rodger if Caden’s
not around. It’s disgusting.

I opened the door, heading to the kitchen. I grabbed a bottle of Coke, popping it open. I
turned the TV on loudly, trying to drown on the disturbing noises coming from the bedroom.

It didn’t take a genius to figure out who was visiting.

The Simpsons managed to drown out the noises for a while. When Caden would visit,
he tended to be fairly horny. Joey was always open for a fuck from him. They had only
recently started to do it in the bedroom. There were countless times I had walked in on them.

Not something you want to see your sister doing with the guy who’s basically your
brother.

I shuddered at the thought.

Finally, the noises seemed to die down.

A few seconds later, the shower turned on and a masculine body sat down next to me
on the couch. Caden mimicked me, propping his feet up on the coffee table in front of us.
His hair was wild, flannel shirt unbuttoned.

It was a miracle he actually had pants on this time.

“She in the shower?” I asked.

“Yup.” He said, nodding. Joey had begun a routine of taking a shower every time they
had sex. Caden wasn’t sure whether to be offended or not.

A comfortable silence fell between us as we watched Homer manage to find countless
ways of looking like a drunken idiot of a father in one episode.

Caden decided to speak once the commercials clicked on.

“How was school?” He asked.

I grinned, looking over at him. “Awesome.”

“Why?” He smirked.

“We got a new chick. She’s in a couple of my classes. She’s got the ass of a goddess.” I
said, slapping the air as if an ass was there instead.

Caden chuckled, “I know someone else who as an ass of a goddess…”

“Dude, come on! I’m her brother! Don’t do that!” I made a face in disgust.

“I can’t deny the truth.” He laughed.

I flicked him off.

“Don’t let your sister see you do that.” He warned.

I rolled my eyes, “Whatever. I don’t really care.”

“I think you will when she’s bitching you out.” He laughed, “How long did she yell the last
time? An hour? Two?”

“Three..” I mumbled,

“And how much of it did you listen to?”

“None…”

He laughed. “Just don’t let her find out that you’re still failing.”

“Don’t you tell her either!”

Caden only rolled his eyes.

Twenty minutes later, Joey walked out of the bathroom in sweats. She headed into the
kitchen, messing around for dinner. The Simpsons had been replaced with Two and a half
Men and both Caden and I were engrossed.

Caden tilted his head slightly towards the kitchen while keeping his eyes on the TV “Hey
Pumpkin, what’re you making?”

“We’ve got nothing left.” She groaned, “You guys want Mac and Cheese?”

Caden looked at me. I shrugged, letting him know I didn’t care. “Yeah, thanks babe!”

She didn’t answer, banging around the pots and pans as she gathered the necessary
equipment to prepare a ten-minute meal.

“How long are you staying here?” I asked Caden.

“For a while. I don’t have to leave anyway soon.”

“You paying rent this time?”

He sighed, “I guess I am.”

“Good. I’m in need of new cleats anyways.”

Joey laughed sarcastically.

“Yeah, love you too sis!” I shouted back at her.

Caden got up, walking into the kitchen. I groaned inwardly at the sounds of her giggling.
I glanced over to see Caden’s arms wrapped around her waist, distracting her from my
dinner. His face was buried in this side of her neck, her head tilted slightly away, eyes
closed.

“Get a room!” I shouted.

“Gladly” Joey smirked at me, pulling away slightly.

“Wait, no! Make my dinner first!”

Caden laughed, “I think we should go right now, Pumpkin. I’m really in the mood.”

“Caden, shut the hell up!” I hissed, “I’m starving over here!”

Joey rolled her eyes at me, “Language. And be patient, kiddo.”

“I don’t want Caden’s jizz in my food.” I mumbled quietly so that they couldn’t hear. I
glanced back over at the love birds. Caden was humping the air right behind an oblivious
Joey.

I rolled my eyes at him.

“You keep doing that they’re going to get stuck that way.” He warned.

I rolled them again just for his effect.

Joey shoved Caden out of the kitchen so she could finish making our dinner. Caden
rolled his eyes, taking a seat on the chair next to the coach. I turned the volume up on the TV,
letting my mind drown in the episode.

A few minutes later, Joey walked out of the kitchen, a bowl in each hand. She sat down
on Caden’s lap, handing him one of the bowls. Caden kissed her cheek before taking a bite
of his bowl.

“Seriously, Joey?” I groaned.

“Get it yourself, lazy ass.”

I heaved myself off the coach dramatically, grabbing my bowl off from the kitchen
counter. I sat back down, noticing that the channel had changed to a reality show.

“Come on, Joey.” I whined “Turn it back.”

She smirked at me, “My TV, my show.”

“Bitch.” I mumbled under my breath.

A piece of macaroni slapped against the side of my cheek.

~*~

I was standing next to Leah’s locker the next day, waiting for her to collect her books. I
stared off into space. I hadn’t told anyone that I was going to audition for the drama play after
school aside from Coach. I didn’t know if I should tell Leah.

She was my best friend, but I didn’t want the discouragement I would get from here.

“Hello? Earth to Mason?” She snapped her fingers in front of my face.

I blinked, “Get your hand out of my face!”

She gave me a weird look, “You just blanked on me entirely, Mason.”

“Did I?” I asked, faking confusion. “I didn’t realize.”

“Yeah… whatever. Come on, I’m meeting Delran at his locker.” She said, slamming
hers shut. I groaned, rolling my eyes behind her back. I followed Leah through the mob of
people.

She glanced back at me occasionally to make sure I was still there.

As soon as Delran came into her sight, I disappeared.

I opened the door to my next class period, slipping in just as the bell rang. Mrs. Stein
looked up from me at her desk, giving me a warning look. I smiled innocently as I walked by.

“I’m not late, Mrs. Stein.” I grinned.

She rolled her eyes, scribbling something down on the desk. I glanced around the
room, looking for a seat. The students sat in the same general area every day. Rodger had
an empty seat next to him. I begin to head there when something caught my eye.

He wasn’t the only one with an open seat.

I changed my course, heading in the opposite direction. Rose was looking down,
reading the book she had been yesterday in study hall, when I sat behind her. I opened my
bag, grabbing the text book out of it for the lesson.

I glanced at Rodger, who seemed incredibly annoyed at the fact that I had left him for the
new girl. I rolled my eyes, dropping my bag to the floor.

I leaned forward on the desk, waiting for Rose to turn around. The kids around us were
chatting away, not noticing anything.

“Good afternoon Rose.” I whispered.

She stiffened, ignoring me.

“How are you this fine day?”

“I’m fine.” She mumbled back.

“What’re you reading?” I asked, playing with a strand of her blonde hair. She ran a hand
down the back, pulling her hair to the side.

“Phantom.”

“You do realize we’re doing that in class now.” I smirked,

“I do, but I’m trying to prepare myself for auditions.”

“What?”

She rolled her eyes, “You wouldn’t care, forget it.”

“Come on, tell me.” I asked, leaning forward me. I brush my fingers through her hair,
playing with the ends. I brushed them along her cheek playfully.

“Stop, Mason.” She pushed my hand away.

“Then tell me what you mean.”

“I’m auditioning for the drama play.”

“That’s cute.”

“I knew you wouldn’t care.” She angled her body away from me, leaning forward on her
desk. I sat back, noticing that Mrs. Stein had walked to the front of the room.

The volume level quieted as she stood up there, waiting for the attention. Her hands
were clasped behind her back, body as stiff as a board. Her glasses hung on a chain
around her neck that matched the light blue dress she wore.

Silence filled the room before she spoke.

“Hello class.” She said, her strict voice piercing our ears. “I’m hoping you all took a skim
through the play if you aren’t already familiar with it.”

I sunk down in my seat, guilty of not doing that.

“A few reminders.” She listed, “If you need to make up the Hamlet test, please do so as
soon as possible. A few of you are in need of making up the Romeo and Juliet one also.”

Her eyes moved around the room, staying on a few select students as she spoke.

“Also, as for the extra credit opportunity, remember that today is when it begins. We’ll be
having a meeting in the auditorium which will be followed by singing auditions. Remember,
this is five percent points of your grade you could be earning.”

My ears perked up at this comment.

Rose raised her hand.

“Yes, Ms. Simpson?”

“When are the acting auditions?”

Mrs. Stein smiled gently, “We’ll discuss them at the meeting today. I’m assuming that I
can expect you there?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Wonderful.” She clapped her hands together.

It was silent for a few moments as she grabbed a book from her desk. “Alright,
everyone, please open your books to the prologue. I need volunteers for readers.”

She called out the names of the characters, waiting to see if anyone would take one. A
few people raised their hand at first, taking the small parts for the first act. Once they were
filled up, people stopped volunteering.

She read off the names of the major roles, randomly calling out names.

“Christine I want Danielle to read.”

A soft groan sounded.

“I want Rodger to read Piangi”

I didn’t know who any of these characters names where.

“I want Carlotta to be read by Rose.” She skimmed the list of characters. “And let’s have
Mason read…Phantom.”

I groaned.

Mrs. Stein held back a smile at my reaction.