Boys Like You by Jaye Pratt

Rocky aced his driving test. He’s been picking me up all week, but Rick put a stop to that after a few days because he had to go back to doing his training every morning, leaving him no time to do the trip to me and back to school.

Rory picked me up early today.

Making out in his car in the school car park may not be the smartest idea, but I’ve felt like he’s been a little distant lately. I don’t want any of them to feel left out.

“Your uniform has wrinkles now.”

“Worth it.” I giggle as his hands slide up my waist and under my shirt. The heat from his skin leaves a fiery trail.

“We should get some air, all this grinding is turning me on.” I lean forward and lick a trail up his neck. He shivers underneath me. “Maybe a few more minutes.”

My lips meet his, each guy has their own kiss, Rocky loves to use lots of tongue, Mercer is hot and heavy, Maximus is cautious, Levi it depends on his mood. Rory however kisses slow and soft like he wants to savour every moment he has with me like it may be his last, committing every movement to his memory.

“I think you’re right,” I pant. “We need to cool it.” We gather ourselves and get out of his car. It’s easier to keep our hands to ourselves if we have some air between us.

A few minutes later, the others arrive. Rocky had swim training with his dad this morning, so we don’t wait on him. Maximus links arms with me. I think he’s finally starting to feel comfortable enough with me now.

“Are you okay?” I lean in and ask. He shakes his head no. “Guys, I’m taking a walk with Maximus, meet you out the front of GD block for form.” The one thing I love about our relationship is we’re all in sync with each other, we don’t need to question each other. They can read my body language and I them.

I lead Maximus to a large tree down along the fence line. We both sit underneath.

“Did you have another nightmare?”

He pulls out his phone.

Yes, but this one was different.

I never text back; I just answer as if he spoke the words to me. “How was it different?”

You must have figured I was abused as a child; this dream was me abusing you.

“Do you think it’s because you thought you were rough with me?” He nods. “You know it’s okay if you like it a little rough. It doesn’t make you your abuser.”

He starts typing on his phone again, tears running down his face.

How can I like it that way after the way I was treated?

“I don’t know how to answer that. Have you spoken to your therapist?” He nods again, pulling me into his lap. This time he types the message and lets me read as he types.

Do you think it makes me broken?

“I think it makes you human. You have suffered so much in your life. To me you’re perfect. Would it make you feel better if I used the safe word if things get too rough? For your own peace of mind?”

Can we not use Jumanji? Maybe banana

“Banana it is, though I trust you with my life, I know you wouldn’t hurt me.”

I sometimes wonder if all the hurt and hate that has built up inside me will one day find a way to escape. They did vile things to me and it’s hard not to see it.

“We can go as slow as you need.” The school’s warning bell interrupts us. I stand and help him up. By the time we get to form class, the other four guys are waiting for us.

Levi approaches us first. “Is everything okay?” I think he gets a little jealous when Maximus comes to me. He’s trying to not show it, but it must hurt when someone relies on you and then suddenly goes to someone else for help.

“Yeah, we just needed a moment to talk is all.” I smile to try and ease his discomfort.

“Hey, who did this?” Rocky asks, poking me in the neck. All five guys are now surrounding me.

“Did what?” I feel my neck, and they laugh at me.

“You have a hickey and it’s kinda big,” Mercer says, trying to hide his smirk. I look at Rory and he just shrugs.

“People will think I’m easy.” I sulk, I have tried to avoid people finding out, Cindy always has something snarky to say, Naomi would have a field day.

We head into class and take our seats; we still sit in the second to last row. Mercer isn’t happy about it. Saul is about one class away from Mercer beating his ass, so I make sure Mercer sits next to me; I find a hand on his leg keeps him still.

“Nice hickey, if I knew you put out, I would have tried to get into your pants sooner.”

No amount of pressure on Mercer’s leg can hold him in his seat.

“What did you just say?” he demands.

Saul laughs while Levi and Rory try to hold Mercer back Saul’s table crashes to the floor. The teacher is yelling but it’s hard to hear over the girls screeching and Saul and Mercer arguing.

A voice sounds over the loudspeaker, “Mercer Cole, Rocky Hunter, Maximus Sawyer, Rory Vincent, Levi Parker and JD please come to the office.”

“This isn’t over. Watch your back, Davidson,” Mercer spits as he shrugs the guys off. Saul just laughs.

“Mercer, see the principal while you’re at the office, I’m writing you up.” Mercer ignores the teacher, grabs his backpack and storms from the room. The rest of us follow behind.

The office lady tells us to take a seat. After a few minutes, we’re told to head into Mr Turner’s office. Rory walks beside me, linking our pinkies.

Mr Turner isn’t alone in his office; Lissa and Deacon turn to face us, they are in uniform.

“What’s this about?” I ask.

“We need you all to accompany us to the police station,” Lissa says.

“You know we’re all minors. Have our parents been contacted?” Mercer asks.

“I would like to call my lawyer before we leave, my mother isn’t reliable,” Rory says.

“It is nothing serious, we just have to go over the events the night JD was found. We have had some information come to light, but we can’t discuss it here.”

Since no one was under arrest we’re allowed to follow them in. I ride with Levi, my nerves almost sending me into a panic attack.

“Do you think they know who I am?” I ask.

“I don’t know. There could be numerous reasons they need to talk to us. picking us up at school is a way to catch us off guard,” I like that he tries to reassure me everything will be okay. I wish I didn’t have this pit of dread in my stomach.

Fifteen minutes later, we all pull up at the police station and are led into separate rooms to wait while parents or guardians arrive.

Beth is brought into the interview room, Lissa sits across from me.

“There is no need to worry, JD, this is all just routine. Levi mentioned you were starting to get flashes and we thought we would go over everyone’s version of what happened. Can you tell me anything you remember?”

I look around the small room, just a desk with chairs either side. No windows, just one door. I don’t know why I notice that, it’s not like I would run, because where would I go?

I finally look over at Beth and she nods. “You know how I’ve been having nightmares? Well, normally I just get this feeling of fear after them, but then I started seeing flashes of Rory in my mind, but in black and white. Then when we were at a party, this song came on and it sent shivers down my spine. I felt dizzy, and I saw the face of a guy. He was like a gangster, or at least, the way one would be portrayed in the movies, but really good looking, older than me by a few years. I also see a scene of silhouettes; two people with their backs to me and someone lying on the floor. I don’t feel like I was the one on the floor, more like I was watching.” I shake my head. “Everything is fuzzy and doesn’t make sense. I was going to tell you, I just wanted something to be clearer, so I didn’t waste your time.” I rub my sweaty palms down on my skirt. For weeks I have wished not to remember, but the closer we get to finding out who I am, the more I’m thinking knowing would be easier. At least then it would all go away.

“Which is understandable. You still have no memory from the day you were found?”

I shake my head. “No. I wish I did, I want this to be over.”

***

When we’re allowed to leave, Levi asks Beth if I can hang out with him for the rest of the day. She agrees as long as he has me home by a reasonable hour.

Levi drives us to a small part of town, and up to a gated apartment complex. He punches in a code, and big metal gates slide open. He follows a paved road, pointing out the gym and pool as we pass. He pulls his Jeep into a double garage.

“I realised today I hadn’t shown you my house yet, so here we are.” It’s quite nice; the duplex is in blocks of two, surrounded by palm trees to give it an exotic feel.

“I’m kind of excited to see your room.” He smiles like a Cheshire cat. “Not for the reason you think.” I whack his arm. “Boys, you all think with your second head.”

He leads me inside and gives me the tour; lounge room, kitchen, dining room. He takes me up two flights of stairs. Unlike the other floor, this has only one door at the top. He pushes the door open, and I look around. The room is so him; a double bed in the centre, a grey striped comforter, dark wooden bedside tables, a larger set of drawers with a medium-sized flat-screen TV on top. Behind his bed, framed on the wall are three basketball jerseys. He points to each one. “Michael Jordan, Lebron James and Steph Curry.”

I sit on his bed so I can slip off my shoes.

Levi loosens his tie and pulls it off from around his neck. I watch as he slowly unbuttons his school shirt. I swallow hard. His body is well defined. Seeing the trail of hair from his navel to his pants has me licking my lips.

“Like what you see?” he asks, dropping his pants.

“That isn’t fair, you’re playing dirty.”

He stalks towards me, still seated on the edge of his bed. I lean back when he reaches me. He bends down, his arms either side of me.

“Lie back on my pillows, I want to show you not playing fair.”

I do as I’m told. He crawls up the bed after me. I’m still in my blouse, skirt and tan stockings.

“These need to go,” he says, running his hands up my legs to the waistband of the stockings, and sliding them down my legs. “Tell me to stop anytime, and I will.”

I can only nod, my heart beating so fast it might literally launch itself out of my chest and onto the bed beside me.

He kisses up my right leg slowly, pushing my skirt up to reveal a black lace g-string. I moan when his lips graze between the fabric and my skin. I didn’t realise your insides could throb with need.

One of his fingers tugs at the top of my underwear. He looks at me for permission, and I nod again, not sure my voice will work at the moment.

With my underwear off, he kisses back down my leg.

Adjusting his body above me, he leans some of his weight on top of me. I move forward, our kiss hot and heavy, his length pressed against me with only his boxers keeping us apart. When his hand comes between us, the sensation of his finger gliding between my folds feels good. I moan into his mouth and buck my hips.

My hands wander over his abs, down past his boxers. The circles his finger is doing on my clit stops, a single groan escaping him when my finger glides over his tip.

The excitement from the way he responds to my touch sends me over the edge. My first orgasm was everything I imagined it would be.

***

Levi finds me one of his shirts to wear. It hangs just above my knee so I don’t feel so exposed. I also put my underwear back on, much to Levi’s disgust. He was more than happy to stare at my naked ass all night.

“Hey, you home?” Rory calls out, his boots thudding up the wooden stairs. “Dude, it smells like sex in here,” he says as he walks into the room. Levi is at his dresser, pulling on a pair of basketball shorts. Rory looks towards me still lying on the bed and his eyes go wide. I see his fists ball and he takes a step towards Levi. I use my invisible ninja powers and jump up onto my feet, probably not as graceful as I think I look.

“If he took your virginity, I’m going to hurt him, JD, so step aside.”

I have never seen Rory this angry. Mercer yes, Levi yes, but not him. I position my body between them. His eyes stay glued to Levi.

“Stop smirking before I wipe that look off your face,” Rory snaps. I use as much force as I can to push against his chest.

“Calm down, we didn’t have sex. Do you really not trust me?” I feel the muscles in his chest start to relax against my palms.

“I can smell sex, I’m not stupid,” Rory states. As quickly as he relaxed, his anger gets the better of him.

“Correction, you can smell cum, and that wasn’t off the table. We all agreed to save her virginity.” Their stare off continues as Rory processes his words.

“Why do you both have to talk about me like I’m not in the room? Yes, we agreed; well you all decided and I agreed it makes sense. I get that first times are special, but what I do with my body is my business. If what we are doing is a problem, we can stop and just go back to being friends.” As I say the words, they leave a bitter taste in my mouth. I don’t think I could just go back to being friends.

Rory looks at me, his face apologetic. “I’m sorry, JD, I didn’t mean to overreact. Mum’s been sent back to the hospital, and with the cops questioning us as well, it’s left me on edge.” He bends down so his forehead is against mine.

“You’re forgiven,” I say, wrapping my arms around his mid-section.

“I have to go visit my mum, take her some of her belongings. I won’t be back for a day or two.” His arms wrap tightly around me. I wish he would open up; holding everything in cannot be good for him, and I’m afraid he will snap.

“When are ya leaving?” Levi asks.

“Now. I’ve packed already, booked a hotel close by. I just wanted to see JD before I left.” His arms loosen their hold on me. Levi comes closer now Rory has calmed down.

“Will you call me tonight, so I know you got in safe?”

Rory kisses the top of my head again. “Of course, I will.” He steps away from me, and he and Levi do a man hug.

Rory left with the promise to call. I can’t help but have this nagging feeling in my gut that something is up with him. Levi reassures me that this is just how Rory deals with stress; he pulls away. He generally needs a week to work his issues out and then he comes to them. I hope that’s the case.

Levi and I head downstairs to make a snack. He decides to make toasted sandwiches. He sets out the ham, grates the cheese and places them in the sandwich press. While they cook, he picks me up by the waist and sits me on the bench, pushing my legs open to stand between them.

“Did you see Rory’s face when he thought we had sex?” Levi asks me.

“I did. I think we all need to have a talk again, because I don’t want any of you fighting over me. Honestly, I don’t know if I could choose one of you, and I don’t know what that will mean for us.” I wrap my legs around his torso, pulling him in as close as I can.

“We’re young, JD, we have our whole lives to grow up, settle down and be adults. Right now, it means you are dating all of us, and we’re okay with that.” He gets this goofy look on his face. “You know, before Lissa and Deacon got together, she was dating a few guys at once too.” That shocks me, Lissa seems like a one-man type of woman.

“Did they know about each other?” I ask curiously.

“I don’t know, but it’s normal for people to date. Some like exclusivity and others don’t. We don’t know what next year holds for any of us.” He is right, I could be off with my family, back in a hospital or still in school.

“Do any of you know what you want to do next year?”

He nods. “Maximus wants to go to university to get a degree in biochemistry; Mercer wants to open his own gym one day so he may do a business course. The rest of us are not as sure. Rory has considered doing an apprenticeship in mechanics, but his mother would be pissed that won’t earn him good money, not that he needs it. Rocky has mentioned giving up athletics to be a physiotherapist. As for me, I’m not too sure. I love sport but I would also like to help kids. I just wonder if I could handle it.”

“I think you could do whatever you put your mind to, you’re so smart.” I lean in for a kiss and pull back. “And you think things through before you act on them.” Kiss. “You’re so caring.” Kiss. “And incredibly sexy.” Kiss.

“Where will being sexy get me?” he asks against my lips.

“I don’t know but it can’t hurt.”

His lips are still against mine when a cough causes me to almost jump out of my skin. We turn and see Deacon standing at the door.

“Shit,” Levi whispers.

***

Half an hour later, Levi and I are seated at their kitchen table with them opposite us.

“Are you two dating?” Lissa asks.

I look at Levi, and he grabs my hand. “This isn’t an interrogation, Liss, you can drop the cop act.”

Lissa laughs and so does Deacon. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to use my interrogation voice.”

I relax a bit, now it’s just Aunt Lissa sitting at the table and not the police officer.

“I don’t know how to explain this but hear me out before you say anything,” Levi starts. “We didn’t say anything yet because we’re just getting a feel for what this is, but we agreed that if anyone in our direct family asked, we would be honest. I am dating JD, but so is Mercer, Rory, Rocky and Maximus.”

“Even Maximus?” Lissa asks. I’m thrown off with that being her first question.

“Even Maximus. We all like JD, and she likes us, but given the circumstances, we decided to get to know each other better… No, Liss, before you ask, we’re not having sex.” I feel my entire face go bright red. “I may as well throw it out there, I’m not a virgin and I don’t need a sex talk.”

I keep my head slightly down, silently mortified that we are having this talk. I’m not embarrassed about dating them, but laying it all out for others has me flushed and not sure how to react. What if Liss blows up and demands Levi stop seeing me?

“I don’t even know where to start. You know I’m cool with dating around, but I am concerned that dating within a group would be complex. Maybe you should do a group session in therapy to make sure you understand how this will affect you all.” She pauses, her eyes flicking between the two of us. “What about Maximus? Are you… physical with him too?” I know she is curious, but I look up at her, feeling protective of him.

“He’s different with JD, they touch, and he’s even spoken to her.”

Lissa’s head whips to me, and I nod.

“I’ve known him since he was almost seven and he has never spoken to me, that is huge.” I swear I see her eyes glisten, but no tears form.

“I know. I don’t think I have done anything different than everyone else, though.”

She accepts what I have to say and turns back to question Levi.

“What happens if JD remembers her past or someone comes forward? This could have ramifications for all six of you.” Deacon just sits back in his chair and smiles; this must be how they typically deal with things. Liss taking the lead.

“We have considered that, but we’ve done the math. JD has to be around our age, and I know enough about the law to know she is old enough to make her own choices.”

I know they think it’s that simple, but we have no idea of the life I have come from.

“Levi,” Deacon says. “Is that really smart to throw the law out there? Her case is complex. Things may not be as black and white as you think.” I get the distinct feeling he knows something about me but isn’t saying anything.

“We will deal with that when we need to. Right now, it’s fun. Girls don’t usually get us, our group; that we put each other first. JD gets us, no judgement, and she accepts that we can’t tell her things about our lives until we are ready.”

“As long as you’re careful.” Liss looks at Levi, having a silent conversation.

“Ugh, we are not having sex. We have barely figured out how this will work, so you have nothing to worry about, and while we are figuring it out I’m not having sex with other girls either.”

Liss pushes her chair out and stands, Deacon follows her lead, she leans on the table and looks directly at Levi. “Still having that talk later. Deacon and I are going to sleep, we had a long shift. Take JD home, we can talk when I wake up.” With that Lissa and Deacon head upstairs.

“That went better than I thought.” I finally feel like I can exhale. I was nervous for no reason.

“They’re pretty open minded. I think the hardest ones we will have to convince will be Rick and Carmen, and I’m sure Rory’s mum will hate you being with him purely because you are not rich”

“I get the impression Rick hates me.”

Levi looks at me weird. “He won’t hate you. He is very protective of Rocky. He and Carmen couldn’t have their own kids.” I nod. I guess that explains things. “It could also be that he thinks you’re the reason Rocky has been slacking off with his training. He’s worked really hard to get him where he is today and wants him to make a career of it. Rocky hasn’t had the heart to tell him it’s not what he wants, though.”

“Am I the reason?” I would hate to stand in the way of his dreams.

“No, Rocky wants to trial a new medication and that usually makes him slower. He doesn’t know how to bring it up. He doesn’t want to let his dad down; in his mind he didn’t have to adopt him, especially as a broken six-year-old. They could have waited for a baby.”

We talk for a bit longer before Levi takes me upstairs to pack up my stuff before he drives me home. His friends want him to play ball, so I force him to just drop me off and go. I’m fine to spend the night by myself.

I watch the clock and wait for Rory to call. Levi told me the facility his mum goes to is about three hours away, so he should have been there by now. If only she’d go to one of the closer ones, so he didn’t have to travel so far. God forbid she go to one of the ‘poorer’ facilities.,

By nine I decide to leave him a voice message. As far as I know, he could have spent a few hours with his mum and crashed out.

The phone rings. I wait for voicemail, but the call connects.

“Hello?” a female voice answers.

“Hi, who is this?” I don’t even feel guilty for asking; I am dating Rory after all.

“Cindy, who is this?” Just hearing her name, I want to claw her eyes out. She would have known it was me calling, I know Rory has caller ID.

“Where’s Rory?” I cut the bullshit, refusing to buy into her act.

“He was all sweaty, so he jumped into the shower.”

I count in my head, so as not to curse her out. “I’m sure he was, get him to call me back,” I say through gritted teeth.

“He’s a bit busy tonight, I will tell him tomorrow.” She ends the call.

Why would he lie to me? He has seemed off the past week, but I put it down to stress. Sure, I’m hurt and a little jealous that he would turn to her instead of me, but I would have accepted it. What really worries me is that he thought he had to lie. I pace the floor and wonder if I should call one of the guys, but I decide against it, I can’t call them to help me every time I start to feel anxious. I decide to try and watch some mindless TV, checking my phone every few minutes to see if Rory has messaged me, surely even if he was with her he would at least message me? Logically I know they are just friends and that he continues being her friend for reasons unbeknown to me, and I accept that but this no secrets bullshit doesn’t seem to apply to him and it is starting to piss me off. I message all the guys a goodnight message, even Rory, not that he deserves it. They all message back except him and I swallow down a sleeping pill, deciding it’s best to sleep off my anger.