love. Maybe since we really have a connection, we’ll show people what sex and love really looks like.”
Grant scrubs a thumb down his jaw. “Did you just indirectly say that you’re in love with me?”
“Ah, no, that’s not what I meant,” I back-track, my pulse racing. “I just meant that we’re not like some hired actors who have just met each other ten minutes before they’re about to do the scene.”
“We do look damn hot together.”
We rewatch part of the video again where I’m writhing in pleasure as he pushes into me, empties out, and pushes into me again.
He pulls up the button on his laptop to upload.
“I can do it, or not do it. But I want to put it up there. Let’s let this be our one small act of rebellion against the system.”
I heave a deep sigh. “As long as you get that I would never consider doing this if it wasn’t with you.”
“Kiss me and seal it.”
I kiss him on the lips. This one is long, lingering, and tasty.
“Do it,” I say. “Happy Flunk Day.”
He clicks the button to upload and turns to me.
“I’m sure no one will watch this video anyway. It’ll probably get like five views.”
Famous last words.
32
Maya
On Sunday a few days later, I’m in the studio, painting and thinking. There is something absolutely cathartic about the act of putting color to canvas.
My phone buzzes, so I take a quick break. It’s Eliza, the friend I met at the house party with the Red Lemons.
Eliza: So how’s school?
Maya: Well I might not even be here soon.
Eliza: Oh my gosh why?
Maya: Long story short: I might not be able to pay my tuition.
Unless an adult video I uploaded makes a bunch of money, I think, shuddering a little.
Grant and I were definitely drunk when we made the decision to put that up. I’m starting to think that was an impulsive decision and we should just take it down.
As in, we definitely should take it down.
Eliza: Tuition is outrageous these days. Well, if you end up in the city…my roommate just moved out, and I need another one, stat.
Maya: Thanks! Good to know.
Eliza: I even have roof access. Well it’s sort of a well-kept secret of my block…but you could totally go up there and use it as your studio. :) Just sayin’.
Maya: I’ll keep that in mind.
Sometimes it’s amazing that you can meet someone so briefly, in such a chance situation, and then they end up being so damn nice.
I see that Alex, April, Charlotte, and even Faith have all texted me on the group chat we’re in. It seems they’re down at the baseball game and wondering why I’m not there.
Good question, I think. It’s a beautiful spring day and I should be enjoying the outdoors. As much as I like painting, it’s time to get some air.
Not to mention get a glimpse of my favorite hot baseball player.
We watch a few innings, and I wave to Grant in the dugout, but it doesn’t look like Coach Johnson is putting him in today, unfortunately.
Donnie, who’s sitting behind us, taps me on the shoulder. “Hey...Maya?”
“Hey…Donnie?” I echo, wondering why he’s being so vague.
“Is this real?”
“Is what real?” I say, taking a sip of my beer. It feels good to relax, get some sun, and take a load off, even if that relaxation does involve staring at my friend with benefits in gray baseball pants.
I see Grant jog out of the dugout to grab a foul ball. Even just doing that, he looks so damn sexy with his focused, sun-glazed baseball face.
Donnie comes around next to me and shows me a video that’s been shared on Twitter.
It’s me and Grant from the side view. And someone has graciously added a soundtrack. Wonderful.
The bottom about drops out of my stomach as I process the fact that the video we uploaded is now being shared around by the student body. Someone took the liberty of adding Nine Inch Nails as a soundtrack since we didn’t upload it with sound.
Grant’s face is out of the picture, and I’m blindfolded, so who would figure it out? As far as I can see, you really can’t tell it’s us.
I try to play it off. “Weird, I didn’t know they allowed porn on Twitter.”
“Maya,” Donnie seethes. “Don’t play dumb.” He stops the video, then pinches the screen to zoom in on my wrist.
Oh, no.
Oh, no. The delta tattoo.
So, freshman year, April, Alex, and I all got tattoos of a little Delta