Chapter 20

Claudia and Foster enter the building just as the front doors are being unlocked for students, per their usual routine. Normally they'd split up to put their things away, but Foster decides to follow C to her locker. He leans against the neighboring lockers, chattering away with C about class assignments, movies, and things they could do when the weekend rolls around. Once C has her things, she grabs onto Foster's hand and pulls him towards his locker. She waits patiently, standing to the left, careful not to block anyone from their locker. C quietly watches as multiple peers stop by to greet Foster, even a few of the 'popular' girls give him a smile and wave. This irritates C, she isn't sure why. Foster picks up on her sour mood and grabs her hand to pull her to class.

Before they get to class, they stop at the homecoming committee's booth to purchase tickets. Tickets are $10 each and C reaches into her pencil case to grab money to pay for hers. She notices her wallet isn't inside like usual. Foster packed it today, he probably didn't know. Foster buys both their tickets, assuming he was going to from the get-go, not paying mind to C's embarrassed disposition.

"I'm sorry Foster. I forgot my wallet at home." C takes her ticket from Foster, tucking it safely into the inside pocket of her bag.

"What are you talking about? Why would you need your wallet?" Foster puts his ticket inside his wallet, looking at C once he has done so.

"To pay for my ticket?" C questions.

"Oh, don't worry about it. I wouldn't have made you pay anyway." Foster shoots a smile in C's direction before hauling her in the direction of their first-period classroom.

"Why not?"

"Well, I was kind of hoping we could go together. Like, a couple," Foster's voice lowers, and he turns his gaze away from C. He realizes he hasn't formally asked her to be his girlfriend. He now understood why C wanted to pay for her ticket. "Is that okay? I really like you C."

"A couple?" C squeaks, not expecting Foster to answer like that. She hides her face in his chest and he gives her a reassuring squeeze. She calms down and pulls away, ready to respond. Before she gets a chance, Foster addresses her again.

"Will you be my girlfriend, Claudia? I have liked you since I first met you. I enjoy spending time with you and want to learn everything there is to know about you. I'm sorry I waited so long to ask. It seems like I have been doing this whole relationship thing in the wrong order." C realizes what he is talking about, blushing slightly.

"I think I'd like that," she smiles and takes his hand. They walk into class together, both feeling slightly embarrassed, but both overjoyed with finalizing their relationship.

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C and I drop by the library to let Barb know that we took her advice. We decide not to stay and bother her too much, both of us more interested in going home together. I watch as she pulls me in tow, towards the entrance of the school. Enjoying my view, I give a little resistance, trying to slow her down so that I can stare for a bit longer. She is painfully oblivious to this and continues dragging me through the doors.

Once outside, I speed up to walk next to her, no longer gawking at her plump, round ass. Fuck I need to not think like this all the time. She is more than just her gorgeous body. Why can't I focus on anything else lately? Teenage hormones, I guess. I make a mental note to actively work on learning more about her.

"Foster what's wrong?" C stops walking, looking up at me. I'm flustered. I need to get her out of my sight. I move my backpack so that it's on my chest and then scoop her up, positioning her on my back. I can feel her boobs pressed against my back but try to shake the image of them from my mind. "What are you doing?" C leans down so her head is perched on my shoulder.

"We'll get home quicker like this. Your legs are too short, you walk slow," I turn and kiss the side of her face, reassuring her that I'm kidding. She balls up her hands and punches my back gently in retaliation of my previous statement.

"I am not. I will have you know that I am perfectly capable of walking fast." She tries to climb down but I have a firm grasp on her thighs.

"Nuh-uh, you're already trapped." I chuckle and carry her like this all the way home. When we get home the cats are screaming at us to fill their bowls. Today we give them dry food and a few cat treats. C told me I can't keep giving them wet food or they won't eat their regular food. Once they are content with the nourishment that we have provided them with, they stop screaming and leave us alone.

C and I sit at her desk, working on whatever homework we were assigned. Ugh, calc. I hate math. C is great at math. I have no idea how she understands all this mumbo jumbo about functions and shit like that. She tries to explain it to me and sometimes I get it, sometimes I don't. I'm not a math/science person. I like history and English. She, however, is magically a genius in everything she tries. She has a good head on her shoulders.

Once we are finished with our homework, we grab some snacks from the kitchen and sit in the living room to watch some movies that C says I need to see. They aren't horror movies so I am not sure how much I will like them. She puts one on called Spirited Away. I think I've heard about it before in like a middle school art class, but I've never watched it. C snuggles up against me, excited to share one of her favorite films with me. I'm a bit bummed that it doesn't have jump scares. I won't get to protect her or hear her scream. 'I can make her scream later,' I think.

I get really into the movie, forgetting everything else that's going on. Old ladies that turn into birds, giant babies that get turned into mice? A kid who is a dragon? Who comes up with this stuff? And the art style is the very definition of a chef's kiss. I can see why these films are so highly valued.

"You kids look like you're having fun," Sylvia plops down on the big armchair next to the couch. I realize that C is cuddling my arm, holding it against her chest. I can feel her soft mounds enveloping it ever so slightly. I try not to think these dirty thoughts directly in front of her mother. Sylvia raises an eyebrow at us. Did she say something, and I missed it?

"I said, what are you hungry for Foster?" 'I'm hungry for your daughter,' I think, understanding that this is not an appropriate response to that question.

"Uh, I'm fine with whatever. I'm not too picky," I shrug and turn my attention back to the movie, trying to keep my cool. With C wrapped around my bicep and her mom right there, I need to keep up my good-boy appearance.

"You two seem to be getting really close lately," Sylvia mentions, "I guess we can just have the left-over sushi from last night?"

"Sure mom, that sounds lovely." C responds. Sylvia hops off the armchair and lays out the sushi on the dining table. She makes herself a plate and then heads back to her office to get back to work. C and I make our plates and then decide to continue our movie marathon in her room. We place our food on her desk. I grab the remote and point it at the TV. As soon as I do this, I notice something on the dresser that wasn't there this morning. It's box-shaped and wrapped in silver wrapping paper. I grab it and sit down next to C with it. It has a note attached that is addressed to both of us. I open the note, making sure that C can see it as well.

Hey Kids,

I'm not trying to be in your business, but can you keep it down in the mornings. It's hard to sleep when you can hear your daughter all the way from the other side of the house. Also, use these. I'm not trying to have grandkids just yet, not that I would be upset, just you know, be safe.

Sylvia.

"Fuck, she knows." I look over at C to gauge her reaction. She is hiding her face in her hands. Once she has calmed down, we open the present, it's a shit ton of condoms. "I'm sorry C. I haven't been using protection. I don't know if I can even buy protection since I'm not a legal adult." C leans against my shoulder, still covering her face. I wonder what she's thinking about.

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I can't believe my mom knows what we've been doing. I also can't believe that she is still letting us share a room. I have such a cool mom. I wonder if she has talked to Dawn about this. I sure hope not. I don't know how she would handle that information with all that's going on. Ugh this is so embarrassing. Also, what a dirty trick. Way to make the situation more awkward mom. I mean, I appreciate the sentiment, but she didn't have to call us out like that.

Once I feel like my face no longer shares the same complexion as a tomato, I remove my hands. Foster is sitting, facing me, a huge grin across his face. "What?" I ask.

"I think I know what we can use that small crawl space that connects our rooms for." I catch his drift, cheeks heating up immediately. Before I have a chance to hide, he pins my arms down above my head, pushing me back onto the bed. He leans over me, keeping that same devilish look on his face. Why does he have to be so god damn attractive? It's not fair. "What do you say Jones?" He teases. I look anywhere but his face and nod. It's honestly not a bad idea. I don't even think my mom knows about it. I mean, I didn't even notice it until Foster pointed it out.

He releases me and finally puts on another studio Ghibli movie. I let out a small sigh of relief. I don't know if I can keep up with him. I was barely able to stand and walk around the school today. My legs are still soo tired. He lays down on the mattress, head propped up on his arm. He pulls me so that I am cuddled up against him. I like spooning like this. Yes, it makes me feel tiny, but it also makes me feel warm. I also love how perfectly our bodies fit together. He kisses the top of my head, breathing me in. I tense up, not ready for whatever comes next.

"C what's wrong?" Foster sits up, pulling me onto his lap.

"I just thought laying like that was going to lead to . . . you know. I don't think my body can handle more right now. My legs are still sore from this morning."

"I'm sorry C. I wish you would've let me know sooner. I don't want you to be in pain. I can take it easy from now on. You are so small which makes it hard to tell how much is too much. I appreciate you sharing this with me. Again, I'm so sorry C. I don't want to hurt you," Foster cups my face in his hands, eyebrows furrowed, worry etched across his features. God he is so handsome. My heart swells at the fact that he has been trying to consider me during our more intimate moments.

"No, no. I really like what we do and how we do it." I gulp before stating my next thought, "I told you before, you might not remember, but I like when you're rough and I like when you call me your good girl." I try to push my face away from his hands so I can hide. He doesn't let me pull away. He places a soft kiss on my forehead. I see that grin again, but he doesn't act on it. He just lays down, patting the bed next to him. I get back into my little spoon position. He wraps his arm around me, pulling me closer. He grabs the remote to start the movie, pausing before doing so.

"I still remember, and you are my good girl." His husky voice sends me reeling. I can feel my panties sticking to me uncomfortably. He kisses my neck softly, starting the movie. He rubs my hip with his thumb. I don't think he realizes how irresistible he is. My whole body feels hot all over. I feel like I need to take an ice bath.