The Theory of Love Ch. 02

Author's Note.

Hey there, and welcome back to The Theory of Love.

Before we dive in, a quick note:

Chapter 1 has been revised to ensure smooth continuity with everything you're about to read in Chapter 2. A few scenes were polished, some character threads tightened, and dialogue adjusted to keep everything aligned. If you're re-reading, you might notice a few subtle improvements--but the heart of the story remains the same.

That's part of why Chapter 2 took a little longer to arrive--several new ideas took root as I wrote it, and I had no choice but to go back and retcon them into chapter 1 to keep things cohesive.

As before, I'd like to thank JasonJJones2012 again for the initial foundation of this story. While his description was brief and supplied a few thousand words at the start, I've since expanded and gotten to know these characters like they've been with me forever.

All

Now, onto chapter 2!

Happy reading!

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*Jessica*

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The first thing I noticed was warmth. A slow, steady heat pressed against my back, arms wrapped loosely around my waist, the rhythmic rise and fall of a chest against me. For a moment, I just let myself feel it. The comfort. The safety. The undeniable sense that I was exactly where I was meant to be.

As my mind cleared, the weight of what had just happened started to settle in.

My eyes snapped open, and my breath caught as flashes of last night flooded my mind. The teasing. The buildup. The way Tom had touched me like I actually meant something. The way I had fallen apart under him as he filled me up, completely, utterly his. How it had all started because of a simple image--one that had led to a conversation, which had led to a challenge, which had led to this.

And then, the sinking realization struck me like a brick to the stomach.

Oh, shit.

My body tensed as I became aware of a faint, lingering dampness on my skin. My breath caught, my heart hammering in my chest. Had he--? A flare of panic shot through me, my thighs pressing together instinctively as my mind raced. I shifted slightly, my fingers trailing down, hesitating before checking--just to be sure.

A sharp exhale left me when I realized there was no lingering warmth inside, just the ache of something unforgettable.

But as I stretched beneath the duvet, a musky scent still clung to my skin, a reminder of just how much had spilled across me last night..

Relief flooded through me, but it was quickly followed by another thought. We hadn't used protection.

We had been so lost in each other, so caught up in the moment, that neither of us had stopped to think. A chill ran down my spine at the realization. This was something I needed to be more careful about. Luckily Tom managed to cum outside of me. But next time... next time, we needed to be careful.

Because there would be a next time.

I exhaled shakily, pushing the thought aside. Later. I'd bring it up later. Right now, all I wanted to focus on was the feeling of Tom wrapped around me, the warmth of his body against mine,  I shifted slightly, pressing back against him, feeling his morning hardness nestled between my cheeks, I turned my body slightly towards Tom, my movement slow and cautious, as if any sudden shift might break the spell. Tom was still asleep, his face relaxed in a way I rarely saw when he was awake. His hair was a tousled mess, his lips slightly parted, a soft breath escaping in steady intervals. The way he looked now--completely at peace, wrapped around me like I was something precious--made my heart ache in ways I wasn't prepared for.

And just like that, my heart clenched.

I swallowed hard and turned fully, the warmth that had been between my cheeks gone, but a new warmth was found after curling into his chest. He shifted, murmuring something in his sleep before his grip on me tightened, pulling me impossibly closer. I felt his breath against my ear, the way his fingers lightly traced over my hip in unconscious motion. A ripple of warmth shot through me, my body attuned to his in an almost unnerving way.

God, I was in deep.

I should've been terrified. Maybe I was. But as I closed my eyes and let myself sink into the warmth of him, It was then I realized something. I didn't want to run. Not from this. Not from him.

A soft groan vibrated through Tom's chest, and then I felt him stir. His hold on me tightened for a moment before he let out a slow exhale. "Mmm... morning." His voice was thick with sleep, deeper than usual, and it sent a pleasant shiver down my spine.

I tilted my head up to meet his gaze, and for a second, we just stared at each other. Then he smiled--soft, sleepy, unguarded. "Hey."

Just one word. Just one look. And suddenly, my heart was free-falling all over again.

"Hey," I whispered back, feeling my lips curve into a small smile of my own.

His fingers slid up my back, tracing my spine with lazy, feather-light touches that sent a warm, tingling sensation down to my toes. I fought back a shudder, not wanting to break the quiet intimacy of the moment.

"So... last night wasn't a dream, right?" he murmured, voice still thick with sleep.

I let out a breathless laugh, pressing my forehead against his.

"No. Definitely real."

Tom exhaled slowly, his grip on me tightening before he pulled back just enough to search my eyes. "So... what now?"

I hesitated, dread curling in my chest. "I don't know."

His brows furrowed slightly. "I mean... are we really doing this? You and me?"

I bit my lip. "I... want to. But this is new. And kind of terrifying."

Tom exhaled a small laugh, shaking his head. "Tell me about it."

I traced a slow pattern against his chest. "I've never had anything like this before. It's... different. And I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing."

He let out a slow breath. "It's a good thing," he murmured. "It has to be."

My heart clenched. "You think so?"

Tom swallowed, hesitating for a second before nodding. "Yeah. Because I've never had anything like this before either."

A small, shaky exhale left me, and I realized how much that confession meant. Neither of us had done this before. Not like this. Not with someone who actually meant something. And that thought alone made it feel a little less terrifying.

I took a deep breath, then finally, finally let myself smile. "Then let's try."

Tom blinked, his lips parting slightly. "Just like that?"

I shrugged, brushing a strand of hair from his face. "Why not?"

His expression softened, something warm flickering behind his eyes. "So... you're my girlfriend now?"

A smirk tugged at my lips. "If you want me to be."

Tom didn't even hesitate. "I do."

A laugh bubbled out of me, light and free in a way I hadn't felt in a long time. And just like that, something settled between us, something unspoken but solid. This was happening. We were happening.

His hand slid down my back toward my hips before gripping my ass. I let out a soft moan as he gently massaged the flesh, his eyes darkening just slightly.

"So, girlfriend..." he murmured, voice low and teasing. "Think we should celebrate?"

I sucked in a breath, warmth curling low in my stomach. I could've made a joke. I could've played coy. But instead, I simply let myself feel it.

I glanced at the nightstand, then back at him. "You don't happen to have any..."

Before I could finish, Tom shot up, yanking open the top drawer and ripping out a strip of condoms like his life depended on it. My body shook with laughter as he fumbled, trying to tear one free. He was struggling, the foil refusing to cooperate, and I had to bite my lip to keep from giggling harder.

"Oh my god, let me" I reached for it, but he pulled away, still battling the stubborn packaging.

"I got it!" he insisted, brows furrowed in determination.

I snorted, shaking my head. "Dork."

But before I could tease him further, his mouth was on mine--claiming me in a kiss that stole my breath. Slow, deep, unhurried, yet filled with something electric, something consuming. His hands roamed over my body, fingers tracing the curve of my waist, the dip of my hips, the warmth of my bare skin beneath his touch.

I melted into him, the heat from last night reigniting like embers catching flame. He shifted, rolling us effortlessly so I was straddling him, my thighs framing his hips. The groan that rumbled from his chest sent a delicious thrill through me, and I couldn't help but rock forward, testing the sensation--feeling the firm heat of him against me.

I dragged my lips down his jaw, trailing lower, my chest pressing against him as I made my way down. My hands ghosted over his abdomen, feeling him tense beneath my touch. When I reached his hips, I hovered just above where I wanted him most, letting my breath tease over him before pressing my twin mounts against his hardened cock, enveloping him in the softest embrace before taking him between my lips and twirled my tongue around the head.

A deep, shuddering groan escaped him, his fingers tangling in my hair as I worked, feeling the slow build of tension between us before I let him slip free. I crawled back up, capturing his mouth once more, rolling my hips in a slow, teasing grind that had his grip tightening on me, his breath coming faster. The need between us was building, the air growing hotter, heavier, filled with something raw and desperate.

I met his gaze, saw the heat flicker in his eyes as he took in the trail of cum glistening on my chest. A smirk tugged at my lips.

"As much as I loved being your personal bullseye last night, I'm thankful you didn't cum inside me. I don't think either of us wants any... unexpected surprises while we're still studying."

Tom let out a strangled chuckle, his hands tightening on my hips. "Yeah... definitely not."

That's when I noticed it, a discarded crumpled unopened foil wrapper beside the pillow, a reminder of Tom's earlier struggle to get it open.

I laughed breathlessly, reaching for it while he gave me a sheepish look. "So much for I got it, huh?"

His ears turned pink. "I was... distracted."

I couldn't help but smile at how adorably flustered he still got. It was moments like these--when the confident, teasing Tom gave way to the bashful nerd I'd fallen for--that made my heart skip a beat.

Smirking, I tore the wrapper with ease, holding his gaze as I rolled it down his length. His breath caught, and his hands tightened on my thighs as I straddled him, teasing him with a slow roll of my hips.

And when he finally flipped me back onto the mattress, settling between my thighs, his lips trailing fire down my body, I knew--I was completely his.

And I never wanted to be anywhere else.

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*Tom*

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Jessica was incredible. Breathtaking. And right now, she was mine.

The realization hit me harder than I expected as she rolled the condom down my length, her touch sending a shiver through me. My breath stuttered, my hands tightening instinctively on her thighs as she settled over me, teasing, testing, making it impossible to think of anything but her.

She knew exactly what she was doing.

She smirked, shifting her hips in a slow, deliberate roll making my fingers digging into her skin. "You're so damn smug," I muttered, my voice coming out rougher than I intended.

Jessica's lips curled, eyes dark with satisfaction. "And you love it."

God help me, I did.

Before I could fire back, she leaned in, capturing my lips in a deep, intoxicating kiss. I felt her move against me, felt the unbearable heat where we were joined, and suddenly, all teasing was forgotten.

I flipped us over in one fluid motion, pinning her beneath me as my mouth trailed down her body, my lips pressing against the warm, soft skin of her neck, her collarbone, the curve of her breasts. Her hands tangled in my hair, nails grazing my scalp as she gasped my name, her body arching to meet every touch, every kiss.

The way she gave herself to me--completely, without fear--made my head and heart reel.

This wasn't just about attraction. It wasn't about proving anything, about some challenge that started as a game. That part was long over.

This was us.

The pleasure built between us, rising with every touch, every shift, every ragged breath. Jessica's moans spurred me on, urging me deeper into that intoxicating rhythm. Her legs wrapped around my waist, her body molding perfectly against mine as I thrust into her, each movement pushing us higher, closer, until the tension became unbearable.

"Jess..." The name slipped past my lips before I could stop it, unfiltered and raw, carrying a weight I hadn't even realized I was holding.

Jessica froze beneath me, her breath catching. For a second, panic gripped my chest. Had I ruined it? Had I made it too personal, too real? But then she looked up at me, her eyes searching mine, something warm flickering behind them.

"Jess?" she repeated, testing the name on her tongue. A slow, lazy smile spread across her lips. "I like that."

Relief coursed through me, followed by something deeper, something more profound.

I brushed my nose against hers, letting out a shaky breath. "Yeah?"

She nodded, fingers threading through my hair. "Yeah."

And just like that, whatever hesitation had been there before was gone.

She pulled me down into a kiss that was softer than before--more intimate, more real. We moved together again, the world beyond this room fading into nothing, the only thing that mattered being the way she felt, the way she responded, the way I needed her.

Her pace quickened, her breath coming in short, ragged bursts, and I felt myself unraveling beneath her. I pressed her down into the mattress, claiming her in a way that left no doubt--this was more than just lust, more than just need.

This was everything.

Jessica's nails dug into my back as she fell apart beneath me, and that was all it took to send me spiraling after her, pleasure crashing over me in waves that left me completely undone.

I collapsed beside her, chest heaving, my entire body humming with exhaustion. Jessica was still wrapped around me, breathless, her fingers tracing lazy circles on my back as if she, too, didn't want to let go of this moment.

Somewhere in the haze, I felt her shift. At first, I thought she was just adjusting, but then, with a soft hum, she moved with me--gently rolling us so that she was on top, her thighs framing my hips, her body molding perfectly against mine.

I sighed, my arms tightening around her on instinct, holding her there, anchoring both of us in a moment I never wanted to end.

A comfortable silence settled between us, the weight of everything that had happened lingering in the air. My eyes were heavy, but my mind was still reeling. I had never expected to be here, to have her like this, to feel so completely at peace in her arms. The thought was almost overwhelming.

Before sleep fully claimed me, I let out a soft chuckle, feeling Jessica shift slightly against me.

"Last night... it wasn't just... I mean... It was amazing, but it wasn't just that," I murmured, my voice thick with exhaustion.

Jessica traced light patterns on my chest, her head still nestled against my shoulder. "Yeah. I know."

I exhaled slowly, my body sinking deeper into the mattress. "I think I needed this. You."

Her fingers stilled for a second before resuming their lazy movements. "Good. Because I'm not going anywhere."

A warmth spread through my chest, making my eyelids grow even heavier. My mind spun, my body too exhausted to move, and before I could think better of it, the words left me on instinct, heavy with exhaustion and raw honesty.

"I love you, Jess," I murmured, the last thing I could manage before sleep finally dragged me under.

I felt her still against me, her breath catching. But she didn't pull away. Instead, she stayed close, her body still molded to mine, as if grounding herself in this moment.

Whatever she was feeling, whatever was going through her mind--I'd find out soon enough.

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*Jessica*

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"I love you, Jess," he mumbled, the words tumbling out like a quiet sigh.

I froze.

The words came soft, slurred at the edges with exhaustion, like he hadn't even meant to say them. Like they had slipped out before he could catch them. A vice gripped my gut, my heart stuttering, everything inside me locking up at once.

I pulled back slightly, just enough to see his face. His eyes were already closed, his breathing deepening, his body relaxed beneath me in the way only true exhaustion allowed.

Did he even realize he had said it?

A lump formed in my throat as I stared at him, searching his face for any sign of hesitation, regret--anything that would tell me if he truly meant it. But all I saw was peace. His lips were slightly parted, his brow smooth, his features bathed in the soft glow of early morning light. He looked... content. Like he had finally found something he wasn't afraid to hold onto.

He meant it.

Tom loved me.

The realization hit me like a freight train, knocking the air from my lungs. A warmth spread through me, different from the fire that had burned between us only moments ago. This was something deeper. Something terrifyingly real. Something I had never felt before.

My fingers trembled as I reached up, brushing away a stray lock of hair that had fallen across his forehead. He barely stirred, only murmuring something unintelligible in his sleep before nuzzling closer, his hold on me never loosening.

A part of me wanted to wake him up, to demand he say it again when he was fully conscious--when he would have to look me in the eyes and mean it. Because if he said it then, if he said it knowing I would hear it, knowing I would remember it, I wasn't sure what I would do. I wasn't sure if I could handle it.

Because for the first time in my life, the thought of love didn't scare me. It didn't feel like a trap or an obligation--it felt like freedom.

But another part of me, a softer part, told me to just let this moment be.

So I did.

I curled into him, resting my head against his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart beneath my ear. That sound--the gentle rhythm of him, of us, of something I wasn't ready to name--was the only thing grounding me.

Then, just as my mind began to settle, a memory surfaced.

Hannah's voice, sharp and teasing.

"Jess, seriously? You're being such a buzzkill."

Kat's playful drawl. "Come on, Jess. It's just a bit of fun."

Rachel's eye-roll. "Relax, Jess, don't be so uptight."

That nickname, Jess. They had always called me that. Tossed it around like an afterthought, like I was their pet, their project, their entertainment. I never thought much about it. Never corrected them. But I had never really liked it either. It had always felt small, dismissive, a reminder that I had been swept into something I hadn't chosen. Something I had simply accepted.

But from Tom?

It wasn't the same.

From Tom, it wasn't a label. It wasn't something used to keep me in my place. It was different--softer, warmer, more intimate. When he said it, it wasn't because he was making fun of me, or trying to mold me into something. It was because he saw me. Me. Not Jessica Mason, the party girl, the one who played along, the one who laughed even when she didn't want to.

Just... Jess. His Jess.

The lump in my throat grew, and I swallowed hard, pressing a tender kiss against his chest, lingering there I let myself feel the warmth of him, the steady rhythm of his heart against my lips. He stirred slightly, murmuring my name in his sleep, and my stomach clenched at the sheer intimacy of it.

God, I was in deep.

A lazy sigh escaped me as I shifted slightly, stretching out my sore limbs. My body ached in the best way, a dull reminder of just how thoroughly Tom had wrecked me last night.

The warmth of him still inside me, holding me in place, sent a shiver down my spine, but I needed to move. Needed to breathe.

Slowly, carefully, I lifted myself off him, feeling him slip free as I rolled onto my back beside him, finally giving my body a chance to recover.

I glanced down, blinking at the faint, flaky remnants dusting my stomach and breasts. Right. That was still there. Not that I hadn't already noticed--I'd smelled it the moment I woke up.

I probably should've showered before passing out, but I had been too worn out and comfortable to bother.

Still, I could deal with that later. I wasn't in any rush.

I exhaled slowly, shifting as I sat up, stretching out my legs and feeling the dull ache settle deep in my body. Damn. No wonder I was sore.

Then I felt it.

A slow, sticky warmth seeping down my inner thighs.

I stiffened.

Oh no.

My heart thudded as I glanced down between my legs. Yup.

The condom was still inside me.

I squeezed my eyes shut, mentally preparing myself before slowly reaching down. It wasn't far in, thank god, but... it wasn't exactly coming out easily either.

I bit my lip, shifting a little, trying to angle myself better to remove it. Okay, just grab and pull...

A slow, unfamiliar pressure nudged against my clit.

I flinched.

Wait. What?

I tried again, tugging gently, but the condom's thickness--and the way it was still coated and heavy--created a weird, dragging sensation against my folds.

A breath snagged in my throat. Goddammit.

Hadn't he already drained himself last night? Where the hell was all of this still coming from?

I readjusted, trying to pull it at a different angle, but every small shift sent a subtle jolt through me. Not enough to be pleasurable--just enough to be frustrating.

"Jesus, Tom. You had a whole night to clear the pipes. How the hell are you still this backed up?"

Okay, nope. I was too sore and too tired for this.

Annoyance flared, and in a rash moment of impatience, I just--whipped it out.

Bad. Idea.

The second it slid free, it slipped right out of my fingers.

Time slowed down.

I watched, wide-eyed, as the near-full condom flipped midair--and before I could react.

Splat.

A warm, sticky mess dribbled down my chest.

I froze.

I was absolutely covered.

Jesus Christ.

A fresh wave of heat flushed up my neck as I stared at the sheer volume of it streaking between my breasts, pooling slightly at my navel before sliding lower. The heat of it still fresh, the scent of it lingering thickly in the air.

I inhaled slowly. Then exhaled. Then inhaled again, because surely, this wasn't actually happening.

But no.

Tom had been very, very backed up.

Which, honestly, was kind of impressive, considering how much he'd already spilled across me last night.

I sighed, staring at the absolute disaster across my torso.

Yeah... that shower wasn't just a luxury anymore--it was a necessity.

I adjusted carefully, arms lifted like I was avoiding lasers, praying not to smear anything on the bed--or worse, on Tom. He was still sleeping soundly, completely oblivious to the incidental mess he'd made on me.

I grabbed a tissue and did a half-hearted wipe before nudging his shoulder. 'Tom."

Nothing.

I poked him a little harder. "Tom, wake up."

A sleepy grumble was all I got in response.

I huffed, then leaned down, careful not to press my sticky chest against him, and brushed my lips against his ear. "Hey, babe... we need a shower."

That got a reaction.

His body tensed for a second, then relaxed as he let out a low, satisfied hum. "Mmm, that sounds nice..."

I smirked. "Good. Because thanks to you, I really need help... and I don't trust my legs to be steady"

His brow furrowed slightly, like his brain had just been handed a pop quiz before coffee. Then, slowly, his eyes cracked open, still heavy with sleep.

I bit my lip, warmth rising to my cheeks as his sleepy gaze drifted over my body, lingering like he was trying to memorize me, then down toward where I had lifted my arms slightly. And then he finally noticed the condom in my hand.

His eyes widened. "Holy shit! Did I do all that?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Yeah. You really did a number on me, stud."

A beat of silence. Then, his hand scrubbed over his face, a deep groan leaving his lips. "Damn. Guess I should've sized up."

I snorted, rolling my eyes. "You're impossible."

A lazy smirk tugged at his lips as he propped himself up on an elbow. "Maybe. But you still want me to wash your back, right?"

I gave him a long, knowing look, lips twitching in amusement. Then, finally, I sighed, slipping off the bed with exaggerated care. "Fine. But if you even think about getting hard again, I'm turning the water ice cold."

His grin widened. "No promises."

I was so screwed. Literally, emotionally, metaphorically--the whole trifecta.

So I stood carefully, making sure not to spread any of Tom's surprise splatter on the sheets, and made my way to the bathroom, Tom close behind me. I tried not to wiggle my ass, even though the temptation was there.

As tempting as it was, we didn't have shower sex... but we did get each other off one more time before I kissed him goodbye. I promised I'd be back later tonight.

The weekend was just beginning.

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*Tom*

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I wasn't used to this. This feeling. This reality.

The sunlight streamed through my window, the familiar hum of my computer filled the silence, and my gaming headset rested around my neck--everything felt normal. But one thing had changed. One thing made this morning unlike any other.

Jessica Mason was my girlfriend.

I exhaled slowly, letting the words settle in my mind. It didn't feel real, even after spending the night wrapped around her, feeling her warmth, tasting her lips, memorizing the way she looked at me like I was something precious.

But it was real. It had to be.

And yet, that nagging doubt still gnawed at the edges of my mind.

Was this just a passing phase for her? A curiosity? Would she wake up one day and realize she didn't belong in my world? Or worse--would she get bored of it? Of me?

A part of me wanted to ignore that voice, to silence it with the memory of last night--the way she had clung to me, whispered my name, kissed me like I was the only thing that mattered. But another part, the one that had spent years being overlooked, couldn't help but wonder... what if?

I barely had time to process the whirlwind of the last twenty-four hours before my computer pinged with an incoming call. Right. The group chat.

I clicked into the voice call, expecting the usual chaos. Charlie was in his and Henry's shared dorm, his webcam slightly off-center, while Henry was hanging out in the background, leaning in over his shoulder. Both of them squinted at the screen like detectives solving a case.

"Oh my god," Henry whispered dramatically. "Look at him."

Charlie smirked. "Dude. He has the look."

I frowned. "The look?"

Henry grinned like he'd just discovered a conspiracy. "Yep. The look of a guy who finally got laid."

I groaned. "Oh, for fuck's sake."

"No, but seriously," Charlie said, failing miserably to suppress his amusement, "you look different, man. Relaxed. Like you just unlocked the afterglow perk in real life."

I rolled my eyes. "Can we not make this a thing?"

Charlie smirked, leaning forward. "So, was she--"

"Not answering that," I cut in immediately, already seeing where this was going.

Henry burst out laughing. "Oh, come on, man! We're just asking!"

"Nope. Not happening."

Charlie threw his hands up. "Alright, fine. Keep your secrets. But just know, the curiosity is killing us."

Henry snickered. "Bet Jessica wouldn't be shy about it."

I groaned. "Jesus Christ, can we move on?"

"Too late, it's a thing," Henry said, cackling. "Our boy has officially ascended."

Charlie nodded solemnly. "You went from background NPC to main character overnight."

I dragged a hand down my face. "You both suck."

"Nah, we're just proud of you, man." Henry leaned back, grinning. "So, let's cut to the chase--are you and Jessica actually official? Or was this just a one-time event?"

My fingers hovered over my keyboard. I hesitated.

Jess and I hadn't said it outright. But last night... this morning... the way she held me, the way she looked at me, the way she didn't run--it had to mean something

.

I exhaled through my nose, steeling myself before saying it.

"Yeah. We are."

Silence.

Then--

"HOLY SHIT."

I winced, yanking my headset away as Henry and Charlie erupted into chaotic celebration.

"This is it! Tom's anime protagonist arc! He went from brooding loner to Chad of the Year in a single questline!" Henry wheezed from laughing.

Charlie let out a low whistle. "Dude, he didn't just become a protagonist. He became the secret boss character. Like, Jesus, Tom, do you realize how insane this is?"

I groaned. "Yes, I'm aware. Can you both stop acting like I just achieved enlightenment?"

"Nope. Sorry. We have to memorialize this moment." Henry's voice was way too smug.

Charlie leaned forward, smirking. "Honestly, man, I knew something was up last night. Jessica was all over you."

Henry nodded. "Yeah, dude, she barely left your side. And not in a weird, clingy way--like, she was comfortable with you."

I blinked, replaying the memory. Jess had been by my side all night, laughing at my friends' antics, even engaging in their nerdy debates without looking bored out of her mind.

Charlie grinned. "And she actually looked into the game. Not in a 'pretend to be interested for the boyfriend' kind of way, but like... genuinely interested."

Henry shrugged. "I mean, she asked questions. Good ones. And she actually listened to the answers. You sure you didn't accidentally convert her last night?"

I hesitated. "Actually... you remember a couple of weeks ago during game night when I ran Jess through the RPG breakdown about The Witcher 3 while you two were chatting about the latest builds for the tabletop session?"

Henry and Charlie exchanged a glance before nodding slowly. "Yeah, what about it?"

"Well..." I rubbed the back of my neck. "She tried on a silver wig the other day, just messing around. Looked exactly like Ciri. It kinda... caught me off guard."

Charlie let out a low whistle. "Dude. You're telling me Jessica Mason casually put on a Ciri wig? And it worked?"

I nodded, a small grin creeping onto my face. "I didn't even realize how well she could pull it off until that moment."

Henry shook his head. "Damn. She's really leaning into this, huh?"

Charlie crossed his arms, looking smug. "Told you, man. She was always one of us. She just didn't know it yet."

Henry chuckled. "You should get her to cosplay for real at some point. Bet she'd kill it."

I huffed a small laugh, shaking my head. "Yeah, I don't think Jess is quite there yet."

Eventually, they let it go, and talk turned back to the whole cosplay moment. Before I knew it, Charlie was bringing up the convention happening in a few months time.

"You think she would come with us?" he mused. "Jessica Mason as an up-and-coming cosplayer--sounds good, no?"

I didn't answer right away. Instead, I leaned back, letting the thought sink in. Jessica Mason at a gaming convention. A few months ago, the idea would've been laughable. But now?

Something warm settled in my chest at the thought. Maybe Jess really was stepping into my world. Maybe she wasn't just humoring me. Maybe, for the first time, I didn't have to be afraid of waking up and realizing this was all some dream.

Because, against all odds, it was real.

And I wasn't letting it go.

---------------------

*Jessica*

---------------------

It had been two days since that unforgettable night with Tom--two days where my heart felt like it was caught between soaring and shattering. The warmth of his touch still lingered on my skin, a constant reminder of how real everything had felt.

The weekend had been a blur of soft kisses, stolen glances, whispered confessions, and laughter that came easier than it ever had before.

I felt lighter. Happier. For the first time in a long while, I wasn't thinking about expectations, social rules, or what anyone else thought. It was just me and Tom, existing in a world that felt like ours alone.

Monday arrived, and I walked into the cafeteria with an easy stride, tray in hand, my mind still half-occupied with the memory of Tom's arms around me that morning. My lips curled slightly at the thought of the lazy, warm way he had kissed me before I left, like he didn't want me to go. And truth be told--I didn't either.

I barely registered the world around me until a voice cut through the haze.

"Well, well," Hannah drawled, a slow, mocking grin spreading across her face. "Look who finally decided to crawl out of her nerd's bed and join us. Haven't heard from you since Friday night. What, was one night not enough? Or was he just that good?"

I blinked, the warmth in my chest suddenly doused by the cold weight of reality. Oh. Right. Them.

Rachel leaned in, resting her chin on her hand with a smirk. "So, Jess, how's your little project? Or should we say, your... oversized project?"

My stomach twisted into a knot, the words hitting me like a splash of ice water. The picture.

My mind reeled, scrambling to piece it together. The proof photo. The one I had taken that night. The one that showed everything. My face, Tom's--his body, the angle, the sheer size of him compared to me. They had seen it. That's what this was about.

A sharp pang of panic shot through me. I hadn't even looked at it since that night. My hand twitched toward my phone instinctively, fingers hovering over the screen. A few swipes, and there it was--the photo that changed everything.

At first, I saw it the way they did. A girl completely undone, lost in something beyond just a game. The depth in my eyes, the way my lips were parted, the flush on my skin--it wasn't just lust. It was something more. Something real. Something I had never felt before.

My breath hitched. This was the moment it stopped being a forfeit.

I gripped my phone tighter, unease rolling through me. There was something raw and undeniable in that image, something I could never explain away. And despite the ice crawling up my spine, I wasn't ashamed.

Humiliation battled with something else. Something warm. Something proud.

Yeah, they saw it. And?

And then it hit me--I had control here.

I exhaled slowly, letting my lips curl into a smirk as I placed my phone face down on the table and met Hannah's gaze head-on. "It's done," I said, voice light, almost dismissive. "The forfeit's done. I held up my end. What, you thought I'd cry about it?"

Rachel's smirk faltered, just a little. Kat's expression flickered with something close to uncertainty. Good. Keep them off balance.

Hannah leaned in, her grin never slipping. "Oh, I don't know, Jess. That picture says otherwise."

I gave a slow shrug, spearing a piece of fruit with my fork. "It was a good night. A girl's allowed to enjoy herself." I popped the bite into my mouth, savoring their stunned silence. "And?"

Rachel scoffed. "And? Seriously? So what, you're done with him now?"

I let the question hang in the air for a second too long, then tilted my head in a way that made it seem like the thought barely even mattered to me. "Why wouldn't I be?"

Kat frowned slightly. "That's not what it looked like in that picture."

"Oh, please," I sighed, waving my hand. "You guys are reading way too much into things. It was fun, but it was a bet. That's all." I leaned in just a fraction. "Or did you think I was gonna fall for a nerd?"

Rachel let out a relieved laugh, and Kat grinned. Even Hannah's smirk sharpened, but there was something in her eyes--doubt.

I pushed it further. My smirk widened as I leaned back in my seat. "I mean, can you blame me for looking that way in the picture? Let's be real, that was a hell of a surprise. Not every day you sit on something that makes Simon look like a damn afterthought." I made a show of crossing my legs, shifting slightly, as if I could still feel the lingering ache from the weekend. "Pleasure like that stays with you."

I turned my attention to Hannah, letting a slow smirk creep onto my lips. "As for one night not being enough? Bitch, please. You saw how big and thick he was--I doubt even you could last more than one session on that monster." I tossed my hair over my shoulder, feigning nonchalance. "I pretty much left not long after that pic was taken. Good thing he fell asleep before he noticed."

Not an actual lie.

We had sex a few more times before we shared a shower, I had trouble sitting for the rest of the weekend, good thing we took it easy with just kissing, petting and gentle stroking until Sunday night.

Rachel snorted, nearly choking on her drink, while Kat covered her mouth, stifling a laugh. Even Hannah's expression flickered with something--annoyance? Embarrassment? Hard to tell, but I loved it.

Hannah recovered quickly, her smirk sharpening. "So, what, back to normal now? Gonna break the poor geek's heart and move on?"

I let my lips curl just a little higher. "What heart? He knew what this was. Nerds like him don't get to have fairytale endings."

Kat and Rachel chuckled, nudging each other. Hannah nodded approvingly, but her eyes--her eyes still held doubt.

She wasn't convinced.

Good. Let her stew on it.

I stood up, grabbing my tray. "Anyway, thanks for the concern, ladies, but I think I'll survive." I turned on my heel before they could respond, making my way toward the exit. My heart was pounding, but I kept my stride cool, collected.

Their voices faded behind me, but I could feel Hannah's eyes boring into my back. She wasn't buying it. Not entirely. But for now, I had done enough.

I had just thrown them off my trail.

The best part? They had no idea.

And the worst part?

I had no idea how long I could keep pretending.

Because even as I walked away, my fingers itched to reach for my phone again.

Not out of fear.

But because I needed to talk to Tom.

Before he heard it from someone else.

And if I was lucky, I could tell him the truth myself.

Because for once in my life, I wasn't scared of falling.

I already had.

---------------------

*Tom*

---------------------

I sat on the edge of my bed, phone in hand, staring at the cryptic message Jess had sent me. It was short, almost vague, but something about it set off a strange feeling in my gut.

Jess: Meet me where we first studied together. It's important.

My thumb hovered over the keyboard, hesitating before typing back a simple On my way.

I didn't know what to expect, but something about the way she worded it felt... urgent. Not like a casual, Hey, let's grab lunch message. More like something she needed to get off her chest.

As I made my way across campus, the library came into view, and I couldn't help but feel a strange sense of déjà vu. This was the place where everything between us had first taken a sharp turn. the first time Jessica Mason had tried to play me, using charm and temptation as a means to an end. And now... now it felt like something was about to shift again.

A different kind of unease settled in my chest. Was she having second thoughts? Getting cold feet about us? About what we had agreed on?

Stepping inside, my eyes scanned the rows of bookshelves until I spotted her sitting at one of the tables near the back. The same place where it all began.

Jess wasn't looking at her phone or pretending to study--she was fidgeting, her fingers tracing patterns along the wood of the table. She looked up the moment I approached, and I caught the briefest flicker of something in her eyes before she masked it with an easy smile. But I knew her well enough now to tell it was forced.

"Hey," I said, sliding into the seat across from her. "What's up?"

Jess let out a slow breath, like she had rehearsed this moment in her head a dozen times before I got here. "I, uh... I wanted to talk to you about something."

I nodded, waiting.

She hesitated, then leaned forward slightly. "I ran into Hannah and the others today."

The moment she said it, my posture stiffened slightly. I hadn't outright told her to stay away from them, but she knew how I felt about them. How they always found ways to drag her back into their world, into their games. And now, she was telling me she had met with them again?

"Did you... go looking for them?" I asked carefully.

Jess immediately shook her head. "No. They found me in the cafeteria. Called me over before I had a chance to avoid them. And I--" She hesitated, running a hand through her hair. "I played along."

I frowned. "Played along how?"

She let out a humorless chuckle. "Hannah was digging for answers. She already assumed I was falling for you, and I... well, I made sure she didn't think that was true."

Tension coiled low in my belly. "Why?

She leaned back, exhaling. "Because, Tom... they're waiting for me to slip. If they knew how I really felt, they'd use it against me. Hannah, especially. She's not stupid. She knows I've changed, even if she won't say it outright. She's looking for a reason to tear me apart."

I crossed my arms, my jaw tightening. "So what exactly did you tell them?"

Jess hesitated, shifting on her feet before finally meeting my gaze. "I told them I was just having fun. That I was playing the game. That's all they needed to hear."

A cold feeling settled in my gut.

I searched her expression, trying to gauge if there was more she wasn't saying. There was something in her eyes--guilt, maybe? Regret? She wasn't lying, but she also wasn't telling me everything.

"You're keeping them off your back," I said slowly, piecing it together. "But at what cost?"

She sighed. "I don't know. But I'd rather them think I'm the same Jessica Mason they've always known than let them get involved in us."

I clenched my jaw, conflicted. I understood what she was doing, why she was doing it. But it still didn't sit right with me.

"Why tell me this now?" I asked.

Jess took a step closer, placing a hand on my chest. "Because I don't want to lie to you, Tom. Ever." She swallowed. "But there's... something else."

I studied her carefully. "What?"

She hesitated, then let out a breath. "They know about us. About everything."

Something in my chest tightened. "What do you mean everything?"

She bit her lip. "They figured out that we... slept together."

I stiffened. "How?"

She sighed. "Because they know me. They saw the way I looked, how I acted. They didn't need me to confirm it. They just knew."

A humorless chuckle escaped me. "So they just looked at you and magically figured it out?"

She nodded hesitantly. "Pretty much."

I ran a hand through my hair. "Jesus."

Her lips twitched in something almost like amusement. "Yeah, well, apparently we're both obvious, because your friends figured it out too, didn't they?"

I exhaled, suddenly recalling how Henry and Charlie had immediately called me out that morning. "Yeah. Charlie and Henry called me out the second they saw me. I even told you about it when you came back."

Jess smirked slightly, shaking her head. "See? We suck at being subtle."

For a second, the tension between us lessened, but it didn't last long.

I met her gaze again. "But that's not what's bothering me, Jess. What aren't you telling me?"

Her expression shifted, her fingers tightening slightly against my chest. "When they brought up the idea of me falling for you... I didn't just deny it, Tom. I made sure they believed it wasn't possible."

Anxious heat bubbled through my core. "How?"

She swallowed, her voice quieter now. "I said something about how... Nerds like you don't get to have fairytale endings."

The words hit me like a sucker punch.

I exhaled sharply, staring at her. "Oh."

Jess winced. "Tom, I--"

I forced a chuckle, but it sounded off even to my own ears. "No, it's fine. I get it. You had to sell it, right?"

She flinched at my tone. "That's not what I meant--"

I held up a hand, exhaling. "It's fine, Jess. I get it. At least we wont be hounded by them."

She searched my face like she was looking for something she wasn't sure she'd find.

For the first time in weeks, something between us felt... off.

But then Jess surprised me. Instead of letting the silence linger, she reached up, brushing her fingers along my jaw. "Tom," she murmured, voice softer, "I need you to believe me when I say... I don't feel that way. Not really. Not about you."

I wanted to believe her. I really did. And despite the sharp sting of her words, despite the knot tightening in my gut, I found myself nodding.

She offered a hesitant smile. "Let's just... move forward. Together."

I took a breath. Then another. And finally, I nodded again. "Yeah. Okay."

The cracks were still there. The damage was done. But for now, at least, we were still standing.

Neither of us knew it yet, but the real storm was still on its way.

---------------------

*Jessica*

---------------------

The next few weeks proved something I hadn't quite expected--despite the ups and downs, despite the occasional awkward moments or lingering doubts, Tom and I were stepping into each other's worlds. And against all odds, I was starting to enjoy it more than I ever thought possible.

It started as a test. A way to prove to myself that I was still in control--that I wasn't slipping too deep into Tom's world.

I had spent years rolling my eyes at RPGs, dismissing them as nerdy power fantasies with too much reading and not enough fun. If Hannah and the others had ever caught me even considering one, I would have been roasted alive. But now, sitting next to Tom, watching the glow of the screen reflect off his face as he booted up a game he had been begging me to try, I felt something else entirely.

Curiosity.

"Alright, rogue girl, you ready to lose yourself in the world of The Witcher 3?" Tom teased, nudging me lightly as the title screen flickered to life.

I smirked, arms crossed. "Lose myself? Please. I'll probably break the game before I even get through the tutorial."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "Doubtful. But let's see if you can get past the griffin fight without screaming."

I rolled my eyes but settled in, controller in hand, as he gave me a quick rundown of the controls. The first few minutes were frustrating--I struggled with movement, misclicked spells, and nearly got Geralt killed twice. But then something weird happened.

I started to enjoy it.

Not just tolerate it. Not just humor Tom. I actually got invested. The story, the world, the choices--I found myself asking Tom more and more questions about the lore, genuinely wanting to understand the world I was playing in. And with every explanation, every patient answer, the way he lit up when he talked about it... it was impossible not to get caught up in his excitement.

And yes, I did scream during the griffin fight. Loudly. Tom wouldn't shut up about it for the rest of the night.

When I made my first real decision in the game, choosing whether to help a villager or let them suffer, I hesitated longer than I expected. Tom noticed.

"Tough choice?" he asked, watching me with a small smile.

"Shut up," I muttered, biting my lip. "It's just... I don't want to mess this up."

He laughed. "That's the beauty of RPGs. There's no right or wrong. Just your story."

That stuck with me. For the first time, I wasn't just playing--I was experiencing it.

As the days passed, my resistance cracked further. Movie nights turned into Lord of the Rings marathons, and instead of tuning out when Tom and the guys talked about their D&D campaigns, I found myself listening. Asking questions.

I even...

God help me....

I even started looking up lore on my own time.

The real breaking point came a week later.

We were in Tom's room, sprawled on his bed, watching a speedrun of some old RPG. I was barely paying attention, too focused on twirling a silver wig between my fingers. It had arrived that morning--an impulse buy after one too many jokes about how I could probably pull off Ciri's look, I mean I did that one time at the costume store, but this was a good quality wig and I was both curious, yet hesitant.

"You should try it on," Tom said suddenly, sitting up.

I raised an eyebrow. "What, right now?"

He shrugged. "Why not? I mean what's the point on buying it if you're not going to use it?"

A part of me wanted to scoff. But another part--the one that had been slowly unraveling under Tom's influence--was oddly excited, plus... Tom did have a point.

So, I did it.

The moment I pulled the wig over my head and turned to look in the mirror, something shifted. I didn't just look like Ciri--I felt like her. Like I had stepped into a different world. A world I had spent years mocking but was now realizing was... kind of amazing.

I turned to Tom, expecting a smirk, a joke--something. But his expression stopped me.

He was staring. Not in the way guys did when they checked me out, but in a way that made my stomach flip. Like he was seeing something deeper.

"Jess..." he started, his voice softer than I expected. "You look incredible."

Warmth spread through me, and I had to fight the urge to hide my face. "Shut up," I muttered, but there was no real heat behind it.

He grinned. "You ever thought about going to a convention?"

I blinked. "A... convention?"

"Yeah. Like, full cosplay. Getting into character. It's fun."

I hesitated, my old instincts screaming at me to say no. To brush it off.

But I didn't.

Instead, I smirked and tossed my hair. "If I'm doing this, I'm going all out."

Tom's grin widened, his eyes lighting up with something I couldn't quite place. "That's my girl."

And just like that, I knew.

I wasn't pretending anymore.

I had stepped into Tom's world--and for the first time, I wasn't looking for a way out.

But the transformation didn't stop there. If anything, it snowballed. One moment, I was humoring Tom's interests; the next, I was seeking them out myself. I started playing The Witcher 3 without Tom around, diving deeper into the world, making choices that felt personal. I even caught myself watching lore breakdowns on YouTube when I was supposed to be studying.

Then, around the 20-hour mark, I finally met her.

Ciri.

Seeing her in the game, truly seeing her for the first time, made something click into place. Her silver hair, her determined gaze, the way she carried herself like someone who had been through hell and come out stronger. I understood then why Tom admired her so much.

And why, deep down, a part of me wanted to be like that too.

Then, one afternoon, I found myself in a game store. Alone. Browsing.

Me. Jessica Mason. Looking through an actual game store on my own. If someone told me a few months ago that I'd willingly step foot into a place like this, I'd have laughed in their face.

I had never stepped foot in one of these places willingly--other times, it was because Hannah dragged me along, usually when she was looking for new ways to entertain herself at someone else's expense. There was one girl, in particular, she loved to mess with--a quiet one, always buried in a book or scrolling through her phone whenever we walked in. I never remembered her name, but I remembered the way she used to look at me. Not at Hannah. Not at the others. Me.

Like she was waiting for me to say something.

I shook the thought away, refocusing on the shelves in front of me.

Now? Now I was flipping through art-books, running my fingers over game cases, actually considering picking up an RPG for myself.

That's when it really hit me.

This wasn't just for Tom anymore. This was me. My interests were changing. And for once, I didn't care if Hannah, Kat, or Rachel would laugh at me for it.

When I finally told Tom about my solo game store trip, his reaction was priceless.

"Wait, wait, wait--you went into a game shop? On your own? Willingly?"

I rolled my eyes. "Don't make it weird, geek."

His grin was massive. "Jess, you have no idea how proud I am right now."

I snorted, but inside, something warm settled in my chest.

Maybe this world wasn't so bad after all.

Maybe I had found something real.

Oh, and The Witcher 3? Turns out, I spent way too much time just staring at Geralt's butt, which may have let me accidentally walk off a ledge or two resulting in a few deaths....

Tom never let me live it down.

---------------------

*Tom*

---------------------

The third week of our relationship marked a shift--one that Jessica had been subtly pushing toward ever since she realized just how much potential I had.

It started small. A few comments here and there. A playful nudge about how I always wore the same two hoodies. A well-timed eye roll when I dismissed the idea of actually styling my hair instead of just letting it flop wherever gravity decided it should go.

But Jessica knew how to play the long game.

"Come on, Tom," she teased one afternoon as we passed a store window, her fingers lightly tracing my wrist as if the casual contact would make me more receptive. "I promise, it won't kill you to own a few pieces of clothing that don't look like they were picked out by a guy whose mom still does his laundry."

I shot her a look, unimpressed. "My mom doesn't do my laundry."

Jessica smirked, cocking her head. "And yet, somehow, this is worse."

I groaned, already feeling the weight of an argument I had no hope of winning. The truth was, I wasn't against dressing better. I just never saw the point. Who was I trying to impress? Girls like Jessica didn't go for guys like me--except, apparently, she was going for me. And she wasn't about to let this go.

Which was exactly how I ended up standing in a ridiculously overpriced clothing store, arms crossed, while Jessica flitted between racks like a woman on a mission.

"Try this," she said, tossing me a black button-down. Then a few seconds later--"Ooh, and this one!" A fitted navy sweater joined the pile. "Oh my God, Tom, this would look so good on you--"

I raised an eyebrow as she added yet another item to my growing stack. "Jess, I'm not made of money."

"Relax, nerd." She rolled her eyes. "You don't need to buy everything--just enough to make it look like you actually put effort into your appearance"

I scoffed, shifting the growing pile in my arms. "You do realize I still have that jacket, shirt, and jeans you made me buy last time, right? How much more 'effort' do I need to put in?"

Jessica's smirk widened, eyes gleaming with something that looked suspiciously like triumph.

"That was a test run," she said, yanking another shirt from the rack. "That was just to see what I was working with. But now? Now I know exactly what's under those baggy clothes, and trust me, I remember what I saw when we were in bed, you're going to be filling these out better than half the guys on campus."

Heat crept up my neck. "That's... an exaggeration."

Jessica tilted her head, considering me like she was sizing up a winning bet. Then, before I could react, she stepped in closer, her fingers brushing down my arm, her touch lingering longer than necessary.

"Damn, babe! Didn't think gaming gave you these arms."

I swallowed. Hard.

"I--uh--"

Jessica grinned, clearly enjoying herself, before shoving the pile of clothes into my arms.

"Dressing room. Now."

I sighed, shaking my head, but I couldn't ignore the way my stomach flipped at the way she was looking at me. Like she had seen something in me long before I had.

I sighed, stepping into the fitting room, the pile of clothes feeling heavier than it should.

I wasn't sure why I was nervous. They were just clothes. A stupid shirt. A jacket. Maybe some jeans that actually fit. But the way Jessica was looking at me earlier--like she saw something in me I didn't--Set my nerves on edge.

I pulled off my hoodie and t-shirt, swapping them for the button-down she had shoved into my arms. The fabric felt different. Nicer. More fitted than anything I'd ever worn. I hesitated before buttoning it up, catching my reflection in the mirror.

Huh.

I barely recognized myself. The clean-cut hair, the crisp button-down--this wasn't me. Not really.

'Damn, bro. You're turning into a whole new person!'

Charlie's voice wasn't actually there, but I could hear it in my head. Him and Henry, probably smirking at me, nudging my shoulder, joking about my sudden transformation.

Was I really changing? Or was this just Jessica's influence?

I tugged at the collar of my shirt, suddenly uncomfortable with how well it fit. Before, I wouldn't have given a damn about my clothes. Before, I wasn't the kind of guy people noticed.

"It's just a shirt," I muttered.

'Sure.' Charlie smirked in my mind. 'And I'm just a background NPC.'

I ran a hand through my hair, still unsure.

"Alright," Jessica called impatiently from outside. "Don't make me come in there."

I rolled my eyes, but something about her tone made my pulse pick up. Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the door.

Jessica's reaction was immediate.

Her smirk froze. Her eyes widened just a fraction, and for the first time since I'd met her, Jessica Mason looked speechless.

I shifted awkwardly. "Well?"

She blinked rapidly, then covered it up with a slow, knowing grin. "Knew it."

I frowned. "Knew what?"

She stepped closer, her gaze flickering over me with an intensity that made my skin heat.

"The first time we did this, I thought I saw something under all those baggy clothes. But now? Now I know for sure."

I let out a slow exhale. "You're ridiculous."

Jessica tilted her head, lips curving into something dangerously close to admiration.

"And you're hot. Get used to it!"

I snorted, shaking my head, but I couldn't stop the small smile forming.

And then came the moment Jessica had truly been waiting for.

"So, about your hair."

I stiffened. "What about my hair?"

Jessica perched herself on the bench outside the fitting rooms, arms folded, head tilted in that way that made it clear she was about to say something I wouldn't like.

"It's got so much potential," she said sweetly. "But right now, you're kind of rocking the 'brooding hacker who lives off Red Bull and regrets all his life choices' aesthetic."

I scowled. "Gee, thanks."

She reached out and tugged a lock of my dark, messy hair. "Come on, Tom. Let me take you somewhere and clean this up. Just a little trim, maybe some styling gel? It won't kill you."

"I don't know..."

Jessica's eyes softened. "You don't have to change who you are, you know. But I see you, Tom. And you deserve to feel as confident as you are when you talk about the things you love."

That got me.

I swallowed, rubbing the back of my neck. "Fine. But if I end up looking like some TikTok pretty boy, I'm blaming you."

Jessica grinned, linking our fingers together. "Oh, babe. You wish you could pull that off."

---------------------

By the time the transformation was complete--my hair slightly shorter, styled with just enough product to give it an effortlessly tousled look, and my wardrobe updated to actually fit me--Jessica was beyond pleased with herself.

It wasn't about making me into something I wasn't. It was about letting the world see what she had seen from the beginning--someone worth noticing.

And it was working.

The stares started slowly. A few double takes in the halls. A lingering glance from a group of girls who had never so much as looked at me before. Jessica felt a swell of pride every time she caught someone doing a discreet once-over, and I definitely didn't miss the way I stood just a little taller when I noticed, too.

Then, the moment that sealed everything.

Hannah and the girls were sitting in the common area when Jessica strolled in, me following behind her.

"Oh my God, finally, there you are!" Hannah drawled, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "Where have you been Jess? you don't answer your phone, if I didn't know better I'd say you were ghosting...." Her words cut off mid-sentence as her eyes landed on me. Her brows furrowed. "Wait. Who's that?"

Jessica blinked. "What?"

Rachel and Kat turned, their gazes flicking between me and Jessica, brows furrowing in confusion.

"Damn, Jess," Rachel said, leaning in. "Didn't take you long to trade up. Who's the upgrade?"

Jessica's froze suddenly, She turned to me, her breath hitching. We shared the same thought...

They didn't recognize me.

Holy. Shit.

I played it cool, staying quiet, just watching to see how Jessica would handle this.

Her mouth opened, then closed. She could tell them the truth. She could tell them that the 'upgrade' they were admiring was the same guy they had written off as a loser. That I hadn't changed--I had just stopped hiding behind clothes that didn't fit and hair that covered my face.

But she didn't.

Instead, she smirked. "Oh, you know. Just a guy I've been seeing."

Hannah's lips curled in amusement, her previous irritation melting away. "And here I was thinking you were ghosting us for no reason. Should've known there was a boy involved."

Rachel snickered. "New boy, new priorities, huh?"

Kat rolled her eyes, but she didn't seem mad. If anything, they looked... relieved.

Jessica let out a light laugh, playing along. "You know how it is."

Hannah hummed, tapping a manicured nail against her lip. "I guess I can't blame you. I mean, look at him." Her gaze dragged over me in an appraising way, her smirk sharpening. "Gotta say, Jess--this is a major upgrade."

Jessica's fingers twitched at her side. The compliment should've been harmless. It wasn't.

Hannah stepped forward, closing the space between us with lazy, catlike confidence. She tilted her head, eyes gleaming with mischief.

"So, handsome," she purred sultrily, "got a name to go with those looks?"

I saw Jessica open her mouth--whether to lie or leap in, I didn't wait to find out.

I met Hannah's eyes and let my voice drop an octave. "Hank," I said evenly, offering the faintest smirk.

Kat let out a low whistle. "Oof. He talks. Strong, silent and sexy."

Rachel giggled. "Where'd you find this one, Jess?"

Jessica gave a breathy laugh that didn't quite reach her eyes. "He kinda found me."

I kept my face calm, but I saw it. That flicker in her eyes--the flare of something hot and territorial.

Good. Let her feel it.

I knew that look on her face. She wanted to tell them off, to wipe that smug expression off Hannah's face, but she couldn't--not yet. She had to keep the act up.

So instead, she just smiled. "So now you know the reason why I haven't been around as much... he's been keeping me busy."

Hannah raised an eyebrow. "Clearly. You're lucky I was about to be pissed. I mean, first you start bailing on our meetups, then you ignore our messages? I was starting to think you were pulling a full-on social cleanse."

Jessica's laugh was just a little too forced. "Come on, Han. You really think I'd ditch you guys for good?"

Hannah studied her for a second before grinning. "Nah. You're smarter than that."

That was a warning.

Jessica knew it. I knew it.

She had just dodged a bullet, but the safety net was thin.

Hannah wasn't the type to let things slide for long.

Jessica barely heard the rest of their conversation. She was too busy looking at me--who was looking back, eyes sharp, unreadable. There was an apology there, unspoken, and I knew she caught it.

Because this lie?

This lie had just made everything so much more complicated.

---------------------

That moment lingered in my mind long after we left. I didn't say anything right away, but I could feel Jessica's curiosity, her nervous energy.

Finally, as we reached the quieter part of campus, I spoke. "They really didn't recognize me, huh?"

Jessica exhaled a laugh. "Not even a little. "Hank!""

I smirked. I knew that name would bite me in the ass "I guess I clean up well."

Jessica rolled her eyes but grinned. "I told you. Now, are you finally going to trust me when I say you're hot?"

I chuckled, shaking my head. "I still don't know how to process that sentence."

Jessica linked her arm through mine. "Well, I say that we take advantage of the situation! like with those options in Witcher 3!"

I look at her wondering what she meant, she must have seen my look as she continued on

"You know what I'm talking about! When I had the choice of saving the villagers or let them suffer? We've pretty much been going out in secret, having a few near misses with Hannah and the girls, so... as we've shown they have no idea you look hot as fuck under those baggy clothes! We can save us while making them suffer!"

It took a moment before Jess' plan fully clicked in my head. At first, I felt the knee-jerk reaction of seriously? Going undercover? Hiding from Hannah and her friends like some kind of stealth mission? It stung a little--like she thought I couldn't handle myself.

But then, the logic started sinking in.

Jess wasn't just protecting me. She was protecting us.

And the way she framed it--as a deception build, a rogue's ultimate strategy--it was kind of genius.

I could call her out on it, tell her it wasn't necessary.

But as I watched her, already thinking five steps ahead, already ensuring we stayed one move ahead of the girls who had controlled her life for so long...

Maybe this was the best move after all.

"As crazy as it might sound..... you might actually be onto something"

She giggled as she shot me a grin with an eyebrow raised up, "What?   didn't you want me to use my newfound RPG knowledge for something useful?" she moved in to hug me, pressing her breasts against my chest while kissing me.

"We both win with this tactic babe. We get to do whatever we want without worrying about Hannah, Kat and Rachel sticking their noses into our business. This is a classic deception build of a rogue, requires stealth, charm and a bit of misdirection, I guess you had me pegged saying I would be a good rogue."

As Jess pulled away after leaving another scorching kiss on my lips, I felt something click into place.

What I thought was her playing me for a fool in some game she started back in the library suddenly didn't matter anymore. It held no sway.

This was real.

For the first time since Jess and I started dating, I took a step back and truly looked at myself.

I was no longer that introverted, geeky guy in the background.

I wasn't just some overlooked nobody because I wasn't part of the cool kids club.

I wasn't some pathetic loner doomed to die a virgin.

Jess had shattered that belief the second she chose me.

I was Jessica Mason's boyfriend.

Even saying it in my head felt foreign. Unfamiliar. Like stepping into a new version of myself I wasn't sure I was ready for.

And yet... I liked it. A lot.

The old me--the Tom who avoided attention, who blended into the background, who never thought he'd be worth noticing--was gone.

I wasn't just some geek to be ignored anymore.

I was part of the game now.

Even if it meant playing along with this charade.

Even if there were still unanswered questions, risks, and uncertainty ahead.

I was okay with that.

Because, for the first time in my life, I was winning.

---------------------

*Jessica*

---------------------

The past few weeks had been... surreal. If someone had told me two months ago that I'd be in a serious relationship with Tom, I would've laughed in their face. And yet, here I was, scrolling through outfit options, debating whether I should go full sexy or keep it cute and casual for our date.

This was different. It wasn't just about appearances or proving something to my friends. Tonight, I wanted to look good for Tom. Because despite everything--despite the lies, the secrets, the game I was playing with Hannah and the girls--he made me feel real.

I hummed a little melody as I took my time in the shower, shaving myself completely bare. Even found a stray hair or two near my ass--no way I was letting anything ruin tonight. I stood nude before the full-length mirror, letting my gaze roam.

Uni had changed my body more than I realized--my boobs had gone from a high B to borderline DDs, I was proud of my girls. More of me for Tom to hold, kiss... and fit around that massive cock of his. The arousal made itself known--hardened nipples, puffy areola, and a growing wetness that made getting dressed feel like a challenge.

As for clothes, I went with something that felt new me but still me. A short pleated black skirt--cute and a little cheeky--and a fitted graphic tee I'd borrowed from Tom and conveniently "forgot" to return. It was some obscure RPG logo I couldn't even name, but I liked the way the fabric clung to my chest and the neckline dipped just enough to make things interesting.

The outfit was subtle geek, but sexy. The kind of look that said I could hold a controller and turn heads doing it.

I pulled on the skirt, careful not to catch it on my still-sensitive skin. My thighs brushed together, and I flushed, remembering how soaked I'd been last time. This time, I wasn't holding anything back.

I added an extra touch--a pair of thick-rimmed glasses complemented the brunette dual-sided pigtail wig I adorned on my head, and to finish the disguise! A casual gaming tee underneath my jacket, a little homage to the world I had unexpectedly fallen into.

The moment I met Tom outside my dorm, the way his gaze flickered over me and his lips parted slightly told me everything I needed to know.

He liked it.

"Damn," he muttered before quickly shaking his head. "Uh, I mean--you look really nice."

I smirked. "I know."

He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck as he fell into step beside me. "So, what's the plan, Rogue?"

I rolled my eyes at the nickname. It wouldn't do if he called me Jess when I was disguised like this and people around campus heard us, Since Tom made up "Hank" to throw off Hannah, Rachel, and Kat, he figured I needed a code name too. Said if I were in an RPG, I'd be a rogue--so now I'm Rogue.

"I figured we'd start with the arcade. Y'know, somewhere you can flex your gamer skills before I inevitably humble you."

He snorted. "Big words for someone who just learned how to parry last week."

I shoved him playfully, but my heart squeezed a little. This was us. This was what made it real. And I was loving every second of it.

---------------------

The arcade turned out to be perfect. The colours, the sounds and the laughter all around was different to the party scene i'm so used to, to say it was a refreshing change of scenery was an understatement, I could hear everything Tom was saying as he showed me around the different arcade sections,

There was even a little gacha capsule station tucked near the claw machines--cheap plastic pods promising tiny surprises. Tom grinned and handed me a token.

"Your fate awaits, Rogue."

I rolled my eyes but dropped the coin in anyway, twisting the dial with an overly dramatic flair. Out popped a lime-green capsule. I cracked it open.

"Ugh. What the hell is this?" I held up a tiny rubber mutant-blob-thing with googly eyes. "I feel insulted."

Tom was already opening his. "Score," he grinned, holding up a busty rogue with dual daggers and a wink.

"That's me," I smirked, plucking it from his hand.

"Big boobs and all?"

I gave him a slow once-over. "You gonna argue with facts?"

He chuckled, slipping the blob into his pocket. "Figures. Even in plastic form, you steal from me."

I started to tuck the rogue into my jacket pocket--then paused. A naughty idea struck. Grinning, I redirected the big-boobed rogue and wedged her between my own boobs, her tiny head peeking up from my cleavage.

Tom's eyes widened, and that adorable blush of his returned.

The flutter in my chest caught me off guard. It was stupid. Just a toy, just a tease. I wasn't the kind of girl who kept junk like this.

But for some reason... I wanted to keep this one.

"We gradually made our way to the fighting section where there were rows of retro arcade machines with different fighting games, Tom wanted to try Street Fighter 2, he was convinced that I would have fun, we'll see!

---------------------

Well!.... After a string of fluke wins (or generous mercy rounds on Tom's part), we found ourselves side-by-side at one of those retro rhythm games--the kind with lights and pounding music and a leaderboard at the end.

"Bet you can't beat my score," he challenged, eyebrows raised.

"Bet I can," I shot back, rolling my eyes.

Ten minutes later, we were both red-faced, panting, and high on adrenaline. Our scores flashed on screen--first and second place--and before I knew it, the staff guy came over, grinning.

"Nice run," he said. "Want me to snap a pic for our winner's wall?"

I started to decline out of habit, but Tom nudged me gently. "Come on, Rogue. We earned it."

I hesitated... and nodded.

The air shifted, the playful banter turning into something heavier. It had been just over a month since the first time we slept together, but moments like this still sent a thrill through me. I wanted him. And judging by the way his jaw tensed, he wanted me too.

Tom cleared his throat, his fingers drumming against his thigh. "So, uh... what now?"

I bit my lip, weighing my words. "We could grab some food. Or..." I let the suggestion hang in the air, watching his expression carefully.

His brows rose slightly. "Or?"

I shrugged, feigning nonchalance. "Or we could head back to mine. If you want."

Tom hesitated for a fraction of a second before exhaling a soft laugh. "Let's get something to eat, don't want to go the whole night on an empty stomach."

While I had a different kind of hunger on my mind, I knew Tom was right. I planned to introduce him to a whole new world regarding sex, and for that, I needed him ready to go the whole night.

"Yeah, you're right. For what I have planned, you're going to need a full stomach."

---------------------

Thinking about tonight, I felt that familiar warmth spreading between my legs. Every time I opened my phone and saw that picture, my cheeks flushed--part embarrassment, part pride. It was proof that, despite how it started, we'd found something authentic. The stupid forfeit, the humiliation, the lies--they didn't matter anymore. Those details were distant memories now, ghosts I wanted buried beneath everything Tom and I were building together.

It wasn't just another casual hook-up. It wasn't a game or something I could easily walk away from. This felt completely new. Special. Tom was different. He made me feel different. The pleasure I'd felt that night still sent a thrill through me, an ache at the memory of how completely he had filled me, body and soul. I'd never allowed myself to fully embrace someone the way I wanted to embrace him tonight. I was ready to give Tom every piece of me--emotionally, physically, all of it.

I wanted to experience that intimacy again without interruptions, without having to glance nervously at my phone, expecting Hannah or her friends to ruin everything.

The last few weeks had been a dance of secrecy and near-misses. At first, I thought gradually ghosting Hannah would backfire, that she'd be blowing up my phone, demanding explanations. But after last week? It was almost too easy. The moment she and the girls saw I had a "new man", they laughed it off, treating my absence like some inevitable phase.

"Oh, she'll come crawling back when she gets bored," Rachel had said, waving a hand dismissively.

But that was the thing--I wasn't bored. I wasn't looking for an excuse to return to them. I wasn't waiting for their approval anymore.

For the first time, they weren't breathing down my neck, weren't checking in to make sure I was still playing along in their little games. They didn't even question it when I dodged them on campus, too caught up in their own assumptions. No calls. No texts. Just blissful silence.

And I wasn't about to ruin that.

Even Tom's friends, Charlie and Henry, as much as they had started growing on me, seemed cursed with awful timing. The closest we'd come to another round of sex was that frustrating, interrupted night of heavy petting--his fingers inside me, my hand wrapped firmly around his thick cock, teasing him to full hardness--before we were rudely disrupted by loud pounding on Tom's dorm door.

But not tonight.

No Hannah. No interruptions. No one pounding on doors.

Just Tom. Just us.

And for once, everything felt right.

I knew Hannah, Rachel, and Kat had traveled to their homes several hours away in different directions. Simon was nowhere in sight, I think he was with his sports team doing a tour or something, ah well who cares! Both Charlie and Henry would be preoccupied with convention prep.

Tonight would be different--I'd make sure of it. Tonight, I'd finally let myself experience everything I'd held back before. No more hesitation. No more teasing and pulling away at the last second.

Maybe I'd get him to cum in my mouth this time. Swallow every drop, just to see that look on his face.

Or maybe... maybe I'd let him come inside me.

The thought made my already damp panties flood with heat.

I'd made up my mind--no barriers. No holding back.

I loved Tom. It was terrifying and exhilarating all at once. I'd never truly felt this way about anyone, and I didn't want to lose this feeling. Tonight, I'd make sure he knew exactly how I felt--words, body, everything.

Tonight was ours, more than just sex, more than just a date. It was surrender. Trust. Love. And for the first time in my life, I was ready to truly let someone in, completely and without fear.

I wouldn't hold anything back, not my body, not my heart, not even the messy, terrifying truth that I wanted a future with him.

I wasn't just falling in love with him, I already had. All that was left now... was to show him.

---------------------

*Tom*

---------------------

Jessica was a natural. The way she picked up gaming so quickly, the way she genuinely enjoyed it--it was like she'd always belonged in this world. My world. With me.

After the arcade, we grabbed a quick bite at a cozy little late-night diner. We sat across from each other, stealing fries, laughing over milkshakes, and sharing dumb inside jokes that somehow already felt timeless. It was easy. It was real. And for someone like me--used to being overlooked or written off--it felt almost surreal.

And then, she invited me over.

The second we stepped into her apartment, the energy shifted. Jessica closed the door behind us and leaned back against it, looking at me with an unreadable expression that made my heart skip. Then she smirked, that wicked little glint sparking in her eyes.

"So," she murmured, crossing her arms beneath her chest, making them look even bigger if that's even possible, "you gonna make a move, or do I have to spell it out for you?"

After all the prior times we've been interrupted, I didn't need to be told twice.

I closed the distance in a heartbeat, hands sliding to her waist, our lips crashing together in a kiss that started playful but turned fiery in seconds. Her fingers dove into my hair, tugging me closer, her body pressing into mine like she couldn't get enough. I could feel her nipples from her impressive chest poking my own as she started to rub her crotch against my thigh, panting and moaning increasing in volume and pitch the harder she ground.

She pulled away just long enough to whisper huskily, "Bedroom."

In the many doujinshi, lemon fanfiction and erotica stories, I read where the MC got an instant hard-on from a single sexy whisper, I had dismissed it as not being real, but I was learning quickly that this shit was a real thing, I was hard and ready to go.

I nodded, and she took my hand, leading me down the hallway with a sway in her hips that was pure confidence and temptation. Halfway there, her free hand casually reached behind her and gave her skirt a playful tug--just enough to loosen it. The fabric dipped lower on her hips, clinging to the swell of her ass.

That's when I saw it.

A peek of black lace--the thong riding just above her cheeks, daring me to stare.

And of course, I did.

She glanced back, caught me looking, and smiled like she'd just won something.

I followed her like a man possessed.

Once we hit the bed, it was chaos--clothes flung away, gasps and kisses and whispered names. Her top, my shirt. Her skirt, my jeans. Her hands gripped my boxers, slowly dragging them down until my cock was on the edge of appearing. With a swift tug, my cock sprang up, hitting her chin.

Jess let off an amused giggle.

"Well, I can put 'being cock slapped' on the list." She nuzzled my hard cock before giving the head a quick kiss with her full lips. She looked up at me with a burning lust, but underneath that, there was something else.

I understood what it was she wanted, and I was all for it! This wasn't just sex. Not anymore. It was deeper--every touch a confession, every moan a promise. We knew each other's bodies now, knew what drew sighs, what pulled cries.

I leaned forward, kissing her gently, then lowered my mouth to her thigh, placing slow, teasing kisses along the sensitive skin. She trembled beneath me. My lips trailed closer to her panties--black lace, already damp. I kissed her through them, making sure my lips enveloped and suckled on what I hoped was where her clit hid. I backed off a bit while inhaling her arousal. She shivered.

"You're killing me," she whispered, breathless.

I smiled against her. "Just unwrapping my gift."

She lifted her hips as I hooked my fingers into the waistband and slowly slid her panties down her legs. Once they were off, she surprised me--lifting both legs together, straight up, hugging them close with her arms wrapped around her shins.

Her face peeked over her knees, eyes locked onto mine, and for a second... it looked like both sets of lips were smiling. Her top one, soft and loving. The lower, flushed and glistening, drawn tight with anticipation.

Then, without breaking eye contact, she spread her legs--slow, deliberate, utterly unashamed. Her hands slid down between her thighs, parting her folds. Her pussy twitched--completely bare, flushed, and already glistening. Her arousal shimmered as it trickled down the tender space between her pussy and her ass.

Jessica had prepared for this.

"I prepared myself earlier," she said softly. "I figured... if this was your first time licking me, you'd want nothing in the way. It's all yours."

She smirked. "So dig in, my wonderful dork. Enjoy."

I didn't need to be told twice. I settled between her thighs and let my tongue meet her swollen, slick folds. She gasped, arching into me, legs tightly wrapped around my head while her fingers were threading through my hair.

She moaned my name again and again, writhing beneath my touch, her pleasure building with every lick and suck. I drank in her reactions like water in a desert.

I followed her rhythm--her gasps, her whispered yeses--treating them like musical cues, like Jess was an instrument and I was learning to play her by heart.

Her moans climbed higher, closer to that edge--until she suddenly came out of that haze and tapped my head, begging "stopstopstopstopstopstooooooooop!"

Reluctantly, I did, looking up at her reddening face, her glasses fogging up, brunette wig still perfectly in place. The whole image before me looked erotic as hell. She slid back, away from my mouth, her body trembling. Then she collapsed against the headboard, chest heaving, breath ragged, eyes glazed over.

Completely undone. And it was all me.

"I have a surprise for you," she managed out. Consider myself intrigued. "Lie down on your back and close your eyes."

I did as she said, heart thudding. I felt her shift over me, her weight straddling my chest. Something nice smelling and hot was close to my face.

"Open."

I obeyed--and nearly lost my mind.

A beautiful, bald, open pussy hovered inches from my face, glistening and inviting.

Holy shit.

My hands flew to her thighs instinctively, steadying her. And then she lowered herself.

Her lips wrapped around my cock just as my tongue met her heat again, and we both moaned in sync.

As I settled into the rhythm, my hands slid down her thighs, feeling the smooth skin beneath my palms. My fingers caught on the edge of her socks still clinging to her calves. Without breaking pace, I slowly peeled one down, the faint drag of fabric making her shiver above me, I stopped breifly mid lick to turn my head towards her now bare foot, I extended my tongue and licked the sole of her foot.

Her hips twitched. A soft moan escaped her throat, muffled around my length.

I smiled.

She pulled back slightly, breathless. Then, lifting herself up a bit, I saw her upside-down face between the valley of her breasts. She smiled while looking at me. "Taking liberties, are we?"

I let my fingers trace teasingly along the other leg I just freed from the confines of the other sock. "They were in the way."

Jess huffed a quiet laugh, then glanced up towards my feet--still clad in socks. "Takes one to know one."

With a playful hum, she shifted forward slightly, her chest brushing my stomach as she reached down my body. Her hands found my ankles, fingers hooking under the edge of my socks. One by one, she tugged them off, grinning as the brush of her touch made me twitch beneath her.

She giggled, lips glistening, her breath hot against my skin. The intimacy of it--the shared removal, the quiet care--made everything feel even more real. Like this wasn't just about lust. It was something more.

Then she engulfed my cock again as my hands gripped her hips, steadying her as I pulled her down to me. My tongue slid through her slick folds, teasing her clit with deliberate strokes, and she moaned around me--deep and hungry. She tasted sweet, heady, and real. I couldn't resist gliding my tongue over her tight hole. I felt it tense up against my tongue.

It seemed to have done something as her hips bucked slightly, grinding against my face as I kept going, alternating between her puckered rim and her silky folds with slow, steady licks and flicks that had her gasping. Her thighs trembled around my head.

At the same time, I felt her mouth tighten around me--hot, wet, and wanting. She let out a muffled moan, then surprised me completely by taking me deeper.

Her tongue slid along the underside of my shaft as she pushed forward, her throat stretching to take as much of me as she could. I gasped, hips jerking involuntarily as her lips met the base, gagging softly, but never stopping. Her eyes watered, her fingers dug into my thighs, and she swallowed.

That was it.

I groaned low, broken and raw, as I pulsed inside her--thick heat shooting down her throat. She didn't pull back. She moaned around me and drank me in, throat flexing with each swallow.

And something about that moment--the stretch of her throat, the pulse of my release, the taste and submission and love in it all--broke her completely.

Her body seized. A muffled cry vibrated around me, and then it hit--a sudden gush soaking my chin, hot and unrelenting. She squirted, completely and uncontrollably, her legs shaking, hips bucking wildly as her orgasm crashed through her.

I froze for a heartbeat, stunned.

Then I anchored her down, kissing her through the waves of release. Her hands fumbled against my thighs, trying to steady herself as her body kept twitching with aftershocks.

She finally collapsed, panting, her mouth still engulfing my cock. Her cheeks were flushed, chest heaving, her body glistening with effort and bliss.

And then--with trembling fingers--she reached up and pulled off the fogged-up glasses. Her wig slipped free, and her real blonde hair tumbled loose around her shoulders. Again, her mouth was still full of my cock!

A beat later, I heard it.

Muffled. Garbled. But definitely words.

I blinked and pulled back slightly, breath catching. "What?"

Jessica lifted her head, lips glistening, cheeks flushed, eyes hazy and teary, Her lips stayed sealed, creating a tight vacuum around me before finally letting go with a wet, satisfied POP

"I love you," she said, voice cracking, her words breathy and raw.

Time stopped.

Her voice was fragile but firm. "It just hit me, Tom... that I've never felt this safe. This seen. With anyone." She brushed her fingers along my cheek. "I was terrified to say it, to ruin what we had, but after that... after everything--you deserve to know."

I sat up, gently turning her onto her back. I kissed away the tears. I kissed her mouth--deep, slow, lingering. our ejaculation mingling with each other as we tasted ourselves. And neither of us cared.

My voice was low, earnest. "I love you too."

She let out a breath that wavered midway, a mix of relief and joy. Her expression softened--serious, glowing, and determined, like she'd just decided something important.

"Tom," she whispered. "From the day we met, you intrigued me. You frustrated me. And you made me feel things I didn't think I could anymore. We've seen each other's worlds... and somehow, we complement each other. I feel like you have a part of my soul... and I have a part of yours."

Her thumb brushed over my cheek, her voice steady despite the emotion behind it.

"So tonight... I want to give you something no one else ever has. You don't need a condom. You don't have to pull out like we did before. This is just for us. I want you... raw. I want you to cum inside me."

We kissed again, deeper this time, tongues tangling, hands roaming. She clung to me like I was her anchor, and I clung back just as desperately.

Without breaking the kiss, I shifted down, positioning myself between her legs. Her pussy was still slick, still shining from her earlier release. I guided the head of my hard cock between her folds, rubbing gently, teasing her with slow, shallow strokes.

Turns out, nothing resets a guy like hearing, "I want you to cum inside me."

I held at her entrance, just watching her--open, wet, and waiting. She looked up at me, cheeks flushed, lips parted, and gave the smallest nod.

I pushed in--slowly, deeply--sinking into her inch by inch. She gasped beneath me, her nails digging into my back, her eyes fluttering shut. This time, she was fully there--every inch of her soaking in the sensation as I bottomed out.

We began to move together, finding that rhythm again--slow and deep at first, her hips rising to meet each thrust like she couldn't get enough. Her hands roamed my body--along my arms, over my chest, into my hair--whispering my name like a spell.

It built between us--heat, tension, electricity. Every breath came ragged. Every grind of her hips begged for more.

Her legs wrapped around my waist, heels digging in, pulling me deeper, rocking up against me with desperate need.

"Please," she panted, voice cracking. "Please cum in me, Tom. I want to feel it. I want to keep it inside me. I need it, babe... please..."

My last thrust was all instinct, all surrender. I groaned her name as I came, spilling deep inside her, pulsing hard against her walls. The release hit me like a shockwave--hot, intense, unstoppable.

And just as I started to soften inside her, she broke.

Jessica cried out, her body trembling as her orgasm hit, her pussy clenching wildly around me. A second squirt burst free, her thighs twitching, feet curling. The feeling of my cum-soaked cock grinding against her deepest point, pressing into her like I belonged there.

Her slickness pooled beneath us, mixing with the mess I left inside her.

I swear, for a moment, it felt like her body opened to me. Like something deep inside her wanted to keep every drop.

She whimpered something against my neck--I couldn't quite catch it. Maybe it was my name. Maybe just a breath. But whatever it was... it felt like something deeper. Something fragile.

It sounded like a promise. Or a plea.

Like home.

She collapsed beneath me, chest rising and falling, hair plastered to her flushed cheeks. I stayed inside her, letting the moment breathe, my cum slowly seeping out around me, wet and warm between her thighs.

I wrapped my arms around her, kissing the side of her head, brushing back damp strands of hair. Her body still twitched softly against mine, aftershocks rippling through her.

"I've got you," I whispered. "I'm not going anywhere."

She turned her face into my neck, hugging me tightly, whispering my name one last time.

She was mine. I was hers.

And in that moment of being sticky, breathless, and full of love. I finally knew what forever could feel like.

---------------------

*Jessica*

---------------------

"Don't stop loving me."

I whispered it into the curve of his neck, barely more than breath, my body still pulsing from the aftershocks. I don't think he heard me. But I said it. And I meant it.

I lay there in his arms, still breathless, my body buzzing, trembling in places I didn't know could tremble. His chest was pressed to my back, one arm draped over me protectively, fingers brushing lazy patterns across my stomach.

I should've been floating. Maybe I was. But under the afterglow, under the warmth and the softness and the love--I was a little terrified.

Because that... that wasn't just sex.

That was everything.

He didn't just make love to me, he held me like I mattered, like he saw all the parts I'd tried to hide under makeup and outfits and perfectly timed smiles. And somehow, he still wanted me.

I blinked, but the tears came anyway. I wiped them away fast, like hiding them would somehow keep this moment untouched.

I wanted this feeling to last forever.

But even wrapped in his arms, that tiny voice returned. The one that always whispered doubt when I felt too happy, What if he saw too much and decided he didn't want it anymore?

I shifted slightly in his arms, needing to feel him tighter around me. His arm instinctively pulled me closer, his lips pressing against the back of my neck like he could sense the storm in my head.

"Still with me?" he murmured sleepily.

God, his voice. It melted straight through me.

"Yeah," I whispered, placing my hand over his. "Just... overwhelmed. In a good way."

There was a pause. Then I felt him nuzzle into my hair.

"You're amazing," he said simply. No hesitation. No need for anything more.

And that did it. The tears fell this time, soft and silent. But they weren't sad. Not really.

I wanted to give him everything. Again.

I rolled my hips back into him, feeling him start to thicken and respond beneath me. He responded with a sleepy, surprised hum that deepened into a soft groan.

"You're insatiable," he chuckled, voice thick with affection.

"Just making sure you're real," I teased, grinding against him again. "That I didn't dream all of this."

He kissed the base of my neck, and I reached back, guiding him between my legs, needing to feel that closeness again--body and soul. I was still wet--still aching--but this time, it wasn't urgent. It wasn't wild.

This time, it was slow.

He slid inside me from behind, spooning me close. Then he shifted slightly, propping himself up just enough to lift me gently, creating space between my side and the mattress. He held me against his chest, his right arm curling under me to cup and massage my right breast, kneading softly, thumb circling my nipple. His left hand snaked over my hip, down between my thighs, and joined mine in teasing my clit.

Our fingers tangled there--slow, languid strokes, no urgency, just intimacy and presence, we felt the tips of our fingers being covered by Tom's essence, I peered down to look and Tom must've been saving up a lot for that much to be inside me, oh god I was sooo fuuuull!

My moans were soft, barely audible, but they poured from me with every deliberate movement of his hips.

My other hand reached back, searching blindly until it found the back of his head. I fisted my fingers into his hair and pulled him down into a kiss--deep, searing, full of need and gratitude and love.

He kissed along my shoulder, up my neck, his breath hot against my skin. Each kiss made me shiver, made me ache all over again.

Every thrust was deep and deliberate, not for lust--but for closeness. For connection. I felt every inch of him. Every breath. Every beat of his heart against my back.

We didn't speak. We didn't need to.

My orgasm built slowly, gently, until it crested and washed over me like a tide--warm, sweet, and completely consuming. I cried out into the pillow, my whole body arching as he held me through the trembling waves of release.

He came moments later, groaning into my shoulder, hips stuttering as he filled me again, his grip tightening like he never wanted to let go.

We lay there, tangled in silence.

And this time, I didn't fight the tears.

Because for the first time in a long time... I knew what it felt like to be loved. Truly loved.

"Tom..." I whispered, barely audible.

"Hmm?" he murmured sleepily against my shoulder.

"Promise me we get to have the whole weekend," I said softly. "Just us. No interruptions. Just... more of this."

A smile brushed the side of my neck. "You're not getting rid of me, Jess. I'm all yours."

And that's when I made the vow.

I'd tell him on Monday. About the forfeit. About the picture. Everything.

But not yet.

I needed this time. This quiet, honest love. This perfect, fleeting weekend.

Because after everything he gave me tonight... he deserved something real in return.

Even if it cost me everything.

---------------------

I woke up to warmth. The kind that seeped into my bones, settled deep in my chest. Tom's arm was heavy over my waist, grounding me. My breath stalled, heartbeat stuttering as the events of last night settled into focus.

I turned my head slightly, taking in the sight of him. His hair was tousled, lips slightly parted, his face relaxed in sleep. He looked... peaceful.

And for the first time in a long time, so did I.

Carefully, I reached for my phone, checking the time. It was still early, too early to get up. I let my head fall back onto the pillow, studying the ceiling as last night replayed in my mind.

I had fallen completely in love with Tom. The words had been there for weeks, but last night, for the first time, I finally said them out loud.

And of all the times to say it, I chose that moment.

Good god, Jess. Of all the moments you could've picked to say "I love you" for the first time, you chose the one where you had his tongue buried in you--while your own mouth was full?!

Smooth. Real smooth.

For the record, I'd never swallowed anyone's cum before. Unlike Hannah, Rachel, and Kat, I wasn't the type to hand out blowjobs like party favors. Even when I did go down on someone, it was hesitant--just another reluctant checkbox on the expectation list. And I always spat it out.

But with Tom?

Nothing was restricted. Nothing felt off-limits.

A movement beside me pulled me from my thoughts. Tom shifted, his arm tightening slightly around me, his face burying into my shoulder as he mumbled something incoherent.

A soft smile tugged at my lips. God, he was adorable.

Go back to sleep, nerd," I whispered, brushing a kiss over his forehead. He grunted, arms tightening just a little. My smile lingered.

A low hum rumbled from him, his grip instinctively adjusting like he didn't want to let me go.

I closed my eyes, letting myself soak in this moment a little longer.

As I shifted, the cool press of the sheets against my bare skin made me shiver. I was still aching, oversensitive in the best way. My inner thighs stuck together slightly as I moved--slick and sore, my bare pussy protesting a silent echo of just how hard we went last night.

The faint coolness beneath me was proof enough. I'd squirted. Like, actually. All over him. My sheets were damp, the air tinged with the scent of sex, and I could still feel the slickness clinging to Tom when I curled into him earlier.

He didn't say anything--just gave me that smug, satisfied grin.

I hadn't even known I could squirt. Fitting, though--he marked me first. This time, I returned the favor.

Some kind of twisted, perfect symmetry. My eyelids fluttered, sleep pulling at me. Just five more minutes. Just...

Knock. Knock. Knock.

My eyes fluttered open. Tom was still beside me, breathing steadily.

Another knock--louder this time.

My stomach clenched. Shit.

I slipped out of bed as quietly as possible, pulling on my silky nightgown as I tiptoed toward the door.

With every step, I felt the slow, warm trickle between my legs.

"Please don't leak. Please don't leak" I whispered in my head, clenching instinctively.

My thighs squeezed together. No use. I was stuffed. Gloriously, thoroughly stuffed.. My fingers hesitated on the handle before I schooled my expression into something neutral and cracked it open.

Hannah stood there, arms crossed, her usual smirk in place. "Morning, sunshine."

My pulse spiked, a cold shock running down my spine. Not now. Not today. My hand tightened around the doorknob, knuckles white. But I forced a casual laugh, hoping she wouldn't hear the tightness in my voice.

"Hannah? I thought you were out of town."

She shrugged, eyes flicking past me into my room. "Got back early. Figured I'd check in since someone's been ignoring my messages."

Shit, shit, shit.

I leaned against the doorframe, trying to block her view. "Sorry, been busy. You know, new guy and all." I added an exaggerated eye roll for good measure.

Hannah's smirk widened. "Nice to see you're back to how you were. You had me worried--getting all clingy again. First with that nerd, then with that stud the other month... So, who'd you bag this time?""

My pulse was thudding in my ears. I needed to redirect this. Fast.

I exhaled, feigning nonchalance. "Still seeing that guy from the other night. You know, Hank."

Hannah's smirk returned immediately. "Ah, right. Mr. Broody and Beautiful."

I forced a shrug. "Just a bit of fun. Nothing serious."

"Mmm." She didn't sound convinced. Her eyes flicked past me, scanning the room like she expected to find him sprawled out shirtless and smug. "He keeping you busy, then?"

I nodded, forcing a small smirk. "Yeah, him."

Hannah rolled her eyes. "Well, at least you're getting some use out of him."

I rolled my eyes, but it was too forced. "Yeah, well... he's not like the others."

Shit. Why did I say that?

Hannah's brows lifted. "Oh?"

I scrambled, trying to fix it. "I mean, the sex was just--different. That's all."

"Oh, don't be like that." Hannah pushed forward, making me step back or risk slamming the door in her face. "Come on, give me something. What's he like? Hot? Hung?"

I forced out a laugh, heat crawling up my neck. "Hannah--"

My eyes darted toward the bed just as Tom ducked out of sight, barely managing to slip behind the dresser before Hannah's gaze flickered past me.

Crap.

I needed to keep her distracted. "You know how it is. Just a bit of fun." I stretched a smile I didn't feel, trying to keep pace with her energy. "Not looking for anything too serious."

Hannah raised a brow, giving me a long, scrutinizing look. "That so?"

I nodded, a little too quickly. "Obviously."

Hannah hummed, stepping further into my room, her gaze scanning the space like a predator on the prowl. My fingers twitched at my side, heart thudding. I just had to hold it together a little longer.

Then her eyes landed on something.

Shit.

"Ohhh, what's this?" Hannah's voice lifted--sweet on the surface, but sharp beneath. Her curiosity had shifted into something more dangerous. Focused.

I turned slowly, praying she hadn't caught a glimpse of Tom.

It wasn't him.

It was worse.

The Rogue.

The tiny plastic figurine--dual daggers, big boobs, permanently winking--sat proudly on my nightstand. The same one I'd pulled out of a capsule and tucked between my own cleavage, just to tease Tom.

Our little inside joke. My dirty little trophy.

Too late. Hannah was already moving.

She plucked it up between two fingers, turning it like it was evidence.

"Seriously?" she said, voice light. "Did your upgrade give you a souvenir?"

I lunged forward and snatched it from her before I could stop myself.

My fingers curled around it protectively, far too fast. Far too obvious.

Shit. Shit. Calm down.

Hannah pulled her hand back, slowly, her smirk never wavering--but her eyes... her eyes flicked toward her jacket pocket.

She'd seen everything she needed to.

Then came the eyebrow--cool, cocky, collected.

"Let me guess..." she said, voice silk-wrapped steel. "Sentimental?"

I didn't answer. Couldn't.

So I turned, slipping the Rogue into my pocket like it didn't matter.

Like it didn't mean anything.

Her smirk widened.

"Cute," she said. "You sure you're not catching feelings for this one?"

I stiffened. She saw it. She always saw it.

"It's not like that."

But we both knew that was a lie.

"So, that was his?" Hannah's smirk widened. "Guess he left it in a hurry, huh?"

"Yeah, well, Let's just say he left satisfied."

Hannah chuckled. "Damn, Jess. If I didn't know better, I'd say you actually liked this one."

I stiffened. "It's not like that."

She smirked, clearly enjoying the reaction. "Relax, babe. I'm just messing with you."

A weak chuckle escaped before I could stop it, but something about the way she watched me sent a chill up my spine.

"I gotta run," she said, heading toward the door. "But hey, since you're all into this new guy, maybe I should get a taste too. I mean, if he's got you all twisted up, he must be good, right?"

A deep knot formed beneath my ribs. Something dark and ugly coiled inside me.

"Don't."

It came out sharp. Too sharp. A command, not a joke.

Hannah paused. Blinked. For the first time, I saw something flicker behind her smirk.

I swallowed hard, forcing a smirk to cover the slip. "He's just mine for now, that's all."

Hannah let out a laugh. "Relax, babe. I was joking."

But was she?

Hannah smirked, stepping back, but she wasn't done yet. Her eyes flicked downward, lingering.

Her smirk widened.

"Damn girl!" she whistled low. "Didn't think you were the type to let a guy finish inside."

My stomach dropped. How did she...

"What?"

"Oh, don't play dumb," she purred, tilting her head. "You're still dripping."

A wave of heat surged up my neck, flushing my cheeks with shame.

I must've relaxed when I nearly snapped at her. Let my guard down.

She gave a low, knowing hum, crossing her arms as she leaned back, clearly amused by the sight.

"Guess this one's different."

My throat tightened. The humiliation sat heavy in my chest, twisting low in my gut. I couldn't look her in the eye."You know..." she mused, tapping a manicured nail against her lip, "you were never this possessive before. Kinda cute, actually."

Hannah reached for the door, but not before pausing just long enough to twist the knife.

"Don't get too attached, babe." A smirk. A shrug. "You know how this ends. Our rule of four? We don't do serious."

Her nails tapped against the doorframe--slow, deliberate. four beats. Tick, tick, tick, tick. Like a countdown.

Then she was gone.

She finally left, closing the door behind her.

I barely breathed until I heard the faint click of the dorm hallway door closing. Then, Tom emerged from behind the dresser, his expression a mix of amusement and concern.

"Close call," he muttered.

I exhaled shakily, pressing a hand to my chest. "Too close."

Tom tilted his head. "You okay?"

I forced a smile, but the truth was, I wasn't sure.

Because if Hannah had even the slightest suspicion...

She wouldn't let this go.

But screw her.

Hannah had no idea. No idea what this was. What he meant to me.

And she never would.

I didn't care what Hannah thought. I'd said it last night, and I meant it. I loved him

No matter what happened next, I wasn't letting go.

Not of Tom. Not of this.

Even if it meant burning every bridge behind me.

But then I looked at Tom--safe, real, mine--and something inside me snapped into place.

Let her come. Let her try.

Because this time, I'm not running. Not hiding. Not pretending to be the girl she made me into.

---------------------

*Hannah*

---------------------

Well, one thing's for sure--if I wasn't suspicious of Jessica before, I'm 100% certain she's hiding something now.

Coming back early was a gut move. I couldn't explain it. I just knew something was off. Jess had been acting weird for days. So I cut the trip short, made up an excuse to my parents, and drove back before sunrise. My brother made some dumb comment about "how fake friends always show their true colors." I laughed it off at the time.

But it stuck.

And now? Standing outside her door, seeing her like this?

Yeah. I knew I'd made the right call.

Freshly fucked face. Hair a mess. Makeup smudged.

Cum still dripping down her legs.

This wasn't the Jessica I knew. Not the girl who gagged at the idea of swallowing. Not the one who once called blowjobs "undignified."

No, this girl?

This girl got wrecked.

I stopped mid-stride, eyes narrowing.

There's no fucking way...

That look on her face, flushed, dazed, and satisfied, it was the same look she had in the forfeit pic.

I should know. I've stared at that image enough times to burn it into my skull.

Either this guy had magic fingers...

Or he was hung like a goddamn horse.

And let's be real--there's no way Jess scored two monster dicks back-to-back.

That kind of luck? Doesn't happen.

Which means...

It's the same guy.

And just like that, everything clicked.

Her sudden indifference after completing the forfeit.

The way she started ghosting the group.

That dumb big-boobed toy.

The look on her face when she thought I wasn't watching.

Clever bitch...

I almost admired her.

If I wasn't so fucking pissed.

If I was right--and I was rarely wrong--her "upgrade" wasn't an upgrade at all.

It was him.

She lied.

To all of us.

That's when I pulled out the receipt I'd quietly lifted from her table when she wasn't paying attention.

She didn't even notice.

My eyes skimmed over the logo.

The date.

The time.

Bingo.

Jessica was so full of shit.

Back in my dorm, I slammed the door shut behind me, flopped onto the bed, and screamed into the nearest pillow. The anger didn't help. The scream didn't fix it. But I already knew what I had to do next.

I had proof.

Not gossip, rumors, or some half-baked group chat theory.

I have a timestamp. A location. A trail.

And if I was right--and she was still seeing him?

Jessica hadn't just bent the rules.

She burned them.

-----------------------

Later that day, I walked into the arcade Jessica and her mystery man had gone to, receipt in hand, I didn't even tell Rachel or Kat I was back early, I knew how their parents got when i was around, and besides, I needed to see this for myself.

I didn't have to dig hard. A few casual questions, a few flirtatious smiles at the guy behind the counter, and I got what I needed.

"Jessica?" the guy said, brow furrowing. "Nah, don't think I remember a girl named Jessica coming in here."

I clicked my tongue. "Hot blonde? Tight skirt? Pretty sure she was here, hanging off a hot looking stud, goes by the name Hank?"

He shook his head. "Nah, man. Only girl that stood out last night was some brunette nerd chick in glasses with her equally nerd looking boyfriend."

My stomach flipped. "Nerd chick? Nerd looking boyfriend?"

"Yeah, they were cute. Kinda felt bad for the guy, though. His girl whooped his ass at Street Fighter."

That... that didn't make sense. Jessica doesn't even like games, I tried to wrap my mind around this whole situation, It just didn't make any sense.

Jessica. Glasses. Arcade games. The fuck?

Only girl who stood out? The hell kind of sausage fest was this place?

Still... one girl. Glasses. T-shirt. Nerdy energy.

There's no way that's Jess... right?

I frowned.

"You sure?"

"Yeah. She looked, like, crazy into it. And he--" The guy chuckled. "Man, you ever see one of those nerd boys when they're so whipped they don't even care they're losing? That was him. They got one of the high scores of the night on several arcade games here. They have a picture on our wall over there."

Something was wrong.

I scanned the "Arcade Champs" wall--photos of happy couples, grinning winners, and the occasional prize ticket hoarder.

Please don't be her. Let it be someone else with her smile. Her eyes. Just this once, let me be wrong.

But there they were.

Both smiling, cheek to cheek, fingers raised in victory like there was no tomorrow--Tom, aka "Hank" and some gamer chick.

I stepped closer, heart thudding. The girl in the picture neither looked like nor dressed like Jessica. Not even close.

Her hair was darker, way darker. Too flat. Too shiny. Probably a wig.

No way Jess would fry her real hair with cheap box dye.

She wore a nerdy T-shirt, thick-rimmed glasses, and had that same hunched posture every anime-loving dork did.

But something about her face gave me pause.

Slowly, I raised my fingers and covered the brunette wig in the photo.

And then I saw that fucking smile.

Jessica.

Not Insta-Jess. Not the filtered, polished, party-perfect version.

This was real. Unguarded. Alive.

And she looked happy.

My stomach turned. My chest clenched.

She was still with him.

That fucking bitch--she was still lying to me. Still playing me like I was too dumb to notice.

My hand clenched around my phone. I raised it before I could stop myself.

Snap.

Another lie. Captured forever.

"Hank," I muttered, staring at the guy in the picture--at Tom.

How the fuck did I not see it?

The hair, the face, the posture--it was all right there.

Yeah. Fucking right.

That name was never real. It was a mask. A punchline. A perfect little alibi while she snuck around behind our backs.

After all this time--dodging my messages, smiling in my face, pretending she had moved on--she was still with him.

And that look she had in her room earlier?

Blissed-out. Legs-still-shaking. Totally wrecked.

Yeah... that wasn't just sex.

That was him.

She once told me nerds don't get happy endings.

Bullshit.

Looks like her nerd gave her one hell of a fairytale, and probably a few other things, judging by that post-fucked glow she was wearing like a trophy.

I'd seen Jessica fake things before.

I'd watched her play boys like it was a game--bait, tease, discard.

But this?

This wasn't fake.

That smile? It was real and that pissed me off more than anything.

My throat was dry. My jaw ached from how hard I was clenching it.

I needed a drink.

No--fuck that.

I needed to get fucked.

Something rough. Something mindless.

Something to burn this rage out of me before I did something stupid.

Something like telling Simon what I'd just found out.

The brain-dead jock should be back from his trip with the varsity team by now--maybe I'll stop by and vent a bit.

And if that made everything worse?

Maybe she fucking deserved it.

-------------------

"You've been a real bitch lately..." he muttered, grinning lazily at the ceiling. "Maybe you just needed a proper dicking to loosen up that cun..."

"Save it, Simon."

That shut him up fast. The grin faltered. Confusion flickered in his eyes.

"... Okay then."

I didn't bother explaining. Didn't need to.

He thought this was just a hookup. A fun little release. He had no idea I was sitting on a goddamn time bomb. And honestly? I was tired of holding it in.

"Let me guess... Jessica?"

He said it so casually, like he hadn't just hit the fucking nail on the head. Like the one thing I'd been stewing on for days was nothing more than a throwaway guess.

I didn't trust my voice. Not yet. So instead, I let the silence hang. Let him stew in it for a beat longer.

Didn't answer. Just sat up and grabbed my phone. My fingers were too steady. I was done holding this in.

Simon let out a breathy laugh, still clueless.

"Oh, come on. You still mad she's taking her sweet time with that nerd? Thought she was supposed to be done by now."

I unlocked my phone and dropped it into his lap.

He blinked. Brows furrowed. Looked down.

Frowned.

Confused.

I didn't even need to watch him.

I knew the exact second it hit.

The way his fingers froze. The sharp inhale. The tension snapping through his body like someone had just slapped him across the face.

"... What's this?"

Voice shaky. Trying to sound cool.

He stared at the screen. And I watched the shift in real time.

Confusion.

Focus.

Rage.

His jaw clenched. Shoulders locked.

"Are you fucking kidding me?"

He snapped his head toward me.

"I thought it was supposed to be a blowjob. Why the hell did the nerd get to fuck her?"

His eyes were wide. Burning.

"You bitch! You never let me do that!"

He shot upright, the sheet dropping to his waist--everything on display, physically and emotionally. The bitterness in his voice said it all:

He knew exactly what comparison was being made.

"That's what this was, huh? A pity fuck? Your booby prize 'cause he got what I never could?"

His voice cracked.

Rough. Gutted.

I said nothing.

Let him spiral.

He let out a bitter laugh, but there was no humor left. Just something raw.

"Well, fuck me."

No swagger. No smirk. Just silence.

His eyes stayed glued to the screen, pupils blown wide.

He saw it now.

Tom's size.

He blinked. Once. Twice. Then slowly dragged a hand down his face like he could scrub the image out of his brain.

"Jesus Christ," he muttered.

"Now I get it. You weren't mad she fucked him. You were mad she was fucked stupid by him."

He looked up. Eyes blazing with disbelief.

"YOU never looked like that with me."

I leaned back against the headboard. Arms crossed.

Maybe I was jealous Jessica got wrecked by someone who could ruin her... and leave her smiling.

Either way?

Watching Simon unravel?

Kinda therapeutic.

"When was this taken?"

I didn't answer.

Let him scroll.

Let him see for himself.

His thumb froze mid-swipe. Eyes went wide.

"... Over a month ago?"

His voice barely a breath.

"I was with the team. We were on tour for half that time."

He ran a hand through his hair, frustration leaking from every pore.

"She didn't say anything? Not a damn word?"

Then--finally--he snapped.

"You told me I'd get my chance if she failed. That was the deal. That was the fucking deal!"

There it was.

The ego. The rage. The sting of being left behind.

He turned to me. Eyes bloodshot. Voice venomous.

"You played me. You didn't say shit--even when I was gone!"

I didn't flinch.

Didn't blink.

"She did the forfeit. And according to the Rule of Four, we can't touch her now."

"Why do you think I never called? I was hoping she'd fail. I was waiting to hand-deliver her to you. Maybe even gift wrap her."

I let that hang.

"But she didn't fail."

A beat.

"And maybe..."

I tilted my head slightly. Let it land.

"If you were a few inches longer... maybe I would've looked like that with you."

He looked wrecked.

Pathetic.

A shell of the cocky asshole he used to be.

And part of me?

Part of me enjoyed it.

He muttered like he still couldn't believe it.

"She was supposed to be mine. She never even looked back..."

I didn't bother correcting him.

"So what now?" he asked, voice hoarse.

I didn't hesitate.

"Now?" I smirked. "Now we take back control."

His head lifted. Eyes searching.

"You serious?"

"Dead serious."

I leaned in.

"We remind her who she's really up against. She thought she could just walk away. Reinvent herself. Pretend the past didn't exist?"

He scoffed. "She wasn't supposed to like the nerd. That wasn't the point."

"Exactly. She was supposed to screw him, laugh, and move on. Just like always."

"Instead," I said, leaning closer, "she's still with him. Playing house. Pretending she's better than us."

He clenched his jaw, something flickering in his eyes.

"She spent months acting like she'd changed. Like she wasn't one of us anymore. But all it takes is one little push. One reminder of who she really is."

I let my voice drop low.

"She forgot who shaped her. Who built her. Who fucking owned her."

He stared at me. Something sharp igniting behind his eyes.

"Yeah..." he breathed. "We fucking will."

And just like that, the pieces started moving again.

But this time?

We weren't playing nice.

Simon let out a quiet snort, eyes still locked on the screen.

"Wonder what Tom's gonna say when he sees the full image?"

---------------------

*Jessica*

---------------------

I woke up feeling lighter than I had in months. The morning sunlight poured through the window, and the warmth of Tom's body next to mine was still fresh in my memory. My lips curled into a soft smile as I stretched, basking in the afterglow of last night. Not just our date night night, the whole weekend has been magical! My limbs felt boneless, my skin still buzzing from Tom's touch, the memory of his whispered "I love you" wrapping around me like a second blanket,  Making me feel like I was the only thing in the world that mattered.

For the first time in my life, I wasn't thinking about what came next. I wasn't calculating, I wasn't worrying about appearances, about what Hannah or Rachel or Kat would think.

My phone buzzed. I reached for it lazily, still caught up in the warmth of my bed--until I saw the name on the screen.

Hannah.

I could ignore it. Pretend I didn't see it. Pretend for just a little longer that everything was okay. But that wasn't how this worked. Hannah didn't let people ignore her.

The message was simple.

'We need to talk. Coffee shop. Now.'

A cold weight settled in my gut.

Hannah's messages had been sporadic lately, more passive-aggressive than usual, but this one felt... different. Urgent.

Tom stirred beside me, blinking up at me with a sleepy, content expression. "What's up?" he murmured.

I hesitated. "It's Hannah. She wants to meet up."

Tom exhaled, rubbing a hand over his face. "You think she knows?"

I shook my head quickly. "No. No, she just--she's probably just pissed that I've been MIA for the majority of our relationship." I tried to sound convincing, even to myself. And maybe... just maybe, she already knew. The thought sent a cold shiver down my spine. She'd almost caught us two days ago. Almost walked into my apartment while Tom was still naked in my bed. I had laughed it off then, played it cool. But I wasn't laughing now.

Hannah never stops digging. And if she had found something? If she had proof?

Then I was already fucked.

Tom sat up, stretching. "Alright. I need to head to my dorm and then then to Henry and Charlie's. They've been bitching about me not being around." He gave me a lazy smirk. "Guess my girlfriend's been keeping me busy."

"Girlfriend"

The word settled into my chest, warm and weighty. Girlfriend. It felt real. Secure. Like something I could hold onto. And yet, as I got dressed, something ugly curled beneath the warmth. The kind of feeling you get when you know a storm is coming but can't quite see the clouds yet.

I kissed him, slow and lingering, before whispering, "See you later, nerd. Love you."

As I got dressed and left, an uneasy feeling settled in my stomach.

---------------------

The coffee shop was nearly empty when I arrived. Hannah was already there, sipping an iced latte, her manicured nails tapping idly against the cup. She looked up the second I approached, a slow smirk creeping onto her lips.

"Took you long enough. For a second, I thought I was gonna have to pull another surprise visit to get you to come out of hiding." Hannah drawled, gesturing to the seat across from her. "Take a seat, babe. We have some catching up to do."

I didn't even realize I was holding my breath as I sat down. My mind kept flashing back to that moment in my apartment. The sound of the key in the lock. The second I thought we were caught. My heart had nearly stopped then. It was stopping now.

If Hannah was here for that reason, I was already dead in the water.

I swallowed hard but forced a casual smile. "Yeah, I know. I've been busy."

Hannah arched a brow. "Busy is one way to put it."

I barely had a chance to respond before Hannah leaned back in her seat, stirring her drink lazily. "You know, I always wondered what happened to her," she mused.

I blinked. "Who?"

"That nerd girl. The one who didn't fit in."

My insides lurched. The words were too casual, too offhanded, but I knew better.

Hannah smirked. "Oh, come on. You remember. The one who thought she could just... walk away. You know, I always wondered... what would've happened if she had just played along? If she had just done what we asked?"

I swallowed, my mind flashing back to that girl--her slumped shoulders, the way her voice got quieter every time Hannah spoke over her. The way she stopped meeting my eyes after a while. Like she already knew she didn't belong. And now? I didn't even remember her name.

"That was a long time ago."

"Was it?" Hannah said, tilting her head slightly, eyes gleaming. "She thought she could make it on her own. But that's not how this works, is it, Jess?"

I swallowed hard. "What are you trying to say?"

"You're not saying..." I trailed off, hating the way my voice sounded--uncertain.

Hannah just shrugged. "I'm just saying, Jess... you don't want to be like her."

I wanted to tell her she was wrong. That I wasn't like that girl. That I wouldn't break.

But my throat closed up before I could even try, it was then i realised that this wasn't a conversation.

It was a warning.

A threat.

She was reminding me what happened to girls who thought they could walk away.

And then she reached into her bag and pulled out her phone, she tapped and swiped a few times before turning the phone around and slid it across the table.

My fingers trembled as I picked it up

A picture of a digital screen with a smiling couple on it

For a second, relief trickled in--just a picture. No texts. No receipts. Just a stupid arcade picture.

Oh shit... the arcade!

It felt like the ground vanished beneath me. My lungs squeezed shut. This couldn't be happening.

The arcade picture was from Friday night!

It was a digital snapshot from one of the machines, showing Tom standing beside a girl in a casual gaming tee and thick-rimmed glasses. Me. A version of me I thought no one would recognize. But Hannah did. She always did.

Hannah leaned forward, her chin resting on her palm, watching me with the slow, deliberate amusement of someone who knew they had just won.

"You know," she mused, dragging a nail along the condensation of her cup, "for a second, I actually bought it."

A wave of nausea rolled through me. "Hannah..."

She ignored me.

"That you were just hooking up with some hot new guy and didn't want to share the details. That maybe, just maybe, you had a normal excuse for ghosting us."

She tilted her head slightly, her smirk widening.

"But then I saw this. And I thought... huh. That girl kinda has Jessica's eyes. And her smile."

I felt like I was drowning.

Hannah reached out and lazily covered the "girl's" hair with her finger.

"And when I did this? Bingo. And speaking of hair, to think 'Hank' was just the nerd--with a new haircut and a borrowed wardrobe. Props to you, Jess. That glow-up was lethal."

The world cracked beneath my feet.

My grip on the phone threatened to crack the screen.

Hannah hummed, tilting her head slightly. "I've been thinking, though... he still doesn't know about the forfeit picture, does he? I mean why go the lengths to disguise someone if you didn't want something specific to reach their ears?"

Every muscle in my body locked up. It felt like my lungs had stopped working. Like the air had been sucked out of the room. I knew she was waiting for me to deny it. To scramble for an excuse. But what could I even say? She was right. And now? It was too late.

That smirk stretched wider. "Yeah... that's what I thought." She leaned in, voice lower now, almost mockingly soft. "That's the thing about secrets, Jess. They have a way of getting out. And when they do? It's never on your terms."

I swallowed hard, my mouth suddenly dry."Hannah, I--"

"Relax, babe," she cut me off, waving a hand dismissively. "I mean, if you wanted to bang the nerd, you could've just said so." She took a slow sip of her drink. "And I gotta admit, the glow-up? Kinda hot."

I couldn't speak. Couldn't think.

"So..." I forced the word out, my voice barely steady. "You're not mad?"

Hannah let out a low laugh. "Why would I be mad?" She leaned back in her seat, smirking. "You do you. We were just messing with you before. If you like him, own it."

Something was wrong.

I could feel it.

Every nerve in my body was screaming at me to run.

I tried to steady my voice. "So... you're not going to tell Tom?"

Hannah's smirk never wavered.

"Oh, honey. I won't do anything." She took another sip of her latte. "But Simon?" She shrugged. "Well... I can't really control what he does now, can I?"

I went cold.

Ice filled my veins, creeping up my spine.

My throat felt tight. "Hannah, please. Don't do this."

Hannah sighed, almost pitying. "Oh, Jessica," she murmured, shaking her head. "You think that matters?"

I felt like I was going to be sick.

"I was going to tell him on Monday! won't you let me have that at least?!"

Hannah just sipped her drink, unbothered. "Oh honey... maybe you should've moved your little Monday plan back to Friday night. I guess your window of opportunity is getting smaller and smaller.

I couldn't breathe.

Couldn't move.

Hannah stood, brushing imaginary dust from her skirt. She picked up her phone, turning it over in her hands like she was admiring a piece of artwork. Then, she placed it back down, tapping a single, deliberate nail against the table--tick, tick, tick, tick.

Fuck the Rule of Four! What good is loyalty if it costs you everything?

"Better run fast, Jess. Wouldn't want to be too late. Oh, wait... maybe you already are."

No.

No, no, no.

Tom.

He was going to Henry and Charlie's dorm. That's where Simon would find him.

I shoved back my chair so hard it nearly tipped over. My vision blurred. My pulse pounded in my skull. My fingers fumbled with my bag, nearly dropping it. I had to move. Now. Before it was too late.

"Jessica, If the worse happens and you find yourself no longer in the favor of the nerd, this means I get to take a crack at his massive cock right? And if Simon gets to him first... well, who needs the girl who lied, when the truth's already spread wide open?"

Hannah's voice was amused, but there was something else lurking underneath. Satisfaction.

She knew what was about to happen.

She knew she had already won.

I ignored her.

My legs were moving before my brain could catch up. I wasn't even thinking--just reacting. Just running. Just trying to get to him before it was too late.

---------------------

*Tom*

---------------------

Not going to lie! but I had the proverbial "spring in my step" as I made my way towards Henry and Charlie's dorm room, Henry and Charlie's dorm was on the other side of the quad--top floor, opposite corner. Mine? Ground floor, same side. Jessica's was the furthest, in the female dorms across from me.

Sucked for meetups, but we made it work.

Hannah nearly caught us yesterday when she came home early. No way she knew about us--Jessica would've told me. But for some reason, I couldn't shake the nagging feeling crawling under my skin. Something was wrong.

This past weekend had been perfect. Jessica in my arms. Her voice in my ear. Whispering things I never thought I'd hear from her.

She loved me.

And I loved her.

So why the hell did my stomach feel like I was about to be sick?

I shook the thought away and kept walking. Henry and Charlie's dorm was just ahead. I had planned to stop by for a bit, maybe talk about setting up a new campaign, anything to just enjoy the weekend. But then--

A familiar voice cut through the air.

"Well, look who it is."

I slowed to a stop.

Simon.

He leaned casually against a lamppost with that same smug smirk I always wanted to punch off his face. Rachel stood beside him, twisting a strand of hair around her finger, watching me like she already knew something I didn't. Kat... well, she wasn't looking at me at all. Arms folded, shifting uncomfortably like she wished she was anywhere else.

The three of them were waiting for me.

A cold weight settled in my gut.

I kept my face neutral. "What do you want?"

Simon pushed off the lamppost and took a slow step forward. "Relax minecraft-boy. We just wanted to have a little chat."

I clenched my jaw. "Not interested."

Simon let out a low chuckle. "You sure? Because I think you'll wanna hear this."

I turned to leave--then he spoke again.

"It's about Jessica."

My feet stopped moving.

I didn't turn around, but my hands curled into fists in my pockets. Every part of me screamed keep walking, but I couldn't. Not now.

Simon must've seen the shift in my stance, because his voice dipped into something quieter. Amused. Knowing. Cruel.

"It's funny now that I look at it, she really does have you wrapped around her little finger, she's done an amazing job" he said

I turned, slow and deliberate. "The hell are you talking about?"

Simon grinned. "Oh, come on Tom! You can't be that stupid."

Rachel let out a soft chuckle under her breath, and Kat shifted awkwardly. I looked between them, my patience thinning.

"Say what you want to say," I ground out.

Simon sighed dramatically, then pulled out his phone, tapping the screen a few times, he looked at the screen, a brief flicker of annoyance crossed his face before turning it toward me.

I never should have looked.

The world stopped.

I couldn't breathe.

It was Jess, naked, on top of me.

My own fucking face in the image--eyes closed, mouth slack with pleasure, completely unaware. when did she?

A wave of nausea crashed over me, sudden and overwhelming.

"Crazy, huh?" Simon mused. "Bet you thought she was really into you, huh? Gotta say--even I was surprised when I saw the proof."

He looked toward his damn phone, smirked and then looked back at me with contempt.

"Damn, man. Didn't think a nerd like you would be packing like that. No wonder Jessica kept delaying--guess she figured she might as well enjoy the ride."

The blood in my veins turned to ice. "Where did you get this?" My voice was low. Dangerous.

Simon smirked, lowering the phone. "Straight from the source. No shame, no hesitation. Just hit send."

I felt the words before I processed them.

Sent it herself.

No.

No, that couldn't be right.

Simon shrugged, like he had all the time in the world. "It was a forfeit. A bet. She had to get with the campus' most pathetic loser--that's you, by the way."

He grinned. "Make you over, give you a pet name. Oh wait--Hank, wasn't it?"

He snorted, shaking his head. "God, that part really cracked me up. You actually beat her to it. Took the challenge right out of her hands before she could even name you. Cute."

My breath caught. I remembered that moment. I'd thought I was being clever--cutting her off, controlling the narrative. But hearing it from Simon's lips? It made my stomach churn.

Simon stepped closer, voice dipping with mock sincerity. "And then to seal the deal, she had to give you the best and only fuck you'll ever experience. Make you fall for her. Real deep."

He leaned in. "And after she 'fixed' you? She was supposed to come back to me. Back to someone who actually knows what to do with her."

The world narrowed around me. My throat burned. My vision blurred at the edges.

"I don't believe you," I said, voice low.

Simon tilted his head. "Don't you?"

He swiped his thumb over his phone, then turned the screen toward me.

It was her.

Jessica. In the disguise. The rogue wig. The glasses.

Me beside her.

The arcade photo.

My heart dropped. The one I thought was ours. Just for us.

"She sent that one, too," Simon said, his tone almost bored now. "She had to make it convincing. Really sell the whole 'falling for the nerd' thing. And you? You were the project--the final boss."

His smirk grew. "Had to clean you up. Change your hair, your clothes. Get you out of that basement you call a dorm. Walk you around like you were suddenly worth something."

I felt the blood drain from my face.

"She was molding you," Simon continued. "Ever wonder why it all happened so fast? Why it felt like some dream?"

He leaned back with that same shit-eating grin. "Because that's what it was. A well-rehearsed fantasy. And you? You were just the stagehand who mistook himself for the lead."

Then his tone dipped, mockingly nostalgic. "That invitation to my party at the start of it all? That wasn't some random chance. That was your debut. The before shot. You were paraded around like an ugly duckling about to become a swan."

I stood frozen, fists clenched so tightly they shook.

"She was never going to keep you, Tom," Simon added, voice lower now, but sharper. Like a final twist of the knife. "You were temporary. Just a task. A means to an end."

No.

Not Jessica.

Not her.

But the cracks had already started. My brain tried to fight it, but the images kept flashing. Every moment. Every kiss. Every touch. Every whispered "I love you."

Were they real? Or just perfectly placed traps?

I didn't realize I was breathing hard until Rachel let out a quiet laugh behind Simon. Like this was entertainment.

Kat... Kat didn't laugh. She just stared at the ground, arms crossed, guilt scrawled all over her face.

Simon stepped back, swiping again on his phone.

"Oh, and if you really don't believe me..."

Ding.

My phone buzzed in my pocket.

"Check your messages," he said, turning away with a smug little wave.

No.

No. No. No.

Everything inside me clenched.

Rachel and Kat stayed behind. Rachel looked satisfied, like the plan had played out just right. Kat looked wrecked.

I barely noticed them.

I was breaking.

And then--

"Tom!"

I blinked. My chest tightened with a shaky inhale.

Jessica.

Running.

Her blonde hair flew behind her, her eyes wide with panic, tears streaming down her face.

She skidded to a stop the second she saw my face. The second she saw what was left of me.

My entire body locked up.

I couldn't do this.

Not here. Not now.

Rachel and Kat moved to the side, clearing the space between me and her.

Jessica was calling my name, but I didn't move. Not yet.

I felt the weight of Rachel and Kat's stares. The weight of everything.

If I looked at her--if I even hesitated--I'd break.

So I did the only thing I could do.

I turned and then, I walked toward the male dorms. Toward Henry and Charlie. Toward something--anything--that made sense.

Away from them. Away from him. Away from Jessica Fucking Mason!

But even as I moved, as my feet carried me forward, I felt it.

She was still behind me.

Her breathless voice rang out, desperate, shaking. "Tom! Wait--please!"

I didn't stop. Didn't slow down. Didn't look at her.

I couldn't.

Not after what Simon just told me.

Not after what he showed me.

I barely noticed the others still standing there--Rachel, Kat. Maybe more. Their voices were just background noise. Static. None of them mattered.

Her feet pounded the pavement behind me, quick and unsteady, like she could feel time slipping through her fingers. "Tom, please--just listen to me!"

I exhaled sharply and finally stopped walking.

But I didn't turn around.

Silence stretched between us, thick and suffocating.

I could hear her uneven breaths, the way she was struggling to find the words. The right words.

There weren't any yet still, she tried.

"Tom, please, just hear me out!" Jessica's voice cracked, raw with desperation. "It wasn't-- I didn't mean..."

A bitter laugh scraped from my throat as I turned, slowly, meeting her wide, teary eyes with something cold. Something she'd never seen from me before.

My phone buzzed again. The arrival of Jessica distracted me from pulling my phone out earlier, I plucked my phone out of my pocket and stared at the screen.

A text.

UNKNOWN: In case you need a reminder. ;)

I frowned, my pulse skipping a beat.

I didn't want to look.

Didn't want to see it.

But my hands were already moving.

The message contained an image attachment.

My thumb hovered over the text notification, I hesitated before I tapped on it.

The second the image loaded, My whole body seized as dread clenched in my core..

Jessica. My Jessica, my ex Jessica....

Hair a mess. Eyes half-lidded, glowing with satisfaction.

Her body fully on display, straddling me.

My head barely visible in the background--eyes shut, completely unaware.

But that wasn't what made me want to fucking throw up.

It was the smirk.

That smirk. Like she was proud of it.

And the worst part?

The proof of what we did was still there--spilled across her stomach.

A fucking trophy. A goddamn receipt of everything she'd done.

And then I saw the caption.

"Forfeit complete."

I turned the phone around--slowly, deliberately--until the screen faced her.

She sucked in a sharp breath--like the sight of it physically hurt.

"Oh, really?" My grip on my phone tightened. "Then tell me--what exactly was it supposed to be?"

She swallowed, her hands shaking. "Tom, I--"

I shook my head, my grip tightening around the phone. "You sent this to them yourself."

Jessica's lips parted. She froze. That was all the confirmation I needed.

A sharp exhale left me, half a laugh, half something broken.

"You were never going to tell me, were you?" My voice was hoarse, tired.

Jessica flinched. "I--I was--"

"Before or after I found out on my own?" I cut her off, stepping closer, my rage barely contained beneath my skin. "Before or after Simon decided to tell me exactly what the hell I was to you?"

Her eyes filled with panic. "He's lying--"

"Lying?" My laugh was bitter, sharp. "Then tell me, Jessica. Tell me he's wrong."

Jessica opened her mouth--

But she couldn't.

The silence was deafening.

She had nothing.

And suddenly, everything made sense.

The way she hesitated when people from her old group were around. The way she would always change the subject if I asked why she wanted to be with me. The way she looked at me, sometimes, like she was waiting for something. Like she was expecting a moment where she could finally stop pretending.

I exhaled, shaking my head. A sick churn bubbled up through me.

I didn't want to be here anymore.

Didn't want to hear this. Didn't want to see her.

Jessica's breathing faltered. "Tom, please--just listen--"

"No."

Her entire body stilled.

I clenched my jaw, trying to breathe past the betrayal clawing at my chest.

"I was just a game to you," I said, my voice low, even, dangerous.

Jessica's face crumpled. "No! Maybe at the start... but I.... I.."

"Then why?" My voice finally cracked. "Why did you do it, Jessica?"

She inhaled sharply. "I--"

"Why did you choose me?" I snapped, cutting her off.

Jessica's silence wasn't just an answer.

It was the truth staring me in the fucking face. I laughed bitterly, dragging a hand through my hair. "You didn't did you? "Oh, now it makes sense. I wasn't special, was I? Just a nerd you picked at random. If it wasn't me, it would've been Henry. Or Charlie. Or whoever else you could play dress-up with, right? Any poor nerd would do, huh? As long as you got to play dress-up and humiliate them when it was all over?"

A thought came to me all of a sudden, "What makes this even worse is that you didn't even know my last name."

My voice was barely more than a whisper--but sharp enough to cut.

Her lips parted. Confusion flickered--followed by shame.

She didn't deny it.

"I gave you everything. And you never even asked who I was."

I took a shaky breath. "You say 'Tom' all the time... but you don't even know my full name."

My throat clenched. "That should've been the clue. That I was never more than a project."

She flinched.

The ground beneath me wasn't steady anymore. It felt like someone was tying my insides in cruel, impossible knots.

Everything I had let myself believe, every moment I thought was real, was unraveling in front of me.

She was looking at me with those eyes--pleading, desperate--but I could see it now.

It was never about me. It was never supposed to be me.

I was just the stand-in. The experiment. The fucking joke.

And suddenly, I wanted to be sick.

"You didn't choose me." My chest burned with the weight of the truth. The realization that I was never meant to be anything more than a fucking project. "Simon told me everything. The forfeit. The 'project.' How you were supposed to clean me up, fuck me, and then move on.

A bitter laugh scraped from my throat. I could feel the disgust rolling through me, thick and suffocating.

"And your reward for successfully 'fixing' me? Simon. The jock. The 'stud.'"

I scoffed, shaking my head. "But you know what, Jessica? He's not a fucking prize. He's just an asshole in a varsity jacket. And that's what all this was for? That was the big fucking goal?"

I exhaled sharply, shaking my head as disbelief thickened in my throat.

"And what was I supposed to be? Just another name on your list? Just a project you could toss aside when it suited you?"

Jessica shook her head violently. "No, Tom, it's never been like that, I would never..."

I let out a harsh breath, stepping back. "It was always like that. I was just too fucking blind to see it."

Her lips trembled. "I love you."

I scoffed.

"Do you even understand what love is, Jessica?" My voice was quieter now. No shouting. Just exhaustion. Just disappointment.

Jessica blinked, taken aback. "What...?"

"Love isn't just passion," I said, my voice cold and final. "It's not just attraction. It's not just comfort. It's all of it--passion, intimacy, and commitment."

I let the words settle, then added, "That's the theory of love."

Jessica's breath shuddered. Her lips parted, but no words came out.

I let out a sharp exhale, pressing on.

"And you? You never reached all three."

She flinched. A choked sound escaped her throat, but I didn't stop.

"You wanted me. You cared about me. But when it mattered?"

I swallowed hard, my throat tight, my chest fucking burning. I forced myself to meet her eyes--eyes that were finally starting to see just how badly she had fucked up.

"You never chose me."

Jessica let out a choked sound--somewhere between a gasp and a sob. Like she hadn't realized it until just now.

I thought back to that moment in the store, when she shoved a new wardrobe into my arms, grinning like she was doing me a favor.

The way she watched me step out of that fitting room, eyes gleaming with something I mistook for admiration.

And then later--Rachel's smirk. Hannah's approving nod. The way they whispered when I wasn't looking.

I thought she was showing me off because she liked me. Because she wanted me.

But now I knew the truth.

She wasn't showing off her boyfriend. She was presenting her project.

I exhaled sharply, my voice barely above a whisper.

"You weren't showing off your boyfriend. You were showing off your work. Your little project. The nerd you dressed up and made 'presentable.'"

"And Hannah? Rachel? Kat? They weren't just hanging around. They were there for the reveal. For the big moment when you showed them your work--your final product.  I thought they were just curious. But no--they were watching. Waiting. Judging. They knew, Jessica. They always knew. Under the new clothes, the haircut, the 'glow-up'--it was still me. But they played along anyway. Because that's what this was, wasn't it? A game."

Jessica looked like I had slapped her.

Her lips trembled. Her eyes.... God, those fucking eyes.... They were begging me to take it back.

To fix it.

To undo everything.

But she couldn't.

I clenched my fists, every muscle in my body screaming at me to just walk away.

To end this.

To let her deal with what she had done.

I exhaled sharply, my voice barely above a whisper as I turned my head just slightly--just enough to let the words hit her before I left for good.

"For what it's worth, Jessica..." My throat tightened, but I forced it out. "You won."

"I fell for you. Hard. I loved you."

I swallowed, forcing my feet to keep moving.

"And now? Now, you get to live with that."

I turned.

And I walked away.

Away from Jessica. Away from everything.

I could feel her staring at me, her presence burning into my back like she was willing me to turn around.

Every step away from her felt heavier. More permanent. More real.

But I didn't stop.

Because stopping meant looking back.

And looking back meant remembering how much I fucking loved her.

I kept walking. Step after step, further away from everything I thought we were.

Because looking back meant giving her another chance.

And after everything? I wasn't sure what scared me more--walking away, or wanting to turn back.

Each step away felt heavier, like the weight of her absence was settling into my bones, locking itself inside me.

My fists clenched. I drew in a sharp breath. The betrayal twisted deep.

I wanted to hate her. I needed to hate her.

But all I could feel was the fucking hole she left in me.  

And the worst part? That piece that was there?

It still belonged to her.

---------------------

*Jessica*

---------------------

My world had just fucking imploded.

Tom's words kept looping in my head, over and over, like a broken record that wouldn't stop skipping.

"Do you even understand what love is, Jessica?"

I could still see the way he looked at me--like I was a stranger. Like he didn't even recognize me anymore, he even started to call me Jessica again, it was as if... as if he regretted ever meeting me.

I stood there in the middle of the courtyard, surrounded by people who suddenly didn't matter. Their chatter blurred into nothing, the world tilting beneath my feet. My heart pounded so hard it hurt, my breath coming in sharp, uneven bursts, and my stomach felt like I had swallowed fucking glass.

I should go after him, I should fix this but I couldn't move.

I couldn't even breathe.

A voice cut through the fog.

"Welp, that was dramatic."

I flinched.

The world snapped back into focus.

Hannah.

She popped her gum, watching me with a lazy smirk, like she hadn't just witnessed my entire fucking life fall apart.

Her heels clicked against the pavement as she stepped closer, her presence suffocating. I barely noticed her looping an arm around my shoulders until her perfume--the one I used to love--choked me.

"It's okay, BFF," she cooed, voice sickly sweet. "You don't have to deal with him anymore. Your forfeit's done, Girl it's been nearly two months since you fulfilled your end of the forfeit You're free. Free from him and his little geek fantasy world, yeah sure he had a massive cock but at the end of the day he's still just a nerd, bet he was always a two pump chump compared to the studs we have lined up for you"

Something inside me snapped.

I felt my entire body go still.

Hannah must've sensed it--she started to pull back--

Too late.

*CRACK!*

The slap landed hard.

Hannah's head snapped to the side, her breath hitching. Her heels faltered, skidding slightly against the pavement.

Silence.

A stunned, suffocating silence that swallowed the entire courtyard.

For the first time ever, Hannah fucking Monroe was speechless.

Her breath shuddered. Her lips parted, but no words came out. She lifted a trembling hand to her cheek, her fingertips brushing the burning skin. Her nails dug in slightly, like she was trying to ground herself--to process what had just happened.

Then, slowly--too slowly--her wide, glassy eyes locked onto mine.

And I saw it.

Fear.

She masked it almost instantly, her face twisting into something ugly. But it was there. Just for a second.

"You... you just--"

Her voice cracked. Actually cracked.

Gasps rippled through the crowd, some whispered, some openly gawking.

Hannah swallowed hard. Then she laughed--a dry, humorless sound. "Oh, Jessica, you've finally lost it."

I didn't move.

"You think you're better than us now?" she spat, voice wavering, her usual cool, condescending tone just slightly off-balance. "Just because you fucked some nerd?"

She let out a sharp, brittle laugh, flipping her hair like she was still in control. "God, you're so fucking pathetic, Jess. What, you think the geeks are gonna take you in now? You think they actually want you?"

Her eyes gleamed, lips curling. "Newsflash, sweetheart. You weren't one of us, and you'll never be one of them. You're nothing. A fucking joke who doesn't know where she belongs."

Her voice dripped with mockery, but there was something wild in her eyes now--desperation, like she was clawing for a reaction, for control.

Whispers.

That's what broke the silence first. Low murmurs, sharp inhales. Someone even laughed--not because it was funny, but because it was unbelievable.

"Holy shit."

"Did she just--?"

"No way--"

I barely heard them over the roaring in my ears. My heartbeat was thunder, pulsing in my veins, drowning everything out. My hand still tingled from the impact, skin stinging, burning.

Hannah had always held the power. She dictated the rules. The hierarchy. The game.

But not anymore.

And everyone knew it.

I let out a sharp, humorless laugh.

"You think this is about the fucking forfeit?" I let the words settle before stepping forward, watching the way Hannah flinched.

"No," I whispered, voice dripping with venom. "This is about you."

Hannah swallowed. "Me? Jess, don't be ridicu--"

"You can't stand it, can you?" I cut her off. "The idea that someone--anyone--could be happy without you pulling the strings. The fact that I had something real, something you'll never have, eats at you like a disease."

I took a step closer, lowering my voice. "And me?" My voice shook, but I didn't stop. "You were going to hand me over to Simon like I was some fucking plaything if I hadn't completed that forfeit. Like I was a prize to be passed around."

Hannah's lip quivered. "J-Jess, I--"

Rachel jolted, her face twisting in shock--then something else. Uncertainty. She swallowed, darting a glance at Hannah, then back at me. Rachel stiffened beside her, her lips parting, but I wasn't done.

"And you know what's even worse?" I leaned in, my voice dropping just low enough that only Hannah could hear. "You'll never have what I had."

Her smirk faltered.

"You'll never know what it's like to have a man so good that Simon looks like a fucking joke in comparison." I tilted my head, my smile widening. "And that? That's what really keeps you up at night. The moment you saw that picture, you knew you could never do better. Call me a size queen all you want, but right now? My world has ended, and I have ZERO FUCKS TO GIVE!"

Hannah blanched. Her breath trembled slightly, her hands twitching at her sides as if she wanted to say something--anything--but no words came. Her lips parted, working uselessly, like she was trying to form a response. A laugh? An insult? Some desperate grasp at control? But nothing came out. Nothing but silence.

The gasps from the crowd were immediate. A murmur rippled through the students--a low, growing sound of realization. Someone let out a low whistle. A few exchanged looks, and I saw it: the shift. The way they weren't looking at Hannah with admiration anymore. They were looking at her like she was... small. Someone in the back chuckled, soft at first, then louder. Another joined in, then another. It wasn't laughter at a joke--it was laughter at a dethroning.

Rachel jolted, her face twisting in shock--then something else. Uncertainty. She swallowed, darting a glance at Hannah, then back at me.

For a second--just a second--her mask slipped. I saw it.

Doubt.

Kat didn't move. Didn't rush to Hannah's side. Didn't say anything.

Just watched me.

And for a second, I swore I saw something--something that almost looked like... understanding. Hannah's face burned red--not just from my slap, but from humiliation. And for once, she had nothing to say.

I let the moment settle before delivering the final blow.

"Hannah?" My voice was calm. Too calm.

She blinked, thrown off by the way I said her name. By the finality in my tone.

"I'm done."

"Done with you. Done with this. Done with the rule of four. Just done with it all."

I let the words settle, watching Hannah crumble, before I drove the final nail in.

"What I'm saying is..."

I let the words linger, let the weight of everything sink in--before finally looking her dead in the eyes.

"... This party girl won't be bowing to you anymore."

I turned. And for the first time, she didn't chase after me. Didn't yell. Didn't try to stop me. Maybe she finally realized--she wasn't in control anymore.

And walked away.

My head spun, my chest felt like it was caving in, and my hands were still shaking from the impact of the slap.

But it wasn't Hannah's face I saw when I closed my eyes.

It was Tom's.

His voice repeating that same line, over and over, sinking deeper into my bones like an open wound that wouldn't stop bleeding.

"Do you even understand what love is, Jessica?"

I swallowed hard, but the lump in my throat wouldn't go away.

The world around me blurred--voices mixing into a distant, meaningless hum. My legs felt unsteady, my breaths shallow. Every inch of me trembled, but I couldn't tell if it was from exhaustion or the weight of what had just happened.

Tom was gone.

I had lost him.

And it was my own damn fault.

Everything feels... heavy.

My arms. My legs. My head.

Like I'm drowning in my own choices.

The sun was setting now, I must have been walking aimlessly for hours now.

Long shadows stretched over me as I wandered long past the campus perimeter.

I didn't know where I was going--only that I couldn't stop.

Couldn't breathe. Couldn't think.

The world had tilted and I was falling... and falling...

A car pulled up nearby.

The soft crunch of tires on gravel. A door opened.

I squinted into the fading light. The sun framed the figure in gold, turning her into a silhouette--almost like a ghost.

Familiar. Distant. Watching.

Then arms. Steady. Firm. Familiar, somehow.

Holding me upright as I started to collapse.

And a voice. Low. Haunting. Tired.

"She breaks everyone eventually. You just happened to be the first to fight back... and actually land a hit. "

I blinked. The edges of my vision turned black. I turned my head just slightly--

And through the blur, I saw a shadowed figure. Auburn hair. Quiet pain in her eyes.

My lips parted. But the words never came.

Darkness swallowed everything.

---------------------

End of Chapter 2

---------------------

Tom and Jessica's story isn't finished just yet.

Originally, I had planned for it to be only two chapters long--but as the characters grew, scenes deepened, and new plot threads emerged, it became clear that the only way to do this story justice was to split it into three parts.

Chapter 2 ended up nearly 10,000 words longer than Chapter 1!

Chapter 3 won't be quite as long--it'll land somewhere between the lengths of Chapters 1 and 2--but rest assured, I've already built a rough outline and I'm hard at work fleshing out each scene to bring this story to a satisfying, emotional conclusion.

Thanks again for reading--and for sticking with Jessica and Tom through all their chaos, growth, and heart. ❤️

© 2025 by Adam_Sephenson -- Originally published on Literotica. com