Morning jog

I step off my porch and onto the sidewalk, looking up at the sky. I check my watch, 8:15 in the morning – "Damn, the sun is already punishing." - I place my headphones, adjust my shoelaces and valiantly begin my morning run. It’s a Wednesday and the streets in the suburbs are awfully quiet, which means I don’t have to worry about cars running over me like I did in the city. I live by the lake and the jog is actually quite pleasant now that I've manage to develop a taste for running, thanks to my ex. – "At least THAT’S worth salvaging." – I think, reminiscing about the suboptimal break-up we had had a few months back. Truth be told, she was a stuck up bitch who dreamed of becoming the next Kardashian or something. I had no patience for her bullshit and she had no patience for mine, I don’t even know how we lasted almost two years together. She was pretty hot, though. - "I guess that must've played a big role." - I think, grinning.

By the time I hit the first mile, my shirt is already glued to my body and I can feel how saggy my briefs feel. Drips rolling down my forehead tell me I’m losing water, but I’m used to it so I soldier on until I reach the top of Hillview Lane, from where I can see the school where I work and pretty much the whole neighborhood. I notice a family just getting into their car, probably about to drop the kids at school, and memories of the previous day flood my mind instantly. - "My god... that was so hot. Sometimes I'm still unsure if that actually happened. Four students, four pairs of teenage tits, four juicy mouths..." - I stop myself as a tent starts to form in my shorts. Not having anything to cover myself with, I decide to just keep on running. – "Maybe if I stay moving people won’t notice the bulge down there so easily…" - It takes another mile or so, but my hard-on finally succumbs, to my relief. I reach Fairway Heights Prep. School at top speed, feeling energized.

"Morning, Dewie!"

"Morning, Mr. Archer! Can’t believe you went jogging under this sun!"

"Willpower, Dewie, willpower!" – I reply as I climb the front steps of the school, making my way to my office. I walk by the classrooms and see the empty chairs reminding me of the constantly bored faces, the same boring lessons. The school is still silent, all I can hear are my own footsteps and my heavy breathing. – "Time to hit showers." – I think to myself as I open my office door and reach for my duffel bag. I double-check to see if everything is in there and I’m about to lift it when...

"Hi Mr. Archer." - The unexpected voice throws me off completely and I end up dropping the duffel bag altogether.

"Ow! What the fuck?!" – I got one of those duffel bags with wheels on the side and, as Murphy would've predicted, I dropped it right on my toes.

"Are you okay, Mr. Archer?! Sorry if I scared you, I…"

"Alice?! What are you doing here so early? It’s not even 9! I thought we were meeting at 1?"

"Yeah, I… my parents dropped me off but I... told the nurse I wasn't feeling well. I said I was about to throw up so she sent me back home…"

"Sorry to hear that. But then… why are you in my office? Waiting for your parents to come back?"

"No..."

"Ohhh... kay? You’re lucky I forgot my door unlocked yesterday. I wasn't really thinking straight after..."

"After we came by?"

"Yeah... exactly. After you girls left I was very... relaxed. Which explains the unlocked door, I guess. But you still haven’t told me what you’re doing here. I mean, if you’re feeling sick…"

"I lied. I lied to the school nurse. I just wanted to get off class."

"Oh, so you thought my office would be the best place to skip class, was it?" – I ask seriously.

"No, Mr. Archer! I…"

"Relax, it's alright, Alice, I was in high school too, I’m just messing with you. Some days we’re just not in the mood. Feel free to hang around, just make sure you don’t get caught, ok? And listen..." – I continue without giving her a chance to reply – "I've got a class soon and I just jogged here, so I need to hit the showers now, ok?"

"Ok…" - She replies with a lost gaze in her eyes and without even looking at me. She seems troubled, I couldn't just leave her like that. - What if it had anything to do with what we did? - I think, worried.

"Alice, are you ok? You seem a bit down..." – I said as I made my way to the futon where she was and where I had spent some quality time with the girls the day before. I gently place my hands on her shoulders and crouch to face her better. – "Is this about yesterday?" - Alice nods and my heart sinks. I feel a chill of concern rush through my body. - Was she regretting anything? Was she angry? – "Look, what we did yesterday... we were just playing and…" - I try saying, as lovingly as possible.

"It’s not that..."

Phew. - "Well, what is it, then?" – As I lift her chin slightly, our eyes meet. Alice’s oozing gloominess.

"Well… it’s just that… I couldn't stop thinking about what you said yesterday. After I got home it kept buzzing in my head… and…"

"What do you mean, honey? Which part? I was just trying to teach you girls what I thought…"

"No! It’s not that. Remember I said I had a boyfriend?"

"Yeah…"

"His name's Jim and we've been together for almost 3 months now."

Wow, three whole months! - I think, amused.

"After yesterday I started thinking about our relationship... that stuff you said about intimacy and acceptance… and I ended up spending hours just thinking about it."

"But... isn't that a a good thing, though? Thinking about your relationship and stuff?"

"I don't know... I’m not really sure anymore.... I kept thinking about the times we hung out and kissed and stuff." - She continues, a little embarrassed. - "I mean, it was fun, we made out a few times, too, but… I don’t know… I feel like he doesn't accept me like you said a boyfriend should..."

"Hmm... and why's that? He's gotta be mentally challenged to mess things up with you. I mean, look at you!"

Alice just shrugs. The more she talks, the more upset she seems to get. – "Last week, for instance... we ran into each other on the way to the locker rooms after P.E. and when I leaned in for a kiss, he dodged me! Right in front of his friends, too..." - She tells me, almost tearing up.

"Wait... you're telling me he dodged your kiss?"

"Yeah… and that wasn't the only time either. Just when we started dating, he took me to the park... but it was so hot I was having bad skin, so I had some pimples on my forehead... when he saw them he made a phony excuse and said it was better if we hung out some other day..."

I was speechless. - Who in their right mind would pass-up a girl like this? If I'd had the chance back in the day... what an idiot. - I thought, staring at the beautiful redhead in front of me. - "Well, who knows? Maybe he did have some reason to..."

"No! I saw him staring!" - She yells, angry. I don't know what to say, so I just remain quiet and give her shoulders a friendly squeeze. - "And this other time.. we were making out and stuff. He... he put his hand under my…" - She stopped.

"That’s ok, honey. You can talk to me."

"Well… he... his hand was... under my shirt."

"Okay..." - I say, kind of turned on.

"Then he starts touching me... but out of nowhere, he pulls his hand out, says he has to go home and just leaves me there. The next day I ask him what happened and he pretends like it was nothing. I keep nagging until he kind of tells me…"

"Kind of? What did he say?"

"He didn't really say, say it... but he kind of brought his fingers up to his nose and made a face..."

Are you fucking kidding me now? He was fucking gay, no other explanation for this.

"It was kinda warm in his room and I was sweating... but so was he!"

At that moment I just wanted to beat the shit of that little prick. - How can you be such an ass to a girl who’s making out with you?! A HOT girl making out with you? Letting you grope her? What in the fuck...

"I'm not sure he really loves me, Mr. Archer. The more I think about it..." – Tears now rolled down Alice’s face. – "He’s such an ass!"

Hugging her, I had to be honest. - "Alice, baby, I’m not gonna sugarcoat it, I think you're mature enough to hear this. From what you’re telling me, it really sounds like he’s not that into you. Boys that age, they’re very lost. Especially when it comes to girls, you know? So if I had to guess... I'd say he’s more interested in the bragging rights of dating one of the hottest girls in school than in... well, you."

"You really think that, Mr. Archer?"

"Of course. Otherwise he wouldn't act like that around you. What leads a dude to…"

"No, I mean... you think I'm one of the hottest girls in school?"

"Oh, that? Of course, look at you! You’re stunning, Alice! That boy has got to be insane to treat you like that. You know what I wouldn't have given to have dated a girl like you back in high school? I would've killed for a chance with someone like you."

"Only then?" – She inquired keenly.

"Well... no. Not really. That’s just a way of saying it. I can’t even begin to tell you how stupid he is. Me? I'm thrilled just to have had a taste of what it must be like to date you yesterday. Felt like the luckiest guy in this school."

I had now forgotten about the time altogether and I was now petting Alice’s face, trying to calm her down a bit.

"But the most important takeaway here is: Jim's a prick, Alice. It’s not your fault it’s not working out. Everyone gets pimples. Everyone sweats. He’s just a moron. Or gay?!" - I joked, now managing to draw a little smile. It was a start. - "Honestly, just by looking at you I get the funny feelings in my stomach. And not ONLY there, if you know what I mean?" – Another smile. Things were definitely improving. – "If you were my girlfriend, I wouldn't care if you were covered in pimples, sweat, mud or all three. You’re jaw-dropping and any boy who thinks otherwise needs to stop jerking off to porn and start recognizing true beauty when it slaps him right in the face!"

"True beauty? You think I look better than porn stars?" – Alice shyly asks, missing my point.

"Er, yeah. Those girls, as pretty as they might be sometimes, they're all fake. Fake boobs, fake lips, even their butts are fake these days…"

"Yeah, but they... I don’t even have any boobs." - She comments, staring down at her chest.

"That’s not true now, is it? What you're saying is you don't have fake, massive boobs. That I agree with. But even from this angle I can see two little mounds. And yours aren't fake. They’re all natural and they’re gorgeous just like that. Let me tell you a secret. It’s a secret very well kept among men, so listen carefully. For a girl to be considered hot, she doesn't need huge boobs, a huge ass or anything like that. For a girl to be hot, she just needs to be blessed with a beautiful face, a nice overall shape and charm. There’s nothing hotter than a naturally beautiful girl like yourself, Alice. Just as you are. With your small boobs, with your toned legs and your drop-dead gorgeous face." - As I was done speaking, I notice Alice throw a wide smile. And what a smile she had. - "So fuck Jim! You deserve someone who’ll accept you at all times, just as you are!"

Alice frowned again. - "Easier said than done, Mr. Archer… people are not like that, you said it yourself… they’re all lost in their own world of porn or whatever..."

"Maybe. But not everyone. Take yesterday, for instance. You girls accepted me almost like my own girlfriends, didn't you? And that's just one example..."

"I can’t date myself, Mr. Archer…" - She quickly fires back. - "Or the other girls..."

"Why not?" - I joke. - "Have you ever thought about it? I’m sure there are plenty of caring and accepting boys out there, too."

"Hmmm... I don’t know about boys…" – She says, smirking. - "But maybe... men?" - Completing her thought, Alice was now staring at me inquisitively. I admit that caught me a bit off-guard.

"Aren't I a bit too old to be your boyfriend?"

"I don’t care about age… as long as you’re not another Jim…" - She adds with disdain. - "Don't you like me like that, Mr. Archer?" - She quickly asks without giving me a chance to answer. - "Is it because of yesterday? Or my pimples?"

"Enough of the pimples! Forget that! Forget what Jim said. I’m not Jim and you actually have no pimples. If we were to be a couple, my arms would always be open to you. Always. Period."

Alice just shrugs, unconvinced.

"What? You don’t believe me? Alright, then. Alice Crossheimer, would you like to be my girlfriend?" - I propose, just like a marriage and on one knee.

Blushing like a paprika, Alice giggles and looks away. She then looks back at me. - "Are you... serious, Mr. Archer?"

"Dead serious, Alice. A girl like you? That's any man's dream..."

With both her hands tightly against her chest, she bites her bottom lip then stops smiling. - "But... how do I know you're not just another Jim who's gonna break my heart?"

Those comparisons with Jim were annoying the fuck out of me, but I kept my cool. - "All you have to do is say yes and you'll find out... today, even."

"Hmm... do you promise, Mr. Archer?"

"I do." - I replied., clearly alluding to weddings and eliciting a smile.

"Okay... then, yes!" - She yelps, leaning in to hug me.

"That's my girl. My beautiful, gorgeous girlfriend." - I whisper. - "Now... a promise is a promise. I'll always accept you, no matter what."