On the Road Again

Kurt felt a sense of déjà vu as he walked along the same well trodden dirt path, weaving through the same tall, overarching Red Pines, just as he had done only hours earlier. The only differences between then and now were the people he was with and the sun. The bright, yellow mid-day sun had been replaced by the orange hue of the sinking evening star. In fact, as much as it felt the same, it looked completely different, bathed in that pinkish golden light. Like another season, or another world. But, the mere similarity of the six of them walking and talking as they passed through the forest only reminded him of the events earlier in the day, of Chloe and the waterfall.

Another feeling pricked the back of his neck, raising his hair and setting him on edge. The feeling of being watched, as if there was something out there in the woods, observing his every move. He breathed measurably, assuring himself that no one there. It was all in his imagination, the dimming light and new shadows playing tricks on his mind. There was no demon prowling around, searching for young men to eat as a human sacrifice. He glanced around, swallowing his panic.

Someone was watching him.

Lisa. Lisa was staring at his face, eyes narrow and searching. He flinched, realising that she was looking at him, and clutched his chest.

“Wha-what?” He asked. “Why are you staring at me?”

“No reason,” Lisa said with a shrug. “You just seemed lost in through, and I was trying to see if I could figure out whether you were thinking of Chloe or not.”

“Chloe?” Kurt was caught off guard. “Why would I be thinking about her?”

“Seriously, dude?” Lisa rolled her eyes. “You guys keep glancing at each other and acting awkward around the other. Neither of you are particularly subtle.”

“Ok, fine, but nothing’s going on between us.” Kurt insisted with a frown. Lisa’s words rang in his mind, and he couldn’t help but wonder, ‘does Chloe really glance at me?’. And then, aloud, to convince himself as much as Lisa, he said, “she’s with Gavin now.”

“But you’re in love with her, right?” Lisa pressed on, shrewdly.

“Hah, love…that’s a novel idea.” Kurt laughed, perhaps a little too hard. “I know better than to get attached like that.”

“The mind can’t control what the heart wants,” Lisa retorted, and then with a smile, added, “so, what’s her name?”

Kurt arched an eyebrow at the little Latina, thinking she’d gone senile at a very young age, “You know her name: Chloe.”

“Not Chloe. The one who broke your heart,” Lisa clarified, smirking as Kurt’s puzzlement turned to embarrassment.

“I…I have no idea what you mean,” Kurt insisted unconvincingly. “I’m the one who breaks hearts; it never happens to me.”

“Suuure,” Lisa nodded patronisingly. “Think about who you’re talking to, Kurt. I’ve been through heartbreak. I know that urge to cut yourself off and not get involved anymore. Of course, I did it by shutting myself in my room, not by fucking any warm body that crossed my path. Although the presentation is different, the symptoms are the same, and I know the cause of the disease. I just want to know her name.”

Kurt signed, resigning himself to having to tell her. Lisa proved to be very skilled at extracting information from him and getting her way. With her determination it was only a matter of time before she wore him down and got the truth from him anyway, so might as well tell her now and save himself half the hassle.

“Her name is Jennifer. I met her a year ago, last summer, when I was volunteering here at the park. We got on well, and she was really hot. There was a spark between us, an attraction that I thought she felt too,” Kurt said, wistfully telling the story, a hint of bitterness beneath his voice. “On the last day, I took her up to the caves and confessed how I felt. But she seemed to think I was too immature…too inexperienced.”

“Wait, is that why you’re such a manwhore now?” Lisa giggled. “You were just making it so that no one could ever call you inexperienced again?”

“No!” Kurt growled. “I…I just…there didn’t seem to be any point in being the nice guy when all those feelings just lead you to someone who doesn’t want you. I just decided I’d rather enjoy myself than worry about things like love and relationships.”

“Except, after Zack and Chloe broke up, you took advantage of the situation and fucked the redhead. Now you’ve been seeing her on a daily basis since and probably boning her with the same regularity?” Lisa surmised. “And you’re surprised that you’re developing feelings for her?”

“Well, it wasn’t exactly intentional. She just kept coming to me for sex, and what was I supposed to do? Turn her down? I may be dumb, but I’m not a dweeb.” Kurt retorted. “Besides, at least I moved on from my heartbreak.”

Lisa raised her eyebrows. “What do you know about it?”

“Besides Chloe telling Ashley today that Gavin told her that you told him you wanted to get back together with Zack?” Kurt plotted the gossip’s trajectory. “I can also guess that’s why you asked last night if Ashley and I really fucked.”

“Ugh, I thought Gavin was better at keeping secrets,” Lisa groaned, inwardly thinking that this was why Ashley returned early and invaded her plan to fuck Zack all day. “But, I’m not ashamed to admit that, yes, I want to get back with Zack. I was the one that broke up with him because he cheated. I’ve had some time to think though, and I don’t think I gave us enough of a chance. I reacted out of anger and resentment, and never gave us an opportunity to work through our mistakes. Maybe it might have even made us stronger.”

“So, you want to get back together. Even if it means destroying his relationship with Ashley to do so?” Kurt asked.

“If that’s what it takes, so be it. Listen, I want Zack to be happy,” Lisa said, lowering her voice to make sure the man in question in front of her couldn’t hear the conversation. “I just believe he’d be happier with me.”

“That’s cold,” Kurt said.

Lisa shook her head. “I just want to fight for what I believe is right this time. And Zack should know how willing I am to be with him, to move forward with him. If he’s to make a decision, then it should be with all the facts before him. And the fact is that I love Zack just as much as Ashley, and I’ve never fucked anyone…else.”

“That ‘else’ came a little late?” Kurt shot the sexy Latina a sideways glance. “You wouldn’t happen to be a virgin, would you?”

Lisa blushed slightly as she nodded, hating to admit that despite her confidence and single mindedness, she was much less experienced in the bed room than her rival. She and Zack had fooled around some during their relationship, a blowjob here, a titjob there, but never going all the way. The night of the party was supposed to be the night they shared their first time, until he hooked up with…her…in the closet.

“You know, I could help with that,” Kurt offered, with a smirk. “Teach you a few things to help you match Ashley in the bedroom.”

“Hah, no. I’ve been holding my own so far.” Lisa laughed, dismissing Kurt with a wave. “And I have no intention of making the same mistakes as Ashley did.”

“Well, shit,” Kurt grumbled. “Between you and Ashley fighting over Zack, Gavin and Chloe getting together, Heather being distracted and Victoria being potentially dead, my prospects are looking slim.”

“Geez, you really do think with your dick, don’t you?” Lisa recoiled. “I think Victoria being dead will have worse consequences than you not getting laid.”

“Alright then, since you think you’ve got everything figured out,” Kurt said. “What do you suggest I do?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Lisa rolled her eyes. “Just talk to Chloe.”

“She’s already tried talking to me. But I know she’s just going to have the conversation where she tells me we have to break things off because she and Gavin are getting together,” Kurt replied. “I’m going to look like such a loser if I start telling her not to because of my feelings.”

“You might be a loser if you say something, but you’ll definitely be a loser if you don’t,” Lisa challenged him. “As things stand, Lisa probably just thinks of you as a good fuck, nothing more, nothing less. She doesn’t know what your feelings are. She deserves to know that you’ve developed feelings for her. Maybe she’s developed feelings for you too but is settling for Gavin because she thinks he wants the same things as her and believes you don’t. At least give her the chance to disappoint you.”

Kurt frowned as he looked at his feet, dusty clouds being kicked up by his steps on the dry, dirt trail. Loathe as he was to admit it, Lisa’s advice was sound. He didn’t know what Chloe was thinking and was simply presuming the worst of her because of his own preconceived notions. Perhaps when he got back he would have a talk with her finally and find out where they both stood. It still ran the risk of rejection and disappointment, but, thanks to Lisa, Kurt was feeling much better about his chances.