“No sex for a few days,” Terri’s voice was deadly serious.
“What?” I asked, glancing over at her.
We were slowly walking to the bus stop the following morning. I was still tired and sore, so I was moving pretty slowly. Terri looked great, but she’d complained about being a tad sore herself earlier this morning.
“I think you’re exhausted, truly,” Terri said. “I asked my mom about it before you got up this morning.”
“You did what?” I looked at her in shock.
Terri burst out laughing.
“I didn’t tell her everything stupid. I’m not a moron. I just explained the symptoms you’ve been showing all week, both at home and at school. She thinks you’re exhausted to the point you don’t realize it anymore.”
“Huh,” I said, frowning. I mean, I know I was tired, but I didn’t think I was EXHAUSTED. I mean, look at me; I’m still on my feet… barely. But then again… I did pass out last night… during sex… on camera! How embarrassing was that? Then, there was that blinding headache I got just before I passed out. What was with that?
“It’s really dangerous,” Terri said. You need to rest, relax, and recharge. Drink lots of fluids and get good sleep.”
“You offering to help me out with that last bit?” I leered at her.
She slapped my shoulder. “If it guaranteed you’d do what I said, I would.”
“I like doing what–” I yawned loudly before finishing, “you say.”
“Why do I bother?” Terri shook her head.
“Changing the subject, last night was rather lucrative,” Terri said.
“I’ll say,” I leered.
“Jesus, I’m really starting to worry about you,” Terri stopped walking and looked at me.
“What? Cause I’m being playful?” I asked, stopping as well.
“No, because you won’t take me seriously,” Terri said.
“Since when have we been serious?” I asked.
“You know what I mean, asshole,” Terri said testily.
“What is your problem this morning? I mean, we had an amazing time last night, and now you’re all serious with me instead of our normal flirty,” I said.
“Ash,” Terri moved forward and took my face in her hands. “I’m worried about you. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love what we’ve been up to, and I don’t want to stop.” She locked eyes with me. “But, you need a break. You’re wearing a little thin at the edges.”
“You’re wearing thin,” I said in a knee-jerk response. “I’m fine. Sure, I’m tired, but who wouldn’t be after all I’ve done? But it’s not like I’m operating heavy machinery or anything. I’ll grab an energy drink at school and be right as rain, you’ll see.”
Terri just shook her head and let go of me. “You don’t understand what these deals we made can do to you,” she mumbled.
“What do you mean?” I asked. I was starting to realize I probably should have asked a lot more questions before I let THEM change my body as part of my deal.
Terri didn’t answer me and simply walked away, leaving me staring after her. I had to hurry to catch up.
“I don’t know why I bother,” Terri muttered.
“Cause you love my dick,” I chuckled wickedly.
Terri spun on her heel and put her finger in my face.
“I love you!” she barked. “I. LOVE. YOU.” She stressed each word as if trying to make it sink in.
“I know,” I said meekly, overwhelmed by the sheer force of her will.
“I care about you!” She looked away from me, her voice growing quiet. “Last night, in that chair, when I couldn’t get you to wake up… that scared me, Ash. You scared me!” Her voice was angry, for real angry.
“Hey, I didn’t mean to,” I said, not sure what I could say. I didn’t know she hadn’t been able to wake me up. I thought she’d just left me to wake up on my own. It wasn’t my fault I’d passed out. I wanted to tell her it was because of how amazing she was, and she’d just overwhelmed me. But, like the coward I was, I kept my mouth shut.
“I don’t want to see you like that again, ever!” she barked at me. “I can’t.”
I grabbed her and hugged her with everything I had. I couldn’t think of anything else to do. Terri was pouring her heart out at me, and I was just standing there like an idiot. This wasn’t us. This wasn’t me.
After a moment, Terri was hugging me back. Her arms got tighter and tighter until she sniffled once.
“Hey, OK!” I said, leaning over to make her look at me. “I’ll knock it off, promise. I’ll put on my chastity belt, and only you can tell me when I can take it off, OK?” I’d never seen this side of Terri before. She looked up at me with watery eyes. She’d never been the vulnerable one before.
“Tell me you’re not lying to me again,” Terri said.
“Lying to you?”
“You’ve been lying to me all week!” Terri said.
“That was for fun!” I looked at her, feeling hurt. “I’ve never lied to you when it was something serious. I couldn’t do that to you. How could you think that I’d–”
“OK, fine, I’m stupid,” Terri said, cutting me off.
“Wait, what?” I said, confused.
“Obviously, I’m stupid because I would think you might lie to me just to make me feel better,” her words were hard; she really was pissed.
“I don’t understand. You said no more sex for a while. I said OK. I never said you were stupid; you’re not stupid!” I said with more force than I meant, my voice raising. I glanced around to see if anyone was nearby.
Everybody in school knew Terri and I were close, like sisters close. There were always rumors there was more to it than that, but nothing anyone could prove.
“You’re one of the smartest people I know!” I said, holding my hands up in frustration. “You’re so damned smart; how could you think I’d do something to hurt you? I’ve never done anything to intentionally hurt you! I couldn’t. Hell, I go out of my way to think up things I know you’ll like, no matter how extreme.”
“You–” Terri started but stopped herself.
We both stood there, holding one another for a long moment.
“What are we fighting over?” I asked.
“That you’re an idiot and won’t do what I tell you to for your own good,” she said.
“I’m an idiot… that’s a given,” I said and saw the faintest of smiles from her. I took her face in my hands gently, making sure she was looking at me when I spoke. “But know I’d never do anything to intentionally hurt you, Terri. I might do it as an accident, but never on purpose! You’re my best friend… and I love you… probably more than I really should, but there it is.”
She looked at me like she wanted to say something but held herself back.
“What?” I pleaded with her to tell me what was going on.
Then, like flipping a switch, her face cleared, and a huge grin spread across it, “You are so my bitch.”
I froze.
“Wait… what?” I looked at her in shock.
“A few words, a tear or two, and you were practically groveling at my feet,” her grin was maniacal as she spun away from me and continued on towards the bus stop with a skip in her step.
I looked on in shock, my mouth just flapping up and down, attracting flies. Then I started forward to catch up with her.
Terri span again and latched her lips on mine in the deep, fierce kiss. A moment later, she pulled away.
“No sex for three days. Not with me, not with anyone. Understand?” Terri said forcefully.
“You’re a crazy bitch!” I gasped.
Terri startled me by slapping me hard across the face.
Once more, I stood there in shock. I reached up and touched my cheek tenderly, feeling the heat from her strike. Terri had never hit me in anger… which… is that what this was? I didn’t know. I wasn’t sure about anything anymore.
Then she leaned in and whispered, “But, I’m your crazy bitch.”
I didn’t know what was going on anymore. Terri liked to act a bit crazy on occasion, but this was new. Had all the love talk been an act? Was she more broken than I’d realized?
“Three days!” Terri said, pointing at me with all seriousness.
I swallowed hard, suddenly afraid of my best friend for the first time.
“Uh… sure?” I said, not sure what else to say.
“OK, good.” Terri nodded. She smiled and grabbed my hand before pulling me towards the bus stop.