#simone kerr

Being David Wooderson’s younger sister has its perks...amongst many downsides. To list just a few, you know a lot of the older kids at your school, do shit you’re legally not advised to, and are invited or know of any or all parties happening and when. And, being a sophomore, you have personally been able to master your drink taste and the types of parties you truly enjoy: fruity drinks that match the heat of the summer parties yet to come. 

Hitching a ride on the back of a truck with Jodi, Simone, and Michelle, you all gossip and compliment each other’s outfits, going over the endless possibilities for the summer as the school year officially ends this year. Michelle and Jodi were clad in bell bottoms and short tops, Simone settling for a classic tee and jeans, while you basked in the summer air with simple bell bottoms, a nice belt, boots, a cropped tank, and a button-down shirt tied in case of the night getting on the chillier side.

Finally, parking on the curb beside numerous other cars, you confidently make your way into the Emporium, eyes grazing over the multitude of sexed up men and women, and of course, the newly recruited teens coming of age.

“There she is! The life of the party!” Don slings an arm around your shoulders, lightly tugging your head into his abdomen to scruff up your hair.

Pulling on his coveralls, you jab at his stomach, giggling as you make out of his head lock. Groaning, he lets up with a struggled smirk, straightening up quickly when Pink, Slater, and Benny come stumbling in the billiard, already a bit tipsy.

Slater’s eyes catch yours, making a smoking motion with a clumsy smile, walking up to you for a hug. “How’s you going, Tiny?”

“I’m pretty good, can’t say much about you though, huh?”

“What? I’m living my best life.”

You laugh, about ready to get in a tit-for-tat with Slater before a younger boy, not much younger than you, comes crashing through the Emporium’s entrance, Fred right on his heels.

“Hide me! Hide me! Hide me!” he yells, accidentally knocking into you, which throws you off balance and on the floor beside Pink’s feet.

“I’m gonna knock your teeth in, you Skimpy Pile of-!” Fred screams, being held back by Pink, who’s nicely patted your shoulder as he helped you up, and Don, who just wanted to get one drink in before shit hits the fan.

“O’Bannion! You better have good reason for throwing my ass on the floor!”

Instantly, Fred stops struggling, looking you dead in the eyes with a twinge of fear. “I don’t need one.”

“Oh hell yeah you do,” you warn, standing up to him despite your height difference, “That’s Jodi’s kid brother.”

“I know, that’s what made the chase more fun,” he gives you a shit-eating grin, “Then he slashed my tires when I was chasin’ him through the fucking woods!”

“Yeah, alright, I’ve heard enough. Turn your ass around before I beat ya with your own board alright, O’Bannion?”

Standing for a few seconds more, he goes to say something else, but settles for muttering “bitch” as he storms off, going to mess with someone else, claiming “he wasted his time.”

Turning around with a small flustered smile, you do a curtsy as the group of boys cheer you on. “Stop it,” you flush, crouching back down to meet the eyes of the boy that’s been running around the whole neighborhood, “You alright?”

Staring at you blankly, he comes at a loss of words as he takes in your beauty. Finally he stutters after a moment of silence, looking you up and down sheepishly, “U-uh yeah, yeah, I’m fine. I could’ve handled him on my own. I mean, I have been handling him all day. But, thanks?” he boasts, taking your hand as you offer it.

“Of course you did. Anyway, if you have a problem with him, just tell me. My brother will handle him if I won’t,” you grin.

Grinning back, he mutters an, “Okay,” as Pink and Slater take him away, going to get him some beer.

Don, silently watching your gaze, giggles as he notices the two of you still staring even after a great distance was put between you two, “You might wanna wipe that drool before someone mistakes you for a toddler.”

“Wh- I am not drooling! I’m just making sure he’s okay! He’s been chased by O’Bannion since school broke out!”

“Mhmm. Well, in that case, there’s nothing to worry about then since he didn’t get beat.”

“Exactly. I was just checking.”

“Alrighty then!” he concludes, giggling as he takes a swig of beer and join the group of boys in question.

After a few moments of talking, the boys leave the Emporium completely, leaving you to clear your head and enjoy the night. You are not crushing on a little boy, you silently scold yourself. But, the fact was, he wasn’t a little boy. If he was a kid, then you were, no matter the year difference that makes you “superior.”

After some time spent playing pool, dancing, flirting, drinking, and trying to get Wooderson out of trouble, you finally crash down on a discarded couch, catching your breath. The break only lasts a second, unfortunately, as you feel a force plop itself on the other end of the rickety cushions.

Lifting your hand from covering your eyes, you dart them to your left for a split second, doing a double-take as you realize who’d shown up. “H-hi,” you stutter, initial shock masking any further discussion.

“Hi,” Mitch smiles, a little more confident than he had when he first met you. “You wanna go somewhere more private?” he asks, checking over his shoulder at Slater and Don, winking at them.

Lightly grasping his cheek, you turn his head back around, “I would, but that’s if I don’t have to share a room with them,” you smirk.

He coughs as his cheeks turn red, “Well yeah...”

“Come on,” you chuckle, grabbing his hand and leading him up the flight of stairs, finding a desolate room, and ducking into it with a lock on the door. 

Twirling slowly, you plop yourself on the bed tiredly, Mitch still standing stiffly at the door. “I ain’t gonna bite ya, besides, what they don’t know don’t hurt them out there.”

Silently, Mitch makes his way over, lightly filling the spot on the bed beside you, laying on his back and staring wide-eyed at the ceiling. Catching the expression, you groan, “What did they tell you?”

“W- Well- Nothing.”

“Oh no, did they tell you to try and score?” you sit up, shivering in disgust.

“Yeah, they told me that’s how to be a real man.”

You smile sarcastically then turn to Mitch seriously, “Hey, you don’t need to have sex to be a man, okay? If there’s anything my parents taught me, it’s that the right man won’t pressure you, the right time will come naturally... Are you a virgin, Mitch?”

His face flushes a deep red again, going to scratch his neck out of habit. You don’t need him to answer to know, “Don’t worry, so am I. And quite frankly, I’d be more comfortable keeping it that way for a while.” The room goes completely silent for around 10 minutes before you pipe up again, “If you want, it’s been long enough for your first time to be up,” you smirk, “So, if you want, you can leave and say we did it. It’ll ease both of our pressure. Or, we could stay here a little longer and just get to know each other. I’m fine with either.”

Exhaling deeply, Mitch’s whole body goes lax, “I’d like to get to know you,” he smiles, turning on his side to face you and you do the same.

Now it’s your turn to blush, “That sounds nice.”

For the rest of the night, you stay holed up in the bedroom just passing time talking, telling stories of your early childhood, and just generic things like your interests. You’d found Mitch to be quite the talkative and humorous type after getting comfortable, and Mitch was more than delighted to hear your silky, natural laugh. He found it adorable, or in more context, you adorable.

There was lots of hand holding and soft kisses on the nose, forehead, and cheek. And by the first signs of the sun peeking through the blinds, you kissed his lips sweetly, walking him up to his doorstep in hopes of seeing him again, “If you don’t get killed, do you want to hang out on Wednesday?”

“Hell yeah,” he smiles broadly, “How about a movie at the drive-in?”

“It sounds like a date, Mitch,” you grinned, blowing an air kiss as you make your way back to the sidewalk.