Collide by H.M. Ward Page A

not like that. You don’t get it. Everything about her is just—” he sighed as he trailed off.
    Another voice cut him off. This one was more self-assured, more confident. He spoke with the authority only a jock could fully manage. “The girl’s a tease, Trystan. What’s the point of chasing after her if she won’t put out?” That was a typical Seth question. Talk about poor choice in friends. I expected the conversation to stop. I wasn’t that quiet, but the landing was high above the stairwell and tucked at the top of the staircase behind a wall of unused flats. They didn’t seem to realize that I was there.
    “ I can’t stop thinking about her,” Trystan sighed, “Every time I close my eyes, she’s there. I can’t get her out of my head.” His voice sounded haunted, like this girl had really gotten to him. Which was something since Trystan dated everyone and was serious about no one.
    As the door clicked shut, I remained motionless—silent—but the metallic click echoed through the room. My heart rate shot up into being-chased-by-a-bear territory. I wanted to hear who she was, who made him sound like that, but the longing in his voice made me feel like a voyeur. I shouldn’t be standing there. I shouldn’t be listening. This was a private conversation, but I was already there.
    Acting like I just walked through the door, I bounded down the metal stairs. I walked around the corner and stepped in front of the flats. Both of them looked up at me.
    Seth was saying, “You need a college girl. Forget these high school girls,” as I rounded the corner.
    Seth was the size of a football player with a toned muscular body, but never seemed to do anything to get that way. His sandy hair was buzz cut, like he had enlisted. He was sitting on a chair across from Trystan, who was slouched back on an old leather couch with his hands behind his head. When Trystan looked up at me, he dropped his hands and straightened a little. There was something in his eyes, something about the way he glanced at Seth, that made me uneasy. He probably thought I heard what he just said.
    Seth turned and looked at me, then back to Trystan. His voice grew louder, more cocky, “Besides, high school girls don’t know how to give a decent blowjob. Do they, Mari?” Seth the pig liked to pick on inexperienced girls and make them blush. It was a pastime for him. From hanging around Trystan, I had become accustomed to his crass questions. My face no longer flushed, although he never stopped trying. The guy talked about sex so much that it no longer shocked me. It was like his brain was swimming in a lust serum. Seth wasn’t hard on the eyes, but his mouth made him repulsive.
    Trystan’s eyes flicked up to mine after Seth spoke. He had no idea what my experience was with guys, if any. Sometimes it felt like everyone thought I was celibate, as though I’d taken an oath or something just because I didn’t want to make out with every guy I met. This confused Trystan. He’d said things in the past, but I didn’t feel the need to explain myself.
    I tossed the play book on the battered coffee table and sat down next to Trystan. Answering Seth, I said, “I’m not planning on giving you demonstration.” Trystan’s blue gaze was on the side of my face. His lips parted slightly like he was surprised. I turned toward him. “What?”
    He shook his head smiling, “Nothing. Just didn’t expect you to say that.” He folded his arms across his chest. The black shirt he was wearing made his eyes look like sapphires. They were such a dark shade of blue.
    “ So who’s a tease?” I asked, assuming that they heard me on the staircase. “Do I know her?”
    Trystan was usually perky, like he’d eaten a case of Pixie Stixs, but he seemed uneasy today. His gaze lowered and he didn’t speak.
    Seth shifted in the old plaid chair. His fingers picked at the threadbare fabric, working a hole into the arm. “You know her,” Seth said, grinning. “You