3. D!ck tease

5. D!ck tease

<<. Riley .>>

Alarm buzzes for the second time and I peek at the clock, still half asleep. It is five past twenty in the morning. Ten more minutes!

I hit snooze, and a pillow hits my face across the room.

“OW!”

“Get your ass out of the bed. Right now!!” Ira hisses at me.

Oh God! My parents never hissed at me like this. Even when I hit snooze for an entire hour.

“When did you wake up?”

“The very first time your alarm started buzzing!” She says, annoyingly. I didn’t know she could hear my alarm.

“I want to sleep!” I mumble and cover my face with her pillow to block her voice.

I hear the shuffling on her bed and I hold my sheet tight to prepare myself for her attack.

She pulls the comforter hard, and I fall off the bed.

“What the hell! Ira!” I shriek.

She says while pushing me into the bathroom. “I wake up because of your freaking alarms, Riley! There is no way I will let you sleep again!”

I rub my eyes and look at myself in the mirror. In my defense, I try to wake up early so I can go for a run. My mood is better when I exercise in the morning.

“Now don’t you dare get inside the bed! Or I will drag you like you did!” I tell her loud enough for her to hear while brushing my teeth.

“You can try,” she drawls.

When I come out, I see her getting ready for her Zumba class.

“Be thankful I didn’t throw my water bottle at you,“ She sneers and I roll my eyes.

“I was planning to sleep for an hour, but your damn alarm!“

“Stop being dramatic. It wasn’t even ringing!“ I tell her.

“It vibrates your entire bed, Riley! Is this an alarm clock or a God damn vibrator!”

That makes me laugh. With half-assed efforts, I change and put on a tracksuit. We get out of the room together. Ira leaves for the Gym and I warm up in the park the dormitory building.

After jogging for a while, I pick up my pace, then run around the campus with music blaring high in my ears. I run until I am totally awake and feeling ten folds better. I always loved the thrill of flying high. It was stupid of me to stop taking part in the competitions. Maybe I should get in touch with the coach and ask if I can start again.

Natalie still finds time to train and participate in races. We used to train together in high school. It was fun.

When I come back to my room, sweat runs down my face to my cleavage. Boobs are such a nuisance with exercise and sweating. I wish I could leave them at home before going out for a run.

….

After taking a bath and getting ready, I glance at Ira and ask her, “Are you coming with me?”

I am ready to leave for classes. She is ready too. But I see her clutching her phone tight with a worried expression on her face. Probably waiting for a call.

“I will be late. I need to speak with Liam.”

Her brother.

“Oh.. how is he doing?” My last encounter with him was a little odd. I thought I saw them–

I shake my head. I probably imagined it or something.

“Fine,” she says in annoyance. Ira hates the small talk. I walked out of the room. It’s hard to decipher her mood sometimes. I quit long ago.

I’m in the same program as Ira. Natalie is in IT. Natalie and Ira are childhood friends. I only met Ira in college. We have grown close to each other in the past year. Initially, I was so closed off from everyone. But now I feel mostly myself.

Mostly.

….

As I walk through the hallway, I see some of my classmates standing in a group of boys. Nico is there, too. Our eyes meet and he gives me a smile and I nod back at him. It’s been a few days since we went on that date. The guys circling him chuckle as I pass them.

“D!ck tease.”

My face burns and I pace away from them faster. I am not sure if I indeed heard them call me this, or I imagined it. Oh My God. It’s the second time it has happened. My eyes sting with shame.

A few months ago, I had seriously tried to date a guy. I couldn’t sleep with him either. I didn’t even want to kiss or touch him. Nico was rather a big milestone.

But what is the point? Look at me now. Center of everyone’s mockery. Fucking never again. I think to myself as I walk faster. I am so done trying.

“Riley…” Nico calls me out and I pace away from him.

“Hey Hey! Please listen.” He takes longer strides to reach me and touches my arm. I hate my short height and tiny legs sometimes.

I look at him. Tears of anger simmering in my eyes. I hate I cannot control my emotions sometimes. Natalie is a crier too, but at least she composes herself in front of others. Ira is a hard rock. And Look at me. Weak of all. No wonder they pity me and try to baby me all the time.

Sometimes I feel so much resentment against myself. I wish I was stronger.

“I am sorry..”

“About? I thought I ruined your night by being a D!ck Tease.. so I guess I should be apologizing. Shouldn’t I?” I ask him and he winces.

“I didn’t say a word to them… you know boys… they were asking details.. and… and I didn’t know what was worse… telling them that nothing happened or lying that yes it did happen…” He says, with guilt in his eyes.

Of course. Fuckin boys.

We are in our second year of college, but still some of them behave like a bunch of high schoolers.

I blink and feel wetness seep down my face. Great! This is what I needed.

“I stayed quiet and they…” he trails off as he sees me wipe the tear away.

“Of course.” I nod. “It’s okay...”

“But at least shut them up if they say it again in front of you for f-ck’ sake,” I tell him, surprised at words coming out of my mouth.

“Sure I will..” he smiles.

“Are we okay now?” He touches my arm.

“We are okay.” I force a smile and answer him.

“It was nice talking to you that day… Let’s try to catch up sometime.…”

“Yea… sure..” I tell him, unsure how to reply.

Is he expecting to go on a date again? I am so done trying. I cannot take one more humiliation. While moving away from him, I think to myself.

“Listen..” he calls me out again and I turn.

Please don’t ask for one more date, Nico…

“Don’t tell Natalie… she will kill me.” he says and I let out a laugh of relief.

“Yea sure…”

Natalie has quite some ruthless reputation on campus for dealing with bullies and mean students. I walk away from Nico and take my way towards my next lecture, only to bump into Jonas.

“Hey Riley…” He drawls.