Going Solo: Gen. 5.2-Matthew

After the project was over, Claudia and I still hung out from time to time. Since I’d grown up here, I knew all the best spots to hang out and she liked having fun. We’d pull pranks sometimes, but luckily never got caught. Mom and Dad didn’t mind my smaller things, but I think they would have blown a gasket if they knew I was out egging houses.

Sometimes she’d come over to the house she was always polite to Mom and Dad, but sometimes I got the feeling Mom didn’t like her that much. I just wrote it off as her not being ready for her ‘baby’ to grow up. She wasn’t the smothering type of mom, which was a good thing, but she still had her moments. I guessed it had something to do with them not having any other kids.

I’d asked them about it once since both Kraig and Dax have a slew of siblings. Mom just said that sometimes people where blessed with more than others and left it at that. I didn’t mind being an only child though; especially when I’d listen to Dax complain about his siblings. He was the oldest so his parents looked to him to help take care of the others.

Claudia had two younger siblings. Her mom was recently divorced for the third time and had moved them to the ‘god-forsaken’ place-her words- in search of a new job. They used to live in Bridgeport and she loved it there, according to her, she was a city girl and wanted out of this small town place as soon as possible. I tried to tell her that Barnacle Bay wasn’t that bad. I liked it here, the fresh air and amazing views from almost any place in town. I thought it was a great place to live.

When I wasn’t hanging with Claudia or my buddies, I helped out at the store. We owned two and Dad was getting ready to open a third in Riverview. He’d hired both Kraig and Dax as bag boys part-time with me under the strict rule that there was to be no goofing off while on the clock. Most days to ensure this, since he knew us too well, we worked opposite days during the week. It wasn’t so bad and the guys were happy to have a boss that gave really flexible scheduling. It was good to be friends with the boss’ son. Having a ‘job’ was also great since I had money to take Claudia out.

We were sorta dating, she had a bit of a jaded view on relationships because of her mother, but she and I would go out and make out from time to time. We did that mostly at her house since her mom was rarely home and her siblings spent a lot of time at the sitters. She was a great kisser, that was for sure. On occasion she would flirt with other guys. I didn’t like it and when I told her, she got a little pissed and told me I was trying to control her. Dax and Kraig told me I needed to stay away from her, but she came back a few days later and apologized. She wasn’t ready for a ‘serious’ relationship considering we were only 15 which was understandable I guess.

Another school year passed. The parents still had to help me with homework sometimes, but the courses were actually getting better. Things were still on again off again with Claudia. Whenever she’d have a ‘break-up’ with whatever guy she was seeing, she’d always call me up for comforting. Her latest one was some loser that was going to the local community college. Dax and Kraig told me she was using me, but that wasn’t true. Claudia was a sweet girl, just a little misunderstood. Besides Mom and Dad always told me I should help a friend in need if I could, so if my presence helped Claudia I should do that.

“Matt!” she cried throwing herself into my arms. “He cheated on me.”

“I thought you weren’t really dating so how is it cheating?”

If looks could kill, I would have been dead on the floor. “That’s not the point! You’re supposed to be here to make me feel better!”

She stormed off to the kitchen, returning later with two beers. In the last year, she’d started drinking more. Her mother was dating some new guy and when he was over all he did was drink most of the time so the house was stocked. She handed me one and I just sat it on the table. She guzzled hers and then the one she’d brought for me.

We sat and talked for a while and she drank more. The more she did the more flirty she got. We started making out and before I knew what was happening she was on her knees in front of me tugging at my zipper.

“One…two…three…four…”

“Whatcha doing?” she asked, her words starting to slur.

I hadn’t realized I was counting out loud. “Um…when I get nervous…I…I count.”

She laughed. “You can be so fuckin' strange sometimes. We haveta be quick; my mom should be home in about an hour with the brats.”

“Quick?”

She stood and stripped off her clothes. One…two…three… this was unexpected and not something I thought we should be doing. Sure, like any other teenage boy, my hormones were raging, but she’d been drinking I didn’t want to take advantage of her like that.

“Claudia…this…we shouldn’t…”

“Come on Matt, you wanted to make me feel better. This will make me feel better, besides what’s the big deal it’s just sex. Surely you’ve…wait! Are you a fuckin' virgin? No way!”

My face turned red and she just laughed more. One…two…three…four… “I…I should go.” I tried to get up but she pushed me back down on the sofa.

“Don’t worry Matty, I’ll do all the work. You’ve wanted to be a real couple right? This would make us a real couple.”

I did like Claudia. I mean I had ‘dated’ other girls a bit this year, but mostly so Dax and Kraig would stop giving me crap about being hung up on her. They were nice and all, but they weren’t her. Claudia kissed me again and I let her take the lead, counting constantly in my head hoping I didn’t make a fool of myself since she was apparently experienced. When it was over, she seemed to be pleased, so I guess I didn’t do too bad.