Change of heart, p.33
Change of Heart, page 33
She looked over at me and cocked her head to the side. Her long blonde hair spilled over her shoulder. “That seems kind of dishonest,” she said thoughtfully.
“Selling is not dishonest unless you’re lying about the product,” I pointed out. “I’m merely suggesting that invested customers won’t leave right away. And if they do, they’ll be wasting their money.”
She nodded at my words, then leaned down to start painting in the letter G in games. “Why are you helping me, Seth?” she asked not looking at me.
“Because you appear to need help,” I said. She looked over at me and rolled her eyes. I set down my paint brush and turned to her. “I don’t really know, Tina. I want to end this stupid fighting. I want to be a better person.”
“I feel like such a jerk that I didn’t wake you up that day now,” she said, dropping her gaze to the poster beneath her hands. “I’m sorry. I should have.”
“Water under the bridge,” I dismissed.
“No, it was wrong. I felt like a lesser person right after I did it,” she said. “I shouldn’t even want to think that way. People who do that? Karma catches up to them and punishes them. I swear, I’ll never do something like that again.”
“Alright, thanks,” I said and started painting again. “So, have you thought about extra bathrooms for this thing or whether or not anyone from off campus will be allowed to come?”
She nodded. “Yeah, I was hoping to advertise to all of the towns nearby.”
“Okay, yeah, that can work,” I agreed. “I think the college has a deal with the town cops. You could augment security with the student patrol. Should save the college some money.”
“I don’t know,” she said unsure. “Students policing students? Sounds like a recipe for disaster.”
“Yeah, maybe,” I admitted with a shrug. “But plenty of those students are majors in criminal justice. I don’t think they’ll want something crazy on their records.”
“True,” she said. “I wish I had consulted you earlier. Then I’d have more time to check all this out. You’re really good at this.”
“Hey, it’s my major,” I shrugged again. “But don’t worry. I think you’ll do fine. The dean likes you and it’s a good pitch.”
“Thanks, Seth,” she smiled, her cheeks turning slightly red. “That means a lot. Seriously.”
We finished up her posters. They looked okay, but her pitch was a little incomplete. I mean, it was a good idea, but she didn’t have all the nuts and bolts yet. It would’ve been stellar for high school, but this was college work. I helped her carry them onto campus.
At Dean Williams’ office, Tina went first. I offered to go ahead of her to give her the advantage, but she thought it would be better if she went first. I tried to insist, because to me, that was a rookie mistake. The second presentation always sounds better. It’s fresh in the client’s mind. You can literally just bulldoze a client’s brain if you go a little longer. They won’t even remember the first presentation.
Still, Tina’s pitch was good. I mean, I could see a carnival working. Certainly, there were plenty of couples on campus that would come. And even the singles would. College students are basically just kids at heart.
The dean seemed receptive to the idea. I felt a certain amount of pride too. I was glad Tina did well. I didn’t want to win this thing just because she had a bad morning.
Then it was my turn.
“Good morning, Dean Williams,” I greeted. “My idea is to have the college host a color run on campus. We’ll invite runners from all over the region. Even from other colleges. Then we get local businesses to sponsor them.”
“Interesting,” said the dean. “Have you done any research on the interest in this?”
“Yes,” I said handing him a portfolio and turning to the appropriate page. “This is a list of local businesses that already gave me a verbal commitment and the amount of money they’d be interested in donating. Now this is just preliminary, but as you can see by the numbers, we could make a substantial amount of money. And I haven’t even checked with some of the businesses near the other colleges.”
“Wow, this is great, Seth,” said Dean Williams, impressed. He flipped through the pages in my portfolio. “I think you’re really onto something here. Not only that, I think this something I can sell the alumni association on. We could get old students to sponsor current ones.”
“Exactly what I was thinking,” I agreed. “We could offer package deals for legacies that have their kids here or they can sponsor their own kids and relatives. I mean, who wouldn’t want to, right?”
“Dynamite,” muttered the dean, closing my portfolio with a light smack. “Dynamite stuff.”
I could tell that I had the dean. Tina was already looking dejected. But, what could I do? There wasn’t time to work out the hard numbers on the carnival and that’s exactly what Tina was missing.
I felt bad. I had to do something and quick.
“And I think the carnival has good merit too, Dean Williams,” I added. “Maybe we can do them both. The run could be the big event that ties it all together. People go on some rides and then they watch the run, spend a little money...”
Tina brightened up. I gave her a wink.
“Yes, interesting notion,” said the dean. “Allow me some time to consider it. That would make for quite a large production, but I like where both your heads are at. I’ll look this over and get back to you. Thank you both for coming in today.”
We shook hands and headed out. I felt good about what I had done. If I hadn’t helped her, I wonder how Tina would’ve faired in this proposal. I didn’t want to make it all about me, but at least, this way, she had a chance at getting her idea out there.
Chapter Twenty - Tina
Wow, I was just stunned. I couldn’t believe Seth put himself on the line for me like that. Quite frankly, my presentation was just off. I knew it, the dean knew it and I think Seth knew it too. I had been so distracted of late, and my work was suffering. I needed to get focused and figure out my life. Maybe with Seth and I working together, I could finally do that.
On the walk back to the apartment neither of us said anything. I was just so grateful for Seth’s actions. I tried to figure out how to thank him, but the words kept getting caught in my throat.
We got back to the apartment. Seth went into the kitchenette, made himself a sandwich and then offered me one. I couldn’t take it any longer. I had to say something.
“Seth,” was all I could say.
He turned around and looked at me. I looked deep into his brown eyes. As he started to turn away, I lunged for him, turned him back around and kissed him hard. I couldn’t find the words, but I just had to have him.
We made out in the kitchen. It was intense, reckless and passionate. I adored having his muscular arms around me. When he kissed me, he lifted me up to him and I could feel the raw power in his body. It was such a turn on. His face was rough, but his tongue was warm and inviting. Soon, he was pushing me up against the refrigerator, kissing my neck. I could feel his erect penis trying to poke out of his clothes and pushing against me.
I started pulling off his clothes. I couldn’t wait to feel his skin against mine. Seth did the same and we dropped our shirts and pants in a trail from the kitchen toward the bed. By the time we reached the bed, our underwear was on the floor and we were both naked. We were still hungrily kissing and licking each other. He tasted so amazing. He was like a candy I couldn’t stop eating.
We fell down onto the bed and continued our touching and kissing. Everywhere he touched me, I was on fire. He brought his hand down between my legs, parted my lower lips and inserted a finger. I gasped. I was already getting very wet. He moved his finger in and out of me, increasing in speed until he was slapping the front of my pussy.
“Oh. Oh, God,” I gasped, as I bit my lower lip. “I’m cumming. Oh. I’m cumming so much for you.”
He started kissing his way down my body as he turned completely around. His rock-hard cock moved steadily closer and I closer to it. I opened my mouth and let it plunge into my mouth and down my throat. I gagged, slobbered and sucked his rod with wild abandon. I could hear him slurping and licking between my legs, bringing me to orgasm again and again. Wave after wave of pleasure washed over me and I would periodically just stop to feel it.
I stopped and pushed him away. I lied back on the bed, parting my thighs.
“Please, I need it,” I begged. “Put it in me. Put in it in me deep. Please.”
I was absolutely aching for his cock. Seth scrambled to the nightstand to find a condom. As he searched, I moved down to suck his cock a little more. I wanted it nice and hard. Plus, I got to taste a little bit of his pre-cum.
With nervous energy, he got the condom and tore it open with his teeth. Sliding it down on his member, he adjusted my position and then guided his cock inside me. It stretched me wide and I laid back to enjoy every inch. Then he began the glorious thrusting into my pussy. The pleasure was indescribable.
“You like that, huh? You like my hard cock inside you?” he growled.
“Oh, God. Yes. I love it inside me,” I squealed. “Oh, God. Sweet Jesus, yes.”
I would’ve said or done anything at that moment to have his cock. I was absolutely in Seth’s power. His growling and grunting only served to get me off even more and the feeling was like a drug or something. I couldn’t get enough of it. Part of me wanted for him to just keep fucking me forever.
He got his arms underneath my knees and pushed my legs up until my ankles were on either side of his head. This allowed Seth’s cock to touch me deeper than I had ever been touched. I instantly began moaning. I lost the ability to make a coherent sentence. I was just squealing and moaning in joy.
“Ooooh. Oh, Seth. So deep. Oh, fuck. Fuck me. Fuck me so good,” I moaned.
Seth was drilling me so good at this point. I opened my body completely to him. My will was no longer my own. Every fiber of my being relaxed and was ready to receive the amazing fucking I was getting. My entire body was turning into jelly as I just kept cumming and cumming, until I was just trembling underneath him as he fucked my sensitive, ravaged pussy.
Finally, he came. I could feel the sweet warmness of his cum filling the condom and filling me with warm sensations. I came and panted. I was so relaxed, he was bending me in half and I barely noticed. The vibrations inside of me continued to flood both of us with a steady stream of pleasure for several minutes. Finally, he rolled off of me and my legs flopped back down on their own. I couldn’t move or speak, and I think I actually fell asleep for a few moments, I was so relaxed.
As we lied there, breathing heavily, I couldn’t help but think that Lindsay was right. Why was I fighting this? This was fantastic. It was fantastic every single time. Why shouldn’t I just give in and enjoy it. I should just tell Seth that I want to be with him. Even if he only wants to use me for sex for a while, how bad would that be? I still have to live here. It’s not like I can afford to leave.
Seth’s phone rang, and he reached for it.
“One sec,” he muttered, getting up.
He walked away from the bed, purposely keeping his voice down as he did so. He was hiding something from me. What was it? I got this weird feeling in the pit of my stomach, but I waited patiently for him to finish the phone call. He hung up and cleared his throat.
“Who was that?” I said suspiciously.
“That was Dean Williams,” he said. He didn’t meet my eyes. “I won the internship. He’s going with my idea.”
I felt like someone had knocked the breath out of me. While I knew I hadn’t done that great in the presentation, I really thought my idea was too good to pass up. I got a little mad and weepy. Seth tried to hold me, but I pushed him away. He had won, and I had lost.
There was a knock at the door. Seth made a surprised face. We both quickly got dressed. Seth moved to answer the door. I pouted on the bed.
It was Mia. Why was she here? I felt panicked. Seth had said he didn’t sleep with her, didn’t he? No, wait…he didn’t fully say that. I had assumed. I felt like had been punched in the gut, again. Tears started welling up in my eyes.
“Hey Seth, I just wanted to see if you wanted to hang out,” Mia said with a smile. She looked over at me and her face warmed. “Hey, girl. So sorry to intrude, you two are busy, so…”
“He’s not busy,” I said bitterly, turning my face away from her. “He’s free to do what he wants. Go on, Seth.”
“I should stay home,” Seth told Mia.
“No. No, you shouldn’t,” I insisted. “Go out. Please. Get out of here. I want to be alone.”
“But Tina,” began Seth.
“Just go, Seth!” I insisted. I got up and marched into the kitchenette. I had to keep my back to them. I didn’t want them to see me cry.
I wanted to say, and go be with your whore girlfriend. But I stopped myself from saying that part. Who was to blame? I didn’t know. Maybe Mia seduced him or maybe Seth can’t keep it in his pants. How dare he sleep with her and then me? I couldn’t even blame her. She had real adult problems and those weren’t just about getting out of your parents’ house. Next to me, Mia was definitely a better wife option.
Seth finished getting dressed and rushed out the door with Mia. What a betrayal. Does he think I’m stupid? Does he not think I see through this ridiculous charade he’s trying to perpetrate? God, the bed isn’t even cold where we were just fucking.
That was it. I couldn’t live in this apartment alone without the internship or without Seth. It was time to leave. I immediately started packing my things. I was angry. About halfway through packing, I kept thinking about the sex Seth and I just had. Now it disgusted me. I stopped and got into the shower.
I was so upset, I couldn’t even cry. I guess I was more mad than upset. I was such an idiot to trust him or Mia. That’s what I get for inviting every drunk and burnout to my parties. I thought Mia just liked to go out and let loose every now and then, since she worked so hard at school and at being a mom. But I guess I was a bad judge of character after all. People of low moral character aren’t fit to be friends. They just go with the flow because it’s easier to find parties and sex partners that way. It has nothing to do with principle or who’s right.
And Seth’s offer to bring my project in with his, what a joke. He probably knew I wasn’t going to win and just did that so he could soften me up and fuck me one last time. My brain was in full overdrive. Completely unasked for, my mind instantly flashed back to high school and the Sadie Hawkins Dance and him fucking some red head while I was about to pour my heart out to him. And now he was off with another red head.
God. I’m such an idiot. He’s a world class manipulator and I didn’t see it.
I got out of the shower, got dried, got dressed and continued to pack. Now I was focused. For the first time in weeks, I could see things clearly. Everything I had done up to this point had revolved around Seth, but no more. I wasn’t going to let my life be dictated by that selfish piece of human garbage.
Chapter Twenty-One - Seth
Mia and I got a quick cup of coffee, but I couldn’t stay out long. Mia kept apologizing and I kept telling her she didn’t do anything. Still, I knew Tina said she wanted to be alone, but I didn’t believe her. I couldn’t keep my mind off her and kept thinking about checking to make sure if she was okay. Mia understood, and I headed home.
Going back to the apartment, I prepared to have a real talk with Tina. No matter what she did or said, I was going to sit her down and talk about our relationship. But when I got back to the apartment, she was gone. Some of the drawers were left open. It looked like she took her clothes and left.
This was an interesting turn of events. Now, with the internship, I could afford the apartment alone. With Tina gone, I would have exactly what I had originally wanted, an apartment near campus that I could use to continue my studies. Plus, I could actually rearrange stuff the way I liked it. But the place felt cold now. It was empty without Tina.
I didn’t know what to do. Maybe Tina was mad about not getting the internship but would come back by the evening.
I waited for her to return. She didn’t.
On day two, I texted her. I was worried. There was no telling where she had gone. I mean, it was possible something really bad happened to her. The way she stormed out of here, I don’t think she would hurt herself, would she? Nah, if she were going to do that, she wouldn’t have taken her clothes with her. Maybe she just needed some time to cool off and was staying with one of her friends on campus.
On the third day, I had to go to Dean Williams’ office for a meeting. I was actually pretty worried about Tina by now. She hadn’t responded to any of my texts. I mean, I at least expected a “fuck off” or something.
When I arrived at the dean’s office, I was distracted. Williams was talking raw numbers about the color run, but I was tuned out.
The dean tapped loudly on his desk. It got my attention and I turned from the window I was absentmindedly staring out of.
“Seth, you seem somewhere else. Is there something wrong?” Dean Williams asked.
I ran my hands through my hair and sat up straight. “I’m sorry, Dr. Williams. I don’t suppose there’s any way you could give the internship to Tina? She worked really hard on it and I feel kind of bad,” I said.
“Well, that’s business,” he explained, looking at me from over his glasses. “Some people win, some lose. Tina’s idea wasn’t bad, but it relied heavily on the idea that the students would spend money. Most of Kensington State students don’t have extra money, as I’m sure you can well attest. Carnivals are usually held in suburban locations where the demographic has disposable income.”
