Penned State (Young Hearts Duet Book 1) Read online

  “I’m sorry that you are going through this because of me.”

  “No, we’re going through this because people are assholes.” Kayce slips her arm into mine, making me look down at her curiously.

  “What? Is the PDA too much?”

  “No, I just didn’t think you would be into it.” I answer gently as we hover at the café entrance. “We usually make fun of those other couples that get mushy in public.”

  “Yeah, well, never had a reason to be like that. I do now.” She squeezes my hand, and we walk into the wolf’s den.

  You could hear a pin drop as we grab our trays and get in line. Stares. Glares and leers. We turn, and the whole room seems to turn back on, only it’s filled with whispers. I see Heath Cramer and his lackeys as we pay for the crappy food.

  “Hey, tough guy. You like hitting on women, huh?” Heath looks Kayce up and down. “Was that what I was doing wrong, honey? I didn’t smack ya around enough?” He snickers. “You really are a skanky ho.”

  Before I can stop her, Kayce is in his face. “Yeah? I’m a ho? Well, that just goes to show you for the cow shit you are. Seeing as you loved it while I was digging my fingers into your ass!” She laughs. “Would you like me to share the video I got of you with my former dildo up your crack while you jerk off- you fucking perv?”

  “I- uh-”

  “Dude, really?” Jerome asks, laughing. “You bouncing on rubber cocks now?”

  People start to laugh. She’s got command of the room. “Oh, now you laugh? Is this entertainment? You are all fucking SHEEP!”

  “Kayce?” I grab her as she starts bleating at them. Christ. What have I done to her? Mother said she’d ruin me, but it seems I’m ruining her. “Hey. Calm down.” I demand as she wrenches away from me outside.

  “Ugh! I’m just so sick of these losers and their hoity-toity attitudes! They act like they never made a mistake.”

  “It’s been twenty-four hours. Give it time. It’ll blow over.” I pull her to me, doing that little sway thing people do during a big hug. She settles against me with a huge sigh. “What if it doesn’t?”

  “And what if we had hands for feet?” She purses her lips, glaring at me. “My point is, does it really matter? We got just short of four months, and we’re done.”

  “Speaking of which, when is your appointment to go up to the campus?”

  “Next week, after I pass my driver’s exam and buy a car.”

  “Oh-wait what?” She asks, confused as Triply, the pervy security guard rounds the corner.

  “Hey, you two, back to class. We’ve had enough crazy from you for one day.”

  Kayce and I skip going back to the lunchroom and instead spend the rest of the period making out and groping in the back of the van.

  Chapter 16

  Kaycee

  The past week has been hell. The teasing and the bastardization of that video keep popping up. Somebody on the online newspaper is being a fucker because it’s showed up there on the school’s official website. No sooner does IT take it down than a new, improved one goes up. They’re threatening to take the site down entirely. So much for my one extracurricular. I liked the paper. Writing about the games from an insider perspective. Bertie’s Head Games was popular too. I wear a small camera on the mascot uniform and video the game and the crowd. It was my college essay. Sadly I’ve no money for school. Even with scholarships or loans, there’s just not enough to really send me anywhere but the local community college.

  I’m sitting in the waiting area at the DMV reading Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury. The movie was really good, so I wanted to compare notes. It’s different, the political issues are a little more in your face in the book, but that’s not a bad thing. Cal passed the written driver’s exam and is now out doing the driving part. I’m glad they use their own cars here at the DMV, as I don’t think the van would have been cleared for it.

  I glance up and see him smiling, shaking the instructor's hand. I lock my phone, standing as he comes inside.

  “I got it!” He’s so excited he picks me up, giving me a half swing.

  “Okay, you crazy fox, put me down, go get your picture done so we can go. I’m starving.”

  Cal kisses me, and off he goes. I know I am supposed to be all happy for him, but this just makes things harder. I was gonna lose him. I knew that he was going to go away to school. But now… Now that we’ve started up something, how do I say goodbye?

  After this, he wants to close the deal on a ’03 Santa Fe he found in Delaware City. Mom is having him added to our insurance, so that will help him. Everything is just happening so fast. Our coupledom, his acceptance to UPenn, this disaster of our reputations. I’m feeling stretched really thin all of a sudden. Like the walls are closing in on me, and I can’t find the release button on the damn escape hatch.

  Chapter 17

  Calvin

  Kaycee has been quiet. I know that she’s stressing over what’s going on at school. I’m not so good either; I just hide it better. We’ve gotten through it, though. My teachers are still shunning me, but whatever. I do the work; I know the material. When finals come, I’ll blow the curve as always. I’ve got no time for petty. We’re in the stretch, and this weekend is about the future. Kaycee and I are going out to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to check out my soon to be college and home for the next four years. I’m excited, and nothing is gonna bring me down.

  Top it off; it’s my eighteenth birthday, Sunday. With that comes a bit of freedom. I’ll be able to buy the car I have on hold, with cash, and I’ll no longer be beholden to anyone, but me. The van is packed, and Kaycee is in her traveling clothes. That is to say yoga pants and a cozy sweater. Tracie was in tears this morning when the oil company came and made a delivery. Hey, if I’m gonna stay with the McLane’s, I’m gonna help take care of them as much as they take care of me. I even got a nod from Grandpa Compton.

  “Now you got all your warm stuff? It’s supposed to drop into the low thirties this weekend.” Tracie says, concerned, watching as I toss two duffle bags into the back of the van.

  “Yes, mom.” Kaycee drones. “I’m only gonna be gone for two days. Take a chill pill.”

  Tracie hugs her. “Be good, stay safe.” She looks at me. I know that look. It’s the don’t do anything stupid look.

  “Love you, mom. Bye, Grandpa.”

  “Have fun, Seabee.” He waves as we get the van started.

  “You ready?” Kaycee asks.

  “Been waiting for this all my life.” I grasp her hand. “Not at all. But I got you, so I can weather it all.”

  She squeezes my hand and then lets me go so she can drive. One hour and three bathroom breaks, I shouldn’t have had that second great one, later, and the city comes into view. UPenn is like its own little world within the city limits. With unique architecture, a park, and courtyards that divide the campus. It’s all colorful, gables and stone. The Famous LOVE Statue. Following the directions to the visitor center, we park. Now the real adventure begins.

  I’ll save you the ten cent tour we were taken on, suffice to say the campus is huge, and I’m stoked to be becoming a part of the UPenn family. Kaycee was fairly quiet but chatted it up with a few people in the tour group. We break by lunchtime, which is just in time to check-in at The Penn Inn, the place we’re staying for the next two days.

  The room is a king and done up in blues and reds the college’s colors. “It’s nice.” I say, sitting on the bed.

  “Yeah, sure,” Kaycee says, sounding distant.

  “Hey, what’s up?”

  “Nothing, I’m hungry is all. Wanna check out the dining room I saw on our way up?”

  “We can.” I know something is up she just is being too evasive. I don’t want to fight with her, though. I let it go. For now, maybe she is just getting hangry.

  The restaurant at the Inn is a bit… much, we opt to find something more casual.

  A little looking and we find, Baby Blues BBQ. It’s casual style and food? Reasonable,
though, I can tell that some of the prices make her squirm. I reach across the booth. “Hey? Why are you on edge? We’re away from all the humorless asshats and supposed to be enjoying ourselves.”

  “I- it’s just…” She looks at her hands in her lap. “I’m seeing what you have to look forward to, and I can’ t help but think…”

  “Think what? Kayce talk to me.” I pull her across the booth to sit beside me.

  “How do I fit into all this? I mean, how am I supposed to keep with you if you’re gone?”

  I hadn’t thought about it. About us not being together after the summer. She wasn’t going to UPenn, I was. Was I leaving her behind? Could I now? “We’ll figure it out.”

  “Will we? I mean, am I just supposed to drive out on weekends, hang out, then go home. Work my menial job and pine for four years and hope you don’t meet someone you like better?”

  “That’s not how this is gonna work.”

  “Yeah? You sure? I mean, I saw how these girls look at you. I can’t compete with them. I will never be able to.”

  “There’s no contest. You have me. they don’t.” I try to assure her. “C’mon, let's just have a bit of fun. Unwind a little; I think we both deserve it.”

  “You’re talking about going to that party, Pat the tour guide handed out the flyer for?”

  “Why not?”

  “You don’t do parties. You study.” She reminds me.

  “Well, maybe the new independent me wants to try it on for size.”

  “Alright.” She smiles, leaning into me as the food comes. She takes a fry and pops it into her mouth. “At least the food’s good.”

  ***

  The party is at a private residence just three blocks south of the Ben Franklin bench. Figuring there will be alcohol Kaycee and I Uber it. I wish it was warmer because the campus is beautiful, even at night. Arches and gardens that, even in the winter, sleep foretell the blooms to come. Arriving, the place seems quiet until the door opens, and the sound system hits us.

  “Welcome prospects!” The guy at the door shouts. “Five bucks gets you a cup then it’s all you can consume.”

  I hand the guy a ten.

  “Nice. You and the pretty one, here you are, there’s a marker to put your name on the cup. Don’t lose your cup.” He hands us lidded screw-top cups with straws. “Enjoy!”

  “This is gonna be interesting.” I snicker as we head inside.

  “We’ll see.” Kaycee smirks, holding on to me and her cup.

  Chapter 18

  Kaycee

  Ouch! My head is killing me. Where the hell am I? My eyes adjust to the low lighting of the room. The curtains are drawn, but light still filters through the mini-blinds. I feel heavy. I try to move, but I’m pinned. “Cal?” I whisper. Trying to push him off. Only the person rolling into me has got a pair of tits that rival Dolly Parton. What the fuck? I go to wiggle away and am hugged by a guy that smells like money and broken dreams. I drag my naked body up the head of the bed, and as my eyes adjust, I finally see Cal. He’s got two blondes on him as he’s out on the floor.

  I hold my head, trying to piece together what happened. I remember drinks, pizza. Dancing. Then some people passing around a couple of joints. Flashes of what happened start to come to me. Cal and I finding a room. This room, then more people. Those big tits in my face, mouths on me. My mouth on others. Cal and this passed out guy, going at me, together.

  My body aches as I search for my clothes. I can’t even look at him. I get out of there. I need to get out of here. I need a pharmacy.

  Plan B in the bag I go back to the Inn, by the time I get there, Cal is back.

  “Hey.” He grabs me, hugging me. “I don’t know what happened. Last night-”

  “I took care of myself,” I say, being smothered by him. “Can we not talk about it?”

  “Are you alright?”

  “Yeah. I need a shower, though.”

  “Of course.”

  “Join me?” I ask as I’m taking off my blouse. I just need to erase what happened. I need for him to not look at me and see what I think he saw. A wanton whore that couldn’t be satisfied by one man, so I took on the whole room.

  “Are you sure?” He eyes me, curiously.

  I toss my bra at him. “Come and get it.”

  He starts stripping off his clothes, and we hit the shower in a flurry of kisses. His hard cock presses into my belly.

  “I need to grab a condom.” He pulls away, but I pull him back.

  “I have another dose of Plan B. Just fuck me. Consider it your birthday present.” I step into the warmth of the shower. He joins me and pinning me to the wall, lifts me. We kiss as he preps me with his wandering fingers. I put a foot up on the side of the shower stall giving him ample access. His cock slips up and down my tender slit. He presses in then pulls back, getting just his tip wet. “Cal, c’mon.” I beg as he teases me.

  “You want this? Want me? Just me?” He presses into me slowly, opening me up little by little.

  “Yes. God in heaven, yes.” The feeling of him raw inside me is intense. The resistance, pressure, friction. I’ve never gone bareback.

  Now, I think we’re gonna have to look into some kind of birth control because I don’t think I want to go back to condoms. I rise and fall against him, coming quickly. Once I come, he stops and washes me down. It’s tender and feels so good. He rubs every inch of flesh. Then I do the same for him, of course, I can’t keep my mouth to myself and what started as a rub down, turns to a blown load. Picking me up, he takes me to bed, where we forego the rest of the day, to fuck and indulge in room service.

  Chapter 19

  Calvin

  So much for seminars and tours. I spent my birthday eve balls deep in warm wet pussy. Kaycee indulged me. Repeatedly. This morning is no exception. I open my eyes to her sucking my cock before climbing on to me. She bounces on me, and I lay back, enjoying the visual. Her little tits popping up and down as she grabs one with her hand. The other hand is between us. She grasps my sac while I rub her sensitive clit. The headboard slams against the wall, and the neighbors bang. Kaycee’s answer?

  “Oh! Calvin! Fuck me, baby! Harder! Faster! That’s it, baby, you know how I need it!” As she smashes her little body against me and the headboard.

  “They’re gonna send someone up.” I grit out, through heavy pants.

  “We’re checking out anyhow. May as well make it memorable.- Oh! Calvin!” She exaggerates, but it does it for me, and I shoot deep into her.

  We clean up and grabbing a bag full of McGriddles, and hash browns are on the road by nine-thirty. Kaycee sleeps most of the way as I drive us home. It’s fine as frankly she’s earned it. When we get to the house, there are balloons outside, and as I grab the bags, Tracie greets us at the door.

  “Happy Birthday, Calvin!” She’s got a cake with my name on it and the numbers one and eight.

  I raise an eyebrow.

  “Make a wish and blow out the candles. It’s homemade. Chocolate marble. I hope that’s’ okay?”

  I smile, blowing out the candles. “Thank you.” I haven’t had a real birthday, with a cake in years. My mother felt it was an unnecessary indulgence.

  “C’mon. I’ve been baking a pork shoulder since yesterday. Pulled it a few hours ago, it should be perfect for sandwiches now. Also made baked mac and cheese plus corn pudding.”

  “A real feast, mom.” Kaycee smiles as we head inside. There are more balloons, streamers, and a banner that says Happy Birthday!

  This may not be my actual family, but they sure treat me like their own. What about my fucked people? I haven’t heard one peep since I left.

  I go to fix a plate when my phone rings. Excusing myself, I answer.

  “Hello?”

  “Cal! Happy Birthday buddy!”

  “Uncle Douglas?”

  “Yeah, long time no talk. Did you get my gift?”

  “Um- you sent a gift?”

  “You not checking your email? Boy, you got mail!�
��

  I look at my email folder. I had an alert from PayPal. “ Twenty-Five hundred bucks?” I say, shocked.

  “I talked to your father. He told me what happened.”

  “I’m sorry I’ve let everyone down.”

  “What? No. Cal, fuck them. You need to follow your bliss. You and that girl, if she’s your bliss, then you’re one lucky bastard. You love her?”

  “I think so.” I watch her as she sets up two plates, smiling to me as our eyes connect. “Yeah.”

  “You hold on to her then. No matter what. Don’t wind up like your Uncle Douglas, fifty and alone with just your money. It’s not everything. If you got love, you’re the richest man on the planet. But if you need anything you call. Got me?”

  “I got you, Uncle Douglas. Thank you.”

  “Eh, No worries. Now I got eighteen holes waiting for me. I’ll talk to you soon. Love ya, kid.”

  “Yeah? Love you too.” I hang up the phone as Kaycee comes up to me with piled-up plates. “Thanks.”

  “Oh, you think this is for you?” She pulls the plate from me, playfully. “I need the carbs.”

  “Shut it, or I’ll give you something to shut it with.” I take the plate. It smells wonderful.

  “Who was that?” She inquires.

  “Uncle Douglas, he sent me some cash for the birthday. Looks like I got what I need for the registration of the Santa Fe.”

  “Yeah? Cool.”

  “Oh, Calvin?” Tracie calls over.

  “Yes?” I say, taking a seat at the dining table.

  “A guy from Version Wireless called me about you. I didn’t know you applied for a job.”

  “I can’t just live here free.” I answer. “Besides, school is gonna be expensive, especially living off-campus.”

  Kaycee looks at me, confused. “Why won’t you be in the dorms?”

  “I don’t think they’ll approve of my living situation.”

  Grandpa Compton chuckles. The old man knows where my head is at even if the girls don’t. “I think he’s askin’ you a big question, Seabee.”