The Crash Zone (The Zone Series Book 2) Read online

  “Yeah sure, you want me to take you home?” I hope she says no.

  “I called a cab while I was freshening up. It’s out front.” She smiles as she heads to the door.

  Easy enough. I smile back and close the door behind her as she exits.

  I wait a few minutes to assure she’s gone and I’m closing up the house as I venture off to the bar down the street. I doubt I’ll get laid again tonight, but I can at least get some more booze.

  ***

  I walked into the bar and was greeted by a flux of patrons leaving. Inside, there was still a good group of people, none of them were regular I noticed.

  I nodded to the bartender and sat at the bar, he placed my regular, a 3 finger of scotch in front of me and walked away. The barstool scraped along the floor as someone took a seat beside me. I didn’t bother to look over but I did feel the person staring at me.

  I slowly turn to face the person and come eye to eye with Nikki. She’s one of my regular hook ups. I’m totally getting laid.

  “Hey Nik. Haven’t seen you in a few weeks. How goes it?” I ask turning my body in towards her.

  “I’ve been busy. Haven’t had time for drinks.” She smiles.

  Nikki is a very attractive girl. We met at this exact bar the night that I moved back to my house, I explained to her that I was too fucked up to do anything other than fuck right off the bat and she wasn’t offended, hell she’s come back from time to time. She’s tall, slender and perky in the right spots. Her shoulder lengths wavy red hair is pinned up like she’s a 1950’s pin-up girl tonight and she’s got the matching red lipstick to match. I slowly peruse her body, she’s wearing a pleated short skirt tonight and a tank top that is appropriately showing off her ample cleavage.

  “Are you finished taking inventory?” She laughs.

  “Not yet, I haven’t seen what’s underneath yet tonight.” I smile before taking a sip of my scotch.

  “Well you’re assuming that I’m going home with you tonight? What if I have alternative plans Mr. Hunter?” She teases.

  “Then you simply wouldn’t be here, now would you?” My voice seems deeper than usual.

  She laughs again and brushes hair out of her eyes.

  “Sorry Maxy boy, I’m only here for a pre-lube prior to my date.” She explains looking me in the eye.

  “Oh yeah, a date? Do tell?”

  “Well, not that it’s any of your business, but yes, a date. Met him on campus, we have a class together.”

  “Are you meeting him here?” I ask looking around.

  “Yeah. I wanted to start here on my grounds, before he took me out in the world. Just in case he’s creepy.”

  “Smart thinking.” I nod, she’s a smart girl, even if she chooses to waste her time with me.

  “No, date tonight?” She jokes.

  “Already had one. She freaked out because my brother walked in on us, and took off. It was still early…” I let that thought trail off.

  She nods since she understands. While we may be fuck buddies, I have opened up to her a little bit on why I drink as much and fuck as much as I do. We could pass as friends, since she knows more about me than any of the other randoms, and sometimes more than my friends or family.

  “Ah ha. Well, my dearest Max, perhaps another night. It would seem that my date is searching for me. Wish me luck.” She jumps off her barstool, gives me a kiss on the cheek and practically skips away.

  I shake my head. Looks like I’m not getting laid again tonight.

  I turn around to see Nikki greet her date and smile. I remember first dates, the happiness, the eagerness to see that person, the excitement. I had that, and then I lost it. I start to frown as I turn around and drag another sip of my scotch.

  I’m getting ready to leave, but first I drag myself to the restroom. On the way out, I’m running my hand through my hair and look up to nearly run into a woman who is walking backward and laughing at whichever one of her friends is distracting her.

  My hands reach out to her upper arms to stop her from completely colliding. I won’t lie, a part of me is also swaying due to the amount of alcohol that I’ve drank tonight.

  “Whoa there.” I murmur.

  Her shocked gasp immediately sends jolts to my dick as I imagine her gasping bent over the bathroom counter. I lick my lips as I look at her face. She looks like your typical girl next door minus the pigtails and freckles. She’s wearing little make-up and isn’t dressed like a total tramp, so she has that going for her. With brown hair and highlights, she’s attractive and looks sweet. Too sweet for me, probably.

  “Sorry.” She says as her eyes connect with mine for a slight moment and she’s hurried off the next in refuge of the woman’s restroom.

  I smile and walk back to my barstool and sit down. I signal for one more drink and notate the time, it is nearing last call. I keep my peripheral open to the bathroom hallway so I can see Ms. Girl next door come out and find out where she’s sitting. If she’s got guys sitting with her, I can’t make a move, if I intend to make one.

  She came out of the hallway and looked around. Her eyes were scanning the entire bar. Did her friends ditch her? She lands on a booth against the wall. I look in that direction and take notice of 3 females and one very metro-sexual male. The male is sitting beside one of the other females, so I need not to worry that she’s with him. I nonchalantly look back at her and she began walking towards the table slowly. She’s scanning the bar again, and then our eyes meet. Her lips have parted again, and logically I’m envisioning my dick between them. Her cheeks blush and she immediately darts her eyes back to her friends. She stops in front of their table and says something to the group. One of her friends angles her head around the girl’s body and looks in my direction.

  I raise my glass and smile in her direction as she quickly hides behind her standing friend. I turn back around. Score. I may in fact get laid again tonight. I smile and take a sip. Relishing in the taste and swirling the liquid in my tumbler. I feel a tap on my shoulder and slowly turn my head.

  It’s Game on!

  ***

  I’m leaning against the brick wall behind the bar with my hand on the back of Kailey’s head, pressing her to me.

  Kailey chatted me up at the bar for 10 minutes before suggesting we remove ourselves from the bar. I offered her to join me at home, but she refused. She said she didn’t want to go to her house because her roommates wouldn’t think well of her bringing home a guy she just met at a bar. I was right about her being the girl next door, yet a little naughty – or at least I can only hope. So here we are, she’s licking her way around my neck and she’s unbuttoned the first two buttons on my shirt. I have my other hand under her shirt working it’s way up to her tits.

  She gasps as my fingertips have brushed her nipple send electric shocks to my dick and I’m ready to go.

  I lower the hand that was gripping the back of her head and move it down her hip to the top of the swell of her ass and I push her into me, into feeling the appreciation that my dick has for her sucking and gasping on my neck.

  “Kailey.” I whisper.

  She doesn’t say anything, but she squirms against me. My hand that was brushing against her nipple is now making its way to her waistline. But she stops me from entering.

  “I would rather…” She whispers as she lowers herself to her knees, undoes my pants, and anxiously releasing my straining dick and grabs my hips.

  Holy fuck! A BJ, in the alley? Am I that sick, should I degrade this chick like that? I’m struggling with myself, I’m a bastard, but am I that kind of bastard?

  I don’t think any further on this thought as warmth envelopes my dick, her tongue runs the length of my dick, caressing under the head, then adding some slight suction as she takes the head completely in her mouth and then she picks up her movement with both her tongue and her hand. My head falls back against the brick and I enjoy.

  Chapter 6 – Davis

  I got the teaching job at Fairbanks Elementa
ry, the school where I interviewed last week and I start work today. Even though there’s a few weeks left in the year, they couldn’t find a substitute so late in the year, so I get to work a few weeks then I have the summer off. I’ve mentally been preparing for this for about 2 weeks since my interview. Katrina took me out to dinner last night and then made me breakfast and packed my lunch for me this morning. I’ve been at her house for the past few nights because I needed a break from walking in on Max and any of his tokens for a few days, especially since I wanted to make sure I got enough sleep the day before work.

  “I feel like it’s my first day of school, but it would be extremely wrong of me to picture everyone naked.” I say as I enter Katrina’s kitchen and reach for the coffee mug she has resting on the counter for me.

  She laughs. “Extremely wrong.”

  “Do I look okay?” I ask nervously.

  “Mr. Hunter, you look great. You’re going to be the new hot teacher that all the other teachers fawn after. I think I need to change my ringtone to that song, ‘cause I’m surely ‘hot for teacher.’” She says as she wraps her arms around my neck.

  I lean down and kiss her cheek. “You always know the best things to say.”

  “Have you talked to Max lately?” She asks changing subjects.

  “Not for a few days. Last we talked, it was more me saying: Oh no, not again, C’mon Max!” I mimic my voice from the other night when I walked in on him yet again.

  “It’s gotta be tough. It’s been a whole year and he’s just trying to get by.” She says thoughtfully.

  “I think he’s fucked in the head with everything honestly. The other night, he went back out after the chick he was, well hanging with, left the house. I didn’t hear him come back in that night, but I know that he didn’t go into work since when I was up for the final paperwork with the district, his car was still in the driveway.”

  “You mean, he had a hook up, then she left, then he went back out for more?” Katrina asks.

  “It’s happened before, one time he brought home two strippers.” I shudder in remembrance of waking up to that party in the living room. Katrina shudders too.

  “Way too gross of a conversation to have before I finish my breakfast.” She smiles as she hands me a brown bag.

  “Lunch?” I ask holding it up.

  “Yup, PB&J, apple slices, carrots and a surprise treat!” She smiles.

  “Babe, you realize that I’m the teacher and not the student, right?” I laugh.

  “You got to relate to the kids, get on their level. That’s how you gain their trust.” She deadpans.

  I shake my head, kiss her on the forehead and grab my stuff to head to school.

  The day has gone quickly, it’s now five minutes to the end of the day and I’m just as anxious as the students are. I’ve met a few of the teachers throughout the day and after school, there’s a small meet and greet with the other teachers of the school.

  The bell rings.

  “Everyone’s excused, have a good rest of your day. And in celebration of me being your new teacher, no homework tonight!” I smile over the class. There are some cheers from the back of the room and then soon my classroom is quiet and empty.

  “Knock. Knock.” A female voice from the doorway says.

  I turn to greet the new visitor and smile. I recognize her from seeing her in the teachers’ lounge. She walks in the classroom and looks around. She had curly red hair and could practically glow in the dark. Her smile though is sweet; she seems nice enough.

  “Hi, I’m Sammie. I teach 2nd grade.”

  “Davis Hunter. Nice to meet you Sammie.” I extend my hand.

  “Mr. Brenner was very drab with his classroom as you can tell. A lot of us have themes, if you need any inspiration, a few of us can help you.” She offers looking around the classroom.

  “And Mr. Brenner, what happened to him?” I ask.

  “He retired or at least that’s what the rumor mill says. He kept to himself, didn’t socialize, especially with the younger grades. There’s a few of us who try to make it not so cliquey and mingle with all the teachers rather than the ones just in our grades.” She smiles.

  “Is that a thing? Forgive me, this is my first gig. I’m unclear on the ropes.” I say.

  She claps her hands together. “That’s awesome. You won’t be jaded. There are a few jaded teachers here, you’ll see. There are cliques; it’s a little like high school, in that retrospect. But a few of us, we don’t operate like that. Come, I hear we’re having a mixer in your honor.” She says walking towards the door.

  I follow like the obedient new guy who is overly eager to fit in with the crowd. Through the halls, Sammie is describing the school and then some of the inner workings. She stops at one door and pokes her head in. A moment later a lumberjack comes out of the room.

  He stops in front of me. “You must be the new guy. Welcome, I’m Nic. I teach 3rd.” He extends his hand after pushing up his thick framed glasses, and pushing up his flannel sleeves.

  “Davis. Nice to meet you. 5th.” I say clasping his hand in mine.

  “Tatum still around?” Nic asks Sammie.

  “No, she had to go somewhere after her class let out.” She explains as she turns to me. “Tatum is a kindergarten teacher; she’s one of us, a mingler. You’ll meet her as time goes on. She’s on the little’s side.”

  “Little’s side?” I ask.

  “The little’s side is the kindergarten side. There’s about 4 different classrooms on the east side of the school, they have their own playground and drop off area.” Nic explains as we all start walking again.

  ***

  I’ve been home for a whole day and still haven’t seen nor heard from Max. Like an eager child, I want to talk to him about my first week of school. I stayed over at Katrina’s house for a few more days before heading home, it was a nice break, but I worried about my brother. Someone has to.

  I’ve got assignments spread out around me on the dining room table as Max walks in. He’s whistling, so that’s a good sign so far. He removes his shoes by the door and rounds to the dining area and stops.

  “Oh hey! I thought you moved out.” He says.

  “Nah, I would have told you at least.” I say looking up from the paper I’m currently grading.

  “What’s all this?” He asks walking closer to the table.

  “Homework. I forgot that once you become a teacher, the teacher has homework too. I went into the wrong field.” I joke.

  “Wait, you got the job?” He asks surprised.

  “You don’t remember the conversation?” I ask in honest concern.

  “Sorry buddy. Congrats. We should celebrate.” He slides into the seat next to me.

  “Can’t tonight. I’ve got to get this done tonight. Plus, it would seem you have started celebrating without me.” Max’s expression stays the same. “Can you do me a favor and curb any extra-curricular activities to your bedroom tonight? I’ll be out here most of the night, in this spot until I finish.” I say pointing to where I am currently sitting.

  “Yes Mr. Hunter.” Max says as if he was a student. Then he ruins it with a salute and I roll my eyes.

  “Thanks dude.”

  “Nikki is coming over anyways, she only likes the bed.” He winks.

  Nikki is a nice girl. I’ve met her on a few of the occasions that Max has brought her home. She’s the only token who has stayed over and made breakfast. She seemed to take pity on him. She knew his deal and seemed to be fine with it. She’s become a friend to him, as well as a hook up. I guess she couldn’t just be a token, if she was a frequent flyer. But she did seem to like him more than he liked her, she played the nonchalant attitude, but I see the way he looks at her.

  “Not meeting her at the bar?” I ask.

  “Just came from there, she had to do something first, then she’ll be over.” Max disappears into his bedroom and then in a moment later emerges wearing a t-shirt and his basketball shorts.

  “I se
e you’ve dressed up for her.” I poke at him.

  “Why dress up when it’s just gonna come off.” Max laughs opening a beer from the fridge.

  Max settles into the living room and after he had 4 beers, there’s a knock on the door. Max doesn’t hear it, so I answered the door.

  “Hey Nikki, come in.” I greet her.

  “Thanks Davis. How’s it?” She asks stepping in and taking off her coat.

  I reach for her coat to hang up in the hall closet. “Oh you know, work and play – makes Davis a dull boy.” I smile.

  “You got a job? Where at?”

  I like her. Too bad, she’s not seeking a real relationship with Max, she’s a cool chick.

  “Teaching 5th grade down in Mission Valley.” I boast proudly and sweep my arm at the dining room table with all the homework from this week atop it. I had moved spaces to not get distracted with whatever Max started to watch.

  “That’s great. Congrats. Max around?” She asks craning her neck.

  “You might want to grab a beer to catch up with him, but yeah he’s in the living room.”

  “Nice talking to you Davis.” She smiles turning towards the kitchen to grab herself a beer at my suggestion.

  Chapter 7 - Max

  “I felt like a complete douche.” I say into my hands as they rub across my face.

  “Well, you do have your douchey moments.” Sterling laughs throwing her French fry at me.

  “I concur. You’re much more douchey now than when we were in school.” Dane jokes.

  In college, I acted no different than I currently have been, maybe less drunk. Back then, I owned up to my behavior as being young, dumb and looking for fun, now I don’t act ashamed, but as a 29 year old I should be handling my problems better or at least paying attention and being a good brother and friend.

  I throw my napkin at Sterling and smirk. “You guys both suck. Lunch is not meant for such serious conversation.”

  “No shit, that’s why I used the word: douchey, it’s not a real word as well as quite juvenile.” Sterling sits straight proud of herself.