Best of Friends 18 - Morning After

A sliver of sunlight cut through the gap in Rachel’s curtains, spilling across her cheek and waking her with its touch. She groaned softly, rolling toward the wall as she tried to cover her face with the bedsheets, only to find that when she pulled them, they remained stuck in place. Like someone was holding them back. 

Her eyes opened wide in dreadful realization.

Mike.

She turned quickly and found him sprawled on his back next to her. One arm over his head, mouth slack as he snored loudly. Rachel blinked, still fuzzy with sleep, as she jolted up against her pillows.

So it wasn't a dream. He had stayed the night. 

Her eyes darted around the room, taking in the almost comical array of scattered clothes, takeout boxes, and the faint scent of sex still clinging to the air. She reached for her phone, her ab muscles cramping as she did so, and prayed they hadn't slept in too late.

10:43 AM

Rachel grimaced, and her stomach doubled over when she spotted a message from Noah at the top of her notifications. 

Noah: Sleep tight, angel. Hope your day went well. Talk tomorrow <3

Her heart beat a little faster as guilt slipped into her chest like cold water. She turned the screen off quickly and laid the phone on her nightstand. There was no reason for her to feel guilty, after all, Noah had said it was ok.

The thoughts did little to ease Rachel's conscience.

Mike snorted loudly, and in her agitated state, Rachell kicked his leg under the blanket. She watched as he jerked suddenly.

“Gah—what?” he muttered, eyes still closed as he furrowed his brow. 

“You were snoring," Rachel said. 

“Was not," Mike said, half asleep. 

“You were.”

Mike let out a grunt as he flipped to his back and slowly opened his eyes.

“Fuck… what time is it?" 

"Almost eleven," Rachel said. 

She watched him longer than she meant to. His hair was a mess, and his jaw was stubbled over from yesterday. His tan skin shone in the morning sun. Her eyes trailed across him. There was a mark on his shoulder she’d left, and another on his neck. Strangely, she liked that it was visible for others to see. He scratched his ribs lazily, then yawned wide before covering his eyes with his beefy forearm. 

Rachel sat back, turning while she pushed her messy hair behind her ear. Last night wasn’t supposed to be like that. It was supposed to be quick. Mike was supposed to leave. 

But instead, she had let Mike in. Let herself be taken, not even remembering to record the moment on her phone. Rachel had given herself to something that only she and Mike would remember, and it went beyond sex.

They had ordered food. Mike's shell had come undone. He wasn't smart. He didn't have clever things to say. But he was kind, warm, and funny. Rachel smirked as she remembered them lying in bed, watching cat videos he had saved from his feed, both of them laughing loudly together. He told her dumb story after dumb story while making fart jokes. All the while laughing playfully.

And Mike's laugh was golden.

Then his hand trailed up her thigh. 

And Rachel let him take her, again. 

And again.

And again.

When they stopped recording. Mike took her once more, slowly. The room was dark, save for light bleeding in from the living room lamp. He kissed her gently while thrusting like an animal. Then, he lifted her up, dropping her onto his cock with slow control. 

He came in her like that and held her close. Rachel held him back.

She had never experienced something like that with another man. Mike wasn't Noah, and he would never be. 

But there was magic to that reality. Rachel hadn't planned for that. 

Mike sat up beside her. “Where's your water bottle at?”

Rachel nodded toward the desk. “Somewhere over there.”

Mike grabbed the half-empty pink bottle, downed it in one go, then stood. He was completely naked and entirely unbothered by it. Rachel watched as he grabbed his pants and pulled them on.

Mike cleared his throat. "That was uh… really special." 

He looked at her, his eyes dropping to the floor as he laughed nervously. 

"So thanks… I guess." 

Rachel rubbed her arm. Mike's back flexed, and she looked away from him. He glanced back at her.

“You uh… you good?” he asked.

Rachel gave an affirming hum and nodded far too eagerly. “Yeah. You?”

“Fuck yeah,” he said with a grin. “Yesterday was…” He trailed off, rubbing the back of his head. “It was… fun.”

There was something careful to his words, something different. Rachel slid out of bed, keeping the sheet wrapped around her as she looked for her tank top.

“Are things… weird?” she asked. She kept her eyes focused on the floor, not daring to look in Mike's direction. 

Mike scratched his jaw, thinking. “Uhhh… I mean, no? Why would they be?” He said with a nervous laugh. 

Rachel nervously laughed with him. 

"Exactly! Why would they be weird? We just hung out between fuck sessions…" 

“Right! Like fucking bros or something. Or like, not bros who fuck but like… just fucking bros. But I guess we did fuck, but uh…" Mike turned, stalling as he caught Rachel's eyes. 

"We were just hangin’ between fuckin’."

Rachel rolled her eyes in an effort of nonchalance and pulled her shirt on. The two stepped for the bedroom door, and stopped in its entrance. Mike was so tall, Rachel liked how he nearly filled the entire frame behind him. 

“So uh… I should probably bounce,” Mike muttered, pulling out his phone uncomfortably. “Supposed to meet up with Ethan for lifting.”

"Oh," Rachel said. 

"Yeah…" 

Rachel bit her lip. "Well, can I walk with you?"

Mike looked up. "You sure?" 

"Yeah," Rachel said. 

He shrugged. “Cool.”

They gathered their things in silence, trading a few quiet smiles as they stepped out of her apartment.

Then froze when they spotted Mel across the hall.

She was just outside her own door, hand still resting on the knob. Staring straight at them.

Time stopped.

Mel stared at Rachel. Examining her worn makeup, her messy hair in a ponytail, and her frumpy outfit. Then her attention turned to Mike.

Disheveled, smirking Mike. 

“No. Fucking. Way,” Mel said, walking towards the pair.

“Mel, it’s not what it looks like,” Rachel spoke before she could stop herself.

“Not what it looks like, huh?” Mel crossed her arms. “Well, it sure as hell sounded like something yesterday..." Mel gave Mike a slow once-over. "All day.”

She paused, letting it sit.

“And don’t bother denying it. I know how Mike moans when he's fucking.” There was heat to Mel's words, and Rachel was surprised to feel a tinge of jealousy flow through her.

Mike scratched his neck, doing his best to hide a bashful smile. Then he caught the look on Rachel’s face. His grin faded. He cleared his throat, jaw tightening as he straightened his back.

“Look, Mel. Seriously, it's like… super chill. Like, don't worry. It's all fun and games and... like... fuck alright. Lemme explain it more clearly. So like–”

“Mike,” Rachel cut him off sharply, “Just go downstairs. I’ve got this.”

He averted his gaze, and Rachel watched hurt pass through his eyes. It was clear he was embarrassed. But he did well hiding it. His face dropped, he let out a sniff, and shrugged his shoulders.

"Yeah alright, whatever." He stepped past them, but Mel's eyes stayed locked on Rachel. Once they were alone, she pounced.

“So does Noah know you’re a cheating whore?” she asked flatly.

Rachel’s mouth opened, then closed. 

“That’s not what this is," She finally said. 

“No? Because from here, it looks like you fucked the dumbest guy on campus behind your boyfriend's back.”

Rachel felt her face flush hot. 

“It’s not like that,” she said, lower now. “And he's not fucking dumb." 

Mel scoffed. “Wooow! Defending your new boyfriend, Rachel?!”

“I—” Rachel's lips quivered as she stuttered. 

“Does Jack know?” Mel asked.

The question slammed Rachel into silence. She stared in disbelief. 

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” She asked, crossing her arms.

“I just assumed you were fucking him too. Figured he'd probably want to know Mike's been added to the roster.”

“You don’t know anything.”

“I know enough,” Mel sneered. “You’re not special, Rachel. You just know how to get attention. You flash a smile, act all sweet and dumb, and suddenly every guy on campus forgets how to think. But I see you for EXACTLY what you are.”

Rachel stepped in close. “If you say anything to anyone, I swear—”

“Oh?” Mel smirked. “You’re going to threaten me now?”

Rachel’s throat was dry. Her voice dropped. “Please, Mel. Just… don’t say anything. Noah doesn’t deserve this kind of drama. This doesn’t need to turn into something bigger than it is.”

Mel tilted her head as she flashed her teeth. "You're right, Noah doesn't deserve this. He deserves better." 

Rachel clenched her fists, but remained silent.

“Here’s the deal. You keep doing your little slut thing, bury your claws in fuckboys, become a petri dish, I don't care. I won't say shit as long as you stay the fuck away from Jack. You so much as bat your lashes at him, and I'll fucking ruin you. Got it?”

“I haven’t touched Jack," Rachel said weakly. 

“You would have. I see the way you look at him. I know how badly you want to ruin his fucking life for attention, but I won't let you.”

"I'm not–" Rachel exhaled and relaxed her tensed shoulders. “You don't have to worry.”

"I'm sure..." Mel glared at her with disdain, then turned. “Enjoy your slut phase, Rachel. Hope it’s worth it.”

Rachel didn’t move until Mel’s footsteps disappeared down the stairs.

Then the panic set in.

She closed her eyes and tried to steady her breath. Her fingers shook as she reached for her phone, heart thudding wildly in her chest. She hadn't done anything wrong. It was ok. But last night felt like something else. Like something she couldn’t undo.

She wasn’t this girl. She loved Noah. She still loved him.

She scrolled to the camera roll and scanned the videos she and Mike had taken. 

Her eyes stopped on the best clip.

The one where she was glowing. Fully naked, lit from above by a phone flashlight. Her body was glistening, her mouth open, head tilted back in absolute ecstasy. 

Yes, this would make it better. This was the one. 

She hesitated. Then hit send.

Rachel leaned against the wall, staring at her phone while she bit her nail nervously.

Waiting for it to tell her everything was okay again.