High School Honey

by Bill Bowler

Chapter 18: Doubts

Flea was really sorry now he had gotten involved with Honey. She was too clingy. He didn’t want to hurt her feelings, but what was he supposed to do when she was basically chasing him? On reflection, to the extent Flea was subject to reflection, he thought he should maybe have not slept with her that night, but hey, what the hell.

He had a fantasy that they were in bed together, but the bed had a trap door (on the passenger side, he laughed to himself). Under the bed was a pool of crocodiles. Immediately after screwing her, he pulled a cord, the trap door opened, and he heard a splash below.

Honey called Flea Friday evening from the payphone at Vecchio’s. Her shift had ended. Did he want to come over to her house? Her mother was out.

“Well,” he hesitated. “I don’t know...”

He didn’t really want to go, but couldn’t think of a good excuse. She was really throwing herself at him.

“Why don’t you come over,” Honey’s voice purred through the telephone.

Something brought to Flea’s mind the memory of their one night together, the memory of the feel of her warm naked body.

“It will be just the two of us.” Honey felt him wavering. “We can watch TV or something. My father’s away on business and my mother went to visit her sister.”

No parents and a nice house all to themselves. It was enticing. Flea thought again of her naked breasts, and his desire for her was temporarily reborn.

“Okay.”

Shirley was standing by Honey as she finished her call.

“Listen,” said Shirley, “You have to cover for me. I just told my mother I was staying over at your house again tonight.”

“But Flea is coming over.”

“Don’t worry. I’m not really staying at your place. I’m going to Jack’s.”

* * *

Flea arrived late, around eleven o’clock. They switched on the TV and sat on the couch to watch Chiller Theater. Honey was still in her waitress uniform and seemed tired. She had been on her feet for six hours. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes as fatigue began to catch up to her. The top button of her blouse was open. They were sitting close together. Flea became aware of her leg against his. He leaned towards her and began to unbutton the rest of her blouse.

A car door slammed in the driveway.

“Dammit!” said Flea. “I thought you said your parents were gone.”

Honey buttoned her blouse quickly and looked out the window.

“It’s Nick.”

Flea saw a guy with a bandage on his nose coming up the driveway. It was the asshole he had punched at the dance, the guy who kicked Floater in the balls.

Flea ducked into the kitchen as Honey answered the door.

“Baby, I’m so glad to find you home. Your folks away again? I just stopped by to tell you, no hard feelings about the other day. I know you didn’t mean what you said. You know how I feel about you. I’m crazy about you.”

“Oh, God, Nick! Can’t you get it through your head? There’s nothing between us. Just forget about it and leave me alone.”

“What are you talking about? Forget about us? You’re the only chick for me, you know that. I don’t understand why you act this way!”

“Leave-me-a-lone!”

“C’mon, baby, you don’t mean that.”

Nick brushed Honey aside and came into the living room.

“Nick, please! I’m not alone.”

“Back off, bro’.”

Nick looked up, surprised to hear another voice in the house. Flea was standing in the kitchen doorway brandishing a steak knife he’d picked up from the kitchen counter.

“Well, look who’s here,” said Nick.

Flea moved towards him, knife in hand. Nick stood his ground without a trace of fear.

“Stop it, both of you!!” screamed Honey.

Both boys hesitated.

“Nick, leave, please leave.”

“But, baby...”

“Just leave!!”

“Ar’right, ar’right. What’s the big deal, anyway? And fug you buddy!” He gave Flea the bird on his way out the door.

Flea and Honey heard Nick’s car start and pull off down the street.

Honey covered her face with her hands. “I feel sick. You better go, too.”

“But...”

“Just go.”

Flea left without another word.

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