The Crush; Chapter One: Remembering the Past.

Sometimes, past memories don’t hold up in the present.

“Hey!” I sat down at the bar with my friends Toby and Keith.

“Took you long enough!” Toby teased as I placed a drink order.

“Probably couldn’t get away from the ball and chain,” Keith chimed in.

I ordered some chicken wings and looked at the guys. “So, why the text to meet?” I asked.

We usually had wings and drinks on Saturdays, not Fridays.

“Remember Jacob, from high school?” Keith smiled.

“The dork we used to pick on,” I nodded as the cute lady brought the wings.

“Yeah, that guy,” Toby smiled.

“He is getting married!” Keith laughed.

“Get the fuck out of here?” I sat back. “The guy with the braces all the way up to graduation?”

“Yeah,” Keith smiled.

“The guy that pissed his pants when coach told him that his mom’s letter didn’t get him out of participating in P.E.?” I asked.

“Yes!”

“The guy….”

“Yes, that guy!”

“Holy fucking shit!” I exclaimed. “To who?”

“That’s the kicker,” Keith laughed.

“Lindsey McClintock,” Toby flicked his fingers.

“You have to be shitting me!” I said as I nearly spat out my beer.

“Nope,” Keith said, pushing his phone across the table.

There it was, in black and white, an invitation to the wedding of Jacob Kullen and Lindsey McClintock.

“Look at his face!” Keith laughed.

“I didn’t know black guys could turn white,” Toby giggled.

“Holy fucking shit!” I said.

I didn’t stop saying that, even on the drive home. Even when I was taking a shower, I was still saying it.

“So, what?” my wife Maggie said.

“No, Mags,” I said as I climbed into bed. “You don’t get it.”

“A dork is marrying a cheerleader?” Maggie said it like it was normal.

“Not just a cheerleader, THE cheerleader!” I said as I turned off the light.

“So, you were one of the guys that chased this ‘cheerleader’?” Maggie asked.

‘Fuck me! Why did I bring this up?’ I thought as I flicked back on the light.

“That was years ago,” I said as I turned to face her.

“Good night, Barry!” Maggie said as she turned over.

‘Stupid!’ I cursed myself as I turned off the light.

Maggie had the memory of an elephant. I knew this was going to haunt me for months.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

“Still not talking?” I asked over dinner a couple of days later.

“Still hung up on your high school cheerleader?” Maggie snapped back.

“I am not hung up,” I replied. “It’s been almost eighteen years since I saw her. Maybe more,” I tried to explain.

“Well, the way you were talking about her, it seemed like yesterday,” Maggie said as she got up. “I am going to watch my show,” she said as she picked up her dinner plate. “Alone!”

“Gary Tubman!” I yelled before she got to the living room.

Maggie stopped in her tracks. She held the wine glass in her hand and slowly turned. “Touche,” she said as she returned to the table.

“We all had our high school crushes,” I said as Maggie sat down. “Mine was a cheerleader and yours?”

“Gary Tubman, an exchange student from Greece,” Maggie nodded with a smile. “I guess you looked in my yearbook?”

“A red heart around his face,” I smiled.

“I was sixteen,” Maggie shrugged as she sipped her wine.

“Same,” I replied.

“Okay, you’re forgiven,” Maggie said, sitting back down.

“Thank you,” I responded.

Maggie could be an uptight bitch when she wanted, but she was fair. Especially when she didn’t want to look like a hypocrite. Her father taught her that at a young age. Never be a hypocrite.

I was sitting, watching TV with my favorite beer in hand.

“Barry!” Maggie yelled from her office.

Maggie wrote romance mystery stories and had become a proven author, so I usually left her alone when she was in her office.

“Yes, dear,” I replied.

“Come here love,” Maggie said. I could tell by the tone in her voice that she was laughing.

“What is it?” I asked as I came into her office. “He’s a hunk!” I said, looking at the screen.

I was used to pictures of sculpted males on my wife’s screen. She often looked up pictures to get an idea for her characters.

“That’s him,” Maggie smiled as she looked at me.

“Gary,” I nodded. “He has done good for himself.”

“He is back home in Greece, and he teaches at a dance school,” Maggie smiled.

“Very nice,” I said, staring at the chiseled man.

“With his husband,” Maggie smiled.

“Oh,” I laughed.

“Wait,” Maggie laughed. “That’s her!”

“Oh my god!” I shouted.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~ ~~

“No fucking way!” Toby shouted as I asked them to come to my office.

“It can’t be!” Keith said, turning the screen.

“Oh, it is,” I nodded. “I checked four times,” I said, pointing to the screen. “That’s Lindsey!”

“What! Did she eat the rest of her family?” Keith yelled.

“My god, she’s bigger than, I don’t know, but she’s fucking huge!” Toby sank into the oversized couch in my office.

Gone were all my memories of Lindsey. The blonde cheerleader could do this thing with her legs. She used to stand flat-footed, turn to the side, and kick up one leg, then reach up and hold the toes of the shoe.

The first time Lindsey did it, the whole team from the other school stopped and stared. The running back dropped the ball, and we scored.

After that, our coach made her do it at crucial moments of the games. Even if they knew it was coming, everyone would stop.

Of course, the school made her war skorts, but it didn’t stop everyone from staring at the pretty blonde cheerleader doing the splits while cheering.

“There’s more,” I said.

“Can’t be, she’s taking up the whole screen!” Keith yelled as he poured himself a strong drink from my bar.

“Oh, there is,” I nodded. “There is Jacob!”

Keith spat out his drink, and Toby’s jaw dropped.

“What the fuck is going on right now!” Toby said, getting up.

The nerd had turned into a muscle-bound freak of nature. He had muscles on top of other muscles and looked nothing like the skinny kid we used to bully around.

“My god, I feel tiny,” Keith said, staring at the freak on the screen.

“Read underneath the picture,” I said, sitting in my oversized leather chair.

“Jacob started weightlifting after high school because he was tired of….” Keith stopped reading.

“Getting bullied!” Toby yelled.

“People usually get mental help or drinking issues because of being bullied!” Keith yelled. “This guy turns into the incredible fucking hulk!”

“That’s not all,” I said. “Keep reading.”

“Jacob specializes in,” Toby read. “Get the fuck out of here!”

“Muay Thai kickboxing, boxing, and wrestling! As well as being an instructor in self-defense!” Keith yelled.

“Nope, I am not going to that wedding,” Toby said. “It’s a setup, that freakazoid is going to pummel into the ground!”

“Cherie is doing the decorations as well as the catering; Halie, my fucking wife, is doing the fucking dress; our wives will literally kill us if we don’t go!” Keith said.

“He is going to stomp on our heads and break bones,” Toby said as he pointed at the screen. “Look at him! Even when he is smiling, he looks pissed off!”

“Glad I didn’t get the invitation,” I laughed.

“Fuck you!” Toby said.

“I know, we will tell our wives to invite Maggie, she could use it for inspiration for her book or some shit!” Keith smiled.

“Absolutely!” Toby nodded.

“Nope, won’t work,” I said. “I have things to do.”

“You’re the son of the CEO, your uncle is on the board,” Keith said. “What do you do?”

“All we have ever seen you do is just show up, sign a few papers, and then sit here all day,” Toby said.

They were right. Most days, I came in at nine and was home by eleven. I hardly ever saw my father, who built this company from the ground up. I joined him after I graduated. We made this company what it is, so I did the work.

When I started working with my father, I never left our small office back home. We worked from sunup to sundown, with no breaks, lunches, or vacations, seven days a week. Now, I hardly worked at all.

“It won’t work,” I shook my head. “Maggie is too busy with her new book; she won’t want to go.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

“I can’t wait to go!” Maggie shrieked over the phone.

‘Assholes!’ I thought, staring at Maggie, who was in pure delight about going to a wedding, between Freakzilla and his monster bride.

I listened to Maggie talk about how this would be good publicity for her new book, and she could get ideas for dresses and other things.

I knew Maggie was teasing me because my high school crush was now more prominent than a whale.

“You will get to meet Lindsay and tell her all about your crush on her,” Maggie smiled as she sat near me.

“She knew,” I said.

“She did?” Maggie asked.

“Oh yeah,” I nodded. “She made fun of me a couple times.”

“But you were on the basketball team?” Maggie said as she stared at me.

“It was a different time, and not like your big school in the city. Mine was a small school in the middle of the suburbs,” I said. “She was blonde with blue eyes, and well, I was me.”

“Sorry, about that,” Maggie said. “If you don’t want to go, we don’t have to,” Maggie put her wine glass down and straddled my lap.

“No, you’re my wife,” I said, smiling as I wrapped my arms around her. “If this is good for your book, then we will go.”

“It will!” Maggie said. “But if it will bring up bad memories, then I won’t force you to go.”

“I am not that poor black kid living among the white families anymore,” I shrugged. “And it might be good for me too, get some new clients, new investors.”

“That’s my husband,” Maggie said as she kissed me. “Maybe we should go upstairs and remember our wedding.”

“I would like that,” I smiled.

“Yes! Yes! Yes!” Maggie screamed as I fucked her from behind, pulling on her brown hair.

‘Just like I remember,’ I thought as I slapped her ass.

It was just like this on our wedding night. Maggie loved being fucked from behind, even back then.

I smacked one side of her ass, then the other.

Of course, back then, we had sex nearly every night. These days, it was barely once a month.

“Show me big boy, spank my ass hard!” Maggie shouted.

Maggie only got like this when she got her way. I knew she was only horny or willing to have sex with me tonight because she was thinking of going to that wedding.

But I didn’t give a shit. I gripped her narrow hips and dumped my cum into her. That was the other thing I missed about the old Maggie.

When we got married, she was all curves, thick hips, a nice ass, and a toned stomach.

Now, her friends got her on this running kick. Maggie ran every day, and it took all her curves away. First to go were her breasts; they were a natural DD; now they were barely B’s; her ass and hips followed, and now she had meal plans for me so that I could lose weight.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

“Don’t you look the part,” Keith smiled as we walked into the church.

“Shut up,” I said as I stood by them.

Maggie loved playing dress up. So, we had to go out and buy all new clothes. I didn’t mind the occasional suit and tie for my business. I hated getting dressed up for weddings or anything else.

“There he is,” Toby said as we looked at Jacob.

“He is even bigger in person!” I said as I looked at him.

He was staring at us.

“You think he remembers us?” Keith asked.

“You know very well that no one forgets the people who bullied them,” I said.

“He is coming this way!” Toby exclaimed as we tried to look normal.

“Let’s get something straight,” Jacob said, towering over us.

‘Did he get taller too?’ I thought as I stared at him.

“It wasn’t my idea to invite you guys,” Jacob said. His voice was deep, and when he moved his hands, I thought they looked more like clubs.

“Lindsay thought it would be a good idea to put the past in the past.”

“Good idea,” Keith said, his voice sounding broken.

“I said it was her idea, not mine!” Jacob told us. “If it was up to me, I would love to take all three of you back to my gym and put you in the ring and….” Jacob took a deep breath. “But she wants me to put those thoughts away, so enjoy yourselves,” he faked, smiled, and walked away.

“I think he is going to kill us,” Toby said.

“No, he was just venting,” I said as I straightened my tie.

“You can say that because you are black,” Keith said. “If he kills you, there will be protests and riots; he kills us. It’s just another day.”

We all laughed and took our seats.

The wedding was lovely. Even though my vision of Lindsay was smashed to pieces the moment she walked down the aisle, Toby made the stomping noise as she walked.

Lindsay and Jacob greeted us at the end of the wedding, and we talked about old times and burying the hatchet. Jacob didn’t look like he wanted to bury anything, but he smiled because his wife was there.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The reception was held in a lavish hall downtown, and the food was to die for. I stuffed myself.

“Hey Barry,” a voice said as the dancing started.

I turned to see a beautiful woman with dark black hair.

“You don’t recognize me,” she smiled.

Maggie was off with the other women, talking and promoting their businesses. Toby and Keith were near the bar, checking out the cute bartender.

“No, I am sorry,” I said, standing up.

“It’s okay, hardly anyone here does,” she smiled. “I’ve changed a lot since high school.”

“Megan!” Lindsay shouted as she came over and grabbed the woman by the hand. “There is someone I want you to meet, sorry Barry!”

Lindsay took the woman away, and they started talking.

“Who is that?” Toby asked as they returned.

“Megan,” I said, staring at her.

“What world am I in right now?” Keith asked. “That’s Megan!”

“That’s what Lindsay shouted,” I said, still staring.

“Damn!” Toby said.

“Double Damn!” Keith said.

Megan was Lindsay’s younger sister. She followed Lindsay around like a lost puppy when she started high school.

Lindsay hated having her little sister around. She always called Megan the brat, as she was always underfoot.

“She filled out nicely,” Keith said.

“You can say that again,” Toby said.

I saw Maggie and the others coming towards us.

“Want to dance?” I asked Maggie.

“Thought you would never ask,” Maggie smiled.

I danced with Maggie and put everything aside.

“So, I got a few new contacts,” Maggie said as we danced. “Have to give them to Damien. Hopefully, we can get a few more places to purchase my books.”

“You are doing fine,” I said.

“I know,” Maggie nodded. “Doesn’t hurt to try and expand; hopefully, one of my books could make it onto the big screen or a streaming service.”

“That would be nice,” I smiled.

“Oh, crap,” Maggie stopped dancing. “I better call Damien and tell him about,” Maggie stopped. “I am sorry.”

Maggie darted off, and I started walking back to the table.

“I could finish the dance with you,” Megan said before I got to the table.

“Sure,” I smiled.

I took her hand, and we walked back onto the dance floor.

“She seems like a busy person,” Megan said as we started dancing.

“An author, for romance and mystery,” I told her.

“Ah,” Megan nodded. “You?”

“Banker, investor and many other boring titles,” I smiled.

“You were always good with numbers,” Megan smiled.

Her dark black hair hid her eyes well, but they looked green or hazel. She smelled great.

“Well, that’s the end of the song,” Megan said as we stopped dancing.

“It was nice, thank you,” I said.

“You are very welcome, and thank you,” Megan said as she walked towards her sister.

‘She did fill out nicely,’ I thought as I looked at her.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~

The ride home was quiet as Maggie was talking to her publishing house. She had made many more contacts and wanted to hit the ground running on her business.

I was still thinking about Megan; she used to be this skinny, tiny thing that followed Lindsay around. She had braces, and her hair was always a mess.

Tonight, she looked perfect in a long blue dress that shone brightly whenever the lights hit it.

When I got home, I tried to find out something about Megan, but found nothing. Lindsay’s profile had no pictures of her with her sister. She mentioned her several times, stating she was worried about her little sister or was proud of her, but there were no pictures or anything linked to another profile.

‘It was nice seeing you again,’ a text came through as I started to head to bed.

‘Who is this?’ I replied.

‘Not remembering me again,’ the text responded, ‘I thought you liked our dance?’

‘Megan?’ I asked.

‘Ding ding,’ She replied. ‘Got your number from one of your friend’s wives, got to say didn’t think you guys would be still friends.’

‘Yeah, still the three musketeers,’ I smiled.

‘Well, I better get some sleep, just thought I would hit you up and say thanks for the dance,’ Megan said.

‘Thanks to you also,’ I replied.

‘Here is something so you won’t forget me,’ Megan said.

After a few seconds, a picture appeared.

“Holy fuck!” I exclaimed as I hid my phone from Maggie, who was still on her phone and didn’t hear me.

‘Goodnight Barry!’ Megan sent.

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