Chapter XXV

A week into the next year, and Otis knows he hasn't kept his New Year's resolution. He did tell Jean about what a disaster Christmas Eve was for Abby...

"Otis," Jean says Christmas morning. "Are you alright? Please tell me. I knew Gabriel at one point, and if he..."

"He did try to hit me," Otis says, causing Jean to cover her mouth in horror. "But he was so drunk that he really took out the mashed potatoes and the table."

"Is he still there," Jean asks, already getting up from the table. "Because I am going to give him a piece of my mind! I can't believe you stayed the night there after that monster-"

"Mum," Otis says. "He's in London."

"Lucky bastard," she mumbles. "Running away from his problems. He knows good and well what I'd do to him..."

"I mean, I don't think he knew I was your son," Otis points out. "Abby didn't tell him my last name, and he spent most of the evening calling me Noddy. Well, when he wasn't trying to convince me to confess my attraction to his wife."

"Of course," she says. "And how was she?"

"...They're well matched," Otis admits. "Two alcoholic bullies."

"Do you see now why I had concerns about Abby," Jean asks, sitting down. "Where was she during all this?"

"She was being their main target, actually," Otis says. "We didn't finish the meal. I stayed the night after she ran upstairs crying. Her father trying to hit me was the last straw."

"...Is she alright," Jean asks, her face softening.

"I left her with her nan," Otis says. "I'll see her again on Boxing Day. I...I got her to smile after we were alone in her room. And no, before you ask, she didn't smile because of any orgasm-adjacent activity. I just...found a way to amuse her." Openness with his mum or not, there's no way he's ever going to acknowledge that he actually...parped in front of his girlfriend, of all people. He's taking that to the grave.

"That's good," Jean says. "Do you...did she seem alright? Before you left to go home?"

"Yeah," Otis says. "Unfortunately, I think she's used to her parents' treatment. All of it is generally based around mocking her looks, her tastes, her values...I think she's remarkably well-adjusted, considering."

"...Poor girl," Jean finally says. "I can't imagine what it would be like to have a father like Gabriel Hammond." She sighs. "I think I'd best stop prodding. It's a special day, after all."

Otis nods and grins. "I'll tell you more later, if you like."

Jean smiles. "I would like that very much."

...but after that day, Otis can't say he's told his mum much else.

The amount of time he spends masturbating is a big part of that. Hell, he can't say he even seesmuch of his mother anymore, between the shampoo bottle woman and Abby's Yugi picture. And Abby herself. She doesn't come over as often during the afternoon anymore, usually because she's either hanging out with Aimee while winter break is still on, or checking up on Maeve. But she's still crawling through his window at midnight enough that he's almost been trained to expect it.

And it's not like Jean's actually lonely or anything. In spite of that disastrous "family dinner," Jakob has practically moved in. Every morning, he's at the table for breakfast. Or he's showing up after dinner. Or just plain popping in and starting some project, leaving all his stuff around in the meantime. Honestly, with how often he catches Jean flinch, Otis is just waiting for her to snap. Patiently waiting.

At least Ola's almost okay. She's not there as often, and when she comes with her dad, the two of them have had a little fun playing video games. Otis thinks they could have been friends if it weren't for this whole weird situation. Technically, they are friends. As long as they pretend they're just friends hanging out, and their parents have nothing to do with how they know each other.

He and Maeve have hung out without Abby, and it's been pretty cool - Maeve is someone he just talk to about how weird everything is. Still, sometimes he gets the vibe his family issues kind of annoy her - that she'd kill to have a mum who cared too much, or a (worst case scenario) potential stepfather who wanted to be a part of her life. Maeve definitely gets philosophical, deep ponderings a bit better than Abby and a lot better than Eric, although Otis supposes that's because she's less afraid to talk about that stuff, since based on their facial expressions when the other two get asked about that stuff, they're definitely thinking about it.

Yet somehow she's still dating Jackson, who goes beyond slightly inarticulate or nervous about the subject, to either not caring or refusing to care about that kind of thing. No one quite understands it. Otis has been questioning how things have made it past Maeve's expulsion in his mind, and he's pretty glad Abby finally said what he was thinking aloud one night.

"...It's weird Maeve and Jackson haven't broken up yet, isn't it," Abby asks. "I mean, she's really grateful he vouched for her and all, but they're pretty opposite. Like, I mean, you and me, we're kind of different, but we care about a lot of the same things, and I just...I don't see that with them."

"Have you talked to her about it," Otis asks.

"Hell no. Are you going to? Because you want to risk getting your head bit off, I won't stop you."

"I mean, it's the holidays," Otis says.

"...It's January fourth. Still, I mean, who knows? We can't judge. I mean, we know Maeve, but do we really know Jackson," Abby asks. "I mean, I just know that he's popular and has a ton of self-esteem, but that could be all for show."

"If it is, he's been keeping up the show for five years," Otis says. "...You could be right, though. I don't know."

Thankfully, Eric's gotten less cagey over break. He's back to his old self. He's even reopened his fashion-inspo Instagram, which Otis sees as a blessing, because his multi-hashtag posts like '#abbyandotis', '#hanginwithoatcake #smash', '#pineland #pretzels' (after being told not to tag or hashtag Maeve on penalty of death), and '#ataimees' seemed very much like Instagram posts someone would have made in 2014. Having Eric back to normal means there's one less thing to think about.

In fact, 2020 is looking pretty awesome until his mum catches him jerking off in the car after he saw the woman with the very large breasts and tiny dog.

🎬🎬🎬🎬🎬

"I think we should have sex," Otis tells Abby that night. "For real this time."

"...Why," Abby asks.

"I can't stop having erections is why," Otis says. "At everything. Shampoo bottles, you, cheese, a woman with a dog..."

"Wait," Abby says, looking concerned. "Was it the woman or the dog?"

Otis looks at her, miffed. "Why does that matter?! I said cheese right before that."

"Well, it's kosher to fuck a shampoo bottle, a woman, and cheese, but not a dog," Abby says. "I mean, you could fuck me dressed up as a dog, but not an actual dog. That's animal abuse."

"Are we going to have sex or not," Otis asks, frustrated.

"Uh, not today or tomorrow," Abby says. "I'm on my period."

"That's not a problem," Otis says.

"The cleanup is a pretty big problem," Abby points out. "My nan's cool, but period-bloodstained towels are probably where she'd draw the line. And her towels are very old. And God knows your mother will pull a full investigation here if we aren't speedy enough afterwards, which would be hard, because even first-time sex is tiring." Abby takes a breath. "So...blow job?"

"Thank you, thank you, thank you," Otis gushes, pulling Abby into a hug.

"Okay, but I might not swallow, so I'm gonna get a cup," she says. "Be right back."

Abby pads her way down the steps, thankful that she's fully clothed, and gently creeks the cupboards open, looking for something that looks like it doesn't see much action in the kitchen, before settling on a commemorative plastic cup from Thorpe Park dated...1989? Jesus, that must have been a trip Jean made when she was in high school. Still, based on the level of preservation (as opposed to peeling plastic), it looks like it'll do the job.

Abby really means to tip toe up to the steps, but...fuck it, she's been thinking about this for a while and, considering sex is a social construct, this basically is sex, so she can't really blame herself for running the same way she used to when she was six and thought the boogeyman would get her for being out of bed.

"I'm...ba..." And there's Otis, furiously masturbating on the bed. Jesus Christ, it's been thirty seconds, Abby thinks. Maybe he does have a problem.

Nonetheless, Otis seems way more enthusiastic this time, so that's assuring.

Much like every other first time they've had, it's awkward, but not heartbreakingly so.

Well, okay, Abby is pretty sure the person giving the oral shouldn't talk, but after Otis tries to push her head down further, she pulls off and says, "If you want me to pull an Olivia, try that again."

But otherwise it goes well. Until after cumming into the Thorpe Park cup, Otis goes into a near-panic attack after realizing they haven't used a condom or a dental dam. Once he calms down, he gives Abby a quick kiss and thanks her.

"I'm really sorry about the head thing, by the way," he says.

"It's fine," Abby says. "Just don't do it again."

"...You're still going to stay until morning, right? Even though tomorrow's the start of term?"

"Why do you think I brought my backpack," Abby says. "'Sides, I'm pretty sure I'm one of the only girls at school with a toothbrush at her boyfriend's house."

"You think Maeve'll really be back," Otis asks.

"Totally," Abby says. "But you know, for now, we can take a little break from the clinic. Then soon as she gets back, things'll go back to...well, our version of normal."

"...We really could have sex while you're on your period," Otis says. "I mean, technically, I know a ton of positions that should be...optimal."

"How about not for our first time," Abby says. "It'll end by Friday. Then...well, I'd say who knows, but you can't wait that long, and now that I know you're genuinely ready, neither can I."

"So...this weekend?"

"Definitely." Abby grins at Otis. "If you're not tired, we might as well..."

"God, yes. Whatever it is, yes!"