chapter 22 WHAT

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THIRD PERSON

"I didn't know what else to do so I just, I don't know," Jungkook sunk in his chair, arms hiding his face.

Ezra had given him his first ever blowjob.

"Wait," Jungkook paused and sat up. He gasped and turned to Namjoon who almost crashed the car from being startled.

"What? What is it?" Namjoon huffed, tightening his grip on the wheel.

"Am I technically still a virgin?"

"Jungkook, aren't you a straight A student?"

"She took my blowjob virginity. My childhood best friend took my blowjob virginity!" Jungkook curled into a ball on the passenger seat.

Namjoon rolled his eyes. "I don't know why you're freaking out. You let her do it."

"On accident! I accidentally got hard and what else was I supposed to say?"

"Uh, I don't know. Maybe no?"

"I couldn't say that when I got hard from kissing her!"

"Stop saying hard." Namjoon swat his hand at Jungkook. "It's giving me the heebee jeebees."

"Isn't this your everyday language?"

"It sounds weird from you."

Jungkook shook his head. "Anyway, I wasn't going to say no after kissing her and then growing a new body part!"

"It's not new, it's—"

"Don't say it!" Jungkook covered his ears. "I know my own anatomy I'm just not fully processing what happened."

"Look, Timberlands. You got a blowjob from Ezra. Ezra. That's it. Isn't this your one big dream?"

"It was my one big dream."

"Right. So you took her on a date like I told you to. You still feel like your feelings aren't really feelings anymore?"

"I don't know." Jungkook slouched. "I still get nervous when I'm around her. But when we touch it's not like I feel any sort of... want."

"Now it's time to tell her that." Namjoon pulled into the school parking lot.

"I think it would crush her. She basically confessed to me tonight."

Namjoon parked and shut off the engine, looking at Jungkook with a shrug. "Crushing her it is."

***

TAEGAN

"I felt like my face was going to get sucked off. In a good way, of course."

I laughed at Joy describing a late night make out session she had with her boyfriend. While her best friend was out on a date, I was having fun of my own.

I couldn't get Penelope out of my head or off of my skin (not that I wanted her off). Our "tutoring sessions" slowly became more and more sensual each time we met. I hadn't told Joy about anything yet. I knew how she might react if I told her all that I was feeling.

"So what'd you do last night?" Joy picked up a white violin I knew she was eying since we came into the music shop. Grabbing a bow, she placed the instrument between her chin and shoulder and began to play a sweet tune.

I shrugged, replying, "Just tutoring sessions."

"With that girl right? Um, what's her name... Penny?"

"It's Penelope."

"Right," She giggled. "How's that going?"

My phone buzzed in my pocket. I took it out to see a notification from that one app Talk Love.

I put my phone back. "It's going good. I'm starting to—"

Buzz. Buzz.

Talk Love again.

"I'm starting to understand a few more things." Like my new feelings.

Buzz.

Joy exhaled and dropped the violin to her side. "Okay, it's usually not a problem for me, but phones ringing whilst a performer is performing is quite rude."

I rolled my eyes with a small chuckle. "Sorry. It's just that app I was talking to you about a few days ago."

"Ohh, the love one? I made an account cause you were begging me to."

"I was not begging."

"Just tell whoever it is to quiet down cause your best friend is performing for you." Joy smiled and her eyes squinted.

I put my phone on silent and placed it back in my pocket. "I'm starting to grow a following. I might even get to the top and have a chance at getting the internship."

"Internship?" Joy put the violin back on its stand.

"Yeah. I didn't know until I overheard some girls in class talking about it a few weeks ago."

"So what is it?" Joy grabbed her bag and signaled to the door. We walked side by side to the exit.

"It's this million dollar, or so, internship that the company gives to the person with the most hearts at the end of the year. Apparently if you do well, and if they like you enough, they'll even hire you."

Joy gasped and grabbed onto me, hooking her arm around mine. "Tia! That's so exciting."

"I know!" I smiled. "They're merged with a few writing and publishing companies, too."

She gasped again and held onto me tighter. "Oh! That's awesome for you."

"But what about you?" I asked, my smile slightly disappearing. "We're doing this together, remember?"

Joy shrugged. "If all else fails, Daddy could get me somewhere, I'm sure."

"I thought you didn't want to rely on him."

"I don't. Which is why that is the last resort."

We turned a corner and I bumped into someone.

"Oh, sorry! Totally didn't—" The girl looked up and grimaced. "Never mind, totally not sorry."

The blonde next to her nudged her side and apologized. "Nice to see you, Taegan."

I froze by Joy's side, face to face with Penelope and Ezra. Were they friends? Penelope was friends with Ezra?

"What are you doing here?" Ezra eyed Joy.

"Expending my musical talents," Joy replied with a stale face. "What are you doing here? Tormenting people?"

"Excuse me?" Ezra stepped forward.

"W-okay," Penelope put an arm in front of Ezra. "You must be Joy. I've heard a lot about you."

Joy smiled at Penelope. "I am. It's nice to see Ezra uses her free time to talk about me."

Ezra rolled her eyes.

"I'm Penelope." The blonde held her hand out for Joy. "I'm not sure if Taegan has mentioned me before but I'm her tutor."

Joy shook Penelope's hand and I gulped. That hand has been all over my body.

"Yeah, I've heard. It's nice to meet you." Joy smiled.

"You, too. You're Namjoon's girlfriend, right?" Penelope took her hand back.

"Yup. She is." Ezra answered before Joy could.

Joy glared her way and Penelope cleared her throat.

She glanced at me. "I'll see you again tonight, right?" A gleam of excitement kissed her eyes.

"Your place? Or mine?" I asked, my lower lip finding its way under my teeth.

Penelope looked at Joy, then to me again. "Mine should be okay. You're going out tonight, right?" She looked at Ezra who nodded.

"I'll see you then?" Penelope asked.

I nodded and pulled Joy over to the side as the Penelope and Ezra walked away. My heart was racing and she didn't even have to lay a hand on me.

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omg it's getting better and better