The Gus Diaries

Part 78

Marci
 

Almost two weeks ago my dads met Marci. Who knew that one little girl, and I do mean little -- she barely topped five feet tall -- could stir up so much trouble in such a short time. Pop said she reminded him of Aunt Daphne, but there’s no way she could have ever caused as much grief and irritation as Marci.

I probably should backtrack just a bit. I’m getting ahead of myself.

All the writing classes and English classes at St. James Academy are divided by skill levels. Last September, at the beginning of my sophomore year, a couple of new kids tested into the top level, which just happens to be the class I’m in. One of them was Jeremy, whom I’ve had more than enough dealings with over the past year, and the other was Marci.

I have to admit that I was totally shocked when she walked into the room that first day. I assumed she was in the wrong room. After all, she’s one of those perky cheerleaders who only dates guys on the varsity football or basketball teams. In fact, during most of the year she’s been going out with Steve Simmons, first string quarterback for the St. James football team.

My shock wore off and turned to admiration a short time after her arrival. She had more insight into great literature than anyone I’d ever met. Most cheerleaders don’t seem to know too many words with more than six letters strung together, but she was like a walking SAT manual -- speaking of which, when we all took those damn PSATs, she scored highest on verbal in the whole fucking school.

Mind you, she didn’t tell anyone but her best friend, who blabbed it all over town, or at least all over the school.

Marci and I didn’t talk much, but when we did, we were always courteous to one another. She was wrapped up in cheerleading and Steve, and I was wrapped up in the school paper, basketball and Jeff.

About two weeks ago, our writing teacher decided we should all try our hands at the art of playwriting. Who the fuck needs to know how to write a play, except maybe someone interested in doing that for a career? I was really pissed. Then to top it off, he told us that we had to work with a partner.

I immediately got nervous. I expected Jeremy would jump at the chance to work with me, and I’d have to deal with him and Jeff, who would certainly not stand for anything like that.

Turns out just as all the kids started eyeing people they wanted to work with, the teacher announced, “Stop all your planning, kiddies. This is not an invitation to get together with your best buddy in class. I’ve selected the pairings based on the work I’ve seen you turn in throughout the year.”

Some started grumbling, others began to curse under their breath. I was curious to see who I’d be paired up with. All the kids in the class were good writers, otherwise they wouldn’t be there.

I have to admit that I hadn’t spent much time getting to know any of them outside class unless they worked on the school paper. Most of my friends were on the basketball team, so I didn’t socialize with anyone in the class.

Jeremy’s name was called and he was paired with some guy from the chess club. I tried not to smirk, but it was hard to contain myself. Yes, I’m still holding a grudge against that asshole for nearly ruining my relationship with Jeff.

When my name was called, I was paired with Marci. Apparently, while I had ‘A gift for the written word in a journalistic genre’, my new partner was more into creative writing.

We both shrugged and nodded towards each other and then listened to the rest of the pairings. We learned that while we would have a small amount of class time to work on our projects, we were going to have to do much of the work on our own.

It’s a good thing basketball season was over, otherwise, I would only have time to meet with her between plays at practice.

That day at lunch Marci stopped by my table. Jeff and I were eating with a bunch of our friends and their assorted girlfriends. She immediately put her tray down and said, “So, Gus, when and where? I don’t like to get behind on my assignments. While your season is over, mine never seems to end.”

Matt yelled from the far end of the table, “Hey, Kinney, are you playing with the cheerleaders, too?” His girlfriend, who happened to be captain of the cheerleading squad, threw a French fry at him and giggled.

I just rolled my eyes. “No, Matt, some of us actually do work at this school and don’t play with everything and everyone who passes our way.”

Yep, that got him -- his girlfriend glared, Jeff started laughing, “You got him good, Newbie.”

Marci actually smirked. “You do know that not all cheerleaders live up to the Barbie doll standard of old. Some of us are actually hoping that we’ll get scholarships to college for our chosen sport.” Marci gazed at her teammate sitting next to Matt. “In fact, my guess is that Matt will be extolling the virtues of the sport after she gets five minutes alone with him.”

“You mean she won’t be spending all her time playing tonsil hockey with him when they’re alone.” Jeff just couldn’t help himself.

“Jeff, I have to work with her -- it’s going to be a project worth twenty percent of this semester’s grade.” I hissed between my teeth.

“I can hear you, Gus, I’m not deaf either.” Marci arched an eyebrow and I had visions of Dad when he’s nailed me or Pop after we’ve said something stupid.

“Okay, okay, sorry.”

Marci sat up straighter and took out a fucking iPhone and started fussing with it. “Good, now we can make plans.” She continued to fuss briefly as Jeff and I just looked at each other in disbelief. “I can make myself available for a couple of hours every afternoon for the rest of the week, and I’m sure I can work something out for a good chunk of time on the weekend.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?”

“The word is that you’re a genius, but I’m just not seeing it. Gus, the project. I don’t want to wait until the last minute to get it going. We only have a couple of weeks to work on it, and I still have practice most evenings.”

Who the hell did she think she was? She may lead Steve, the dumb jock, around by the nose, but not Gus Taylor Kinney. “Did you ever think I might have plans? I do work on the school paper, I have a job and I spend my weekends at home -- in West Virginia.”

“I do know you’re on the school paper, and I know when the newspaper team meets. I also know you have a job and that you spend time at your fathers’ huge estate in West Virginia, just a few miles outside of Pittsburgh -- my parents do know how to drive.”

“Wait a fucking minute...”

“And I also happen to know that you spend every weekend with Jeff, who is certainly welcome to hang around while we do our work... as long as he doesn’t get in the way.”

I noticed that Jeff started quietly laughing as he continued to eat his lunch and I glared at him. “What the fuck! Have you been stalking me or something?”

“Not stalking -- I just like to remain thoroughly informed about people who are considered in the same academic level as myself.”

“Is that right?” Lame response but I inserted some sarcastic tone for added effect.

“Look, Gus, we have to work together and I want us to have the best project in the class. Every 'A' brings me that much closer to my goal.”

“And what would that be?”

“Valedictorian, of course.”

Jeff finally stopped eating and added his two cents, “You’d better be careful of this one, Newbie. She just might give you a run for your money.”

I jabbed Jeff in the ribs, and he made an over-exaggerated face as if in pain. I gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. “I’ll be sure to watch my back.”

“From the sound of it, you could use my help watching your back, too.”

I smiled at Jeff and ran my fingers gently up and down his arm. “I can always use your help.” Looking at the tightening in Jeff’s pants, my actions had the perfect effect.

“Fuck,” Jeff mumbled under his breath. “I have to get to my next class.”

“That’ll teach you to tease,” I smirked.

He shook his head. “Talk about teasing. After school -- meet me at the car.”

“You can count on it.”

Marci finally interjected, “If you two have finished the foreplay what about our schedules?”

“How about Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Britin? Since you’ve investigated everything else, I’m sure you know what Britin is.”

“As a matter of fact I do.” I was tempted to slap this bossy little girl. She had more balls than I gave her credit for. “But what about Jeff? Won’t that cramp your style?”

“Jeff and I will share a room -- like always.” Marci just rolled her eyes at that. “You’ll have a private guest room. Jeff and I respect each other’s work time. He’ll probably have to work at the Liberty Diner for a while anyway.”

“That’ll be fine. I’ll have my parents drive me over after dinner on Friday night.”

“That won’t be necessary. My dads will drive us out. Jeff takes his own car so he can go to and from work.”

“He’s got his own car?”

“My dads got it for him so he could get around easily. It’s an early graduation gift.”

“Shit! He’s lucky to have hooked up with you.”

I laughed, but replied candidly, “No, I’m the lucky one. What about Steve? Won’t he get pissed off?”

“Just let me handle him.” Then Marci actually winked at me.

I wasn’t sure what she meant by that. “Be my guest.”

 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
 

By the time I got all my shit together and made it to Jeff’s car, he was already waiting. “Hey, Newbie, did you spend any more time with the little woman?” He had an evil grin on his face so I did what any red-blooded guy would do -- I gave him a crushing kiss to wipe away that grin.

“So, does that answer your question?”

“It tells me that my question got to you. Care to tell me what the fuck happened since the queen of bossy brains took over our lunch time?”

“She actually texted me twice to confirm our plans and then stopped me at my locker at the end of the day to make sure I got the texts because I didn’t text her back.”

Jeff started laughing. “I think you’re in trouble.”

“How the hell do you figure that? The only trouble I have is a pain in the ass writing partner for the next couple of weeks.”

“I have a feeling she has a thing for you.”

“Are you out of your mind? She knows I’m gay AND that I’m with you. Talk about barking up the wrong tree. Why the fuck would she waste her time with me?”

“Because you’re hot and every girl thinks that the right girl can turn a gay guy straight. Let’s face it, you once thought you might be bi.”

“Yeah, well over a year ago. I think I’ve found my niche.”

“Correction, I’ve found your niche and that better be the way it’s going to stay.”

I couldn’t help laughing. Jeff grabbed me and returned the intensity of the first kiss times ten. “Wow!”

“Don’t you forget who you’re with.”

“No chance of that, Jeff -- not in a million years.”

“Good.”

We had started loading our backpacks and laptops into the car to head off for work when a car pulled up alongside us.

“Hey, are you Gus Kinney?” I was fucking annoyed. It was Marci’s boyfriend, Steve.

Jeff spoke first, “You know fucking well who it is, Steve. What’s up your ass?”

“Nothing.” It was obvious he was going to say some homophobic retort, but Jeff was respected by all the athletes in the school and even pea-brain Steve knew when to back off. “Just make sure your little boyfriend keeps his hands on his homework when he’s working with my girl.”

I rolled my eyes. “I have no interest in Marci. All I want is an 'A' on our project and that’s it.”

“That’d better be it, or I’ll have your ass in a sling.”

“You wish,” I mumbled under my breath so only Jeff could hear. He poked me in the ribs to shut me up. “Don’t worry, Marci’s not my type.” I wanted to add, unless she has a cock under her skirt, but I decided not to egg him on.

“That’s good to hear.” Then he drove off, skidding first for effect as if he was in some bullshit movie.

Jeff gave me a peck on the cheek. “I think you might want to talk to your dads about Marci... and everything else when you get home.”

“It’s no big deal. He’s just some dumb asshole who can’t tell the difference between a date and homework.”

“Well, just make sure Marci knows the difference.”

“Jealous?” I smiled at Jeff.

“You have no idea. Let’s go in the car so you can remember only me when you’re thinking about school today.”

“Lead the way.” My cock was already hard, thinking of the amazing blow job I was about to receive... and of course, I’d gladly reciprocate.

[TBC]

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