Carol Perkins

“Hmm... I’m up, I’m up,” you muttered groggily, rubbing the sleep from your eyes as the steady beat of knocks echoed through the house. Whoever it was, they clearly weren’t giving up anytime soon. Dragging yourself out of bed, you shuffled into the hallway, only to spot Steve strolling by with his usual carefree air, a couple of beer bottles clinking together in his hands. “Hey, idiot, get the door for me,” he called over his shoulder without even glancing your way, like it was the most natural thing in the world for you to do his bidding. You stopped in your tracks, staring at him in disbelief. “Are you serious?” Steve didn’t respond, just kept walking toward the living room, completely unconcerned. The casual audacity of it all had your blood boiling. “Unbelievable,” you muttered under your breath, turning toward the door with a sharp sigh. Of course, Steve couldn’t be bothered to answer it himself. He was too busy playing host or whatever it was he thought he was doing. Upon yanking the door open, you prepared yourself to chew out whoever had interrupted your nap. Instead, you were met with something, or someone you weren’t expecting to see. It was Nancy Wheeler. You recognized her instantly upon arrival, her heart-shaped face tapering delicately at the chin and her perpetually wide, curious eyes were unmistakable. She looked even paler than usual, like she’d just walked out of a horror movie marathon. Her outfit was simple, a red-and-white striped shirt that reminded you of a candy cane paired with jeans. But what really caught you off guard was her showing up at your house. She wasn’t exactly a frequent visitor, and even more surprising, she wasn’t alone. Standing just a step behind her was her friend, Barb Holland, who looked as uneasy as Nancy did. Barb adjusted her glasses nervously, glancing at you like she wasn’t entirely sure they’d made the right call coming here. “Uh… hey,” Nancy greeted, her voice a little shaky as her hands fidgeted at her sides. “Um… hi?” you replied, leaning against the doorframe and raising an eyebrow. “What are you doing here?” Nancy glanced back at Barb for a moment, then back to you, taking a small step forward. “We need to talk to Steve. Is he here?” Of course. It had to be about Steve. Your expression soured slightly, but you stepped aside and waved them in. “Yeah, come on in. He’s in the backyard. You can’t miss him. He’s the only guy carrying a crap ton of beer.” Nancy and Barb exchanged a quick look before stepping past you into the house. You closed the door, curiosity swirling in the back of your mind. Whatever this was, it didn’t seem like a casual visit. — A few hours went by and you found yourself staring blankly at the TV screen, the late-night programming doing little to keep your attention. The muffled sounds of Steve and his friends laughing and chatting in the other room grated on your nerves. The volume wasn’t unbearable, but it was enough to make sleep impossible. With a heavy sigh, you turned the TV off, tossing the remote onto the couch beside you. If you weren’t going to get any rest, you might as well figure out what Steve was up to. Rising to your feet, you stretched and rubbed the sleep from your eyes, muttering under your breath, “Fuck this.” You knew it wasn’t a party, because there was barely anyone here to make one. Unless it was a pity party, but knowing how popular Steve was, you threw that idea out the window. Padding down the hallway, you could hear fragments of their conversation as you approached. Laughter mixed with a few whispers, and the occasional sound of a bottle clinking against the table. Curiosity tugged at you, but a tinge of irritation lingered if he was planning something dumb, you weren’t about to get dragged into it. You stopped just outside the door, leaning in slightly to catch a better sense of what was going on. It sounded casual enough, but there was an underlying tone in their voices that didn’t sit right with you. Taking a breath, you pushed the door open, ready to see what the fuss was about. It hadn’t even been two hours, and they were already in the pool, splashing each other like kids at summer camp. Nancy’s hair was soaked, clinging to her face as she wiped water from her left eye. Somehow, she still looked effortlessly composed, but her friend from earlier was nowhere to be seen. You hadn’t even noticed her leave, which was surprising to say the least. Maybe she left while you were dozing off? Carol, however, was a different story. Her hair dripped down her petite frame, and despite yourself, you couldn’t help but remember that brief crush you had on her a few years back. Judging by the faint heat creeping up your neck, it hadn’t entirely gone away. She waved at you, trying to get you You hesitated, giving her a silent but firm no by shaking your head. She pouted dramatically, sticking out her bottom lip as if that would change your mind. It didn’t, and you found yourself wondering how Tommy didn’t catch her obvious attempt at flirting. Then again, Tommy wasn’t exactly known for his sharpness. Before you could decide whether to stick around or escape the awkwardness, Steve noticed you. His eyes narrowed in that signature annoyed big-brother way, and you knew you were about to catch it. “Y/N, what the hell are you doing here?” he barked, standing up from the pool's edge. “Nothing,” you replied flatly, already regretting your decision to investigate. Steve wasn’t having it. “Yeah, well, go ‘do nothing’ somewhere else.” You rolled your eyes but bit back a retort, not wanting to start a scene in front of everyone else. Instead, you shot him a sarcastic salute and made your way back inside, the door sliding shut behind you with a loud clack. Stomping your way up the stairs, you felt a twinge of frustration bubble under your skin. You didn’t even want to be there to begin with, but somehow Steve had this knack for making you feel like an intruder in your own house. Shutting your bedroom door behind you with a little more force than usual, you collapse onto your bed with a huff. From the open window, you could still hear the faint sound of laughter and splashing from the pool. Carol’s voice stood out, laughing louder than the rest. You rolled your eyes, pulling a pillow over your head in an attempt to drown it all out. Some night this turned out to be. — Turning around to check the time, the glowing red numbers on your clock read, “2a.m.” You groaned, rubbing your face. How was it already that late? Just as you contemplated getting up for some water, a faint giggling caught your attention. At first, you thought it might have been coming from the backyard, but no, this was closer. Too close. It was coming from your own room. You turned, startled to see Carol leaning against the edge of your bed, her petite frame illuminated by the dim glow of the hallway light spilling in. Her wet hair clung to her shoulders, and she had that unmistakable smirk on her face—the one you’d seen her flash at people just before she got her way. “What are you doing here?” you asked, voice low but laced with suspicion. She shrugged casually, brushing her hair over one shoulder. “Tommy passed out before we could, you know…” Her words hung in the air, thick with implication. “actually do it.” Your brows furrowed as your mind scrambled to process her boldness. “Shouldn’t you, I don’t know, wake him up or something?” Carol took a step closer, her smirk deepening. “Why would I do that when I could be here with you?” It was subtle at first,her gaze lingering on you a little too long. Then came the light touches: her hand brushing against yours as she shifted, her playful laughs lingering in the air, and the way she leaned just slightly closer with each passing moment. “Carol—” you started, but she cut you off with a playful laugh, crossing the room to sit on the edge of your bed. “What’s the matter?” she teased, tilting her head as a sly smile crept across her face. She leaned in slightly, her voice dropping just enough to send a chill down your spine. “You like me, don’t you? Don’t think I didn’t notice you sneaking glances at me by the pool.” She paused, her smirk deepening as she added, “Even with ‘the princess’ right there.” You swallowed hard, your mind racing. This was bad—so, so bad. But as her hand brushed lightly against your arm, a part of you faltered. She wasn’t wrong. That old crush had never really gone away, no matter how much you tried to ignore it. “L..look,” you said, trying to keep your voice steady, “shouldn’t you, I don’t know, check on Tommy and leave before my parents come home..or something?” She laughed again, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Tommy’s fine. Passed out cold. This is about you and me now.” Before you could form another protest, she leaned in closer, her hand resting on your chest as her gaze locked onto yours. You felt your resolve slipping, the tension in the room thick enough to cut with a knife. Your heart skipped a beat, and you froze in place, the weight of Carol's words hanging in the air like a bad joke. But the way she said it, her voice dripping with confidence, left no room for misinterpretation. "What?” It was hard to believe this was happening, it felt like something from a wet dream. The Carol Perkins, standing just centimeters away from you, her smirk radiating confidence. It was almost too much to believe. Carol laid there, her damp hair still clinging to her shoulders, wearing an oversized T-shirt that probably didn’t belong to her. Her lips curled into a coy smile as she closed the distance between you two, the soft tap of her bare feet on your leg was the only sound that was mustered in the room. “You heard me,” she said, her voice low and sultry. “Tommy’s passed out on the bed, and honestly…” You froze, your mind racing. Carol’s words hung in the air, laced with a mix of audacity and tension. Her fingers lingered on your chest, and you could feel the weight of the moment pressing down on you like a tidal wave. “he’s not really what I want right now.” You leaned back slightly, creating just enough space to assert a boundary without shoving her away outright. “Tommy’s your boyfriend,” you said firmly, narrowing your eyes. “And he’s literally in the next room.” Carol’s hands found their way to your chest, the tips of her fingers pressing lightly against the fabric of your shirt. "Come on," she whispered, tilting her head slightly. "What’s the harm? It’s not like anyone has to know. Not even Tommy..” Her lips curved into a subtle smile as she began to lean closer, her gaze locked on yours with an unsettling intensity. You felt your heart racing as Carol's words sank in. She was right; there was no harm in it, and it wasn't like anyone had to know. Tommy would never find out, and if he did, well, he was passed out drunk anyways.