Sorry for the delay, my primary writing computer decided it would go to sleep and never wake up, so I got a bit (a lot) behind on everything. Hopefully everything is fixed now. Anyway please enjoy (and comment on) the very unedited Picking Up the Pieces pt 3!
I woke up feeling disconnected. I tried to swing my legs out of bed, but found them
stuck. My eyes were blurry, hard
to keep open. I pushed myself up
and blinked waiting to wake up more.
When I did the first thing I noticed was Peter. He was sleeping on my bed on top of the
covers; his eyelids were red and looked bruised around the lashes. He looked unbelievably sad and
defeated. He was curled into a
tiny ball around one of my pillows under a throw from his bed. It took a moment for me to remember why
he was so sad, when I did it hit me like a hammer.
I ran my tongue around my mouth, the gums were still
sore. A blush rushed to my
cheeks. I was so embarrassed I
felt sick. I had to do something,
I knew I had to talk to Peter, and call my therapist, but first I had to do
something, anything to take my mind off the burning humiliation.
Moments later, teeth gently brushed, lazy day glasses on,
and bleach in hand I went about cleaning the bathroom, when I finished that I
moved into the kitchen. When I was
finishing the sink and thinking about cleaning out the fridge Peter joined me.
“Jax, I really hope-” I looked up from polishing the front
to look at him. He looked even
worse than I did. His eyelids were
bruised and his eyes bloodshot. He
looked like he was ready to cry again.
“I'm really sorry.”
I interrupted. I felt much
calmer, ready to at least think about talking. The scent of bleach was in the air, and it made me feel
better, but I was ready to take a break.
“Do you want to get breakfast?”
Peter shook his head. I
blinked at him. Peter never said
no to food.
“I want to stay here.
I don’t really feel well.”
I thought back to what I had said.
I didn’t think I was overly mean, but Peter looked like he did after
each new breakup.
“Peter, I am really, really sorry-”
“Jax, I know you are sorry, you can stop saying it. I’m sorry too.” I didn’t know what to say. Maybe I had ruined everything. That was what I was trying to avoid. Maybe it wasn’t that I was too
standoffish, or that we were just meant to be friends. Maybe I was just too crazy for Peter to
deal with anymore. I felt my calm
slipping away and tears gathering in my eyes. I couldn’t loose Peter. I wouldn’t have anything.
“I'll try harder!”
It burst from my lips before I could think, but it was true. I could try harder. I could go to therapy regularly like I
was supposed to. To keep my only
friend I would even try the personality stealing meds. “Peter I will try harder. You can't give up on me.” It was worse than whining, I was
begging, but all of it was true. I
would try harder- I would try anything.
Being faced with no more Peter was motivation to do anything. I opened my mouth to go on-
“Jackson. Shut up.” I closed my mouth. Everything was changing, and I didn’t
like it. “You don’t have to try
harder. You are just fine. But I think you are right. I don’t think we are really good for
each other any more. I thought
about it, and even though you are the best friend I could ever have, I am not
that good of a friend. I’ve just
been using you all this time, what do you get out of being friends with
me? I get everything, but you
never seem to get anything. I need
you, but I need to learn to not need you.” Tears began falling, but I was angry now, using? I thought I was being nice, that's what
friends did.
“What do I get out of being friends with you?” I whispered to avoid my voice cracking,
it didn’t work. “I get everything
too. We have been friends forever;
you are my only fucking friend.
You can’t just give up!”
Peter shrugged. He looked
so defeated it was impossible to stay mad at him.
“I love you. I
always have like I told you.” He
shrugged again. “Once is better
than nothing I guess. I’ve
imagined waking up next to you for years, and in a way I guess I got to, but I
don’t think it will ever happen like I imagined. I think now I will be-”
“Why not? Why
can't you do what you imagined?”
“It's stupid, it will never happen.”
“Tell me!”
Peter blushed and looked away from me. He ran his fingers through his hair. It was messy, but clean.
“I always imagined waking up with my face buried in your
hair.” He looked directly at me
tears dulling the fire in his eyes.
“I imagined kissing you awake, sucking you awake, fucking you
awake. I imagined opening my eyes
and having you be the first thing I saw.
I imagined making breakfast with you before we even got dressed, covered
in sweat and cum and too hungry to care.
I imagined-” I looked at the gloves protecting my skin from bleach. I tried not to imagine what he was
describing. Kissing before
brushing? Not showering after-
well. Cooking without
clothes? I shuddered I resumed
cleaning. I breathed slowly. In through the nose out through the
mouth. I wouldn’t panic. It wasn’t going to happen, it wasn’t
going to happen.
“See, you aren’t even listening.” I turned back to Peter, he had still been talking. I hoped I had missed all the dirty
thing he had been describing.
“I was, Peter, I can't- I can't even imagine-” My breath
caught in my throat, I resumed polishing, more zealously than before. I hated myself. Why couldn’t I just be? Let the dirt and germs be. Most of them weren’t hurting me. I knew that. I forced myself to take a deep breath.
“I think I love you too. I can't let myself, but it is too late. But I can't imagine- Peter please I
can't not be your friend.” I
turned back to watch his answer.
It was a while before he spoke.
The polish was drying on my rag.
I could have gone back to polishing, but this was more important.
“Jackson, I can't just wait forever. I feel like I have, and finally when I-
well you know what happened.” More
tears gathered in my eyes.
“Please give me another chance. You have to be a little patient with me. I’ve never-”
“Oh I know.” He
laughs, suddenly happy. The whole
room brightens with his smile. I
feel lighter, and I don’t even know his decision. “Jackson, I think we want the same thing!” He laughs again, then sobers suddenly. “I have no idea if it could work. I don’t think it can. I don’t know if I would survive
breaking up with you. There would
be no one to eat ice cream with, to cry with me, to tell me I told you so Jax,
I don’t think I can risk it.”
“You don’t have to worry. No one else could deal with me. Peter I don’t know how to be with someone, but I’ve been
with you forever already.” Maybe
this wasn’t going to be the worse day of my life. Jet planes did training exercises in my stomach, completing
several before I saw Peter's smile.
“Would you still eat ice cream with me if this doesn’t work
out?” I nodded. This was happening, what now. I loved Peter, but was I in love? Could I deal with all the touching and-
other stuff couples did? Would
Peter expect me to- do stuff now.
I had gone so long without anyone without anyone. I was the oldest virgin I knew. I didn’t even know how to kiss
properly. I took a deep breath, in
through the nose out through the mouth.
I had a whole new thing to panic about.
**
We did end up going out, but to lunch instead of
breakfast. Peter grabbed my hand
as soon as I locked the door to the flat and grinned at me.
“This is just like I imagined.” I smiled back.
Holding hands I could do.
Plus I had seen Peter wash his hands before we left. Maybe he was right about clean things
we could do. Maybe I had been too
worried about everything. This was
perfect. But anything perfect
can't last too long.
We were finishing a yummy lunch of pizza; I ate mine with a
knife and fork, but shared with Peter, baby steps. I never got over an attack right away; it would be a few
days before I wasn’t constantly thinking about all the dirty things everywhere. But the sun was shining, and for the
first time in my life I was on something that could be called a date.
“Hello Peter.”
I turned in my seat, it was Marc.
He pulled up a chair next to mine and took Peter's hand into his. “I called you last night and you did
not answer. I am missing
you.” He smiled. “And your beautiful mouth.” I gagged. I knew where Peter's mouth had been last night. And where it had been before then.
“Oh well, something came up.” Peter made no move to take his hand away from Marc. Really? Already? I knew
I was boring but we hadn’t even finished being together for one day.
“Will you be available tonight?” I felt distinctly ignored. I reached from my water, but I couldn’t remember which was
mine, one had touched Peter's 'beautiful mouth' and that had touched Marc's-
well.
“Umm, actually I meant to call you this morning. Marc um...” Peter was already ashamed of me. I should go. “I
don't think we should see each other any more. See, you helped me realize that-” Marc pushed his chair back
sharply and stood.
“I see. Your
pretty friend here. When you get
tire of his- issues with pleasure come back to me. Your tight little body is worth your flakiness. Good day.” Peter breathed out slowly. Maybe he had been holding his breath.
“Well now you have a back up plan. You should ask if he likes ice cream and sappy movies.” I ran a hand through my hair and looked
at the waters. Which was mine?”
“Jax, don’t be like that. He really isn’t bad.”
Had Peter heard the same thing I had. Marc sounded like a user to me. Much like many of Peter's other experiments. I shrugged.
“Which water is mine?”
“Dude it doesn’t matter, if I have something you already
have it.” I blinked at Peter. That wasn’t the point. It was avoiding that.
“But which is mine?”
Peter looked at me and switched the straws on the drinks.
“Both and neither. Just drink some water.”
I wanted to. But I
couldn’t. Peter was being a dick. He had known.
“Why couldn’t you just tell me?”
“Because it is stupid.” Peter stirred with the straws. I got up from the table, and put down a twenty. I scratched my eyelashes trying to
prevent any tears from falling.
“Oh come on, you said you would try.” People were looking at us. I closed my eyes and tilted my head up.
“I am trying Peter.
It isn’t easy. Just give me
a few days.” Peter noticed the
people watching.
“Yah, sure.” He
stood too and kissed my temple.
“Sorry, this just makes me nervous, finally getting what I want.” I tried to not flinch as I felt his
breath brush my neck. The smell of
melted cheese and tomato was suddenly stifling. Peter took my hand and we left. So far, this wasn't going too well.
Peter tried to grab my hand as we walked back. I deliberately put both of mine in my
pockets. I was sulking and I knew
it. But I felt like it, and Peter had
been being mean.
When we got back to the loft Peter began being ridiculously
nice to me. He let me pick the
movie, and what to get for dessert.
He even took another shower, but only after he offered me the
first. We settled in to watch an
old Indiana Jones flick. I had
seen it before, but it was so worth seeing again. I couldn’t maintain my sulking with such a wonderful film to
make fun of. Plus curling up with
Peter was so familiar, but so new with the new things we had done
together. I wanted to tickle him
just like when we were younger.
Just learning how messed up we were. But now, I was too scared about where it would lead. I didn’t want to start anything I
couldn’t finish.
I must have dozed off because I woke up feeling hands in my
hair. They stroked and tickled,
gently scratching my scalp, it felt amazing.
“Do you mind if I touch your hair? I wont touch your face.” I nodded. It
felt so good, soothing and stimulating at the same time. This I could get used to. I nuzzled my face into Peter’s
stomach. He still smelled like
soap, but there was the faint scent of Peter underneath. It was a wonderful combination.
“This is nice.”
I could feel more than hear Peter’s agreement. I liked this, if only I didn’t have to do anything else. But maybe there was hope; maybe there
were things that we could do that weren’t so filled with germs.
Still sleepy I sat up and I wrapped my arms around Peter and
kissed his neck. I didn’t think
before I did it. He just smelled
so good.
“Don’t tickle!”
He laughed, I had to giggle too.
This was so different than just a few days ago, but it already felt so
natural. How had I not known how
amazing this could be? How had I
not noticed how attractive Peter
was? I knew objectively, but now
after his little confession, just looking at him made my blood sing.
“I feel like I am in a stupid romance novel.” I said. Still against Peter’s neck. He laughed again and tickled my ribs. I had once tried to convince him I
wasn’t ticklish, and I hadn’t thought I was either; he hadn’t stopped trying to
tickle me for a week. I had hated
it, hated to be touched in any way- finally he found the spot, just under my
ribs. It was pure torture.
I had been right, Peter wasn’t satisfied with just tickling,
when I was squealing more than laughing in a very unattractive manner with
tears rolling down my cheeks, Peter stopped and before I could recover kissed
me.
It was a gentle kiss, just a brush against my lips, but it
still gave me Goosebumps. I could
feel Peter’s smile against my lips when he felt my skin tingle under his
fingers.
“Remember when you told me you weren’t ticklish?” I nodded. “I wanted to kiss you then.” Before I could respond he kissed me again. I was reaching for him again from my
place between the old trunk we used as a coffee table and the sofa, when he
stood, gently pushing me away.
“I’m going to brush my teeth- I don’t want to mess this up
again.” He smiled and I touched my
fingers to my lips. I hadn’t
thought of that, but I would have.
It wasn’t a good sign I would forget that easily. Forget about my own issues until it was
too late. Well, not only was that
unfortunate and fucked up. It was
really dumb. I ran my hand through
my hair and straightened up the throw and pillows and pushed the couch back
where it belonged.
Peter returned smelling deliciously minty. He sat next to me on the couch. We sat silently for a while until he
finally spoke. My mind had been
spinning with possible things to say, but they all seemed so stupid. I was so lost in my thoughts I missed
what Peter said.
“What?”
“I asked what you think will make freak. No brushed teeth? Or is there more than that, unwashed
hands? I want to do this
right. I don’t mean to make things
harder for you I just don’t really know what isn’t good for you.”
“Oh.” I hadn’t
thought of that. “I mean, cleaner
is better. But I don’t really know
what will be more upsetting. Clean
bothers me less than thinking of possibilities.” I didn’t want to talk about this. I just wanted to be normal, in control.
“Well you have to have some idea.” I nodded.
“Well, last time.”
I could feel a blush coming on.
I could deal with that just as long as-
“Oh Jax, don’t be such a prude, it was just a little
oral. There is so much more I want
to do to you, do with you.” I
blushed harder and crossed my legs.
That was what I was afraid of.
“What I meant to say is last time I was more worried about possibilities. I think if I knew- well you history, I
would know better what I want clean.”
I felt a bit nauseous; I could feel the heat coming off my face. It was not pleasant.
“Oh Jax, umm. I
don’t know if I remember everything to tell you.” That was not reassuring.
“Well you have to start somewhere.”
Two hours, many blushes, and several kisses later I had a
brief history of Peter’s exploits.
I felt better now that I knew.
But still, it was a lot.
Things I had never even thought of.
“So,” Peter began after I drank a cool glass of water, a
very needed cool down after a detailed description of Peter’s First Threesome. It had been told like a movie, or maybe
a porno. “How do you feel toward
toys?”
I spat out some of the water.
“Come again?” I
had heard just fine.
“Well, I hope to at some point in the near future.” I shook my head. Peter the Perv was back… if he ever
left.
“Umm I don’t know.
Maybe if they weren’t used.”
“Well I happen to have some, original packaging and
all.” I blinked.
“Now?” Peter
nodded. Oh god.
Peter smiled and kissed me. Just as I was getting into it he pulled back. He took my hand and led me toward his
bed.
“Just sit here.”
I did. Peter looked in his
bedside cabinet. When I tried to
look he pinched my calf. “No
peeking.” He must have meant it
because a moment later he appeared with a soft silk scarf. He covered my eyes slowly, giving me
time to say no. I didn’t. He gently pulled my shirt over my
head. I shivered. This was so new. I felt his breath brush my nipples
before he licked one. I
gasped. Who knew that could feel so
good. Peter laughed.
“You should see your face.” His voice lost its laughter. “You look so perfect sitting there.” I wanted to see the expression that
went with that voice, but I stayed still anticipating what would come
next.
After blowing on my other nipple Peter unbuttoned my
pants. I raised my hips slightly
to let him pull them off. I
blushed again remembering I had neglected to put on underwear this
morning. I had been hesitant to
put on anything I wasn’t absolutely sure was clean.
“Oh you naughty boy.”
My stomach tightened at the words.
I had never been called naughty before. I kind of liked it.
Peter licked the bit of precum that was dripping down my thigh. “Naughty and eager.” I nodded and pushed my hips up toward
him. He pushed them down then
pushed my shoulders so I was flat on the bed.
“Don’t make me tie your hands.” Another bolt of pleasure went through me. Who knew I would like being told what
to do? I loved control.
After licking a trail across my hips, ignoring what I wanted
the most Peter told me to turn over.
He laid full length over me and kissed the side of my jaw. I moaned. It felt so good.
His skin was so warm against mine; he was so hard against me. It scared me to have that part of him
so close to such a vulnerable orifice, but the fear just made it more fun.
Peter sat up and pulled me with him, to my knees. I tried to sit up and Peter pushed
firmly between my shoulders.
“Stay.” I
stayed. “Now, no more mouth
kisses.” What no more kisses? Wait, mouth kisses what was he going
to-
Peter’s mouth on my hole was the most shocking thing I had
ever felt, the most electrifying too.
I screamed into the pillow I was holding. How could such a simple action have such an amazing
return? Peter certainly had a
talented mouth. His tongue found
every sensitive crevice, every ticklish bit of me. When I finally had to take a breath I relaxed and the very
tip of peter’s tongue slipped inside of me. I think my head exploded. Every nerve inside me fired at once. My hips bucked and I came all over the
pillows and cover. I couldn’t see
everything felt too sensitive, and yet Peter kept licking.
“Too much, too much, dear god, Peter stop!” I chanted but he didn’t. I couldn’t stop trembling.
“Oh don’t give up now, you wimp. I’m not done with you yet!” What more was there?
I heard a faint buzzing just before I lost it again. I had never known I could feel so much
pleasure.
