Page 69 of Let Us Prey
We R Who We R
Delores
“Ready for our daily grind, Dolly?” Cori calls from the stage.
I smile, feeling sore from dance class but excited to see my friends again. We’re nearly done with the tap unit—the routine being the entirety of our exam—and then I’ll be able to ditch the tiny, ass-baring tap shorts and sports bra I’m still wearing. I haven’t changed yet, because Bash pointed out it would ‘help’ me convince Nico to allow us to work on the Halloween costumes during our design periods until after exams. Even I’m self-aware enough to realize that I’m wearing little more than a bikini in this dance gear, and I agree it will distract the fuck out of anyone who sees it.
I still didn’t sprint across campus wearing nothing but this shit. I’m not suicidal.
Waving hello to my friends, I walk to where they have piles of fabrics, sequins, lace, sewing baskets, and pattern pieces strewn about like a fabric store exploded, unzipping the giant hoodie I’ve decided Bash is never getting back. As comfy as it is, it gets really hot in here because of the lighting, and I’d rather not be sweating, no matter how much I love the feeling of safety wearing it brings me.
Todd was a mannerless ass-pig who neveronceoffered me his jacket, even if it was twenty below. I want to experiencerealboyfriend stuff, even if it’s only in my head. Dropping my bag on the wooden boards, I frown. No one has actually said I’m their girlfriend—not even Bash. I sort of assumed they were serious about me, but… that might be my naivete showing again. Dickhead Todd simplytoldpeople I was his, and I went along with it because I was a young, swoony idiot. These professors are men; and I don’t know if I’m delusional to think things are more official than they are.
What future could they possibly see with me?
Frowning, I plop down in front of the pile of sample pieces Cori is using to teach me to sew. I told her I didn’t know a whip stitch from a whip-it, but she assured me she could teach anyone. I can feel eyes on me as I thread my needle with the day-glo thread I’m using for the hem of this dress, and when I can’t take it anymore, I look up from my project and wrinkle my nose at my friends.
“Why are you staring at me like I have a big bug on my face?” I pause, eyes widening. “I don’t, do I?”
Rufus snorts and shakes his head. “Chill the fuck out, Dollypop. You’re insect free, but you look like someone drowned your pussy and not in a good way. What’s got those skimpy knickers in a twist?”
“Rufus! Be nice,” Cori chides as she tugs a piece of thread with her teeth. “You know she’s shy about that shit. Talking about her Penis Flytrap isn’t going to make that any better.”
I choke, sputtering incoherently as my face flushes bright red. “My-my… what?!”
Howling as he falls backward onto the floor, Rufus clutches his stomach. It’s several minutes before he’s able to sit up again—meanwhile, my face is getting increasingly hotter.. “Oh, Dollybear, your face was priceless.”
Cori smirks, trying to hide her mirth by focusing on the sequins she’s applying to the bodice of the costume she’s working on. Rufus stares at her until she throws a hand up. “Fine. She looked like I pissed on her LaPreyla, and it was fucking hysterical. Happy now, you bitch?”
His smug smile is affirmative, and he turns back to me. “We are going to have to desensitize you to dirty talk. No way those naughty professors are going to spout poetry when you fuck. Well, maybe the morose gargoyle will. You’ve gotta quit blushing like you’re losing your V-card all over again.”
“Bash talks dirty all the time and I do just fine!” I retort indignantly.
Rufus’ smile is even craftier than before. “Do tell, girl. ”
Cori smacks him right in the chest as she snorts. “Stop baiting her, Ru-Ru. She’ll tell us deets when she’s comfortable. Besides, she didn’t look embarrassed when she came in; she looked sad. Maybe we could focus onthatrather than gathering material for your spank bank?”
I give her a relieved look before realizing now I’m expected to spill what’s making me sad. That’s no more comfortable than discussing details of my burgeoning sex life, so I shrug. “I dunno. Just a heavy morning, I suppose. Mid-semester blues, maybe.”
“If you think I’m buying that, my uncle Sal has a swamp he’d like to sell you. It’s in a hot real estate market and that’s just as true as what we just got from you.” Rufus arches his brow and I narrow my eyes at him.
“Okay, okay. I’m feeling a little insecure about the lack of definition in my relationships. Well, okay, maybe not all of them because some have barely started, but... "
“Aw, the whittle wolfie hasn’t asked you to wear his pin yet?” Rufus bats his lashes and chuckles. “Cori, help me out with this, so I don’t sound like an asshole.”
The polar bear looks up, clearly surprised. “Um… well, I think he means dudes suck at defining that shit because they’re raised to pretend they don’t have emotions. Hence, why I’m a vagitarian with a love for the clambake. But your guys are probably caught up in something even more complex—they’re much older, your teachers, and outside of that basic taboo, none of them are known for their dating acumen. In fact, most of them are known for barely acknowledging women, while the wolves are known for playboy shit.”
I take a moment to ponder that, rolling around the idea in my mind. Their reluctance to start a discussion about what our various relationships mean might be nothing more thantheirlevel of inexperience, despite their age or track records. Aphrodite knows Bash is totally clueless about Nico. Maybe he’s the same way about me.
I’m certainly not eager to put myself out there, either, am I?
“You percolate on that, sweetness. I, however, would prefer to work the gloomies out in other ways.” Rufus holds his hand out and I take it. He pulls me to my feet and then helps Cori up. When we’re all standing, he leans over and digs a bluetooth speaker out of his bag with a triumphant look. “Ah-ha!”
“Are you going to play some sort of relationship audiobook?Preds Are from Mars, Prey Are from Venus?”I give him a perplexed look as he fusses to pair his DiePhone with the speaker.
Cori snorts. “Hell no. Ru-Ru finds dancing meditative. That’s how we solve all our deep-seated traumas. Dance it out.” She thinks for a moment. “Maybe we should write a book about it... "
“Far too much work, Coco. Plus, I’m not sharing my family’s therapy methods with the world. Between the mosh pit and drinking moonshine until you puke, I’m keeping those secrets to myself, thanks.” He winks as he fiddles with a playlist and finally, Ke$ha is blasting at full volume. “Now,dance,ladies.”
