Soon enough, class had ended. Working chemistry as partners was not as hard as Terra first imagined it being with Silas. They may have had their fights and troubles to begin this odd friendship or whatever it was. But, they definitely handled fire like pros. Well, Silas was a bit troubled by Terra playing around with the gas and the flame. But, that’s just part of life. She still did all her work correctly, and helped record the numbers. After it was finished, the bell rang and lunch was ready.

Terra quickly breezed past Eric and the other lacrosse bro’s and cruised into the lunchroom. She might be meeting up with Silas, but she still wanted a snack. Quickly grabbing two bags of chips and a gatorade, she made her way out of the lunchroom. Scoping out the hallways like a true ninja, Terra slipped past multiple teachers and the principal. Last but not least, she happened to see Katrina in the hallway near the gym lockers. She muttered underneath her breath because she knew she’d have to come this way and she’d be caught. But, Ms. Fierro was busy talking to another teacher. Watching them carefully, when both their eyes were distracted from that hallway jump, Terra silently ran as fast as she could to the other side. Finding her way into the lacrosse locker room. Sitting on the bench, waiting for Silas.

Silas, on the other hand, was not expecting Terra to bolt out of the classroom so quickly. He thought they were going to go to the locker room together, but clearly her stomach spoke to her more loudly than her judgement. And sympathy, because Silas was totally having an anxiety attack about going into the lacrosse locker rooms.

First, he followed Terra’s lead and headed to the cafeteria. He looked around at all the food items, but he didn’t feel hungry. He actually felt quite nauseous, but he knew he needed to eat because he wouldn’t get to have anything until after lacrosse practice that afternoon. So, he tentatively picked a bag of chips and a wrapped sandwich and paid for them quickly before stuffing them into his backpack. As he turned to head for the door, he heard someone call his name.

“Hey, Silas!”

Silas froze in his tracks and turned to see Eric walking toward him with his own lunch in hand. Silas frowned and cursed his rotten luck. Why can’t anything ever go smoothly? Although, he supposed he was glad Terra wasn’t with him at that moment.

“What’s up?” Silas asked, turning to face him.

“You wanna come sit with us?” Eric asked casually, nodding toward a nearby table of lacrosse players and some slutty-looking girls. Silas glanced at the table with a pained expression and turned back to Eric.

“Sorry, Eric, I can’t,” Silas replied. “I need to meet a teacher for some extra math help. I’m already lost on this whole ‘calculus’ concept.” He laughed.

Eric looked at him suspiciously for a second, but then smiled.

“I know right? Screw that calculus shit, though. But, at least you care about your grades, so I can respect that,” he said. Silas nodded and smiled.

“Yeah,” Silas said. “I’ll catch up with you at practice.”

Finally, he managed to get away unscathed. That was a close one. However, his mission was far from over. He still had the extremely risky task of getting into that locker room without being noticed by the other teachers that seemed to wander the hallways like security goons.

He poked his head out of the cafeteria doors, and the halls seemed clear. Silas made his way quietly, his mind on alert. Finally, the doors of the locker room came into sight, and he hadn’t even seen a teacher on the way. Maybe it was his lucky day.

“Where are you going, Mr. Slater?”

...Or not. 

Silas whirled around to see Ms. Fierro looking intently at him. It was a painful reminder that she still worked at the school, a reminder that Silas could’ve done without.

“Miss Fiero, I--” Silas began to try to explain himself.

“You know the athletic locker rooms are off-limits during the day, don’t you?”

Silas’s face turned crimson.

“Miss Fierro, it’s just, I left some of my gear in there on Friday and I need to make sure it’s still in there.”

Katrina stared at him intently, but she concluded with a sigh that she had probably already given him enough of a scare.

“All right then, Silas,” she said, turning and beginning to walk away. “Sorry for interrogating you.”

“It’s okay,” Silas laughed nervously before he turned and quickly went into the locker room to see Terra there, sitting on the bench. She had been waiting for him, obviously.

“Sorry for taking a little longer than expected,” he said shakily, still visibly nervous from his last two encounters. He smiled and sat down next to her with a shaky sigh and opened up his backpack to take the food out.

“So, what made you decide to ask me to eat lunch in here?” he asked, taking a bite out of the egg-salad sandwich.

Terra nodded and then shook her head at Silas’ apology. “You don’t have to apologize for yourself. I’m not your parents. Or your girlfriend.” She said simply and took a crunch out of one of her chips. “You had to get past Eric and Mrs. Fierro. While I slipped by Mrs. Fierro too. She’s everywhere lately. I feel like she’s watching me and is getting paid by my father.” She laughed a little at the ridiculousness of the idea.

“And, I don’t know.” Terra shrugged, eating more of her chips and watching him eat. Comfortably sitting with each other in the calmness and isolation of the locker room. It was nice. “Figure it’s nice and quiet. Kind of pleasant. Not too many people chatting loudly or being obnoxious. It’s just you and me.” She took another bite that emphasized that last sentence.

Getting up and throwing the first empty bag into the trash, she took a sip from the fountain. Bent over and giving Silas an interesting view. Terra quickly wiped her mouth and then turned around to look at Silas devilishly. She strutted towards him with a little bit of a sway. Sitting on his lap and using one hand to grab his sandwich to place it back down next to them. Another hand curling into his hair as she rested her forehead against his. Dangerously close.

“Of course… There were other reasons too.” She smirked and closed her eyes to kiss him on the lips.

Silas couldn’t help but stare when Terra leaned over to get a drink from the water fountain. He looked over momentarily and her bag and saw she had bought a Gatorade. So she was teasing. Well, she was certainly doing a good job.

When Silas looked back up to her, she was walking toward him with a lot sway in her step, and she admitted that there were “other reasons” for which she wanted to be alone with Silas in the locker room. And with that, she leaned in to kiss him after sitting on his lap and getting very close to his face. Naturally, Silas’s heart began to speed up, but he tried to control his nerves. A split second before Silas kissed her back, he realized that he should’ve guessed this was going to happen, mostly because of that winky face she left on her note.

He kissed her back passionately and kept his hands on her back. He was enjoying the kiss for a second before he pulled away, breathless.

“Wait,” he said after a quick gasp for air. “Are we… having a thing right now?” He looked into her eyes but was smiling stupidly.

Terra was pleasantly surprised that Silas was so receptive to her kiss. He proved to be very passionate and that had caused her to squeal a little against his mouth. It felt like forever, the amount of time they were there in that small moment. But, of course Silas had to have one of his stop moments. Terra breathed along with him heavily. She just rolled her eyes, smiled and laughed. “Yes, we’re having a thing right now, Silas. Now stop talking about the moment and start living in it.” She pulled his head back to hers.

Her lips crashed against his with heated passion. That of young love. She moaned against his mouth, the vibration sending an electric chill through his body and hers as well.

Silas felt that electric chill and he loved it. Not being able to control his analytical tendencies, he absently thought that this must be what lust felt like. Or maybe… something else? Hah, of course not. That was just… absurd. They were simply two teens “having a thing”... Or perhaps “friends with benefits” would be a good term for it too. There was nothing sentimental about it, at all.

But something about that thought was worrying to Silas. He didn’t want to just hook up with someone repeatedly for no reason but to hook up…

Still though, he continued to make out with Terra there on the bench for a good minute or two, but his mind kept wandering. Finally, he mentally commanded himself to stop overthinking the situation and to live a little. Maybe it’ll help him fit in a little more.

So, that’s exactly what Silas did. In the spur of the moment, he broke away from the kiss and reached down at the edges of Terra’s shirt.

“Remind me again… Where we left off,” he said quietly, beginning to lift up the shirt, exposing part of her stomach.

Terra happily continued locking lips with Silas. Right in the middle of school where no one could see them. But, the idea of getting caught only added to the moment. She felt right about this, finally someone who could be her ‘no strings attached’ buddy. And, Silas was just a good guy she could easily be friends with too. It was a good trade off in her mind. Physical with the rest of talking and emotional needs. Just no lovey dovey stuff.

She felt absolutely electric as they kept kissing. A hard shiver went through her body when his fingers traced against her to the edge of her shirt and slowly lifted it up. Terra was surprised, but she quickly grinned and lifted her arms up for him to take her shirt off, revealing a bit of a sexy red bra. Once it was off she grabbed it from him and tossed it to the side. Moving her hands to the bottom of his shirt, also lifting up. “Your turn.” Terra smirked.

Silas grinned and lifted up his hands as well while Terra slowly and seductively took his shirt off too. Once it was off, he turned back to her and did something else spontaneous. He lifted her up slightly by the waist and he swung his legs on top of the bench and laid back so she was now sitting on top of him. He reached up and pulled her in to lie on top of him and continue the kissing.

Terra squealed a little but began to giggle when he grabbed her by the waist and swung her over the top of him. The warmth of their skin touching together providing a new intensity to their moment. Interchanging the lips she kissed. Whenever she alternated to Silas’ bottom lip, Terra bit down gently and tugged his lower lip out before passionately making out with him again. Her fingers lightly scratched up his sides as they kissed.

Silas tried not to smile as they kissed to avoid knocking their teeth together. He was [i]really[/i] enjoying the moment, but he felt compelled to interrupt it again. Partially because he couldn’t control his impulses, but mostly because he knew it made Terra want him a little more.

He pulled away from the kiss and looked up at her.

“Wait, sorry,” he said, smiling sheepishly at Terra. “I have to confess something before we go any further...”

She almost growled at him when he stopped, instead biting at his lip harder and groaning before releasing as he stopped their kisses. Terra had a bit of an annoyed look as she looked at him, before her eyes settled and she smiled lightly.

“What is it, Silas?”

“That was my first kiss,” he admitted, referring to the night they first met. His eyes darted away from hers for a moment, feeling slightly bad about having lied to her. Slowly, though, he turned to look at her again and offered a small smile.

“But… you haven’t said anything about my kissing, so I assume I’m pretty good, huh?” He laughed quietly, but his cheeks flushed slightly.

“What?” Terra’s eyes widened a little bit, looking at him. Studying him closely. “That first night… Yeah.” She talked to herself for a second before gazing at him again. The brown haired girl began to laugh, giggling softly. Her hands cupped his cheeks. “You’re a great kisser. A natural. We’ll find out if you’re a natural at other things, and I guess we’ll find out whether I am too.” She winked seductively at him and slowly lowered her lips to his.

Then, Terra sat up. Straddling him. Her hands moved behind her back towards the clasp of her bra…

Time seemed to freeze for Silas at that moment. Terra seemed to stay there with her hands reaching behind herself for an eternity, and all Silas was aware of in that moment was his beating heart…. and the loud squeaking noise of the locker room door being pushed open.

“Terra!” A woman’s voice shouted in complete incredulity. Katrina stood in the doorway with her hand over her mouth and her eyes wide in disbelief. “You stop this instant!”

Silas groaned loudly as he had seen the door open through his peripheral vision. “Oh my god I think my heart just did,” he muttered to himself, inaudibly.

Terra jumped up in absolute surprised. Startled. Her heart racing. Beating so fast she thought it would leap out of her chest. She got off of Silas and grabbed her shirt quickly to cover herself a little bit. There should have been a look of terror, but instead, the disbelief turned into a smile. She couldn’t help but giggle at Silas’ words and it slowly built into a loud laugh. This was the second time this had happened. It was too funny. Hopefully Silas wouldn’t laugh or else she’d just keep dying of laughter. 

Katrina walked swiftly into the locker room and glared at Terra.

“What on earth is so funny, Terra?” she asked. It was obvious she was more frustrated than angry at her.

Silas sat up on the bench and pulled his shirt on without a word. He didn’t even care at this point. He should’ve known the consequences.

“Do you know what the penalty for sneaking girls into the locker room is?” Katrina said, almost at a shout. “Suspension, expulsion even!”

Silas groaned and rubbed his face in his hands. Why did Terra have to be having a laughing fit right then?

“Why?” she asked, but in a lower, more pleading tone. “Why did you two do this? At school nonetheless!”

She waved her arm out, trying to stop laughing and to signal to Katrina that she needed a minute or so to gather herself. Finally, catching her breath and relaxing herself, Terra stood straight. Putting her shirt back on. “I found it funny that this is the second time this has happened… That’s about it really.”

Terra sighed and crossed her arms. “We did it because I put him up to it. Seriously, this time. It was all my fault. He’s a guy. We both know they can’t control themselves. And we’re attracted to each other. That’s how it goes. It was stupid…”

Silas looked at Terra painfully as she took the blame again. No, he wouldn’t let her do this for him a second time.

“No, Miss Fierro,” he said, stepping forward. “She’s just trying to protect me again.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out the note Terra herself had passed him in chemistry. He unwrinkled it and shower it to her.

“It was me. I asked her to come in here with me,” he said flatly.

Katrina took the note and read it over. A small smile cracked on her lips.

“Silas, honey, I know you don’t dot your i’s with hearts. This is obviously Terra’s handwriting.” She crumpled it up again and threw it out. “But nice try. I admire your… Well I guess we can call it chivalry.”

Katrina paused and crossed her arms with her eyes shut.

“This is a serious offense...” Katrina muttered. 

“Why don’t you give us a detention and be done with it?” Terra asked, very serious.

Katrina’s eyes flew open and she stared at the girl.

“Detention? Are you kidding? I just found you on the verge of a sexual act [i]inside[/i] the boys locker room, in which students are forbidden during the day!”

“Yeah, and if you weren’t snooping around and spying on us it wouldn’t have happened.” Terra shot back, not really being serious. Just purposefully being a bitch.

Katrina shook her head. “Probable cause, Terra.” She nodded to Silas who hung his head. “I caught this one trying to enter the locker room. Did you get your gear by the way, Silas?” Obviously, the last part was rhetorical.

Finally, Terra lifted her head up and gave Katrina a death stare. Cold. Almost lifeless. Like a splitting image of her mother at her worst. “Are you seriously going to get us in trouble for this? A detention is enough. For now. You’d put his or my future in jeopardy over fucking human attraction? It’s fucking basic. You act like sex is a crime. It’s certainly not meant for your nosey ass to broadcast it to your superiors and get us expelled and also get us bad with our peers. I can’t think of a word for the person who would be sick enough to do that to someone.” The words were venomous. But, certainly a lot of truth in them.

Katrina stared back at Terra wide-eyed. Her words were effective, but what struck her most was her stare. It was so cold, she was instantly reminded of Kaelyn on the soccer field when she was on those pills. It was… unsettling. Terra was right… but still…. She couldn’t just let students have sex left and right at school!

“Terra, look….” she began. She stopped and thought about it for a second, weighing the consequences of her decision. Finally, with a loud sigh, she turned around to face the door.

“This is your last warning,” Katrina said quietly. It was evident in her soft voice that she really did not want to find them like that for a third time. “I am not against human attraction or whatever you want to call it, but I have to follow the code of this school, or I will lose my job….”

She began to walk out. “I will see you both in room 202 on Saturday morning, 9:00am sharp.”

“I understand. Thanks Ms. Fierro. It may not count for much, but I appreciate it. And, I promise not to do something like this on school grounds again. At least not while I’m still a senior.” Terra lightened up and even made a joke. Always finding a soft spot in a serious talk.

Ms. Fierro didn’t respond. She just silently walked out of the locker rooms with her head down.

Silas turned to Terra but didn’t say anything for a moment.

“Sorry.” It came out almost like a whisper. 

“It’s nothing to apologize for. We both. I don’t know. We got caught in the moment…” Terra smiled at him. “And it was a nice moment. But, now we have to get back to the real world.” She shrugged, starting to walk out.

Silas grabbed his backpack and stood up quickly.

“Wait, we need an excuse, Terra,” he called after her. “I can’t just tell my parents I’m going in for detention… Should I just tell them I’m going to hang out with you or something?”

“You can if you want. I don’t really have a choice or a need for an excuse. Ms. Fierro dated my father in college so he’s going to find out one way or the other.”

She was right, unfortunately. He supposed having your dad be friends with a counselor had its perks as well as its disadvantages. Oh well, like Terra said, they needed to get back to the real world. They had barely left the locker rooms when the bell rang throughout the halls.

Silas turned to Terra quickly, realizing she’d walk away any moment.

“Terra, I…” he faltered for a second. But he shook his head and grabbed her wrists quickly, planting a small kiss on her lips before pulling away and looking down.

“I’ll see you later,” he mumbled and before he gave her a chance to respond, he turned and hurried down the hall toward his fifth period class

Terra looked into Silas’ eyes, surprised, when he grabbed her wrists. Closing her eyes quick as he kissed her lips once more. She was lost for words and couldn’t say anything before he left.

It was a strange feeling that he left her with. Terra shook her head and tried not to think about it, walking off to her next class.