Tear Down These Walls (26 page)

“You don’t have to tell him anything,” Trent murmurs. “No one needs to
know.”

Teagan hesitates and then reaches into her pocket. She pulls out the
small jump drive. “This is it.”

“That is what?” Trent asks.

“This is the video,” Teagan whispers.

“Oh,” Trent replies. There is a quiet moment. “Why did you bring it?”

She fiddles with the jump drive. “This is the reason I struggle all the
time. I don’t know how to be okay with it.”

“I don’t think you will ever be okay with it,” Trent says gently.

“But, I need to deal with it,” Teagan barely breathes out. “I have never
actually watched it. I saw five seconds of it and threw up.”

“Why do you feel the need to watch it now?” Trent inquires.

“I have to face it. To get past it, I have to face it,” Teagan replies.
She nods her head and reaches down for her laptop. “We’re going to watch it.”

“Teagan,” Trent says, grabbing her hand. “You don’t have to do this.”

“It’s too much to ask of you, isn’t it?” Teagan sighs. “Sorry, I’ll do it
on my own a different day.” The last thing she wants to do is push him to do
something he isn’t comfortable with. Things are really, really easy with him.

He shakes his head. “That’s not what I meant. I just want you to be sure
you want to see this.”

“I need to,” Teagan whispers, lifting her eyes to his.

“Then we will watch it,” Trent murmurs. He takes the computer from her.
“Give me the jump drive.” Teagan hands it to him. Trent turns on the computer
and then plugs it in.  “What file is it?”

“The only video on there, the rest of the files are the awful posts he
put up about me,” Teagan mutters. “We compiled it all for his trial.”

“Did you testify?” Trent asks.

She nods. “Yeah, I had to. I didn’t even look at him or anyone for that
matter. I remember when we went back to school after that, everyone was staring
at me. The more time went on, the more I found out about him. He slept with six
girls from the cheerleading squad. I don’t understand how I didn’t know about
that. I knew he was partying a lot without me, but everyone kept me in the
dark.”

“He is going to have an accident, and he may be seriously maimed,” Trent
growls.

Teagan laughs and scoots over to Trent. She puts her head on his shoulder
and wraps her arm around his. “I am ready for this.”

“All right,” Trent replies, as he presses play and puts his hand on her
knee.

The video starts and Teagan cringes. Trent puts his arms around her and
holds her tight. Teagan murmurs, “At least you can’t see me naked.”

“No,” Trent whispers back. There is a heavy pause. After a minute, Trent
murmurs, “Can I say something?”

“What?”

“I am not trying to downplay this, but…..your ex is really awful and has
no idea what he is doing,” Trent states seriously, his eyes not leaving the
screen.

Bursting out laughing, Teagan really looks at the video. “Okay, maybe I
didn’t enjoy it for other reasons.”

“Look at him!” Trent exclaims, pointing to the screen. “I realize he is
just a teenager, but if he was with six other girls, your boy should have more
skill than that. He looks like a twelve year old virgin!”

She laughs even harder until tears start to well up. “Stop, oh my god,
stop.”

“No,” Trent retorts. “If I were him, I would be embarrassed about people
seeing this!  He has no rhythm and is awkward as hell.” Teagan falls over
into Trent’s lap, she is laughing so hard. “And he is done! Oh my god, he makes
it too easy! Let’s watch it again and time it.  That had to be three
minutes tops.” Teagan continues to laugh in his lap. “Seriously, babe,” Trent
starts. “I know this was horrible for you, but that was the most pathetic
attempt at sex I have ever seen. Can I please time it?”

“You’re kidding right?” Teagan giggles. “You think it was three minutes?”

“Yeah, wait, I have a timer on my phone.” Trent holds it up. “Okay, sit
up so we can time this.” Teagan does, wiping away the tears from her eyes. “All
right, let’s start the video.”  Trent presses play. “Okay, he starts now.
Let’s see how long this takes. Want to make a wager?”

“What are we betting?” Teagan asks, with a grin.

“I have no idea, a gentleman’s bet. What do you think? What do you think
the timing is?”

“Seven minutes because it seemed a lot longer than that,” Teagan retorts.
“I can’t believe it was that short.”

“Babe, it was not seven minutes,” Trent declares. “I’ll say three minutes
tops because I think that’s a better guess.”

Teagan tries not laugh. “We will see.”

After a little bit, Trent shouts, “And it’s done!” When he looks at his
phone, he bursts out laughing.

“What, what was it?” Teagan yells, looking at the phone.

“Two minutes and forty seconds,” Trent laughs. “That is horrible! That
shouldn’t even count! I think you should still consider yourself a virgin!”

Laughing hysterically, Teagan gasps for air. “That is
hilarious
!”

“It really is,” Trent snorts. “That is really bad, Teagan.”

She looks at Trent. “Do you want to hear something funny?”

“Will it top this?” Trent shows her the phone and points to the computer
with a grin.

“Supposedly, he is really small,” Teagan states. “Or rumor has it.”

Furrowing his eyebrows, Trent says, “You have never seen anything else to
compare it to?”

“No!” Teagan exclaims.

“You have never looked up naked pictures of guys with your friends?
Really?”

“No!” Teagan declares loudly. “Shut up!”

“Here, I will give you something to compare it to,” Trent says, putting
the computer down. “Show you a real man.” He grabs at the button of his jeans.

Teagan grabs his hands and pulls them away. “Stop it! You will not!”

Trent laughs and moves his hands to touch hers. “Wow, you’re really red
right now.”

“I do not want to see that!” Teagan exclaims. “Keep it in your pants!”

“Well, I guess it wouldn’t be fair to him anyway. I am very well endowed,
and even if he was a normal size, it would pale in comparison.”

“You’re so full of yourself!” Teagan shouts. “Whatever! Doesn’t every guy
say that!?”

“This guy is telling the truth,” Trent retorts smugly, pointing to
himself. “But you don’t believe me do you?”

Completely embarrassed, Teagan stammers, “No, I don’t believe you. Every
guy says that; it’s what you do!”

“Want to make a wager?” Trent asks.

“No, we’re not betting on anything related to your penis size!” Teagan
exclaims. “We need to stop talking about this.”

“I promise, one day I will prove that I’m right,” Trent laughs. “You just
wait.” He looks at her playfully.

“Yeah, when we are old and ninety and in a retirement home. Then I’ll be
crazy enough to check out the size of your penis! Not now!”

Trent grabs his stomach and laughs. “You’re so red!”

“Trent!” Teagan snaps. “You know I am super shy talking about that stuff!
I really am a virgin in a lot of ways if you think about it.”

“Yeah you are, after seeing that video,” Trent laughs some more. “You
poor thing. I’m picking on you. I’m sorry.”

               
“I’m going to look as bad as Justin when I finally have sex! It’s been four
years since I kissed a guy, let alone made out with a guy! I am going to be
clumsy and make a fool of myself!”

“It’s been two years for me,” Trent sighs. “But, I have a lot of
experience. It will be like riding a bike.”

“Two years!” Teagan squeaks. “Why two years?”

“The end of my last relationship,” Trent states. “I haven’t met anyone
since.”

Crinkling her nose, Teagan says, “Yeah, but….haven’t you wanted
to…..couldn’t you find a girl?”

He chuckles, “I’m not about casual sex, not anymore.”

“Well, at least you have experience. I should find an 18 year old. That
might even out the playing field,” Teagan grumbles.

With a mischievous grin, Trent says, “I could teach you the ropes.”

Teagan gives him a look. “No, I have made out with someone before.”

“Someone who didn’t know how to kiss or….do anything for that matter,”
Trent quips.

“Are we twelve, practicing kissing on each other?” Teagan giggles.

“It is an open offer,” Trent sighs happily. “I’m a fantastic kisser from
what I am told.”

Everything inside of Teagan wants to jump on him and find out. Pushing
all of that aside, Teagan scoots back and grabs her text book. “I will not make
that judgment call. You can find another girl to practice kissing.”

“I was only teasing,” Trent replies. “I bet you are a wonderful kisser.
You do have very soft lips.”

“Lip balm, lots of lip balm,” Teagan laughs. Nervously, she grabs her
note cards, desperate to change the subject and keep her desire to take him up on
his offer hidden.  “All right, I need to study.”

“Are you okay now, with the video and everything?” Trent asks. “I want to
make sure.”

A sincere smile spreads across Teagan’s face. “Actually, I’m very okay with
it. I never realized it could be looked at any different way other than
humiliating. You made me realize that maybe I shouldn’t be the one who is
embarrassed. He got what he deserved.”

“I thought you didn’t know what he got for punishment?”.

“I don’t,” Teagan says. “Though I am curious now. Hold on, I am texting
Georgia and asking if she knows.”  Teagan grabs her phone and sends out a
message.

“You know, if he is on probation and we get into a fight, he could end up
in jail,” Trent states.

Teagan looks up and smiles, “Really?”

“Yeah, you can’t get into any sort of trouble at all when you are on
probation,” Trent replies. “His ass could have to spend the rest of his time in
jail.”            

“Please fight him,” Teagan begs. “I think he should have gotten jail time
in the first place.”

“I bet if I punch him, he won’t tell anyone,” Trent quips with a grin.
“His ass would be too scared to call the cops.”

With a wistful look, Teagan says, “Wouldn’t that be nice?” A whistle
sounds from her phone. She reads, “Five years’ probation, that’s what he got.”

“Yeah, he would get into a lot of trouble,” Trent declares with a wicked
smile. “He better watch what he does with you. I can break him in two if I feel
the need.”

“Promises, promises,” Teagan whispers, giving him a smirk. Trent winks at
her. She smiles and looks down at her note cards. Teagan sees Trent grab the
remote to turn to the TV on. As much as she wants to concentrate, her mind
keeps on drifting to the fantasy of finding out how good of a kisser he is. She
shakes her head and tries to study harder.

Forty-five minutes later the doorbell rings. “I will get the pizza.” As
Trent gets up to leave, Teagan can’t help but check him out.

“Stop it,” she hisses to herself. “He’s off limits! Get a grip.”

A minute later, Trent comes in with the pizza box. “For you madam,” he
says, setting the pizza down. “Are we getting plates and napkins?”

Teagan throws back the cover of the box and takes a piece. “Maybe for
you.” She takes a bite and grins.

“My kind of girl,” Trent chuckles, as he sits down next to her. “So, what
are you studying anyway?”

“Art history,” Teagan sighs. “Not my favorite course.”

“I’m not an art person either,” Trent states.

Raising her eyebrow, Teagan says, “You have art all over your office at
work and your house.”

“Ah,” he interjects, holding up a finger. “That is my sister’s art. I can
appreciate that.”

“You should have her paint me something,” Teagan giggles. “Have some real
art for my apartment.”

“And what would you like a painting of?” Trent asks.

She sighs, “Well…..I think it should be of you.”

Trent snorts, “Well, that’s obvious.”

“Oh my gosh,” Teagan retorts, rolling her eyes. “I was kidding.”

“No, seriously, what would you want a painting of?” Trent inquires.

Shrugging her shoulders, Teagan says, “I have no idea.”

“I’ll see what I can do,” Trent replies. “The fight is on in an hour.
Study away because I will be yelling at the TV when it starts.”

“Because you can coach him from here?” Teagan chides. “He must have very
good hearing.”

“I kicked his ass……twice,” Trent declares with a wink. “I can tell him
what to do.”

“Why did you stop fighting?” Teagan asks, completely curious.

There is a heavy exhale, and Trent stares down at the table. “Teagan,
baby, I had my reasons. They were good reasons, but that’s for another
day  Okay?”

“Yeah,” she replies. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to push.”

“Hon,” Trent laughs.  “You didn’t push. You asked one singular
question. I
promise
, someday I will tell you why.”

“Well,” Teagan starts, leaning into him. “If you ever fight again, I will
put my cheerleading uniform to some good use. I can root with the best of
them.”

A wicked smile spreads across Trent’s face. “Will you wear the bikini?”

“Sure,” Teagan giggles. “Only if it’s your colors.”

He stops mid-bite and looks at her. “What do you mean by that?”

Realizing what she just said, she freezes and then spits out, “Don’t you
guys usually have colors?”

“Not always,” Trent replies. “Why did you say that?”

“I don’t know,” Teagan mumbles, looking back down at her text book.

“Teagan,” Trent sternly says.

“What?” She whispers awkwardly.

He pauses as he stares at her. “You’re hiding something.”

“Nope,” she squeaks. “I have to use the bathroom.” Teagan quickly puts
down her books and gets up off the couch. Before she can go anywhere, Trent
grabs her wrist.

“How did you know I had colors?”

She puts her hair behind her ear and doesn’t look at him. “Michael told
me.”

“Liar,” Trent chuckles. “Tell me.”

Exhaling, Teagan turns around and looks at him. “You’re going to be pissed.”