“You’re a bastard sometimes, you know that.” Paul stares flatly at me.
In truth, if he started taking off his clothes, I would’ve told him to stop. He had nothing to worry about, but he doesn’t need to know it.
“Oh, you don’t mean that. And if you do, you’re not going to after this. I think now is as good a time as any to see if I can get this free use thing to interact with other people, specifically to their benefit.”
His body language shifts at the drop of a hat. Just like that, he’s practically bouncing up and down in his seat. He knows what’s coming as well as I do.
“I’ve thought about this a great deal. First I want to see if you can apply the same effect you use to me in a more passive way. And then, if that fails, we can try more directly. That’s if you don’t mind, that is. I won’t hold it against you if you don’t”
“What do you mean?” I raise an eyebrow, not following.
Paul is anything if not prepared. He flips over the wrinkled piece of paper, revealing more writing on the back.
“Here, say this. Oh, and mean it too.”
“Oh, I get it now. Yeah, this is no problem, man.”
Meaning it isn’t a hard ask. The guy is my best friend; I want the best for him. If we could share in this strange new power of mine, then that would be even more amazing. Without him, this whole thing would be far too lonely. What’s the point of being granted such impossibly good fortune without someone to share it with?
“I want you, Paul, to be able to do everything I can. To be able to touch, ask for, request, or have sex with any person you want, and without it seeming out of the ordinary. I want you…” I read the note verbatim.
It goes on and on. He has really covered all his bases. I can’t understate just how comprehensive it is.
After a few minutes of this, I’m finally done and let out a breath. “Damn, man, you really came prepared, didn’t you?”
“I told you I didn’t get much sleep last night. I wasn’t joking about that.” He laughs.
“So, how do we know if this worked? If it didn’t and you, well…” I vaguely gesture over to the two girls nibbling at their sushi as they chat. “You’re going to come across as a huge creep. Might even get in some legal trouble. And we don’t know for sure I can get you out of it yet.”
“Ah, yes, I’ve thought about that too. Follow me.”
Paul stands up. I follow him as we leave the food court. Well, technically, I only follow him for a few seconds before remembering the stack of cash. I dart back and shove it in my pockets before continuing.
Wherever we’re going, he goes there with intent, knowing the way by heart. Even as we arrive at our destination, I’m still a little confused. It’s a niche clothes shop, one mostly targeted at girls.
It’s not until I glance inside that I realise why. I didn’t know she worked here.
There, stocking shelves, stands a classmate of his. One he’s told me lots about. So much so his crush on her is rather obvious even if he’s not yet admitted that fact to me.
He certainly has a type, doesn’t he?
Jasminel’s not unattractive, not in the slightest. She’s very pretty, albeit in a unique manner. A dark aura surrounds her. Her expression, for one, is unwelcoming to say the least. An ever-bored look sits on her face. Dark, tired eyes and pale skin only add to that. So much so she looks like she would be going for the whole goth vibe, if not for her clothes. Those are less moody, and more, well, for lack of a better word, slutty.
She wears a crop top showing off a whole lot of pale skin all on its own. Enough to make it clear she’s not wearing a bra underneath. To be fair, she doesn’t really need one. Her breasts, while not as flat as a board, definitely don’t need the support in the same way more endowed girls do.
Then there’s her short skirt. On her slender, short body it’s more akin to a belt. Honestly, I imagine she must be accidentally flashing guys her panties all day long. Though, with the reputation she has around school, I imagine there’s nothing accidental about it when such things happen.
As slutty as she is, I can’t really judge my best friend for his taste in girls, can I? Definitely not with all I’ve been, and still intend to fool around with Bridget. The difference, however, is that I have no romantic feelings towards the latter whatsoever. I only care about her body and the pleasure it can offer me. The same can’t be said for him, though. In fact, I think her reputation might be the entire reason he even likes her.
“Here goes nothing…” Paul mutters to himself in an attempt to build up the courage to make his move.
While I wait patiently for him to do so, I take a seat on a bench nearby. From here, I have the perfect view into the shop, from which I can enjoy the show about to unfold.
While I hope this works for his sake, if it doesn’t, I’m sure I can think of some way to cheer him up. Even if we have to run a bunch more tests, we’re not going to leave this mall until he has some fun of his own. It’s the least I can do.
Paul stops and starts his approach, his courage waxing and waning. If there were more people around, he’d draw quite a bit of attention to himself. Really, it’s kind of pathetic.
I should probably be more sympathetic. He’s my friend, and in his position I know I’d be just as bad. Well, not anymore, I wouldn’t, but before all this that would’ve been the case.
Seconds turn to minutes. It gets REALLY hard to watch. Still, I do even if it causes me to cringe. God, this is a train wreck.
Eventually he approaches Jasmine, standing a meter or so away from her. She doesn’t notice him, though, still focused on stocking merchandise as she is. He doesn’t say anything either, standing there as awkward as hell.
“Come on… Do it!” I mutter to myself, urging him on even though he can’t hear me.
At some point, she turns around. She’s not expecting anyone to be there, though, and he scares the living daylight out of her. He says something to her; I’m not sure what. The distance leaves me reading lips to get by, or rather failing too.
Jasmine’s expression doesn’t change as she responds to him in a rather succinct manner. Whatever she says, it’s not good news. Of that, I’m sure. The way he slinks back, head cast down, shoulders slumped, is evidence enough of it. New chapters come out on g.com first.
Unceremoniously, he plops down on the bench beside me. I clap a hand on his shoulder and say. “Sorry, man, but hey, it could’ve gone worse. At least she didn’t slap you or kick you in the nuts.”
I assume he asked her out. I don’t know what else he’d say to her. Knowing him, though, it wouldn’t have surprised me if he tried something more extreme than that. The only reason I don’t think that’s the case is her subdued reaction. Even her cold expression would change if that was what he did.
He mumbles a response, one I can’t quite make out. The poor guy’s down in the dumps, but if words aren’t enough to cheer him up, I know what will. It’s time to test out the more direct alternative.
Without a hint of hesitation or nerves, as Paul displayed in great detail, I get up and approach Jasmine. Let’s show him how it’s done.
Jasmine, no longer stocking the shelves, clocks my approach. “Can I help you?”
“Hey, do you see my friend over there?” I gesture back over my shoulder to the bench.
“Yeah, the weird guy that just asked me out. What about him?” She says with no emotion whatsoever.
“Well, he took your rejection very hard. Do you know what could cheer him up? If you gave him a blowjob? What do you say?”
Jasmine looks between Paul and me, her expression as uninterested as ever. “Hmm, yeah… I guess that could cheer him up. Okay.”
“Wonderful.”
Smiling from ear to ear, I follow her out of the store. Another of her coworkers notices her leaving but doesn’t say anything. This free use thing is really nifty. I’m glad she’s not going to get in trouble for leaving the store while on the clock.
Paul still sits on the bench, head glued to the floor, unaware of our approach. It’s not until she stands right before him, her shoes creeping into his field of view, that he looks up. The curious and sad expression on his face gives way to surprise, followed by joy as he realises what I’ve done.
He gasps, eyes darting over to me.
“You did it!”
“I did.” I clap him on the shoulder. “Have fun.”
And just like that, I turn and walk away. For what’s coming, it’s best I give him his space.
While others might not be able to view this as out of the ordinary, I certainly can. And watching my best friend get a blowjob is not something I’m interested in doing.
Glancing back over my shoulder one last time, the final image I see of the pair is her on her knees in front of him.
A smile blooms across my face, genuinely happy for him.