The Sweet.

Alison!:

Offbeat senior Ray and popular freshman Alison capture pieces of each other’s hearts.

Now, I'm a-seaside sitting.

Just a-smokin' and a-drinkin' on ringside.

On top of the world.

I got a drink in my hand,

I got my toes in the sand.

All I need is a Beautiful Girl.

Van Halen.

Meet Alison.

October 1980.

Westridge High School, Southern California.

“No, Ray. Look, you’re a nice guy, and I appreciate all you do, but I just don’t see you that way. Sorry.”

I sighed and scratched my close-cropped dark hair. “It’s ok, Debbie. I get it. See you later.”

My thin, strawberry-blonde classmate parted her extra plump lips, as if to say something else, but I drifted away before the atmosphere turned even more uncomfortable. Stopping twenty feet away at my locker, I heard Debbie’s two fellow junior-year girlfriends giggling before she scolded them. Her compassion impressed me, as most girls who rejected me couldn’t resist adding insult to injury.

Just part of being a guy, but damn, it sucks…

I pretended to look through books until the girls walked away, leaving me alone in our music building hallway. Knowing full well how ridiculous a lanky six-foot tall frame appeared while burying my head in the locker, I still yelled into an echo chamber.

“Fuck you, Debbie! You stupid whore. Fucking skanky dyke! Slutty cunt!”

Satisfied, yet feeling idiotic with my senseless outburst, I banged my head against the flexible metal back and sides. Debbie really had nothing to do with my mood, and I had no bad feelings for her. Actually, I had no romantic feelings for her either. She had marched and sat next to me for the last three years of band, where I had mentored and trained her into a decent player. Though pretty and friendly, Debbie’s low-key personality struck me as rather boring, and I had only asked her out because I was determined to date a girl, any girl, in my senior year.

Well, almost any girl...

Armed with a new driver’s license and $500 saved from my summer job, I already had worked my way through the available upperclassmen band girls who fit my tight criteria.

Not repelled by me...

Including Debbie, my scorecard showed four failures, with the other three strikeouts providing much greater humiliation. Kind Debbie had made her rejection as painless as possible, and I intended to resume our cordial relationship, if possible, because...

...Debbie has a little sister, Alison...

Choking on self-disgust, I slammed my locker, then stepped into the deserted band room. After making sure no other weirdos like myself lingered, I entered a storage closet, then wedged the door closed with a folding chair. Next, I dug out a dusty bassoon case. The instrument itself was cracked and unusable, which made it a perfect hiding place for the small baggie of low-grade marijuana and mini bong my older sister Natalie had given to me.

Gonna get high, fuck yeah...

A small chunk of bud remained in the bowl from my last dose two weeks ago, so I quickly blazed it, taking two gurgley hits. After an obligatory coughing fit, I took care to thoroughly bury the bassoon case beneath a pile of chairs and music stands. Not hearing anyone through the door, I slipped out, then opened a side exit to the parking lot.

Oh, my! What pretty clouds on this late Friday afternoon! Why, that one looks like a tuba, and the other one reminds me of the Jabberwock. Heh. ‘The jaws that bite, the claws that catch.’ I’ll swing my Vorpal Blade, and...

“Ray! Hello?”

My bug-eyed friend Jennifer waved to me from a decrepit moped, so I shuffled her way. As first chair in the clarinet section, Jennifer technically ruled over me, but we had developed a close partnership over the last two years, bringing lesser skilled players up to speed. With both of us set to graduate in June, we had been preparing Debbie to take over. She didn’t seem cut out for the role, and Jennifer fretted about her legacy fading away. However, I didn’t care at all, which annoyed her to no end.

I donned prescription sunglasses to conceal my stoned eyes, as Jennifer could be uptight and prude about... well, everything. “Hi, Jennifer, are you ok?”

She removed a red helmet, revealing unruly sandy-blonde hair, then fiddled with the handlebar controls. “No, dagnabbit. I can’t get it to start, Ray.”

Normally, I would mess with Jennifer by making her beg for help, when in fact I loved helping friends with mechanical issues. My pleasant high numbed any desire to be a jerk, so I girlishly giggled, “I’ll take a look at it, ma’am.”

Jennifer gave me an odd look but knew I had taken two semesters of auto shop. “Thank you, Ray. If you fix it, I can give you another ride home.”

A few weeks prior, Jennifer had sat on my lap while I held her waist and pedaled. The motion under her broad, soft butt had resulted in physical excitement and gave me a revised view of her, so I planned to ask her out after graduation. Cute in an earthy way, with an average height and build, Jennifer could be a decent girlfriend for the summer before she headed to a prestigious music college on scholarship. Until then, our roles and general lack of romantic interest kept me from asking her out.

Ok. Air, fuel, and spark. Fuel, spark, and air. Sparkly air, fuelly fuel. We need all three, yes indeed, tee hee hee. Where to start. Hmm...

Realizing I had been staring at Jennifer’s small breasts for an eternity while my brain followed a Möbius loop of troubleshooting, I focused on the task. A tiny carburetor caught my eye, so I pushed on the open choke flap, noticing the cable had detached from it. A simple matter of hooking the cable’s end loop into a hole on the flap seemed to fix it, but the cable did not move smoothly.

It needs oil...

A chattering trio of freshmen band girls offered a nearby solution. Debbie’s sister Alison played the mellophone, and likely had a bottle of valve lube in the case she carried.

I ignored Jennifer’s exasperated, “Ray, where are you going?” and made my way to the young ladies.

Alison, Tessa, and Mindy all stood just over five feet tall, and they looked up in unison as I approached with hands in my black leather jacket. Sexy Mindy ignored me, shy Tessa averted her gaze, but stunning Alison smiled. “Hi, do you need something?”

Allowing a moment to leer, I boldly proclaimed. “He-llllo, ladies! I’m Ray.”

She waved, “I know who you are, Ray. My sister Debbie told me all about you. I’m Alison. This is Tessa and Mindy.”

Though I had never spoken to any of the girls, I knew all their names. Like most young men, I considered it my duty to keep track of potential prey. Chubby Mexican Tessa seemed an unlikely candidate, but she had a funny pleasantness about her that I found mildly appealing. “Hi Tessa. I was in your mother’s creative writing class last year. I loved it. Do you write when you’re not playing your flute?”

She brushed long, shiny black hair out of her plain brown face. “Umm. A little bit.”

Tessa. Maybe if I’m drunk...

Mindy’s permanent scowl only faded away when the most handsome boys paid her attention, so I merely nodded her way. My hungry gaze returned to Alison.

She’s so beautiful...

Equipped with a shorter version of her sister’s thin frame, Alison’s slight curves stood out more. Unlike Debbie’s drab style, nubile Alison wore her preferred Dolphin shorts, exposing flawless legs. The tight white tank top under her marching band windbreaker revealed tiny budding breasts, which I anticipated reaching her sister’s modest size within a year.

Thick and straight golden blonde hair kissed her shoulders, framing aesthetically perfect features. Many beautiful girls have some slight deviation that make their faces unique and unforgettable, but aside from braces, Alison had nothing like that. Still, I immediately knew she would always have an indelible and prominent spot in my mental photo gallery, no matter how many years passed.

Because I had thoroughly studied Alison since the school year began, my refresher survey barely lasted a millisecond. I gestured towards Jennifer, who appeared to be uncharacteristically irritated with me.

Settle down, Jennitals. You’ll get your chance to Friendzone me, too...

“Alison, do you have oil in your case? I need some to fix Jennifer’s moped.”

Mindy scoffed, “Jennifer, ugh. She’s so, like, I don’t know... She’s got bad breath.”

A THC-charged chuckling fit overcame me. “Heh, Mindy. Heheheeee. That’s mean, but you’re right. It’s most certainly foul, yes indeedy! Say, Min-diddly-doo, got any mints? For Jennifer's mouth, not the moped. That just needs oil. Heh.”

Alison handed me the tiny bottle of valve lube with a smile. Tessa spoke up. “Umm, here’s a piece of gum. Ray, that’s really nice of you to help her.”

Mindy walked away, disgusted with her friends’ tolerance of me.

What a great ass and a shitty attitude. I’ll never date a girl like her...

“Thank you, Tessa. Girls, come with me. This will just take a second, then I’ll be out of your gorgeous hair.”

Both of them appeared surprised. It took me a second to realize what I had just said. Tessa ran thick brown fingers through her midnight black locks while looking down, but Alison’s blonde tresses flew back and forth with wavy movements of her exquisite head. Large hazel eyes twinkled at me.

She’s just teasing. Don’t fall for it...

They followed me to Jennifer, who I didn’t bother introducing. A few squirts on the cable ends freed it up. “Try it now, Jennifer.”

She pedaled a few times, then the primitive engine puttered to life. With a huge grin and strut, I returned Alison’s oil. She laughed, “Oh, Tessa. Look at the big hero, saving the day.”

Then Alison reached out and rested her petite fingers on my forearm.

Wow...

The slight contact awakened a new feeling. Something... special.

Don’t read too much into it. Alison’s just being friendly...

The moped horn saved me from doing or saying anything humiliating. I doubted Jennifer honked for that reason, but I still appreciated it.

“Alison, Tessa. Nice to meet you. Thank you for the help, and... uhh, goodbye. Yeah.”

Tessa offered a shy wave, but Alison blew me a tiny kiss, then took her friend’s arm and hurried off to do... whatever freshman girls did. My pal Pete claimed they masturbated all the time, just like boys, but he said a lot of things.

What the fuck? There’s no way Alison likes me. Right?

Jennifer waited for me to join her on the rattling machine, but I just offered the stick of gum. “I’m going to walk home, Jennifer. See you Monday.”

She seemed disappointed. “Oh. Well, Ray, thanks for fixing this piece of you-know-what.”

With such an opportunity, not even the weed-powered bliss and encounter with Alison could restrain my notorious assholery. “Piece of… I don’t know, Jennifer. What are you trying to say? Poopies? Dung? Yellow baby diarrhea? Splattery flatulence? Peanut and corn-laden crap? Sorry, Jenni-Furry. You’ll have to spell it out for me...”

“Ugh. Ray, you... You always go too far. Goodbye.”

I watched her ride away and the goofy grin didn’t leave my face until halfway home.

Alison!

Flirting.

February 1981.

Four months later.

“Look, Ray! I finally got my braces off.”

Alison displayed a gleaming variety of smiles as we walked to my locker, ranging from goofy to seductive. Still convinced she was just messing with me, my responses tended towards the playful. I patted my heart with mock surprise. “You did that for me? Alison, I’m touched.”

She pouted and tapped my chest with an index finger. “You’re teasing me again.”

Her beauty sucked me in. “I’m sorry, Alison. I really like your smile. It’s as lovely as the rest of you.”

I AM a chump for her, I just don’t want to admit it...

While opening the locker next to mine, she gave me a moment to ogle her ripening figure. Ever-present Dolphin shorts topped her thin yet shapely tanned legs, while a perky and still growing chest stretched her light pink sweater. Alison struck a saucy pose. “Well, thank you, Mister Senior Boy.”

“What am I, a dirty old man?”

She snorted, “Yes, Ray. That’s exactly what you are.”

Huddling herself into a tiny figurine, Alison squeaked, “I’m just a tiny little freshman angel, next to a big bad senior.”

Alison sure is fun. Too bad she’s not for real...

Trying not to laugh out loud, my mouth twisted into a creepy smirk. “You’re really something, Alison. Hey, why are you using Tessa’s locker?”

She shrugged. “Tessa wanted to switch with me. But if you don’t want to see me ten times a day, Mindy can have it. You like Mindy, right?”

Alison’s imitation of her best friend’s eye-rolling scowl was perfect.

I held my hands against my cheek. “No, Alison. I want to see you twenty times a day. Especially in those shorts.”

She tugged on the hem. “Are you making fun of me?”

“Always, Alison. Let me see your smile again.”

She pressed her chest to mine, lifted her face, then slowly Cheshire Catted her lips. I could have dipped my head two inches for a kiss, but I knew that would destroy the fun we had every day.

Because I had extensively made out with Alison’s friend Tessa one night in December and gone on a semi-successful date with a pretty redhead in January, my romantic thirst had greatly lessened. Thus, I was able to enjoy Alison’s little games, as well as her constantly increasing beauty, without getting sappy over her.

She’s going to be a absolute knockout in a year...

The arrival of Debbie signaled the end of our banter. “Are you ready?”

Alison answered, “Ready? For what, Debbie?” before she saw her sister looking at me.

“Uh, Alison I’m helping Debbie with a... heh, difficult passage during lunch.”

My accompanying wink earned a bit-lip giggle from Alison and an exasperated, “Ugh,” from her sister. Since asking Debbie out in September, I had never expressed additional interest, but Alison’s always playful nature was contagious.

I watched Alison close her locker, spin the combination, wave goodbye, then skip off to meet her friends.

Everything she does looks beautiful...

Debbie remarked, “Ray, I never would have thought you could be friends with my little sister. She’s so… Miss Perfect, and you... well, you’re very unusual.”

She was at least the tenth girl who had said the same thing to me. I suspected she wouldn’t be the last.

“Yeah, Debbie. I get that a lot. Alison makes me laugh, and she’s so beau… never mind. Let’s go, we can use the pottery classroom for our practice.”

Alison is going to tease me all day, every day. I don’t know if I’ll be able to control myself. Perhaps I shouldn’t...

Nothing To Lose.

June 1981.

Graduation Day.

“Yes, yes, yes! I’d love to see you over the summer, too. Call me, Ray!”

“I will. Bye, Jennifer.”

Whoo-hoo!

My excitement towered far above any reasonable expectations. Jennifer had not agreed to an actual date and might not want anything romantic. Still, I felt pride at following through with a plan.

Almost ready to leave high school for good, I mentally prepared for my riskiest stunt of the year. That list of dubious achievements included numerous thefts of booze from various places, ditching over ten days, parking a golf cart from the nearby course in front of the school, and climbing the highest building on campus to smoke a joint.

All those paled next to the Russian roulette of my next few minutes.

Pretending to search for meaning in my locker had become a daily ritual while waiting for Alison to show up. Simultaneous disappointment and relief washed over me when five minutes had passed, then I suddenly heard, “Ray, I’m here. I know you wait for me.”

Alison! Stick to the plan...

Removing my spectacles, I gestured, “Come with me, Alison.”

“Ok.”

I hid the anxiety from my face as we walked towards the music building’s side exit. Turning the corner into a short, narrow hallway provided unexpected privacy.

Here we go. I’ve got nothing to lose...

A few feet in, I gently held Alison’s shoulder and pressed her back to the smoothly painted wall. She had grown two inches over the semester, but I still loomed over her. My other hand went under her chin, and she allowed me to lift her face. Her eyes blazed with both fear and anticipation as I slowly brought our lips together. Ignoring the slight squeak of protest, I cupped her narrow butt with both hands, then raised Alison’s petite body to my level.

Reflexively, Alison’s legs curled around my back, while her tiny hands cradled my face and neck. Our tongues twirled with a superheated passion, as my whole year of restraint emptied into her in a split second.

I had managed to sensually overload Alison’s circuits and it took a few seconds for her to come to grips with what just happened. Her bright eyes flew open, then softened as she paused. Alison’s long tongue reached out to caress my lips, then we resumed our kiss.

It could have been one minute or ten, but eventually, approaching steps on the concrete floor ended our bond. Hidden around the corner, we listened in silence while an unwitting student performed his locker ritual.

Upon hearing him walk away, I kissed Alison once more, then set her down. She left her quivering hands on my neck and smirked. “Oh my God, Ray! I can’t believe you did that. I can’t believe I let you do it.”

Head trembling with excitement, she continued. “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. In fact, I wondered when you would get around to me. But jeez, I thought you liked my sister.”

Two more of her friends, Julianne and Dana, had made out with me in the spring semester. “Alison, you’re the prettiest, most awesome girl in band. Maybe in the whole school. I’ve always liked you, and I only asked Debbie out, because... well, I ask a lot of girls. But it’s you I’ve wanted to kiss all year. You’re, I don’t know... uhh, special to me, I guess.”

Alison licked a finger and wiped her lipstick off my mouth, “Ray, you’re very unusual, but I’m glad you did that. I don’t think you’re completely lame, like everyone says.”

I chuckled, “I’ll take that. Well, thanks Alison. I’ll miss you.”

She pulled the skimpy shorts out of her crotch with a barely audible moan. “Oh. I’ll never see you again, Ray? Aren’t you going to the community college?”

“Yeah, but I probably won’t be back here. I don’t want to be one of those guys who hangs around his old high school, picking up freshmen girls. I mean, you’ll be a sophomore, but... yeah.”

I HOPE I’m not that guy...

Alison’s adorable pout returned. “I get it, Ray. You’ll be chasing college girls. Listen, I’ll miss you too, especially now that you finally kissed me, and... everything. God, you’ve got me shaking! I should get going now. Bye!”

Alison gave me one more steamy kiss, then skipped off in her recently tight Dolphin shorts. While still very petite and slender, I loved how her enticing body had filled out in a womanly way.

Alison!

Continued…

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