Chapter 19: The Ex Returns
James’ business is booming and the money is flowing in more quickly than he could have imagined not ever six months ago. It’s a quiet evening and James and Nicole have gone out for dinner, come home for some loving and are lying next to each other naked in the bed. “We should move out of here. I’m going to get another place soon so that we have more privacy” James says. “I’m glad your business is going so well, you’re rolling in money but be careful. I don’t want you to be caught and go to jail like Alan” Nicole feels a little worried. “Alan played the game like a poker player. I’ve been playing it like a game of chess. I won’t make the mistakes that he did. I know what I’m doing” James replies. “That’s good. Are you going to buy a place or rent one?” Nicole asks. “I think I’ll rent a place until I can launder the money in a way that makes it look clean” James explains. “Well, you know Jenny has two spare bedrooms at her house but I’m not sure if she’d want to risk anyone finding out that there’s a student living with her. Especially after what happened to Alan” Nicole says, offering some ideas. “Sounds like it might be an option but that depends on how she feels about it” James shrugs. Nicole’s phone vibrates and she looks at the screen. “Guess who it is?” she rolls her eyes. “Who is it?” James laughs. She shows James a text from Paul saying “I really miss you”. They both laugh a little at this text.
Whenever Paul sees Nicole at the school, he feels a little awkward. A couple of days pass and Nicole doesn’t answer the text, she isn’t even that friendly to him when she sees him in the staff room. It’s sometimes hard to make her even acknowledge that he’s there. However, life isn’t all going badly for Paul at the moment. He’s joined a tennis club which he enjoys attending as he can play a sport that he’s always liked and the other members are on his wave length. Sometimes they’ll go out and meet for drinks on Friday nights at a local sports bar. There is one lady there who Paul likes and gets along well with socially who is also single. Her name is Amy and she is 29, so a bit closer to Paul’s age than Nicole. Also, she has a fit, healthy body, shoulder length brown hair and C cup breasts that are nearly a D cup.
On one Friday night, Paul is at the bar with his friends from the club talking to Amy. “I don’t understand why your ex left you Paul, you seem like such a nice guy” Amy says. “It’s a long story, she changed over time and we didn’t really click any more. Through the last part of the relationship she was seeing someone else. My guess is that she’s living with him now. I’d really like to know who it is” Paul tries to explain. “That’s terrible Paul, I’m sorry to hear that. I would never cheat on someone like that. I think honesty in a relationship is really important” Amy responds. She comes across as being a well-mannered lady with some class. This is the type that Paul likes. “Yeah I was upset at first but I’m starting to come to terms with it. Why are you still single?” Paul asks. “I just haven’t met the right guy yet” she responds in her feminine tone and smiles. “You seem nice and I think we get along well. Would you like to catch up and have dinner tomorrow night?” Paul asks. “That sounds great Paul” she says and gives him her number. They talk for a few more minutes and arrange a time and place. Amy gives Paul a quick kiss on the lips before she leaves. This indicates to Paul that she is interested in more and he is pleasantly surprised.
Paul goes home that night on a high. He starts to wonder if his breakup with Nicole was actually a blessing in disguise. From what he can tell, Amy is a sweet girl who isn’t superficial or polyamorous. She dresses nicely, not like a promiscuous slut. Paul also hopes that James will get expelled from school soon so that he doesn’t have to put up with him for the rest of the year. James can be so nasty and while he knows that he shouldn’t let anything James says upset him, it is hard sometimes. Melissa has told some of her friends that James and Nicole are sleeping together and rumours are starting to spread. However, they haven’t reached Paul yet.
When the time for his date with Amy comes, Paul is very excited. He’s been looking forward to it all day. Dressing nicely, he then drives to the place they agreed to meet for dinner, sits at the table and waits for Amy. She arrives just a little late but is dressed nicely and her outfit is less revealing than what Nicole wears. Paul views this as a good sign as he thinks that it’s less likely that she’ll be hung up on sex as being a priority. Amy steps up to Paul “Hey Paul” she smiles, embraces him in a hug and gives him a kiss on the cheek. He hugs Amy back and they both sit at the table and order some food and begin talking.
Amy talks about her sister who she lives with, her job, hobbies and she also talks about some of her ex-boyfriends. Hearing about some of the other guys who Jenny has had relationships with makes Paul feel a little uncomfortable but he listens politely. They order a bottle of wine to share between themselves and they both start to loosen up as they drink more. After Amy tells Paul about her job in recruitment, Paul starts talking about his teaching job. “I started at Stillwater High School this year but I’m starting to wonder if it was the right decision. In most ways, I was happier where I was” Paul says. “Why’s that Paul? Are things not working out for you here?” Amy asks curiously. “Well the principal is supportive which is good. However, the students and even some of the other staff make my life difficult. I guess it doesn’t help that my ex still teaches there. She always dresses like a…” Paul pauses “like she’s trying to get attention or something”. Amy nods “Yes I can see how that could make things awkward”. Paul finishes his glass of wine and fills it up again but he doesn’t want to drink too much as he has to drive. “The students at my previous school were much easier to teach. There is one student in particular who makes my life hell” Paul explains.
As Paul continues speaking, Amy senses that there is a lot of anger and bitterness seething deep down. These are not attractive qualities but Amy wants to give him a chance as he seems nice and she likes him but more in a platonic nature. “Why? What does this student do Paul? Amy asks. Taking a deep breath, Paul starts “He’s nasty, he’s obnoxious, he turns up to class late, doesn’t do any work, talks back to me, is very disrespectful, the rumour is that he’s a gang member and he’s slept with probably half the girls in 12th grade” Paul exaggerates. “So he’s a bit of a ladies man?” Amy giggles. While tipsy, Paul lets slip “Yeah, I caught him earlier in the year receiving oral sex behind one of the buildings and suspended him”. The more Paul talks about him, the more intrigued Amy becomes. Trying to think of a positive comment, Amy says “Don’t let him get to you Paul, he’ll probably end up in jail”. Drinking a little more wine, Paul replies “Yeah, that’s what I’ve been hoping for since the start of the year” with a tone of malice. Looking at Paul, Amy can sense jealousy and insecurity in his words “You shouldn’t wish that on him Paul. Maybe his behaviour will improve when he matures”. She is quite intrigued by what this student must be like to make Paul hate him this passionately.
“This has been nice. I want you to work out what we’re going to do on our next date. Show me how fun and exciting you can be” Amy giggles, throwing out a challenge to Paul. “Sure, I’ll give you a call when I find something that we’ll both enjoy” Paul replies as he sees Amy drink more wine across from him. “Thanks Paul” Amy replies. “So Amy, what sort of characteristics do you like in men? What are you attracted to?” Paul asks, still feeling self-conscious after some of the comments Nicole made to him. Amy thinks for a moment and answers honestly in her mildly intoxicated state “I like men who are confident, strong, can stand up for themselves, are fun, spontaneous and know how to have a good time. I also like men who are well endowed”. Paul blanches when he hears this but nods and tried to act normal. “Are you ok Paul?” Amy asks, feeling like she might have hit a sensitive spot. She realises that she might have had enough to drink as she wouldn’t normally have given such an answer or spoken in such a way. “Yeah I was just wondering” Paul tries to brush off the comment. Just before they both leave the bill comes and Amy asks “You can take care of the bill, right Paul”? Finding it hard to say no, he replies “Ah, yeah sure” and fixes the payment. This demonstrates to Amy how much of a pushover Paul is.
The next day James is at home watching a DVD with his brother Dylan while Nicole is at the shopping mall with Jenny. Once the movie finishes, James decides to go to the gang club house and have some beers at the bar. Dylan says to James “I can’t believe you’re fucking one of your teachers” smiling and shaking his head. “Not one of them, two of them” James laughs. “Fuck! You’ll have to tell me your secret trick sometime” Dylan replies lightly as he looks through the channel guide on the TV. “You can’t complain man, you’ve been banging Melissa and she’s pretty hot” James replies and steps out the front door, going to his car. He drives to the club house and walks inside. It’s pretty quiet in the bar area. Laura is behind the bar and there are two other guys talking and having a fag and a beer at a table. Walking to the bar casually, he sits down and orders a beer.
For the next ten minutes he talks to Laura. She looks around to see that no one is listening and whispers “James, I have to tell you something”. Nodding, James then replies “This doesn’t sound good”. She slowly replies, “I’m pregnant and I’m pretty sure that it’s yours”. “Really? What are we going to do?” James asks, not sure how to handle this. “Well, my boyfriend thinks that it’s his. He has no reason to think otherwise. So it’s probably best that it stays that way” Laura tells him. James nods in agreement. He decides that it isn’t a good idea to tell anyone about this, not even Nicole. While James is still getting over the shock of hearing this news, Qball walks in with a serious look on his face “James have you got a minute?” he asks.
James follows Qball to the office and Qball closes the door. “Is there a problem?” James asks, sitting down and lighting a joint. “Give me one of those” Qball says. James hands him a joint and Qball lights up “This is good shit. I hear you’ve been busy dealing, sluting it up and making money but I need you to do something for the gang”. “Ok and what is that?” James asks, leaning back in his chair and blowing out some smoke. “Another gang has been moving in on our turf in Highland. Our friends in highland are being watched very carefully by the cops so anything they do is going to attract a lot of heat, know what I’m saying?” Qball asks. “Yeah man, I know what you’re saying” James replies. “So I need you to drive down there with a couple of the other guys and send them a message. Do a drive by or something that lets them know not to fuck with us. I’ll show you where their club house is located and give you the details. Can you do that?” Qball asks. The evil gleam that James sometimes gets in his eye comes out and he enthusiastically agreed to do it “Yeah man I can do that”. Qball laughs “You’re one of a small group of members in my inner circle that I can count on”. To James, this is a compliment that he sincerely appreciates. Over the course of growing up he was told often by teachers and various other people that he was lazy, unreliable and would never achieve anything.
“The values of this gang are strength, courage, mastery and honour and I can tell that you aspire to live by all of these” Qball says. James nods in agreement “Thank you”. Qball squints and narrows his eyes a little at James “Are you ok? You look tired?” James laughs “Yeah I am a bit tired and mellow too now that I’ve been smoking”. Laughing, Qball replies “Make sure you look after yourself. By the way, Alan told me before he was arrested that you’ve been getting around with some bird with big tits? Is she a serious partner or just a casual hook up”? “She’s been living with me and we sleep in the same bed most nights so I guess you would say it’s kind of serious” James answers. “Why haven’t you ever brought her around here and introduced her to all of us?” Qball asks, finishing his joint and throwing it in the bin under the desk. “I don’t want to scare her away” James jokes, “I thought it was enough of a risk introducing her to Alan”. Nodding, Qball says “Well if you ever want to bring her around I’ll make sure the guys behave. You’re a valuable member man and if she wants to join then she can. I want to make things easier for you if I can”. “Alright man” James replies “I’ll raise it with her and see what she says”.
The rest of the day James spends playing blackjack with Qball and some of the other gang member at the club house. Vanessa walks into the house, seeing the men at the table “Hey James, nice to see you here again. It’s been a while” putting a hand on his back gently. “It’s nice to see you again too Vanessa” James replies. “You’re such a gentleman when you want to be” she giggles. “James is feeling a bit tired today”, Qball laughs. “I’ll make you some coffee James, you poor thing” Vanessa replies, walking to the kitchen to make some coffee. Meanwhile, Nicole and Jenny finish shopping at the mall after buying lots of sexy outfits and lingerie and other girly items. There is no question that Nicole’s life has become better and more exciting since leaving Paul, both in and out of the bedroom.
James’ business is booming and the money is flowing in more quickly than he could have imagined not ever six months ago. It’s a quiet evening and James and Nicole have gone out for dinner, come home for some loving and are lying next to each other naked in the bed. “We should move out of here. I’m going to get another place soon so that we have more privacy” James says. “I’m glad your business is going so well, you’re rolling in money but be careful. I don’t want you to be caught and go to jail like Alan” Nicole feels a little worried. “Alan played the game like a poker player. I’ve been playing it like a game of chess. I won’t make the mistakes that he did. I know what I’m doing” James replies. “That’s good. Are you going to buy a place or rent one?” Nicole asks. “I think I’ll rent a place until I can launder the money in a way that makes it look clean” James explains. “Well, you know Jenny has two spare bedrooms at her house but I’m not sure if she’d want to risk anyone finding out that there’s a student living with her. Especially after what happened to Alan” Nicole says, offering some ideas. “Sounds like it might be an option but that depends on how she feels about it” James shrugs. Nicole’s phone vibrates and she looks at the screen. “Guess who it is?” she rolls her eyes. “Who is it?” James laughs. She shows James a text from Paul saying “I really miss you”. They both laugh a little at this text.
Whenever Paul sees Nicole at the school, he feels a little awkward. A couple of days pass and Nicole doesn’t answer the text, she isn’t even that friendly to him when she sees him in the staff room. It’s sometimes hard to make her even acknowledge that he’s there. However, life isn’t all going badly for Paul at the moment. He’s joined a tennis club which he enjoys attending as he can play a sport that he’s always liked and the other members are on his wave length. Sometimes they’ll go out and meet for drinks on Friday nights at a local sports bar. There is one lady there who Paul likes and gets along well with socially who is also single. Her name is Amy and she is 29, so a bit closer to Paul’s age than Nicole. Also, she has a fit, healthy body, shoulder length brown hair and C cup breasts that are nearly a D cup.
On one Friday night, Paul is at the bar with his friends from the club talking to Amy. “I don’t understand why your ex left you Paul, you seem like such a nice guy” Amy says. “It’s a long story, she changed over time and we didn’t really click any more. Through the last part of the relationship she was seeing someone else. My guess is that she’s living with him now. I’d really like to know who it is” Paul tries to explain. “That’s terrible Paul, I’m sorry to hear that. I would never cheat on someone like that. I think honesty in a relationship is really important” Amy responds. She comes across as being a well-mannered lady with some class. This is the type that Paul likes. “Yeah I was upset at first but I’m starting to come to terms with it. Why are you still single?” Paul asks. “I just haven’t met the right guy yet” she responds in her feminine tone and smiles. “You seem nice and I think we get along well. Would you like to catch up and have dinner tomorrow night?” Paul asks. “That sounds great Paul” she says and gives him her number. They talk for a few more minutes and arrange a time and place. Amy gives Paul a quick kiss on the lips before she leaves. This indicates to Paul that she is interested in more and he is pleasantly surprised.
Paul goes home that night on a high. He starts to wonder if his breakup with Nicole was actually a blessing in disguise. From what he can tell, Amy is a sweet girl who isn’t superficial or polyamorous. She dresses nicely, not like a promiscuous slut. Paul also hopes that James will get expelled from school soon so that he doesn’t have to put up with him for the rest of the year. James can be so nasty and while he knows that he shouldn’t let anything James says upset him, it is hard sometimes. Melissa has told some of her friends that James and Nicole are sleeping together and rumours are starting to spread. However, they haven’t reached Paul yet.
When the time for his date with Amy comes, Paul is very excited. He’s been looking forward to it all day. Dressing nicely, he then drives to the place they agreed to meet for dinner, sits at the table and waits for Amy. She arrives just a little late but is dressed nicely and her outfit is less revealing than what Nicole wears. Paul views this as a good sign as he thinks that it’s less likely that she’ll be hung up on sex as being a priority. Amy steps up to Paul “Hey Paul” she smiles, embraces him in a hug and gives him a kiss on the cheek. He hugs Amy back and they both sit at the table and order some food and begin talking.
Amy talks about her sister who she lives with, her job, hobbies and she also talks about some of her ex-boyfriends. Hearing about some of the other guys who Jenny has had relationships with makes Paul feel a little uncomfortable but he listens politely. They order a bottle of wine to share between themselves and they both start to loosen up as they drink more. After Amy tells Paul about her job in recruitment, Paul starts talking about his teaching job. “I started at Stillwater High School this year but I’m starting to wonder if it was the right decision. In most ways, I was happier where I was” Paul says. “Why’s that Paul? Are things not working out for you here?” Amy asks curiously. “Well the principal is supportive which is good. However, the students and even some of the other staff make my life difficult. I guess it doesn’t help that my ex still teaches there. She always dresses like a…” Paul pauses “like she’s trying to get attention or something”. Amy nods “Yes I can see how that could make things awkward”. Paul finishes his glass of wine and fills it up again but he doesn’t want to drink too much as he has to drive. “The students at my previous school were much easier to teach. There is one student in particular who makes my life hell” Paul explains.
As Paul continues speaking, Amy senses that there is a lot of anger and bitterness seething deep down. These are not attractive qualities but Amy wants to give him a chance as he seems nice and she likes him but more in a platonic nature. “Why? What does this student do Paul? Amy asks. Taking a deep breath, Paul starts “He’s nasty, he’s obnoxious, he turns up to class late, doesn’t do any work, talks back to me, is very disrespectful, the rumour is that he’s a gang member and he’s slept with probably half the girls in 12th grade” Paul exaggerates. “So he’s a bit of a ladies man?” Amy giggles. While tipsy, Paul lets slip “Yeah, I caught him earlier in the year receiving oral sex behind one of the buildings and suspended him”. The more Paul talks about him, the more intrigued Amy becomes. Trying to think of a positive comment, Amy says “Don’t let him get to you Paul, he’ll probably end up in jail”. Drinking a little more wine, Paul replies “Yeah, that’s what I’ve been hoping for since the start of the year” with a tone of malice. Looking at Paul, Amy can sense jealousy and insecurity in his words “You shouldn’t wish that on him Paul. Maybe his behaviour will improve when he matures”. She is quite intrigued by what this student must be like to make Paul hate him this passionately.
“This has been nice. I want you to work out what we’re going to do on our next date. Show me how fun and exciting you can be” Amy giggles, throwing out a challenge to Paul. “Sure, I’ll give you a call when I find something that we’ll both enjoy” Paul replies as he sees Amy drink more wine across from him. “Thanks Paul” Amy replies. “So Amy, what sort of characteristics do you like in men? What are you attracted to?” Paul asks, still feeling self-conscious after some of the comments Nicole made to him. Amy thinks for a moment and answers honestly in her mildly intoxicated state “I like men who are confident, strong, can stand up for themselves, are fun, spontaneous and know how to have a good time. I also like men who are well endowed”. Paul blanches when he hears this but nods and tried to act normal. “Are you ok Paul?” Amy asks, feeling like she might have hit a sensitive spot. She realises that she might have had enough to drink as she wouldn’t normally have given such an answer or spoken in such a way. “Yeah I was just wondering” Paul tries to brush off the comment. Just before they both leave the bill comes and Amy asks “You can take care of the bill, right Paul”? Finding it hard to say no, he replies “Ah, yeah sure” and fixes the payment. This demonstrates to Amy how much of a pushover Paul is.
The next day James is at home watching a DVD with his brother Dylan while Nicole is at the shopping mall with Jenny. Once the movie finishes, James decides to go to the gang club house and have some beers at the bar. Dylan says to James “I can’t believe you’re fucking one of your teachers” smiling and shaking his head. “Not one of them, two of them” James laughs. “Fuck! You’ll have to tell me your secret trick sometime” Dylan replies lightly as he looks through the channel guide on the TV. “You can’t complain man, you’ve been banging Melissa and she’s pretty hot” James replies and steps out the front door, going to his car. He drives to the club house and walks inside. It’s pretty quiet in the bar area. Laura is behind the bar and there are two other guys talking and having a fag and a beer at a table. Walking to the bar casually, he sits down and orders a beer.
For the next ten minutes he talks to Laura. She looks around to see that no one is listening and whispers “James, I have to tell you something”. Nodding, James then replies “This doesn’t sound good”. She slowly replies, “I’m pregnant and I’m pretty sure that it’s yours”. “Really? What are we going to do?” James asks, not sure how to handle this. “Well, my boyfriend thinks that it’s his. He has no reason to think otherwise. So it’s probably best that it stays that way” Laura tells him. James nods in agreement. He decides that it isn’t a good idea to tell anyone about this, not even Nicole. While James is still getting over the shock of hearing this news, Qball walks in with a serious look on his face “James have you got a minute?” he asks.
James follows Qball to the office and Qball closes the door. “Is there a problem?” James asks, sitting down and lighting a joint. “Give me one of those” Qball says. James hands him a joint and Qball lights up “This is good shit. I hear you’ve been busy dealing, sluting it up and making money but I need you to do something for the gang”. “Ok and what is that?” James asks, leaning back in his chair and blowing out some smoke. “Another gang has been moving in on our turf in Highland. Our friends in highland are being watched very carefully by the cops so anything they do is going to attract a lot of heat, know what I’m saying?” Qball asks. “Yeah man, I know what you’re saying” James replies. “So I need you to drive down there with a couple of the other guys and send them a message. Do a drive by or something that lets them know not to fuck with us. I’ll show you where their club house is located and give you the details. Can you do that?” Qball asks. The evil gleam that James sometimes gets in his eye comes out and he enthusiastically agreed to do it “Yeah man I can do that”. Qball laughs “You’re one of a small group of members in my inner circle that I can count on”. To James, this is a compliment that he sincerely appreciates. Over the course of growing up he was told often by teachers and various other people that he was lazy, unreliable and would never achieve anything.
“The values of this gang are strength, courage, mastery and honour and I can tell that you aspire to live by all of these” Qball says. James nods in agreement “Thank you”. Qball squints and narrows his eyes a little at James “Are you ok? You look tired?” James laughs “Yeah I am a bit tired and mellow too now that I’ve been smoking”. Laughing, Qball replies “Make sure you look after yourself. By the way, Alan told me before he was arrested that you’ve been getting around with some bird with big tits? Is she a serious partner or just a casual hook up”? “She’s been living with me and we sleep in the same bed most nights so I guess you would say it’s kind of serious” James answers. “Why haven’t you ever brought her around here and introduced her to all of us?” Qball asks, finishing his joint and throwing it in the bin under the desk. “I don’t want to scare her away” James jokes, “I thought it was enough of a risk introducing her to Alan”. Nodding, Qball says “Well if you ever want to bring her around I’ll make sure the guys behave. You’re a valuable member man and if she wants to join then she can. I want to make things easier for you if I can”. “Alright man” James replies “I’ll raise it with her and see what she says”.
The rest of the day James spends playing blackjack with Qball and some of the other gang member at the club house. Vanessa walks into the house, seeing the men at the table “Hey James, nice to see you here again. It’s been a while” putting a hand on his back gently. “It’s nice to see you again too Vanessa” James replies. “You’re such a gentleman when you want to be” she giggles. “James is feeling a bit tired today”, Qball laughs. “I’ll make you some coffee James, you poor thing” Vanessa replies, walking to the kitchen to make some coffee. Meanwhile, Nicole and Jenny finish shopping at the mall after buying lots of sexy outfits and lingerie and other girly items. There is no question that Nicole’s life has become better and more exciting since leaving Paul, both in and out of the bedroom.
