Ethan took Jems to his room without anyone noticing.
"Are you okay?" Ethan asked Jems the moment he closed the door behind them.
"Yeah," she nodded in a very low voice.
"You'll be fine, okay? I'm sorry this had to happen here. It must be really hard for you, but don't worry..I'm here, okay?" Ethan said, using his fingers to lift her chin and make her look him in the eye. She nodded.
"Umm, I gotta change my pants real quick, so I'll go get you a pad or tampons. Which would you prefer?" he asked.
"Did it stain your pants?" she asked, bending to check his pants. "Sorry about that. You can give it to me; I'll get it dry cleaned and return it to you."
"No... no, Jems. It's okay. I can do it myself, it's nothing, I promise," he said, lifting her up. "Just tell me should I get tampons or pads? I know I'm a guy and this must make you feel embarrassed, but please don't," he said as he tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.
"Can you please get pads? Thanks a lot. I really, really appreciate it," she said, looking down.
"It's nothing, trust me," Ethan said as he walked over to his wardrobe, looking for something Jems could wear. "Here, you can have this," he said, handing her a black T-shirt and shorts. "The shirt will be oversized, but I think the shorts will fit. I'll still get you something better to wear. I'll be fast, okay? That's the washroom," he said, pointing at it and grabbing an extra pair of pants for himself.
As he was about to leave the room, Jems called out to him.
"Ethan."
He stopped and looked at her.
"Yes?" he answered.
"Thanks a lot. I really don't know how I can repay you," she said with tears in her eyes. Ethan came back.
"Hey… hey, look at me," he said, bending to her level. "It's fine, okay? You don't have to repay me or feel bad, because that's what friends are for," he said, using his fingers to wipe the tears already falling from her eyes. "Come here," he said, hugging her as he gently patted her hair. "Are you ready to go shower now?" he asked, and she nodded.
"Good girl. I'll be back in a bit, okay? And don't worry about Freda and Gabriel I'll handle them both. Now go wash up," he said, and Jems went into the washroom.
After Ethan had gone to Josh's room to change his pants, he went to meet Freda and Gabriel in the study.
"Hey man, where have you been?" Gabriel asked the moment he came in.
"This is so unlike you, Ethan leaving study to go flirt," Freda said, shaking her head and rolling her eyes.
"Sorry about that, guys," Ethan said, scratching the back of his neck. "Umm… to make it up to you guys, I'll finish the project myself since we're almost done. You guys can go home," he said.
"Well, I don't mind if you want to do it yourself," Gabriel said, standing up and leaving the room immediately. "I gotta run before you change your mind," he said from outside the room.
"No, no, no! This is supposed to be a group work.." Before Freda could finish her sentence, Ethan cut her off.
"Yep, and we all worked on it together throughout the week like a group. We're almost done, and I'm saying I'll finish it up. You all can rest. Jems is in the washroom, I already told her and she agreed. Gabriel's already gone, so I don't know what your problem is. I've said what I said I'm heading out," he said as he walked out of the room, and Freda followed him.
"You finishing the project isn't my problem. It's the fact that you're sending us away so you can stay and have fun with Jems, that's my problem," she said, tears daring to fall from her eyes.
"So? If I want to spend time with the girl I love, what's it to you?" he said, walking toward her. "That's exactly why I want you to leave my house. I already said I was going to finish the project myself so get lost." Freda's back was already against the wall while he stood in front of her, glaring.
"I've heard you, so don't bite me," she said, pushing him in the chest. Then she grabbed her bag and left.
"Now that that's settled, I need to rush to the store. She's probably waiting for me," he said as he hurried out.
When he got to the living room, he saw Derick standing and waiting.
"I saw that the others already left. Where's Jems?" Derick asked.
"Yeah, they left. Freda said something important came up, so she had to go. And Gabriel said he's not feeling well. So it's just me and Jems finishing the project. But I'm actually in a hurry now, so see you later," he said.
"Okay," Derick replied as he sat down, and Ethan hurried outside.
At the store, Ethan was going through the pad section and was clearly confused.
"I never knew getting pads would be so confusing. I thought they were all the same but no. There's large, medium, small, ultra-thin, winged, wingless… This is so confusing. I could call her and ask, but I really don't want to," he said, running his hands through his hair.
Suddenly, a tall redhead employee appeared from behind the rack.
"Hi! I can see you're having trouble making a choice, so I'd love to help," she said with a wide smile.
"I'd love that thanks," Ethan said with a sigh of relief.
"First time getting pads for your girlfriend?" she asked.
"Umm… friend. She's just a friend," he replied.
"Hmmm. That's what they all say just a friend,'" she said with a wink while handing him two packs of pads. "One is large, the other is medium. Both have wings and are for heavy flow."
"Thanks for your help," he said, pushing his cart away.
"Wait," she said, walking toward him. Ethan stopped. "Is she at your house?" she asked.
"What does that have to do with helping me get pads?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Well, it's because if she's at your house, she'll need new underwear if the one she was wearing got stained," she said.
"Oh shit, you're right. I didn't think of that," he said, slapping his forehead.
"Well, that's not a problem. Do you know her size?"
"What...? Me? Of course not! How am I supposed to know the size of her underwear?" he said as his cheeks flushed red.
"Do you have a picture of her? I can guess and pick a few sizes," she said.
"Umm… I think I can get a picture of her in a bikini from her social media," he said, face turning even redder.
Ethan brought up the picture and handed her the phone.
"Okay, I'll pick something for her," she said, handing the phone back.
They went to the clothing section. Ethan picked out a dress for Jems, and the woman went to get the underwear.
"How about this?" she said, raising a red cotton panty.
"Hey! Stop! You don't have to show me," he said, covering his eyes with his hands. Fuck, I can't help but wonder what she'd look like in those panties,he thought as his ears turned red. "I really shouldn't be having such thoughts about Jems," he muttered, running a hand through his hair.
"Pink or black which do you think is better?" she asked, holding up a pink one.
"Lady, I'm serious you don't have to show me," he said, looking away. "But… if you want an opinion on color… umm, the pink is cute."
"Good choice," she said, winking at him.
"Whatever," Ethan said, rolling his eyes.
"Okay, I picked out three different sizes. One of them is definitely going to fit," she said, handing them to Ethan.
"You can just put it in the cart," he said, still looking away.
"I'm rooting for you two, okay? Be nice to her," she said, grinning.
"I said we're just friends nothing more," he said, shaking his head. "Funny enough, we're not even friends. We never have been. The project is the only reason we're together now," he muttered with a sigh.
After shopping, Ethan went to get food for Jems,he got cheeseburgers, chicken wings, ice cream, and a box of chocolate, before going home.
When he walked in, Derick greeted him with concern.
"Hey, you took so long. I went to check on Jems just now, but she wasn't in the study and she left her phone there."
"Oh, then she's probably in the washroom. I remember her complaining about her tummy," Ethan said.
"Oh, okay," Derick replied, and Ethan went upstairs.
When he got to his room, Jems was on his bed reading a book.
"Hey… hope I didn't make you wait too long?" he asked.
"No, I was actually enjoying this book," she said with a smile.
"Here you go," he said, handing her the bag. "I remember you telling Josh you were hungry and you only had one cookie, so I got you some food."
"Ethan… you have no idea how grateful I am for today," she said, tears welling up.
"Jems, I already told you it's nothing. I'm glad I could help," he said, wiping her tears with his fingers.
She opened the bag, bringing out everything inside. Then she saw the panties.
"You… umm… you…" Jems tried to speak, her face red as a tomato.
"Trust me….I didn't even touch or see them," Ethan said quickly, his cheeks and ears turning red. "A nice lady at the store helped me with everything the pads… and, umm, the panties. She picked them out and somehow guessed the size. I didn't even see what she picked."
"It's fine. It's not like you've never… seen me in a bikini. Looking at panties is totally normal," she said, giving a very awkward smile. "You helped me out, so I'm grateful," she said, shoving the panties back into the bag.
"I'm glad I could help. If you need anything, just call me, okay?" Ethan said as he quickly left.
"Sure," she said with a nod as he closed the door behind him.
As soon as Ethan was far enough away, Jems screamed into the pillow on the bed.
"Aahhh!" she groaned. "I can't believe Ethan got me panties! Like, getting me pads wasn't embarrassing enough, he had to get me panties, Ethan of all people! And they're my exact size," she said, clutching her hair in frustration. "I'm grateful, but this is so embarrassing," she said, rolling around on the bed.
A few minutes later, Jems heard a knock on the door while she was eating.
"Hey, it's me," Ethan said from outside.
"Come in," Jems said with her mouth full, chewing on the cheeseburger.
"I got you something," Ethan said, lifting up a heating pad in one hand and a napkin in the other.
"Wow, you got me a heating pad? Thanks!" she said, her mouth still full. The sauce from the burger was all over her mouth, and she slowly licked her lips without realizing it.
Ethan's POV
Fuck. I never knew a girl could look this cute while eating. And the way she just licked her lips… shit, that definitely did something to me. I should probably leave and give her space, but I swear I could watch her eat all day.
Her hair was in her face, but she was too focused on the burger to care. This is the first time I've really paid attention to her face, and damn… she's beautiful. Her hazel eyes…I feel like I could get lost in them. And her long lashes made them look even more stunning. With her makeup gone after her bath, her skin looked flawless… like the most gorgeous girl was sitting right in front of me.
And that oversized T-shirt she's wearing, it made her look so sexy. I had no idea when I walked up to her and wiped the sauce off her lips with my fingers. I wanted to lick it so bad, but I wouldn't dare. So I quickly used the napkin instead, just so she wouldn't think I'm a creep.
"You're one messy eater," I said with a laugh. "Let me help you with that," I added, wiping her face gently with the napkin, then tucking her hair behind her ear. I sat beside her on the bed.
"I had no idea I was this hungry," she said, munching the burger. "I had a very light breakfast and nothing since then… and this burger…" she paused and looked at me, her eyes glowing. "This cheeseburger is really tasty," she said, shaking her head and taking another bite.
Sitting close to her like this, her scent filled my nostrils..vanilla and strawberries. I couldn't get over it. From the moment I held her waist in the study, it had stuck with me. I wanted more of it. I don't know what she's doing to me… but whatever it is…I love it.