The Arrangement

Andre met up with Ava at a school reunion. They hadn’t seen each other since leaving school. 

“You’ve clearly been going to the gym,” said Ava.

“Yeah, I have,” said Andre. “Do you go to the gym?”

“I do,” said Ava. “For cardio, though. I don’t do weight training, or that.”

“You should,” said Andre. “I’d be happy to give you guidance.”

“You’re sweet,” said Ava. “But that’s more of a boy thing, isn’t it?”

“No, not at all,” said Andre.

“I don’t want to get muscles,” said Ava. “You know.”

“You don’t have to get muscles.”

Ava smiled sweetly and looked Andre up and down, before she met up with some girlfriends from school, across the room.

Andre hung out with his mates after that.

Later in the night, Andre meets up with Ava again at the bar.

“What do you do now?” asked Andre.

“I’m a lawyer,” said Ava. “What about you?”

“I make films…”

“Films,” said Ava. “That sounds interesting.”

“Documentaries. I’m a documentary film maker,” said Andre. “Not feature films. People always think feature films.”

“Oh no, I think that sounds much more interesting,” said Ava. “Anything I’d know?”

“I made one on whales that was popular this year.”

“Not Giant’s of the Sea?”

“Yes, did you see it.”

“That was wonderful.”

“Yes, it turned out well.”

“Any others?”

“Hand to mouth…”

“About homelessness in the city?”

“Yes,” said Andre. “One on drones.”

“Eye in the Sky.”

“Yes. The Great Southern Land. And Hugo, about my favourite actor.”

“I’ve seen them all,” said Ava. “You are very clever. I’m impressed.”

“Thanks,” said Andre. “Makes a change to how you felt about me at school.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You hated me at school.”

“I never hated you.”

“You wouldn’t give me the time of day.”

“That’s not true.”

“It is so,” said Andre.

They drifted off to their respective groups with their drinks again after that.

Later in the night when they were both pretty drunk they bumped into each other again.

“Well, perhaps you weren’t as interesting, at school,” said Ava. “Or so damn hot.”

“You think I’m hot?” said Andre.

“You are,” slurred Ava. She waved her hands up and down Andre, “Who knew that this would all come.”

“I think you are hot too,” said Andre.

“Do you have a girlfriend?” asked Ava.

“No, no girlfriend.”

“Is that true?” said Ava.

“What? Why would I make that up?” said Andre. “I’d more likely lie about having a girlfriend, wouldn’t I? Wouldn’t that make me look better,” he slurred.

“Not if you think you are getting into my pants?”

“Am I getting into your pants?” questioned Andre.

“If you haven’t got a girlfriend?”

“Do you have a boyfriend?” asked Andre.

“No, I don’t have a boyfriend,” said Ava. She reached up and touched Andre’s hair. “I’ve always liked red-heads.”

Andre couldn’t help but smile. Ava Wallace and him, who’d have thought. “So?” he said.

“So?” repeated Ava.

“Do you want to come back to my place, in that case?” said Andre.

Ava must have been impressed with Andre.

“She wants a return visit,” said Scott. “That counts for a lot.

“She doesn’t want a boyfriend, she says she is too busy with her law career,” said Andre. “But she wants to hook up when either of us, you know, have a need.”

“That’s great,” said Jackson. “Best of both worlds.”

“She said she’s never had better sex,” said Andre. “She said she’d be keen to fuck again. No strings.”

“She said fuck again,” questioned Rolly.

“Her exact words,” said Andre.

Jackson and Scott hi-fived. “Way to go Andre.”

“She loves red-heads,” said Andre.

“Well, it looks like you are the guy,” said Rolly.

They had hooked up a few times since the reunion. And they had always had a good time. It turns out Ava really likes sex with Andre Ava whispered in his ear last time, “I love your red hair, and your big dick.”

Ava had just called Andre. She was really stressed out from work. She needed Andre to drop over to her place.

It was hot. Andre was in shorts and a tight t-shirt. He thought he looked hot. Ava, apparently, always thought Andre looked hot.

Andre rang Ava’s doorbell right on 7.30pm. Ava opened the door within moments.

“Hi,” said Andre.

“Hi.” Ava took Andre by the hand and led him to her bedroom.

“How are you?” asked Andre as Ava led him into her bedroom. Once in the bedroom Ava turned and start to kiss him.

“You okay?” asked Andre.

“Why? Do you ask that?” said Ava.

“I’m just trying to talk to you.”

“I don’t want to talk,” said Ava. She reached for Andre’s belt buckle and undid his pants.

“I’m good,” said Andre as his pants slid down his calves.

“Take you shoes off,” said Ava. She pulled her dress over her head to reveal she had nothing on underneath.

Ava reached for the cigarette packet, she offered it to Andre. “Do you want a smoke?”

“I don’t really smoke.”

“Okay.” Ava took the packet away.

“But I’ll have one with you,” said Andre.

“Oh,” said Ava. She offered the packet back to Andre. “I thought you said you didn’t smoke?”

“I don’t.”

“But you want one?”

“Yes.”

“Okay,” said Ava.

Andre took a cigarette from Ava’s packet, then she did too. She lit Andre’s cigarette then she lit her own. They both took long puffs and then they both exhaled clouds of smoke at the same time.

“I used to smoke,” said Andre.

“Well, I hope you aren’t going to say I am leading you astray.”

“What? With the cigarettes?” Andre questioned.

“Yes,” said Ava. “With the cigarettes. What do you mean?”

“Oh nothing,” said Andre. I don’t mean anything.”

“No, come on, out with it,” said Ava.

“Nothing.”

“No, it’s something. What is it?”

Andre shrugged and puffed on his cigarette.

“Tell me,” said Ava.

“Oh, it’s just, um, maybe some conversation first would work for me.”

“Some conversation?” repeated Ava.

“Yeah. Sure.”

“Really,” said Ava.

“Yeah.”

“Do you know what this is?” asked Ava.

“Yes,” said Andre. “No. Um. Yeah, sure. Why don’t you tell me?”

“It is a booty call, I think, is what most people would call it.”

“A booty call?”

“Yes, Andre, a booty call. Sex. A fuck. It’s good for relieving stress. Sometimes I need it. I thought you did too?”

“Yeah, sure.”

“Okay, good.”

“I just thought…”

Ava put her cigarette out. “Sorry, I have a dinner I have to get to.”

“Oh, okay,” said Andre.

Andre left Ava’s place without showering. As he walked up the street he got a message from Ava. Perhaps we shouldn’t see each other again.