This is an unofficial sequel to Claire and the Boys, written with the permission of the original author, janscoM. If you haven't,
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The response to Claire's Movie Night has been incredible, so I'm thrilled to share Part 2 with you all! I hadn't initially planned a Part 3, but I've woven threads into this story that I'd be excited to explore further. At the end of this chapter, I'll dive into some of those possibilities and also address a few questions from the comments.
If you're enjoying this journey as much as I am, I'd love to keep it going. Let me know your thoughts!
And janscoM, I hope you enjoyed the first part and this one. I'm trying not to make a mockery of your work!
Claire & the Boys: Movie Night, Part 2
"Film studies?" I said. "You know, breaking down movies for shot composition, narrative structure, that kind of thing." I gestured vaguely, hoping it sounded legit.
Colin raised an eyebrow, his expression skeptical. "I didn't even know you were a student."
I smirked, leaning forward just a little, keeping the blanket snug at my neckline. "What did you think I was, Mr. Thompson?"
His face turned red instantly, and he stumbled over his words. "No, I-I didn't mean that, I just--"
I cut him off with a laugh. "Relax, Colin. I'm just messing with you."
He cleared his throat, still flustered. "It's just...unexpected, that's all."
"Well, I didn't even know you were a teacher," I said, tilting my head.
He shrugged, but when he spoke there was a hint of pride in his voice. "It's just one class in the evening. I'm only an adjunct."
"An adjunct, huh?" I said, raising an eyebrow. I had no clue what that meant. Was it a part-time gig? A fancy way of saying TA? I didn't want to ask and sound clueless.
Meanwhile, my stomach was doing somersaults. I wanted to ask what class he taught, but it felt like bait. The universe has a knack for dropping hints, and this one felt like a bowling ball to the head.
Before I could spiral, I blurted out, "Hey! You owe me an outfit, buddy. I still haven't got my clothes back from the party."
Colin smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Did you forget about the dress? You were more than fairly compensated."
I scoffed, rolling my eyes. "Please, that didn't even survive the trip home with..." I caught myself before I said the boys. "Tom and Jim," I finished.
Colin had taken a few innocent steps closer to the couch. It shouldn't have been a big deal, so I tried to play it cool, but my heart was pounding anyway. He stopped just before sitting, his hands tucked into the pockets of his khakis.
"So," he said, "you're obviously not just here for a class."
"What? What do you mean?" I asked, unable to hide my surprise.
"I only mean you've become...friendlier with Tom and Jim?"
I shrugged, keeping my voice steady. "Something like that."
He tilted his head, in what I thought was an attempt to be goofy. "Or is every kid in the neighborhood taking it?"
Being funny obviously didn't come naturally to him at all.
Kid. He said it so casually, like it wasn't going to turn me into a desert down there. Like he'd always seen me that way. I sat forward suddenly, annoyed, my hand instinctively moving to pin the blanket to my chest. It kept my cleavage covered, but my collarbone, shoulders, and arms were fully exposed. "Kid?" I said, my voice sharp. "I beg your pardon?"
I started to say something else, but stopped when I saw the way he was looking at me. His mouth was slightly open, his eyes skipping across my bare skin.
"What?" I said defensively. Then I glanced down at myself and knew exactly what he was looking at. I tried to keep my face neutral when I looked back up. "What is it?"
Colin sat down on the edge of the couch cushion next to me, his expression unreadable. Then he asked, more bluntly than I expected, "Are you naked under that blanket?"
My mouth opened and closed once. Twice. Then my voice came out low, not mine, someone more sultry. Older. Like I was in a trance. I completely ignored his question.
"What class do you teach?"
I hadn't even really needed to ask. It was like I already knew.
"Life drawing," he said matter-of-factly.
There it was. My imagination immediately conjured the scene: a room full of easels, the soft scratch of charcoal on paper, and me, standing on a platform, bathed in warm light, completely exposed. Had Tom and Jim gotten the idea for me to "model" from Colin's class? Was this some twisted family tradition?
"Do the models get extra credit?" I asked.
Colin chuckled. "They're paid, usually. Some of them aren't even students. We put an ad on the site. It's a job."