I'm a writer; I always have been. The minute I learned how to write, I was telling stories of unicorns and knights rescuing princesses. They were terrible - I mean, I was five! But as I grew up and kept writing, my stories grew and flourished until I was really good at it. When I discovered that fanfiction was a thing that people read online, I started writing my favorite book and movie characters in new situations. I became extremely popular, with thousands of followers waiting every week for my newest story. Being wanted, being loved, by people you don't even know? It's an amazing feeling.
But right now, as I procrastinate my college homework by staring at my laptop screen, I am well and truly stuck. This? This is a horrible feeling. This sucks. I know exactly what I need to write, but I can't get the words out. The longer I sit here, the more frustrated I get. Finally, I close my laptop and hop off my bed. Maybe a break will help me.
I head downstairs and grab a bottle of tea out of the fridge. I hop onto the couch in the living room and turn on the TV. Watching chefs sabotage each other is always fun, and I quickly lose myself in the ridiculousness of the show. Time flies by; I watch episode after episode with no idea that I'm burning daylight. It's so easy to just get lost in something you're really invested in. It happens to me all the time when I'm writing.
"Hey, Jennie." I jump as the front door closes beside me. My dad just got home from work. He's a factory man, so he gets home around 2:30, hours before my 9-to-5 mom. I'm usually in one of my long classes or hanging out with friends when he gets home, so this is definitely out of the norm for me.
"Oh, hey! Sorry, I lost track of time." I reach for the remote to change it to his preferred TV station.
"No, leave it on this channel. I have to shower and change. It's a hot one today." He disappears into the master bedroom for a while. When he comes back out, he's wearing shorts and a T-shirt, a far cry from the jumpsuit and boots he wears to work. It's nice to see him so relaxed for once. He drops onto the couch beside me and drapes his arm over the back of the couch. "So, why are you out here?"
"I have writer's block, so I'm taking a break." I smile and pull my bare legs closer to my body. I'm wearing really short jeans shorts and a crop top because today was a real scorcher. I feel a little awkward being so undressed in front of him. I tug my shirt down a little bit to make sure that my bare breasts are hidden. How embarrassing would it be if he saw my naked titties?
"Oh? Maybe I can help. Sometimes you gotta talk it out." He shifts so he's facing me. "What's your story about?"
My face burns with embarrassment. "It's...uh...well, you know it's Marty and my one-year anniversary next week."
"Yeah, I remember. I'm sorry you can't go to the convention with him this year."
I shrug. I'm not resentful. My convention ticket money went to fixing my car after an accident last month, and my parents can't afford to send me themselves. It's a shitty situation, but it's nobody's fault. "I'm not worried about it. Yeah, it sucks, but I'll survive."
"What does that have to do with your writer's block?"
"We...we're writing stories for each other as gifts."
"That's sweet." He smiles encouragingly. "What's yours about?"
"It's...um...it's a dirty story."
"You're writing porn, huh?" He chuckles. "Well, just write what you know. Simple."
My face is redder than a firetruck. "I...I don't know anything about it. I've never...you know..."
Dad stares at me in surprise, his eyebrows shooting up into his shaved forehead. "You've never had sex before? Really?"
"Really, really." I shrug, trying to play it off as no big deal. Lots of girls wait to find the right guy before they give it up, right?
"Wow. That's...surprising."
"Why?"
I glance at him and notice him shifting his weight. "I... you're a very attractive girl, Jennie. I'm surprised you haven't had any takers, that's all."
"I haven't offered. I'm waiting to find the right guy."
"And you think that Marty is the right guy?"
"Maybe. I mean, we've been together for over a year, and the most we've done is send nudes. We haven't done anything else."
"Huh." His eyes roam my body for a moment before flicking back to the TV. "So, you're not sure what to write because you've never done it."
"Yup."