My First Time - 1. Chapter 1

I was sitting at my desk staring at my notes and wondering why the hell I had decided to take drama as a minor when I had enough of it in my life already.

I heard the faint sound of a door closing and then feet thumping up the stairs and sighed. I knew what the first thing out of his mouth would be and I didn't really want to be here right now.

Curtis bounded into the room and flopped on my bed with a cheesy grin and wiggled his eyebrows. "So! Have you been yet?"

I looked at him and rolled my eyes. Avoiding the question, I went back to my notes.

"Well? Have you lost it yet?"

Damn, Curtis could be really annoying at times. I sighed and looked at him. "Why is it so important that you know everything I do?" I asked.

He frowned. "That means you haven't." he said.” Come on Kim, you're my best friend. You know how important it is."

"What's that got to do with anything?" I asked.

"Look, I know what you're going through. I had the same fears as you did my first time. But once you go through the door you'll realize how irrational you were acting and you'll wonder what there was to be afraid of in the first place."

"That was you." I countered. "You know I've always been shy and don't like putting myself 'out there'."

Curtis grinned. "C'mon, isn't that why you took drama as a minor? So you could get over your insecurities and stop being the wallflower you were back in High School? Well now it's time to put up. And anyway, you'll not be the only one in your position. There'll be others there just like you."

"Thanks." I groaned. "That makes me feel real confident."

"Look, you know you have to do this. It's a rite of passage. You only get to 'lose it' once and today's the day."

"Oh God......" I slapped my palm onto my forehead and dragged it down my face.

"Tell you what. I'll go with you and hold your hand, at least for the first part. That way you'll have some moral support and...."

"Damn, you're not gonna give up are you?" I said, looking at him.

"Nope." He smirked, pulling me out of my chair. "Besides you know you have to do this."

"Shit."

"Look, it's gonna be easy. Once you've done it you'll wonder what you were so afraid of. So, you ready?"

"No." I sighed. I knew he was right and I knew I had to do it, but that didn't mean I had to like it.

"Tell you what." he said. "Once you're done we can go to the pub and I'll treat you to some Tequila shots."

"The good stuff." I demanded, "Not that cheap rot-gut you normally buy."

He frowned. "I never buy 'cheap' rot-gut. I only get the 'not that cheap' rot-gut."

"Whatever." I grinned, "O.K. let's get this over with before I change my mind."

"That's my boy." he said, smiling. "So - my car or yours?"

"Yours. I'm not going to be able to drive afterwards." I looked at him and snickered.

"Damn I never thought of that." he groaned. "Oh well, let's go."

The trip took twenty five minutes but It felt like thirty seconds. I looked out of the car window as was amazed by the number of people about. "Geez I wasn't expecting to see so many people around." I said, nervously.

"Well it is a popular spot." joked Curtis. "Anyway, come on, it's time to do your thing."

"I don't know, I'm starting to get really nervous about this." I said.

"Damn it Kim! I told you I'd be there to help you and I will. At least to the front door. After that you're on your own."

"What?"

Curtis sighed. "Kim you know I can't go in with you. Not only would it be wrong, I think it's probably illegal as well."

"Great." I grumbled, "You know, you're like the priest taking the condemned man on his final walk. Just so far, then 'you're on your own buddy'."

"Yeah that's me." he giggled. Leading you to your doom. But with Tequila shots afterwards. The priest never did that."

I laughed, and some of the tension drained away. "O.K. let's get this over with." I said and opened the car door and stepped out. Curtis met me on the pavement.

"Right." he said, "Just walk normally. Don't look at anyone and ignore any comments you hear. This is your time and you'll be just great."

"Thanks." I said and started towards the door. I could hear voices around me but I followed Curtis's advice and blocked them out. Then I was at the front door. For a second I hesitated.

"Don't stop Kim." said Curtis, "Don't think. Just open the door and go in. You're almost there."

Taking a deep breath I pushed open the door and walked inside. Compared to the noise outside the interior was an oasis of calm. I looked at Curtis and smiled slightly. He gave me an encouraging nod and pushed me in the direction of the counter. I walked up and looked at the middle-aged lady in front of me. She looked back at me and smiled.

"Name?" she said.

"Kim Saunders." I replied nervously.

"It's his first time." I heard Curtis say.

I turned and punched him on the shoulder. "You shit." I whispered.

"Don't worry." said the woman. "Everyone has a first time, even your friend there. He was probably just as nervous as you are."

She looked at her book and finally found my name. "Ah, here you are. Do you have a picture I.D.?"

I took out my driver's license and handed it to her. "Sorry about the picture." I said, "I don't normally look that bad."

"No worries, nobody ever looks like their driver's license photo. Never could understand why you can't smile for them. Always makes you look like a criminal. That's fine."

She handed me my license back and then gave me a sheet of paper.

"O.K. Now you need to go over there and make your selection. When you're done just bring it back here and put it in here."

I looked at the paper. "Damn there are a lot of names here." I said.

"Yes, this is a popular place." she replied.

I looked at Curtis. "Go on." he said. "Do your thing."

I grinned at him and walked to where I was told. I looked at the list and for a moment I couldn't think. I sighed, then smiled and made my selection.

I walked back to the front desk and placed the paper into the box.

I looked at Curtis, raised my hand and he gave me a high five.

I had voted for the first time.