Frequencies of Us Chapter 50: Steps and a Sting

Mateo POV

My hands still feel his, warm and steamy, and my gut twists, hot and shaky, thinking about Caleb hissing, “She’s coming,” before that candy wrapper spun by my sneaker. Sofia’s text about the cans matching Ortiz burns in my head, and my throat’s dry, stuck with heat, because we’re close, yeah, close to breaking this open. My legs bounce, restless, because I need to move, need to fight this with him.

It’s morning now, back at Lincoln High, and I’m stomping to my locker, my heart pounding loud in my ears. My sneakers squeak on the floor, quick and hard, and my hands clench, sweaty and tense, because I’m mad, mad from everything piling up. I turn the corner, and my gut sinks, heavy and fast, because there it is, spray paint on my locker, big and ugly: “Fag’s out.” My face burns, hot and raw, and I slam my fist into it, yelling, “Cowards!” my voice cracking loud, because they’re hiding, always hiding, and I’m done, yeah, done taking it.

My chest heaves, air stuck, and my hands shake, wild and fast, because it hurts, deep down, seeing that word again. My legs tremble, mad and ready, and my throat’s tight, words breaking out, because I want to find them, want to swing. I hit the locker again, metal banging loud, and my face burns hotter, sweat dripping down, because it’s too much, all crashing in. My phone buzzes, sharp in my pocket, and my gut twists, tense and quick, because it’s Caleb, calling, his voice shaky, saying, “Lena’s got more pics!”

My heart slams, loud and wild, and I yell, “You’re dead!” my voice rough, mad and stretched thin, because he’s still spilling, still tied to her, and my trust’s gone, ripped apart. My hands shake worse, gripping the phone, and my chest aches, raw and tight, because I’m betrayed, yeah, and it stings bad. I want to throw it, smash it, but I hold on, my knuckles white, because it’s proof, proof he’s a liar, proof she’s not done. My breath puffs, fast and angry, and my gut flips, mad and lost, because I’m stuck, fighting everyone again.

Then Noah shows up, his sneakers soft on the floor, and my chest flutters, warm and fast, because he’s here, always here. He grabs my arm, soft and fierce, saying, “We’ll fight it,” and my gut twists, steamy and alive, because his voice calms me, pulls me back. I smirk, “Yeah, us,” my voice low, flirty and tight, and my breath mixes with his, hot and quick, because it’s him, yeah, keeping me steady. My heart skips, wild and warm, and my hands squeeze his, rough and warm, because he’s mine, leaning on his calm, easing my hurt.

We step away from the locker, my hand locked in his, and my legs wobble, restless and hot, because he’s close, so close, and my throat’s tight, needing him bad. My chest buzzes, steamy and real, and my breath puffs, loud and fast, because he’s looking at me, eyes soft, making me feel alive. I pull him into the empty gym, my heart thumping wild, and my gut flips, flirty and raw, because I want him now, can’t wait. My hands grab his waist, fast and firm, pulling him against me, and my chest presses his, heartbeat slamming together.

I kiss him, hard and hungry, my lips crashing into his, and he kisses back, just as needy, his hands gripping my shoulders. My skin burns, every touch hot, and I push him against the wall, my body shaking as I grind into him, feeling him hard against me. My breath’s quick, warm on his lips, and I groan, low and deep, my gut clenching as he moans, soft and desperate, sending heat straight through me. My hands slide up his shirt, fingers digging in, warm and smooth, and he gasps, loud in my ear, making my heart jump, wild and fast.

My lips move to his neck, sucking hard, and he tilts his head, letting me in, his hands tugging my hair. I thrust slow, my hips rocking firm, and he pushes back, steamy and wild, matching me perfect. My mouth finds his again, wet and messy, and I taste him, sharp and sweet, my head spinning fast, lost in him, lost in us. My hands drop lower, grabbing his hips, pulling him closer, and I grind harder, feeling him tremble, hot and needy. His nails rake my back, sharp and real, and I groan louder, my body shaking bad, chasing the heat, chasing him.

We’re locked together, hips slamming hard, the wall shaking soft. His tongue slides with mine, deep and fast, and my gut’s on fire, building tight, ready to burst. My breath’s ragged, lost in his moans, and my heart slams, loud and wild, because it’s him, driving me crazy. I press harder, my hips thrusting deep, and he moans louder, pulling me in, making me ache for more, making me feel everything. My body shakes, heat pooling low, and I kiss him deeper, tongues tangled, because it’s us, real, and nothing else matters.

A horn blares, loud and close, and my heart jumps, slamming hard in my chest. I pull back, my breath heaving, my face burning red, and Noah’s eyes snap to mine, dark and wild, lips wet from me. It’s jocks outside, tires squealing, and Noah whispers, “Hide!” his voice quick, scared. My gut twists, tense and fast, because they’re here, maybe looking for me, and my chest locks, air gone. Sofia’s text pings, “Ortiz’s shed,” and my hands stay locked with Noah’s, warm and rough, because it’s us, still us, even now.

My head spins, mad and confused, and my heart thumps, loud and wild, because the shed’s a lead, something big, and the jocks are too close. Noah pulls me back, his breath fast, and my gut flips, flirty and raw, because he’s here, fighting with me. My phone buzzes again, soft in my pocket, and my hands shake, pulling it out quick, my chest fluttering, steamy and alive. It’s Sofia, short and loud: “He’s there.” My breath catches, stuck in my throat, and I look at Noah, close and sweaty, his eyes wide, needing to know.

I peek through the gym door, my eyes squinting outside, and my gut twists, hot and fast, because tires kick dust, jocks yelling loud. My face burns hotter, and my hands shake, gripping Noah tight, because it’s big, pulling us deeper, and my throat’s tight, words stuck, needing him to stay, needing us to chase this. A soft clatter hits the floor, close and real, and my heart jumps, loud and fast. A key slides by my sneaker, small and shiny, kicked from somewhere, and my chest flutters, steamy and wild, leaving me waiting, tense and shaky, with Noah’s breath warm on my cheek.