The Taboo of Intimacy Chapter 1

Written and edited by

Morph by

Chapter 1 - Humble Beginnings

Sarah hadn't seen her grandparents John and Mary since Christmas the year before. She hadn't seen them since their last visit because there were some familial issues that had to be worked out, and time couldn't be spared for visiting. Sarah was distraught by this news because she loved spending time with her grandparents, but it was for the best she knew for her family issues to be ironed out.

On top of the visit to her grandparents, Sarah, her father Harry, and brother Anthony visited the United States together. She loved the trip there just as much as going to her grandparents. The only thing was the fact she spent most of her time reading this or that book.

Being a bit of an excessive bookworm and intellectual, Sarah was far from being blessed with friends. At college, she’s always seen moving about the corridors with a book tightly held close to her chest like a prized possession. Each of these books would get her far in the world in regards to a career, but wouldn't do her any good in getting friends.

Her evident shyness doesn't help either. If anything, it just made her more of an outcast than she already was.

However, despite all that, Sarah lived as normal, in between choosing to brush off any comments she may have received. But of course, some things can change for the better, can’t they?

 ///

The college doors swung open, revealing Sarah behind them. She was prepared for the day, no matter what life threw at her this time around. This year at college was important to her – she aimed to pass the year to move on as a hopeful lawyer.

The hallway was wide, packed with likely hundreds of other students. Luckily, Sarah knew whom of that lot to avoid - the muscle-bound sports brutes, hopeful prom queens, and bitchy slags – while also giving even just a slight nod or weak smile to others – the tech geeks, for instance. But even they wouldn't dare talk to her. She felt almost cursed.

Her hands tightly clutching a book as always, Sarah paced across the hallway. She was smart to just avoid reacting to the comments she overheard. But that didn't stop the comments themselves.

“Heads up,” a male student called, motion with his head for his friend to turn around. “Bookworm at six o'clock.”

“I never actually thought she’d return here after last year,” he said.

There are several girls mixed in with the two boys. The redhead – the ‘boss’ of the group – giggled, which in return made the rest of the girls to do so in return. Knowingly, they laughed at the events of last year.

“All that booze,” the redhead laughed. “God, I can’t believe she did it.”

“Well, it was a dare.” The first male student shifted a quick glance at Sarah as she turned past him. “It was either she drank the stuff or we would say that she kissed Paul.”

The redhead giggled again, this time more raucously. “Still. She stripped right down to her pants.”

Sarah didn't say anything, even though she would've liked to let the group know she heard every word.

 ///

Last year at college was a pain for Sarah. It’s too painful for her to even talk about, but the reality of the situation is, it was a direct aim at her for the fact her parents split up. Bullying ensued.

Later though, in an effort to try to dim down her bookworm ways, Sarah accepted the invitation to the end-of-year party at a student’s house. Booze and partying – just what she needed to show them she wasn't as much an outcast as they thought.

It was a big mistake.

In reality, the whole invitation and party turned out to be a complete ruse to the real party – Sarah's humiliation.

She was forced into drinking as much booze as she could handle then follow that up with stripping down to her pants. It was either that or she would have to put up with people asking if she really kissed Paul Hudson.

She accepted the booze drinking and strip down. She had to. Else, she’d be living a worse life right now. It was a miracle it wasn't filmed.

Despite the events of the past year, Sarah was adamant to return. She wouldn't be beat that easily. If her return to college signalled anything, it was that she was now stronger than ever.

 ///

Sarah pulled out a notepad, several pens, and a large book on law and placed it on her desk in the lecture room. She’s happy the room she’s in is the same she had last year. There were some rumours going around that the rooms were to be switched, even if the lecturers were the same. Different rooms meant different facilities, and that in itself could’ve meant not having the facilities needed.

But Sarah didn't care about the facilities – prepared as always, she had everything in her bag. In fact, she cared more for the view outside one of the windows than the facilities.

The window to the left had a beautiful view of a tree whose branches had shiny red apples hanging from them. The sun shone through the leaves, making the tree as a whole appear almost divine. It was a shame, though, that a brick wall hid behind the tree.

The lecturer came in, his face red as always, with a girl coming from behind him. She took to the small flight of stairs adjacent from the door and began to climb them. She seemed almost like a different girl because of how she looked, but eventually Sarah recognised the girl as Claire, her classmate. Her hair was different now – Curly as opposed to its usual straight.

“Okay, class,” the lecturer stated, scribbling on the blackboard behind him, “let’s begin the class today with…”

 ///

Classes ended for the day. Sarah was met with hostility in the hallway from the same students as earlier. This time, she wasn't prepared, and so, she wasn't sure how she’d react.

“Hey, Sarah,” the redhead said softly. She spoke in a way that made it look like she was trying to act like a friend towards Sarah, but she wasn't stupid – clearly. “Sorry about what happened last year at the party.” She extends a hand. “No hard feelings, right?”

Sarah clenched a fist, not in anger but as a way to fight back the urge to take the redhead’s hand. Sarah wanted to make friends, but not with the same girl who tricked her.

“Shove off!” Sarah yelled, brushing past the girl. Her book almost feel out of her grasp, her shoulder bump was so fierce. In fact, it similarly caused the redhead to fall backwards onto the floor.

“Hey!” the first male student from earlier shouted, picking her up.

“I heard what you said earlier!” Sarah yelled back.

“Get back here, you bitch!”

 ///

In the lecture room, Claire cocked a brow. She heard every word just uttered between the group and Sarah.

“Who are you calling a bitch, Dave?” Claire enquired angrily, emerging finally from the room, her arms folded.

Dave blinked. His long-time crush Claire had finally returned to college, so – naturally – his attitude changed. “Bitch? Who? I didn't call anybody a bitch.” He knew it was pointless, though.

“Whatever did Sarah do to you, huh?” Claire asked, staring at Dave angrily.

The group snickered at the fact Dave was getting a talking-to from his crush – who just happened to be shorter than he was – and he took it like a guilty child. But Claire noticed them.

“What did she do to any of you?” this time it was fiercer. Like a sting from a giant bee.

“Come on, Claire.” With a smile, almost as he was a gallant knight, Dave extended arm to stroke her hair, but she was having none of it. She slapped his hand down with such force that it hurt.

“Stay away from her – all of you.”

 ///

Sarah saw it all. She was only a few feet behind Claire. She heard the slap Claire gave Dave across his face. In actuality, the slap was so fierce; Sarah could almost feel it herself. The big red hand-print only bolstered Claire’s anger and how serious she was.

“Come on, Sarah.” Claire looped her hand under Sarah’s arm. “Let’s get out of here.”

Sarah felt like a guardian angel was protecting her. For somebody to finally come to her aid in her hour of need was so sudden. And it was even more surprising that this guardian angel ended up being a woman.

As the two girls walked off down the hall together, Sarah took a glance at Claire. Her hair flowed and her eyes sparkled when they coupled with the rays of the sun as it crept through the door when it cracked open slightly.

A tear ran down Sarah’s eye. She wasn’t sure if it was of joy that somebody finally helped her, or of wonderment, that Claire looked so ravishing all of a sudden. She was so sure she loved boys. Even so, Sarah’s father would always have the final say in such matters.

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Morpher's Note: Hi guys, here it is! A new co-op project with my buddy Amno here. We decided on doing something really in-depth and slow paced, and I hope you peeps will enjoy the stories as much as I enjoy the teamwork! No muscle showing in this one, but I promise to make more than good in the muscle for the next one! Enjoy, and be sure to drop a note!

Writer's Note: Hey there, folks! After a little over a month and a half of planning, not to mention the trials and tribulations found in actually writing it, the first chapter of my new co-op project with jderril is finally revealed! This time, we both opted for a story that felt more natural and slow paced, with real-world issues as some of the main themes. Sadly, there wasn't any muscle to show for this chapter because we wanted to establish the mood for the story first. We both hope you enjoy it regardless.