The Matchmaker

"I was always better talking to more... mature people," Cooper led Brooklyn to a bench near the pond, holding her hand as she sat. "Girls at my High School can't get past appearances."

"You were going to call me older, weren't you?" Brooklyn giggled. "But I know what you mean. Believe me, it doesn't get better in college, either."

"Don't get me wrong," Cooper put his arm around Brooklyn. "I'm partly to blame as I choose not to talk to the girls, or anyone really, at my High School in fear of the ridicule I have already received."

Brooklyn put her head on his shoulder. "Lucky me, then."

"No," Cooper smiled as he nodded. "I know for a fact it's lucky me." He squeezed her tightly before loosening up just a little. "It's not every day someone gets to snuggle with Perfection."

Brooklyn purred into his shoulder, "You know, I'm really not perfect."

"In the eye of the beholder, Perfection. In the eye of the beholder," Cooper rubbed her shoulder.

Brooklyn felt happy and content and safe in Cooper's arms. Was it love? She wasn't sure, but she was willing to test the boundaries. Her hand went to Cooper's thigh and began rubbing little circles on his jeans.

Cooper twitched on the bench, "Um."

Brooklyn giggled at the response. "Relax, My Cuddly Bear. I just want you to know I'm not a tease."

"No one said..." Cooper's voice trailed off as Brooklyn's hand directly grabbed his erection.

"My, my," Brooklyn's voice became seductively sultry. "This has got to be painful to have something so hard, so trapped. Let me help you." She snaked down to her knees and slowly unbuttoned Cooper's jeans before unzipping them as well. "Lift up, just a bit." He complied and she pulled down the offending garment just enough to have easy access.

"Are you sure we should..."

Brooklyn interrupted Cooper by slowly stroking his manhood, "Do you want to go home in this condition?"

"Not really," Cooper strained.

"And what kind of girlfriend would I be if I let My Man suffer in this condition?" Brooklyn licked the crown and then smiled sinfully, "Certainly not a Perfect one?" She then lowered her head down, her mouth going lower and lower, plunging onto Cooper's shaft before sliding back to the top. "I think I like my new toy." She began a bobbing motion, slowly at first, but rapidly picking up energy. Her tongue remained active, with every descent, it swirled and curved, even tickling the base, and when she reached back to the top, it seemed to do a slight dance on the tip and sensitive underside.

Cooper was in a daze. It was his first sexual anything and it was surreal. The world seamed to stop, trees no longer moved in the wind, the stars stopped twinkling; all that was left was feeling. The feeling of exquisite ecstasy upon his very essence. He finally gathered in enough sanity to look down at Brooklyn. It was a joyous mistake. His eyes met hers in a synchronized madness.

Brooklyn knew she had Cooper when their eyes locked. She kept her rhythm, but added one distinct feature; she smiled at him. She felt the slight expansion and the heat begin to rise.

"It's, ah... I'm, um..." Cooper was trying to warn Brooklyn, but words became so foreign that only incoherent gibberish was escaping his lips. "But what about..."

Brooklyn pulled off for the briefest of moments, "Since we don't have a condom," She winked as she dropped down, back to her task, still gazing into his eyes, still smiling that playful smile.

It was too much for Cooper. He seized into bliss as spurt after spurt shot into Brooklyn's awaiting mouth. She pulled back until just the tip was left in, and began a slow stroking to ensure she had all her prize.

"Damn, Cuddly Bear," Brooklyn giggled as she had to spit the little she couldn't hold in the grass. "That was a lot."

Cooper took a deep breath to try and collect himself as he was still feeling some of the aftershocks. "Eighteen years worth."

"So that was your first blowjob." Brooklyn had a proud expression on her face as she sat next to Cooper.

"Yes it was." Cooper couldn't help the smile and was confident it would never go away as he pulled his jeans back up.

Brooklyn cuddled into Cooper, "Maybe, if you play your cards right, we'll explore some other firsts for you."

"I expect nothing." Cooper wrapped Brooklyn in his arms, "I'm happy just like this."

Brooklyn laughed, "That's just because you don't know what your missing."

"You're probably right."

"Oh, I know I'm right."

"In time," Cooper nonchalantly played it off. Did he want sex? Yes. But he was more worried about scaring Brooklyn away. He felt the relationship was in it's infancy and therefore fragile. He didn't want to lose what he had; not because he had never had it before, but because of the growing feelings that were developing. So he spoke the truth, like always, "I'm just ecstatic you said you were my girlfriend."

Brooklyn thought about it. The word was spoken in the heat of the moment, but it felt right. Here was this great guy, treating her as she had never been treated and she genuinely wanted to take care of him as well. She couldn't think of a better term for their relationship. "Yes," She smiled giddily. "And you're my boyfriend."

Cooper kissed the top of Brooklyn's head and she never felt anything so comforting, as if it was a signal that he would always protect her.

*

"So how did Mr. High School take his dumping? Did he cry?" Hazel couldn't help but laugh at her thought of that loser crying like a piggy; wee, wee, wee all the way home.

Brooklyn just rolled her eyes at her friend as she set her purse on the night stand. "No, he didn't." She moved over to the dresser to get her pajamas.

Hazel eyed her friend suspiciously, "But you did break up with him, didn't you. Tell me you broke up with chubby."

Brooklyn slammed the drawer shut, "You know I'm getting sick and tired of you making fun of my new boyfriend." She turned and pointed at Hazel, "You mention his weight one more time, so help me..."

Hazel raised her arms apologetically and backtracked, "Okay, okay, I won't mention his fatness again." Brooklyn stared daggers at Hazel. She continued, "But why didn't you break up with him? You promised."

"No," Brooklyn clarified. "I did no such thing."

Hazel shook her head, "What is with you. It's like I don't even know you anymore? Do you know what this is going to do to your rep?"

Brooklyn gave pause for a moment. Did she care? "I suppose we'll find out next Saturday."

"Wait, what? Hazel put her hands on her hips. "What did you do?"

Brooklyn stared her friend down with a smug little smile before putting on her pajamas.

"Tell me you didn't," Hazel's eyes pierced Brooklyn's "Tell me you did not invite that stupid High School crush to Zeta Alpha Lambda's casino night? It's only the biggest party of the year. Tell me you weren't that stupid."

Brooklyn slid into her bed, "Good night, Hazel."

*

The music was pumping from the Zeta Alpha Lambda's frat house. Brooklyn took a deep breath, nervously hoping things will go well. Cooper was her man, and she wanted her friends to see what she saw in him. "Let me get one last look at you."

Cooper faced her as best as he could while in her little Ford Fiesta. "I get the feeling I'm going into a job interview," Cooper snickered. "You should stop worrying, it'll be all right."

Brooklyn picked at a fuzz that was on his jeans before unbuttoning one more of his buttons from his white shirt before rebuttoning it. She didn't know. "Okay, let's do this." She went to open the door to her car and was stopped when Cooper grabbed her hand. "What?"

Cooper looked at her in that glorified way he always did, "I just want you to know, you look breathtakingly stunning this evening." He couldn't believe the short, daring black party dress of his girlfriend. "And, let me get the door."

Brooklyn smiled bashfully before nodding, "We can do this."

*

"Hey, Girl," Hazel half hugged Brooklyn. She eyed Cooper with disgust. "This MUST be Cooper. I'm Hazel, Brooklyn's best friend since the fifth grade."

"It's great to finally meet you," Cooper smiled. "I've heard a lot of good things about you."

"Well, if you'd excuse us," Hazel pulled Brooklyn away. "Girl talk, ya know."

Cooper nodded as the girls left to an unoccupied front room. He glanced around to get the full atmosphere of his first college party... Actually, his first party of any sorts that didn't have the words Happy Birthday, Cooper in the title and was populated with family. He nodded again, this time as he bounced to the music.

"Ooh."

Cooper cringed as he had bumped into somebody. He turned to his side, "Sorry." His eyes went wide, "Hey, aren't you Paisley Fairbanks? From the William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition?"

Paisley smiled, "You know about me?"

"Of course," Cooper chuckled. "You missed coming in first by one point, you are amazing!"

"Aww, thanks." Paisley's eyes then went wide, "Hey, I know you, too. From the article in the school paper. You're um," she snapped her fingers as she tried to remember.

"Cooper Rutledge."

Chad leaned in to his girlfriends ear, "I'm going to go get us some drinks, Cutie."

Paisley nodded at Chad before bringing her attention back to Cooper, "Yeah, the High School student," Paisley smiled. "Feeling out of place, yet?"

"I'm okay," Cooper shrugged. "I'm on a date."

"Good for you, who with?"

"Brooklyn McCray."

"Awesome, she's an amazing writer," Paisley smiled. "I can tell you're new at these types of parties, and I've been there. All I can say is relax and go with the flow. Have fun, maybe gamble. It is casino night, after all."

"Nope," Cooper shook his head. "Odds are never in your favor. I'll keep my money, thank you. I'd rather spend it on Brooklyn. It may still get me in the hole, but it's a whole lot more satisfying making her happy."

"That's sweet," Paisley took a step toward the blackjack table. "But I am majoring in computational mathematics, mathematical physics, accounting, and have taken several statistics classes, I'm going to make me some Mo-Ney!" She pumped both arms high in the air is if raising the roof as she left.

Cooper couldn't help but laugh.

"There he is! The incomparable, Cooper Rutledge."

Cooper turned to the voice, "Hey man, how's it going?" He had no idea who this guy was.

"Yeah, my name's Aiden. Brooklyn's told me a lot about you," Aiden smiled a disarming smile. "Here, you're at a frat party, drink up, my friend."

Cooper took the offered red plastic cup, unsure. Aiden took a drink from his. "Come on," he pushed it toward Cooper's lips. "Drink with me." Cooper parted his lips and took a drink. He rapidly coughed a few times afterward. Aiden pushed it back to his lips and lifted the back of the cup upward, "Come on, you're a bigger guy, you're not a light weight."

The alcohol flowed down his throat and as the cup emptied, Aiden quickly supplied another. And then another. And another. All disappearing in record fashion.

"You don't look so good, Cooper." Aiden took a drink of beer. "If you're going to puke, you better get outside or these frat boys will kick your ass."

Cooper woozily rushed outside, bumping into countless people and the door, barely making it to the grass.

"Damn, that smells, Cooper." Aiden handed him yet another beer. "Drink this to get the taste out of your mouth."

Cooper took a small drink, but the raising of his head was too much of a chore and he passed out, crumbling to the ground.

*

"Hazel, what was that for?" Brooklyn scolded.

"What?" Hazel's eyes went wide. "I said hi to him."

"Could you be more condescending?"

"Wait," Hazel put her hands on her hips, "How is this about me?"

"What?" Brooklyn exasperated.

"Yeah, I'm only trying to help you."

"Help me?" Brooklyn put her hand to her chest. "You're not even taking in account my feelings."

"No, as in help you not make an ass out of yourself; how dare you for even bringing him here and putting me in that situation!"

"You? Put YOU in that situation?"

"Yeah, me, your friend. The one who warned you this would happen."

"And what happened?"

Hazel's arms raised in anger, "Everybody was staring at us!"

"I don't care about everyone," Brooklyn huffed. "I care about you."

"No, you obviously don't care about me," Hazel shook her head.

"How can you say that after all we've been through?" Brooklyn sat down in a chair by the window, stunned.

Hazel smiled, smelling victory, "Look, all I'm saying is that it was a mistake to bring him here, a college frat party is no place for a High School student."

Brooklyn's gaze went out the window, "What the hell?" She jumped to her feet and ran out the room. "Excuse me." She scrambled and pried her way through the mob blocking the front door, "Move it!"

"How does everyone like the new lawn ornament here at the Zeta Alpha Lambda's frat house," Aiden laughed. "I call it... Bacon."

Brooklyn finally arrived at the scene and knelt at her boyfriends side, "Cooper are you all right?" She shook him but received zero response. She glared up at Aiden, "What did you do?"

"Me?" Aiden chuckled. "I didn't do a thing. It's not my fault that pig couldn't hold his alcohol." He then sarcastically smiled, "It was quite impressive, chugging six and a half beers in under two minutes. I guess all that fat came in handy. Hey, Brooklyn," Aiden smugly chided. "I know you have got to be tired of heavy lifting, and absolutely aching for dick, so I'll let you come back to me for one of those slut class blowjobs."

"You're such an asshole!" Brooklyn was about to get up and punch Aiden, but her attention was brought back to Cooper when he made a gurgling noise. She put his arm over her shoulder and tried to lift him up. She didn't get far. "Cooper, if you can hear me, please, I can't get you up."

Aiden led everyone in laughter at the sight.

"You're loss," Aiden chuckled. "I'd be careful in bed, though, he'll roll over and turn you into a pancake."

Chad glanced out the window to note a crowd gathered. Unlike Brooklyn, when he went to investigate, the congregation parted like the Red Sea to let they're football god pass through.

Brooklyn looked over her shoulder and stared down Aiden. "No, it's my gain because his cock is like taking a zucchini, unlike that pathetic, puny toothpick your packing."

The mass of people erupted in "ooh's," "ah's," and mostly laughter.

Aiden's cockiness turned to rage, "You little Slut!" He took a step towards Brooklyn and Cooper, intent on everything.

"I think that's enough," Chad glared down Aiden as he stepped in front of him. When he felt Aiden was disarmed, he charmed his audience with beer, music, and gambling. "Everyone, what is going on here? We brought in a casino party service, dozens of kegs, and wait," he put his hand to his ear, "Is that music I hear?"

The horde took the hint and dissolved back inside the house for their fun merriment. Aiden took one last look at Brooklyn and Cooper and scoffed, "Well, I think I need a another beer," He smiled as he turned for the house.

"Not you," Chad put his hand on Aiden's shoulder. "You get to go home."

Aiden flexed his hand. He desperately wanted to punch Chad, but also knew that would be social suicide. He shook his head in disapproval, "This isn't right." Chad didn't respond. After a few moments, Aiden back down and left.

Chad kept eyes on Aiden, even after he disappeared from view just to ensure he wasn't coming back.

"All right Cooper, c'mon," Brooklyn put his arm over her shoulder again. "You got to help me out a little."

"Hey," Chad knelt down to Brooklyn. "Stop, it's all right. Let me go let my girlfriend know what's going on, and I'll be back to help you get him home."

Brooklyn puffed at her hair to blow it away from her face, "Thank you." She brushed her hand across Cooper's cheek, "I'm sorry this happened. I just wanted you to meet my friends so they could see how great you are." A tear trickled cascaded from her eye.

Cooper's eyes fluttered briefly open and his hand attempted to move to Brooklyn's cheek, but it only raised an inch before it fell back to the ground. His face scrunched in mental anguish, "I made the pretty lady cry."

"Oh, Cooper."

"You're lucky I love you," Paisley announced as she was coming out of the house with Chad. "I was already up three grand. Oh, what happened here?"

"Party asshole," Chad explained as he went to Cooper's side.

"Hate those," Paisley shook her head and then offered a smile at Brooklyn. "You must be Brooklyn McCray, love your work. You're article on the of corruption of Dean Wright was spectacular."

Brooklyn grinned at the compliment, "Thanks."

"So why are you sitting on the ground?" Paisley smirked.

"I need to help get my boyfriend to the car." Brooklyn thought it was obvious. She turned to Cooper to find he was not where she left him; in fact he was already in Chad's arms. That's why the girl smiled. She stood quickly.

"I'm Paisley," She went to extend her hand and paused, "I'm not too keen on social interactions with other girls yet, are we supposed to handshake, hug, or maybe chest bump?"

Brooklyn chuckled and shook Paisley's hand. "Doesn't matter. I just appreciate the help."

Chad turned to face the long string of automobiles in the street, "Which car is yours?"

"Yeah," Brooklyn started toward her car, "It's this silver one over here."

Paisley walked up next to her, "We're going to follow you so Chad can help get him wherever he needs to be for you."

"I don't know how I can repay you," Brooklyn opened the passenger door. Thank you so much."

"It's no problem at all," Chad placed Cooper in the seat and buckled him up.

*

Brooklyn pulled into the driveway to Cooper's home. She didn't want to go in there, surely Cora would demonize her for corrupting her son with alcohol. Would she ban him from seeing her again? She hoped not. Unfortunately, she had to face the music sooner rather than later as Chad and Paisley pulled in the driveway behind her. She couldn't have them wait. The porch light turned on as she got out of her car.

Dave opened the front door and stepped outside, cinching his robe tighter to protect himself from the cool night air. "Back kind of early, aren't you?"

"I'm sorry, Mr. Thorne," Brooklyn cringed as she opened the passenger door for Chad. "We had some issues."

"What do you mean, some issues?" Dave then saw a man pull Cooper out of the car and pick him up. "Oh my God, Cooper!" He ran down the porch, "What happened."

"He sort of got drunk," Brooklyn hung her head.

Dave put his hand to the back of Cooper's head, "Cooper, can you hear me?"

Cooper's response was a snore.

Dave gave a harsh glare at Brooklyn, "I trusted you. I convinced my wife to trust you."

"I know," Brooklyn's head shied down. "I'm truly sorry. It won't happen again. I promise."

Dave took a deep breath, and eyed Brooklyn carefully. "Listen, it's all right. I can see you genuinely care for Cooper. I'll talk with him tomorrow about controlling himself. It was shocking to see him like this, sure, but it was his first party. Just be careful next time."

Brooklyn let loose a relieved sigh, "Thank you, Sir."

"Ah, none of that Sir crap," Dave waved his hand at her. "You know better, Brooklyn."

"So, " Chad interrupted. "Where should I put him?"

"Sorry," Dave chuckled. "I'll show you to his bedroom... Or maybe the toilet. Make him really think when he wakes up. Follow me." He started back toward the house before glancing over at Brooklyn. "You have some interesting friends."

"How so?"

Dave smirked, "I never would have thought that Chad freaking Riggs would be carrying Cooper through my house." He shook his head, "I'm lucky Cora already left to work the midnight shift because she'd be pissed and I wouldn't be able to ask for an autograph."