Phone Sex Hotline [University Oneshot]

Prompt: "Flirtation. Two people are feeling each other out, not sure how far to go in revealing their feelings, not sure if the other person is just being friendly or is really interested, not sure whether to play hard to get, not sure... not sure."

	You stare blankly at the phone in front of you. It's been quiet for a little too long for comfort, almost as if someone is playing a joke on you. This job wasn't something you ever expected to be doing but, boy, what a journey its been. It was a simple idea but hard execution. You never knew who would be on the other line, perhaps a regular or someone you haven't talked to before. Perhaps its even someone who has never used a phone sex hotline before. Those were always interesting.
	None of your friends or family knew you had this job and it should stay that way. It was by the good grace of God that you even got such a position right as your other job laid you off. You had fallen into a depression from the loss, not sure how to reveal it to your seven month pregnant wife. When you tried looking for a new job, you happened across this one and they hired you very quickly. It was strange but they explained this position is only for the select few who have both good people skills and a distance from others. You happened to meet both criteria.
	The phone begins to ring. You hesitantly pick it up, not sure what to expect. “Lustful Phonetics Hotline. How may we pleasure you tonight?”
	“Tell me what you're wearing big boy,” comes the seductive, feminine voice from other end of the line. You let your imagination wonder, setting the scene for yourself. Instead of sitting in a cubicle, you're actually in a red, candle-lit room. The bed you're posing on is heart shaped, just the right size for a couple, not to mention its covered in rose petals.
	“I'm in a sleek red bathrobe, baby. Come on over and help take it off,” its cliché, but you say what feels right in your mind.
	“With pleasure,” she responds. There is shuffling from the other end of the line as if this lady was stripping or possibly getting more comfortable on a bed. “Now, you strip me.” She seems to know what she wants, just some vanilla for once. No weird kinks or fetishes this time. Something is strange though. Her voice is almost familiar. You can't quite place it but it helps you get in the right mood to help her out.
	“I slowly take off your shirt and starting kissing your neck working my way down to your chest,” you say and start making soft kissing noises into the speaker. She seems to respond by actually removing clothing. “I use my teeth to unzip your pants, pulling them down to your thighs before doing the same to your panties.” More rustling can be heard as she does what you say.
	“Tell me I'm beautiful,” she asks. “Tell me I'm all yours.”
	“You're gorgeous,” you begin slowly. “I've never seen a woman nearly as beautiful as you are.” You pause a moment, satisfied by the slicks coming from the other end. “And now you're all mine. No one is ever going to keep me from you.” She moans at that statement. She sustains it for a moment and it sounds as if she reached her climax point. Wow, she didn't last very long, definitely an extreme below average. She didn't really give a chance to do a full performance but as long as she's satisfied, you suppose that's all that really matters. “That was amazing darling,” you coo. “Is there anything else I can to please my Goddess?”
	There a moment of silence on the other line. You begin to hear quiet sobs. “Tell me I'm beautiful again.” Oh Christ, why was it happening when things were going so well?
	“Honey, you're so beautiful, you glow brighter than the stars,” you say sincerely. She laughs between her tears.
	“If only my husband seemed to think that...” she whispered.
	It's you're turn to be silent. How do you even respond to that? “Do you want to talk about it, sweety?”
	The sobs and sniffles continue without any sign of a break.
	“It's okay honey, you can tell me anything,” you coo gently.
	There is a long sigh on the other side.
	“That's good baby, just keep that relief going. We don't have to talk about it if you don't want to.”
	The response comes after a moment. It's soft and light. Merely a whisper. “My husband has been disappearing at night recently. He said his job messed with his hours but that's what he's been saying for the past few months.”
	Wait a second.
	“The worst part is, I just delivered our child one month ago. She's a joy but I feel like he's abandoned me. Found someone else to sleep with behind my back.”
	Oh God, it can't be.
	“He sleeps during the day and wanders off at night...” the sobs begin to roll out once more, louder and more clear. “I just want him back by my side.”
	This...
	This is your wife.

Prompt 2: "Often we fight about small things because the big things are too big and scary, too likely to get out of hand. Write a scene between two characters almost having a big fight, but not quite. Have the real tension be about something bigger than the trivial issue at hand."

	“Is there anything I can do to help you?” you ask gingerly.
	“Tell me I'm worthwhile. Tell me that I'm valuable. Say you love me.”
	“Of course, my love. You're the most important part of my life, the most important part of me. You're one of the few things I care about... You're one of the few I love. I love you so much.”
	Her expression audibly melts as she cries more. You can hear her tone has shifted to a least  a slightly happier one. It's as if she is stifling a laugh as she cries. The context you just figured out has totally changed how you view this conversation. There is now an urgency to get home and be with her. You should probably buy her some flowers to show you still care.
	After a stretch of whimpers and silence, she finally says, “I just wish my husband would say that a little more often.”
	“I'm sure your husband cares for you very much,” you say reassuringly.
	She stifles another laugh, “He sure doesn't show it. Not since a few months ago.” Her voice begins to crack once more, “I know my looks haven't persevered through child birth but can't he at least pretend? Shouldn't the mother of his child at least be given that much respect?”
	You felt awful. This whole time, your occupation change has been making her think this? She really felt this way. How could you have not seen it? How did you ignore all the signs? Your sleep schedule was put in a new place. Most people called this hotline at night. You, accordingly, had to leave for work at night, arriving home as your wife “woke” (as if you can sleep often with a newborn) up.
	“I don't know your husband,” you lie, “but I think he really does care about you. Perhaps his late nights really are for work, like he said.”
	“Why would he be less affectionate? Does work really explain that?” she groaned. You thought through the past three months. Perhaps you had become more distant. Why? Well, with some of the callers you get, sex is the last thing on your mind by the end. You just want to be alone, purge the thoughts and the roleplay you had to endure for this occupation.
	“Ma'am, I really am sorry that's how you feel. Is there anything else I can do to help?” you say as warmly but flatly as you could, like a sympathetic stranger and not an empathetic husband.
	She is silent for a moment before giggling, “You already have stranger.”
	You give a sad smile to yourself. “I'm glad.”
	“Well, could you say, 'I love you,' again?” she asks.
	“Anything for you,” you said. “I love you so much. You're the best thing that's ever happened to me. Your beauty and your worth, if nothing else, has made my life worthwhile. I couldn't imagine a day without you.” She may not know it but everything you said was real. Those words were real and you meant them sincerely and honestly.
	She giggles one more time, “Thanks stranger. It's nice to hear that every once in a while.”
	“I mean it, I really do love you,” you say.
	“Well, looks like you got yourself a new regular,” she says almost cheerfully. The line goes blank and you put down your headset. What a journey that was. Now you're not sure if admitting you were on the other end of the line might bring some relief to her or telling her the truth. Being honest about the situation might make her angry and close herself off from you. This was a direct line into how she was feeling. It was like meeting her all over again. You just didn't know if it was a blessing or a curse.