Chapter 1 – 'Love is suffocating me, but I kind of like to be.'
(lyrics from Steve Rushton – Emergency)
"Fine, Alex. I'm not telling mom and dad." I muttered in defeat. My younger sister clapped her hands and skipped away. Gosh! She can be so annoying! I turned to my brother.
"Dude, Justin…" Max shook his head, my own little brother was shaking his head at me, "Alex always gets you so bad!" He laughed to himself, before walking off after her. Whatever! Anyways, I heard Alex's California friends were here. Maybe they're pretty ladies? They will love Justin Russo! Yes, sir! Yes they will! I smiled to myself and got up. I walked up the spiral staircase which led from my dad's sandwich restaurant to our apartment. I walked in on a bunch of laughter. I finally got to the top of the stairs and saw two girls around Alex. Max was on the couch, trying to open a jar of peanut butter. Stupid kid. One girl was a brunette and the other was a blonde. The brunette caught my attention but I lost interest when I had gotten close enough to see her eyes. I can tell a lot about people just by looking at their eyes. And I didn't get a good vibe from her. Oh wait, I forgot… None of Alex's friends ever care about me because she says bad stories about me before I even meet them!
"Hi, I'm Lilly Truscott!" The blonde politely extended her hand. My sister and the brunette stared at her.
"Don't talk to him, he's a dork." My sister, said taking a huge bite out of an apple. The brunette laughed. But, I took Lilly's hand and shook it. I was eager to finally make friends with Alex's friends, besides Harper, who disgustingly drooled over me.
"I'm Justin." I smiled at her. I wasn't really a dork. I don't dress like one, I just think like one. I like school, but, so what if I did? At least I don't look like a dork.
"Miley Stewart," Alex pointed at the brunette, then back at me, "Dork. Dork, Miley Stewart." She introduced.
"Alex tells me you have action figure collection?" Lilly asked. Wow. This Lilly girl, was pretty. No! Not just pretty! She was beautiful.
"Yes he does!" Alex laughed, "It's so lame!" She teased.
"Yeah I have a collection, but you know I'm not really.."
"That's so cool!" She smiled. My heart melted. She's beautiful AND doesn't mind the fact people call me a dork AND thinks collecting action figure are cool?! Where has she been all my life?
"Aw, boo!! Miley, your friend's a freak too.." Alex grumbled to Miley, "Boo!" Alex said again. Miley laughed a little.
"Don't take it personally, Alex doesn't mean it.." I defended to Lilly. Lilly nodded.
"I know. But, I get that from Miley, too! And she's my best friend!" She laughed. Miley hugged Lilly.
"And I wouldn't trade her for the whole world! But..! I do need a little rebel time with Alex! And I decided to bring Lilly with me from California down here… And – "
" – Hey! Miley! Don't talk to the nerd! He'll poison you, I swear." Alex said, obviously wanting her friends' attention back. Which, I like.
"You want to check out my action figures?" I gulped. She looked back at me.
"Sure, why not?" She shrugged. Ah… So beautiful…
"Ew! Please go! Leave us!" Alex gave Lilly a push. "Bye, bye now dork one and two!" She ushered the two of us up the second flight of stairs that led to our bedrooms. I walked alone with Lilly down the hall.
"The only reason Alex is being like that is because she's jealous of your smartness and prettiness." I smiled, "Seriously though, don't take Alex seriously. She never takes anything seriously. The only things she takes seriously is art and taking nothing else besides art seriously!" I said, feeling great that I could say that to Alex's friend. She laughed at me.
"So, you're cute and funny?" She giggled, I wanted to jump and scream 'Thank you God!' and fist punch the air. But, all I said was:
"You think I'm cute and funny?"
"Maybe.. You think smart and pretty?" Heck yes!
"Maybe…" I replied, opening my bedroom door.
"Woah! Your room has everything!" She exclaimed, picking up my reading club trophy.
"Thank you." I took a bow. I had no idea why I was acting so confident in front of her. I guess, for the first time, I really felt like I could be myself around someone without Alex screwing me over. "So, what's California like?" I asked, trying to start some conversation, I sat down on my couch while she looked around.
"California? Well, I live on a beach that's near my school; East High.." She said, sounding casual.
"Seriously? You live on a beach? That's incredible!" I gaped at her. We were stuck in an ocean of concrete buildings, not aquatic life. She nodded and sat next to me.
"Yeah, you can say that it's pretty cool. You like it here?" She looked up at me. Wow, she had the most amazing blue eyes.
"Not really, but, it's okay I guess. It's just so packed and full of skyscrapers.. And worse of all, I have slight claustrophobia… That means – "
" – Afraid of small spaces. I feel that." Usually, I would think 'I feel that' literally means that she could feel it happening right now. But, in this situation 'I feel that' meant that she understood me; from the heart. Don't ask me how I knew, but I just did.
"You do?" I mumbled. She took out her hand and placed it over my heart, she then moved forward, really close to my face, without losing eye contact.
"Your heart's racing much faster now that I'm closer to you. Meaning that your have claustrophobia even with people, especially people you don't know. So, yeah, I feel you." She whispered, because she was so close.
"I don't feel that claustrophobic right now, with you around." I tried to smooth talk her. "The other possible reason my heart's racing could be because you're here." Clichés and cheesy endings, those were the things I was actually good at. I saw her turn pick and she smiled shyly.
"You're so cheesy." She giggled. I couldn't let my one and only golden moment turn into an awkward 'I've got to go now' moment! I had to make a move! I pushed forward and pressed my lips to hers. She was shocked at first, but, she adapted and held on to my waist as I pulled her closer. I officially cannot believe this is happening. I, Justin Russo, am making out with Lilly Truscott. And she is the only girl who has ever understood me and liked me for who I am. Don't forget, she was too good looking and well out of my league. I honestly have never made out with a girl like this before. In fact, I've never made out with a girl! It was nice, passionate. Our tongues cascaded with one another and she wasn't pulling away. Kiss after kiss, things became increasingly intense; and more, well, lovey-dovey. It was like I was making out with someone I was in love with. The kisses had then toned down and were softer, more delicate smooches. I had never felt something that felt so right as she put her hands on my chest and I held onto her waist. I just could not get over the fact that –
"EWWWWW!!!" Came a screech from my door, cutting off my train of thoughts. Lilly and I pushed one another away in shock. My blurry vision became focused once more, and I saw my sister, brother and Miley at my door. Their mouths were hanging agape. Alex had obviously spoken. No one could hit the same high and low notes on 'ew' the same way Alex could.
"I'm trying to imagine what this looks like to you… Umm, this is..." I muttered, trying (and failing) to sort things out.
"… This is probably exactly what it looks like." Lilly said with total honesty.
"Yeah, what Lilly said.." I gave in. I bet you my siblings would tell my parents. I mean, give me a break! I'm seventeen for crying out loud! Alex was sixteen, and Max was fourteen going on fifteen pretty soon. God darn it, I have rights!
"Ewww!" Alex groaned again, "I am never going in your room with either of you in it, ever again!" Alex was obviously annoyed.
"Lilly!" Miley squeaked, "What – why – you – him?!"
"He's really nice.. And funny and cute…" Lilly muttered, her best friend rolled her eyes.
"Does he have ambition?" Miley asked.
"Yes, I do! I'm very driven!" I popped in their conversation. Miley groaned.
"Lilly, remember last time when you dated an ambitious guy? You broke up! Darn that Oliver Oscar Oken…" Miley shook her head. Drama queen, just like Alex.
"Miley… You're dating Oliver now, remember?" Lilly pointed out.
"Oh! Right…" Miley, trailed off. Wanting to escape the unhappy glare of her best friend Lilly.
"Hey, hey, hey sweet cheeks! Who said you can't date two guys?" Max called, walking after Miley with his arms outstretched.
"…Ewwww.." Alex grumbled, in defeat she closed the door. There was silence for three seconds.
"Disregard with Miley said there, I just dated my goofball best friend and we broke up because he wanted to persue his music career and almost forgot about me... Now, Miley's dating him.."
"If we were dating I wouldn't forget about you… You know, IF we were dating.." I tried to drop a hint.
"Yeah, IF we were…" She gulped. Come on Justin, say something! "Do you – "
" – Want to go out tonight?" I cut past her. She smiled. I cannot believe SHE was about to ask ME out.
"That's what I was about to say, so, yeah I'd like to go out tonight." She mumbled shyly.
