He pulled her closer, his hand entangled in her hair while his other hand rested on the small of her back. She was consumed in the touch of his soft lips against hers, her heart was beating fast and every inch of her felt like it was on fire. She pushed her body closer to him never wanting the kiss to end. It was everything she had ever wanted but all too soon she felt his lips leave hers leaving her breathless and wanting more. She opened her eyes looking directly into his as she licked her her lips trying to form words in her head but her mind felt blank. She felt him tuck a strand of hair behind her ear and then his fingers gently grazed the side of her face.
"Say something Steph" he whispered as she felt his fingers leave her face.
"I-I'm not sure" she fumbled over her words.
"Did you not want me to kiss you?"
"Of course I did" she reassured him. She definitely didn't want him to regret it and apologize. "I just didn't know you felt the same way"
"I have for awhile" he confessed making her feel smile. He actually liked her but that also raised another question that she didn't want to think about but she needed to know.
"Then why did you invite Melanie?" Stephanie asked nervously biting her bottom lip.
"Who?" She wasn't sure if he was being serious or pretending he didn't know who she was talking about.
"The blonde in the kitchen that you've been talking to all night. You invited her" Stephanie replied trying to keep the jealous tone out of her voice.
"Oh right that's her name. I ran into her when I was getting food and she heard me talking to Shane about tonight. I told her it was only for close friends and she asked me if you were going to be here. She started saying after that how you two were best friends or something so I invited her so maybe you would have a friend here since you don't really know mine and Shane's friends"
"She is not my best friend" Stephanie replied feeling her blood boil "She is nowhere near a friend"
"I kind of put that together once you came in and never came to talk to her and she didn't make the attempt to come over to talk to you"
"Why did you spend all that time talking to her?"
"I haven't been able to get away from her all night. Everywhere I went she followed. I finally found my escape when she went to the bathroom. I wouldn't of invited her if I knew you two weren't even friends or that you would spend most of your time talking to Zach" Paul shrugged, she was starting to wonder if he really was jealous but above all else she was ecstatic to know he could care less about Melanie.
"Do you have a problem with Zach?" Stephanie asked him curious if there was some other reason besides jealousy.
"No, he's a good friend" Paul answered and she couldn't help but smile at the thought that he was jealous.
"What?"
"Nothing" Stephanie replied shaking her head.
"Why are you smiling then?"
"No reason" Stephanie replied as she remembered earlier in the day when Paul was trying to tell her something before Shane interrupted. "What were you going to say earlier today in my room?"
"Oh. I was trying to tell you that I value our friendship and I never want to lose it but I care for you as more than a friend. I don't want to lose you as a friend if something happened between us"
"So where does this leave us?" Stephanie asked nervously.
"I'm not sure. I'm afraid of something going wrong and losing you and Shane is my best friend and I'm not sure how he is going to feel about this. I guess I need to talk to him" Paul explained while Stephanie nodded her head. She wasn't sure how this was going to go now. Shane had made it clear that he wanted her to end whatever was going on between them but she wasn't going to give up hope now that she knew Paul liked her. Maybe if Paul talked to Shane it might come out differently, or at least she hoped.
"Okay" Stephanie replied looking at down at her hands, failing at keeping the disappointment out of her voice. She felt Paul's fingers under her chin tilting her head back up to look at him.
"Hey. We'll figure it out" He leaned over kissing her gently on the lips again. Stephanie savored the moment not quite sure if she would get the chance to kiss him again tonight.
"We should probably head back out there" Stephanie said standing up from the bed. She knew Shane would probably be back and looking for her to make sure creepy Dan wasn't bothering her.
"Just don't leave me alone with Melanie" Paul pleaded as they walked to the door.
"I won't" Stephanie replied with a smile. She couldn't wait to see Melanie's face when Paul would be with her for the rest of the night. Stephanie opened the door and walked out back to the living room with Paul behind her as soon as they made it there she locked eyes with Shane, and he didn't look too happy. He stared at her for a moment before returning his attention back his conversation he was having with one of his friends. She was surprised he just let it go that easier or at least she hoped he had let it go.
"Lets get something to drink" Paul said as she nodded her head in agreement, she was feeling a little parched.
They headed to the kitchen and no to surprise to Stephanie found Melanie was still in there except now she was talking to another one of Shane and Paul's friends. She turned to Stephanie as soon as she seen her abandoning her conversation with the dark haired guy she had been talking to.
"Stephanie I wondered when I would see you" Melanie said with a disgusted tone but a moment later she perked up quickly changing her attitude. "Paul I was wondering where you went." Stephanie rolled her eyes.
"I went to find Steph" Paul replied going over to the fridge.
"Oh" Melanie said her face dropping into a frown. Stephanie bit her lip to keep from smiling at her apparent dissatisfaction. Paul came back over and handed her one of the beers he grabbed the fridge.
"Shit!" Stephanie heard a voice shout in the next room as something shattered in the next room.
"You've got to be kidding me" Paul groaned "I'll be right back" He kissed her cheek probably to send a message to Melanie and walked into the next room. She watched him until he was out of view and then turned back to Melanie who had a fake smile plastered to her face.
"So you and Paul huh?" Melanie asked. She might have a smile on her face but her voice was anything but nice.
"I told you he had his eye on someone" Stephanie replied with a smile of her own.
"Oh well" Melanie shrugged "He might for now but we both know that it can change, remember Tyler?"
Stephanie's smile vanished from her face remembering Tyler her crush from high school that Melanie stole.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Stephanie asked narrowing her eyes.
"If I remember correctly, he liked you too and then I started talking to him. Things quickly changed after that didn't they?"
"I didn't know he liked me"
"I did" Melanie replied with a smirk. Stephanie wanted to smack the smirk off of her face but luckily Paul had walked back into the kitchen.
"Sorry about that" Paul said slipping his arm around her waist.
"Well I better get going. I have a lot of things to do" Melanie said looking at Stephanie as if it pertained something to do with her. "Thanks for inviting me Paul" Melanie rubbed her hand on his bicep before exiting the kitchen.
"Wow" Paul said shaking his head and then taking a drink of his beer.
"She's doing it on purpose"
"Why?"
"It's a long story" Stephanie sighed not wanting to talk about her. "What happened in the living room?"
"Dan broke the glass in the coffee table"
"Wow"
"He's just way too drunk. Shane sent him to his room to sleep it off a little"
"Too bad we can't go back to your room" Stephanie replied not feeling in the mood to socialize after her conversation with Melanie. Stephanie felt Paul remove his arm from her waist as he came over to stand in front of her.
"Well we could make the night a lot more interesting in there" Paul said pulling her up against him. She couldn't help but blush.
"This was a bad idea" Paul moved quickly away from her as soon as they heard Shane's voice.
"I think inviting Dan was the bad idea" Paul said leaning against the kitchen counter.
"He made such a mess. We are going have so much shit to clean up" Shane said going over to the fridge and opening it.
"I don't think we should invite him when there is going to be alcohol. Especially after what he said to Stephanie"
"I agree. So what have you two been doing?" Shane asked opening his beer.
"Nothing really. Stephanie was saving me from Melanie"
"But you're the one who invited her"
"I thought her and Stephanie was friends" Paul replied as Shane shrugged and then took a drink of his beer.
"You probably shouldn't be drinking Stephanie" Shane said to her as she looked at her beer forgetting she had even been holding it.
"Lighten up Shane. I'm not getting drunk"
"Fine but if mom and dad smell the alcohol on you it's your problem" Shane replied as she sat down her beer on the counter. He did have a point. "Zach was looking for you earlier before he had to go. I think he might like you"
"What makes you say that?"
"Because he asked me if you were seeing anyone and if I would be okay with him asking you on a date" Stephanie looked over at Paul to see his reaction but he was looking down with his arms crossed.
"And?" Stephanie asked turning her attention back to Shane curious about how Shane would feel about one of his friends wanting to date her. Maybe if didn't care then maybe he wouldn't make a big deal about Paul wanting to be with her.
"I told him it was okay with me if that's what you wanted" Shane replied heading towards the living room "I guess I'll head back to the living room and make sure nothing else gets broke."
"Is that what you want?" Paul asked Stephanie after Shane had disappeared.
"No of course not. If Shane doesn't mind if Zach asks me out then maybe he won't mind if you do" Stephanie explained as he finally raised his head and looked at her.
"I hope so" Paul replied smiling weakly at her.
"Do you want to go sit down?" Stephanie asked trying to change the subject. She could tell the conversation had put him in a bad mood.
"Sure" Stephanie left the kitchen and headed to the living room that was less crowded than before. It seemed some people were starting to head home. She sat down on the couch and moments later felt him sit down beside of her. They sat and talked for awhile longer until it was time for her to leave.
Stephanie walked across the parking lot to her car with Paul at her side. He had insisted to walk her down to her car and she had no complaints about that considering with everyone started to head home Shane's attention had been occupied on them. She had wanted some more time alone with him and she was surprised Shane hadn't followed them, she was starting to lose hope that Shane would be okay with them being together.
"Thanks for walking me down to my car" Stephanie said unlocking the car.
"You're welcome" Paul replied as she opened the car door.
"Paul?"
"Yeah?" He asked coming closer to her.
"Earlier tonight when you said you have liked me for awhile. How long exactly?" Stephanie asked before he leaned down kissing her softly on the lips. When the kiss was over she opened her eyes to see him smiling.
"Good night Stephanie" Paul said shaking his head with a smile as he started walking off.
"You're not going to tell me?"
"No. You wouldn't tell me earlier why you were smiling"
"That's not fair" Stephanie called as he got farther away.
"Good night" Paul called back. She got into the car and started it, watching disappear into the apartment building before she left.
It didn't take her very long to get home. Vince and Linda were already in bed so she decided to head onto bed, she had a really good night if you minus Melanie being at the party. Stephanie undressed and threw on her pajamas before getting into bed. It didn't take long before she fell asleep thinking about everything that happened with Paul and excitement to see him again.
The next day Stephanie sat on her bed talking on the phone to Allie about everything that had happened the night before.
"He invited Melanie?" Allie asked in a disgusted tone.
"Yeah and he talked to her for the first half I was there until I headed into what I thought was Shane's room but it turned out to be his. I was in there for maybe a minute or two before he came in to the room with me"
"And?" Allie asked, Stephanie smiled at the impatience in her voice.
"He asked me what I was talking about with Zach-"
"Oh, jealousy?"
"I don't know I didn't want to ask him but it definitely seemed like it and I made a joke about it"
"What did he say?"
"That was when he asked me if I still had feelings for him and I told him the truth. The next thing I know he was kissing me"
"Are you being serious?" Allie asked in between coughing.
"Yes. Are you okay?"
"Yeah I got choked on my drink. What happened after that?"
"We talked for a few more minutes. He told me that he only invited Melanie because she told him that her and I were best friends"
"That bitch is so conniving"
"Yeah she is. Paul kissed my cheek later when we were in front of her and she didn't like that at all. The next thing I know she's going on about how he may like me now but so did Tyler before she came along"
"So she pulled that shit out to hurt you?"
"That or to try and get in my head"
"Well I think it's clear now that Paul likes you and I don't think he's going to fall for Melanie's pathetic shit"
"I don't think so either but I have Shane to worry about" Stephanie said laying back on her bed and sighing.
"Why?"
"He's been watching us like a hawk. The first night he seen Paul and I flirting with each other he told me to end it and every time he catches us alone or just practically anything together he gives me this pissed off look"
"It sounds like he is being way too overprotective"
"I know and I wish he would just back off" Stephanie replied with annoyance in her voice. She was distracted from her conversation with Allie when she heard distant voices downstairs and one of them sounded like Shane. "Let me call you back. I think Paul might be here" Stephanie started hearing kissing noises on the other end and she rolled her eyes.
"Shut up" Stephanie said while Allie laughed.
"Bye" Allie said in between laughing.
"Bye" Stephanie replied shaking her head as she ended the phone call. She tossed her cellphone on the bed and headed downstairs hoping Paul was with Shane.
When she reached the bottom of the stairs she noticed nobody was in the living room anymore so she headed to the kitchen to see if they went there. Stephanie walked into the kitchen and immediately spotted Paul. He was sitting next to Shane who was talking with Vince and Linda.
"Hey" Stephanie said going over to everyone and sitting down beside of Paul.
"How was your night last night?" Linda asked her.
"It was great" Stephanie smiled taking a quick glance at Paul who didn't seem to be paying attention to her, which was weird.
"Your father and I must have been asleep when you came back in"
"Yeah it was pretty late" Stephanie replied as Paul suddenly got up and headed out of the kitchen. She was definitely feeling confused at this point. He didn't look at her or talk to her. Stephanie sat there for a few minutes wondering if he was going to come back before she decided to go look for him.
"Where are you going?" Shane asked her as she headed out of the kitchen.
"I left my phone upstairs. I'm just going to get it" Stephanie lied quickly before turning back around and leaving. When she noticed he wasn't in the living room she decided to check outside first. She stepped on the porch and seen him leaning up against the house on the other side of her. He looked up at her for a moment before taking his gaze towards the lawn in front of them.
"Hey" Stephanie said breaking the tension between them.
"Hey" replied Paul before taking a drink of the soda in his hand.
"What's going on?"
"Nothing much" Paul replied still not looking at her. She started to feel confused and like he was trying to blow her off.
"So...was everything that happened last night all in my head?" Stephanie asked her forehead wrinkling in confusion.
"No, it happened"
"Okay then what is going on because I am really confused" Stephanie replied hearing him sigh.
"We can't do this Steph" Paul said finally looking over at her. At the moment it felt like the wind had been knocked out of her and someone had just stabbed her in the heart.
"Why?"
"I asked Shane" Paul said slipping his hands in his pockets.
"And?"
"Not only did he say no but his exact words were hell no and that I should stop flirting with you and to end whatever was going on between us. He really wasn't happy about seeing us come out of my room last night. I didn't think I would ever heard the end of it and I'm afraid that if I don't end this then I'll lose Shane as a friend"
"That's it? It's over before it even begins?" Stephanie asked feeling the tears pool in her eyes and she sniffed.
"Please don't cry" Paul said softly as she shook her head "This is what I was worried about. This is why I was afraid to take it further because I didn't want to ruin our friendship if it didn't work out. I didn't want to see you get hurt and things be awkward between us"
Stephanie just stood there not saying a word just trying to wipe the tears away. She was being rejected by him again, maybe this was the way of the world telling her to give up hope for a relationship with Paul. That she needed to move on.
"Did he tell you why?" Stephanie asked quietly.
"No" Paul replied shaking his head. "Just so you know, I really do like you Steph and for what its worth I'm sorry. I hope we can continue to be friends like we were"
Stephanie stood silent as Paul walked off letting a few more tears slip out. She was hurt and pissed at the same time, all she knew at this point was she was going to go off on Shane.
