House of the Scotts
I still couldn't quite believe that Sawyer was really offering us to stay at her parents' home, as I parked my car in front of the house and walked to the door where Lydia was already waiting for me.
"You're late, Davis!" She said reproachfully. "I've been waiting here for almost 20 minutes."
"Do you know how difficult it was to get away from home?" I retorted. "Izzy was there and so was Jude. And just today my brother asked me if we wanted to go to the fitness studio with him." I rolled my eyes. "I couldn't tell him that I'm going to meet with his girlfriend. So I lied and told him that I wanted to go to the library to borrow a book for the next biology test."
"And he believed that?" She asked suspiciously.
"No idea. But at least he didn't ask more questions but got in his car and drove to the fitness studio without me." I pointed to the locked door. "Is Sawyer inside?" I had just finished my sentence when Lydia pulled out a key and grinned mischievously.
"Not necessary," she said. "Sawyer gave me her door key. So we're all alone."
"Alone?" I repeated, feeling my hands getting wet and my mouth dry. Did that mean that Lydia was interested in repeating our last, intimate encounter? I couldn't quite finish my thought as she unlocked the door and then grabbed my hand and pulled me inside the house.
"Come along! Sawyer's room is upstairs. I promised her that we wouldn't touch anything in the living room."
"Yeah, okay," I mumbled as I followed her upstairs. As soon as we entered Sawyer's room, Lydia closed and locked the door. Was that the payback for what had happened the first time we met in my room? Somehow, I just had a strange Deja Vu.
"This is just between the two of us," she said, smiling. "Get your clothes off!"
I stared at her in disbelief as I stood rooted to the spot. So this was really about to sleep with me, it crossed my mind. I couldn't tell her that I wasn't ready for a replay. I still hadn't forgotten what had happened the last time. Remembering how she had sobbed in pain and all the blood on the sheets made me still cringe. "I... I think we should take it... slow this time," I stammered, waiting tensely for her reaction.
"I can't see a reason why we should do that!"
Of course she knew about my reputation to get girls into my pants. But it was different with Lydia. I couldn't explain it, but with her I didn't want to rush things. I wanted more than just a sexual relationship with her. And I was willing to wait. "I want it to be a great experience for you, too," I finally managed to say. I didn't want to admit to her that I was scared of hurting her again.
"But I'm sure it will be different this time. I googled and read that it only hurts and bleeds the first time. After that, it's going to be great."
She looked at me with her big, brown eyes, and I almost gave in. But only almost. Slowly I approached her and took her into my arms. "If we do that, then not in your friend's bed," I said softly. "It should be a special place." As she sighed and freed herself from my arms and then went to her bag and took out a bunch of condoms and threw them carelessly on the bed, I held my breath.
"Then I took them with me for nothing," she sighed. "I told Sawyer we wanted to do it, and she agreed."
"Why did Sawyer even agree that we could use her bed and her room for sex?" I asked. "I would never allow a friend of mine to use my room for this." I saw her blush slightly and frowned. "Come on, tell me!"
"I recently did her a favor," she admitted meekly. "That's just her way of saying 'thank you'."
"What favor?" I wanted to know more about it now. "Does it have anything to do with what happened on the beach?" As she turned away, I grabbed her arm and gently turned her towards me. "You can be honest with me. I won't tell anybody." I could see how she struggled to tell me the truth.
"Sawyer was never in danger," she finally admitted hesitantly. "That she went into the water was part of our plan. You shouldn't even save her, but... "
When she broke off the sentence and lowered her head, I reached under her chin and forced her to keep looking at me. "Who, Lydia? I think I have a right to know the truth."
"Justin," she said quickly. "Justin should save her. But he was too busy playing beach volleyball with Jamie."
I let go of her immediately and stared at her in confusion. "Justin?" I echoed.
Lydia nodded hesitantly. "Yes, Justin. We planned everything down to the smallest detail and then you showed up."
"Oh, I beg your pardon for putting my life in danger for nothing!" I said sarcastically. "If I had known that Justin should rescue her, of course I would have let him go first! But in the end he was the big hero anyway because he saved me from drowning."
"That's not what I meant." She rolled her eyes. "What you did was incredibly brave. After that, I knew I had to tell you what I feel for you."
I put my hand around her neck and pulled her closer. My anger was gone. "To return the compliment," I whispered. "I also found it incredibly brave of you to confess that you've fallen in love with me. I think, if you hadn't told me, I wouldn't have had the courage to tell you." I smiled down at her and suddenly felt her lips on mine. The kiss tasted sweet, seductive and sparked the desire for 'more' in me.
"Are you going to sleep with me now?" She breathed softly.
I suddenly had to smile. Lydia really did everything to get her wish. But as much as I wanted her, this time I decided to remain steadfast. I gave her another kiss and gently pushed her away from me. "No, not today," I said softly. "And we should go now, before Sawyer's parents come home and find us here."
"Fine." Sighing, she took the condoms and put them back in her bag. "Then another time?" She asked hopefully.
"Another time," I promised.
"See you at school tomorrow?"
I nodded and suddenly felt a lump in my throat. The thought that we had to part now hurt somehow. I would have liked to stay with her a little longer, but not here, in Sawyer's house. This just felt so wrong and I wondered why I had even agreed to this idea. We both left the house in silence and Lydia locked the door again. One last time we hugged and kissed each other, before she got in her car and drove off. I watched her and wondered why she hadn't told me the reason why Justin should save Sawyer. I would ask her another time, I decided. Sighing, I started the engine and drove home.
