A/N: Hey ya'll! Sorry for it taking me so long to get this chapter out.
I was absolutely dead when it came to this one! But here it is, finally!
It only took me like a week. Oh on a little side exciting note for myself,
I may be goin to UofL, the University of Louisville, in the fall. I plan
on sending out the application tomorrow. So, hopefully I'll be able to
come back to ya'll with some good news next month! And then the big probs
come. How do I get down there to do orientation and how do I get me and
all my shit down there from up here! lol I know, ya'll are sayin, why the
hell Kentucky?! You're not the only ones that have been sayin that to me.
And to be honest with you, I'm not quite sure why. I guess it's all
because they seem to go kinda easy on transfers with crappy academics. So
I guess that's the main reason! lol So, anyways, here's the next chapter!
*******************
"So, what are you kids doing today?" Leeann asked as the Copeland family sat around the kitchen table eating breakfast. These breakfasts were few and far between, so anytime they had the time to do them, they did. As it happened, Leeann was off that Saturday morning and her only plans were to spend the day, whole day, with Gil. She had fixed the kids a breakfast fit for champions, eggs, bacon, and French toast, a personal favorite of Adam's. The kids were still dressed in their pajamas, Adam in just a pair of boxers, and Lizzie and Cinder in matching tank top and shorts. The only difference to their outfits was that Lizzie had Princess written on the tank while Cinder had Angel on hers.
Lizzie and Cinder looked at each other, a blue chunk of Cinder's hair falling out of her ponytail and into her face. They studied each other's faces, choosing their answer carefully. "Mall," they said together shocking even themselves.
"Oh, well, have fun," Leeann chuckled. "What about you Adam?"
"Alanah and I are going to the movies," he smiled. Cinder knew better than that. In fact movies for Adam's code to his friends for sex. She giggled a bit causing Adam to give her a dirty look.
"Good morning mi familia!" Shannon exclaimed as he walked into the dinning room with Jeff and Shane right behind him.
"Well, good morning!" Leeann smiled as Shannon kissed her cheek. "What are you boys doing here?"
'Mall,' Cinder and Lizzie mouthed to them. "Mall," Jeff smiled sitting down between Adam and Cinder.
"So you kids are all going together then?" Leeann asked.
"You bet," Shane answered after kissing Cinder's cheek softly and sitting next to her.
"But I can see that neither one of you are ready," Shannon growled shoving a fork full of Lizzie's French toast in his mouth. Cinder and Lizzie both leaned on the table and stared at him. "What?!"
"Who invited you to eat our food?" Adam replied for them.
Leeann laughed before handing all three boys plates. "Eat up. There's plenty."
"This is why I love this house. There's always food to eat," Shane smiled as Cinder rolled her eyes at him.
"Are any of you going to be home tonite?" Leeann asked passing Jeff the plate of bacon.
"I'm gonna be working at the store tonite till 9 then probably taking Alanah out for desert," Adam smiled.
'Blow job,' Cinder mouthed to Lizzie who burst out laughing.
"Die C," Adam growled just low enough for their mom not to hear. She gave him a sarcastic smile.
"Shannon and I are goin out tonite. So we won't be here," Lizzie said.
"I'm the king of the world!" Cinder sang quietly to Shane. He snickered but continued eating. "Shane and I are goin to the beach and probably renting some movies."
"Well, it's supposed to rain tonite, so don't go out there and play in," Leeann joked.
"Right mom. As if we're that childish," she replied. She turned to Shane and whispered, "White t-shirt" in his ear. His eyes opened wide and he nodded to himself.
"I gotta go get Alanah in 15 minutes. Can I be excused?" Adam asked already walking into the kitchen.
"Well thank you for waiting for a response hun."
"Huh?" Adam asked from the kitchen.
"Well, I think I'll finish getting dressed and then I'm spending the day with Gil. Have fun kids," Leeann said moving from the table herself.
"Guess the rest of this food is all ours," Shannon grinned happily.
"Lizzie, wanna leave these three pigs and get dressed?" Cinder laughed. Her cousin nodded after putting one last fork full of food in her mouth. She gave Shannon a syrupy kiss and walked into the kitchen after Cinder.
"Beach and movies? You're lacking in the creative dates department man," Jeff shook his head disapprovingly as he moved him and his food down a seat next to Shannon.
"That's only what I told her. When we go back to my house for movies we'll be all alone. If ya get what I'm sayin," Shane smiled devilishly raising his eyebrows.
"No, I don't get it," Shannon replied.
"Dude, he's talking bout sex," Jeff laughed.
"Oh, ya think she'll go for it?" Shannon asked.
"I'm hoping so," Shane said.
"I can't believe you're getting your tongue pierced," Cinder whispered to Lizzie as they walked up the stairs together.
"Why? I've got my eyebrow and belly button pierced. Might as well go for the tongue too!" Lizzie laughed.
"Shannon's gonna love that," Cinder said.
"Yeah, well, he's not experiencing it tonite cause I'll be in too much pain. Ya'll will be lucky to understand me," she said walking into her room.
"Mom's gonna kill us," Cinder sighed as she shut her bedroom door behind her.
Cinder quickly dressed herself in a pair of extra low black flares and a dark blue tank top that just showed her midriff. She completed the outfit with a pair of boots that she still had from Trish. Pulling her hair into a ponytail, Lizzie walked in wearing Cinder's black superman t- shirt and a pair of olive green cargos.
"Stealing my clothes again?" Cinder asked with a smile.
"Hey, when you give me back my little bunny shirt that says 'you make me puke a little' then I'll stop stealing from you," she replied with her hands on her bare hips. "But I wanna borrow your silver hoops."
"Of course," Cinder laughed chucking them at her cousin.
"Thanks cuz!" Lizzie exclaimed sliding them into her ears. "Ya know, I still can't believe Aunt Leeann didn't have a shit fit about your hair."
"I know. But she said as long as I didn't do it again, she would look passed it," she replied as she stood. "I don't know if I wanna do this."
"Oh come on! It's painless. Well, practically. But I mean you're the one who's had the most painful injuries and never shed a tear! You can handle one little needle," Lizzie exclaimed.
"It's not the needle I'm afraid of," Cinder muttered taking a pause. "It's my mom I'm afraid of." They linked arms and joined the boys in the dinning as they continued to eat. "My God! We left ya'll 15 minutes ago and you're still eating?!"
"Alright pigs, time to go," Lizzie added taking Shannon's plate away from him. He reached after it but she quickly put it in the sink. Jeff and Shane both shoveled as much food in their mouths as possible before Cinder ripped the plates out from under their noses.
"Oh I'm sorry, were you not done with that?" Cinder teased throwing the plates in the sink.
"Oh man!" all three boys cried out.
"It's so great to be dominant!" Lizzie smiled grabbing Shannon's arm.
The others followed them out of the house and they all climbed into Shannon's newly renovated Mustang. "I can't wait for you to get your belly button pierced," Shane smiled rubbing Cinder's stomach.
"Ya know, I can't either. I'm kinda excited about it," she replied.
"Yeah well I can't wait for Lizzie's tongue ring," Shannon said winking at the guys through the review mirror.
"Down boy," Lizzie joked as they drove into the city.
"Jeff, you should have brought Trish with you. We could have made this a couple's outing," Shane said looking over Cinder to Jeff. Jeff turned his head away from the window and shrugged.
"Not her thing. I tried talking her into coming. She just wasn't interested," Jeff said looking out the window, watching them pass cars.
"Jay told me that you and Charlie are back on speaking terms," Shannon said concerned.
"Just because we speak every now and then doesn't mean we're friends or some shit like that. I still don't want anything to do with him really," Cinder shook her head.
"Personally I think you should keep as much distance between you two as possible," Shannon said.
"Nothing's gonna happen. I won't let it. He's not gonna hurt me anymore," Cinder snapped.
"Hey, don't get angry, Shannon's just looking out for you," Shane said massaging her knee.
"Maybe so, but I really don't need that protection. I'm a big girl I can take care of myself."
"I know that, it's just, sometimes you don't think things through before you act. You worry me sometimes," Shannon said softly.
"I really appreciate your concern, but I'll be fine." She leaned against Shane for a bit before shooting up and leaning over the front seat. "What do you mean I don't think things through before I act?!" she snapped offensively.
"Okay, C, that was such a delayed reaction!" Lizzie laughed.
"Shut up," Cinder growled punching Lizzie's shoulder playfully. "So, what do you mean by that Shan?!"
"Well, I just mean that your judgment has a tendency to be impaired," he answered choosing his words wisely.
"Give me an example."
"Jumping off the roof," Lizzie answered.
"Taking a flying leap down Parkson hill on your skateboard," Shane said.
"Snowboarding down Deadman's trail on your first ever run," Shannon answered.
"Okay, I believe I asked Shannon to answer me. And the only reason I jumped off the roof was because Adam did it. And the snowboarding was on a dare from Oscar."
"What's your excuse for the skateboard incident?" Jeff asked with a laugh.
She shyly leaned back and lowered her head. "Stupidity?"
"Thought so," Shannon smirked in the mirror.
*******************
"Dude, your hand is like sweaty!" Lizzie complained as she held Shannon's hand while he got his eyebrow pierced.
"Yeah, well, let's just see how dry your hand is when you get that thing pushed through your tongue!" Shannon snapped.
"At least it'll keep her quiet for a bit," Jeff muttered to Cinder and Shane as they waited for the happy couple to finish as they were last.
"I heard that Jeff!" Lizzie said whipping her head around to glare at him.
"We're barely gonna be able to have time to go out tonite," Shane complained glancing at his watch.
"We'll have plenty of time to be together tonite," Cinder said snuggling up to him.
"Bet you can't wait to try out those belly button rings," Jeff whispered to Shane. Shane gave him a slight nod as Lizzie got ready for her turn in the seat.
"This thing huts," Lizzie tried to speak avoiding all contact with her tongue.
"What? Would you repeat that?" Jeff laughed.
"You have a hut?" Shane asked with a monstrous grin.
"Sut up," she growled.
"Man, you're gonna need a dictionary just to be with her tonite," Shane joked slapping Shannon's shoulder.
"You guys suck." Lizzie walked out of the piercing place with her hands on her hips in a rage.
"Dude, I think you just pissed off my girlfriend," Shannon laughed.
"I wouldn't be laughin if I were you Shan, you're the one spending the nite with her!" Cinder laughed walking out after her cousin.
"Haha bro," Jeff laughed as he and Shane followed the girls.
"Oh damn! Why am I always the unlucky one!?" Shannon exclaimed throwing his hands down at his sides. He let out an exasperated sigh and stormed out to his car. Lizzie sat with her arms crossed and mouth closed. Shannon looked in the back and seeing Jeff, Shane, and Cinder snickering quietly, he knew he didn't truly want to get back in the car. "Why me?!" he groaned one last time and decided to face his girlfriend.
"Are we just leavin after Shan drops us off?" Shane whispered in Cinder's ear.
"If that's what you want." Cinder smiled up at him, tightening her hand around his. She rubbed her thumb over his knuckles and giggled as he kissed her neck.
"OH GOD!! Someone get me home now! Cause in a few I have a feeling these two are gonna get it on!" Jeff exclaimed covering his eyes.
"You guys, not in my car!" Shannon whined slamming his hands on the steering wheel.
"Aw, no one lets me have any fun!" Cinder pouted only causing Shane to get more excited and attack her lips with his.
"OH GROSS!" the others exclaimed throwing trash at them. They split apart and chucked it all back at their friends.
*****************
"I can't imagine that it'll rain tonite. It's so beautiful!" Cinder said sitting on in the sand next to Shane. He pulled her to him and kissed her hair. "Ya know, I've known you for quite awhile and I never really thought we'd actually date. This is kinda bizarre for me."
"I don't know whether to take that as a good thing or bad thing!" he laughed in response. She shrugged and stared out into the ocean. "You're still upset about what happened at the competition aren't you?"
"Well, wouldn't you be. I had my heart set on winning. Shane, this could have been my chance to get a sponsor. If I'm gonna go pro, I need one! I can't support myself. It's expensive."
"Why not get a job at your grandparent's store with Adam?"
"Cause I'm not 17, and they won't let anyone under 17 work there. What can I say? They're weird like that."
"I wish I could help you."
"Ya know how you can help me right now?" she asked looking up into his deep brown eyes.
"Now how can I help you?" he smiled.
"Play some football with me!" she exclaimed quickly getting to her bare feet and grabbing the football they brought with them.
"Oh it's on baby!" he exclaimed running after her. She jumped up and turned in the air. Facing him, she ran at him full speed and tried to maneuver around him. She thought she had out done him and stepped around him, doing a little spin, only to be grabbed around the waist and hoisted into the air. He swung her around as she laughed hysterically. Suddenly the sky opened up and let loose all the rain that it could possibly hold. He set her down and tried to cover her with his t-shirt, but she was much too tall. She looked up at him, smiled, and grabbed the ball as she darted for the "end zone". He stood in the same spot, wide eyes, and shocked.
"You don't honestly think a little rain is gonna stop me from kickin your ass at football, did you?" she asked placing her hands on her hips.
"A little rain?! Baby, we're soaked! It's a down pour!" he laughed watching her flip her hair back.
"Come on Shane, you know you're not gonna melt." Her grin was devious as she walked towards him. She slipped her arms around his neck. He brought her into his body and kissed her deeply, the rain dripping off their bodies. They broke apart by a sudden flash of light followed by a monstrous roar of thunder. The waves crashed violently against the shore and the wind blew harshly. Cinder tried shielding her face from the wind as little pebbles of hail mixed in with the rain.
"C, we should go!" Shane yelled over the storm. Cinder cringed as the lightening got brighter and the storm seemed to get stronger. She nodded at him and they quickly gathered their things.
"Can you believe this weather?! Jesus," Cinder exclaimed shaking out her head, rain water hitting Shane lightly as they drove to his.
"I think it's only getting worse," he said holding the steering wheel tightly.
"So, your house for some movies!" Cinder laughed biting on her tongue lightly. He chuckled at her as they pulled up to his large house. His family was fairly wealthy, his father a business tycoon and his mother was an accountant. Out of the group of them, Cinder and Adam were the poorest, due to only having their mother's income and then she was only a secretary. They made it by and no one ever called them on their lower status on the money scale. Cinder shivered as the cold had finally caught up to her wet body. She was soaked through and through, not a dry part on her. Shane dropped all the stuff by the door and grabbed her by the waist, pulling her up the stairs towards his room.
"You're freezing," he stated.
"Yeah, I'm a little chilly," she replied with a smile as her teeth continued to chatter. He pulled out a large t-shirt and pair of shorts, handing them to her.
"There are towels in the bathroom." She nodded at him and walked into the bathroom, drying off as much as possible before pulling on the over sized Incredible Hulk shirt and rolling up the boxers so they rested on her hips. Just as she went to turn the light out in the bathroom everything went died, silent, and dark.
"SHANE!!" she cried through her fright. She hugged herself tightly as she waited for him. "SHANE!" she called for him again.
"I'm comin C! Just stay where you are!" he replied. She let a deep breath of relief. He shined a flash light on her body causing her jump right on him. He laughed at her, but held her tightly, comfortingly. "You're alright, just a power outage," he said softly rubbing her back gently.
"Yeah, sorry," she smiled meekly pulling away from him.
"Hey, you know me well enough to know I'm not complaining!" he laughed as he grabbed her hand and pulled her down the stairs with him. "You alright? Cold? Hot? Hungry? What?"
"I'm fine." She sat on the couch and watched him as he lit some candles around the living room. She curled up and rubbed her arms. He placed a few candles around the couch and grabbed his Redskins throw blanket, placing it around her shoulders, and sitting next to her, holding her onto his body.
"So much for movies, huh?"
"Yeah, but this is very romantic. I'm really enjoying this." She lifted her head up to kiss him gently only to have him deepen the kiss. Holding on to her head, running his fingers through her thick soft hair, he laid her down on the couch positioning his body over hers. Her crystal blue eyes looked deep into his as a soft smile formed on her light pink lips.
"You look so beautiful in my clothes," he whispered in her ear as he kissed her neck, moving down slowly.
"Shane, I think maybe I should call my mom to let her know that I'm alright," she said quickly. He stopped and pulled himself up into a sitting position.
He rubbed his face and pointed to the kitchen. "You know where the phone is." She kissed his cheek and wrapped the blanket around her body as she moved into the kitchen, the flash light showing her a safe path.
"Shane, the phone is dead!" she called to him holding the phone up to her ear.
"Are you serious?!" he exclaimed as he walked towards her carrying a candle in his hands. She looked him up and down, noticing that he had discarded his t-shirt someplace leaving him in only his baggy blue jeans with green and black paid boxers peeking over the top.
"No, I'm joking cause I didn't know how to use a phone!" she replied sarcastically.
"Feisty," he joked grabbing the phone out of her hands. "Dude, this is so not cool."
"Oh gee you think?" she replied making a face at him.
"Don't use that tone with me young lady!" he said placing the candle on the counter and sweeping her up into his arms, making her drop the flash light in the process.
They made their way back to the couch, kissing just as passionately as before. He rubbed his hands up and down on her stomach under the shirt as he kissed her neck. She moved her hands in circles on his bare back as she let out soft moans with each of his kisses. Closing her eyes, she allowed him to pull off her shirt and throw it on the floor. He looked down at her lightly tanned body, noticing she had slight tan lines still evident from the summer. He rubbed his fingers along the blue satin straps of her bra and smiled. He kissed her chest and moved down her stomach, stopping at her newly pierced belly button ring which was still aching. She squeezed her eyes shut tightly as he flicked his tongue around the silver metal.
"Shane, stop," she said softly. He sat up with her, cocking his head to the side, with many questions in his head. She spoke before he could ask any of them. "Shane, as romantic as this is, and as ready as I may feel for this, I just don't think this is the right time. I feel like it's all wrong. I can't explain it and I don't know why, but I don't think we should do this."
"Alright." That was all he said. She put her hand softly on his cheek and smiled.
"I'm sorry. Don't think that I don't want this to happen. Cause I really do. I just feel like it's all wrong right now."
"That's okay baby. I love you and I don't want you to do something you don't feel you should. So we won't," he smiled at her.
"You, you love me?" she asked softly, almost a whisper.
"Yeah, I really do. I love you, Cinder."
"I love you too Shane."
"Well, now that we have no electricity, no phone, no sex. What are we gonna do?" he asked.
"Just sit here watching the storm?" she smiled.
"I can deal with that," he laughed wrapping his arms around her.
Before they knew it they were lying on the couch, Shane's arms wrapped tightly around Cinder's body. It was now 3 in the morning, the storm long gone, and the candles all burned out. Christine and Tim, Shane's parents, had arrived back home after experiencing some of the worst road conditions ever. Christine turned the light on in the kitchen, having received full power about an hour earlier. She walked into the living room seeing Shane's hair sticking out at the end of the couch along with Cinder's hair. She laughed and covered them with a blanket.
"They're sweet, aren't they Tim?" she asked her husband walked up behind her, placing an arm around her waist.
"Yeah they are. I'm just glad they're here safe and sound. You should probably call Leeann. She's probably worried about Cinder." Tim kissed his wife's cheek and retreated to their room.
*******************
"So, what are you kids doing today?" Leeann asked as the Copeland family sat around the kitchen table eating breakfast. These breakfasts were few and far between, so anytime they had the time to do them, they did. As it happened, Leeann was off that Saturday morning and her only plans were to spend the day, whole day, with Gil. She had fixed the kids a breakfast fit for champions, eggs, bacon, and French toast, a personal favorite of Adam's. The kids were still dressed in their pajamas, Adam in just a pair of boxers, and Lizzie and Cinder in matching tank top and shorts. The only difference to their outfits was that Lizzie had Princess written on the tank while Cinder had Angel on hers.
Lizzie and Cinder looked at each other, a blue chunk of Cinder's hair falling out of her ponytail and into her face. They studied each other's faces, choosing their answer carefully. "Mall," they said together shocking even themselves.
"Oh, well, have fun," Leeann chuckled. "What about you Adam?"
"Alanah and I are going to the movies," he smiled. Cinder knew better than that. In fact movies for Adam's code to his friends for sex. She giggled a bit causing Adam to give her a dirty look.
"Good morning mi familia!" Shannon exclaimed as he walked into the dinning room with Jeff and Shane right behind him.
"Well, good morning!" Leeann smiled as Shannon kissed her cheek. "What are you boys doing here?"
'Mall,' Cinder and Lizzie mouthed to them. "Mall," Jeff smiled sitting down between Adam and Cinder.
"So you kids are all going together then?" Leeann asked.
"You bet," Shane answered after kissing Cinder's cheek softly and sitting next to her.
"But I can see that neither one of you are ready," Shannon growled shoving a fork full of Lizzie's French toast in his mouth. Cinder and Lizzie both leaned on the table and stared at him. "What?!"
"Who invited you to eat our food?" Adam replied for them.
Leeann laughed before handing all three boys plates. "Eat up. There's plenty."
"This is why I love this house. There's always food to eat," Shane smiled as Cinder rolled her eyes at him.
"Are any of you going to be home tonite?" Leeann asked passing Jeff the plate of bacon.
"I'm gonna be working at the store tonite till 9 then probably taking Alanah out for desert," Adam smiled.
'Blow job,' Cinder mouthed to Lizzie who burst out laughing.
"Die C," Adam growled just low enough for their mom not to hear. She gave him a sarcastic smile.
"Shannon and I are goin out tonite. So we won't be here," Lizzie said.
"I'm the king of the world!" Cinder sang quietly to Shane. He snickered but continued eating. "Shane and I are goin to the beach and probably renting some movies."
"Well, it's supposed to rain tonite, so don't go out there and play in," Leeann joked.
"Right mom. As if we're that childish," she replied. She turned to Shane and whispered, "White t-shirt" in his ear. His eyes opened wide and he nodded to himself.
"I gotta go get Alanah in 15 minutes. Can I be excused?" Adam asked already walking into the kitchen.
"Well thank you for waiting for a response hun."
"Huh?" Adam asked from the kitchen.
"Well, I think I'll finish getting dressed and then I'm spending the day with Gil. Have fun kids," Leeann said moving from the table herself.
"Guess the rest of this food is all ours," Shannon grinned happily.
"Lizzie, wanna leave these three pigs and get dressed?" Cinder laughed. Her cousin nodded after putting one last fork full of food in her mouth. She gave Shannon a syrupy kiss and walked into the kitchen after Cinder.
"Beach and movies? You're lacking in the creative dates department man," Jeff shook his head disapprovingly as he moved him and his food down a seat next to Shannon.
"That's only what I told her. When we go back to my house for movies we'll be all alone. If ya get what I'm sayin," Shane smiled devilishly raising his eyebrows.
"No, I don't get it," Shannon replied.
"Dude, he's talking bout sex," Jeff laughed.
"Oh, ya think she'll go for it?" Shannon asked.
"I'm hoping so," Shane said.
"I can't believe you're getting your tongue pierced," Cinder whispered to Lizzie as they walked up the stairs together.
"Why? I've got my eyebrow and belly button pierced. Might as well go for the tongue too!" Lizzie laughed.
"Shannon's gonna love that," Cinder said.
"Yeah, well, he's not experiencing it tonite cause I'll be in too much pain. Ya'll will be lucky to understand me," she said walking into her room.
"Mom's gonna kill us," Cinder sighed as she shut her bedroom door behind her.
Cinder quickly dressed herself in a pair of extra low black flares and a dark blue tank top that just showed her midriff. She completed the outfit with a pair of boots that she still had from Trish. Pulling her hair into a ponytail, Lizzie walked in wearing Cinder's black superman t- shirt and a pair of olive green cargos.
"Stealing my clothes again?" Cinder asked with a smile.
"Hey, when you give me back my little bunny shirt that says 'you make me puke a little' then I'll stop stealing from you," she replied with her hands on her bare hips. "But I wanna borrow your silver hoops."
"Of course," Cinder laughed chucking them at her cousin.
"Thanks cuz!" Lizzie exclaimed sliding them into her ears. "Ya know, I still can't believe Aunt Leeann didn't have a shit fit about your hair."
"I know. But she said as long as I didn't do it again, she would look passed it," she replied as she stood. "I don't know if I wanna do this."
"Oh come on! It's painless. Well, practically. But I mean you're the one who's had the most painful injuries and never shed a tear! You can handle one little needle," Lizzie exclaimed.
"It's not the needle I'm afraid of," Cinder muttered taking a pause. "It's my mom I'm afraid of." They linked arms and joined the boys in the dinning as they continued to eat. "My God! We left ya'll 15 minutes ago and you're still eating?!"
"Alright pigs, time to go," Lizzie added taking Shannon's plate away from him. He reached after it but she quickly put it in the sink. Jeff and Shane both shoveled as much food in their mouths as possible before Cinder ripped the plates out from under their noses.
"Oh I'm sorry, were you not done with that?" Cinder teased throwing the plates in the sink.
"Oh man!" all three boys cried out.
"It's so great to be dominant!" Lizzie smiled grabbing Shannon's arm.
The others followed them out of the house and they all climbed into Shannon's newly renovated Mustang. "I can't wait for you to get your belly button pierced," Shane smiled rubbing Cinder's stomach.
"Ya know, I can't either. I'm kinda excited about it," she replied.
"Yeah well I can't wait for Lizzie's tongue ring," Shannon said winking at the guys through the review mirror.
"Down boy," Lizzie joked as they drove into the city.
"Jeff, you should have brought Trish with you. We could have made this a couple's outing," Shane said looking over Cinder to Jeff. Jeff turned his head away from the window and shrugged.
"Not her thing. I tried talking her into coming. She just wasn't interested," Jeff said looking out the window, watching them pass cars.
"Jay told me that you and Charlie are back on speaking terms," Shannon said concerned.
"Just because we speak every now and then doesn't mean we're friends or some shit like that. I still don't want anything to do with him really," Cinder shook her head.
"Personally I think you should keep as much distance between you two as possible," Shannon said.
"Nothing's gonna happen. I won't let it. He's not gonna hurt me anymore," Cinder snapped.
"Hey, don't get angry, Shannon's just looking out for you," Shane said massaging her knee.
"Maybe so, but I really don't need that protection. I'm a big girl I can take care of myself."
"I know that, it's just, sometimes you don't think things through before you act. You worry me sometimes," Shannon said softly.
"I really appreciate your concern, but I'll be fine." She leaned against Shane for a bit before shooting up and leaning over the front seat. "What do you mean I don't think things through before I act?!" she snapped offensively.
"Okay, C, that was such a delayed reaction!" Lizzie laughed.
"Shut up," Cinder growled punching Lizzie's shoulder playfully. "So, what do you mean by that Shan?!"
"Well, I just mean that your judgment has a tendency to be impaired," he answered choosing his words wisely.
"Give me an example."
"Jumping off the roof," Lizzie answered.
"Taking a flying leap down Parkson hill on your skateboard," Shane said.
"Snowboarding down Deadman's trail on your first ever run," Shannon answered.
"Okay, I believe I asked Shannon to answer me. And the only reason I jumped off the roof was because Adam did it. And the snowboarding was on a dare from Oscar."
"What's your excuse for the skateboard incident?" Jeff asked with a laugh.
She shyly leaned back and lowered her head. "Stupidity?"
"Thought so," Shannon smirked in the mirror.
*******************
"Dude, your hand is like sweaty!" Lizzie complained as she held Shannon's hand while he got his eyebrow pierced.
"Yeah, well, let's just see how dry your hand is when you get that thing pushed through your tongue!" Shannon snapped.
"At least it'll keep her quiet for a bit," Jeff muttered to Cinder and Shane as they waited for the happy couple to finish as they were last.
"I heard that Jeff!" Lizzie said whipping her head around to glare at him.
"We're barely gonna be able to have time to go out tonite," Shane complained glancing at his watch.
"We'll have plenty of time to be together tonite," Cinder said snuggling up to him.
"Bet you can't wait to try out those belly button rings," Jeff whispered to Shane. Shane gave him a slight nod as Lizzie got ready for her turn in the seat.
"This thing huts," Lizzie tried to speak avoiding all contact with her tongue.
"What? Would you repeat that?" Jeff laughed.
"You have a hut?" Shane asked with a monstrous grin.
"Sut up," she growled.
"Man, you're gonna need a dictionary just to be with her tonite," Shane joked slapping Shannon's shoulder.
"You guys suck." Lizzie walked out of the piercing place with her hands on her hips in a rage.
"Dude, I think you just pissed off my girlfriend," Shannon laughed.
"I wouldn't be laughin if I were you Shan, you're the one spending the nite with her!" Cinder laughed walking out after her cousin.
"Haha bro," Jeff laughed as he and Shane followed the girls.
"Oh damn! Why am I always the unlucky one!?" Shannon exclaimed throwing his hands down at his sides. He let out an exasperated sigh and stormed out to his car. Lizzie sat with her arms crossed and mouth closed. Shannon looked in the back and seeing Jeff, Shane, and Cinder snickering quietly, he knew he didn't truly want to get back in the car. "Why me?!" he groaned one last time and decided to face his girlfriend.
"Are we just leavin after Shan drops us off?" Shane whispered in Cinder's ear.
"If that's what you want." Cinder smiled up at him, tightening her hand around his. She rubbed her thumb over his knuckles and giggled as he kissed her neck.
"OH GOD!! Someone get me home now! Cause in a few I have a feeling these two are gonna get it on!" Jeff exclaimed covering his eyes.
"You guys, not in my car!" Shannon whined slamming his hands on the steering wheel.
"Aw, no one lets me have any fun!" Cinder pouted only causing Shane to get more excited and attack her lips with his.
"OH GROSS!" the others exclaimed throwing trash at them. They split apart and chucked it all back at their friends.
*****************
"I can't imagine that it'll rain tonite. It's so beautiful!" Cinder said sitting on in the sand next to Shane. He pulled her to him and kissed her hair. "Ya know, I've known you for quite awhile and I never really thought we'd actually date. This is kinda bizarre for me."
"I don't know whether to take that as a good thing or bad thing!" he laughed in response. She shrugged and stared out into the ocean. "You're still upset about what happened at the competition aren't you?"
"Well, wouldn't you be. I had my heart set on winning. Shane, this could have been my chance to get a sponsor. If I'm gonna go pro, I need one! I can't support myself. It's expensive."
"Why not get a job at your grandparent's store with Adam?"
"Cause I'm not 17, and they won't let anyone under 17 work there. What can I say? They're weird like that."
"I wish I could help you."
"Ya know how you can help me right now?" she asked looking up into his deep brown eyes.
"Now how can I help you?" he smiled.
"Play some football with me!" she exclaimed quickly getting to her bare feet and grabbing the football they brought with them.
"Oh it's on baby!" he exclaimed running after her. She jumped up and turned in the air. Facing him, she ran at him full speed and tried to maneuver around him. She thought she had out done him and stepped around him, doing a little spin, only to be grabbed around the waist and hoisted into the air. He swung her around as she laughed hysterically. Suddenly the sky opened up and let loose all the rain that it could possibly hold. He set her down and tried to cover her with his t-shirt, but she was much too tall. She looked up at him, smiled, and grabbed the ball as she darted for the "end zone". He stood in the same spot, wide eyes, and shocked.
"You don't honestly think a little rain is gonna stop me from kickin your ass at football, did you?" she asked placing her hands on her hips.
"A little rain?! Baby, we're soaked! It's a down pour!" he laughed watching her flip her hair back.
"Come on Shane, you know you're not gonna melt." Her grin was devious as she walked towards him. She slipped her arms around his neck. He brought her into his body and kissed her deeply, the rain dripping off their bodies. They broke apart by a sudden flash of light followed by a monstrous roar of thunder. The waves crashed violently against the shore and the wind blew harshly. Cinder tried shielding her face from the wind as little pebbles of hail mixed in with the rain.
"C, we should go!" Shane yelled over the storm. Cinder cringed as the lightening got brighter and the storm seemed to get stronger. She nodded at him and they quickly gathered their things.
"Can you believe this weather?! Jesus," Cinder exclaimed shaking out her head, rain water hitting Shane lightly as they drove to his.
"I think it's only getting worse," he said holding the steering wheel tightly.
"So, your house for some movies!" Cinder laughed biting on her tongue lightly. He chuckled at her as they pulled up to his large house. His family was fairly wealthy, his father a business tycoon and his mother was an accountant. Out of the group of them, Cinder and Adam were the poorest, due to only having their mother's income and then she was only a secretary. They made it by and no one ever called them on their lower status on the money scale. Cinder shivered as the cold had finally caught up to her wet body. She was soaked through and through, not a dry part on her. Shane dropped all the stuff by the door and grabbed her by the waist, pulling her up the stairs towards his room.
"You're freezing," he stated.
"Yeah, I'm a little chilly," she replied with a smile as her teeth continued to chatter. He pulled out a large t-shirt and pair of shorts, handing them to her.
"There are towels in the bathroom." She nodded at him and walked into the bathroom, drying off as much as possible before pulling on the over sized Incredible Hulk shirt and rolling up the boxers so they rested on her hips. Just as she went to turn the light out in the bathroom everything went died, silent, and dark.
"SHANE!!" she cried through her fright. She hugged herself tightly as she waited for him. "SHANE!" she called for him again.
"I'm comin C! Just stay where you are!" he replied. She let a deep breath of relief. He shined a flash light on her body causing her jump right on him. He laughed at her, but held her tightly, comfortingly. "You're alright, just a power outage," he said softly rubbing her back gently.
"Yeah, sorry," she smiled meekly pulling away from him.
"Hey, you know me well enough to know I'm not complaining!" he laughed as he grabbed her hand and pulled her down the stairs with him. "You alright? Cold? Hot? Hungry? What?"
"I'm fine." She sat on the couch and watched him as he lit some candles around the living room. She curled up and rubbed her arms. He placed a few candles around the couch and grabbed his Redskins throw blanket, placing it around her shoulders, and sitting next to her, holding her onto his body.
"So much for movies, huh?"
"Yeah, but this is very romantic. I'm really enjoying this." She lifted her head up to kiss him gently only to have him deepen the kiss. Holding on to her head, running his fingers through her thick soft hair, he laid her down on the couch positioning his body over hers. Her crystal blue eyes looked deep into his as a soft smile formed on her light pink lips.
"You look so beautiful in my clothes," he whispered in her ear as he kissed her neck, moving down slowly.
"Shane, I think maybe I should call my mom to let her know that I'm alright," she said quickly. He stopped and pulled himself up into a sitting position.
He rubbed his face and pointed to the kitchen. "You know where the phone is." She kissed his cheek and wrapped the blanket around her body as she moved into the kitchen, the flash light showing her a safe path.
"Shane, the phone is dead!" she called to him holding the phone up to her ear.
"Are you serious?!" he exclaimed as he walked towards her carrying a candle in his hands. She looked him up and down, noticing that he had discarded his t-shirt someplace leaving him in only his baggy blue jeans with green and black paid boxers peeking over the top.
"No, I'm joking cause I didn't know how to use a phone!" she replied sarcastically.
"Feisty," he joked grabbing the phone out of her hands. "Dude, this is so not cool."
"Oh gee you think?" she replied making a face at him.
"Don't use that tone with me young lady!" he said placing the candle on the counter and sweeping her up into his arms, making her drop the flash light in the process.
They made their way back to the couch, kissing just as passionately as before. He rubbed his hands up and down on her stomach under the shirt as he kissed her neck. She moved her hands in circles on his bare back as she let out soft moans with each of his kisses. Closing her eyes, she allowed him to pull off her shirt and throw it on the floor. He looked down at her lightly tanned body, noticing she had slight tan lines still evident from the summer. He rubbed his fingers along the blue satin straps of her bra and smiled. He kissed her chest and moved down her stomach, stopping at her newly pierced belly button ring which was still aching. She squeezed her eyes shut tightly as he flicked his tongue around the silver metal.
"Shane, stop," she said softly. He sat up with her, cocking his head to the side, with many questions in his head. She spoke before he could ask any of them. "Shane, as romantic as this is, and as ready as I may feel for this, I just don't think this is the right time. I feel like it's all wrong. I can't explain it and I don't know why, but I don't think we should do this."
"Alright." That was all he said. She put her hand softly on his cheek and smiled.
"I'm sorry. Don't think that I don't want this to happen. Cause I really do. I just feel like it's all wrong right now."
"That's okay baby. I love you and I don't want you to do something you don't feel you should. So we won't," he smiled at her.
"You, you love me?" she asked softly, almost a whisper.
"Yeah, I really do. I love you, Cinder."
"I love you too Shane."
"Well, now that we have no electricity, no phone, no sex. What are we gonna do?" he asked.
"Just sit here watching the storm?" she smiled.
"I can deal with that," he laughed wrapping his arms around her.
Before they knew it they were lying on the couch, Shane's arms wrapped tightly around Cinder's body. It was now 3 in the morning, the storm long gone, and the candles all burned out. Christine and Tim, Shane's parents, had arrived back home after experiencing some of the worst road conditions ever. Christine turned the light on in the kitchen, having received full power about an hour earlier. She walked into the living room seeing Shane's hair sticking out at the end of the couch along with Cinder's hair. She laughed and covered them with a blanket.
"They're sweet, aren't they Tim?" she asked her husband walked up behind her, placing an arm around her waist.
"Yeah they are. I'm just glad they're here safe and sound. You should probably call Leeann. She's probably worried about Cinder." Tim kissed his wife's cheek and retreated to their room.