Craig and I sat in silence, our hands still clasped together, for at least twenty minutes. I tried to think of something to say, but I wasn't really sure what to say. For all I knew, it could have been nothing. Maybe I looked sick or something. I definitely looked like a mess. As much as I didn't want to let go, I knew I had to, since Ashley and her family would be home any minute. I looked over to him, and loosened my grip as I spoke, "I think I'm going to go fix my hair and my make-up."
He nodded, and loosened his grip as well. "Alright, Ill be here still when you're done." He smiled at me, then turned on the TV in search of music videos.
I blushed a bit, then hurried off to the bathroom. After five minutes, I had applied my mascara, lined my eyes with thick black eyeliner, and put on a gloss over my lips. I looked up at the mirror to make sure everything looked right. I turned my head left, then right, then left. "As good as I'll ever look," I said to my reflection in the mirror. In the distance, I could hear the TV turn up louder. Craig must have found a video he liked. I shook my head slightly and laughed. That's Craig for you. I glanced back at the mirror and frowned. "No," I said to my reflection, "you can't like him. You just can't, no matter how much you want to." I shook my head. It was useless. Nothing in the world could make me not like him. I flipped the lightswitch, opened the door, and retreated back to the living room. No sign of Ashley or her family. Just Craig and I.
"You just missed an awesome Death Cab for Cutie video El," He said as he looked over to me.
El. He's never called me that before. My friends call me El all time, but, when he says it, it feels so special. "I take it that's why you blasted the TV," I said with a smirk as I walked over to the couch and sat down beside him. He had one hand on the remote, so I doubted he'd reach for my hand again.
Outside, you could hear car doors open, followed by running footsteps. The door swung open and Ash walked inside the house. "Sorry that took forever," she said with a frustrated look on her face. She walked towards the couch and the look turned into a big smile as she sat down on Craig's lap. She began to kiss him, getting more intense with each second.
I felt my stomach turn upside down. Please come inside the damn house guys. I sighed discreetly. The vacation hadn't even started yet, and it's already been terrible. Minus Craig holding my hand. Even if it meant nothing, it made me happy.
"Ashley!" Ashley's mom didn't have a very pleasant look on her face. "I hope you don't plan on doing this the entire trip." She shook her head. "And what about poor Ellie? Do you just expect her to sit around and do nothing?"
Ashley slid off of Craig's lap and sat on the cushion beside him. "Sorry El," she said with a small smile. She looked over at her mom, "Happy?" Her mom left, and she looked back over to me. "She doesn't understand that you don't mind, since you know Craig and I are meant to be. Right?"
The nauseous feeling came back, "Yeah, totally." I nodded, and then she looked away and rested her head on Craig's chest. I felt like I was going to cry. I wanted to be close to Craig, and have him wrap his arms around me. I looked down, then back up, and noticed his eyes on me. His beautiful eyes.
He stroked Ashley's brown hair gently, then looked in my direction and mouthed the words 'We'll talk later' to me.
I nodded slowly. My heart began to race. I didn't know why he wanted tot o talk to me. What if it was to say he didn't like me? Or what if it was to say he did? I was starting to give myself a headache.
Ashley's mother reappeared with Jeff and Toby behind her. "Time to go kids!" She said cheerfully. Her eyes drifted to the luggage pile below her. It was very big. "Lets try to bring it all out in one trip."
Craig, Ashley, and I stood up and headed over to the luggage. Ashley's mom, Toby, and Jeff had already got most of the stuff. Ashley had run upstairs to find her hair straightner. There were two or suitcases left and my backpack. Craig, who was holding the other two suitcases, picked up my backpack as I lent down to get it. "I can carry that," I said looking over to him.
"Nah, I got it," he said looking back over to me. "Can you just open the doors and stuff for me." He motioned to the door with his head.
"Sure," I said nodding, then walking towards the door. I pulled on it but it wouldn't budge. "It's stuck I think," I said looking over to him.
He pulled on it, and it still didn't move, "Damn door, he said, pulling harder.
I looked over to the door and noticed the lock. "Oh!" I said, then unlocked the door. Within seconds, we were both on the floor, everything fallen out of my backpack and one of the suitcases. Our legs got caught on each other's, and Craig had one of Ashley's pink shirts on his head. "Real attractive Mr. Manning," I said with a wink, then took the shirt off his head and placed it back in Ashley's suitcase.
"Last I heard real men wear pink," he replied with a grin, then sat up and helped me put the things away.
I quickly moved my legs away from his when a heard a door upstairs open, and shoved my clothes into my backpack and Ashley's clothes into hers.
She appeared at the top of the stairs and gave us a weird look. "What are you guys doing?"
Craig and I both laughed. "Your boyfriend here isn't too smart when it comes to door with locks." I glanced over at him and jokingly shook my head in disappointment.
"Shut up," he said, playfully pushing me. He looked up at Ashley, "It's her fault for unlocking the door when I pulling on it so hard."
Ashley smiled slightly, "Okay. Well, I'll let you guys finish this, and I'll meet you outside." She lent down and kissed the top of Craig's head and closed the door behind her.
"She looks a little mad," I said to Craig as I zipped up my backpack and then tried to neaten Ashley's suitcase a bit.
"She definitely is," he said nodding. He stood up, and picked up the one suitcase that hadn't opened and the one that I had just zipped.
I stood up as well, and swung my backpack over my shoulder. It'd only upset Ashley more if he were carrying it. "But, she doesn't have any reason to be upset." I looked up at him, then paused. "Right?"
He dropped the luggage and took a step closer to me. He looked down at me, and our faces were only a few inches apart. "Do you want her to," he asked me. I could feel his warm breath.
I looked down. Craig just asked me if I wanted to be with him. I think. I hope so..
He tilted my head up, and lent in close. His lips delicately touched mine, but only for a second. He pulled away, then grabbed the luggage and headed outside. But before he was outside, he turned around and whispered, "I do."