Author's note: I've said it before and I'll say it again: I will never get tired of writing jealous Cedric! I don't know why I love writing it so much, but I really, REALLY do! 3
I'm sure everyone can guess why this is getting posted so late. TBH I wasn't even gonna post today, but blah blah blah, holiday... Oh, and special thanks to Guest LT for turning me on to a song I've never heard before. I was actually listening to it while writing a later chapter.
Cedric impatiently checked the clock again, stifling a groan when he saw there was still half an hour of detention left. From the corner of his eye, he could see the very top of his sister's face peering through the little window on the classroom door. I'll just apologize for being the world's biggest jerk. Then we can walk home together like normal. He had no doubts that she would forgive him, since she never stayed mad at him for very long. Determined to be let out on time, he focused on the problem sheet in front of him, easily finishing the page in very little time.
"You're dismissed." The homeroom teacher informed him at exactly 4pm. Cedric gathered his things, trying not to make it too obvious that he was rushing out to meet Sofia. He opened the classroom door and peered out into the hallway only to find it oddly deserted. Why didn't she wait for me? We always went home together in primary. Cedric slid his cellphone out of his pocket, already debating on the best way of asking her where she was without letting her know he was bothered by her disappearing act.
-1 new message-
From: Sofia
You seemed like you wanted some time to yourself, so I went bowling with Amber and some friends. Catch up with you later.
...
Ok. Movie tonight?
Cedric hastily typed his reply, but he failed to press send. Instead, he reread her text twice, wondering who else could be with the girls. They'd only been in school for a day, how could she have made 'friends', plural, already. Besides, Amber was a bit boy-crazy for his liking, and he couldn't help but picture Sofia being showered by male attention. He exited the texting app and pressed the phone icon on his home screen, flipping through his recent contacts until he found the one he wanted.
Ring, ring, click
"Hello?" The boy on the other end answered.
"Hey, James, do you know anything about our sisters going bowling today?" Cedric did his best to sound casual. It's normal for a brother to wonder who his sister is out with, right? He wondered. There was a pause in the conversation, with rustling sounds coming from his cousin's end.
"Yeah, Amber invited some kids from her classes, and I invited some from mine. She didn't ask you?" Cedric frowned, fumbling through his pockets for a sharpie he was sure he'd stuffed in there earlier.
"I had detention. Do you know the address?" He questioned, finding his target and using his teeth to yank the cap off. He tucked the phone between his ear and shoulder, preparing to jot down the info on his hand.
"I can do better than that. I'm just finishing up with fencing. Meet me out front and we'll walk over there together." Cedric wanted to refuse the offer. He was in no mood for company, and figured he could make better time on his own. Memories of the way James reacted when he shared just a hint of his secret prevented him from saying anything that might come off as odd, though, so he begrudgingly agreed to meet.
He walks so slow. He really isn't worried about leaving Amber alone at all, is he? Cedric sulked, discreetly watching James' carefree expression as they navigated their way to the bowling alley. It's just like he said, my love really is different from a brother's love.
"I'm going ahead!" Cedric called out when their destination came into view. Without waiting for James to respond he broke into a run. I'm being paranoid, it's probably just Sofia and Amber sitting around being stupid together. Still, he couldn't shake his anxiety, so he burst through the doors as quickly as possible. Spotting his blonde cousin was a simple matter, but he couldn't find his twin anywhere.
"Where's Sofia?" Cedric shouted to Amber as he approached, surprising the girl into throwing her lime-coloured ball straight into the gutter.
"What?" She blinked up at him in confusion as he halted in front of her, staring down at her with an intensity she'd never seen from the usually withdrawn boy.
"Sofia!" He repeated impatiently. Amber broke from her astonished state long enough to point a finger in the direction Sofia had gone.
"V-vending machines. She went to get a soda." Cedric was already off when she yelled after him. "Don't interfere, she's with a boy."
Cedric's chest ached as he sped across the building. Damn! I knew it, I have no idea how, but I knew it! A boy, someone who could be confessing to Sofia right now, someone who would take her away from him for good. His blood boiled just thinking about it. He tore around the corner, words he'd said to her when they were small ringing in his ears.
"I like you." Cedric didn't hear the rest of what was being said, and he didn't care. His sister was pinned against the vending machine with her eyes squeezed shut, trying with all her might to squirm out of his grasp. She mouthed something, and even without any sound, Cedric knew what she meant. The same single word his brain was screaming as the unknown boy leaned toward her, bringing his lips down to meet hers.
"No!" It escaped in the form of a snarl as Cedric grabbed him from behind, ripping him away from his twin sister and slamming him into the nearest machine. He flipped the shorter middle schooler around to face him, finally recognizing him as a classmate from primary school, and throwing a right hook that easy collided with his cheek. He repeated the action again and again, each impact only heightening his anger towards Hugo for daring to kiss Sofia.
"Cedric! Stop!" Sofia tugged at his arm as he drew it to strike again, dragging him back to his senses. Cedric released the fist that held his rival's uniform shirt, letting him finally drop to the floor. He bent down, not wanting her to hear a message meant just for Hugo.
"Touch Sofia again, and I'll fucking kill you." He whispered. The beaten boy scrambled to his feet and raced out, leaving the twins alone in the room.
"You're okay?" Cedric asked, ignoring the way Sofia flinched as he reached out to her with his bloodied hand. He spun on his heels, intending to leave her alone so she could recover and give himself some time to calm down, but she caught his elbow again.
"You saved me." Cedric nodded, but didn't dare to look at her just yet. If he saw her again before saying what he wanted to, he'd lose his nerve for sure.
"I told you so when we were little, I won't let anyone take you away." He reminded her quietly.
"I was scared." She admitted, her voice trembling. He turned back, wrapping his arms around her, only meaning to comfort the shaking girl. "Cedric, I was so, so scared." She clung to him, and for once he let himself enjoy the sensation of her body pressed against him.
"And he didn't-" He couldn't bring himself to say it, so instead he leaned back and traced her bottom lip with the pad of his clean thumb. Sofia shook her head, blinking back tears from her gorgeous blue eyes. Cedric chuckled with relief, and she stepped back to get a better view of him.
"Why are you laughing?" She pouted up at him, clearly offended.
"I'm just relieved." He shifted his hands down to her hips, then below, lifting her slender legs to wrap them around his waist as he backed her against the soda machine. "Your first kiss belongs to me." He would stop, he promised silently, should she say no, or fight him, or try to get away. He was perfectly capable of stopping this at any time, he lied to himself as he ducked his head, capturing her petal soft lips with his own.
His eyes flew open with pleasant surprise as she began to kiss him back, reaching up and combing her fingers through his shaggy black hair, and he paused just long enough to nip at her bottom lip, coaxing her mouth open so he could kiss her deeper, waiting only briefly before slipping his tongue inside. She has to feel the same. Otherwise, she would stop me, right? No, Sofia was always trying her best to please him. As long as it was what he wanted, she'd never complain no matter how much she hated it. Realizing this, he broke the kiss, lowering her back onto her feet.
"Let's pretend that never happened. Okay?" He panted, bumping her forehead lightly with his own as an excuse to still be touching her in some way.
"You're so mean!" With that, she pushed him out of her way and flew out of the room before he could say anything else. You're right. I'm the absolute worst. That didn't keep him from tracing his fingertips across his lips, trying to burn into memory every detail of the sin he'd just committed.
