I stood on the side of the pond, my toes barely in the water.
"Come on in, the water's great." Jeff said as he treaded the deep water.
"That's usually what they say right before the giant shark jumps out and eats someone." I said nervously.
Jeff laughed, "Nothing will get you. I promise." He said as he held his hands up to help me in.
I put my hands in his, "If I get hurt you're gonna be my slave until I'm healed. Physically, mentally and emotionally."
"Okay, it's a deal." He said then pulled me in. I plunged under the cold water. I came up gasping for air.
"Son-of-a-bitch! It's f-f-fucking cold." My teeth chattered in my mouth.
"Come here." Jeff said as he pulled me into his arms.
This moment was so awkward it felt like I was going to turn inside out. One half of me was screaming: you know how he is and the other half was the part of me that wrapped my arms around his middle. Like a reflex.
We stayed like that in the water until we saw headlights scan the horizon. My stomach flipped and my grip on Jeff tightened.
"Let's go." He said then lifted himself onto the bank. He pulled me up and sat there for a minute.
The vehicle turned off and I heard two door open then slam closed.
Shannon's voice filled the air, "I'm gonna fucking kill your brother man."
"Calm down, dude. They're probably not even here," Matt said.
Shannon scoffed, "Like hell they aren't. My goddamn hummer is parked beside the road."
I grabbed Jeff's hand and ran into the woods. I ran until I couldn't hear Matt and Shannon anymore.
"What the hell did you do that for?"
I sighed and ran my fingers through my semi-wet hair. I leaned against a tree, the bark scraped against my back.
I shrugged my shoulders.
"Well I'm glad we're here. Or I wouldn't have the chance to do this," He said before putting his hand on the back of my neck and kissing me softly.
We pulled away, he leaned his forehead against mine and sighed.
"I like you."
I smiled, "I aim to please."
He laughed, which was a 'sound for sore ears'. He always seems like he's in a daze, he'll say something funny and everyone else laughs and he sits there.
"You make me laugh, Jess." He said, his forehead still against mine. I put my hands on his cheeks and he smiled making them move with his cheeks.
"I'm glad. I like making people happy…it's my kind of heroin."
"You're my kind of heroin." He said then kissed me one last time.
I smiled and bit my lip.
"Let's go. I think they're gone, Shannon's throwing a party tonight so…" He trailed off as he rocked back and forth on his heels.
"We can sneak in my room and watch movies." I said smiling innocently.
"You're gonna make me watch some chic-flick aren't you?" He said as he laced his fingers with mine.
"Not unless you'll give in easily."
He smiled again.
"I don't."
"Okay, we'll watch…something. Maybe metalocalypse…you never know." I said as we walked back to the hummer.
---
"Okay, I'm going in the front door, you go wait at my bedroom window and I'll let you in when I get there." I instructed.
"Covert, got it." He smiled. He kissed me softly then ducked around the corner of the house.
I opened the front door, kicked my shoes off, hung the keys up on the hook and the very second I turned around my eyes met Shannon's.
"Where the hell were you?" He asked.
"I went out to eat." Blatant lie.
Shannon put his hands on his hips, "Bullshit."
"Shannon, you know me. I can't resist a good burrito. On my way to taking Jeff home I stopped and got me a cheesy bean and rice burrito." I said as I stood there watching the Matt jump off the couch onto Adam and Ryan, taking them to the floor.
"Okay. I believe you." He said then patted my back.
"I'm gonna go watch metalocalypse, 'night bubby." I said then gave him a hug. He patted my back then kissed my cheek.
"I'm only trying to look out for you." He whispered.
"I know." I said then let go. I pushed my way through people and into my bedroom. I opened the door then quickly closed and locked it behind me.
I jogged to the window and quickly pulled it open. Jeff climbed in, his foot got caught and he grabbed my shoulder to steady himself.
"Jesus Christ." He said.
I laughed, he looked at me and smiled.
"Shannon doesn't want me around you does he?" Jeff said, like he could read the expression on my face.
I frowned and shook my head no.
"It's okay." He said then kissed my forehead.
I smiled slightly.
"Now! Time for television!" I said as I searched around the room for my remote.
"Looking for this?" Jeff said holding up the silver remote.
"Yes!" I said then climbed across the bed. I held my hand out.
"What?"
"Give me the remote."
"The what?"
I sat down on my heels, "Can I have the remote?" I asked sweetly.
"That's an awful sweet voice but, I don't know. This looks like a pretty nice remote…" He said as he held the remote between his pointer finger and thumb.
"Can I please have it?"
He flashed me a smirk, "Come get it."
"Okay." I said then jumped off of the bed, Jeff caught me mid-air. My legs wrapped around his waist.
"That's one way…" He said then kissed me. I wrapped my arms around his neck.
As much as I'd like to say it went further than that it didn't…sadly. Jeff sat me down on the bed. I crawled to the side I sleep on every night and made myself comfortable. Jeff sat down next to me and put his arm over my shoulder.
I wasn't prepared for what's to come.