CHAPTER 13

A/N: Ha okay I don't know what I'm about to write, but hopefully someone likes it a bit. Thanks to you guys that reviewed, you're awesome! PS: Is anyone else in the Canada/US region area where Season Four is about to end SUPER SUPER STOKED about what's supposed to be happening in the final four eps! I am! PS: I think I already did some love realizations, but here's some more, because I'm forgetful like that at one in the morning:P.

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Calleigh wished she had brought something else to wear to bed, but unfortunately her other pair of pajamas weren't any better. She wasn't usually a self conscious person, because she knew she shouldn't have to be embarrassed of her body, she had nothing to be embarrassed of, but now, with Eric, she suddenly was. Sighing, she brushed out her hair slowly, and then her teeth then washed her face and finally she had no choice but to exit the washroom. She had to leave the few inches of wall that were presently separating her from Eric, in his topless form, and his gaze on her barley clothed one. Oh well, she'd have to deal with what came when it came. She pulled open the bathroom door and exited, trying not to look as nervous as she felt, although she still couldn't get her mind around the reason she was nervous. This was just Eric, her best friend. Her incredibly handsome, sexy, muscular best friend…

Eric sighed and shut his eyes tightly as he heard the bathroom door open. Control Delko, Control. His mind was telling him. He opened his eyes so Calleigh wouldn't think he was completely retarded, watching TV with his face scrunched up and his eyes closed. And he saw her. Black lace and what appeared to be silk barley covering her body. "Hey." He managed to get out and what he hoped was a normal voice.

"Hey." Calleigh answered, similar things running through her mind as were in Eric's.

"So, when do you think Teah will wake up?" Eric asked, trying to get his mind off how hot Calleigh looked…

"Probably not for a while. She must have had a lot to drink, I mean I think I saw her take three shots, and she was already pretty drunk when we met her at first." Calleigh estimated.

"I hope Eli and Lena don't get too worried about her." Eric said.

"Yeah." Calleigh agreed, "But I don't really feel like going and finding them at this moment…" She gestured to her attire and smirked.

"Yeah." Eric swallowed.

"By the way, sorry about this… I didn't pack anything else… I didn't plan on sharing a room." Calleigh tried to explain, but Eric cut her off.

"Calleigh, it's fine. I don't mind, really." Eric reassured her, and she visibly relaxed.

"Alright." She smiled and sat down on the bed next to Eric. "So this has been a pretty crazy start to our vacation hasn't it?" Calleigh laughed. Eric smiled. It was almost too much, her, in those pajamas, laughing that intoxicating laugh. Just almost.

"It has." He agreed. "But I'm definitely telling everyone about how you beat up AJ when we get back."

"Well, I'll tell everyone about the receptionist who had a mad crush on you." Calleigh giggled uncharacteristically.

"At least we'll be even." Eric sighed.

"This trip is far from over, Delko." Calleigh smirked.

"You are correct." Eric smirked back at her. "But, what do you reckon Ryan would think if we went back and I told him you were super ticklish?" This caused Calleigh's face to go dead straight.

"Eric Delko," She started to warn before she was cut off by his hands creeping threateningly close to her. "Don't you dare…" But she couldn't finish her sentence because Eric's hands had darted to the exposed skin on her stomach.

"Two to one for Eric Delko." He taunted her triumphantly as he continued tickling her, attire forgotten completely.

"Eric… stop… right… now!" She managed to get out in between struggled breaths and shrieks.

"What was that Calleigh?" He teased, knowing exactly what she said, but he did slow his tickling down considerably so she could catch her breath. It was then they realized what an awkward position they had gotten themselves into. Eric was straddling Calleigh's lap with his hands laid flat across her completely exposed middle, and her hands laying flat against his chest. Tickling ceased and a blinking contest ensued. Green eyes gazing intently into brown. Calleigh didn't know exactly what to think of what was going on, they had definitely been flirting, and then Eric had tickled her… and now neither of them wanted to break the intensity of the gaze they were sharing. Eric was happier than ever, for Calleigh had been flirting back with him, she hadn't gotten mad when he had tickled her, and now, she seemed to be just as content as he was to stare into each others eyes like there was no where else in the world they'd rather be, because for him at least, there wasn't.

"Ughh." They heard a voice groan from across the room. "Where am I?" Eric quickly rolled over to the other side of the bed allowing Calleigh to get up.

"Hey," She called quietly to Teah, knowing that she'd either still be drunk or have one hell of a hangover already. "I'm Calleigh Duquesne, and that over there is Eric Delko… we brought you home from the dance… we're friends of your parents."

"Ughh." Teah groaned again, and then chuckled sort of. "Isn't this what parents always warn their kids about when their little? Don't ever go anywhere with anyone, even if they say they're your parents friends…" Calleigh chuckled quietly too.

"Well don't worry, you're safe with us… we're also police officers from Miami… we're here on vacation." Calleigh explained.

"Shit! You're cops? Don't I get in trouble for underage drinking or something now?" Teah groaned, feeling her headache getting worse.

"Nah, we don't have jurisdiction here." Eric joked. "It's cool; we just want to make sure you're okay. Do you remember anything?"

"Not really… I mean I remember going to the party, dancing… then drinking…" Teah struggled. "What happened? Did I pass out?"

"Yeah, and AJ turned out to be not as nice as you thought he was." Calleigh told her. "He was trying to kiss you, or something along those lines, and you were protesting, but it didn't do much considering your level of intoxication. Eric and I noticed, and intervened."

"Is that how you got that big bruise and cut on your jaw?" Teah wondered, feeling guilty.

"Yeah, but it's alright… I'm just glad you're okay." Eric told her with a smile, and Calleigh took notice of the bruise that was starting to form on Eric's chin for the first time that evening, for she had been so absorbed in other thoughts that she hadn't thought to ask him how his face was doing from where AJ hit him.

"So what happened? You beat him up?" Teah smiled.

"No, I didn't." Eric answered.

"Oh well, at least I didn't miss a good fight then." Teah joked.

"Oh but you did." Eric told her, "Calleigh beat him up." He chuckled.

"Well thank you… and sorry I missed it." Teah laughed, and then cringed. "You don't by chance have any Tylenol, do you?"

"Right there, and a water bottle as well… you should try to get some sleep." Calleigh instructed.

"Okay," Teah nodded, "And thanks again!"

"No problem." Eric told her as he headed back into the bedroom and practically jumped onto the bed.

"Teah's out again." Calleigh announced upon entering the room minutes later.

"Alright." Eric nodded. "Are you tried?"

"Nope. You?" She asked.

"Nope." He answered. Neither were quite sure of what to say. Finally Eric spoke. "So those are some interesting pajamas you've got there Cal." He smirked, making her blush and become all subconscious again.

"Yeah…" She wasn't sure how to respond to his comment, then began wondering why she was letting Eric make her self conscious, why wasn't it the other way around? "If they're making you uncomfortable, I could always take them off…" She trailed off for a minute after seeing Eric visibly swallow, "and go see if they sell more materialistic pajamas…"

"No, those are fine." Eric told her quickly. "I mean, you wouldn't want to have to go through all that trouble, and if you did, I supposed I'd have to find a shirt to sleep in…"

"And we wouldn't want that. I mean, I rather like admiring you." She decided she mightaswell push some boundaries… she had had a bit to drink so if worse came to worse, she could always blame it on that…

"Why thank you." Eric smiled at her. "And while we're being honest, I rather like admiring you as well."

"You haven't seen nothing yet Delko." Calleigh smirked at him as he visibly swallowed again.

"Oh really?" He managed to get out in what he hoped was a normal voice.

"Really." Calleigh smiled brightly, inwardly scolding herself for being so subconscious and nervous before when she could have been having so much more fun.

"Was that an invitation?" Eric decided to play along… this was what he had hoped would happen…

"Was that an invitation?" Eric raised an eyebrow.

"More like a challenge." Calleigh smirked, before rolling over and pretending to sleep.

"A challenge?" Eric had waited for Calleigh to say something more after she had rolled over, but she hadn't, and he knew she wasn't asleep due to her rather irregular breathing, so he decided to strike up more conversation.

"Yes, a challenge." Calleigh rolled back over to place him. "And until you think of an answer to it… I'm going to sleep." Calleigh had given him everything she was going to. She had taken a chance, and let him know she was interested in starting something with him… now it was his turn to take a chance and actually start something.

Eric wasn't sure what to say, or what to do, or answer, as Calleigh had phrased it. He figured that this was her Calleigh-like way of letting him know she was interested in him… but he wasn't sure how to approach letting her know he felt the same way. Should he act as boldly as she had? And if so, in words or with actions? Or was he to take the more subtle route? Well that hadn't gotten him too far yet… Semi making his decision he tried his best to shut off his thoughts. "Calleigh?" He asked and she turned around. Sort of successfully turning off the rational part of his brain, he planted his lips squarely on hers. He was nervous as hell, and his mind was screaming that he was probably moving too fast, but coherent thoughts were quickly freeing his mind as he felt Calleigh responding to the kiss. But thoughts fleeing heads was as far as the kiss developed as they heard a loud knock on the door…

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A/N: Okay so yay! Only thirteen chapters and we've had our first kiss! Of course there will be more awkwardness and more kisses yet to come… and they'll come faster with reviews lol! Yuss. Anyhow, thank you for reading! And I AM SO PUMPED for final four in Canada/US area which starts MONDAY! Yeahhhh! Oh geeze, I can't even contain my excitement! Right now my sister is making fun of me because she says I'm making rocket ship noises… haha it's unfortunate that my computer has been moved down here beside hers for the night because not only do I not have internet accesses until tomorrow… we're driving each other crazy! That's the price I pay for dance parties… haha k I'm done.