Thank you guys for the sweet words, they encourage me to keep on writing! I hope you enjoy this second update.
…..
"Ross, Can you help me with this? My hair is tangled around the clasp and I can't unfasten it myself" I say sheepishly as I turn my back on him and put my hair aside for him to have a better look at my necklace. I smile to myself imagining the astonished face he must have right now. We have hardly shared two words together in the years we have known each other and here I am, asking him for help. He must be going nuts.
"are you okay?" I ask above my shoulder, seeing he hasn't moved in the last few seconds.
"sure! Yeah- I-I'll help you…" he finally says as he brings his hands to the clasp. "done" I turn around, stretching my lips into a smile and whisper a soft "thank you" as I plant a kiss on his left cheek. There it is! The stunned face again. I do not get tired of this. I give a mental high five to myself and walk back to the deckchair feeling his eyes fixed on me. From that moment I act as if he had already left so my following movement is to grab the bottom of my summer dress and slowly pull it above my head, revealing my body only covered by a white bikini. I can feel his stare on my skin, and even though I don't want to admit it to myself…I somewhat like it. I try not to look back, since I'm pretending he is not there, and then I reach the border of the swimming pool and dive headfirst.
"hey Brother, what are you doing standing there like a statue?" I heard Monica asks him when I emerge from underwater. She is standing next to him holding two towels, but he doesn't seems to have noticed her presence; normal, after the exhibition I made before his eyes the guy's blood must have frozen eternally. It takes him about 30 seconds to realise he has been caught staring at me. His eyes widen right away and his face takes the colour of a tomato.
"I-I have to go, to…do some stuff" he blurts out as he turns around and rushes to the house as if his pants where on fire. I bit my bottom lip feeling a bit sorry but at the same time disappointed that my game has finished so soon.
"What the hell happened to him? Did a bee bite him or what?" Monica says taken aback by her brother's weird behaviour.
"Honestly, I have no idea." I lie as I swim towards the border and rest my arms there for support.
"he has been acting so oddly the last few weeks…haven't you noticed?" oh yes I have noticed, and if you knew I am the cause of that…you would kill me.
"mmm nu-uh" I shook my head spontaneously "he seems the same geek to me"
"Rachel" Monica pronounces my name with a threatening tone and pointing her finger at me to emphasise the warning.
"what? You call him that too!" I say in my defence.
"but he is my brother, it's in my rights to call him that"
"Alright, Can I use nerd then?" I say in a chuckle, attempting to be funny but Monica doesn't take it well judging by the evil stare she has just shot me.
"stop that now! Ross is a nice guy, if you looked beyond his geeky looks you'd realise what a wonderful man he is" I press my lips against each other to prevent a loud laugh that Monica's unexpected reply caused in me.
"I cannot believe you are using those words and your brother's name in the same sentence" I cannot help but chuckle; in the time I have known them, the kindest word that had come out of their mouths to refer to each other has been "idiot". "C'mon Mon, you know I was kidding" I excuse myself seeing she is everything but amused.
"I-I know…I just think he doesn't deserve all the mocking he receives…" I frown confused, wondering what Monica meant by those words. Does she suspect something? Or maybe Ross told her about my teasing…nah, that's not possible; he is a closed book even with his sister. "Rachel!"
"uh?" I mumble disoriented. I am surprised when I find the spot where Monica was seconds before completely empty now. I turn to my right and there she is, about to get into the pool. I must have been lost in my thoughts for several seconds because I didn't notice any of her moments. "What did you say?"
"I asked HOW the water is, where were you?"
"oh, The water is wonderful…I'm sorry I didn't hear you the first time"
"What's the matter Rach? Chip again?" she asks with concern in her eyes. I turn around and rest my head in the border while my legs start beating the water to stay on the surface.
"don't worry, I'm just fine, Chip is still Chip"
"What do you mean? Is he still forcing you to give him your flower?" I roll my eyes annoyed.
"the flower thing again? I thought we had come to an agreement on that"
"I know, but I don't want my mom to catch us talking about THAT" she whispers.
"and by using that word you think she will assume we are talking about garden class? Honey, you're too innocent sometimes"
"Whatever, just answer the question"
"no, he hasn't exactly forced me to do anything…but I think he is getting tired of waiting"
"why are you waiting anyway? Don't you love him?" I gaze up at the clear sky as I try to find a reply to that question.
"I…I think I do…but, I don't feel like it's the right moment yet, you know? I just want it to be perfect, and most of the times we're together he is drunk or acting stupid, and I don't want it to be like that, I want it to be meaningful and romantic…"
"I know what you mean…and how does he take it?"
"he gets mad of course, but anyway…let's not talk about that now and let's make plans for the summer, it's getting closer and we have nothing planned yet, and I certainly do not want to stay here, I need space away from everything and everybody"
" okay, what do you suggest?"
…..
After a long afternoon alternating swimming and making plans, I arrived home past dinner time. I sigh in relief when I see none around; I don't particularly feel like talking to my parents let alone my annoying sisters. I make a quick stop by the kitchen to grab an apple and head towards my bedroom. I throw my bag on a chair and get into my pj's before letting myself drop over the bed. I'm exhausted, I've done nothing but I'm so exhausted I don't even bother to switch on the lights. I crawl under the comfortable covers of my bed and take a big bite off the apple. While I eat it my eyes look up at the ceiling where the soft light entering from the street draws weird abstract figures. I can see an oddly shaped dog…a smiley face, a heart…a heart. How convenient. Monica's question enters my mind as if that heart had been there on purpose. Do I love him? I ask myself. I really don't know how to answer that question. I sometimes think I do, but other times…I simply want to erase his selfish character off my life. When do people know when they are in love? Is there a little gnome who takes care of telling people "you're in love"? Is it a feeling? What is it? Can't someone tell me?
I don't know why or how but my next thought revolves around Ross, again. I smile replaying today's events in my head. The shocked face the poor guy must have had when I began to get "undressed" before his eyes. I would have paid someone to record that moment! And then his embarrassment as leaving the yard...boy was he flushed! Maybe this addiction is getting a little out of hand…I hope this teasing is not hurting him, that's not my intention, he is a geek and all that but I don't mean to hurt him…maybe I should stop with the teasing? Maybe…
I left the remains of the apple on my bedside table, taking a deep sigh to clear my mind of any thought, I drift into slumber.
I ring Monica's doorbell and wait. I hate this time of the year, it's all about test after test; essay after essay, there is no time for doing anything else, and I have tons of shopping to do! Ugh!
The door opens and I get surprised when Ross appears instead of Monica. My face immediately lights up with a pretended smile.
"Hi Ross!"
"Hi Rachel What's up" has he just said that without stuttering? Wow.
"Is Monica here?"
"no, she accompanied my mo-, Judy to do the groceries"
"what? But we were supposed to meet at 5 to do an essay together" I exclaim looking at my watch: 5.20.
"Well, they left over an hour ago so she must be about to arrive...Do you want to come in? you can wait for her in her room if you wish" he said all that without trip over his tongue or moving his eyes away from me. I'm impressed.
"okay, thanks" I say with a big smile. I enter the house intentionally brushing shoulders with him. However, our small contact doesn't seem to startle him this time. Something weird is happening here. I begin to walk up the staircase, but I stop halfway when an idea clicks in my mind.
"Ross" I say as I turn over my heels.
"Yes?"
"you're good at Maths, right?"
"I guess I am…why?"
"Can you help me solve an equation problem I can't figure out? You know, while Monica arrives…"
"of course, I'd love to"
….
I do not comprehend this; here I am, sitting next to him, my face mere inches away from his own face; flirting with him here and there for the last fifteen minutes and yet nothing has made effect on him; neither a tremble of voice nor a stunned face…what the hell is going on? I'm starting to believe I've lost my touch.
"Do you understand it now?" He says, but the only thing I can think of is his hand resting on my knee. OH MY GOD, Did Ross Geller just place his hand on my knee? My eyes instantly widen in disbelief. This cannot be happening, Ross Geller, the shyest geek in Lincoln High school, cannot have just made a move on me, Can he? Oh my god…
"I do, thank you" I say, trying to sound as cool as possible but this situation is making me very uncomfortable, I never expected him to even pronounce a word to me, just be all awkward and clumsy as he usually reacts, but here he is now, acting like a proper flirt! I'm beyond confused.
"anytime" he says and I thank him with an smile, but I don't know what to do next. Should I stand up and leave or should I tell him to go? God, this silence is becoming so awkward and his eyes fixed on me aren't helping either.
Suddenly, his head starts leaning towards me and my body freezes completely. I cannot believe he is about to kiss me, this must be a joke! And Monica must be his partner in this crime! That's why she isn't here! RUN, RUN, RUN! My head yells, But I cannot move, I'm stuck in Monica's chair as if some invisible rope had me tied to it.
My rambling mind stops the moment his lips brush mine, soft and gently. His hands move to my face and caress my cheeks with his thumbs as he kisses me deeper, and that's when my willpower runs out the window, leaving me weak and under his mercy.
My lips begin to move in synch with his, melting in a passionate kiss. This is too much to take; on one side, my head keeps yelling to stop that right now while my body, on the other side, is enjoying this physical contact and yearning for more. It's as though my body had lost connection with my neurones and was being controlled by somebody else.
I feel him slow down the kiss and then he grabs my hand and makes me stand up from the chair. I obey his command as a loyal servant. He walks me to Monica's bed and sits there while giving me a look I had never seen on his eyes before. I cannot believe this is the same geek I've known all my life. He then grabs both my hands and sits me on his lap before surprising me with another wild kiss. My mind doesn't have enough time to register everything that is happening. I'm cannot believe I am in Monica's bed, making out her brother and taking the risk of being caught eventually. But as hard as my mind is trying to stop this crazy situation, my body seems oblique to its orders.
His wondering hands creep under my jeans and squeeze my buttcheeks while his mouth invades mine, making me moan of pleasure and surprise. This makes me lose all sense of control I had left and the voice in my head finally fades as I melt into the moment.
I kiss him back with urgency, running my hands through his curly hair and down his back while I feel his own hands tracing the line of my back under my T-shirt, which he lifts above head and I don't make any objection. My heart beats faster and faster as his mouth draws a perfect trail of wet kisses from my neck to my chest. He is so good at this that my head is spinning. I quickly get rid of his shirt and then he lies me down on the bed, placing himself between my legs. He kisses me wildly again, leaving me out of breath and yearning for more. Then he moves to my stomach, caressing and kissing it with skill. I close my eyes to enjoy the moment better, but a repeating noise distracts me for moment, although it doesn't last for long and I immediately forget it when his hands begin to unbutton my jeans and my body fills with anticipation. However, the noise comes again, and sounds louder and louder when I try to block it out; I try to concentrate on him and his amazing kisses on my skin, but the sound gets more irritating and then I realise…Is that an alarm clock?
I wake up startled, panting and kind of turned on. Then I realise I'm on my bed, in complete darkness and alone. I take a deep breath and sigh…not sure whether I feel relief or disappointed that it all has been a dream.
Perhaps this teasing game has gotten a little out of hand…