ALEX
I woke up the next morning enveloped in Eric's strong arms. He was snoring a little against my hair. I lifted my head to look up at him still asleep. He looked so peaceful, relaxed, and handsome. Did I ever tell you that he looks handsome? My hands were planted flat against his bare chest. When did he take off his shirt? Slowly my hands glided up his chest and snaked around his neck. I let myself lean up to kiss him on the cheek. Immediately his eyes opened.
"Morning," I said softly. He smiled and kissed my forehead.
"Morning," he mumbled against my head. "How long were you up?"
"Just a minute or two," I whispered back. I moved my head back down and cuddled back into him. He started to chuckle a little. I felt one of his hands stroke my hair. "Thanks for staying with me."
"Of course," he replied. "Alex," he said after a while. "Why did you ask me to stay?"
Why did I ask him to stay? I was still upset that I had to go through all that mess earlier this week for just being his friend. Yet, I just could not stay away from him. He was really making it difficult for me. I couldn't help but think about what Lauren said. Would he just want to be friends with me to sleep with me? He just seemed so sincere about being friends. That's all that we were, right? Friends. I wanted to be more, I liked him holding me. I just felt guilty about what the other girls had to go through, just because of something that I wanted. I went with the most simplest answer that I could.
"Because we're friends," I answered softly.
"Honestly," he whispered back. He pulled my face back up to look at me. I guess he could tell there was another reason. There definitely was, I suppose. "Why did you ask me to stay, Alex?"
"Because I..." I just couldn't tell him. "Well, why did you stay?" I figured that I could turn the tables back on him. He seemed to consider it for a while. Whatever he was trying to get me to say, he wasn't willing to say it himself either.
"You asked me to."
"You could have said no."
"True, but I couldn't really tell you 'no'. It's kind of hard to tell you 'no'." I looked at him puzzled. "You must have perfected that look," he said smirk.
"I'm glad to see it works just like your smile." Now why the hell did I say that?
"What smile," he asked throwing me another smirk.
"You know what smile I'm talking about," I responded while trying to smack his chest.
"I rarely smile at anyone," he said as his smile disappeared. He started to smooth his hand down the middle of my back, along my waist, and stopped at the bottom of my shorts, pulling my leg around his waist.
"Well, thanks for smiling at me." I took my hand from his neck and moved it to roam his chest. How I enjoyed these moments being in such close physical contact with him. Hey if his hands could move along me, why couldn't I do the same? I could tell almost immediately as he grabbed my hands on his chest, that he wanted more. He moved his head down and placed kisses on my neck, moving up towards my face. I almost lost my breath in that moment. My body got warm when he touched me, but to feel his lips and breath down my neck made me feel like I was on fire. "Eric," I softly cautioned him trying to pull away.
"Shh," he whispered and drew my face closer to press our lips together. Oh god, I wanted this so badly.
"What the hell are you doing here," Christina practically yelled. Eric growled and then rolled over.
"Christina," he said bitterly. I wouldn't blame him. This was the second time we almost kissed and for some reason people just wanted to interrupt us. Why in the heck were people insistent on coming in at the exact moment Eric and I are about to kiss?
"Eric." There was someone else here with Christina. I peaked over to look.
"Will." Will was here too. Great. I could see it now, Will would probably tell Uriah, who would tell Zeke, who would eventually let it leak to my brother. And him? Well, Aidan was definitely going to give me hell for this. Worst yet, Christina had it plastered all over her face. She was not going to let this go, either. I guess the whole squad was going to find out too.
"Seriously, what are you doing here, Eric," questioned Will crossing his arms. Eric moved his head to look at me. He and I were both still laying in bed.
"I was trying to ask that, too," he said smirking at me. I smiled back and slowly pushed him to get up. He started to chuckle, got up, grabbed his shirt and pulled it on. Christina was staring daggers at me. How in the world was I going to explain him staying the night? Especially with no shirt on? Nothing happened anyways. Just before he turned to leave, he pulled me off the bed and brought me into a hug.
"Aidan is going to ask where I was last night," he whispered.
I pulled back a little. "I rather he not know exactly where you were." He threw me another smile. I slapped him lightly on his arm.
"Was that the smile?"
"Shut up!"
"I'll take Will," he whispered to me as we hugged again. "You got Christina," he said as he pulled away.
"Sure, leave me with Miss 411 over there," I complained while he let out a chuckle.
"It'll be fine," he said while planting a kiss on my forehead. How I wish we hadn't been interrupted earlier. "Let's go, Turner!" He pushed his Will out the door. (Got what I did there? Oh yeah! Pirates of the Caribbean!)
Christina still was glaring at me.
Minutes passed until she finally let it out. "As much as I'm upset that it's Eric," she said his name full of hatred. "If you're happy to be with him, then I'm happy for you." I could tell she really did not like the whole idea of finding him in here, especially in my bed. But she couldn't have been more wrong.
"Eric and I aren't together."
"Then why did you have sex with him? I know you're not the type to just sleep with someone, unless you're in a relationship with them. So why did you do it?"
"We didn't have sex."
"Alex, really? Eric doesn't just sleep in the same bed as girl, because they're friends. He wouldn't even have stayed the night, because they're friends. He's not that type of guy. In fact Eric doesn't even have any friends who are girls."
"Well, he and I are friends. We're not dating and neither are we having sex with each other."
"Are you sure?"
"Christina I think I would know if we had sex. We didn't even kiss. Which is disappointing, because I've never really kissed anyone." That got her attention. She finally put on a smile.
"How in the world did I luck out again?" She had the most evil smile ever.
"What are you talking about?"
"Sophomore year, I was roommates with Marlene and I got her her first kiss. Last year, I was roommates with Tris. I got her, her first kiss. And this year," she screamed running over to me, excitedly grabbing my arm, and jumping up and down. "I am roommates with Alexandria Kent and I'm going to get her to have her first kiss!"
"Oh dear lord!"
Eric and I continued to talk in class on Monday, like there was no care in the world. I found ways to combat whatever Rachel, Tara, and their little pals would throw my way. Eric didn't bring up the almost kiss yet again and I wasn't about to either, considering we both made Will and Christina promise that they wouldn't say anything about what they saw.
Tuesday and Thursday, he followed me to help clean the bathrooms in the classroom buildings. It made the time pass by faster and honestly I was glad to have his company. Not just because that one night I saw Drake watching me, but because I truly enjoyed being with him.
Friday after classes, we were going to have our pep rally and Principal Phifer said Tris, Lauren, and I could participate in the rally. However, the game was on Saturday was still off limits for Tris and Lauren. And of course, I got I still couldn't participate in cheering at the game until the week after next. Kitchen duty was done for all of us, but I would still have to clean the bathrooms for starting that second fight with Rachel, for two more days. I was glad to be back with the squad for the pep rally, unfortunately that meant being back with Rachel and Tara as well. And I was tremendously happy that punishment for Tris and Lauren would be over tomorrow. After the pep rally, Eric came to sit next to me.
"A little birdie told me that you've been sprung from jail. Well, at least for part of your punishment."
"Was the bird some random pigeon or was it like a duck," I teased to which he started to laugh. "It matters, you know," I teased more. "Ducks are just a bunch of quacks, that's why."
"That was a bad joke right there," he said pinching my side.
"No it wasn't," I responded as he started to laugh again. "So if it wasn't a duck, was it parrot?"
"Actually it was neither. It was a Uriah," he said as I started to laugh this time. "You going to Zeke's?"
"I don't want to, but Christina said I sort of have to. You know the whole being released from sentencing thing. She kind of wants to celebrate."
"Cool, well now I know I'm going."
"You weren't going to go earlier?"
"If you weren't going, then I was just going to hang out with you instead. But since Christina," he said looking over at her and then turning back to me. "Is making you go, then I'll be there to help you out."
"Well, isn't that so considerate of you?"
"Let's go Matthews," called Peter.
"I'll see you there," he said and left to follow the guys.
I really did not want to do this, but everyone does, so I thought I give a little shot at it.
We arrived at Zeke and Four's room about 10:00. Some of the guys already had beers and bags of chips and pretzels opened. I ended up sitting next to Aidan.
"So, how's my little jailbird doing?"
"Shut up," I said slapping him. "Was mom and dad going to tomorrow's game?"
"Yeah, they are. You know, Alex, I didn't tell them yet," he finished sounding a bit serious. He didn't tell them I wasn't cheering because I got into a fight. I guess they were going to find out tomorrow. Mom would be totally upset.
"We were allowed to go to the game tomorrow. Lauren is going to have her brother pick us up and drive us there. So I guess, I'll tell them then."
"You're okay now thought, right Alex? I mean they haven't tried anything else, have they?" I couldn't tell if he was talking about the girls or about Drake and Clayson. I know he was upset because I made him promise not to watch me anymore.
"No. Well, yes they have, but it's nothing I can't handle," I said to reassure him.
"Just give me the word," he started.
"No thanks. I don't think I want your football team following me around again," I interrupted. He quickly pinched my side. Eric was starting to do the same thing. I wonder if Aidan had told him that's where I was ticklish? Then I remember, I was the one who told Eric.
"So are we going to get this started or not," cried Uriah.
"What's going on," I whispered to Aidan.
"Truth or Dare," he replied back to me.
"I never really played," I said thinking only Aidan heard me.
"Oh yeah," cried Zeke. "We got a truth or dare virgin in the house!" Zeke pulled me up and placed me in the middle of the circle.
"So Alex, tru..."
"Hold up, wait a minute," screamed Uriah. "Why the hell do you get to ask her?"
"Really," asked Zeke. They started wrestling with one another, until Four and Eric pulled them apart.
"Why don't we just have one of the girls ask her first," said Four as he shoved Uriah back down.
"Fine fine," Uriah agreed. Immediately Christina raised her hand excitedly.
"Any one but Christina," I protested. She put her hand down and complained, until Will came by her side and gave her a kiss.
"Okay, Tris," said Four.
"Why does your girlfriend get to ask her?" Four turned to look at Uriah. If I was Uriah I would just shut up. Immediately, Uriah did. Smart guy.
"Okay Alex. You have to choose truth or dare. If you say truth, I get to ask you a question, which you answer honestly. If you say dare, I get to tell you do anything that pops into my head, which you have to do no matter how embarrassing it is. Refusal to answer or complete the dare means you need to take off a piece of clothing or drink beer," she said motioning to the table with a bunch of cups that were filled with beer in them. How in the hell did Zeke and Four get all that onto campus and into their room? Did my brother help them? Man, if mom only knew.
"Don't worry," said Tris. "Last year was the first time I played too, so I know how it feels. I'll go easy on you." Which immediately got complaints and murmurs from half of our friends. "Anyways, truth or dare, Alex?"
Tris said she was going to go easy on me. "Dare." As soon as I said it Four leaned in to whisper something to Tris.
"We're just going to break her in like that," Tris questioned to which Four smiled. She looked at me and then back at him again and he nodded. Tris let out a sigh. "I had to do this as my first dare, so I guess we can have you do this as your first dare as well." Almost immediately half the guys started laughing.
"Really," Aidan asked, shifting where he was.
"It's her dare, not yours," said Zeke.
"Yeah, but I'm her brother," replied Aidan. "And I'm not so sure I want to permit this." I got scared. It was something Aidan didn't want me to do. Then again, he didn't want me to do a lot of things.
"Brother or not, she said dare," replied Tris.
"So last year it was Four," said Edward. "Who's the lucky guy tonight?" Last year it was Four? What in the world is going on?
Tris then turned to me. "Alex, I dare you to straddle Eric for the entire night, until we're finished playing that is. You can only get up if you or Eric have to do another dare." What the hell? Tris had straddle Four for her first dare. From the look on Four's face, he knew something. Did Eric tell him about last weekend?
"If I don't," I asked.
"Then you have to take off a piece of clothing," said Uriah throwing me a wink.
I slowly started to lift my shirt, wondering why Christina hadn't told me to bring a jacket.
"Alright, take it off," screamed Peter, who after giving a high five to Drew, got a slap from Lauren. I put my shirt back down, got up, walked over to Eric and sat down in his lap. Everyone started whistling, even some of the girls. I didn't want to look back at Aidan. This was uncomfortable as it was already. Eric threw me a smirk and ran in his hands around my waist.
"I hate you," I whispered.
"Hey, you could have said no," he whispered back, teasing me for what I told him last weekend.
"Okay, your turn Alex," called Tris.
"Peter."
"Hm... Dare."
I looked at Eric and remembered something he told me the night of the first football game, when we were getting dessert. "I dare you to drink an entire glass of milk."
"Really, Alex, there's no fun in that," questioned Christina. She obviously didn't know. Eric started to laugh under me. Oh my God! I was getting chills.
"Actually there is," I said confidently.
Peter didn't move right away. He was considering it for a while.
"You can always take it off," I said. A couple of the guys started to chuckle.
"Get me some milk," Peter called. I turned my head to see Four open their fridge, pour a glass, and hand it to Peter. "You'll pay for this Kent."
The game had continued on and I lost track of where we were, because Eric and I had gone into our own conversation. It wasn't until we heard some farting, that I turned around.
"What the hell was that," cried Marlene.
"It's Peter," said Lauren trying hard not to laugh.
"What's wrong? Was it Christina's salsa," asked Tris. Did they seriously not know?
"He drank the glass of milk," explained Lauren.
"Oh my god, you're lactose intolerant," cried Shauna.
"Wait you girls didn't know," said Uriah.
"Only..." Peter said started to fart again. "Lauren," he finished, letting another one rip. "I gotta use your bathroom, man," Peter said running towards Zeke and Four's bathroom.
"Obviously Alex knew," said Uriah.
"Oh my god, it's my turn," yelled Marlene. "Alex, truth or dare."
"Truth, this time, thank you very much."
"Who told you about Peter and when?"
I looked at Eric who smiled and nodded. "Eric told me the night my parents and Zeke and Uriah's mom took us for desert after the Navy Pier game. I wanted to know why Peter didn't want any ice cream and why he got so upset when Drew flew some of his smoothie at him."
"I can't believe you told her," said Drew.
"I can," answered Four. What did that mean?
"I better check on him," said Lauren getting up.
"Okay, well continue the game," said Uriah.
"Will."
"Dddaaarree," he practically sang out loud. Either he was drunk or he was starting to behave just like Christina.
"I dare you to hide Christina's cell phone for the entire weekend."
"Will," Christina screeched. "Don't do it. Alex, you know I can't live without it!" Will took off his pants and was down to his boxers now. "Thank you honey!" Christina then jumped into his arms and kissed him.
I shook my head and then continued my conversation with Eric.
"Earth to Alex," screamed Peter breaking up mine and Eric's talk. I turned to look at him.
"Truth."
"What did you see Eric doing in the stairwell that second day you were here?" Peter asked while he threw me a wink. This was his payback. I turned to Eric who looked down. I slowly moved Eric's arms and got off. As I stood in front of him, he looked up at me confused. Did he really think I was going to tell? I pulled off my shirt and then sat back down on Eric. I saw him staring at my chest. I softly hit him.
"What? It's right there in front of me," he whispered. "You want me to shut my eyes the entire game?" I rolled my eyes.
"Aidan."
"Truth."
"Why didn't you like it when we were at Navy Pier prep?" I looked at him as he stared back at me, then he turned to Eric. "Simple question, Aidan." Eric moved his hand to rub my lower back as if telling me not to push any further. Aidan obviously told Eric, so why couldn't he tell me? Aidan took off his pants and continued the game. I guess he was never going to tell me.
When I turned back to Eric, he was smiling.
"Stop it," I said putting my hand by his mouth to cover his smile.
"Now I can't smile," he teased moving my hand. "If I can't smile at you, then you can't make those beautiful eyes into that sad little look you make to get your way."
"It's a free country, I can make my eyes look however sad I want them to be," I challenged sitting up straighter.
"What if I dared you not to?"
"I'll refuse and just take something off."
He pulled me closer and whispered into my ear. "I guess I better dare you then."
"I'll just say truth, when you ask me."
"Alexandria Kent, you can be such a tease sometimes."
Eric was given a couple dares, yet ended up taking his clothes off instead of completing the dare. "I don't want to move," he whispered to me after one of them.
"Alex," Will called after a while.
"Truth." Christina whispered into his ear. Oh snap.
"What happened in yours and Christina's room the night of the Hancock Boarding school game?" We may have made them promise not to tell, but that didn't mean they were going to try and get us to tell the rest of the group one way or another. Aidan would kill me. I could see the group wondering about that as well.
"You still had curfew, right Alex," asked Lauren.
"She did, but someone else didn't," teased Will.
I got off of Eric, who was down to his boxer briefs, unbuttoned my pants and slid them off.
"Stop enjoying this," I whispered to Eric who kept looking me up and down. The second my bare legs touched his, heat pulsated through me.
"What and you're not," he said grabbing one of my hands and moving it along his abs. I was and that was a problem.
I quickly turned and pulled my hand away. "Uriah."
"Dare."
"I dare you to use a thong for the rest of the weekend."
"By the rest of the weekend, do you mean tomorrow during the game as well?"
"Yes."
"I got the perfect one," screamed Marlene.
"The one with the little bells on top," cried Christina. Marlene nodded happily.
"Bells," asked Zeke.
"They're the one Victoria's Secret did for Christmas," said Shauna.
"Do you have one like that," he asked her smiling.
"Never mind," she said slapping him.
"Go get it then Marlene," said Uriah. Her and Christina left to go get it.
I got distracted when Eric pulled me closer on top of him. "I seriously thought you would have said something about last week."
"Aidan," I said nodding towards my brother. I really didn't want him to know. I mean it's not like Eric and I did anything. But I know Aidan would still be furious. "You said something though, didn't you?" He had to have, because Four was giving him a look.
"Four ran into Will and I right after we left your room. He was heading down to see Tris. I didn't want him to think anything bad, so I told him that you asked me to stay and I didn't want to tell you no, so I slept in your room with you."
"I really didn't want anyone to know," I said looking down. "Christina really gave me hell for it that day."
"You're not mad are you," he asked lifting my chin up to look at him. I shook my head to let him know that I wasn't.
"Alex," yelled Marlene. "Did you not hear Christina's dare?"
"I'm sorry, I didn't even know she asked me."
"I didn't," she said smiling. "I actually dared someone else to do it." I looked at her puzzled.
"Deep in thought, weren't we Kent," said Peter who gave Al and Drew a fist bump. What was Christina's dare?
Edward slowly got up and walked towards me. "Let's get this over with," he said smiling.
"Wait, wait, wait..." I said putting up my hands. "What was the dare?"
"I dared Edward to kiss you," she said sitting up straighter and smiling even wider. Eric's hands on my waist had balled up into fists.
"I don't get a say in this," I asked looking at Tris and Shauna.
"Like I told your brother," said Tris. "It's not your dare."
"It's Edwards," said Shauna.
I looked down at Eric who looked furious. I slowly got up and turned to walk towards Edward. Christina said she was going to get me my first kiss and I didn't think it was going to be like this. I was in the middle of a room, only in my bra and panty, for crying out loud! Edward only had on his boxers, so I know he had no choice either.
Edward lifted up my chin and brought my face to his, pressing our lips together. I stayed stiff for a while, unsure of what I was doing. I felt his arm wrap around my waist and pull me closer. I didn't want to feel anything. But electricity ran through me as I started to move my lips on his as well. He paused and just when I thought it was over, he titled his head and started to kiss me again. Just as he stuck his tongue in my mouth, I pulled back. It was exciting and I'll admit it was fun, but I couldn't help but think of the person sitting down that I had to return to. From the look on Edward's face, he enjoyed the kiss. He looked up at Eric and threw him a wink.
I made my way and sat down slowly on Eric. He didn't look at me at first. I don't know why it bothered me, it wasn't like I cheated on him. We were friends. Edward and I were friends. But it still felt so wrong.
"Are you mad," I whispered. He slowly turned to look in my direction and shook his head 'no'. "I'm so sorry Eric."
"It's fine," he whispered back. I felt his hand entangle in mine. "I'm not mad." Even though he said it, you could see it in his face. As the game continued on, I slowly felt him move his arms back around me. After a while he started to play with my hair. My body no longer felt on fire though. I felt so guilty. Christina got me my first kiss, and although it was good, I really wanted it to be with Eric. And now I wasn't so sure he was going to speak to me tomorrow.