Sorry, that it's been a while. Been busy. I might end this story in a couple chapters and break it into a second story. Not sure yet. We'll see how far I can get with this one. But enjoy!

Just FYI - there is some content in here about sex. I know it's probably not that bad. But I'm going to rate this chapter and the next one M, just to be safe.

ALEX

The next morning, I was sitting in the cafeteria with Myra, Christina, Tris, and Marlene. We were there kind of early, but we wanted to get an early start on the day. Out of nowhere, Eric came in, sat down next to me, and pulled me on top of his lap for a kiss.

"Mm," he said pulling away.

"Are you having a good morning," I teased him.

"It's a good morning now," he said as we started to kiss again.

"Oh God, tell me I'm not going to have to witness this now that you two are together," cried Christina.

"Well, good morning to you too, Christina," said Eric pulling away and sitting me back down in my seat. I really thought that she would have been okay with him, after we started dating. But I guess some feelings of dislike are really die hard.

"Hey," I said patting Eric. "I was going to call my parents to let them know." I said motioning between me and him. "I sort of promised my mom and my dad I would let them know if something like this happens and anyways I wanted to know if you wanted to be there when I call them."

"I actually already called your dad," he said scratching the back of his neck, probably wondering if he should have told me.

"When, this morning?"

"Yesterday, before I took you to the football field."

I started to laugh a little. "You wanted his approval to ask me out," I answered for him. He smiled and nodded. "You're so old-fashioned," I said as lightly hit him. "But that was nice of you to call him. I actually really appreciate it that you did. You really wanted everything to be perfect, didn't you?"

"Like I said, it should be perfect for you. You deserve nothing less," he said as he brought my face closer to his. But just like many other times, our kiss was denied.

This time a couple pork links were thrown at us. Eric turned down the table. Of course the guys were laughing, but no one was about to say who did it. For some reason I didn't find myself totally upset about it. I guess because to me, Eric and I were already together and there was no denying how we felt about each other. Eric turned back around, kissed my forehead, and then went to sit by the guys, who were starting to make kissing noises.

"You two look really happy to finally be together," said Marlene.

"They do. And you were so worried," teased Tris. "I heard about how he asked, that was pretty romantic, especially for Eric."

"I have to agree. That was really sweet too of Eric to call your dad," added Myra.

I still couldn't believe he felt like he needed to call my dad. I guess I was old-fashioned too, because I thought that was so sweet and romantic. Almost like we were in olden days and asking a father to court a daughter was a big thing. I actually started to picture Eric outside some old house like from Anne of Green Gables, another book series Myra had me read and that I fell in love with. There Eric would be talking to my Dad on the porch asking for his blessing. I smiled to myself, thinking about all the effort that Eric put into it. I wanted to ask him how that call went, but it obviously went okay.

"Yeah, I thought it was perfect," I replied.

"Anyways, back to the matter at hand," said Christina moving her hand like she was waving a fly away from her. I guess that would be my next task, to get her to accept Eric as a friend. I mean he was friends with her boyfriend. Crazy girl I thought as I shook my head.

"I already said 'No'," answered Tris.

"But, why?"

"Because I don't like the song."

"But, it's just so perfect," argued Marlene.

"For our pep rally routine?" Myra turned to me. "Don't you think we need another song?"

"I never really listened to that song," I said. "Justin Bieber, right?"

"NO!" Christina slammed her hand down on the table. "It's Austin Mahone!"

"It's basically the same thing," Tris said to me.

"No, it's not. To me, he's better. Anyways, I'm going to play this song during practice today and we'll take a vote and see if we'll end up performing it this Friday for pep rally." We all rolled our eyes, except Marlene who seemed to like the idea.

Classes were full of exams, tests, and turning in of last minute projects and essays. I guess the teachers knew that everything was going to be done that way. I mean most teenagers were procrastinators, right?

During cheer practice, Christina played the song. And as catchy as it was, I really didn't want to dance it. However, David and Thomas, two of the five guys on our squad, worked out a routine to it with us girls and Shauna liked it.

"Told you," Christina said as she pointed to Myra, Tris, and I. We started to laugh.

It was nice to have Eric waiting for me after volleyball practice once again. He grabbed my hand once I got out of the locker room and everything seemed to fit perfectly as he walked me back to the dorm room building. It felt nice to have him by my side as we walked to class, but to me to have the day end and still have him there was a really awesome feeling. I kissed his cheek goodnight and although you could tell he wanted a different kiss, I was pretty sure more of that was going to be happening soon.

Thinking about Eric and I kissing brought up a topic I really didn't want to talk about. I sort of did with Lauren and Shauna once. And Deena and Lauren sort of teased me about it last week. As I sat down on the bed and looked across at Christina, I really didn't want to talk to her about it. She didn't like Eric, knowing her she would probably tell me to leave him before that time comes.

"I'll be right back," I called out to Christina.

"Eric was just here, where are you going now?"

"To see someone else besides my boyfriend," I replied. I couldn't help but smile. Eric is my boyfriend! About time I relented.

I walked up to the door and knocked.

"Do you know what time it is right now," shouted Marlene. "One does need their beauty sleep," she said as she opened the door. "Oh hey Alex. What's up?"

"Hey, Mars. Sorry. I know it's late, but by any chance is Tris still up?"

Just then Tris walked by the door. "Alex, you really like to flirt with trouble don't you?" I laughed a little.

"Yeah, I guess I do. I actually need to ask you a question. Hopefully this won't take long."

"Okay."

I looked at Marlene who looked totally interested. "In private of course." Marlene scrunched up her nose and then walked back inside.

Tris followed me out into the hallway. "What is it about Alex?"

"Have you and Four," I started as I looked away. This was really going to be hard wasn't it? "Have you two, you know?"

Tris looked down and started to blush. I guess this was awkward for her too. She smiled and then looked back up at me. "Why don't we talk a bit downstairs in the lobby?"

She motioned towards the stairs and I followed her. We sat down on the couch in the building lobby.

"I didn't think you and Eric would have done anything like that already."

"No, we haven't. Well, the first time we kissed, we ended up making out, and I almost took off all my clothes. I don't know if it would have happened then. I mean you know that he's slept over a couple times, with nothing happening. We weren't going out then. I just don't know what he's expecting of me now that we are."

"I know what you're trying to get at. It's nice when you kiss and have those intimate moments, but you're comfortable with just that for now, right?" I nodded. "Then just let him know what you are comfortable with."

"What if he gets upset about it?"

"Alex, he's gone through so much for you just to become his girlfriend. He waited for you then, he's not going to rush you into anything now. Don't get me wrong, he is a guy and part of him does want that. After we had been dating for a while, Four confessed that he wanted it, but only when I wanted it. He respected me and the boundaries that I set the whole time we were together until I was ready. Trust me, even on that day at the exact moment, I still felt like I wasn't ready."

"So when would you know when you're ready? There's no time limit right?"

Tris started to laugh a little. "No, there's no deadline or cut off date to these sort of things. Every girl, every relationship is different. I'm pretty sure you've talked to Shauna." I nodded. "And you're roommates with Christina." We both started to laugh. "They've both been in their relationships for the same amount of time and look at how different it is. Yet, Will and Zeke still love them both. That means Eric and you will move at your own pace as well."

"What is Eric breaks up with me because I don't feel like I'm ready?"

"If he does, then he does. However, Alex, I wouldn't think like that if I were you. Like I said look at all the trouble he went through to show you how much you mean to him. He wouldn't throw you away just like that. I can see it, that you mean a lot to him. Besides you shouldn't do it, just to make him happy. It's supposed to be your moment to be pleased too," she said as we both started to blush.

"You'll know when you're ready. Only you can tell yourself that. As for Eric, if you feel like your being pressured, just tell him, Alex. Something I kind of learned the hard way and took me a long time to get through is that you should just be open about what you feel from the get go."

I nodded and looked down.

"I hoped that helped," she said.

"More than you know actually. I really didn't want to talk to Christina about this. The only other person I could think of was you."

"Well, I wouldn't have gone to Christina either. Actually I didn't. I went to Shauna," she replied with a smile. "Of course, after, Four and I , well you know, Christina could tell, for some reason, she knew by just looking at me that I lost my virginity. So, we eventually ended up talking about it."

"Dear Lord, I am going to end up talking to her then." We both started to laugh.

"Listen, Alex, anytime, you need someone to hear you out, I'm here."

"Thanks Tris."

We walked back upstairs, hugged, and then said goodbye.

The next day Eric and I didn't talk much during classes. In fact we walked to classes and didn't really hold hands. When he put his arm around me during lunch, I jumped back. I didn't mean to, but I guess I was still a bit nervous after the conversation with Tris.

Later on, Eric ended up watching us during cheer practice.

"You know," I said walking up to him after it was done. "Even though you don't have to practice, you should go and support your team."

"They already know that I support them," he said as he pulled me down on top of his lap. He pulled me close and whispered in my ear. "So, how are you feeling today?"

"Well, you seen me in classes," I said as normal as I could muster and softly elbowing him. "You kind of watched me during practice so I think you can tell how my day is going, mister."

"I know you don't have volleyball practice today, so I was wondering if you wanted to hang out?"

"At where? The rec center?"

"No, maybe your room or my room." I looked away. Why was I suddenly nervous about hanging out with him? "You okay, Alex?" Eric started to rub my back, he must have noticed.

"Yeah. Why wouldn't I be?" I still didn't want to look at him.

"That's why I asked how you were feeling. You seemed a little bothered in class. Actually the whole day you've been acting weird. Just now, too. You seemed so..." He didn't finish. This time I turned to look at him.

"You're not having second thoughts about us dating are you," he asked.

"No, Eric. I'm not. I..." I turned to look out at the field. Aidan and the team would still be at practice for a while. "Why don't we go to your room and talk?" He smiled, nodded, let me stand, took my hand, and then led me back to the dorm room building.

The second we got to his room the subject changed.

"Where in the world did that come from?"

There on Aidan's bed was a puppy. Not a stuffed doll version either. It was a real puppy. Eric started to laugh. "I actually don't know how your brother got it, but I'll give you one guess as to who it's for."

I walked over to the bed as the puppy sat up, playfully barked, and then tried to walk over to me. It was so tiny and Aidan's comforter was just engulfing it.

"Shh," Eric said trying to keep it quiet. I picked it up and started to play with and pet it. I laughed and looked over at Eric who shook his head.

"We've been trying to keep it quiet last night. It kept wanting to play."

"It's a puppy, of course it wants to play. And look at that face," I said as I brought the puppy's face closer to mine and made my sad face. "Who could tell this cute little thing to be quiet?"

"Yeah, who could," he said as came by me to kiss me. The puppy jumped and licked Eric's face instead. "Argh! I'm telling you, I can't believe he expects us to hide this thing out here until this weekend." I kept carrying the puppy and petting it.

"I'm guessing Cara is going to be at the last regular game of the season?"

"Yeah. Aidan is planning on giving it to her then and is planning on making this from both of you." I turned to Eric who shrugged. I guess anything to make it look like he doesn't really like her. Boys are weird.

"Cara always wanted one of those dogs. Except, most parents in Erudite don't go out and buy their kids pets."

"This is a terrier right?"

"A West Highland white terrier, yeah."

I turned to look at Eric again.

"Yeah, I know I'm a nerd, so shoot me."

"Why? That's one of the things I like about you," I teased as I went to sit by him on his bed.

"I told Aidan that thing cannot come on my bed," he said as he pointed to the puppy. It ended up barking at him. "You can tell it doesn't like me." I started to laugh and put the puppy down as it ran back to Aidan's side of the room.

"I can take it a couple nights. Christina would just love it."

"What is it with you girls and puppies?"

"Not all girls like puppies."

"Really," he said as he crossed his arms and stared at me.

"Some girls like kittens," I said as he started to laugh. I got up and walked over to the kitchen. "What is there to snack on in here?"

"You can eat anything, except please don't mix up the food again," he answered as he followed me.

"Ha ha," I replied as I grabbed a Go-gurt pouch and tried to open it. I was having difficulty opening it. Unfortunately, as soon as I did get it open, it sprayed out at him. I tried to hold back my laughter looking at his shocked expression. He looked down at the rest of the Go-gurt that I still had in my hand, smiled and his eyes lit up as he looked back at me.

"Don't even think about it," I warned him. I tried to turn, but almost immediately his arms wrapped around me.

"Eric!" He took the pouch from my hand and as much as I protested and squirmed in his arms, he was able to get some of it on my cheek.

"Now, we're even," he said as we both started to laugh.

"I did that on accident, though. What you did wasn't nice," I said lightly hitting him.

"Aw, well," Eric said starting to lean down. "Forgive me," he said right before his lips pressed against my neck.

"That's not going to work on me all time you know," I said trying to reign in whatever emotions he was stirring up within me.

"You sure," Eric asked as he started to kiss and suck on my neck. His arms loosened a bit around my waist and started to move up my back under my shirt. Before I knew it, he had me pressed up against the counter. My hands were under his shirt too, running along his abs and his chest.

"Eric," I sighed as his head titled to kiss the other side of my neck. I was getting weak and grabbed the counter to steady myself. Just then he brought his head up and pressed our lips together. I wrapped my arms around his neck as he started to kiss me harder.

He picked me up, wrapped my legs around his waist and put me on the counter, still kissing me. He pushed me back a little on the counter and moved his head down to start kissing my stomach. His head was slowly inching up in my shirt. Why did this have to distract me, yet feel so good?

The puppy started to bark.

Eric pulled away and we both looked down at the little puppy staring at both of us and wagging his tail.

"Told you that thing didn't like me," he said as he turned back to me. I was still panting and breathing hard. My face must have looked flushed too. He threw me a questionable look. I looked down trying to get my breathing back to normal.

"Alex," he started to say something as he rubbed my thigh. The puppy started to bark again. "Yeah, yeah," Eric said as he helped me off the counter and then went to give the puppy some doggy biscuit.

I walked over to his bed and waited for him to come and sit down by me. The puppy took the treat and went over to eat it on a mat in the corner. Boy was Aidan training this puppy already. Eric came by me and took my hand.

"I remembered what I needed to talk to you about," I said looking at him. He smiled and squeezed my hand.

"Eric, I don't know why. But last night when we said goodnight I felt nervous about kissing you. In classes today I kept getting worried about the physical part of our relationship. What if I'm not good, or it's not good? What if I don't want to certain things, yet."

"Why are you thinking like that?"

"I don't know. I really don't know. I'm just so nervous and scared now. I don't know why, Eric. I want to be with you. I like it when we kiss and hold hands. When we would spend the night with each other I felt safe to have you near me. You made me feel adored and important and needed. The first time we kissed, I never wanted it to stop. Now I just get so scared."

"Alex, if I'm pushing you too fast, you can let me know."

"Oh thank god!" Eric sat up a bit straighter and looked at me shocked.

"Alex, did you think I would treat you differently if you told me that?"

"I just wasn't sure what you expected out of all this. This is my first relationship after all. And I wasn't sure if I should bring it up so soon. We only started this whole girlfriend-boyfriend thing like two days ago."

"This is my first relationship, too, Alex. The whole boyfriend-girlfriend concept is new to me also." He ran his hand down my cheek and pressed his lips to my forehead. "Alex, I care about you and like everything you have to offer me, not just the physical contact. I don't want you to think that way. We were close friends before all of this. I want to keep that the same between us."

"Thanks for understanding. I just don't know if I'm doing anything right."

"There really is no rule," Eric said as we both started to laugh a little. "Since you're wondering though, I really like all that you do. Your kisses," he said as he kissed me softly. "Your touch," he said moving to my neck. "Your breathing, your scent, the feel of your body against mine," he said placing kiss after kiss on my neck and down to my shoulder. If he kept this up, I really was going to be in trouble. This felt so good.

"That little sway you got when you walk," Eric continued as he brought my eyes back to look at him. "The way you look at me with those innocent, yet naughty brown eyes, the way those eyes light up when you smile at me, the way your head just seems to fit so perfectly on my shoulder, or that adorable face you make to get your way. Alex I enjoy every part of you. I don't want you to change who you are or how you do things. I want you to be happy. And if you're happy or comfortable for now with this, then so am I."

He brought his lips back to mine and we kissed slowly and soft.

"Thanks Eric."

"I really care about you, Alex. I hope you know that." I smiled and nodded. He pulled me into his lap and pressed our lips together. Right before he deepened the kiss, I pulled away. Just then I remembered something he said.

"What do you mean I have a little sway when I walk?"

"Oh, come on, Alex, you know you do." I gave him a confused look and climbed off of his lap. "You sort of just did it now when you walked over to the bed. Of course that was normal. But I swear there were times when you got up from the table at the cafeteria or walked out of class and put a little extra hip movement in your step," he said motioning his hands.

"No, I didn't."

"Yes, you did," he said starting to laugh. "You would move that waist and ass of yours from left to right so perfectly that your skirt would bounce when you walked. It was almost like you were trying to catch someone's attention."

I smiled and looked down. There WERE a couple times after Eric and I weren't really talking that I tried that little move, hoping he would be watching.

"Ha ha! See, you know you did," Eric said while pulling me into his arms. I wrapped my arms around him too.

"At least all that extra movement paid off."

"In what way?"

"It was your attention I wanted," I said as we started to kiss again. He put his hands under my butt, lifted me up and turned us, so he could lay me down on his bed.

"Well, you have my attention, now," Eric replied with a smile, just as he laid his body on top of mine pressing our lips together once more.

The kisses got more passionate. With every touch, there was a yearning burning up within me. Eric's mouth would start to kiss and suck on my neck. At times it was so soft and tender, like he was taking his time enjoying the feel of me in his arms. Other moments it was so strong and determined.

His hands would pull my body closer against his or his body would press me down harder against the bed. I could feel the certainty and desire in his touch. It was those moments where I had to bite my lip to stop my moaning or stop my hands from moving all over him, encouraging him on. I couldn't help it. These were such new emotions, new sensations, new thrills that were overtaking me.

It was like a light bulb went off in my head, I knew now exactly why I was scared. Even though this was new to me, nothing about this was new to him. I pushed hard on his chest as he pulled his lips away from mine and looked down at me with panic.

"I'm so sorry, Eric," I almost screamed and threw my hands up to my face, as if I was trying to hide myself. I wanted to cry.

"Alex," he said softly and tried to gently move my hands. I held them tighter to my face.

"Alex." This time he said it a bit louder. "Alex, look at me."

I slowly moved my hands away, thinking I would see him upset with me. But his face looked so concerned and a bit hurt. He kissed me softly on the lips.

"Alex, I really don't want you to feel uncomfortable."

"This is all my fault, Eric. I don't know why, but I'm so scared," I lied. I knew exactly why I was scared. He moved back a little, allowing me to sit up. I was starting to think I wouldn't be good enough for him. It just dawned on me. He's been with other girls before. Other girls who probably knew all the tricks and secrets and here I was, with nothing else to offer him, but ignorance!

"Alex, stop it. This isn't your fault." I looked away. This was. I couldn't move pass that thought in my head, comparing myself to the other girls he was with. I was in his heart, but was that really all I needed to keep him? I brought my legs up, pressing my knees to my chest, and curled up in a ball.

"Alex, please look at me." I turned to look up at him. "We can go back to the way things were Alex. We don't always need to be making out."

"I don't want to do that to you though."

"But look what it's doing to you. And that's something that I don't want."

"Eric, I'm really sorry."

"Don't be, Alex." He was being so patient with me. It hurt even more that I was going to limit the whole making out. Eric laid down on the bed and pulled me down to lay down next to him. I relented and snuggled into his side, resting my head on his shoulder.

When I finally felt less upset about myself, I realized my hand had moved under his shirt to trace his abs.

"Like I said, if you're comfortable with this, then so am I." He cupped my face and kissed me softly. He made me feel cherished, worthwhile, and loved. Why was I thinking so little about what I had to offer him?

"I really do enjoy every part of you Alex. Please don't doubt that. I won't ask anything more, unless you're ready."