After

Chapter 24.

"What the actual hell was that? You and Hardin.. you and Hardin are like messing around?" She asks me and covers her face in mock horror.

"No! No way! We aren't messing around" I tell her. Are we? No, we just happened to kiss, twice. And he took my shirt off, and I was basically humping him but we aren't messing around. "I have a boyfriend remember?"

"So, that doesn't mean you can't mess around with Hardin. I just can't believe this! I thought you guys hated each other. Well Hardin hates everyone but I thought he hated you even more than his normal hatred for people" she laughs. "When did this even.. how did this happen?"

I sit on her bed and run my fingers through my hair. "I don't know. Well Saturday when you left the party I ended up in his room because this creep tried to hit on me and I kissed Hardin. We promised to never speak of it again but then he came by today and he started messing with me, not in that way" I tell her after seeing her smirk grow. "Like he was throwing my stuff around and I pushed him and then somehow we ended up on the bed" I tell her. It sounds so bad as I repeat it. I really am acting "slutty" just like my mother said. I out my hands over my face, how could I do this to Noah, again?

"Whoa, that sounds hot" Steph says and I roll my eyes.

"It's not, its terrible and wrong. I love Noah and Hardin is a jerk. I don't want to be another conquest of his."

"You could learn a lot from Hardin.. you know sexually" she says and my mouth falls open. Is she serious? Is that something she would do.. wait has she? Her and Hardin?

"No way, I don't want to learn anything from Hardin. Or anyone besides Noah" I tell her. I can't imagine Noah and I making out like that. My mind replays Hardin's words "You're so sexy, Tess" he said. Noah would never say something like that. No one has ever called me that before. I feel my cheeks heat as I think about it. "Have you?" I ask her. I have to know if her and Hardin have slept together.

"With Hardin? No, well I haven't had sex with him but we had a little fling when we first met as embarrassing as that is to admit. But nothing came from it, we were sort of friends with benefits for about a week" she says like it's no big deal. I can't help the jealousy that stirs inside me.

"Oh.. benefits?" I ask, my mouth is completely dry and I find myself suddenly annoyed by Steph.

"Yea, nothing too big. Just like a few heavy make out sessions, a grope or two. Nothing serious" she says and my chest hurts. I am not surprised really, but I wish I wouldn't have asked.

"Does Hardin have a lot of friends with benefits?" I don't want to hear the answer but I can't help but ask.

"Yea, he does. I mean not like hundreds but he's a pretty.. active guy" She says and I can tell she is sugar coating it for my sake. I make the mental decision for what feels like the hundredth time to stay away from him. I will not be anyone's friends with benefits. Ever. "He doesn't do it to be mean or use girls, they pretty much throw themselves at him and he lets them know from the start that he doesn't date" she defends him. I remember her telling me that before.

"Why doesn't he date?" Why can't I stop asking these questions?

"I don't know really.. he just doesn't. I think you could have a lot of fun with Hardin, but I also think this could be dangerous for you. Unless you know you will never develop any sort of feelings for him I would stay away. I have seen a lot of girls fall for him and it's not pretty" her voice is full of concern.

"Oh, trust me I do not have feelings for him. I don't know what I was thinking" I laugh and hope it sounds genuine because it definitely isn't.

"Good, so how much trouble did you get into with your mom and Noah?" She laughs and sits down on her bed across from me.