It never fully processed in my mind that Everett had kissed my forehead twice and kissed me on the lips all in one day. I hardly bothered to think that Everett kissing me was him making the first move...and that had meant endless possibilities for us. One being a relationship.
Everett was my only friend most of my life, so when we drifted, I didn't really know exactly what was appropriate for friends and what wasn't. But I could surely figure out that kissing was not on the list for friendly activities.
I had to admit, it was pretty fun sneaking around with him. We tried—and failed miserably—to tiptoe around into his house to get to his bedroom. But he stepped on one of Grace's—his little sister—toys, and it began singing loudly a Disney song.
Everett looked like he could kill someone in that moment, but I nearly fell over laughing at him.
He cracked a small smile eventually, rushing to my side to assist me so that we wouldn't fall on another singing toy.
He had to hold my hand as we blindly followed the contour of the hallway wall. He lived here, so the path was routinely burned into his mind, but not mine.
"Do you want to shower?" Everett whispered when we were finally in his room.
"Yes, but that wouldn't be too good for us," I analyzed the dark blue walls of his bedroom, sparsely decorated with a poster or two. "Being secretive, and all."
"Right," He sighed. "Well, I figured you didn't want to sleep in your jeans, so I tried to find the smallest pair of shorts, and they might fall down so tie them tight. And here's the smallest shirt I have."
He handed the stack to me.
"Thanks," The shorts seemed big, but they would have to work for the night. The shirt had an old band I didn't recognize fading across the front. I waited for Everett to turn around so I could change, but he just stared expectantly down at me. "Um...could you... maybe turn around?"
"Oh, right," He jumped slightly, swiveling immediately. His ears looked red as he rubbed the back of his neck.
He was right, I had to tie the shorts tight. I couldn't get them tight enough though, and had to awkwardly grip them so they wouldn't fall.
"Ok, can we just, go to bed," I hobbled awkwardly behind him, trying to hide how stupid I looked.
"Alright. Let me change, too," He turned to head to his closet, and I hid behind him until I could make a run for it to his bed.
I scooted up against the side of the bed that was against the wall, yanking the thick comforter up almost completely over my head as I waited.
Courteously, I faced the wall, tucking my head below the blanket as I waited.
Everett grunted when he fell into the bed, gently lifting the blanket to crawl underneath.
"What're you hiding?" He muttered as he scooted closer to me.
"What?" I looked back over my shoulder, my face flushing immediately to see his rough, masculine features gazing down at me. "Um...the pants don't fit."
"You're a dork," He closed the small gap between us suddenly, wrapping one arm around my stomach and pulling my back against his chest, tucking his other arm underneath his head. "What did you think of tonight?"
"You're...crazy," I shook my head. "I meant what I said in the car earlier, you know."
"Mm," He groaned, nudging his face against the top of my head, burying his nose in my hair.
I wanted to explain further, hoping he would have listened this time rather than convince me I needed to kiss him to make up for it—not that I minded the kiss. But his breathing was becoming more rhythmic and mellow, tickling my scalp. I took that as his goodnight, and let him rest, rather than keep him up.
He seemed so exhausted after racing, and it made me wonder if he had been practicing the night he picked me up from dance and that was why he seemed so tired.
I fidgeted for a moment, getting comfortable against him. His hand did a few circles against my stomach when I moved, and I couldn't fall asleep because I was so focused on his warm hand against me.
But eventually, his hand moved routinely and evenly, and I found myself embracing his touch as he lured me to sleep.
+
I awoke to a male voice yelling faintly somewhere in Everett's house.
I tried to get up, but quickly noticed Everett had pinned me between himself and the wall, his big muscled arm strung out over my cheek. He was hot, and the heat was overwhelming as I gently tried to shove him off.
Eventually, I was able to lift my head after carefully sliding his arm off of my face. As I turned my head to drowsily survey the room, Everett was gently pushing my head back down against the pillow that was his arm.
"Good morning to you, too," I muttered around a yawn.
He didn't respond.
"Everett," I squeaked. "I'm kind of trapped."
He groaned angrily, then slowly scooted back so that I had room. I followed him, flipping over to face him.
I was taken aback to see his gorgeous face so close in front of me. His hair and eyebrows were dark, his face glowing and pale in contrast to his long black eyelashes. Faint blue and purple veins trickled below his eyes. I noticed for the first time a few faint freckles peppered the height of his cheekbones, his nose. His lips were relaxed and slightly parted as his hot breath fanned my face.
I kissed those very lips last night. And I'd bet maybe...I could do it again.
But his dad, I assumed, began bickering loudly again. Everett opened one bright blue eye, glaring as he glanced around the room, recognizing the sound.
His dad was not a good person.
I remember in seventh grade, Everett came to school with the most horrific, busted lip I had seen. Worse than in the movies.
He never explained to me how he got it, and that's how I knew it was his dad. We were best friends, we told each other everything. And, that wasn't the first time that had happened.
I could only hope Everett's dad had stopped whatever abuse he had been putting Everett through, especially considering there was a sweet little girl in this house now, too.
I never noticed any more strange bruises or cuts after middle school, and I never spotted any on his mom. I could only hope it wasn't what I thought it was.
Nonetheless, as his dad's voice raised further, coyly, I reached out to Everett's face. I could still see the faintest bit of the scar left on his lip which cascaded down to the crease above his chin.
I touched him. Gently, I traced the pinkish mark with my thumb with sad eyes, remembering how ashamed little Everett was when he explained how much it hurt to talk that day so long ago.
He watched me, a question on the verge of slipping through his lips, but he stayed quiet. It was easy to ignore the yelling man, and it was suddenly peaceful.
He grabbed my wrist, twisting my hand around. Light as a feather, he placed a kiss on the back of my hand. He turned my hand back around again before pushing my hand up against his throbbing heart.
He closed his eyes, releasing a deep breath.
His dad screamed loudly again.
"For fucks sake," Everett growled roughly. He flung upwards, the calm moment from before out the window. The boy who was mellow and sleepy seconds ago was now angrily ripping the blanket off of himself, charging to the door. He swung it open, slamming it shut behind him.
I sat up immediately, clutching the blanket to my chest, thinking quick.
His dad wasn't harming whoever he was yelling at, right? Would he hurt Everett? If he did, what could I do to stop it?
It stung to know I probably couldn't pull a grown man off of Everett even if I willed my entire body to.
Plus...I couldn't just strut out of Everett's room into his dysfunctional family life after not seeing his parents in years. Not the best look.
But if push came to shove, I would do it for him.
I hopped out of the bed, tiptoeing to the door to press my ear against the cold surface.
It seemed like I had just caught the end of the argument. I heard Everett's dad's voice slip away further from me as a set of heavy footsteps faded, too.
A door slamming made me cringe.
Did...Everett leave me?
No, no it was his dad.
His father complained to who I assumed to be his mom.
So, maybe Everett did leave. Uh oh. What now?
I turned away from the door on my heels. My hands balled into fists at my side as I paced around his room.
He did not. How could he?!
Suddenly, the window was staring right at me. Duh!
I began bundling my clothes from last night into my chest as I trudged towards the window. A table sat below it, and I had to carefully move his Macbook and empty water bottles off of it.
I set the clothes on the window sill, beginning to peel the window back slowly, cautious not to make any sound.
I jumped, on the verge of having a heart attack, to see Everett stepping into my view through the window just as I opened it.
His eyes were so furious, I was scared he might eat me alive. His lips were pressed into a scowling frown, his dark eyebrows irate and furrowed.
He was still in his pjs, one's that matched my own but fit him much more flatteringly. He had shoes on though, and I caught sight of a set of keys in his hand crossed over his chest.
"You were gonna leave me!" I cried, no longer worrying about being quiet as I fought the window until it slid all the way back frantically.
He didn't respond, just flashed his cold blue eyes at me before he yanked the screen out of place with one try.
I gazed with a question in my eyes as he held his hand out.
"C'mon," He warned, vexed.
"Um..." My hands left the window, shooting to the basketball shorts that were sliding down my hips as we spoke.
"Celestine. If you don't take my hand, I will leave you this time," He snapped impatiently.
"Everett," I held the waist band as tightly as my grip allowed, hiking them up drastically. "It's...just that...um..."
"That's it," He grumbled, infuriated. He retracted his hand immediately, beginning to pace away.
"Everett, my pants will fall down!" I squeaked.
Horrified with what I had just confessed, I watched him stop in his tracks before slowly turning back to get me.
"Sit on the sill," He ordered.
I listened, sitting down quickly, making sure my pants didn't slide down during the action.
Since his house was only one story, I was relieved how close we were to the ground. Though I'm sure Everett's height helped with his next action.
He slid one big arm behind my knees, the other bracing my back.
I didn't need directions, just assumed what to do next. I pushed off of the window sill, gliding into his arms, bridal style. He set me down almost immediately. My hands shot to the rim of the shorts, gripping them urgently before waddling after him.
Mean!
+
As Everett rolled into the driveway of my house, I realized my mother was working again this morning. Thank god!
I rubbed my eyes—that were still slightly aching from waking up abruptly and the world being too bright— sighed, then turned my head to Everett.
"Thanks," I shyly smiled. "For last night. I'm really amazed with you—even though what you do is dangerous, and don't think I'll forget that! But, I had fun last night."
"Cel, it's my job," He grumbled. "I know what I'm doing. You know, your lack of confidence in me is really starting to bug me. You watched me win last night, not drive into a fucking building." He chuckled, rolling his eyes.
I frowned.
"Don't give me that," Everett murmured, his eyes flickering to my lips. "You should head inside, though. I want to check on my mom and Grace soon." He said distractedly, gaze still on my grimace.
"Alright," I opened the door, bundling my clothes in one hand while holding up my pants with the other.
"Oh, Cel?" Everett spoke seconds before I closed the door. I looked at him expectantly. "Don't drop your pants on the way to your front door."
I felt my face twist with anger before I slammed the door. Screw him and his stupidly large pants!