Chapter 22
Blake's POV
That first week of getting settled in went by fairly quickly. I've spoken to Ethan every night for hours. The following week I had my classes and they went by without a hitch. I had two classes with Charlie and the rest with complete strangers, although I did make quite an amount of friends so I would say that it was an accomplishment.
It was Friday and I couldn't be happier than to have a break from my first two weeks of College. It had been fun but quite stressful. I was also planning on driving up to UVA to see Ethan, which only made me happier. He planned on taking me out tonight making me impatient for today to come.
"You sure you don't want to come?" Charlie asked.
"No I'm heading over to see Ethan today." I said smiling at the thought.
"Oh that's right. Okay well text me when you get there." She replied leaving the dorm.
I put on a salmon colored sundress and matched it with some cute sandals. I straightened my hair and put on a little eyeliner and mascara. Once finished, I grabbed my phone, wallet, and car keys and headed out.
I felt my phone buzz and checked it to see Ethan calling.
"Hello." I answered.
"Hey, just checking to see if you left yet." He said causing me to break out in a big grin.
"Just now getting in my car. I'll be there soon." I replied hopping in my car.
"Okay, drive safe. I'll see you soon." He said.
I hung up the phone and turned the key in the ignition to turn on my car. I typed the address to my GPS and cruised away from the school.
I pulled up to a visitor-parking garage and was thankful that it was hidden from the student's parking lot. By the look of driving through the campus, it seemed so preppy.
Once out of my car and walking, I unlocked my phone and dialed Ethan's number.
"You here?" He said immediately.
"Sure am although I'm not quite sure where to go... there are buildings everywhere and they all look the same." I said giggling.
He laughed over the line, "Where are you exactly?" He asked.
"Someplace where it says Rosetta fountains. There are a handful of girls and guys here." I said scamming the crowd of the preppy students. It was as if it were a fashion show here. Thank god I dressed the way I did.
"Okay, you're not far. Stay there and I'll come get you." He replied.
"Mhmm my man to the rescue. That's cute." I said.
"So are you, wearing your cute dress." He said making me look in front of me to see if he was there. Where was he?
I felt two arms wrap around my waist making me squeal. I felt someone's chin resting on my shoulder, kissing the side of my neck.
I closed my eyes enjoying the embrace that I knew was Ethan. His aroma was all around me making me feel comfort in my body.
I turned around and gave him a quick peck on the lips, "Missed you." He said as I pulled away.
"Missed you." I responded.
"Come, let me show you around." He said entwining our hands together as he led us down a path.
"And where are you taking me?" I asked curiously.
"Well first, I want to take you to see Drew because he's been nagging all day long about seeing you." He said chuckling.
My insides lit up, "I've missed that dork. Hope he's staying out of trouble." I said honestly.
Ethan grinned and pulled me so that he was hugging me from his side while we walked.
He took us into a building, which I assumed was his dorm. He greeted some man I don't recognize and led us to a hall to the right. He turned his key in the knob and opened the door.
His room was much bigger that ours. He had four twin beds, which didn't make sense. I looked at them curiously and as if reading my mind Ethan explained why there were four.
"The superstar complained about having such a tiny bed so the RA had two beds delivered a few days ago. He didn't need the second one so he gave it to me. The advantages of rooming with the walking STD." Ethan said making me giggle.
Their room was very clean for two boys in College but then again, it had only been a week. Ethan plopped down on his big bed and pulled me down under him causing me to squeal.
He stroked my face softly, not saying anything. He hovered over my body for a few seconds and gave me a quick peck on the lips, "Want me to show you around?" He asked kissing me softly all over my face.
"Mhmm." I said not really paying attention. He pulled me up and walked us out to the door.
Just as we approached the doors to exit his hall, a group of guys bombarded Ethan with hellos.
"What's up man? How you been?" Some guy said pulling Ethan in for a bro hug or whatever. My insides melted. He seemed to be doing just fine here.
"Hey man, I'm doing great. How about you?" He said saying hello to the group of guys.
"Just came back from the gym. We're going to the party being thrown for the players tonight. You're coming right?" The mixed colored man said.
Ah, that explains it. They were players on the football team.
Ethan pulled me closer to him, "Not tonight. My girl's here so I'm spending tonight with her." He said smiling at me. I couldn't help but blush.
"Damn, look what we've got here." The attractive mixed colored boy said.
"Damn, look what we don't have there." I replied looking at him with a fake disgusted look on my face. He seemed sweet and I could tell that we was kidding with his remark by the wink he gave Ethan.
All of the boys around him started laughing, including Ethan. Surprisingly, Ethan didn't react like he did with all he other boys when they would say something to me like that.
"Nick here is the second most famous walking STD." Ethan said looking at me.
"I'm not as freaky as Drew. That man is a walking legend." Nick said jokingly.
"Is that so." I replied sarcastically.
"Well hate to keep you two from doing the "dirty". Nice meeting you..." He said while putting his hand out for me to shake it, waiting for me to introduce myself.
"Blake." I responded, shaking his hand.
"Good meeting you Blake. I'll see you around Ethan." He said before grabbing his hand for a shake.
"Later fellas." Ethan said ushering us outside.
I smiled as we left, "And why are you so happy?" Ethan asked as we walked across a path toward an area where bunches of people were standing.
"Seeing you happy makes me happy." I responded.
He smiled and pulled me closer to him, letting me snuggle up on his arm.
We walked passed many groups of guys and girls. They all stared at us making me feel quite uncomfortable.
"This is the quad, where everyone meets and socializes. Sort of like the village at JMU." Ethan said stopping under a tree.
"Ethan!" Someone shouted.
He didn't turn around. Whoever the person was came beside him, forcing him to look at them, "Hey Payson." Ethan said politely to the blonde headed girl.
She twirled her hair around through her finger and bit her lip, "So you coming to the party tonight?" She asked batting her eyelashes.
Seriously?
She was hitting on him when I was standing right there. Was this girl dropped on her head when her mother gave birth?
I put my head down, staring at my feet while she continued to talk. I felt awkward standing there while she was deliberately trying to flirt with him. She knew I was there and did it anyway.
"Nope. Planning on spending tonight with my girlfriend." He said pulling my face up, giving me a sweet, loving kiss.
As I pulled away she responded, "Oh well. You'll be missing out." She said angrily and walked away.
"Yeah I highly doubt that." Ethan said chuckling as he pulled away from the kiss.
"You should go tonight." I said feeling a little bad for him. He's missed so much for me already.
"I don't want to go tonight. I want to take you out and spend every second I can with you." He said giving me a quick peck on the lips again.
"You sure?" I asked again.
"Positive lover girl." He said taking me to a parking lot.
He took us to his car and opened the door for me to get in.
"Where are we going?" I asked excitedly.
"On our first official date. I know it's kind of late but all those little things we did back in Auburn don't count. And neither does the beach since we went before we were together." He said squeezing my hand, as he put the car on reverse.
I hadn't really thought about that. We've been out already a lot but I guess he's right. We've never been on a first real date.
My stomach fluttered as we pulled away from the school.
We made easy conversation throughout the car ride. We pulled up to a fancy restaurant making me feel even more grateful that I decided to wear my sundress.
Once out of the car, he took my hand and entwined it in his.
"This look's very nice." I said grinning at him as we made out way into the restaurant.
He smiled and went up to the hostess to check on our reservation. We were seated immediately outside on a gorgeous private plush booth overlooking a river I wasn't familiar with.
"You didn't have to do all of this." I said as I sat down in the booth. He came in and sat beside me.
"I wanted to." He said kissing me on my temple.
Even the booth was fancy let alone the whole restaurant. There were shimmery lights that dangled across the top of the booths. It was a gorgeous summer day, with the breeze making its way in the air. It was gorgeous but felt so... odd.
"This is very proper of you lover boy." I said.
"A little too much... you're not enjoying it are you?" He asked looking at me.
"No I love it, it's just that..." I said before getting cut off.
"It's just that this isn't us, at all." He said chuckling nervously, itching the back of his head.
"Come with me." He said grabbing my hand and directing us out of the fancy restaurant.
Instead of taking us to the car I expected, he strolled us down a wide path that led to a Dave & Busters arcade.
"Dave & Busters?" I asked excitedly. I've never been but I've always been a sucker for arcades since I was a little girl.
Ethan laughed, "Only if you want to lover girl." He said grinning.
I bit my lip and dragged him to the doors. "This just got ten times better." I said grinning at him.
His whole face lit up, "Good." He said, giving me a quick peck on the lips.
He bought us some food first and then our game cards. I wasted no time and went straight to play skeeball.
"You and your obsession with skeeball." He said chuckling as I swiped my card for the fiftieth time.
"Last game, then I promise I'll stop boring you." I said winking at him.
He smirked, "You're never boring." He said coming from behind me and wrapping his hands around my waste.
"Not fair." I said trying to ignore the butterflies soaring in my stomach.
"What's not fair?" he said breathing down my neck, sending me shivers.
I turned around so that I was facing him, "I know what you're doing." I whispered in his ear before I kissed a spot behind it.
I turned around and started playing, hoping that it affected him.
He groaned. I smiled at myself as I threw the last ball across the ramp.
I grabbed the tickets and rushed Ethan to the ticket booth.
"What do you want?" I asked.
"All you babe." He said grabbing me into a hug.
"Can we have two cotton candies, and.." I said looking around at my options.
"Those two bracelets." I said pointing at the knotted black and white bracelets that looked like they were sold from a beach shop.
"Which bracelets would you like?" She asked pulling the bracelets out of the glass window then glancing at Ethan. Her glance turned into a long stare as she was now ogling my boyfriend.
I rolled my eyes, she could look all she wanted but touching... she could try but I would most likely smack her silly.
"Could we get those two?" Ethan asked pointing to two bracelets in the glass.
The lady twirled her blonde hair around her fingertips and bit her lip nodding her head at Ethan. Wow, she has it bad.
I giggled a little and hugged myself tight into Ethan's chest. I was surprised I wasn't feeling uncomfortable, usually when girls would do that around Ethan and I, it would make me feel extremely awkward like it did with that girl in the quad earlier. I guess the date made me feel more assured with my relationship with him.
"Here you go." She said as she handed the bracelets to Ethan. He took them without acknowledging her. The poor girl was trying so hard and Ethan didn't even have a clue on what was going on.
Ethan took my hand and led us out of the building. We walked along the path a little while longer. It was nighttime now and to my surprise, there were a lot of people here. It looked like a small boardwalk although it wasn't on a beach. There were shops along the so-called 'boardwalk' and many people were shopping. If Ethan hadn't told me that this was a lake, I would so have though that we were at a beach with the sand and the shops.
"They call it the Boca Pier. It's only a few minutes away from campus. The whole town comes here on the weekends. It's very popular." Ethan said as we continued to stroll along the boardwalk.
"I can see why. I wish I had something like this to go to near JMU. " I said smiling up at him to see him smiling as well.
***************************************************
"Have fun?" Ethan said as we entered his dorm.
"Yes I did, thank you." I said honestly, throwing my arms around his neck pulling him closer to me as we stumbled walking across the floor of his bedroom.
"Ah!" I half screamed as I fell on the floor with Ethan hovering over me.
I couldn't help but giggle. Ethan started to laugh as well and I couldn't help but smile at his handsome face.
We laid there for a while, not moving as he was still hovering over me. I turned my head to get a glance at the clock. I knew I had to leave now if I wanted to be home before eleven.
"Stay." Ethan said stroking my cheek, as if reading my thoughts.
"Stay?" I asked confused.
"I don't want you to go. Stay with me tonight lover girl." He said with his beautiful brown eyes burning into my face.
"The bed is big enough thanks to Drew and we don't have school tomorrow. Please stay with me baby." He said again more persuasive this time while moving strands of my hair behind my ear.
"You sure?" I said softly.
"More than sure." He said smiling before kissing me passionately. He picked me up from the floor so that he was carrying me bridal style. He put me down softly on the bed, lips still intact.
I felt quite panicked. Not because I was spending the night with him. We always used to spend the nights together.It was more because I felt like he wanted more.
This past month flew by so quickly as well as my relationship with Ethan. We've never talked about it and I didn't really think about it until now. After all, we waited so long for it to happen. I didn't mind how fast things were going because frankly, I liked that it was.
Ethan and I never really talked about a lot of things. I was also okay with that because those things weren't needed to be discussed about until later on but this... this had been driving me insane lately.
"I'm a virgin Ethan." I blurted out before I could think about it for another second. I clamped my hand against my mouth realizing what I'd just said.
He looked confused, his eyes boring into mine.
His eyes softened and his expression looked as If he wanted to eat me whole, catching me by surprise. "Where did that come from?" He asked as he hovered over me, stroking my cheek softy as we were lying on his bed.
"I've never really talked to you about this ever but everything lately seems to be going so fast and I'm okay with it. It's just that this has been driving me crazy, the "I'm a virgin" thing. I know you're experienced and I'm not and I guess I don't want to disappoint you." I said feeling utterly stupid for bringing the subject up.
Ethan got up and pulled me up with him. He pulled the chair and turned it around so that his arms were folded on top of the backrest, facing me. He grabbed one of my hands and entwined it with his.
"I'm sorry I make you feel pressured into thinking about that already. I never intended to make you feel that I'm rushing you to do anything you're not ready for." He said before I interrupted him.
"No Ethan, you're not rushing me or pressuring me into doing anything. You've never done more than I've wanted you to. I love how things are between us no matter how fast or slow they are or become. I feel terrible that I'm not quite ready... for that, just yet." I said feeling my cheeks flush at the embarrassment I was feeling.
He hopped off his chair and went over to where a black plastic bag that he carried from our date. He picked the bag up and walked over to me, pulling me up so that we were both standing.
"Baby, you shouldn't be embarrassed about this. I could care less about sex right now. We wont do anything until you are ready, okay? I can wait as long as you want me to. I don't want to rush you and I'm not trying to. I want you to be comfortable around me and tell me how you feel at any time you aren't. We've got all the time in the world for that." He said planting a soft kiss on my forehead.
"All the time in the world?" I asked half excitedly yet half shocked.
He smirked and pulled out what looked like two bracelets from the bag.
He put one on my wrist, "To infinity." He said smiling, reading the phrase off of my bracelet.
"And beyond." I said staring down at his bracelet.
He must have picked these out from Dave and Busters. My bracelet was white that had "To Infinity" engraved in it in black ink and he had "And Beyond" engraved in his black bracelet in white ink.
I smiled at him and gave him a quick peck on the lips. "Now, isn't that a little too feminine?" I said jokingly.
"Hmm... you're right. I should probably take it off, huh?" He said smirking.
"Don't you dare." I said playfully smacking his shoulder, turning around so that I was walking away from him.
"Mhmm, my girls feisty. That's hot." He said grabbing my arm, spinning me around so that we were facing each other again. He brought our lips together and kissed me passionately.
His tongue found mine and he let out my favorite moan from his chest causing a heated sensation to burn between my legs.
I pulled away from the kiss with every will power in me.
"Movie?" I said teasingly, knowing that it would drive him insane.
He groaned just as expected.
"Anything for you lover girl. Pick out a movie on Netflix." He said smirking, heading to a drawer. I smiled and did as told.
I hopped on his bed that was doubled the size of mine and flipped through the movies on Netflix. A white t-shirt that was incredibly large was tossed onto my lap.
"That's for you to sleep in. Do you want shorts or sweats or something?" Ethan said looking in his drawers. That poor boy was struggling to find whatever it was he was looking for me.
"No that's okay babe. I think that this will do." I said bending over to give him a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Want me to close my eyes?" He asked jokingly.
I rolled my eyes playfully. "Like that'll stop you." I said jokingly.
He chuckled. He got up and went over to the bed. I pulled my dress over my head so that I was only in my bra and underwear. Thank god I wore my matching bra and panties from Victoria's Secret.
I didn't feel at all shy when it came to this kind of stuff around him, which I guess is good. I felt pretty comfortable with Ethan but after tonight's discussion, I felt that he doesn't believe I do. Hopefully this would reassure him.
I took a quick glance at the mirror on the dresser and saw that Ethan was glaring at me with his mouth slightly opened.
I smiled and quickly went back to changing. I tossed the shirt over my head and through my arms. The shirt stopped mid-thigh, exposing my long legs. Surprisingly, it wasn't as loose as I expected it to be.
I pulled my hair out of my shirt, letting it fall loosely on my back. I turned around and saw Ethan still staring.
"You're gorgeous, you know that?" He said breathlessly.
I felt my face flush, "You're not so bad yourself." I said winking at him.
He smirked and started to pull his shirt over his head. My mouth went dry as he tossed it to the side of his bed. Ethan lifted up the covers and nodded his head to me directing me to lay with him.
I climbed in and rested my head against his chest. He put an arm under me and cradled me tight against his skin. I loved the feeling of his skin under my fingertips. Being here with Ethan felt so safe and I could feel the feelings inside me only getting stronger for him each time we were together.
"A Walk To Remember again?" Ethan asked chuckling a little.
"Mhmm." I mumbled against his chest, fixating my eyes at the flat screen.
"I don't understand why you love this movie so much. It's such a terrible ending." He said.
"Just because it isn't a happy ending doesn't mean it's a terrible ending lover boy. It's the plot that get's me so attached to it. He love's her throughout everything. It's crazy how strong their relationship is. It's completely different from typical romances these days. Not everyone has a happy ending." I said looking up at him.
"The lucky ones do." He said softly.
I kissed him lightly on his lips and went back to resting my head on his chest. Boy was I falling for him, hard.
He kissed me on my temple as I started to pay attention to the movie. I could stay here like this with him forever if I could. It was about halfway into the movie as I started to drift off.
I heard a few voices I assumed were from the movie.
"Goodnight baby." Was the last I heard from Ethan before I completely fell asleep.