Chapter 20
Hey guys – sorry this has taken a little longer than I thought because I got flu, which turned into a chest infection and laryngitis. I’m pretty much better now but it put writing on hold for a while. :D
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“ Just so you know, now I’m goanna make you wet” Ari said, the playful glint in his eye and the sexy little smirk, filed the line with double meaning.
I laughed “ Oh yeah, well I’m going to make that pretty hard for you” I said before I pushed him backwards into the sea, causing a huge splash as he disappeared into the water.
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Then I jumped in after him, and we spent the next hour having splash wars, trying to out do the other’s dives and having swimming races. He always won the races – I mean, he does have several inches on me as well as a whole lot of upper body muscle. I also tried not to check him out too often – which I probably failed at. However, I don’t think he would have won if it as a competition, either.
Then, when we deemed ourselves to have become like shrivelled up prunes from being in the water, we climbed out by the jetty and walked back to the picnic basket with our clothes, holding hands. I couldn’t keep the smile off my face, I felt so happy. Ari made sure to text my mum twice to tell her ‘Hi, are at Blossom Hill visiting Grandpa Pete- safe n sound – c u at 8 for dinner’ so she wouldn’t worry out of her mind. We spent the rest of the hour or so eating the sweet picnic of fruit, lemon cheesecake and crisps that he stole from the kitchen and trying to make out shapes in the small wisps of cloud that floated over the horizon.
As we lay on the beach, side-by-side I checked my watch. 6:08 pm
We’d have to leave soon.
I turned my head to face Ari, lifting myself onto my elbow’s so I could see his face properly. He seemed to have dozed off in the afternoon sun.
The hazy burnt orange glow of the sun as it started to descend from the sky cast a warm glow over his features, his hair seemed to be more of a dark honey colour in the light and his regular breathing told me he was quite deep asleep. He looked so sweet when he was sleeping; I had the familiar feeling of not wanting to wake him.
I kind of wanted to, so he could watch the sea change as the sun set, but I knew I wouldn’t.
After all, he must have been a little jet lagged from flying back.
I felt a pang of guilt when I realised I really hadn’t given him any rest since he’d gotten back… he was probably really tired.
Sighing, I looked out onto the sea, which had taken on a darker green shade as the sky became a inky blue and light purple smudge. Where the light of the sun hit the waves, they took on a reflective quality, which made the water seem silver. I always loved the way the sea became so otherworldly just before the sun properly started setting.
I glanced back at Ari’s sleeping form, his fluttering eyelids, his bare chest; he was still only wearing his boxers, which had dried ages ago.
He seemed to be really and truly dead to the world so I decided that he wouldn’t notice if I went and paddled in the waves for a bit. I didn’t want to go swimming, just dip my feet in and watch the sun play on the waves.
I pulled on my jean shorts quietly and silently walked toward sea, watching the changing colours of the waves. I slowly walked into the water, letting it wash over my feet, ankles, calves, then up to just above my knees.
I heard a slight splash in the water and turned around to find Ari standing by the edge of the sea. He had his white shirt on, unbuttoned, his head to the side.
“Hey, watching the sea huh?” he asked, his voice was slightly raspier from sleep.
I loved when his voice was like that. I also loved that he knew about my little obsession with the way the sea at this time of day.
“Yeah. You look like you just woke up”
Ari smiled sleepily “I did.” He ran his hand through his hair before making a face and chuckling “ I have half a ton of sand in my hair”
“Random but you know that’s what you get when you fall asleep on sand” I said smiling, turning back to watch the sea.
I heard the slight splash sound as Ari walked into the water, watching the ripples in the sea before I felt the warmth of his chest against my back. His arms looped around my waist loosely and his head rest on my shoulder.
I couldn’t help but grin as I felt myself relax into him, loving the feeling of his fingers drawing soft, delicate patterns on my stomach.
“ I hate to say it but we have to leave in ten minutes to get home in time” he said softly, his voice still slightly groggy with sleep.
“I know. Let’s just stand here a few minutes” I said, watching as the sky infused with a dusky pink haze as the sun began to set.
We stood there for a few minutes in content silence watching the sunset.
Then I felt Ari’s lips placing a small kiss on the side of my neck, then another one, until he was softly and slowly butterfly kissing me across my neck and my shoulder.
I bit my lip, trying to stop my breath from coming out in short gasps as I felt my stomach flitter with butterflies.
“Is this you telling me that my time is up?” I asked, my voice coming out way more breathy than intended.
I kind of didn’t want Ari to know the full extent of his effect on me…
“Mmm …” he planted another kiss “we probably have two minutes more ” he planted another kiss on my shoulder “ this is me passing the time”
I chuckled “Ok. This is a good plan for you huh?”
I felt Ari smile on my skin as he planted another kiss at the top of my neck, making me arch my neck to give him better access. Then one of his hands left my stomach and just as quickly returned. He must have put his hand in the sea, so when he trailed his fingers up my stomach and across my ribcage, the left a trail of seawater. His touch was slightly ticklish and the feel of the water dripping down my stomach slowly as his fingers traced patterns on the skin across my ribcage made everything down south warm up.
I felt myself instinctively arch forward to his touch as a soft moan left my mouth and I immediately blushed. It’s not like I hadn’t been with other guys, they just never had this much of an affect on me.
Ari planted another kiss on my neck before he spoke, his voice was gravely and strained, telling me this was just as fun for him “ are you saying you don’t like the plan?” he asked, knowing that whatever this was – I didn’t hate it.
Then I felt Ari’s fingers trail up to the bottom of my bra, tracing underneath the wiring and I held my breath. I knew that if he continued I wouldn’t stop his hand from travelling upwards, under the lace…
But a sharp beeping ran out from somewhere behind us and I felt Ari sigh onto my neck, his warm breathe spreading over my skin. “Uh, shit.” He murmured.
“Huh? What’s that sound?” I asked, trying not to let the annoyance creep into my voice. Seriously – what was with the interruptions all the time?!
“That is the stupid timer I set on my mobile so we wouldn’t be late.” He said.
After three more beeps, the sound stopped.
I couldn’t help it but I started laughing.
He set a timer? When the heck did Ari get so organised? He is and always has been king of the ten- minutes- late- for- everything- land.
Gee – I suddenly had a vivid image of his worried face as he set the alarm, he probably didn’t want to piss of my mum. She hates late dinners.
“ Shut up. I would have forgotten otherwise” He grumbled.
I turned around, still laughing “Oh Ari! You are such a dork” I said before I burst into laughter.
Ari frowned. He looked so cute.
“But you’re my dork.” I said and Ari smiled. “So give me a piggy back to the towels” I ordered, grinning.
Ari raised an eyebrow “You think you can just order me around?” .
“Pretty much. You love it.”
Ari shook his head “ Sure…” he gave me his hand and walked us further out of the water, till we were up to our ankles, before he turned around “Hop on”
I jumped up, loving the feel of his arms round my legs as I wrapped my arms round his neck “ I have trained you well obi one” I said
Ari laughed and walked towards the towels “ You know you just made yourself the hairy green midget in the movie”
I laughed and pulled his hair “Shut it, Yoda’s a legend” I replied, and we argued over Starwars characters all the way back to our towels. Even as he put me down, we packed up and dressed. Then I teased Ari about his old fake light saber toy he used to play with that I know he hasn’t chucked away as we walked back to Blossom Hill House. Ari slung an arm over my shoulder as we walked back down the beach path in the purple half light, towards the back porch, where I could see Pete sitting playing chess with the man from before.
We walked up the stairs and over to where they were sitting “ Were leaving now Grandpa” Ari said. They stood up and gave each other a man hug.
When Ari pulled away, Pete hit him on the back and whispered something to him that I could only just make out “ Don’t … stupid… helluva catch…. whole other league … don’t screw it up… Ok Grandson?”
Huh?
Well, he does have a streak of the eccentric in him, if you haven’t noticed.
Then Pete smiled and I gave him a hug “Thanks for the advice” I whispered.
He smiled, “ Had to say something before I croaked, kiddo” he said back, before he let go.
I smiled, feeling a blush on my face.
Then he sat back down in his chair and smiled as Ari slung his arm back round my shoulders “ Well, my work here is done, now you guys skeddadle because I have to beat Harold here again.” he said with a wink “ But don’t you two be becoming strangers do you hear? I want another visit, even if it is for the cheesecake” he said grinning.
We both laughed, “We’ll be back” I said smiling.
Then we walked back through the house, dropping off the basket by the kitchen and walking thorough the stained glass front door, back to the car. The breeze from the sea was lovely and balmy.
I couldn’t help but grin as we walked back to the car “ So can I drive my own car this time?” I asked
Ari walked round to the passenger side and chucked me the keys before he opened the door and sat down smiling. “Take me home Jeeves”
“Jeeves? I should make you walk” I said, faking hurt as I climbed into the drivers seat put on my and started up the engine, driving us home.
On the drive home Ari put on the radio to a station doing 90’s night, and we sat in comfortable silence listening to random songs. When a classic song came on we’d grin at each other as we sang along, with me mostly laughing at Ari’ as he sang ‘ hit me baby one more time’ and ‘ not yet a woman’. That last one had me cracking up as he sang along, pretending to be a girl and everything!
By the time we drove into my garage and I turned off the ignition it was 8:09 pm.
Pretty good time if you ask me.
We both got out the car and, both smelling my mums chicken roast and raced into the house towards the kitchen.
When we both got into the kitchen, my parents and Linda were sitting at the island eating, with two plates left out for us, side by side.
“Look what the cat dragged in” my dad said smiling at our hurried, skidding entrance into them kitchen.
“Hey, did you have fun hanging out with your Granddad?” Linda asked as she cut into her chicken.
I glanced at Ari who grinned at me before he took his seat “Yeah, great. We had some of Helens cheesecake”
“Oh and I brought over a bag of your clothes for a few days, you can’t live in your press clothes. There in the hallway” she said to Ari.
I hopped onto my seat “I heard about Pete’s wheelchair races” I said, which caused Linda and Ari to laugh while my parents asked them what they meant. After a few seconds everyone was laughing, and we started talking about Pete’s antics over the years while we ate.
When we finished dinner my mum and Linda went into the living room to watch TV, while Ari and I helped my dad pack away the dishes. My dad washed while we both dried. Half way through, my dad asked Ari to fetch some dirty glasses left in the living room and when he left I felt his questioning gaze turn to me.
“So you two went swimming?” my dad asked as he continued to wash up, nodding to my still damp hair.
“Yeah”
“Have fun?” he asked
I smiled “ Yeah, I haven’t been to the beach for a while”
“ You didn’t pack a swimming costume” my dad said as if he was stating something about the weather.
I felt myself freeze “ Yeah, I didn’t realise we were going to Blossom Hill so I didn’t pack one. So?” I asked, slightly defensively.
“ So, I guess I’m saying don’t have too much fun” he said, turning to look at me, his face slightly concerned.
I felt my face heat up and my grip tightened on the dishcloth in frustration. Why did my dad have to be so goddamn perceptive? It’s probably something to do with being a lawyer….
I really did not want to talk about that with my dad… Ari and I, well I didn’t even know what to say about what was happening between us, so I just stuck with the same line I’d given everyone for the past ten years. Ever since family and friends started asking questions about our friendship.
“ What? Were not like that. I went to the beach with my best friend and we had fun. As friends” I said, staring back at him.
My dad put his hands up in surrender “Yeah, ok if you say so. I’m just saying, if there was anything happening I’d want you to be careful about getting into anything to deep.”
“Too deep? What? Look, Ari would never hurt me. He’s my best friend” I said, emphasising the word friend as I felt my stomach knot. I really didn’t want to lie, but I wasn’t ready for this conversation.
My dad put his hands down and put them on my shoulder, looking into my eyes seriously. “Darling, sometimes the people that you love the most, know you well enough to hurt you the most”
I sighed, “ Well nothing’s happening” I lied.
He sighed “Ok , well , then nothing’s happening”- he stopped mid scentence as Ari walked in holding a stack of glasses “ Oh hey , pass them to me and I’ll finish it all off. You guys go off and watch TV or something”
I looked at my dad, who just nodded towards the kitchen door as if the talk hadn’t happened. I turned to Ari, who was watching us, leaning against the island “ Come on, I think there watching one of those question shows in the living room.”
Ari winced “ No way am I sitting through countdown or whatever it’s called. Torture”
I actually kind of like those types of shows, you learnt weird new facts and the contestants were always a little wacky. Though Ari hates them with a passion.
I nodded, pushing him out the kitchen and into the hallway “ Fine, I guess we’ll watch something in my room. I need to shower off this entire salt first, so I’ll use my ensuite”-
Ari interrupted me “ I’ll use the downstairs shower, I really need to get this sand out of my hair or I’ll make a mini beach tomorrow morning on my pillow”
“Ok, see you in twenty” I said, before I turned to leave up the stairs, but before I could get up the stairs I felt Ari’s hand on my wrist pulling me backwards, flush against his body as he stepped backward, out of the kitchen doorways line of vision.
Then I felt Ari’s lips on mine, softly kissing me. I opened my mouth and let the kiss deepen, feeling the same warm sensations that started to bubble up while watching the sunset. I sighed into the kiss and felt my arms loop around his neck, pulling on his hair slightly. In response his arm tightened around me, before he pulled away, leaning his forehead against mine.
“ Now your all hot and bothered I can let you go” he whispered, smirking.
I felt myself try and suppress a blush as I raised an eyebrow “ Has anyone ever told you that you’re arrogant and incredibly overconfident?” I whispered back, pulling on his hair.
Ari’s smirk grew “ all the time”
I smiled leaning forward, my lips brushing against his ear, making me smile as he shivered. “ Problem is, Aaron Fox. I know it’s all an act” I whispered, before I pulled away, briefly glancing at his shocked face before I skipped up the stair to my bedroom.
Before I closed the door I heard Ari mutter “F#cking hell Ella” under his breath.
I didn’t need to see his face to know he was running his hands through his hair.
I chuckled to myself softly as I stripped off my clothes, chucking them into my laundry basket and walked into my bathroom, without the door. I stepped into the shower, turning up the heat as I let the water beat down on me, washing away the salt from my body. I slowly shampooed and conditioned my hair, soaping myself clean, before I stepped out, dried myself off and wrapped a towel round me, walking into my bedroom. I listened in the silence, hearing the faint but familiar thrumming of water against tile in the down stairs bathroom. I switched on my TV ; flicking until I found a ‘Will and Grace’ re-run. I stood thinking about what to wear to bed.
Why the heck was this so difficult all of a sudden?
Scrap that! – I know exactly why. I hadn’t cared what Ari thought of my pyjamas before. It wouldn’t have made me cringe to think of walking around in the purple and neon green checked pyjamas my grandma sent me last Christmas in front of Ari before he left eight months ago. In fact, I wouldn’t have blinked an eye.
Now I was a standing, arm on hips, debating what to wear.
Urghhhh… there’s no point in me wearing anything out of the ordinary because then I’ll just look like I’m trying or something.
I guess it would be one of Ari’s t-shirts and a pair of pyjama shorts.
Rummaging through my underwear draw , I realised I really didn’t want to wear my granny knickers, even though I had no intention of Ari seeing them. I slipped on a white lacy Bra and knickers, before I pulled on Ari’s t-shirt as well as a pair of blue floral patterned bottoms. Then I hung my towel on the radiator and briefly blow-dried my hair, until it was semi dry as I watched the Tv.
When I finished I flopped back onto my bed, hearing my parents faintly laughing downstairs before I turned up the volume on the Tv. After a minute I heard a buzzing ring out, to find my phone’s little red ‘message’ light bleeping on my bedside table.
The text was form Marissa my other best friend , who was dragged to her Grandma’s in Michigan a few days after summer began. I’d missed her like crazy, but she’d kept me up to date with constant funny text messages and face book conversations in the last two weeks.
Marissa: Hey E, just got back from the edge of the world- Summer can begin!
plane food sucked but the hot guys sitting next to me made up for it
though :D Catch up tomorrow at our usual spot, 12:00pm?
M – xxxxxxx
I instantly texted back: Your finally back!!!! Can’t wait 2 see u , u can tell me all
About hot plane guy. C u at our spot tomorrow, try not 2 be
Too late M- xxxxx
I couldn’t help but smile, no doubt I’d be filled in on whatever crazy stuff Marissa managed to do in Michigan. I didn’t think Ari would mind me ducking out for the day to have some catch up time with Marissa; he could even come if he wasn’t busy. They both got on really well ; Marissa didn’t care about Ari being famous – in fact she found it a great reason to take the piss out of him, which he finds entertaining. It made life way easier because both of them were completely indispensable people in my life.
Then my door opened and Ari walked in wearing a grey t-shirt and black jeans. I smiled at him as he flopped down on my bed next to me.
“Hey, is your dad ok?” he asked
I looked up. Huh, I hope he didn’t have a little talk with Ari. That would be mortifying. “Yeah , why?”
Ari shrugged “ Nothing, he was just watching me like a hawk when I went into the kitchen”
I felt my stomach loosen slightly. Thank god he didn’t say anything!
“Uh, doesn’t sound anymore weird than his usual self” I said lightly, hoping to brush off the topic. “So Marissa just got back, I’m meeting her tomorrow morning, do you want to come?” I asked.
Ari chuckled “ I wish I could but I have to pick up some scripts from my agent and then my Press Agent wants me to do some kind of interview thing in the afternoon.
Anyway, you really don’t want me crashing your girl gossip catch up”
I evil eyed him “Girl gossip?”
Ari smiled and watched the Tv “Yeah”
I snuggled under my duvet and poked him in the ribs “ yeah well, have fun being asked about ‘the real Aaron Fox’” I made quotation marks with my fingers “ where you reveal your secret love for buxom brunettes like Kim Kardashian and your exercise routine” I said chuckling.
If you think about how personal, yet completely superficial the questions that actors are asked by the press it’s really seems kind of ridiculous. I mean, think about it. Would you ask a random person at the supermarket how they kept in shape or whether they wore boxers or briefs?
Didn’t think so.
I’ve always found it a little odd.
Ari looked down at me, amused “ Wow, you really don’t read any of my interviews do you”
I shook my head as I turned back to the Tv, cause generally it’s true. What’s the point, I don’t think I’d learn anything new or particularly true. “ I think I know you well enough, I don’t need to be reminded of your favourite hobbies or whatever”
I yawned, moving so I was half lying on Ari , my head on his chest.
It’s actually kind of weird that he’s so comfy considering his new muscles…
I felt Ari’s fingers play with a strand of my hair, twisting it lightly.
“Hey, Ella. One of my friends from school is throwing a late graduation party slash birthday barbeque party the day after tomorrow at his house and I was wondering if you’d want to come?”
I sighed, closing my eyes “Mhmm , sure. Sign me up” I said sleepily.
The last thing I heard before I drifted off was Ari chuckling quietly and the soft background noise of the Tv.
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Hey guys. Sorry about any spelling mistakes – I wil fix them later.
I hope you enjoy the chapter. Ps : thanks for reading, commenting and voting!!!
I just read the number of reads for ‘CHBFWHGB’ – totally amazing!! Thankyou!
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