Edited
Elias's POV
The words tastes like bile as they slipped off my tongue. Her arms tightened around me as she sucked in a sharp breath. Shit. I loosened my hold and laughed nervously.
"Huh?" She looked at me confused. I slipped my hands into my pockets and turned toward the lake.
"I'm kidding Alex, don't freak," I said trying to save myself. I glanced over to see Alex's unreadable expression. She stared at the ground for a moment before smiling.
"Jerk, that's not funny! I almost thought you were serious..." She chuckled softly. I cleared my throat and turned to look at her. It was now or never Elias.
"Alex..."
"hmm?" I took a deep breath and pulled her closer to me. Her eyes widened, chocolate and Caramel swirls. I wanted to get lost in them, taste every part and make her forget that there was another world apart from us.
"I wasn't kidding," I whispered. I watched her chest rise and fall quicken as if her heart was going to break through its cage and land into my hands. Taking the chance, I leaned in closer. She didn't move. I pressed my lips against hers, feeling my stomach violently flutter with butterflies. I cupped her face pulling her closer, but her body wouldn't mirror mine. She pulled away, her lips trembling.
"What? I thought you wanted to..." My breath came out shakier than I intended.
"No. I mean yes," She said, shaking her head. "I did, but I uhh... can't." The girl standing before me shifted into a small child with no way out. She looked around her with alarmed eyes. She wanted an exit. But I wasn't ready to give her one.
"Why? Because I'm not Austin?"
"Why are you bringing him into this situation? It has nothing to do with him!" She yelled back. I stood up, towering over her.
"Then why not?" I asked louder. Her lips quivered and her eyes darkened. She just shook her head and dropped her gaze. I wanted her to admit it. It wasn't that she didn't like me- it was because she couldn't decide. I stepped closer to her, our bodies like magnets. I watched her breath fill the air with white smoke. I was becoming someone I couldn't control.
"Tell me," I whispered, my lips lingering over hers. Her eyes fluttered causing everything in my body to come alive. I pressed my lips against hers again, waiting for her to feel the same electric feeling I felt when we were too close for comfort. I wanted her to melt into my hands, but she was stone cold.
She pushed me off once again, stepping away like she just kissed a stranger.
"Whatever. Enjoy your gift," I said, shaking my head. I walked away, my fists clenched at my sides.
Alex's POV
I lied. Austin had some part in my crime of falling in love. Because I wasn't in love, yet. I was falling in love with the music, but the men behind the instruments were far from what I needed to keep my fragile heart from shattering into a million pieces. Most of what was wrong was me. I was scared of Elias, of what he could do to me. He knew so much, I didn't want him to think I wasn't capable of taking care of myself. Because I was. All my uphill battles were fought by me. I wasn't the poster-child for strong, but I was strong enough. I didn't want someone to make me feel otherwise.
I stood up and headed toward the Cabin. People were finally starting to clear out. Austin was standing against the back door watching couples finish the last dance. If I was strong enough to face Elias, I was strong enough to face Austin. I rebuilt torn down walls and walked toward him.
"Hey where have you been?" Austin asked looking around me for Elias.
"At the lake," I said playing with the hem of my dress.
"Oh. Well are you going to answer my question?" Austin asked pulling my chin up to look at me.
"Not tonight, Austin. I'm tired. I'm going to bed," I said dropping my gaze. I was about to walk away until he grabbed my arm. I turned to look at his strained expression.
"What did Elias say?" He asked through his teeth. I tried pulling my arm free, but his grip only tightened.
"Let go," I said feeling slightly frightened. I kept pulling until he finally let me free. Rubbing my arm, I walked inside. People were passed out on the couch and rug while the rest were in the kitchen drinking. Elias had his arm wrapped around Stella's waist, pulling her in closer. His eyes drifted up until his gaze caught mine. A sly smirk played on his face like he knew every secret I buried in me and was using it to blackmail me. My heart began to ache as I watched him plant kisses down her neck. I was strong. I didn't need to watch this. My blood boiled as I ran upstairs to the bedroom, kicking out a random couple. I stripped out of the dress and into a pair of sweats and a thin blue hoodie.
"I hate you," I whispered to myself thinking of Elias. I grabbed my iPod and lied down on my bed. Tears cascaded down my cheeks staining the pillow. I couldn't understand Elias. One moment he was confessing to me then the next he was swapping saliva with Stella. Am I really that worthless? I closed my eyes tightly feeling the warm liquid slip from in between my eyelids.
I guess you really are that replaceable, Alex. You mean nothing to him. You were just his toy. You were a challenge. Everything meant nothing....
* * * * * * * *
"Wake up sleepy head!" Sam yelled banging her pillow against my head. I squinted, trying to open my puffy eyes.
"Why?" I yawned turning over. The sun shined through the window, but I wasn't in the mood for happiness and rainbows. Laughing, she got on top of me and continued to hit me.
"Because we made breakfast and you're the only one who hasn't eaten," She said. I smacked her off of me and sat up. My hair hung over my face as I rubbed my eyes.
"Okay, okay I'm up," I yawned crawling out of bed. I stumbled down the stairs into an aroma of pancakes and Bacon. I grabbed a plate and served myself a stack of chocolate and banana pancakes.
"Almost forgot how much you could eat," Chris chuckled placing his plate in the sink. I flicked a piece of Bacon I found at him.
"Shut up, fatty," I laughed as I watched him catch it in his mouth. He smiled giving me a thumbs up. Finishing off my plate, I walked outside to see everyone cleaning, except for Elias. I looked around to see he was sitting on the beach. I felt my insides boil, but contained myself. I didn't want to blow up at anyone else except for him.
"Are you going to help?" Lexi asked throwing me a trash bag. I picked it up and began tossing cups and broken bottles into it. My nose scrunched at the smell of excessive alcohol and aromas of stale food. After filling the bag I took it to the large dumpster we bought. Elias was still at the lake smoking. Shaking my head, I walked toward him. I stood above him crossing my arms.
"Aren't you going to help?" I gritted through my teeth. His focus stayed on the lake. He played with the cigarette between his fingers before throwing it into the lake.
"Already did." He said, standing up. His voice was cold and monotone. I felt a pang of guilt itch at my chest. Before I could apologize, he pushed past me and headed toward the cabin. Sighing, I sat down in the sand and watched the crystal water swirl into different shapes under the sun. I lied down and watched clouds play with memories I thought I'd forgotten.
-Flashback/ 7th grade-
I banged my locker in hopes it would open. 22...6...4... I pulled on the lock, freeing it from its latch. Opening it, papers flew.
"Great," I mumbled. I squatted down and picked up the loose papers.
"Here," A hand held out my music sheets. I looked up to see a pair of dark chocolate eyes settling on mine. His raven hair framed his handsome face, stopping just after his eyes.
"Thanks," I cleared my throat, taking the papers from him. We both stood up in unison.
"No problem," He smiled as I stuffed the papers back into my locker.
"Elias! Man, Let's go...Hey Alex," I heard someone shout. I turned to see Chris, my best friend's boyfriend, waiting with his skate board. We waved to each other, a smile plastered on his lips.
"Got to go. See you later..." He trailed off not realizing my name.
"Alex," I finished for him, "And you're Elias." I said mostly to myself. He rose an eyebrow in curiosity.
"You don't stalk me do you?" He teased
"What no! He just said-"
"I know. I was just messing with you," He laughed at me as I tried to defend myself. I glared at him in annoyance.
"Whatever," I sighed. He let out a soft chuckle, then sped off on his skate board. I watched as they both disappeared from my view. I shook my head closing my locker.
"What was that about?" Sam asked, her emerald eyes lightened with amusement.
"Nothing," I sighed walking toward our seventh grade English class.
"Someone's in a bitchy mood," She joked. I laughed sarcastically, ignoring her teasingness. My thoughts clouded with images of Elias, not allowing me to think of anyone else.
"Who's Elias?" I asked Sam. She stopped me dead in my tracks.
"Chris's asshole best friend. Don't even think about him. He's toxic for you," Sam said, her icy stare startling me. Wide eyed, I nodded and followed her into class and shook away any image of Elias.
-End-
"Get up lazy," Austin said, lightly kicking my side. I blinked my eyes opened to see him towering over me. He held out a hand and I thankfully took it.
"Thanks," I smiled following him back to the cabin. He turned to face me and stopped me from walking.
"Alex.. can you give me an answer yet?" He asked, his blue eyes glowing. I looked around him to see Elias and Chris watching us. Ignoring our audience, I focused on Austin.
"Yes. I'd like to be your girlfriend," I smiled taking his hand in mine. A smile formed on his lips as he hugged me and spun me around. I wrapped my arms around his neck as he gently placed me back on the ground. He kissed me lightly on the lips before intertwining our hands. Our hands didn't fit like a puzzle piece, but it was nice having him hold me. Elias's expression was hardly readable and Chris just stared in confusion.
"She said yes," Austin grinned at Elias. Elias smirked then walked inside. I held tightly to his hand, squeezing it. If Elias didn't want me, I wasn't going to wait.