Dedicated to bookADDICT6 for the amazing banner on the side:)
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Caleb's defeat was epic.
It had been five minutes since the end of the game and he was still staring at the main menu. He had some skill, but I was better. I let him get as far as the China Lake grenade launcher when I shot him straight in the chest with my ballistic knife, ending the gun game and coming out the victor. Insert my evil laugh here.
"That was awesome Lylah!"
"You merked him good."
"Did you see her three sixty before she shot him with the crossbow?"
"Nah, that was nothing compared to the knife she shot straight at him from so far away."
I vaguely heard Lance and the guys discussing my skills and widened my smile, but kept my stare on Caleb. He looked so cute in his shocked state.
"Hey sis, we're going to head outside and start the grill. When Caleb gets over his major loss, come down and chill with us," Lance joked.
I nodded my agreement and watched them file out of the room, pushing and shoving along the way. Bryce and Leah followed a little ways behind them and I made sure to shoot her a 'hubba hubba' look to which she blushed. She was so into him.
I got up and started rolling up the controllers before shutting off the game. The black tv screen finally broke Caleb out of his daze and he looked at me mouth still agape. I laughed before reaching over with the intention of shutting it for him when I got an idea. This would be the perfect time for me catch him off guard. Taking advantage of his sitting position, I braced my hands on his shoulders and pushed him so he rested against the back of the couch. I left my hands there and leaned in for a kiss that, for once, was under my control. His lips stayed pliant at first, but he soon caught on and gave as good as he got. It was just as powerful as our previous kisses, but with double the thrill because I had initiated it. Right before he could pull me to straddle his lap, I moved away with a fuzzy smile on my face. I couldn't let him touch me or I'd once again be under his spell.
"Where are you going?" he asked huskily as I started to back away.
"To join everyone else for the barbeque. Aren't you hungry?"
"I was doing fine with the feast you were giving me just now," he replied trying to reach for me again, but I quickly dodged. "Not that I'm complaining, but what was that kiss for?"
"That was my victory kiss for mopping the COD floor with you," I teased. "I decided to take one of your promised kisses for myself, and I have to say it was the best prize I'd ever won," I said with a playful glint in my eye.
He smiled before standing and grabbing a hold of me making it impossible for me to dart away, "I may have lost, but after that kiss, I'd gladly lose a thousand more times if that's the consolation prize."
I couldn't hide the blush that filled my cheeks, and he brushed his finger along them. "I love when you do that."
My brows furrowed, "Do what?"
"Blush like that. It's cute."
"I hate it. It makes me feel like a little girl."
Caleb took my chin in his hands so he could look me in the eye, "Trust me babe, there is nothing 'little girl' about you."
I was ready with a quick witted retort when he once again surprised me, shutting my mouth with his own and sealing our lips together. He bit my lip lightly which had me parting my lips for his tongue's assault. My legs jellified, but he was ready for it and pulled me tighter to his body. My hands were trapped against his chest, but I didn't mind. It was nice and solid, I wondered how it felt under the shirt and was about to sneak my hands there when a movement past the game room door caught my attention. I pulled away from Caleb and rushed to look just as I saw the back of Leroy enter his room, with my best friend firmly in his grasp.
For the second time today I found myself doing my happy dance, only it wasn't Koa's teasing voice I heard when I was done, but Caleb's deep sexy chuckles. "That is some dance. You'll have to teach it to me sometime."
Was it my goal to constantly embarrass myself in front of him? "Sorry, I just caught Leroy and Keri sneaking off into his room. Looks like they made up."
"I didn't realize they were fighting...or a couple."
"It's new, as of last night new to be exact."
A thoughtful expression crossed his face, "Oh, so that explains the almost fight earlier."
"Yeah, that was Leroy being possessive."
Caleb's silence had me realizing my slip up. "I mean...if it involved Leroy...well....he gets...ah...what almost fight?" I tried to cover but failed miserably.
Caleb just looked at me with a raised brow, hands in his pockets, "Care to try again?"
Why not? I'd already stuck my foot in it. Huffing dramatically I filled him in, "I may have been hiding under my brother's bed when you guys came in to look at his baseball."
"You may have?" he prodded.
"Sheesh, you're like a dog with a bone aren't you?" A smirk is the only response I got. "Fine, I was hiding under his bed. Before you ask why it's a long, horrifying story that I would appreciate not having to repeat, but in essence it's how I know Leroy was going to snap at Koa before you stepped in to stop it."
"You can't just leave it there. At least tell me what was so horrifying about it."
He looked so adorably curious I caved, then shivered in disgust at the memory, "Let's just say, I got a little too close to a condom that was not nicely sealed in it's packaging and had been taken for a test ride, leaving the remains of that ride inside the used condom."
"You're serious?"
"Dead serious," I deadpanned.
"Classic!" Caleb laughed, clearly enjoying my condom encounter.
"It's not funny, Caleb!"
"No it's not, it's hilarious!"
The more I thought about it, and imagined what my face must have looked like when I realized what I'd touched, my lips twitched sharing in his amusement. Needing a distraction before I fell into a puddle of laughs and made a fool of myself once again, I grabbed Caleb's arm and started dragging him to where the other's were. It was time to stuff his mouth with food so there would be no more laughs at my expense, or a last touchdown kiss on my lips.
~*~
The barbeque was great. We all sat around talking and eating, having a good time like we always did together. I hung with Caleb the whole time seeing as my two best friends were currently busy. It was weird to see Keri sitting on Leroy's lap and sharing her chicken with him as if she'd always done it. Leah and Bryce were more subtle, but I did catch a few intentional arm brushes which was cute. As for Caleb and I, we were doing our fair share of flirting. It was fun to hang out with him. He was like the grown up version of Theo, playful, inquisitive, but most of all...affectionate. He would find reasons to play with my hair, or touch my leg. When it was time to eat, he carried my plate to the table for me and then went to grab me a drink. He was doing all the things Blayne used to do for me. It was a little sad to think about that, especially because when I did, I pictured him doing it for Becca now.
The sun set and everyone started saying their goodbyes. Keri and Leroy had disappeared shortly after eating, Bryce offered to drop Leah home, Lance, Spencer, and Koa left with some of the girls for a movie or something, and my dad had yet to come home from his routine Sunday fishing trip. It was time for me to say goodbye to Caleb, and I found myself reluctant to do so. We went to different schools, so it's not like I'd be seeing him anytime soon.
I walked him to the door and anticipated his fifth and final kiss. It was a bittersweet moment, to be excited for it and sad that it was the last.. He stepped outside and I held the door handle in my hand to steady my trembling body being this close to him seemed to cause. He leaned forward, his lips centimeters from mine once again, but at the last minute, he lifted his head and ended up planting a kiss on my forehead instead.
I looked at him with a mixture of confusion and disappointment. "Don't look at me like that, it kills me," he sad with some strain.
"I thought you were about to take your last kiss."
"Trust me, I want to but I have something to ask you first."
"What?"
"Go on a date with me."
I wasn't expecting that nor was I sure it would be a good idea. "I don-"
"Before you say no, at least let me tell you what I have planned," he pleaded. I nodded for him to continue, "Well, since tomorrow is Martin Luther King Jr. day and we have no school or practice, my mom roped me into watching Theo. My bro has been bugging me to take him to Sea Life Park since the new dolphin show was advertised in the newspaper. Why don't you come with us?"
I thought about it. I wasn't looking, nor was I ready for any type of relationship with Caleb right now. My relationship wounds from Blayne were still fresh, but I couldn't see the harm in having a fun day out with my favorite little person and his older, very sexy and sweet brother. Was I ready to start dating?
I mentally slapped my forehead, I'd already made out with the guy more than once and yet I'm wondering if I was ready to date him. How ridiculous was that? "If it helps, consider it a field trip only minus the ten other ankle biters and including me. I know that last part is tempting you," he smiled.
An ego his size would have been a turn off on anyone else but him because I knew he was just playing around when he talked like that. I couldn't see the harm in one date and I'm sure Theo's presence would make it seem like just a simple outing. "Okay, sounds good. What time were you planning on going tomorrow?"
His grin widened before answering, "It's a little bit of a drive so we were planning on leaving at about nine. Is that okay for you?"
"Sure, that's more than enough time."
"Good, I'll pick you up around then." He started to back away, still smiling at me the whole time, and once he reached the steps he turned to head to his car. I watched him silently wishing he had given me that last kiss. As if reading my thoughts, he called out to me once he reached his car, "Hey Lylah!"
"Yeah?"
"I still owe you a kiss, don't forget," then he got in his car and drove off. How could I forget about it when I was so disappointed that it hadn't happened? I watched his car until the tail lights were nothing but twin specks of red in the distance, then shut the door and headed for my room. I heard giggles and moans coming from Leroy's room and hightailed it past to avoid hearing more than I wanted to.
Once in my room I gathered a set of old sweats and decided on a shower. I was anxious to get a good nights rest so I would be fresh and energized for tomorrow. Making quick work of it, I made sure to blow dry my hair so I wouldn't wake up with a repeat of this mornings hair do. Satisfied that I was clean and comfortable, I jumped into bed and set my alarm for eight, then snuggled under the covers. Thoughts of Caleb filled the silence within me. I was picturing his smile, his lips, his lips on mine. Suddenly there was a 'ping' against my window.
At first I thought I was imagining it, but right after the first one sounded, there was another, and another. What the heck was that? Getting up out of bed, I figured I would need to check. Lance wasn't back yet and Leroy was otherwise occupied, so I would have to brave the big bad noise at my window. I grabbed the nearest thing to me, my hairbrush, and tip toed toward the noise. I sure hope what awaited me wasn't dangerous, because I don't know what damage I could possibly do with a brush. When I was a foot away from the glass pane, I leant forward and glanced at the ground below as best I could through the closed window. It was dark, but I could distinctly make out the silhouette of a person.
Oh my god! I've got a stalker.
As I looked out the window, another 'ping' sounded and this time I noticed a rock had been thrown at it. My stalker was trying to crack my window so he could sneak in and attack me! Hanky panky or not, it was time to rouse my big bad brother.
"Lylah!" a whisper shout sounded from below. It was then I recognized the voice of my so called stalker. Feeling confident that I wasn't in any danger, not physically at least, I opened my window and leaned out just as he stepped into the moonlight. "I need to talk to you."
What could he possibly say that I'd want to hear? "Why Blayne?"
"Just please come down here. It'll only take a minute," he begged.
I really didn't want to, but I had a feeling he wouldn't leave until he said his piece, "Fine, just meet me on the front porch." I watched as he walked off to do just that before closing my window. Why didn't he just call me on the phone? I put my brush back on my dresser and saw my phone lying there. Flicking the screen on I got my answer. Blayne had called me, quite a few times, but my phone was set to vibrate and I hadn't touched it all day. I wished I had because then maybe I wouldn't be slipping into a hoodie to have a late night chat with my ex and first true love.
It was quiet as I passed Leroy's room, and I was relieved. I didn't want to have to explain to them that I was going outside to meet with Blayne, they would probably send me back to my room and chase him off. On second thought, that wasn't such a bad idea...no. I had to face him now.
I quietly opened the door and stepped outside, shutting it behind me. Blayne was leaning against the porch railing with his hands in his pockets and his head hanging. I went to take a seat on our porch swing curling my legs under me, and after a few seconds Blayne joined me there. He started to rock us and it brought up happier times we shared together doing this very thing. I studied him in the dim porch light and my heart ached for him. His eye was black and blue, his lip was cut, and the left side of his face was slightly swollen. Instinctively my hand reached for his cheek and he closed his eyes while leaning into my touch, "I miss you."
His battle wounds bothered me, but it was nothing compared to the cloak of desolation that was covering him. I had never in all our time together seen Blayne's eyes so dull. They were usually full of love and joy. Things he used to share with me. That thought brought up uglier ones. Our breakup, catching him and Becca in the janitor's closet, and finally their make out session at the party. I snatched my hand back as if it had been burned, because it had.
"You should be telling Becca that, Blayne. Not me," I said with steel in my words.
"I broke up with her."
It took a second for his words to register. "You what?"
"I broke up with her. I can't keep trying with her when I realized I still love you. More than I ever thought I loved her."
This wasn't happening right now. Had he told me this a week ago, things might've been different, but too much time has passed and it's too little too late. I couldn't help but think he was only feeling this way because he saw me with Caleb last night. "Look Blayne, you should go back to Becca and figure things out. You and I are done, there's nothing else to say." I got up wanting to run from this awkward conversation, but Blayne's hand on my arm stopped me.
"Please, Lylah. I'm so sorry, give me another chance. Let me make up for my mistakes."
I wanted to in the worst way, but that was my weakened heart talking. I needed to be strong for myself. Hardening my resolve, I faced Blayne head on and said, "No Blayne. The pain you caused me is too deep to fix with a sorry. You weren't sure about things between us a week ago, what's to say you won't end up changing your mind again?"
"I won't. I know for sure now that you're the one I want to be with. I can make it up to you, let me try."
I considered it, then immediately denied it. "No, you can't Blayne."
His face formed an angry expression, "Why, because you're already going out with Caleb? So what? I can make you forget all about him."
He just didn't get it. "First of all, it's none of your business if I was, and second of all, no. I'm nowhere near ready to start a new relationship yet. Unlike you and Becca."
He put his head down in defeat. "I know that, Lylah, but I'm not with her anymore. Let me be the guy I was before Becca came. I can be him again, for you I know I can."
"You are unbelievable! Why the sudden change of heart? Is it because you tapped Becca already so the excitement is all gone?" I couldn't help but sneer as I asked this. It still stung to know he was intimate with her.
"We didn't have sex."
"Whatever! I heard you in that closet."
"You heard her giving me head, Ly. That was it." he confessed.
Was that supposed to make everything okay now? He hadn't gone all the way with her yet she still had him in her mouth, something I refused to do and he knew it. Sorry, but I don't see the bright side to any of this.
I stood up, ready to be done with this conversation already, "Go home, Blayne. There's nothing more for us to say to each other." I started for the door when I was swung around much the way Caleb had done earlier. Only this time, it really was unwanted. I was startled by the fire in Blayne's eyes, and although I knew he would never hurt me, it didn't stop a small bit of fear from rising within me.
Blayne instantly released me and I stumbled until my back softly met my front door. "I know you're still mad and hurt right now Lylah, but I'm going to fight for you." His words were spoken with conviction. He meant it. He looked into my eyes and started to lean forward. I was a deer caught in head lights. My mind was screaming for me to move, telling me that I didn't want to kiss him after all the pain he's caused, but my heart was saying we needed this. He was home for us and always would be.
The solid wood behind my back gave way and I was caught by Keri who looked ready to kill. I didn't know whether to feel relief or regret that the decision was taken out of my hands.
This was all too much. My day with Caleb was amazing and I was looking forward to tomorrow. In my own way, I was trying my best to move on. Why did Blayne have to come and hold me back?
Better question, what was I going to do about it?
"Goodbye Blayne," Keri looked like a mama bear protecting her cub with how she was holding onto me and practically baring teeth at Blayne.
He knew better than to mess with a pissed off Keri. He stared at me with so much longing that I wanted to weep, then said a soft 'bye' before trotting off to his car. I didn't miss the promising look in his eye as he did, though.
Keri pulled me back inside and fired away, "What was he doing here? What did he want? Better yet, why were you going to let him kiss you?" They were all questions I'd rather not answer right now, so I did what I do best. Deflect.
"What were you and Leroy doing upstairs? What's going on between you two? Are you guys a couple?"
We stared each other down, neither of us willing to start the answer ball rolling. Our silence spoke volumes, and without another word we turned to walk up the stairs, a silent compromise to discuss this later. We parted ways at Leroy's door, and once in my room again, I crawled under the blankets.
Unfortunately, the nice thoughts I was having of Caleb were now replaced with confusing thoughts of Blayne. The fight last night paired with Caleb's kisses and Blayne's confession just put me in an unwanted love triangle. I wasn't sure if all of us would make it out with our hearts still in tact.
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Sorry it took so long guys, I've hit a sort of funk with this story and I'm working my way through it. Hope this chapter didn't suck too bad lol...