It was Friday lunch time when a tray was pushed between mine and Kelly's and Mitch squashed in between us.
"So," he started, looking around the table. "Do I need to bring drink tonight or are you being a fabulous host Sammy-boy?" he asked, looking at Sam who had been sat across from me.
Dylan and Sally joined us too, Sally choosing to sit next to Kelly and apologising for Mitch while rolling her eyes. Kelly laughed and told her it was fine. Dylan sat across from Sally next Cam, rolling his eyes at Mitch as well.
"It's all covered," said Sam, trying no to laugh Mitch who stole a fry from Cam's plate.
"These are good," he said, reaching for another.
"I know," replied Cam, sliding his tray away, "that's why they're MINE."
They sat with us for the rest of lunch, Cam eventually letting Mitch have the rest of his fries once he said he was finished. Sally, Elle and Kelly spent the rest of lunch showing each other their outfits for tonight, the rest of us continuing to eat our lunch and ask Sam if he needed anyone to pick anything up for tonight. He told us he had it covered and that if we wanted to come earlier for pizza that we could.
I met Dylan in detention after school, and he gave me a huge smile when I walked in and stood up on his chair.
"Last day of prison," he announced as I sat down.
"You'll be back sooner than you think" said Ms Jackson, telling him to sit down. Dylan dramatically fell down into his chair, hand over his heart.
"Ms Jackson, your words wound me."
"The truth hurts sometimes my boy," was all she said, putting on her glasses and opening her marking.
I laughed at sad look on Dylan's face before pulling out my novel for English. I had a few chapters of 'The Road' by Cormack McCarthy to finish for Monday. Dylan sighed and sloughed down in his chair, closing his eyes. Ms Jackson had more photocopying to do yesterday, so we spend detention talking again. By the time Ms Jackson had returned my face was sore from laughing so much at Dylan. He was funny, and he couldn't stop laughing himself when he was retelling stories about Mitch, or his little sister.
Today though we were back to silence. For some reason I wouldn't concentrate on my novel, and instead I found myself looking at Dylan.
His eyes were closed, and his mouth was open slightly while he slept. I glanced at Ms Jackson, too busy marking to notice Dylan sleeping. His hair was a mess; it always was. His platinum blond hair overgrown, dark roots showing. His dark eyelashes fluttered slightly as she shifted in his chair, and I quickly looked away, not wanting him to catch me staring. I slowly glance back over; he'd sloughed further down his chair, surprisingly he hadn't fallen off. His white shirt sleeves were rolled up past his elbows, his tie slightly loose at his neck. His shirt had become untucked from his black skinny jeans and was riding up his back from him slouching in his chair. His skin was pale, but his arms and hands always seemed to have splatters of paint on them. I looked back up towards face to see that one of his eyes was open, looking at me.
I cleared my throat and looked away quickly, feeling a blush creep onto my face.
Dude, why are you blushing?
I turned back to my book and stared at the pages in front of me.
"Good book?" Dylan asked quietly, I could hear the smile in his voice. I didn't look at him.
"Yeah," I whispered back. He chuckled and Ms Jackson looked at him.
I focused on my book for the rest of detention while Dylan went back to sleep. When Ms Jackson said we could leave we packed up our things and headed out the door. We walked quietly through the corridors and out of the school building. Before we parted ways, Dylan handed me a piece of paper.
"What's this?" I asked, unfolding the paper.
"My mobile number," he said with a smile. "Text me Sam's address. I'll see you later?"
"Yeah, see you later," I said quickly, turning away and shoving the bit of paper into my pocket before he could see me blushing.
WHY DO I KEEP BLUSHING?
On my way home Kelly phoned, saying she was going to get her dad to drop me at my place at 6pm and we could head round to Sam's together. By the time I got home I had an hour to get a shower and get changed.
Once out the shower I got changed into a pair of dark blue jeans and a black long-sleeved polo shirt. Once my dark hair was dry I applied some hair wax and sprayed a little aftershave. I took the piece fof paper out of the pocket of my school trousers and saved Dylan's number into m phone, texting him Sam's address. There was a knock on my door before it opened slowly and Kelly popped her head in.
"Hey," she said, coming over and wrapping her arms round my waist. I put my phone in my pocket and gave her a kiss on the head and smiled at her in the mirror.
"Hey, you ready to go?"
"Yeah, just waiting on you."
"Okay, I just need to grab stuff for staying at Sam's then I'm good."
She went and sat in the middle of the bed while I quickly packed a bag for Sam's. When I was ready I took her hand, helping her off the bed and we headed downstairs. She grabbed her stuff and we said goodbye to my mum, letting her know that I'd be back in the morning.
"Behave!" she called as we headed out the door.
It was a five-minute walk round to Sam's place. It was a nice evening, the sky clear and the air still warm for mid-September. Kelly chatted to me about her new project she was thinking of starting for her art class, she needed to create a portfolio of work to be submitted as one half of her final exam. She told me her ideas and I suggested that we could go look for some cool photography locations during October break.
"That would be good! Have we agreed with the others what we're planning on doing for October week yet?"
"Nope, because not one of them can agree with the other" I replied as we made our way up Sam's driveway.
"That's true, Elle said she was going to say to Matt to ask Sam about his parents' cabin? She said you all went there last summer?"
"Yeah, I'd forgotten about that, I'll say to him as well."
"Okay," she said, giving me a quick kiss on the cheek before opening Sam's front door.
There were a few people here already, the music playing loud and drinks already being handed out. We made our way into the kitchen, dumping our stuff in the corner. Sam handed me a beer and swung his arm around my shoulders, steering me to look out of the back window where Matt and Elle were also looking. Cam handed Kelly a can of Diet Coke out of the fridge. Kelly never drank at parties, no one questioned it. Kelly had never spoke to anyone else about what she had told me, but no one asked. Based on the rumours that has went around, I don't think anyone needed to ask and just but two and two together.
"Look. Right there," said Sam, pointing to a group of people stood outside.
"What am I- oh, I see."
Cam was talking to a group of girls. Or at least trying to. And failing. The girls excuse themselves and left Cam standing in the garden by himself. As if someone told him, he whipped his head round to the kitchen window, and we all dropped to the floor.
"Shit, did he see us?" asked Matt.
"I think so," I replied. We waited, still down on the group when the kitchen door slammed open.
"Its your fault Alec, this stupid black eye- "shouted Cam as he stormed into the kitchen and we all began laughing.
"You mean your charm wasn't good enough?" said Sam, getting to his feet and handing Cam another beer. Cam took the beer and then pushed him away, trying not to smile.
"If she really liked you a black eye wouldn't put her off," said Abby, Sam's twin sister, as she pushed her way into the kitchen to grab a drink.
"Does that mean it doesn't bother you then?" asked Cam, smirking at her.
Abby gave Cam a look of disgust before pushing past him again. "In your dreams."
"You will be," he called after her.
"Dude, that's my sister," said Sam.
"Your point?" Sam punched him in the arm.
More and more people arrived, and I couldn't help but keep looking for Dylan. I spotted him right away when he walked through the door with Sally and Mitch. Sally gave us all a wave and headed over. It wasn't long before the girls were up dancing, Cam was back on the pull and we were having a great time. We all danced, drank beer, and then of course Sam pulled out the beer pong. It ended up being me and Sam vs Dylan and Mitch. We were losing, badly.
"Alec, you look shitfaced. Come on, we have to bring it back" said Sam, slapping my face.
"Alec, did you remember to eat before drinking this time?" asked Matt, remembering the last party Sam had where I hadn't eaten all day.
My eyes widened as I looked at Sam and I burst out laughing. Sam groaned.
"You idiot. Right, you're cut off. I'm not having you spewing if you're staying here" said Sam, pushing me towards Kelly who was getting dragged into the kitchen by Elle.
"You didn't eat?" she asked, shaking her head at me. "Come here you idiot, lets go get some air."
Kelly let me outside and we stood on the decking. I had to lean on the railing a little, hoping Kelly didn't notice.
"I'm fine," I said defensively.
"I know you better than that Alec Brooke" she said, holding my face in her hands. I gave her my best attempt at a dazzling smile and she laughed. She smoothed my hair back from my forehead. I turned and leaned my back against the railing and pulled Kelly against me, I rested my chin on top of her head and looked through the kitchen window.
Dylan and Mitch won at beer pong and were cheering as Sam downed the last beer, pulling his face before throwing the plastic cup down on the table. They were all laughing and dancing around like idiots. I found myself smiling, watching them all, watching Dylan.
As if knowing I was watching, he turned and looked at me through the window. Still smiling, I didn't look away this time. He lifted one of the beers from the table and took a drink, still watching me.
I was first to look away when Kelly leaned back and looked up at me, taking my face in her hands and kissing me. I saw Dylan look away right before her lips touched mine.
I don't know why I did what I did next.
I pushed her away from me, harder than I meant to, breaking the kiss.
"Alec?" she asked in surprise. "What's wrong?"
I just shook my head and stumbled away from her.
"Nothing, I just-"
I couldn't get my words out. What was wrong? I didn't know. I started to make my way down the steps, heading towards the woods at the back of Sam's house.
"Alec, where are you going?" I could hear the worry in Kelly's voice.
"I just need some air," I managed to say. "I'm okay Kelly, I'll be back inside in a minute."
I walked into the woods until I could barely see the light from the house through the trees. I leaned my back against a tree and slid down until I was sat on the ground.
I didn't want her to kiss me. Why didn't I want her to kiss me?
"Alec?" called a voice from the edge of the trees.
Dylan.