Array
(
[text] =>

Those exact words made Pierson backpedal, rethinking what he had said. I could see any alarmed look stab into his sage colored eyes when I announced there was a possibility I wouldn't attend the party. I wasn't sure how he exactly felt about me, but I knew that he wanted me at that party for some unknown reason. I didn't know if it was because he liked me or that he would like to get his hands on me for his own personal pleasures.

"You don't need to start holding threats like that above my head."

"It's not a threat," I said, unfolding my crossed arms. "It's the truth. If you honestly don't want to stop your friends from beating him to a pulp, then I definitely don't want to be around those kinds of people. I've seen enough violence in the past few days, I don't need any more drama."

He frowned. "What do you mean you've seen enough violence? What happened?"

"It doesn't matter."

He scanned my face, in search of something to tell him what I'm trying to hide. The damage Carmen had caused wasn't visible from my makeup. The only thing that I had left of her ambush was a bump on the back of my head.

"I'll find out, one way or another, Silvia."

"No, you don't need to do that. There's no reason to run to some damn investigating for something that isn't relevant."

"It's Carmen, I already know it." His answer surprised me.

"No it's not."

"She's the only one who is delusional enough to do something to you." He relaxed back, easing on the row of lockers we were standing in front of, skimping his eyes over me with a concentrated face. I knew what he was doing, he was trying to read me. "I don't see why you'd want to defend her."

"I'm not defending her. I just told you that it wasn't her," I lied so effortlessly. "I know what you're trying to do. You're trying to divert the topic away from Dakota and that party. Nice try, but I haven't forgotten."

"Fair play, you've figured me out." He sported that loveable smile again. "I'm not willing to let him go to the party unless I get something in return."

Was he inferring to what I was praying he wasn't? There was no way force me to give him anything in return to have Dakota go to that party.

"I hope you're not asking for what I think you are." I glared.

"Silvia, I'm not that much of a dickhead to ask for something sexual from you. That's something you should expect from Franklin or one of his gobshite friends. But not from me," he scoffed, clearly ticked off at what I'd said. "I meant more in the lines of help me clean up after the party. It's usually a huge mess and I hate doing it on my own."

"Oh, good. Because I would've slapped you if that was what you were thinking of." I felt like an idiot for even thinking that was what he wanted from me. It was almost a habit of mine to think the worst of people.

"C'mon, I'm not that awful."

I pointed my finger at him. "No, you aren't. But you were awful enough to go to Maven, telling him that I drove Dakota home."

"What are you taking about? I didn't even know you drove him home," he revealed.

I copied his skills of reading people, raking my eyes over his features and his stance. It didn't come off as if he was lying, but my reading skills weren't as good as his. "Well, someone told Maven that I drove Dakota home and that I came back to the try-outs wearing his sweater. I assumed it was you."

"You assumed wrong, Silvia." He said firmly. "If there's anyone who would've told him it would Beth."

I looked at him a little harder. "Why would you say that?"

"You know how I drove her and Doug home after the try-outs?" I nodded. "Well, on the drive back, I heard her on the phone with him. I wasn't really paying attention to the call."

"She's isn't friends with Maven."

Or was she friends with him? I didn't know all of her connections in the school. If she was friends with him, it would make sense because her brother Ollie was best pals with the twins and also Pierson. They were always together. The main reason why she couldn't see Pierson answering to her love for him was because of Ollie and Pierson's friendship. They were the closest out of the group. He didn't seem like the kind of friend who would go behind his best friends back to be with Beth.

I began to walk away, but Pierson grabbed my wrist, gently pulling toward him. "Wait."

I paused, anxious at the little space between us now. "Yes?"

"I really do want you to be there. Sorry for coming off that way, but you'll learn sooner or later that I'm stingy on who I want to spend my time with." He cracked a sultry smile. "Guess I'll have to steal you away from Dakota whenever I get the chance."

"You'll have enough time to see me at the party, Pierson. Plenty," I assured, slithering out of his reach. Part of me wanted to stop the games and tell him how I felt. The look in his eyes told me he saw something more, hopefully, happening between us at the party.

If only he knew I had my plans set on staying the night with one person, and that person definitely wasn't him.

. . .

That Wednesday, I found out that Ronnie had been invited to Pierson's soccer extravaganza because she was dating one of the soccer players on the team. She wasn't too happy to hear what I learned about Beth. In English, it was all we could talk about. I was contemplating on confronting Beth or not, but Ronnie assured me that it would be best if I kept it to myself. It showed that I couldn't trust Beth.

"Keep your friends close and your enemies closer," she said in English class. "When the time comes, use that knowledge against her. I'd say collect as much shit you can from her and dump it down right over her head if she tries to screw you over."

"You're evil," I laughed. "I like that."

"Hey, I'm thinking ahead. I didn't really like Beth to be honest, but I didn't want to say it out loud because you hung out with her. Anyone who associates themselves with Xander is prone to be mean, too."

"No, but I thought we were close enough that she wouldn't go behind my back like that. I mean like what is her benefit out of telling Maven that?" I admitted, letting out a breath I didn't know I was holding in. "She doesn't like Xander sometimes either. He constantly tries to tell her what to wear, say, and do in the hopes that it will make them popular."

She rolled her eyes. "He's been like that for as long as I've known him. I'm not surprised that he's still reaching for the stars. Same goes for Beth and her obsession with Pierson. You should've seen how she was in sophomore year. Someone apparently broke into his house and stole some of his cologne, his soccer jersey, and his boxers. Weirdest thing ever, but I think it's her."

"Oh my God, that's hilarious. Man, why couldn't I have been enrolled here when that happened?" I chuckled. "I think what's more hilarious is how he hasn't noticed her affection for him."

"I wish he'd wake up and smell the chloroform. He's got a stalker."

I felt bad for teasing Beth for her feelings for Pierson. We hadn't really talked all that much this week. When Pierson had told me about her betrayal, I didn't want to pretend like I wasn't having a problem with her. We didn't meet up in between classes and I'd eaten my lunch at Ronnie's table. She hung out with a lot of the theater kids.

"Hey, since you're going to that party," Ronnie said, ripping me from my thoughts. "Wanna go to Beverly Hills after if it gets boring? I sometimes go over there to make fun of the bad Botox and botched nose jobs."

I chuckled. "Sure. I wouldn't mind going. You have to drive me back to Pierson's house afterwards though. I promised I would help clean up."

"I'm fine with that," she nodded, and the plan was set.

. . .

I left my AP Government class that Wednesday quite displeased with what Dakota had told me. Monday and Tuesday was an endless repeat of me telling him how he could go to the party at Pierson's house and him telling me-time and time again-that he didn't feel uncomfortable at walking into Pierson's house.

"He may say he won't do anything, but that's a lie," he said. "I know the moment I walk in there, he'll find a way to do something to piss me off and get me out of his house."

He was a lost cause by the time the bell had rang. It didn't matter what I said, he just wouldn't budge. Even though I did get him invited, that didn't mean he had to go. He only said he would 'consider' going. That didn't mean he was obligated to.

When Wednesday night approached, I was still standing in front of my closet, thinking about what I should wear. There was a reliable outfit that I turned to whenever I didn't have anything better, but I didn't feel like wearing it now. Almost at random, I picked my crop-top gray sweater and black skirt. It was simple yet cute enough for the occasion.

Right when I was tying the laces of my black boots, I heard a honking noise outside my window. I raced over to it and I nearly had to pinch myself at what I saw.

Dakota's black mustang was parked in the driveway. In my driveway. He exited out of his car and leaned against the hood, crossing his ankles before him and staring up at my window.

He was dressed in all black. Black fitted jeans, black T-shirt, and to finish it off, a long, worn out black jacket. I knew he had gotten his car fix, but I didn't think he would drive here.

I had planned to drive up to the party with Hunter, but that was disregarded when I saw Dakota there. In a hurry, I grabbed my cardigan. I slipped my arms into the sleeves as I rushed down the stairs and to the front door.

Dad and Evelyn were staring out the large window in the living room, gaping with both their mouths wide at the sight before them. I had just opened the door when I heard my father's voice.

"You are not going in to that car, young lady." His voice was stern. "I don't want you going with him."

Evelyn gawked at my outfit. "Go back up and change. Do you see what she's wearing, Jonah?"

The mistress is bold tonight, my thoughts snickered.

"I'm wearing what you bought me." I shot them a look over my shoulder. "I'll be back before midnight." Slamming the door behind me, I ran to the passenger side and practically threw myself in. "Get in and drive."

"Well hello to you, too." He said and leaped out of his sitting position on his car and went to the driver side. The car was already on. I made sure to lock the doors when we were both inside. He pulled out of the driveway as Evelyn swung the door open.

"Oh, hi there Mrs. Price-Ellington. Lovely weather we're having, huh?" he shouted out of his window. He gave her a little sault and a wink, then sped off.

"Shut-up." I suppressed a laugh. "What are you doing here? I thought you didn't want to go to the party."

"You ask that after you get into my car? This is the kind of conversation we have outside of the car, not while we're already inside, driving away from your pissed off dad and step-mom."

"My mind works in mysterious ways," I supplied. "Why are you here though?"

"I decided that it wouldn't be so bad to get my head caved in by some jocks."

"Seriously, Kota."

"Whoa there, since when do you call me Kota? I'm not okay with this sudden desire to call me half of my name."

"You don't like Kota?"

"I don't think anyone with any sense in them would like the nickname Kota."

"You're not supposed to like nicknames," I said. "Kota has a nice ring to it."

"Sure it does, Lvia."

"Ew, stop that. Stop that right now. This instant. Lvia sounds like some kind of medicine for stomach problems. I can see the commercials now, saying: 'try Lvia twice a day to improve your digestive tract.'"

I was waiting for the wonder sound of his laughter, but it didn't come. "Most words in the medicine world are based off Latin words. So that joke doesn't make sense."

"You're a real buzz kill."

"Or I'm just not the kind of person who laughs at stupid jokes." He hit the brakes when we reached the stop sign. "I've a feeling that you're one of those people who watch those trashy cartoons."

"I don't watch Cartoons. I'm not a kid."

"Oh, aren't you mature?" He teased. "Do you drink coffee like the other grownups, too?"

I exhaled loudly. "Can we go one day without you being annoying!? Even when you did that forty-eight hours thing you were still getting on my nerves."

"If you didn't annoy me first, then maybe we wouldn't have this issue." He blamed. "Also, if I was nice to you, you'd treat me like Pierson."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You get whatever you want out of him and ignore the fact that he likes you. You're worse than him when it comes to that Beth girl."

"No, I don't." I sat up. "Wait, you know Beth likes him?"

"The whole fucking county knows she likes him." He huffed. "And yes you do, you have him wrapped around your little finger. Him allowing me to go this party makes it more obvious than ever."

Our conversation died down when his black mustang cruised into a neighborhood. It came to a stop before a large mansion that had every single one of its lights on, blaring loud music. I could see Doug at the front of the house. His red hair was like a flame in the night, flickering with the wind. Maven was at his side, which meant I'd walk right passed them.

The way everyone watched us as we got out of the car was like something out of a movie. Their gaze moved with each step we took up the steps and toward the party. I was almost afraid to go any closer to them, but a gentle hand at the small of my back helped me forward.

"They're looking at us." I breathed.

His hand snaked from my back to my hip, drawing me in closer to him. Electricity shout through me at the contact to my bare skin. His warm hand on me send currents of raging tidal waves into me, awakening my senses with how his grip lightly squeezed my flesh. "No, they're looking at you. I know I would be too if I were them."

Why did he have to say stuff like that? I didn't know what to say after that so I kept the bumping emotions to myself. I would've stumbled with my next response if I'd spoken. I was tongue tied with the way his body felt so perfect alongside mine.

He was so confusing. One second, I thought he hated me and then the next he'd do a complete 180 on me and do something like this. I decided that I didn't mind being confused by him if it meant he could press me into him as if the world wasn't watching, waiting for us to fall.

--------

Please vote and comment :P

---------

Song: Electric Love by BØRNS

Lyrics:

❝I'm dying for another taste.❞

[There should be a GIF or video here. Update the app now to see it.]

[text_hash] => 5fff158b
)