Chapter 10

“I don’t know, what do you guys think we should do, there is plenty of daylight left” I observed looking out the window.

“I think…” said Lance lingering on his words before he picked me up princess style carrying my outside to our backyard when I realized where this was going.

“Don’t Lance!” I screamed hitting his arm with all my force “Please I can’t, don’t oh Lance this isn’t funny” I exclaimed flailing in his arms. He stepped up to the edge of the pool. He laughed to himself and I became increasingly infuriated. All of a sudden we both went flying into the water. I kicked with all my fury and gasped for air but didn’t stay up long. I was under again in seconds flailing about in a panic trying to get the surface. A strong grip took hold of my wrist pulling me up. My head broke the surface and I clung to my savior as I gasped for air. Lance swam us to the side and I was pulled out. I sputtered and coughed and to my joy found Lance looking somewhat remorseful but so did Adrian.

“You idiots she can’t swim!” Grace enveloped me in a hug. I clung to her still breathing heavily.

“I… I’m so sorry Blake I forgot” Lance whispered. I sat up to face him.

“I begged you not to” I said coldly.

“I thought we were just kidding around” he said a pleading look of guilt was overwhelmingly present in his eyes.

“I’m fine no harm done” I smiled weakly unable to be angry any longer. I stood a little wobbly still.

“Sorry B I pushed you both in” Adrian admitted in a small voice.

“It’s fine” I smiled at him. “I should go shower and put some dry cloths on” I mused aloud.

“Okay well Grace and I were going to catch a show at the old theater later want to come?” Adrian asked Lance and I.

“I am actually pretty exhausted” I noted casually.

“Maybe cause these two idiots nearly let you drown” Grace laughed at her own joke so did I.

“True, so to make it up to you I’ll stay in with you tonight I’ll even provide dinner Lance piped up. I laughed and shook my head at his proposition.

“Well suit yourselves but Grace we should get going” Adrian smiled I think secretly pleased it would be just them two. He stood to go waiting for Grace who I had detained by grabbing her wrist.

“I expect details” I whispered in her ear she giggled and stood up.

“Ditto” she called to me as she walked away winking.

“And then there were two” Lance chuckled

“Who headed inside to shower because they reeked of chlorine” I smiled getting up. Lance followed me into my house through the back sliding glass patio doors and up the stairs. I saw a yellow sticky note on the mirror that read:

“Be good bear, no wild parties, take care of my girl Lance”
I blushed crumpling the note in my hand before Lance even had the chance to read it. I grabbed his hand and led him up to my room. The walls were a pale yellow but they were barely visible under the hundreds of pictures that were plastered all over them. They were mostly of Grace Adrian and I, some of family, a few of my dad and I and one from years and years ago that Lance and I were in playing on the playground park. I sat down on my bed and motioned for Lance to join me, he willingly obliged.

“Can I ask you something” I hesitated.

“What's on your mind?” he asked openly inviting my question.

“There is no good way of putting what I want to know but you wanted me real with you and I really don’t understand something” I stalled looking at my knees that I hugged in front of my body.

“Go on” Lance’s face was mildly amused.

“It’s about Marcie. You guys dated for so long and than it was just over and now we, well we… and I don’t understand how your feelings could completely change not that I didn’t enjoy it when we… its just I don’t…” I struggled trying to express my concerns. His face was serious, in contemplation. I waited impatiently counting each breathe until he spoke.

“It was wonderful at first, freshman year it felt like I was on top of the world” He started smiling at the memory and that hurt a little but I didn’t let it show. “My future in high school was set, I was dating an awesome girl, who seemed to be very wanted, sports were a breeze and academics were passable. Things progressed and my priorities changed from when we were friends. I wasn’t sure I always liked it, sometimes it felt like things were askew but I shrugged it off. When my mom got sick things changed” his face hardened as if he resented her for it. “Things with Marcie were fine at first, but I started seeing things in a new light. I was told that happens when things drastically change in your life. Any way I struggled for the next two years to understand her. Somewhere in there is that sweet girl I met freshman year. Things changed and I had no idea.” He sighed shaking his head.

“I wish there were words that could make things right” I sighed in the impossibility of it.
I saw a tear slide down his face and he blushed red. I wiped it away and kissed his cheek softly. “You still love her” I smiled my heart crushed a little inside. His eyes opened wide as he looked at me incredulously. “Despite everything, you fell in love with her some time during it all, I see it in your eyes when you think about her” I still smiled despite how I ached with disappointment.

“No I don’t, that’s just it I don’t think I ever did” he cried now and I held him as he wept silently.

“Shh its okay, things will work out I’m sure you both can find a way to work it out” I said trying to sooth him. When he pulled away from me sharply I was taken a back.

“Your not listening I DON”T love her B, I never did, what a terrible person I was I told her I loved her after we made love, but it was a lie, I held her in my arms and when she said she loved me I said it right back but I didn’t mean it I never did” he ranted. I listened in surprise.

“I’m sorry” I muttered in a small voice “I just I thought” I wasn’t sure what to say. I looked up at him as he came towards me lowering his head to my level. His lips were on mine like a wildfire to a forest. I was taken by surprise again and was left defenseless as my body took over my mind shutting down completely. I pulled him closer and he fell on top of me the pressure of his body on mine was not unwelcome. His hands winded through my hair as his tongue dove into my willing mouth. He pulled back slightly to plant small kisses along my jaw that made my back arch into him. He grinned obviously pleased with himself but I wanted his lips back on mine. He tasted like the hot summer air that constantly surrounded us, but better. He pulled back breathless sitting up.

“Does that feel like I’m in love with some other girl?” he asked breathing heavily.

“You get one chance” I whispered, he looked confused as I expected he would be. “You get one chance with me, with this, I want to believe you I do, but inside its harder than that. I am giving into you this once. I trust you don’t screw it up” I finished pulling him back down on me. He kissed me with force as if trying to prove his point. The straps of my shirt started to slide down my shoulder. I turned my check and he pulled back.

“Did I do something wrong?” he asked I saw the concern in his eyes.

“No, but I think I should tell you something” I whispered using all my will power to push against him. He got the hint and rolled over and sat up to face me.

“I’m listening” he smiled.

“I’m not the girl who will go all the way with you, I…” I hesitated feeling stupid saying this aloud “I am saving my self for marriage, I know that may sound silly to you, but being able to tell my husband that he is the first… my first…I would love to give him that” I whispered trying to explain. I looked up and he was laughing.

“Oh Blake, I’ve just gotten you, you can’t get rid of me that easily” he smiled. My heart lifted up immediately. A smile appeared on my face. He kissed my check. I smiled as I sat up.

“I’m going to shower your welcome to use the guest bathroom down the hall” I said as I walked towards my bathroom. He nodded and I disappeared behind the door. I leaned my back against the door and sighed. I stripped the still damp close that clung to my body. After I showered I dried my self off and pulled out a pair of sweat pants and a hoodie. I walked downstairs to the family room where Lance was sitting. He looked up when I came in.
“Took you long enough” he teased. I stuck my tongue out at him like a five year old and sat down next to him.

“What shall we watch?” I asked looking over at him.

“Saturday Night Live is on soon” he said casually picking up the remote. He was right. As we watched it I curled up next to him, my body fit so nicely with his, so naturally. My eyes were heavy, the dim glow of the TV lit the room so everything was just barely visible. I felt my self drifting off but didn’t bother trying to stay awake. I knew things weren't going to be perfect, that things had changed but that was something to worry about tomorrow because all that was left in this moment was to fall asleep in the arms of a boy I cared so much about.

The End!!