***Chapter Twenty-Five***
The rain was pouring down the next day as it was one of my days to finish classes at 12. Drew was feeling much better as his cough had practically subsided. Now he was sitting up with me, trying to catch up on work that he missed. It was going great until he got distracted. His distraction being his phone ringing. With the look on his face, you’d think he’d loathe the person calling him. However, it was just Mrs. Tate.
I wasn’t sure if I should be in here for this conversation. My instinct was to get up and leave, but Drew didn’t think so. He did a stay put motion with his finger and I did. I don’t know why, but I listened to him. I stayed put and waited for him to be off the phone. It’s almost like eavesdropping, but not.
Answering the phone, he immediately spoke with an attitude. “Dillon isn’t here,” he says right away.
His mom sounded appalled. “How do you figure I’m calling for that?” She asked.
“That’s all you ever call me for, ma.” He rolls his eyes.
“What good is it having you both at the same school if you’re never with each other?” She wondered.
That only annoyed Drew even more. “She’s 19 ma, in college. I’m not her fucking babysitter.”
I’m seeing what he means by his parents playing favorites. His mom hasn’t asked one question about Drew or how he’s doing. Didn’t see if the semester was going well for him. She called him to check on Dillon and Dillon only. The reason being because she wouldn’t answer the phone, but I don’t blame her. She said she didn’t want to be the favorite, they just made her it. Trying to avoid that at all costs seems like something I would do in that situation. It also didn’t provide Drew with any positive emotions. Though he could’ve not cursed at her.
His mom snarls. “Well, when you see her, tell her to call me.” She says.
“Yeah, yeah.” He responds, uninterested.
“Okay, well I love-” before she could finish that sentence, Drew hangs up.
The surrounding air visibly got colder. It reminded me of whenever my dad would call. The emotions run over me with little warning. Just the sight of his name on my phone drives me crazy. The worst part is that I want to talk to him. I just don’t know how. Where does one start after their father uprooted his life? What could I possibly say to him that’ll make this all ok?
I can tell that’s what Drew was feeling. The way his hand clutched his phone. The blank icy stare he had going on. It’s like he wants to talk to his parents, but can’t. Especially not when they’re calling him just to speak to Dillon. Though his mom was trying to tell him she loves him. He cut the line before she could get the words out. If they didn’t see the issue, then who would? It certainly couldn’t be left for Dillon and Drew. That would only push them further away.
Sliding over in the chair, I did something I would have never thought to do a couple of weeks ago. I grabbed Drew’s hand in my mine, squeezing it lightly. This was something only Drew would start. The moment seemed like the right time for me, too. Luckily I did, because I can see him relax a bit, the icy stare melting away.
“Sorry, got in my head a little.” He apologizes.
I chuckle. “No need for apologies. I get it,” I try to relate to him. “Whenever my dad calls, my emotions get like that.”
He looked up at me with sympathetic eyes. “I can only imagine,” his voice goes soft.
Shrugging, I smile gently. “Parents, am I right?” I had to make a joke out of it somehow.
It worked because he laughed a little before going silent again. I wanted to tell him it was ok. Although his parents played favorites, they truly loved him. His mother was literally going to say it before he hung up the phone. I didn’t want to overstep, though. I wouldn’t be happy if he told me what to do with my dad. So I wouldn’t push him.
Instead, we stayed in silence, holding one another’s hand. At first, it seemed like Drew was thinking about the situation with his mom. I misjudged though, because he was thinking about something else. Something I never in a million years thought he would come out and ask me. It startled me so much; I forgot how to speak. This could not be happening right now. Am I dreaming?
Locking his eyes on the wall in front of him, Drew said the unimaginable. “Annabelle, please don’t hit me,” he said ever so calmly.
Laughing, I raised a brow in confusion. “Why would I do that?” He had me lost.
He licked his lips before turning to me. “Because I’m going to ask something super insane,” he warned me.
I still didn’t get where he was going. “Well, spit it out, you weirdo,” I urged him. I shouldn’t have.
“Can we kiss?” He asks.
My eyes widened as my cheeks flush with embarrassment. This couldn’t be happening right now. Did I hear him correctly? Did Drew tell me he wanted to kiss me? There’s no way that was even possible. Why would Drew ask to kiss me? Of all people! What sick game was he trying to play with me? More importantly, he had a girlfriend. He couldn’t be asking to suck my face when he had a girlfriend! Did he lose his mind or what?
My heart started racing, and I couldn’t control it. “I…I…I…” I stutter, incapable of getting any words out.
Drew knew this too, turning his body completely toward me. “I know it sounds strange, but I just can’t fight the urge anymore.” He admits. He’s been waiting to kiss me?
I shake my head, so confused. “Drew, what do you mean urge?” Nothing made sense to me.
“I’ve been waiting to kiss you for sometime now. I have to be honest about that.” I hate his honesty. “I figured if we do it, I’ll be able to get it out of my system.”
My head was spinning. “I think I need to lie down,” I say, standing up.
Drew confused me on so many levels. He’s been wanting to kiss me for a while but has said nothing? What’s up with that? Why would he want to kiss someone else who wasn’t his girlfriend? This happening would cause so much more drama than it’s worth. If Julie found out, she would have my head on a platter. I’d literally be next week’s dish! His idea was insane, but why did I want it to happen? Why did I want to kiss him back? Feel those soft, pink lips pressed against mine? Wouldn’t that also make me look bad to Keegan? We were still talking. Subtly, but talking nonetheless.
That wasn’t my only worry, though. My big concern was being a bad kisser. This would be the first time I’ve kissed any guy before. It being Drew made my nerves skyrocket. I’ve wanted Drew to be my first kiss for so long. The fact that it could happen made me want to puke. It should be a good thing that I’ll at least get something out of my fantasy. I never imagined it would be this way.
Standing up with me, Drew turned me back to face him. “It’ll be a one and done, Annabelle,” he says. “I really need to get this out of my system or I’m going to scream.”
I stared at him intently, and he was serious. “Drew, we can’t. We shouldn’t.” I was nervous.
“Please? I’ll even leave you alone afterward if you want.” He was negotiating pretty hard. He must’ve really wanted to kiss me.
The words were escaping me. I guess I could kiss him one time and forget about it. But what if I couldn’t forget? What if it was so good that it stayed etched into my memory? My memories specifically with Drew that I kept locked away. It didn’t seem like the smart thing to do. Yet I couldn’t resist the urge to kiss him, either. If no one finds out, it couldn’t possibly cause any harm. It’s one simple kiss.
I close my eyes and take a deep breath before looking at him again. “Fine, but no need to avoid me afterward,” I say. I didn’t want that. “Just one and done.”
His eyes light up. “Whoa, for real? Ok…umm…shit I didn’t think I’d get this far.” This is the first time I’ve ever seen Drew nervous.
It made me laugh for a second, then that’s when things got quite tense once again. Drew’s hands made their way down to my waist as my hands rested on his biceps. My heart pounded in my chest, inching our faces closer to one another. I needed to calm down if this would be good for him. The little experience I have would definitely shine through. We were going to do our best to mask that. Just follow his lead. He knows what he’s doing.
Slowly, but magically, it happened. Drew’s lip was on top of mine. This is a surreal moment for me. So surreal that my eyes were open with shock. I couldn’t believe that this happened. He wanted it to happen, and he did it. The way my heart leaped in my chest sent butterflies to my stomach. The way he pulled me closer to him had me squeezing at his biceps in the most amazing way. His lips were so soft, so luscious, I finally settled in and kissed him back.
That was a bad idea because once I did, I completely lost myself. This ended up not turning into a simple kiss anymore. I was full-blown making out with him. I was making out with Drew, Julie’s boyfriend. The guy I’ve spent many days and nights wishing he’d talk to me. Now our lips were locked in some weird dance we couldn’t seem to get out of. That is until he tried to slip his tongue in and I gradually pulled back.
Looking, Drew bit his lip nervously. “Too much?” He asked to make sure I was ok.
I was trying to catch my breath and find the words to speak. “No, I umm…wow,” I was stunned. It’s not every day a girl gets to do this with her crush.
Drew looks down and smiles. “Did…did you like it?” What’s with his questions?
I nod my head. “Is that bad?” I’m a cautious girl. What if he didn’t like it?
But Drew laughed at me. “Of course not,” he smirks. “I liked it too.”
I’m not sure why, but once he said that, my body had a mind of its own. I didn’t waste a minute jumping into his arms and kissing him once more. It was supposed to be a one and done, but I couldn’t contain myself. Now I’m the one that needed to get it out of my system before we got around other people. He unlocked a fire in me I didn’t know needed to be lit. If I couldn’t have him the way I wanted, I wouldn’t waste this moment alone.
It seemed Drew felt the same as he quickly responded to me; lifting me up in his arms as we continued on. We’re going to be in some deep shit now.