Chapter 9

Arianna’s POV:

My stomach tingled as I walked in the front door. I couldn’t get over the fact that I’d kissed him. Me and not him. I touch my lips feeling them tingle even more. I smile wide and race up to my room. I throw my bag on the bed. I can’t help but glance out to Nate’s house across the lake. The pit of my stomach is swarmed by butterflies and I bit my lip. I seriously needed to get over the biting lip thing. I sigh and flick on my TV. Not much was on. I was trying to distract myself from the fact of his lips on mine and thinking about the car wash tomorrow. Would he kiss me again? Did I want it? Hell yes I did. I groan as my mind wanders to what he could really do. I turn off the TV and storm downstairs. When I get to the bottom of the stairs I notice Tracy sitting on my couch. Okay weird.

"Hey Tracy, what’s up?" I make my way over to her and plop onto the couch next to her.

"Hey, oh nothing much. I just wanted to see if you were up for the movies tonight?" she looks at me pouting.

"Sure, what we seeing?"

"I have no idea, because honestly I thought you’d say no"

"Why would I say no?"

"I don’t know. Hey, you seem pretty hooked into Nate lately," she says as we stand up. I look away from her. Was I really ready to let someone in and tell them? I was fine letting the feelings boil inside me for now.

"No, what makes you think that?" I ask her frowning and putting on my best poker face.

"Oh well then maybe I was wrong. Anyway it doesn’t matter as long as we’re all good friends by the end of the day right?"

"Right. So I need to have a quick shower but I’ll be down in a sec. You hungry?"

"A little"

"Kirsten will get you something. I’m sure she’s around her somewhere"

"If not?"

"Then I guess help yourself"

"Better" she smirks and I race off upstairs. I have a seriously speedy shower and change into jeans and a tank top. I pull out my chic biker jacket and pull it on slipping into black ballet flats. I grab my wallet and phone heading downstairs. I find Tracy standing in the kitchen watching Kirsten hand her some strawberries.

"What? No chocolate?" I ask scaring the both of them. I laugh and Kirsten heads to the fridge for the chocolate. She heats it a little in the microwave and we dig in.

"You know if we never met I would never have found the perfect desert slash snack" Tracy says when she picks up the last one.

"I’m a genius like that" I say smirking and throwing the leafy part into the container.

"Thank you Kirsten" I say when we put the stuff in the container and headed for the front door.

"Yeah thanks Kirsten" Tracy says and we jump into her car. Kirsten waves from the front door and disappears behind the crystal white door.

"So the movies huh? Close by?" I ask her. I actually had no idea where the movie theatre was to be honest.

"Yeah just a couple of blocks away. It’s the lake’s theatre"

"So only lake community allowed?"

"Um actually no. Friday, Sunday and Tuesday’s they open to everyone. Lucky today’s Friday and we get to be in the rush"

"Nice, so any good movies up?"

"I have no idea. I haven’t been to the movies in week plus I’ve been a little out of it lately"

"How so?"

"I’ve stopped reading my magazines stopped checking people’s blogs and all that stuff. I feel so left out of the loop" she pouts and I laugh. In less than two minutes we pull into the car park. Tracy drives into a lake community parking only area and we walk back to the theatre. We spend about ten minutes looking over the movies and ended up choosing jack and Jill. When the movie finished we lingered in the games room while Tracy versed this guy at the driving game. She kicked his ass by a mile and he walked away ashamed.

"Didn’t know you were that good" I said suppressing my laughter as we walked out to her car. The frozen drink in my hand had slowly been melting and I almost dropped it.

"I’m super good at everything" she said rolling her eyes as she fails get her bag open. Finally when we get into her car she goes through the drive thru of Mac Donald’s. When we got our meals she pulled up to a park a little drive away and we sat in her car eating, talking and laughing. I glance at the clock like halfway through and realise it’s nearly 9:30 pm. By 10 I’m back home in my room with Tracy. She lays on my bed, playing with the toy she got with her happy meal.

"So Tracy fun week at school or what?" I ask her, reflecting on my first week at Dubstep. It was actually quite fun except all the people who’d stared at me more than they really should have.

"Oh my god, tons of fun. Only seven more weeks and no more school. God I’m so happy. Derek and I are finally going to move in together"

"Oh I’m so happy for you"

"I know right I feel like the happiest girl on the planet. Derek is so sweet and everything. I’m pretty sure I want to spend forever with him"

"Yeah?" I jump onto the bed next to her and watch the ceiling.

"Hmm yep. What about Marcus? He’s super nice and stuff too"

"Ugh don’t even bring it up"

"Huh? What’s up?"

"I’m over it and I dumped him"

"You what?!" she screeched looking at me like I was insane.

"I guess I had a change of heart"

"For who?"

"Um..." I looked away from her concerned face and she pulled it back and her eyes widened.

"You do like him don’t you? Oh god I can’t believe I didn’t see it" she says gasping and I look at her curious. Who did she think I liked?

"What?" I frowned putting on my poker face again.

"I’m talking about Nate. Oh my, it all makes sense now. For how long? I mean you’ve only known him for like three maybe two weeks"

"Tracy" I groaned and rolled off the bed. I stood up and turned away to look out over the lake to see Nate in his room. I move further out the balcony and sit on the railing. Tracy hops off the bed and sits next to me.

"It’s okay; you don’t have to tell me. I just wanted to clarify that it is him right?"

"Unfortunately"

"Why so glum? Nate isn’t really that bad"

"I know" I smirk thinking about his lips again. I touch them and they tingle.

"You kissed him, huh?" she nudges me and I turn to look at her. I knew there was no way she didn’t know. She was good at reading people. She’d done it a couple of days ago in home ec about Marcus and I being good together, but trouble was coming.

"Yeah" I whispered and it felt weird actually saying it. Like maybe it was fiction and I didn’t know. Saying it made it so that much more real.

"Oh big girl, who did it?"

"I did"

"No way? Did he kiss you back?" she turned on me gripping my shoulders.

"Yeah" I whispered and blushed. He had kissed me back and it had made me feel better about kissing him in the first place. I gulped and looked back over across the lake. Nate was no longer in his room but I had the sudden urge to be with him.

"Oh I’m so happy right now"

"I already knew that"

"Not about that silly, about this. You and Nate"

"Nate and I are nothing. Who, in their right mind, would want me? Poor little Ri who just kissed Nate as I rebound off Marcus" I said it slowly and I began to believe it.

"No, no you didn’t. You can’t drop Marcus that quick and move on"

"Yeah, I can. It's called a rebound guy."

"You would never use a guy you liked"

She silenced me. We talked a little more after that and then I fell asleep. I had no idea whether she left or slept over. I wasn’t fazed because I was dreaming about Nate. Peaceful and contently.

"Nate we need to talk" I whispered as I pressed up against him. He was kissing my neck and I wanted nothing more than to let him keep going. I had the urge to tell him something. I had no idea what it was but it was ready and waiting to leave my mouth. I strained my brain thinking about what it was that I wanted to say. It still refused to let me access that information.

"About what?" he whispered against my skin and I shivered in pleasure. It felt so good. It was so real but I could feel something pulling me back. Something was tapping my shoulder. I tried to ignore it for as long as I could. I was so intrigued to find out what I was so keen to get out.

"I have no idea I just have to tell you something"

"What?" he growled pulling me closer. I lost my breath and his face blurred. I cried out and sat up breathing heavy in the bed. A tear slipped from my eye because when he disappeared it felt painful. I looked over to see him sitting at the end of the bed. He was frowning.

"Do you usually talk in your sleep?" he asks and I blush. Please don’t tell me I’d said all that to him.

"Not usually why? What did I say?"

"You’re moaning and stuff" he tries to hide his smile and I groaned flopping back into the pillow.

"Good dream huh?" he asked smirking and stands. I blush thinking about it. It had been until it ended.

"Yeah" I whispered.

"Seemed intense" he shrugs and I blush even more. I crawl out of the bed and move to my bathroom.

"Why are you here anyway? I was coming over to yours at 11" I frowned locking the door. His voice was moving towards the door.

"Ri, its 11:30. What did you do? Stay up all night?" he joked and I shrugged even though he couldn’t see me.

"Kind of. I was with Tracy last night"

"Explains so much"

"I’m sorry" I whisper. I change out of my clothes and into the bikini sitting on the bench. My blood spiked at the thought of being semi-naked washing cars with Nate. I pulled open the door and he was sitting on the edge of my bed.

"Just let me get so denim shorts and we should be good to go" I purr and walk over to my cupboard. I bend slightly letting him have a good view, hopefully. I pulled out the first denim shorts I see and step into them. I turn to see him having a mental war with himself. I grab my wallet and purse and stand by the door.

"Are we going or what?" I ask him and he nods racing out the door ahead of me. I followed him to his car and we drove off. In the car I played with his radio until I found a song I liked. “I got it from my mama” by will.i.am. Nate looked at me curiously and I shrugged. I liked my dad’s version to this. I got it from the dumpster. I laughed so hard when the chorus came around thinking about my dad singing his version. When the song ended I let the next song play out. But it only got to the first 10 seconds and he shut off the engine. I finally realised we were here. There were about three cars lined up, but nonetheless, it wasn’t overly busy. I followed Nate to the table at the front entrance. There were two older ladies sitting behind it gossiping.

"Oh hello guys what can I do for you two? Signing up?" the lady with the barely brown hair. It had more grey than anything.

"Um actually we’re already signed up just checking in" Nate said smiling at the ladies.

"Oh goodie then who do we have here with us?" the lady looks at both of us.

"Nate Williams and Arianna bode"

"Okay yep you guys are here. Alright you two have been put on the second car wash line, which isn’t open right now but surely will be in about half okay? But for now you guys can just sit around for a bit I guess. Also drivers must give you the ten dollars, all money deposited to us here over certain periods of the day. Here’s your box." She hands it to me and I look at it. It was like a tissue box but blue and green with car wash written on it.

"Also while we work today we’ll have music going and yes you guys can put in music requests. We hope you have a good day and remember to apply sunscreen. Also the charities wish to thank you for helping out" she smiles sincerely and the other lady nods agreeing. We thank them and move off to the side. Nate sits down on the bench and I sit next to him. I put the box down next to me and turn to face him. He looks off into the distance not really focusing on anything.

"So Nate...about detention..." I start off not really knowing how to say it. Did I really want to tell him I liked it or not? I mean I surely did.

"Regretting it huh?" he glances at me and I get the odd feeling he’s just not into it today. I feel my heart sink a little at the thought.

"No...not really, why? Are you?"

"You’re not regretting it?"

"No, why would I?" he still avoiding my eyes and continued shifting uncomfortable. I was getting to him, for what I had no idea. I hadn’t even done anything.

"Just clarifying?"

"Clarifying what?"

"Oh nothing. Say I wish time was flying eh?" he says glancing at me. I feel shock hit me, was he not enjoying my company. He never seemed fazed about it before. All of a sudden I felt unwanted. I wanted to take back the kiss. I sigh and try to block out my mental protests to start walking home.

"Yeah I guess it does" I knew I was down now. There was no way anything was lifting my spirits.

"Something up?" Nate asks after a while. I hadn’t realised he’d been watching. I glance at the huge clock on the wall of the car wash place and saw we still had a couple minutes left until we could start. I look back at Nate and shrug.

"It’s nothing. Really just petty" I bit my lip and stand up bringing the box with me. I move towards the ladies at the desk. I was ready to hand over the box and say I felt sick I couldn’t do it.

"Where are you going?" Nate says, panic in his voice. I turn to see he was standing up looking around clueless.

"Home. I feel sick. Is it cool if I bail?" I ask blushing a little. I was stupid to even think he wanted me.

"That would so uncool" he said rubbing his next self-consciously. My stomach tightened. Please don’t say that.

"Sorry but I really do feel sick"

"Bad food?" he shrugs looking me in the eye. As if he was looking for my lie.

"I think so" I whispered and I turned to move towards the table. Nate didn’t move for a while. He looked like he was having a little mental session with himself.

"How can I help you dear?" the lady asks me when I approach the table.

"I’m sorry but I think I’m sick and I’m going home. I really wish I could stay but I think I’ll just get worse" I lied smoothly. To be honest I actually did feel sick, just not that kind of sick.

"Oh that’s not good dear. Well I suppose—" she was cut off when someone turned me around and kissed me. I melted and the opened my eyes to see his closed. Not once did his eyes budge to open. I leaned into the kiss, kissing him back and closed my eyes. I heard the ladies talk about something as Nate walked me away while still kissing me. Finally he pulled away and looked at me.

"I owed you" he says shrugging. He was smiling like a fool and my stomach went insane. So did my brain. He wanted me? I no longer felt like going home. I was content being here with Nate. He wanted me here, better yet he wanted me. I looked at him a little shock. He did want me to stay here. I guess he was just being a little weird about it. Like not looking at me. I mean I was wearing a bikini with short denim pants. I mean come on!

"I do want you here" he says shrugging as if he’d read my mind.

"Well that’s a relief" I whisper and look back at the ladies. They were smiling crazy and holding the box up to me. I smile and sigh.

"I should the box" I said looking back to Nate’s dazzling eyes.

"Hmm yeah" he says and I do. The first couple of cars pass by fast, and I’m having so much fun. We were talking and laughing. We’d joke around and I was probably smiling like an idiot. At one point Nate had asked me if it was my goal not to get wet. I wasn’t actually wet yet. My pants had wet handprints on them, but other than that, I wasn’t wet. I had turned to say something when he sprayed me with the hose. I had squealed out and glared at him. The driver had laughed and I turned to him and he held his hands up innocently laughing. After that I made it my plan to get him back. I did. When another driver had driven their car in Nate was talking to him. I nod to the side and the driver stepped away from Nate. Nate had turned around just in time to see me pour the bucket of soapy water on him. Of course he had run after me. The driver didn’t mind, he was also pissing himself laughing, like the previous driver. As the afternoon came around we were having deep conversations. Apparently Nate didn’t want to know his dad. I kind of felt guilty that I had both parents and he barely had a parent. He said he was fine because he had his brother and friends who were practically family.

"Really? I mean you consider me family?" I joked and he shrugged carelessly.

"Yeah I mean it’s not like I actually go around kissing my family but you get it"

"Enlighten me" I said as I hosed off the car. Nate leaned up against the wall and watched me.

"No time right now. Washing car’s silly" he says scuffling my hair. I liked how he did it too. It was like he cared enough. Right now it was all I wanted. Someone who cared what I wanted. I mean Marcus did, occasionally, but he pressured for sex. I knew that Nate wouldn’t cross down that road. I hope. Cause if he did, he would be like every other jerk on this planet. I couldn’t believe I’d remotely thought of Marcus as a jerk.

"I know that but it’s not like we are doing heavy work" I shrug as the conversation came to an end. We did one more car and returned to the ladies with our full box. The two drivers who had laughed at us had given us an extra 10 dollars for the entertainment. I’d laughed when they gave us the money with the explanation. Seriously, I hadn’t been too worked up about what the drivers were seeing. It was my fun and I’d deal it as I wished. I didn’t need anyone’s permission.

"Did we rake in some money or what?" the lady said at the desk laughing as I shoved Nate’s shoulder. He laughed and stood up straight.

"We did. We scored extra too" I said handing her the box. She smiled as she tucked it into one of the crates sitting next to her.

"That’s great news. Oh this has been a great day" she looks off at the sun which was lowering. It was almost sunset.

"We did" I said looking at Nate who blushed and looked away with a smile. I’d just caught him watching me. Today seemed so carefree and easy. Like nothing else. It felt like Marcus didn’t exist. It felt like nothing in my life was complicated and I could just be with Nate. Although I knew everything I’d just thought was impossible. It would never happen. Sure maybe Nate wanted me, but for how long? He’d definitely get bored with me. I was just that boring. Plain old boring me. After the ladies thanked us again Nate drove off. He pulled into the small arcade area.

"What have you got planned?" I asked him, raising a brow.

"Nothing. I was hungry. You want something?" he smirks climbing out of the car. I climb out of the car and follow him up to the cafe joint. We walked in and I gasped. It was amazing. Straight out of a 60’s movie. Heck out of grease. It was old fashioned and it was awesome. I followed Nate to the table at the back. I sat down across from him and watched his face as he read over the menu.

"Hmm I should tell you I’ve actually never been here before" he says peeking over the menu to look at me. I smile and look around. The twins had taken me here, but I’d never seen this place. We’d only breezed through the arcade.

"I should have known" I say casually looking around to see a few guys looking me up and down. I looked to realise I was still in only a bikini and denim shorts. I blushed and tried to ignore them.

"Heya, welcome to Trina’s Diner. My name's Chelsea. What can I get you guys?" I look away from the menu up to her. She was wearing a pin stripe shirt and shorts that we were too short to see because I couldn’t see them. Her apron was in the way. She was chewing gum and her hair was in a messy bun. She had a pen in her hair and she pulled it out just as she finished her sentence.

"Hey Chelsea. Say we’ve never been here before, anything you recommend?" Nate asks her. She looks us both over and then focuses on the pad in her hand.

"Well we have new milkshakes in but other than that I recommend the homemade cheeseburgers. Best combo, almost everyone gets it"

"Hmm I guess I’ll get that" Nate shrugs and they both turn to look at me.

"Um sure I’ll have the same"

"Kay and what flavour milkshakes? We have caramel, chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, apple, pineapple or banana" she says rolling her eyes as she went on. God damn that’s a lot.

"Vanilla" Nate says "Caramel please" I say looking up at Chelsea. She was cute. Her make-up was minimal and she seemed like your average girl.

"Okay guys that should be bout ten and it should be out. Have a nice night, guys," she says and I smile as she walks away. She was so relaxed and she had an awesome accent. It was like British mixed with American. It was a nice mix and suited her well. I look back at Nate.

"Caramel milkshake?" he crinkles his nose.

"What’s wrong with caramel? I have you know caramel is the best thing they invented" I say holding my head high as he laughed.

"I took you as a definite chocolate girl"

"Why, because I love strawberries and chocolate?"

"Hmm and whip cream"

"Yeah that too"

My thoughts instantly flashed back to the first time I thought about eating whip cream off him. I blushed at the thought and he looked at me curiously.

"Hmm no besides that caramel is my second favourite thing in the world"

"Hmm yeah sounds like a good list but then again I’ve only heard two of them. Any more?"

"Nah not right now. Maybe you can figure them out eventually" I whispered and his eyes twinkled. When our food finally came I could help but admire Chelsea again. She had a great job, well it seemed like it. Oh I wonder if my mum would let me work here. Hmm I didn’t need the money but it’d be nice. When we finished eating we went into the games arcade and I versed Nate at a few things again and then we went back to his place. I didn’t want to go home so insisted on going to his. He didn’t complain. When we got there, Drake was walking out the front door.

"Yo, Ri, 'sup?" he says, giving me a fist-bump.

"Sup dude" I said trying to be cool but he just laughed. I was trying to copy him and he was clearly amused.

"Have fun at the car wash?" his eyes twinkled.

"Yeah I did. Tons of fun"

"Cool. You definitely have to show me how to wash a car soon" he whispered nudging me. Nate glared at him and I laughed. Drake left shortly after and let Nate and me to play some COD. I won a game and then he did. He was over the moon again. I laughed as he jumped up in excitement.

"Oh god yes" he says.

"Wow calm down. That’s only like twice. I’ve won how many times" I said tugging at his shorts to make him move out of my view of the screen. He plopped down onto the couch and turned his face to look at me. He was sitting closer than he had been before. I smiled and shifted my leg slightly. It brushed against his and I looked up into his eyes.

"I’m calm" he breathed as his breath quickened.

"Are you really?" I purred forgetting about the game. I desperately needed his lips again. I bit my lip and shifted slightly so I was facing him.

"I have no idea" he whispered and I leaned forward. My nose brushed his nose and my forehead connected with his but I didn’t kiss him. I brushed my lips over his, teasing him. He groaned and pushed forward. The kiss built up and I got up onto my knees and pushed into him. I put my hand in his hair. He didn’t do anything. My stomach tightened. Maybe he didn’t want this right now? I pull away suddenly and he looks at me shocked. I bite my lip and stand up.

"What are you doing?" he asks trying to catch his breath.

"I need to go home. This is complicated okay? I can tell that—" he grabbed my hand and pulled me down onto him. I fell off him a little and he pulled my face back to his and kissed me. His hands slipped from my cheek into my hair. I pushed forward into him more, not getting quite enough of him. He grabs my thighs and pulls me onto his lap. I face him front on and push into him. Every inch of me pressing into him. I could feel a moan building up but I refused to let it out. I pulled out of the kiss and kissed his jaw. His hands went from my thighs to my waist and he pressed me closer to him. I let the moan escape and then blushed. He kisses my collarbone and I throw my head back. Oh god that felt so good. I felt satisfied in every way, from head to toe. I was centralised on him, only he mattered. Frankly that was all I wanted. I wished I’d never met Marcus and that we’d moved here long ago. He growled and pulled me pack to him. The way his lips moved with mine, it had me content. He was holding back, I could tell. I wanted more. Heck, I needed more. This wasn’t just a want for the heck of it this was a real need. Like the need to breath. I deepened the kiss and he moaned into me. The sound of it sent me over the edge. I knew we should have stopped, but I wanted it.

I lay there under him on the couch. I was looking up at his face. His tanned and perfect face. I let my hands trace circles and squares on his bare chest. He was off me but his legs were intertwined with mine. Technically thinking this was our third kiss but trust me we had kissed on several occasions over and over. I was lying in just my bikini. He’d pulled off my shorts long ago but refused to go any further. I was ready to go further but he didn’t want to. When he told me no, my heart sank. He didn’t want to have sex with me. It had broken me to pieces but then he’d kissed me making me feel so much better. But I still craved to be just that much closer to him. He was looking down at me, dazzled and excited.

"Why? Why, Nate?" I ask him again, still pressing him.

"Because...it wasn’t right"

"Wasn’t right?" I gasped and pushed on his chest. His eyes went wide and he pressed himself completely onto me, although I felt none of his weight.

"That’s not what I meant. What I meant was that you’re not ready" he kisses my cheek and my blood spikes. I needed to stay on track here. Had he just rejected me altogether?

"I am ready. Please Nate" I pouted my lips hoping I could get to him.

"Don’t. I’m not giving in, okay? You aren’t ready, you don’t want to regret this"

"I won’t regret it, I promise"

"Look just...please stop pouting, stop using the puppy dog face" he smiled innocently as if he was hiding something. I smirked.

"Is it working?"

"Hell yeah but I have control" he smirked and he kissed my neck. I moaned and clutched him bringing him to my mouth. He kissed me for several seconds before pulling away.

"Unlike you, of course...you’re at my fingertips," he breathes against my neck, and I shiver. Ugh why won’t he just give in? I needed him so bad; I had no idea why I was doing this? Just days ago I had been content with Marcus but Nate was mysterious. I guess that’s why I wanted him so bad. He seemed so off limits but he wasn’t. He was definitely eye candy.

"Then use your power" I growled wriggling under him. He laughed and looked down at me with an adoring smile.

"I love virgins. I guess you’re just going to have to wait then huh?" he teases and I glare at him.

"Yeah whatever" I say the only thing I could think of. I was at a loss for words for some reason. I groaned internally as he laughed and stood up. He looked down at me appreciatively. I smiled and turned to my side. I still continued to glare at him but he shook it off. The rest of the night was breezy. We played a little more COD and then he went to bed. My stomach turned when I realised my sister was going to be here tomorrow. I let out a little yelp of happiness after I flushed the toilet. I walked up to the mirror. I assessed myself in the mirror. I didn’t look half bad. I ruffled my hair and went back into his room. He was lying in his bed watching TV. I leaned against the door frame watching him.

"Nate can I sleep in here?" I ask him and he looks over at me. He nods turning off the TV. He throws one of his shirts at me and I smile as I button it up over my body. It hung just past my bum. He shuffled over and climbed in next to him. The bed was nice and warm and soft. I couldn’t believe Nate only had a double bed. I pressed up against him and rested my arm on his chest.

"Hey, Nate, can I ask you something?" I ask looking up at his face. He had his eyes closed and his breathing was a little faster than usual.

"Yeah" he says and my lips tingle as I watch his lips as I speak.

"Do you think this is going to fast?" I whisper waiting for his reaction. His breath catches.

"What are you talking about?" he tries to pass it off. I shrug thinking my question was stupid now. I close my eyes and think of how good today was and then how even better our couch session was. I smiled as I turned over. I peeked through my eyes to the curtains blocking my view of the lake. He puts an arm around my waist and it tightens but then loosens. I smile even bigger as I drift into sleep thinking about him and him only. No comparing this time.