"Hello?"
"Hi, Michael. It's William."
I bolt upright in my bed. The ball that I was tossing up and down out of boredom hits me in the head, but I ignore it. There are more important things to think about than the bump I'm probably going to have from it. Like the fact that I am on the phone with William.
"Hey.What's up ?"
I was hoping I sound suave and not like my heart is beating a million times per second.
" I was just wondering how you're feeling."
It makes my racing heart skip a beat (or five).
"I'm fine."
That's not exactly the truth (my abdomen hurts from yesterday and I have several bruises and cuts), but he doesn't need to know that. I don't want to tell him and have him think I'm whining about it. That would definitely not be cool.
"It's nothing I can't handle."
William laughs on the other line.
"I thought you'd say that. You were looking tough yesterday, and you still are, huh?"
He laughs again.
"Well unfortunately for you, I can see through your tough guy act. So, tell me. How are you really?"
I gape at the opposite wall in my bedroom. How does he do that? How does he always seem to know exactly what I'm thinking? It's weird, and sort of scary, but I can't help but love that about him. He really is something else.
"Michael? Are you there?"
"Oh. Yeah. Sorry. I'm, um... I'm okay. Just a little sore and bruised. And I'm still pissed off about it." I answered feeling a blush on my cheeks.
" I thought so.And that's completely understandable. But still, you need a way to let it go."
"How?"
And he laughs again.
"That's why I'm calling.Do you wanna go out with me and a few of my friends tonight?"
Did he just...? Oh, my god.
My heart completely stops. So does my breathing.
I know, I know. It's technically not a date, but it's close enough. This is...wow. This is great. No, not even great. There is no word to describe how monumentally awesome this is. This can't be real. But it is. And...wow. It's amazing.
"Yeah,I'd love to."
"Fantastic! I'll be over at your house around seven-thirty to pick you up, okay? Oh. And if you want, you can invite your friend,what's his name,oh, yeah. Alex. All right? I'll see you later. Bye, Michael."
And then he hangs up, leaving me completely speechless.
But wait...
How does he know where I live? And now that I think about it, I never gave him my cell number. So, where did he...?
I blink in confusion, but then shake my head.
It doesn't really matter and I can't really bring myself to care all that much. The only thing on my mind right now is that I am going out with William tonight. Never mind the fact that his friends will be there. William invited me along, so that means I'm just as good as they are, or hopefully even more so. This is...wow. I can't wait until seven-thirty. I really can't.
I glance at the clock and frown. It seems like I'm going to have to.
Damn it. What the hell am I supposed to do for six and a half hours?
Well, apparently the answer to that question is 'spend three hours figuring out what to wear'. Which is exactly what I did. Like a fricken' girl. God, that's embarrassing. But, hey, it was worth it. After all of that, I'm now pretty confident that I won't look like a tool with him. At least...I hope I won't.
Anyway. Another two hours were spent deciding if I really wanted to invite Alex along. Yeah, he's my best friend and everything, but did I really want him to come with? I know he doesn't really approve of me liking William, even though he says he understands. And if he comes along, it might be awkward since I know I'm most likely going to be giving William my undivided attention. What will Alex do then? I'm not sure he'd be able to get along with William's friends, especially if they're even a bit like William.
But Alex has been a little down lately since the Goth Girl incident, where she told him he was trying too hard. Having him go out with us might lighten his mood a bit. Plus, I'd feel guilty if I didn't invite him along.
Which was why I did.
And now it's seven-fifteen, and I'm pacing my room, waiting for both Alex and William to get here. I'm not going to lie, I'm a little nervous. What happens if William's friends don't like me? Will he decide that I'm not worth hanging out with anymore?
No, no. William's not like that. Besides, he's already told me he doesn't care what people think of him, even if they are his friends.
But still...what if I embarrass myself? I'll never be able to live with that, especially if it causes him to no longer like me. Oh, hell. What am I supposed to do? I'm going insane
"Dude. You're okay?" Alex asked.
I spin around to see Alex standing in my doorway, giving me a questioning look. I go to tell him yes, pause, snap my mouth close, and then shake my head.
" I'm nervous."
" Why? It's no different than hanging out with him in school. You're just not in school." He said sitting on my bed.
"Exactly! We're not in school, which means no one from school will be around. And his friends will be there. People act differently in when they're not in school, especially so around their friends. What if I act like a complete fool and that makes him not like me anymore?"
Alex rolls his eyes, giving an exasperated sigh, and then looks at me seriously.
"That won't happen if you just calm down. You're psyching yourself out for no reason."
"You don't understand."
"Oh, really?" He asked raising an eyebrow.
I grimace then flash him an apologetic look. Of course he understands; it's what happened to him with Goth Girl.
"Sorry."
I go over and sit down next to him.
" And you're right. I just need to calm down. Everything will be fine."
Alex nods.
"Anyway. Where exactly are we going?"
I open my mouth to answer him, but then close it, blinking.
"I don't know.He didn't say."
Alex gapes at me, his mouth open slightly.
"You've got it bad, don't you?"
"Yeah.I do." I said nodding solemnly.
Just then, my mom yells to me.
"Michael! Your friend's here!"
"Shit !"
I jump up from my bed and start patting my pockets to make sure I have everything I need.
"Cell phone, wallet, house keys..."
"Condoms?" Alex asked behind me.
"Alex!" I exclaimed, turning towards him with an incredulous look.
I see his smirk and start spluttering.
"What the...? No. William..He's not. We're not...I mean. I wish, but...shit. Um..."
He laughs.
"Calm down. I was joking."
"Oh.." I answered lamely.
"MICHAEL?" My mom yelled.
My eyes go wide.
"shit !"
Panicking, I glance around my room for anything else I might need. As I do, I hear Alex laugh again, and then he begins pushing me out of my room.
"Come on now, Lover boy. You don't want him to think you've changed your mind about going, do you?"
"No. No, I don't." I said saking my head numbly.
"That's what I thought."
When we reach the hallway, I'm greeted with the sight of my mom chatting William up. I flush, thinking of all the embarrassing things she could be telling him. And by the slightly mischievous smile on both of their faces, I'm betting that she is telling him. I begin to turn around, ready to run back up to my room to hide, but Alex stops me. He pushes me forward, causing me to stumble. That gets both my mom's and William's attention, and they stop talking to glance over. When William sees me, he gives me a grin that leaves me breathless.
"Hi Michael." William said with a big smile.
He then looks over to Alex.
"Hello Alex."
"Hey." He elbowed me in the ribs, and I realize that I've just been gaping at William. What a surprise.
" Uh, hi.." I said staring at William like an idiot.
I can't help it. He looks gorgeous. Well, he always does. But even more so right now. And he's probably the only guy I know who can pull off lime green jeans.
William's smile gets bigger. He definitely knows I'm checking him out.
"Are you guys ready?"
"Yup." Alex answered.
He knows that I'm too busy drooling over William to remember how to speak. He subtly gives me a nudge towards the door and I obediently begin walking.
"Bye mom." I said distractedly.
My eyes are still glued to William, who is now walking by my side down the walk while Alex follows us.
"Bye honey!" she shouted. "See you tomorrow! Love you!"
Tomorrow?
Confused enough that it brings me out of my William-induced trance, I turn around. But just as I'm about to ask her what she means, William grabs my arm and leans closer to me.
" I told her you were staying at my house tonight. You don't mind, do you?" He whispered in my ear.
It's all I can do to shake my head. His proximity is making me dizzy, as is his breath on my ear. Oh, and just the mention of being with him all night makes the butterflies flutter madly in my stomach.
And then we're standing in front of a rusted, old blue and white Ford van. I just stare at it as William opens the back door and climbs in. Alex catches my eye, and I know we're both thinking the same thing:
How the hell is this piece-of-crap tin can still on the road?
"You coming or what?" William asked poking his head out.
There's an amused look in his blue eyes.
"I promise that you won't die. I know it doesn't look like it, but this thing is pretty reliable."
"It better be," said a male voice somewhere from the van. "I spent the past three months workin' my ass off on the damn thing."
"And you did a marvelous job, Greg."
He turns back to Alex and me with a reassuring smile.
I share another look with Alex, and then shrug at him before climbing passed William into the van. Alex gives a sigh, but follows suit. William beams at us,no,me before shutting the door.
It takes a while for my eyes to adjust to the dimness inside, and by the time I do, we're already a block away from my house. I stare at the other kids in the van besides William and Alex. There's four of them,two in front of us, and two in the seat behind us. The guy driving looks like a hippie, with long hair the same sandy brown color as William's. He's smoking something that definitely is not a cigarette. Doesn't smell like one, either. It concerns me more than the van.
" Let me introduce you."
It's only then that I realize he's sitting way closer to me than he needs to. Not that I mind, of course.
"That's my brother, Thomas." He said pointing to the one driving.
William motions to the girl in the passenger seat next. From what I can see, she has long auburn hair, tied up in a shimmery scarf.
"That's my sister, Catherine."
Catherine smiles at Alex and me, the numerous bangles on her wrist clinking together.
"This is Greg. He's also my brother."
From him, we get a sarcastic smile and nod. He's probably the most normal looking one in the van. Besides Alex and me, of course. Greg is your typical grease monkey, with grease-stained blue jeans and a t-shirt.
"And this is my other sister, Aud..."
"I can introduce myself just fine, William. Besides...Alex and I have already met."
"You have?"
The girl laughs then leans forward, placing an elbow on the back of our seat and resting her chin in her hand. I stare at her as she grins at Alex. There's no mistaking that purple and black theme to her overall gothic appearance.
"Audrey..." Alex whispered.
Audrey smirks, snaps her gum, and then sits back without another word or glance at him.
I look back and forth between her and Alex. She's completely ignoring him, but he won't stop staring at her with an earnest expression. It makes me think that there's more to whatever is going on between them than Alex has told me about.
As the silence continues between them for another minute, I'm about to say something to break it up, just as an annoyed expression comes over Alex's face. I blink and lean away from him, only to end up pressing myself into William's side. His arm wraps around my waist before I can move away, and I feel his breath on my ear again. I blush as an involuntary shiver goes through me.
"Do you know what's going on?" William asked, his lips brushing against my skin.
It gives me the worst goose bumps ever, though it feels so good. I nearly let my head loll back on his shoulder.
"Not really." I said quickly.
He hums speculatively into my ear. I swallow audibly as I try to keep my breathing at a normal rate, but fail.
"We'll just have to watch to find out then, won't we?"
He pulls me closer to him to him.
I can only nod.
God, whoever would have guessed that him touching me would feel this damn good?
" What is your problem with me? Every time I try talking to you, you completely blow me off!"
I look over at Audrey to see her yawn and then examine her nails, acting as if she didn't even hear him. Alex makes an aggravated noise.
"And now you're ignoring me to avoid this conversation too!The least you can do is tell me why!"
Once again, Audrey says nothing. I scowl at her as she snaps her gum, twirling her hair around her finger as she looks away from him fingers, out the window. Alex is still staring at her pleadingly, though. I give him a pitying look. I can imagine just how he feels.
William suddenly drops his arm from my waist. Trying not to feel disappointed, I look over my shoulder at him to see him glaring at his sister.
"What's the matter with you?"
He scoffs when Audrey doesn't answer him either, and then turns towards Alex.
"I'm sorry. It seems my sister is too stuck-up to answer your question, let alone give you the time of day."
Audrey lets out a short laugh.
"You think you're any better than me, William?"
She then catches my eye, an amused but meaningful glint in hers. I frown at her, not understanding what that's supposed to mean at all.
"When you've had enough of that, and you need somebody to know, don't come crying to me. Go apologize to him."
"No. Forget it. I don't want anything to do with her if she's like that."
Audrey bursts out laughing, sounding honestly amused. I watch Alex's expression turn stony as he turns back around in his seat, away from her. I feel like such an ass for inviting him now. There's no way he's going to be able to enjoy tonight after this. I should probably ask him if he wants to go.
And then William's hand is on my thigh, erasing every thought from my mind except for the ones about him, his hand and how it seems to be burning a whole through my jeans.
"Stop worrying about him. I'll introduce him to my friend Leila when we get there. She'll cheer him up without a doubt." He said quietly.
His fingers begin to trace random shapes on my leg.
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