"My my don't you know how to attract a crowd?" I heard behind me and I tensed as Ryder leant against the counter next to me and I thought against turning my full attention towards him but it didn't stop him from running his gaze over me and I tried to hide my discomfort. But despite this, I couldn't lie to myself. It made me giddy that I had his attention like this.
Why, oh why did you have to jinx tonight Alice, I questioned with a grimace as I swirled the liquid I the glass I was holding, ignoring the nasty voice at the back of my mind reminding me that I should have seen this coming when his name kept coming up every two sentences.
"One don't class me in your level of egoism. If you're here to..," I started furrowing my eyebrows in confusion. Why was he here again? "uh... whatever you're here to do, quit while you're still ahead. And if you're here to buy me a drink, not that you can anyway, I already have one and I'm looking forward to meet the bottom of this glass. Bottoms up."
He laughed. Not the reaction I was expecting but this guy went on to strain my poor heart. I couldn't fall for him no matter what. Call me paranoid or anything but I believe myself prudent in the least. My family had a history of soft-hearted females at least on my mother's side and for the most part all I had was her hair, or the length of it. Maybe that's why we don't get along, I thought before shaking my head trying to shake off the thought. No need for such trivial matters at the moment.
"You are definitely not like anyone I've met here. Then again you're the most gorgeous girl here."
"How many girls has that worked on tonight?"
"None," he said with a shrug.
"Okay, let me rephrase that. How many girls has that worked on ever?"
"Again none?" He said and I rolled my eyes. "Roll your eyes harder. I dare you."
He dares me, does he? I thought rolling them harder and he chuckled softly.
"Princess, do you think you're cute?"
"Wild and untamable, is more like it," I said flicking my hair and I could have sworn he followed the action more than he needed to and I watched him curiously.
"You tend to space out a lot don't you?" He asked stepping up towards me and I turned towards him.
"Huh?" I asked confused before furrowing my eyebrows in confusion and slight annoyance as he ran the pad of his thumb against my lips and I could feel my eyes flutter slightly before I slapped his hand away. "I'm not one of your girls Stone. Now shoo."
But of course, the guy couldn't take a hint.
"My..," he asked looking adorably confused. I seriously needed to see less of this guy. And what's worse I couldn't believe I let him steal my first kiss. But then again I kissed him back. It was as much my fault as it is his, I thought groaning inwardly as he smirked and I narrowed my eyes eyes at him.
"Now tell me caríno, why would I want to leave someone so intriguing?" He said and I looked at him blankly.
"Sexy, hot as hell, I've been called. Intriguing, that's new," I mused out loud and he chuckled.
"Maybe it's just because I see something others don't."
"Or you are buttering me up so I don't kick your ass for voicing your perverted thoughts," I said and he clutched his chest with a pout.
"And here I was beginning to think you actually like me," he said with a grin and I raised an eyebrow at him. "What!? Can't blame a guy for trying?"
He added and I rolled my eyes hiding my smile as I became aware of the gazes on us. Both friendly and nasty. I was already planning to ditch this guy. I didn't need any more haters than I already had.
"Come on, let's get out of here. These stares are getting creepy," I said grabbing his hand, trying to shrug off the sudden warmth as a shiver passed through me and from the sudden flash of uncertainty in his eyes he must have felt it too. Though probably he was better at hiding it than I was. Hmm, my father would be displeased.
"Babe, I thought we'd have a couple of shots before we decided my place or yours," he said recovering and I narrowed my eyes at him making him chuckle nervously as he let me pull him with me through the house.
Naturally, people paved way and honestly I was glad. I was more worried about these people more than I was about getting through. Slightly tipsy, I was more prone to thinned patience. That and the fact that my shortness had no bounds. I wouldn't make it through alone.
"Then again no one really said you can't have dessert before dinner," he said once we got outside and I stopped in my tracks, making him wrap his arm around my waist before he crashed into me or before my clumsy self kicked in.
"Uh.. you..ugh. You pervert. Let go off me," I let out struggling against him but he didn't let go off me, chuckling under his breath.
"Pervert? I was talking about getting some dessert. Yogurt? Ice cream? Pudding? Princess, as it seems you're the only one with your brains in the gutter," he teased and I could feel the warm blush from deep within my chest to the tips of mg ears and he laughed pulling the long curls from my shoulder exposing my neck to him and I visibly shivered.
"Don't call me that," I said quietly shivering once more when his lips brushed teasingly against my neck before he spun me around.
"You... You are actually blushing? I knew you were falling for me princess," he said surprise filling his voice and I could feel myself reeling as I pushed him away.
"I'm not falling for you and I swear call me princess one more time and I'll maim you for life," I said glaring at him and he grinned flicking my nose.
"You're cute when you're mad you know," he said making me roll my eyes as I held my nose.
"And you're annoying all the time," I said sweetly making him roll his eyes before slinging an arm around my waist making me gasp as my chest met his.
"What are you doing?" I asked with a scowl as he caught my gaze and I could feel my expression soften.
"Do you really hate me that much?" He asked cocking his head in question and I looked away with a sigh. Now that's a question I didn't expect.
"Hate? I never said I did."
"You never said you didn't."
Touche, I thought before catching his gaze one more time before I pinched my brow with my free hand.
"You really don't make it easy on a girl, do you?" I muttered more to myself. "Let's just say hate is such a strong word. I find you more of... annoying, infuriating. You are also stubborn, hard to read, let's not forget you're brutally brazen..."
I trailed off realizing I was rambling and I could feel my cheeks redden once more and for a moment I was glad it was night he couldn't see my blush, not that he could actually see it much during the day either.
"Right, not helping. Doesn't mean I hate you though."
"You are brutally honest I'll give you that. But I guess it's part of the charm."
"You know it," I declared making him laugh as he tightened his grip against me and for a moment I didn't realize he was and had backed me up against the side of the wall. Away from the lights, away from the not-so-subtle looks from those lounging around in and near the pool and I could feel my heart racing miles in my ribcage.
"So tell me Diana, if you're that brutally honest answer me one question.."
"Hey wait, I never said.." I started shaking my head but my plea fell on deaf ears.
"Why do you try so hard to push everyone away? It's like you've had your heart broken before and you're trying to protect yourself," he said and I tensed feeling as if all the air had been squeezed out of my lungs as he caged me between his arms.
"I don't know what you're talking about," I said not meeting his gaze but he wouldn't let me look away as he lifted my chin with his finger.
"Oh really? I've been watching you all night and each time one of these fucktards tries to get close to you, you raise your walls up. And yet here you are. You don't think I notice. How your body points towards me when I'm close to you? How about those little gasps you make whenever I touch you?"
To be honest, at the moment I felt more cornered than I've ever been, not that I minded it. As a matter of fact, I found myself thinking that he was the only person I'd tolerate right about now and honestly I'd never had anyone ask me that. No one had ever wanted to know, not unless they are the shrinks I had had to meet at some point in my life, and they didn't care for anything but Eve's money.
People are not to be trusted, the thought echoed through my mind but went unheard. After all, how could I focus on anything when he was this close, his lips brushing ever so teasingly against the spot that I assumed was my sweet spot and I shivered as tingles passed through my whole being and I could already feel his smirk as he lifted his gaze and I could feel my eyes flutter slightly as his minty breath hit my lips making me lean forward.
"Ryder!? Babe!?" A voice called out and I snapped out of it pushing him away and he cursed under his breath letting himself budge.
Forcing a smile, I looked up at him finding the strangest of emotions in his eyes but I didn't let it deter me.
"You should probably go back to your girlfriend. Wouldn't want to keep her waiting now, would we?" I started turning away from him but he caught my wrist before I walked too far or before I gave in to the heartbreak just waiting to happen.
"She's not my girlfriend, I promise," he said and I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion as I turned to look at him wondering why he found the need to declare this. And to me for that matter. "Why would I lie to you?"
He said and I stared at him for a while trying to figure him out but I couldn't come up with anything and I shrugged.
"Sure," I said and he let go of my wrist making me wonder at what he was playing as he let out a sigh running a hand through his hair.
"I'll take you home."
"I don't think that's a good idea," I said suspiciously not trusting myself. I could still feel the heartbreak I had from finding him gone this morning. He still drove me to school but as I said I needed a long break from him, at least till I figure myself out.
And besides I wasn't going to be a rebound for him or whatever he was trying to do with me.
"Oh.." he said looking as if he wanted to add on more but hesitated. Not sure why but I was under the impression that he seemed desperate. Why exactly I don't know?
"Don't worry, I'm not leaving alone. I ..I just need to be alone for a while. The conversation with Heather.." I said and he stepped up close to me hesitating briefly before he kissed my forehead when he saw I wasn't going to stop him from inching in closer.
"It's okay. Just call me if you need anything," he said before releasing me and I stepped away glancing at him briefly before walking away a bit hesitantly as I suddenly felt cold from the loss of his warmth and tingling sensations from where his fingers lay on my bare back. Darn, stupid hormones.