Chapter 6: The One Where I Act on Sheer Impulse
"So, Tara… I am so sorry for how Jaxx treated you yesterday." Audrey mumbles while we sit on the bleachers waiting for the basketball practice to get over. I look up from my calculus textbook and see her looking at Tara with sad eyes.
"Why are you apologizing?" Tara mumbles not even looking up from her book. We were doing the homework given to us so we could binge watch a season of FRIENDS when we went home.
"I mean… They aren't a bad person. They just lash out when feelings are involved."
"That's not fair, Auds. And you don't have to defend their actions." I tell her. "They were rude when they had no reason to be. We were having fun."
"I know…" She looks down at her hands in her lap, "They are like a sibling to Sean, Elliot and I. We have been together since kindergarten. They haven't had a good-"
"Audrey… I don't want to talk about them, okay? Just drop it." Tara snaps, fixing Audrey with a glare.
"Okay. I just…" She sighs but leaves it, going back to reading her book. I shake my head and look out towards where the girls' team is doing the drills. I spot Elliot throwing a perfect basket before she turns around and grins at her teammates before moving to the back of the line.
A cheerleader walks up to her and Elliot gives her a half smirk before pulling her closer by her waist. And I kid you not when I say that my heart dropped to my feet.
"Who's that?" I ask, making both of them, Audrey and Tara, look up.
"Ugh… School's trash." Tara says, her nose wrinkled in disgust.
"That is Cynthia Malarkey. Elliot's ex-girlfriend and current FWB." Audrey rolls her eyes, "She thinks she runs the school because she used to date Elliot."
I watch with my heart in my throat as Elliot kisses her. I can see why Elliot likes her. Her blonde hair is up in a high ponytail. The hourglass figure is highlighted by her tight as fuck top and shorter than necessary skirt.
"I… I need to go to the washroom." I get up and nearly run out of the gym.
I have no idea why it's bothering me so much. It shouldn't. Elliot's just a good friend. Nothing else. Yes, we flirt occasionally and if I get a chance to sleep with her, I would in a heartbeat but that's it. It's a physical attraction.
There can never be anything more between us. Ever. I will not be insulted and humiliated ever again.
"Thalia? Are you okay? I saw you run in here…" Elliot's voice rings through the restroom as I splash water on my face.
"I'm fine. Go back to your team." I say, turning around to face her. No matter how much I want to, I cannot keep the acid out of my voice. Her brows furrow as she rubs her neck in confusion.
"Did I do something? What's got you so mad?" She asks, leaning beside me against the counter.
"I am not mad!" I yell before groaning and covering my face with my hands. "Leave me alone, Elliot." I grumble, grabbing my bag and starting towards the door.
"Uh… Okay. I wanted to tell you that I have to cancel our plans today. I have somewhere to be." She says, making me scoff.
"Yeah, okay. Have fun fucking your Barbie doll." I snap at her over my shoulder before banging the restroom door. A hand grabs my wrist and spins me around before pushing me up against the lockers.
"You have no right to comment on my love life or sex life, Thalia. It's none of your business and you don't know me." Elliot growls as she stares down at me. Her eyes are hard and angry. But it just fuels me further.
"You should stop flirting with me then. Or having deep talks. Or telling me that you'd fight for me." I growl back, equally angrily.
"Why do you care? You don't believe in love anyways." She sneers at me, closing the distance between us.
"I…" I trail off, too confused by our sudden closeness and because I have nothing to say anyways, "I'm sorry. I just… I didn't like seeing you kiss her." I shrug, looking at the empty hallway. I hear a chuckle above me.
"Are you jealous, Jace?" A lazy smirk plays on her lips when I look up and I have never wanted to slap someone and kiss someone at the same time before.
"Even if I was, you are right. I don't believe in love. So, this can never work out." I say, pointing between us. She rolls her eyes before pulling back.
"How about a deal?" I look at her quizzically. What is she talking about?
"What deal?"
"There's this charity event coming up for the Senior home that I told you about. I am performing and there's a formal dinner after that. Black tie and all. Performers get plus ones. How about… You come with me as my date? And if you do end up having a good time, you have to let me take you out on a real date." She proposes, raising an eyebrow at me. I am not going to lie, I am intrigued.
"And if I don't?" She shrugs.
"Whatever you want."
"That can be dangerous, Fernsbury…." I warn, raising an eyebrow at her. She graces me with a pretty smile.
"I'll take my chances."
"Okay. I'll go with you." I nod and she looks taken aback.
"Wow… That was easier than I thought. You'll have to come to the charity event too."
"When is it?" I ask, turning around to walk to the gym. She joins me.
"Day after tomorrow. 8 pm. We can go to the dinner together and you can catch a ride to the event with Audrey and others. I would've picked you up but I have to go in early."
"Sure. What are you wearing? Want to color coordinate?" I ask. Might as well do it properly.
"Uh… I am wearing a black tux with a red shirt."
"I have a red dress." I nod, "What are you going to perform?" She smirks at me, standing outside of the gym.
"Why don't you come over after practice and find out?" I watch as she leans in and her breath washes over my face, "That way I can prove to you that I am pretty good with my fingers." She whispers in my ear and quickly kisses my cheek. The shiver that runs down my spine is nothing like anything I have felt before.
"Nice house." I whistle as we pull up to the same house from the night before. It looks even prettier in daylight. It's huge with brick walls and black rooftops. It has such a cottage-core vibe with it's Victorian Design.
"Thanks." Elliot opens the passenger door of her car for me, "It's not much…" She mumbles as we walk to the front door. "Welcome to my humble abode." She gestures inside her house and I walk in, looking around in awe.
"It's prettier inside." I whisper as I follow her in the living room. The ground floor is pretty similar to mine. Open plan with a hallway going off to what I assume is a room and staircase. There's a golden run spread across the entire floor. Even the kitchen. The seating area has a black couch and two white armchairs with a vintage rocking chair. There is a pretty big fireplace behind the armchair. A big window with a settee covers one side of the wall and gives a brilliant view of the backyard.
Elliot is rich. If I hadn't guessed earlier, I know now. The house screams rich but the photos of her childhood with her parents and family make it feel homey and warm.
"Let's go upstairs to my room."
"I was running late and didn't have time to make the bed…"
I giggle and look around her room. The walls are painted sky blue and decorated with various band posters and WNBA posters. The room is bigger than mine with a door to the right which I am assuming leads to the closet and the bathroom and a big glass window for the left wall. The bed in the middle has grey and black sheets and looks fluffier than any bed I have ever had. The frame and the bedside tables are a black too, which seems to be the color scheme of the house. There's a whole corner dedicated to basketball! With a basket and all. There's no desk in sight but a big bookshelf stacked with books makes me feel better. The shelves over the bed have a lot of trophies and a few picture frames. There's no denying that Elliot is not just an outstanding basketball star but also an amazing student. The other wall has a TV and a lesbian flag hung proudly beside it.
A particular thing catches my eye. A guitar stand. A beautiful black guitar rests on it.
"You play?" I turn to Elliot with wide eyes as she grins at me. She nods and moves to the guitar stand before picking it up and moving to the bed.
"Sit." She pats the bed before settling down on the floor before it. She looks so at home as she tunes the beautiful instrument. The way her fingers glide over the strings has me mesmerised, "Give me a song." Her voice snaps me from my trance and I meet her eyes.
"Uh… What are you going to play for the charity event?" I am so caught off guard that I cannot formulate words. I have always had a thing for musicians and this new discovery about Elliot is not helping my attraction to her.
"That is a secret but I will play the first song I learned for you and maybe then you can think about some song for me to play." I nod, still stunned in silence. She turns her attention to the guitar and a soft melody starts playing out. It doesn't take me long to recognize the similar chords of Ed Sheeran's Perfect.
"I found a love for me…" I look up from my lap with wide eyes as Elliot's voice rings out through the room. Her eyes are closed and she looks like an angel as the words flow out of her mouth. Her voice is so soft and smooth. It looks very effortless. The words contain emotion and meaning as they pour out of her. The guitar is in perfect sync, never missing a beat.
I feel my heart flutter in my chest and my mind fills with a million images evoked by the song.
Elliot doesn't once open her eyes, her fingers fleeting over the strings as swiftly and automatically as a bee amongst flowers. Her voice surrounds us like a blanket of calm, making a bubble around that feels so private and just… ours. I don't want anyone to come in and erupt it and I don't want Elliot to stop singing and playing ever.
"So? What do you think?" I am still in a trance and the silence that falls as the echo of the strings fades is comfortable.
"I…" I trail off, unable to find any words for it. She looks at me alarmed before looking down at the guitar. An adorable flush spreads across her cheeks and reaches her ears.
"Was it that bad? I mean… I haven't played that song in a long time. I promise I am actually good a-" I can't help myself as I practically fling myself at her, my hands coming to rest on her cheeks. My lips press against hers, swallowing the rest of her words.
She hesitates but her hands soon come up to my cheeks, her lips starting to move in perfect sync with mine. She quickly takes charge, guiding the kiss when she realizes that I acted on pure instinct and am now very flustered. The kiss is very very sweet and it doesn't feel like any of us is in a hurry to finish it. A thousand butterflies flutter in my tummy as her thumbs caress my cheeks.
"That's a good way to shut a girl up." Elliot chuckles when we pull back for obvious oxygen needs. Damn the need to breathe. I chuckle and rest my head on her shoulder, breathing heavily. I feel my face heating up as embarrassment becomes the only emotion coursing through my veins. I can't believe I did that.
"I… I am so sorry. I shouldn't have done that." I mumble, leaning back. I can't even meet her eyes anymore, "God… I am such an idiot." I put a hand to my forehead as regret and anger courses through my veins.
She's going to think I am a weirdo and I am going to lose all my new friends when she tells them about this. Plus I am not even ready for a relationship or any commitment. She's going to leave in the end anyways and like I said, no one is going to humiliate me like that again. I won't let anyone have that kind of power over me again. I-
My frantic train of thoughts is interrupted by Elliot's fingers under my chin as she tilts my head up. I find myself staring into her eyes. They look gentle and calm unlike how I feel. She doesn't seem to be warring with herself like I am.
Just plain calmness and security. Things I crave everyday of my life.
"Hey… I liked it a lot. In fact, I loved it." She says, her voice not even over a whisper like it's a secret between us, "Did you not like it?"
And there it is. The insecurity and worry flooding into her eyes. And it irks me. Pricks my heart.
"No! Not at all. It was beautiful just like the song. But…" I trail off, sitting down properly. I need the support of the bed, "I… I just am not ready for a relationship. I can't do it." I confess. Elliot smiles warmly and shrugs.
"We don't have to label it. I mean frankly, whatever we have has happened so fast that even I am confused. But I do know that I want to figure out what we can be. Maybe this is just because of the excitement of something new and we'd come back to being friends or it is the most beautiful thing that can happen to us and we grow old together. Whatever it is, I want to explore it." Her voice is so calm and gentle that I can't even bring myself to deny it.
And my heart does want to discover whatever this is that we might have. It hopes against hope that she won't hurt us and leave us.
"Can I have some time to think? Please? This is all so sudden and I need to figure out what is going through my head. Just… please." I plead, feeling a little breathless. Elliot's eyes dim a little but she still grins happily and nods.
"Okay. I can drop you home if you want to be alone." She offers and I nod even if I want to spend more time with her.
'Alone time is exactly what I need.'
Weekly Power Status
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