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Description
Dave's P.O.V:

“Dammit....Dammit...Fuck.” I growled in a cool tone as my long slender fingers missed the proper colored button to press time after time. I really sucked at this game, which was stupid to begin with.

Guitar Hero.

Why was I playing guitar hero? Well, it all started out for a video game date with some girl John knew, Jade, that I had started talking to prior to John suggesting the date. She was more than happy to agree to the date and before I knew it, here I was in her living room, about ready to just bullshit my way through the rest of the song.

“You're new at this, aren't you?” She giggled, her green eyes glancing at my shades with wonder.
“At this atrocious game, yes.”

At getting a girl to fall for me, no.
Well. At least I thought so. Recently my game has been thrown off completely.

I sighed, trying to focus on the next notes on my side of the screen and less about the big gaping whole in my ego.

Jade seemed to flawlessly succeed at the game without even trying, which made me anxious. Strider's had to woo the woman, not be beat by her.

Without a second thought, I quit the game, tossing the strange controller guitar into the arm chair beside me and turned to Jade, who blinked at the screen innocently.

“I'm done with that.” I sighed.

I was pretty much done with everything by now, actually. I needed to get my stride back. Stride off this funk.

“Uh....Okay! I have other games...” She set her guitar aside much more carefully than I had mine and took a step toward the tv.

I stopped her, catching her arm and pulling her toward me. “So do I.”

She blushed a bit, her large doe like eyes bashful as she locked onto my shades. “Well, hopefully more than one can play..”She whispered.

“There are plenty multi-player games.” I assured.

“But no handicaps.” her lips turned into a light smile as she reached for my shades.

My hand quickly ceased the movement and I shook my head slightly. “The shades stay.”

She sighed as she frowned but had no room from protest as my lips swept across hers, stealing the air to supply the words.

My eyes shut as my mind wanders away, flashing to two nights ago, where I lay on the floor next to (Name), talking about meaningless topics, smiling and laughing here and there.

Her silky hair fanned out on the floor of my bedroom...Her soft skin pressing against the hard wood, her scent imprinted forever on that very spot, wafting in the air hours later, lulling me into sleep. Her voice sung into the walls, encasing my room in a blessing of her light smile.

I can feel her fingertips in my hair, twirling themselves in circles as her body melts into my arms. Her lips locked in my grasp, finally hypnotized by my charms-

My eyes fly open as sudden air is sucked into my lungs, reality slapping me in the face as I find Jade in my arms instead of (Name).

Jade giggled, breathless herself as she slipped out of my now loose grip, blushing a bright red.

“Uhm....Wow...I...”

“I gotta' go.” I said briefly, tying up the loose ends left about in the space between us.

“See you in school?” Jade asked eagerly as she helped me gather my things.

“Sure.”

My Strider Charm was on full blast tonight, my senses heightened and prepared for someone who was only present in my mind.

I had to get out of there. This shell, this mask, it..It wasn't real. This charm and desperate attempt to woo her off her feet wasn't meant for this long black haired, olive skinned girl with neon green eyes. No matter how deep the kiss I just gave, no matter what words slithered out of my lips, none of it was real.

I strode out of her house and to my motorcycle without a second glance. I didn't really want to see Jade's hopeful gaze, no matter how nice and kind she was. Which, don't get me wrong, was just normal for a Strider. We barely called back and we definitely didn't meet a girls gaze for the last moment of the night.

If only this time it was a regular Strider thing. Instead, my mind was clouded, my body flustered by such thoughts of a misunderstood action. I probably swept her off of her feet flawlessly, playing her like the buttons on that guitar controller. She probably would dream about this night, whisper it to her friends and pray to anyone with the promise of 'blessings' that they return me to her.

She probably would even tell John.

Oh God.

John.

(Name).

I felt sick to my stomach, the acid held deep within my body lurching up and up into my throat, leaving a bitter after taste to breathe into my mouth. I immediately regret letting my mind wander so far as to think about him with her.

My phone buzzed in my pocket and without really glancing at the sender I tapped on the message, reading it quickly.

'Hey, are u free?'

My lips twitched with a ghost of a smile as I recognized the chumHandle. My heart kicked up it's beat, racing through my fingers to a quick reply.

'yeah.'

'Cool. I found one last thing to finish for the project while I was going over the requirements...Do you still have it over at your place?'

My heart settled down a little bit, remembering exactly who I was dealing with here...Who she was dating and what we were supposed to be doing.

'yeah.'

'Alright, I'll be over in a few.'

She ceased pestering me after and I slid my phone into my pocket, hopping on my bike and zooming off, already forgetting Jade.

I made it in record time from taking two steps at a time up to my apartment, racing towards my room as if I had been there all night. No need for her to think I wasn't available...Or that there wasn't other options to choose from...You know, just in case things with her and John weren't up to her expectations.

A knock sounded at the door just as I had taken off my shoes and I quickly threw off my coat, shaking my head to mess my hair up a bit more, getting rid of the windblown look immediately.

With a quick deep breath, I opened it to see her there with her regular backpack.

Avoiding her gaze directly, thanks to my shades, I glanced over her once allowing my eyes to trace her skin. It almost felt sinful to deny the heat to rise in my head, to stunt the automatic reaction summoned just by thinking her name. Was it disrespectful to fight off the blush in front of her? Surely John hadn't, maybe that's why she had become his so easily.

With or without the blush I knew rested in my blood red eyes, she was still standing there, her lips mouthing words I heard through my daze;

“Are you going to let me in or are we just going to have this stare down?” she laughed as I stepped aside, brushing off the awkward silence I'd caused.

“While I do always win a stare down, please, come on in.”

“Oh, really? Always?”

“Always.” I nodded, not glancing at her as I led her to my room. I wouldn't dare let her know I had gotten caught in her spell once again.

I took note of the funk that clouded my thoughts when she was around, my work earlier had been for nothing.

“We'll see about that.”

“I thought you came here to check on the project.” I mocked.

“I did. But when someone needs to be put into their place, I help guide them back down the proper path.”

“Are you saying you plan to stay?”

“I'm saying you need to get over yourself.” She laughed, not realizing the seriousness in my voice.

Jesus. I needed to tone the desperation down 12 notches. This was ridiculous...Bro would beat the shit out of me. Hell, I would be the shit out of me for acting like a needy wimp.

I was just so wound up from the running and the unclear, hazy thoughts in my head that the words just lulled themselves into reality, slipping right through the 'cool' filter and out of my mouth.

Things always got intense inside me when she was around. It was in the air between us, the breathing inflating the pressure as it explored my body, putting everything into overdrive.

Fucking hormones.

Was it even hormones?

“I don't know...” I muttered to myself, forgetting that I wasn't alone.

“Hm?”

“Nothing...Just talking to myself.” Dammit. I really didn't mean to say that.

“I do that all the time.” She smiled and I glanced at her for a moment as she studied the project, whipping out a pencil as she spoke.

Huh. She really had come here to work...Alright, that was a bit of a dent in my ego...

I didn't have much time to wallow in my pity as her sweet soft voice demanded my attention immediately. “It keeps me sane some nights when I'm alone and there's no one else to talk too....”

'You could always talk to me...' I thought to myself, thankfully catching the words before they were released into the atmosphere of my room.

“Yeah, I know that feeling.” I agreed, sitting down in my computer chair.

“...And I hate bothering people too, you know? I feel like I'm intruding on them if I just ask if I could talk to them..”

'You could never intrude on my life...' Come on, Dave, you're doing good. Just keep it together. Stay calm. Cool. Collected.

“Yeah.”

“Oh, well..What is there to do, hm?” She sighed as she laughed lightly.

I watched as her eyes furthered to focus on the project, reading the lines as her (e/c) orbs flickered left and right. Her lips softly parting to breath syllables into words, her hair falling from her head as gravity pushed it past her ears.

“Find someone to talk to.” I shrugged, spinning around in my chair as I leaned my head against the back of it, watching the ceiling.

A laugh met my ears and I glanced at her through one of my spins, catching her gaze. She had a bright, happy smile...

If I was cheesy, I'd explain this feeling as 'melting' when she looked at me like that. Like the warm sun had manifested itself in her smile, spoke in her voice and breathed out her laugh.

And it drove me to my knees mentally, my heart kneeling before her obediently.

“Sup?” I nodded toward her as she watched me.

She shook her head and continued to smile down at the project. “Nothing, Dave...Just that you can be as subtle as a gun, you know that?”

“Meaning?”

“If your bored, you can talk to me, Dave. Nine out of Ten times I'll most likely be bored as well and would love to chat.”

This.
Creature.

“But I never said that.” I defended.

“You hinted at it.”

“No, I simply answered your question.”

“My rhetorical question.” she corrected.

“You're welcome.”

She gave a laugh and shook her head. “Sure. Thanks.”

“No problem. What else am I here for? Your the brains, I'm the beauty.”

“Ha! Whatever helps you sleep at night, Dave.” She giggled and turned her complete attention to the project, leaving me to an uncomfortable silence.
-

After watching her work for seconds masquerading as hours, I sighed, sitting up in my chair and swiveling to face her.

She quickly worked behind the wall of her silky hair, the breeze from my forever open window blowing the scent of her into my skin, taunting me.

I could feel the growl of hunger crawl deep within me, but I quickly shook it off, allowing myself to dip my mind into her spell.

I studied her, entranced by the way she moved. Her silence still a sound, her breath the pulsing air in my flesh, the bubbles of oxygen in my blood. I could see her mind work, twist about in a dance of logic, forming the answers, the finishing touches to our combined ideas.

Unable to fight off the hunger, I brought myself away from her drowning mystery, speaking again without thinking.

“Are you hungry?”

“Hm?” She turned toward me, her gaze lingering on the paper for a second longer.

“Are you hungry?”

“...Yeah, a little bit. Why?”

“Come on.” I fixed my shades back on my face, just in case Bro was out there lurking.

“But, Dave, I just started-”

“Put the damn pencil down and come on, (Name).” I sighed, glancing back at her.

She sat still for a minute, her debate over staying or listening to me clearly on her intent face.

With a sigh, she stood and followed after me, meeting my gaze with her infinity eyes.

I quickly glanced away.

Nope.

I was not going to make that mistake again. Sure, I loved being entranced by her, but I needed to keep my head here...Especially if Bro was out here. I'd never live it down.

I led her to my kitchen, shoving shitty swords and smuppets to the side as I ventured around for something to snack on.

Hmm..

It seemed Bro had been here earlier...God, I prayed he wouldn't show up out of thin air with (Name) here.

I cautiously glanced toward the fridge, very well aware (Name) was watching my every move.

'Please don't pop out of no where....

Please don't pop out of no where....

Please, for the love of your puppet god, do not pop out of fucking no where.'

With a quick movement, I threw open the fridge door, my eyes squeezed shut behind my shades, bracing for impact.

The thud of the fridge door hitting the counter filled the room with silence and I pried open my eyes to see a fully stocked fridge.

So Bro had gone grocery shopping..

I relaxed myself, reaching in the fridge and grabbing some snacks and juice. I'd have to make a note to thank Bro later. He'd obviously taken notice of my company- my female company- and stuck by the Bro Code.

I turned to (Name), who waited patiently behind me, sitting on the counter by the sink.

She was studying something next to her and as I drew closer to her heavenly form, I noticed the shape of Lil' Cal.

I gave a small smirk, fist bumping the puppet and standing in front of him and (Name).

“Who's this little guy?” She giggled, picking him up gently to study him further.

“Don't worry, it's just Lil' Cal. He's cool.”

“He's adorable.” She giggled again and my knees threatened to buckle under.

“Yeah, he's awesome.” I agreed, glancing away from her embracing Lil' Cal.

So Bro was watching.

I gave a short nod to the shadows about the room, praying he saw my thanks. He must have, because just as (Name) and I left the kitchen, Lil' Cal was moved to where she was sitting, his arm falling slightly limp at his side.
-

Back in my room an hour or so later, (Name) set the pencil down and turned to me with a yawn. “There. Now we're finished.”

“Hoorah.” I threw my fist in the air, staring up at the ceiling from my chair once again.

“....Wow, it's late. I'm sorry...You're probably really tired...I didn't mean to keep you.” She frowned and I glanced at the time as well.

Huh.

Since when had it become 12:30?

“It's not that late. I was already up.”

“Hmm.” She sighed, starting to pack her things. “I...Ugh..I really don't want to walk home this late...And it's raining!”

“Can't take my bike, then.” I breathed, a little upset I wouldn't get to feel her arms around me.

Well.

Half and half.

I know it would drive me crazy, but I still craved the touch of her hands all over my skin.

“..Do...Would you mind if I just crashed here?” She asked, checking her phone. “I know my parents won't want me to get home so late and they know where I'm at...”

“You really don't want to sleep in the living room.” I assured, almost laughing.

“Can't I stay in here?”

I froze for a millasecond, debating.

Well.

This would not only earn me points with Bro, but also get me closer to (Name)....Could I handle her next to me all night? Our bodies only inches away..

Well...

I'd just have to see, now wouldn't I?

“Sure.”

“You are a life saver, Dave...Thank you so much.”

“No problem.”

As I tossed her some pillows and blankets, a thought occurred to me.

To be a proper gentleman, I should offer my bed...

“Hey.” I called, leaning over the side of the bed and peering down at her.

“Hello, Shade Master.” She waved, “What secrets have you come to sell me today?”

Shit. I forgot I still had my shades on.

I kept them on to avoid the coma her eyes put me into and sighed. “Do you want to sleep on the bed?”

“Uh, no...Dave, it's yours.”

“I'd sleep on the floor, idiot.” No way in hell would I survive one night beside her in a bed anyways. Bro might high five me in the morning- if I ever woke up.

“I still don't know..It's your bed...I don't want to intrude-”

“Take the fucking bed, (Name).” I sighed, taking off my glasses and swinging my legs out of the blankets.

“Dave, I-ah!” She yelped when I scooped her up bridal style and plopped her on the bed.

She didn't really argue after that and with a quite “Thank you...”

I was left in a moment of silence to lull me into sleep.

But my heart wasn't having that.

I could smell her scent from the pillow, the blankets already warm from her fragile body. I shivered involuntarily, my heart jumping up and down in my chest.

Damn I needed to calm down. At this rate I'd be dead by morning.

“Hey, Dave?” A voice whispered in the dark.

I kept still for a moment, wondering if I had fallen to sleep already and this was all a dream.

“Dave?” She called again. “I...Are you still awake?”

“...Yeah.” I sighed, thankful it wasn't a dream. At least, I hoped.

I heard her shift in my blankets on my bed, her glistening eyes peering down at me from over the edge, the moonlight illuminating her skin in a celestial caress.

I raised an eyebrow, focusing on the darkness behind her to prevent myself from dying of a heart attack.

She glanced away and turned back over the edge, away from my view. “Can I tell you something?”

“Yup.” I huffed, trying to sound normal.

I raised my knee up, forcing my foot to be flat against the blankets, attempting to be calm. It was just a normal night. There wasn't anything different. No girl who drove me insane in my bed above me wanting to tell me something in the middle of the night. Nope.

“...I...John and I got into a fight.”

My heart held its breath, squeezing my chest as it soaked in the words.

“About?”

“It's...It's really stupid.” She sighed, a humorless chuckle following her words.

“Most fights are.”

“Well...He...I...We...He's upset. Because we don't spend much time together...And I...It...I just. I feel bad, but I couldn't tell him that I had finished the project, because at the time, I realized we actually hadn't, but I just...I don't know, Dave. Was it wrong of me?”

“We had work to do. Nothing wrong with getting done what needs to be done.” I shrugged.

Her voice swirled in my ears slowly like sweet molasses, lulling itself into my brain. Even as she sighed, frustration laced in her voice, I couldn't stop the dizzy feeling absorbing me.

“Well, you have a point...But...I have been here a lot...”

“We had a project.” I reminded.

“This is the only real time I get to hang out with you, too, Dave. I mean, at school we chat here and there, but other than that, nothing. Nada. I'm left knowing a side of you that's hidden from the world...I-never mind. We should go to sleep. I didn't mean to bother you.”

“You didn't.” I whispered, but only received silence as an answer.
-

“Oh, are you gonna' play some of your 'sick beats'?” (Name) mocked, giggling to herself from my computer chair.

I stood behind my turntables, shaking my head. “You won't know until you hear. You're brains too crowded with that shit you call music.”

“Hey!” She giggled, throwing a stray smuppet at me.

We had spent the day in my room goofing off and messing around. My glasses hadn't been touched since last night and remained where they were since. They lay on the bedside table patiently, the blockade to my mind waiting to be put back up.

But I didn't need that around (Name).

“Oh, that's it.” I shook my head, picking up the smuppet- that missed me entirely-, and jumped in front of my turn tables, staring her down.

She giggled, the sound throwing me into the sweet embrace of her gaze as our eyes met. Her eyelashes swept over her eyes innocently, each blink quick and charming.

My bones felt hallow as she bat her eyes at me and with much effort, I threw the smuppet, tearing myself from her trance.

She dodged it, as I expected with such a handicap for myself and was thrown onto my bed in a fit of giggles.

“Ha! You couldn't hit me even if you tried!”

“Are you sure about that?” I smirked, approaching her form sprawled out on the floor slowly.

It felt normal for me to approach her so casually, so natural for me to approach the saint lying before me.

Her (e/c) eyes flickered up to my gaze as she sat up, her ambrosial orbs locking me into her infinite creaseless gaze.

I felt as if I was frozen in a time line she controlled, her very will the only thing keeping me slave to her words, to her being. A sort of panic ran through me, the thought of someone having control over me a damning thought, an action to rebel.

I broke our gaze as I studied her body language, the frigid movements in each breath she took an amplifier to the air. Just as I was caught in her spell, she was teetering ever so close to thin walls before my complete existence, entranced by my soul, a yearning to 'know' me burning within her.

Within seconds we were within feet of the other, the magnetism between us stronger than we could ignore any longer.

Her soft babbling lips murmured sweet words to my ears, my mind focusing on the sounds rather than meaning. It was deciphered shortly after my brainwaves shivered with the joy brought upon me by her voice, and from her mouth I heard what she had said.

“Dave, I....”

“What...” I breathed, sharing the holy air with her. My mind hummed with distracting thoughts.

She didn't finished her sentence. Within seconds our lips had met, the final tugs of the string of attraction finally connecting us together.

I was lost in the nirvana of her essence, the beating heart inside her chest a beacon for my existence. Our tastes mixed, the contrast a huge difference but a tantalizing taste together.

My fingers swirled in the silk ribbons of her hair, greedily scrunching up as much of it as they could as they filtered through the strands. My skin met hers in the most acceptable of places, our hands finding the others and exploring the enclosed space between us like never before. Palms were pressed into the sides of faces, stroking jaws, necks were trickled with fingerprints, our eyes cloaked in wonder, the ecstasy of the flowing emotions an experience like never before. We crashed into one another, our breathing synchronized in ways I couldn't even begin to explain. I knew her thoughts before she thought them, the primal instincts moving me like a puppet on strings, the desire no longer burning inside me. I was moved with the waves of eternity as I locked my body to hers, sweeping in her fragile mortal tissue into my grasp. I inclined myself toward the light born into her spirit, swimming towards it as we drew closer and closer to the other, our words vaporized in the humid breath we shared. The imprint of her taste was a ravishing touch as she explored my psyche with her stroking velvet air, the wisps of her soul breathed into my eternity, a whole different universe of emotion and sensations rushing through our shared mortal shells.

With an enlightened revolution of tingling cells we separated, hums of satisfaction escaping our lips as we pulled apart from another, continuing to occupy the inches of personal space left between us. My eyes, glossed deep within me with unwavering raw pleasure met hers, the reflection of lidded charging stimulus a haze over her aura as well.

“I...” I started to whisper, but words escaped me, the experience fresh in my life time never one I had encountered before.
“Dave-” She gasped, but just as soon as my name left her lips, a shrill ring burst through the calming silence of awe.

I damned the world as I recognized the sound, the warm breath of passion buried under the cold reality as she swiftly freed herself from my grasp.

“Hello? Oh, Hi John!”

My chest shed my bones as the gelatinous feeling brought upon me by the name and crushing depression reappeared, my heart nothing more than a rotten core deep within me.

“No, no, I'm not busy...Uh, sure! Now? ...Yeah, alright...I'll see you in ten minutes.”

Her words stopped, the cheery tone she had hollow and bulky as it drifted in the air.

“I...I have to go.” She whispered.

Her voice drowned in regret, reality having smacked both us into the dawn of time.

'Don't.' I thought to myself, unable to make the word form from my mouth, the muscle tucked between my teeth refusing to move.

“I'll...See you later.”

With that, in the blink of an eye, she was gone from my room, stripped from thin air faster than the bullet through my subconscious flew.

Scourged, I sunk into my skin, my soul weeping into my lungs, the air crisp and cold like a winters morning. I could barely even lift my limbs when my own phone rang, my mind already processing the moment I had experienced as a sin, imploring it to be forgotten.

But now. Just like with the phone call from Jade wanting to hang out again, God couldn't let me forget that moment with (Name). I'd cursed myself by falling to the temptation, by allowing myself to be lulled into territory never to be trespassed
Now I had to live with the taste of her, the feeling of her whole entire organism stained onto mine.

Fucking. Dammit.

Description
Dave's P.O.V:

“Dammit....Dammit...Fuck.” I growled in a cool tone as my long slender fingers missed the proper colored button to press time after time. I really sucked at this game, which was stupid to begin with.

Guitar Hero.

Why was I playing guitar hero? Well, it all started out for a video game date with some girl John knew, Jade, that I had started talking to prior to John suggesting the date. She was more than happy to agree to the date and before I knew it, here I was in her living room, about ready to just bullshit my way through the rest of the song.

“You're new at this, aren't you?” She giggled, her green eyes glancing at my shades with wonder.
“At this atrocious game, yes.”

At getting a girl to fall for me, no.
Well. At least I thought so. Recently my game has been thrown off completely.

I sighed, trying to focus on the next notes on my side of the screen and less about the big gaping whole in my ego.

Jade seemed to flawlessly succeed at the game without even trying, which made me anxious. Strider's had to woo the woman, not be beat by her.

Without a second thought, I quit the game, tossing the strange controller guitar into the arm chair beside me and turned to Jade, who blinked at the screen innocently.

“I'm done with that.” I sighed.

I was pretty much done with everything by now, actually. I needed to get my stride back. Stride off this funk.

“Uh....Okay! I have other games...” She set her guitar aside much more carefully than I had mine and took a step toward the tv.

I stopped her, catching her arm and pulling her toward me. “So do I.”

She blushed a bit, her large doe like eyes bashful as she locked onto my shades. “Well, hopefully more than one can play..”She whispered.

“There are plenty multi-player games.” I assured.

“But no handicaps.” her lips turned into a light smile as she reached for my shades.

My hand quickly ceased the movement and I shook my head slightly. “The shades stay.”

She sighed as she frowned but had no room from protest as my lips swept across hers, stealing the air to supply the words.

My eyes shut as my mind wanders away, flashing to two nights ago, where I lay on the floor next to (Name), talking about meaningless topics, smiling and laughing here and there.

Her silky hair fanned out on the floor of my bedroom...Her soft skin pressing against the hard wood, her scent imprinted forever on that very spot, wafting in the air hours later, lulling me into sleep. Her voice sung into the walls, encasing my room in a blessing of her light smile.

I can feel her fingertips in my hair, twirling themselves in circles as her body melts into my arms. Her lips locked in my grasp, finally hypnotized by my charms-

My eyes fly open as sudden air is sucked into my lungs, reality slapping me in the face as I find Jade in my arms instead of (Name).

Jade giggled, breathless herself as she slipped out of my now loose grip, blushing a bright red.

“Uhm....Wow...I...”

“I gotta' go.” I said briefly, tying up the loose ends left about in the space between us.

“See you in school?” Jade asked eagerly as she helped me gather my things.

“Sure.”

My Strider Charm was on full blast tonight, my senses heightened and prepared for someone who was only present in my mind.

I had to get out of there. This shell, this mask, it..It wasn't real. This charm and desperate attempt to woo her off her feet wasn't meant for this long black haired, olive skinned girl with neon green eyes. No matter how deep the kiss I just gave, no matter what words slithered out of my lips, none of it was real.

I strode out of her house and to my motorcycle without a second glance. I didn't really want to see Jade's hopeful gaze, no matter how nice and kind she was. Which, don't get me wrong, was just normal for a Strider. We barely called back and we definitely didn't meet a girls gaze for the last moment of the night.

If only this time it was a regular Strider thing. Instead, my mind was clouded, my body flustered by such thoughts of a misunderstood action. I probably swept her off of her feet flawlessly, playing her like the buttons on that guitar controller. She probably would dream about this night, whisper it to her friends and pray to anyone with the promise of 'blessings' that they return me to her.

She probably would even tell John.

Oh God.

John.

(Name).

I felt sick to my stomach, the acid held deep within my body lurching up and up into my throat, leaving a bitter after taste to breathe into my mouth. I immediately regret letting my mind wander so far as to think about him with her.

My phone buzzed in my pocket and without really glancing at the sender I tapped on the message, reading it quickly.

'Hey, are u free?'

My lips twitched with a ghost of a smile as I recognized the chumHandle. My heart kicked up it's beat, racing through my fingers to a quick reply.

'yeah.'

'Cool. I found one last thing to finish for the project while I was going over the requirements...Do you still have it over at your place?'

My heart settled down a little bit, remembering exactly who I was dealing with here...Who she was dating and what we were supposed to be doing.

'yeah.'

'Alright, I'll be over in a few.'

She ceased pestering me after and I slid my phone into my pocket, hopping on my bike and zooming off, already forgetting Jade.

I made it in record time from taking two steps at a time up to my apartment, racing towards my room as if I had been there all night. No need for her to think I wasn't available...Or that there wasn't other options to choose from...You know, just in case things with her and John weren't up to her expectations.

A knock sounded at the door just as I had taken off my shoes and I quickly threw off my coat, shaking my head to mess my hair up a bit more, getting rid of the windblown look immediately.

With a quick deep breath, I opened it to see her there with her regular backpack.

Avoiding her gaze directly, thanks to my shades, I glanced over her once allowing my eyes to trace her skin. It almost felt sinful to deny the heat to rise in my head, to stunt the automatic reaction summoned just by thinking her name. Was it disrespectful to fight off the blush in front of her? Surely John hadn't, maybe that's why she had become his so easily.

With or without the blush I knew rested in my blood red eyes, she was still standing there, her lips mouthing words I heard through my daze;

“Are you going to let me in or are we just going to have this stare down?” she laughed as I stepped aside, brushing off the awkward silence I'd caused.

“While I do always win a stare down, please, come on in.”

“Oh, really? Always?”

“Always.” I nodded, not glancing at her as I led her to my room. I wouldn't dare let her know I had gotten caught in her spell once again.

I took note of the funk that clouded my thoughts when she was around, my work earlier had been for nothing.

“We'll see about that.”

“I thought you came here to check on the project.” I mocked.

“I did. But when someone needs to be put into their place, I help guide them back down the proper path.”

“Are you saying you plan to stay?”

“I'm saying you need to get over yourself.” She laughed, not realizing the seriousness in my voice.

Jesus. I needed to tone the desperation down 12 notches. This was ridiculous...Bro would beat the shit out of me. Hell, I would be the shit out of me for acting like a needy wimp.

I was just so wound up from the running and the unclear, hazy thoughts in my head that the words just lulled themselves into reality, slipping right through the 'cool' filter and out of my mouth.

Things always got intense inside me when she was around. It was in the air between us, the breathing inflating the pressure as it explored my body, putting everything into overdrive.

Fucking hormones.

Was it even hormones?

“I don't know...” I muttered to myself, forgetting that I wasn't alone.

“Hm?”

“Nothing...Just talking to myself.” Dammit. I really didn't mean to say that.

“I do that all the time.” She smiled and I glanced at her for a moment as she studied the project, whipping out a pencil as she spoke.

Huh. She really had come here to work...Alright, that was a bit of a dent in my ego...

I didn't have much time to wallow in my pity as her sweet soft voice demanded my attention immediately. “It keeps me sane some nights when I'm alone and there's no one else to talk too....”

'You could always talk to me...' I thought to myself, thankfully catching the words before they were released into the atmosphere of my room.

“Yeah, I know that feeling.” I agreed, sitting down in my computer chair.

“...And I hate bothering people too, you know? I feel like I'm intruding on them if I just ask if I could talk to them..”

'You could never intrude on my life...' Come on, Dave, you're doing good. Just keep it together. Stay calm. Cool. Collected.

“Yeah.”

“Oh, well..What is there to do, hm?” She sighed as she laughed lightly.

I watched as her eyes furthered to focus on the project, reading the lines as her (e/c) orbs flickered left and right. Her lips softly parting to breath syllables into words, her hair falling from her head as gravity pushed it past her ears.

“Find someone to talk to.” I shrugged, spinning around in my chair as I leaned my head against the back of it, watching the ceiling.

A laugh met my ears and I glanced at her through one of my spins, catching her gaze. She had a bright, happy smile...

If I was cheesy, I'd explain this feeling as 'melting' when she looked at me like that. Like the warm sun had manifested itself in her smile, spoke in her voice and breathed out her laugh.

And it drove me to my knees mentally, my heart kneeling before her obediently.

“Sup?” I nodded toward her as she watched me.

She shook her head and continued to smile down at the project. “Nothing, Dave...Just that you can be as subtle as a gun, you know that?”

“Meaning?”

“If your bored, you can talk to me, Dave. Nine out of Ten times I'll most likely be bored as well and would love to chat.”

This.
Creature.

“But I never said that.” I defended.

“You hinted at it.”

“No, I simply answered your question.”

“My rhetorical question.” she corrected.

“You're welcome.”

She gave a laugh and shook her head. “Sure. Thanks.”

“No problem. What else am I here for? Your the brains, I'm the beauty.”

“Ha! Whatever helps you sleep at night, Dave.” She giggled and turned her complete attention to the project, leaving me to an uncomfortable silence.
-

After watching her work for seconds masquerading as hours, I sighed, sitting up in my chair and swiveling to face her.

She quickly worked behind the wall of her silky hair, the breeze from my forever open window blowing the scent of her into my skin, taunting me.

I could feel the growl of hunger crawl deep within me, but I quickly shook it off, allowing myself to dip my mind into her spell.

I studied her, entranced by the way she moved. Her silence still a sound, her breath the pulsing air in my flesh, the bubbles of oxygen in my blood. I could see her mind work, twist about in a dance of logic, forming the answers, the finishing touches to our combined ideas.

Unable to fight off the hunger, I brought myself away from her drowning mystery, speaking again without thinking.

“Are you hungry?”

“Hm?” She turned toward me, her gaze lingering on the paper for a second longer.

“Are you hungry?”

“...Yeah, a little bit. Why?”

“Come on.” I fixed my shades back on my face, just in case Bro was out there lurking.

“But, Dave, I just started-”

“Put the damn pencil down and come on, (Name).” I sighed, glancing back at her.

She sat still for a minute, her debate over staying or listening to me clearly on her intent face.

With a sigh, she stood and followed after me, meeting my gaze with her infinity eyes.

I quickly glanced away.

Nope.

I was not going to make that mistake again. Sure, I loved being entranced by her, but I needed to keep my head here...Especially if Bro was out here. I'd never live it down.

I led her to my kitchen, shoving shitty swords and smuppets to the side as I ventured around for something to snack on.

Hmm..

It seemed Bro had been here earlier...God, I prayed he wouldn't show up out of thin air with (Name) here.

I cautiously glanced toward the fridge, very well aware (Name) was watching my every move.

'Please don't pop out of no where....

Please don't pop out of no where....

Please, for the love of your puppet god, do not pop out of fucking no where.'

With a quick movement, I threw open the fridge door, my eyes squeezed shut behind my shades, bracing for impact.

The thud of the fridge door hitting the counter filled the room with silence and I pried open my eyes to see a fully stocked fridge.

So Bro had gone grocery shopping..

I relaxed myself, reaching in the fridge and grabbing some snacks and juice. I'd have to make a note to thank Bro later. He'd obviously taken notice of my company- my female company- and stuck by the Bro Code.

I turned to (Name), who waited patiently behind me, sitting on the counter by the sink.

She was studying something next to her and as I drew closer to her heavenly form, I noticed the shape of Lil' Cal.

I gave a small smirk, fist bumping the puppet and standing in front of him and (Name).

“Who's this little guy?” She giggled, picking him up gently to study him further.

“Don't worry, it's just Lil' Cal. He's cool.”

“He's adorable.” She giggled again and my knees threatened to buckle under.

“Yeah, he's awesome.” I agreed, glancing away from her embracing Lil' Cal.

So Bro was watching.

I gave a short nod to the shadows about the room, praying he saw my thanks. He must have, because just as (Name) and I left the kitchen, Lil' Cal was moved to where she was sitting, his arm falling slightly limp at his side.
-

Back in my room an hour or so later, (Name) set the pencil down and turned to me with a yawn. “There. Now we're finished.”

“Hoorah.” I threw my fist in the air, staring up at the ceiling from my chair once again.

“....Wow, it's late. I'm sorry...You're probably really tired...I didn't mean to keep you.” She frowned and I glanced at the time as well.

Huh.

Since when had it become 12:30?

“It's not that late. I was already up.”

“Hmm.” She sighed, starting to pack her things. “I...Ugh..I really don't want to walk home this late...And it's raining!”

“Can't take my bike, then.” I breathed, a little upset I wouldn't get to feel her arms around me.

Well.

Half and half.

I know it would drive me crazy, but I still craved the touch of her hands all over my skin.

“..Do...Would you mind if I just crashed here?” She asked, checking her phone. “I know my parents won't want me to get home so late and they know where I'm at...”

“You really don't want to sleep in the living room.” I assured, almost laughing.

“Can't I stay in here?”

I froze for a millasecond, debating.

Well.

This would not only earn me points with Bro, but also get me closer to (Name)....Could I handle her next to me all night? Our bodies only inches away..

Well...

I'd just have to see, now wouldn't I?

“Sure.”

“You are a life saver, Dave...Thank you so much.”

“No problem.”

As I tossed her some pillows and blankets, a thought occurred to me.

To be a proper gentleman, I should offer my bed...

“Hey.” I called, leaning over the side of the bed and peering down at her.

“Hello, Shade Master.” She waved, “What secrets have you come to sell me today?”

Shit. I forgot I still had my shades on.

I kept them on to avoid the coma her eyes put me into and sighed. “Do you want to sleep on the bed?”

“Uh, no...Dave, it's yours.”

“I'd sleep on the floor, idiot.” No way in hell would I survive one night beside her in a bed anyways. Bro might high five me in the morning- if I ever woke up.

“I still don't know..It's your bed...I don't want to intrude-”

“Take the fucking bed, (Name).” I sighed, taking off my glasses and swinging my legs out of the blankets.

“Dave, I-ah!” She yelped when I scooped her up bridal style and plopped her on the bed.

She didn't really argue after that and with a quite “Thank you...”

I was left in a moment of silence to lull me into sleep.

But my heart wasn't having that.

I could smell her scent from the pillow, the blankets already warm from her fragile body. I shivered involuntarily, my heart jumping up and down in my chest.

Damn I needed to calm down. At this rate I'd be dead by morning.

“Hey, Dave?” A voice whispered in the dark.

I kept still for a moment, wondering if I had fallen to sleep already and this was all a dream.

“Dave?” She called again. “I...Are you still awake?”

“...Yeah.” I sighed, thankful it wasn't a dream. At least, I hoped.

I heard her shift in my blankets on my bed, her glistening eyes peering down at me from over the edge, the moonlight illuminating her skin in a celestial caress.

I raised an eyebrow, focusing on the darkness behind her to prevent myself from dying of a heart attack.

She glanced away and turned back over the edge, away from my view. “Can I tell you something?”

“Yup.” I huffed, trying to sound normal.

I raised my knee up, forcing my foot to be flat against the blankets, attempting to be calm. It was just a normal night. There wasn't anything different. No girl who drove me insane in my bed above me wanting to tell me something in the middle of the night. Nope.

“...I...John and I got into a fight.”

My heart held its breath, squeezing my chest as it soaked in the words.

“About?”

“It's...It's really stupid.” She sighed, a humorless chuckle following her words.

“Most fights are.”

“Well...He...I...We...He's upset. Because we don't spend much time together...And I...It...I just. I feel bad, but I couldn't tell him that I had finished the project, because at the time, I realized we actually hadn't, but I just...I don't know, Dave. Was it wrong of me?”

“We had work to do. Nothing wrong with getting done what needs to be done.” I shrugged.

Her voice swirled in my ears slowly like sweet molasses, lulling itself into my brain. Even as she sighed, frustration laced in her voice, I couldn't stop the dizzy feeling absorbing me.

“Well, you have a point...But...I have been here a lot...”

“We had a project.” I reminded.

“This is the only real time I get to hang out with you, too, Dave. I mean, at school we chat here and there, but other than that, nothing. Nada. I'm left knowing a side of you that's hidden from the world...I-never mind. We should go to sleep. I didn't mean to bother you.”

“You didn't.” I whispered, but only received silence as an answer.
-

“Oh, are you gonna' play some of your 'sick beats'?” (Name) mocked, giggling to herself from my computer chair.

I stood behind my turntables, shaking my head. “You won't know until you hear. You're brains too crowded with that shit you call music.”

“Hey!” She giggled, throwing a stray smuppet at me.

We had spent the day in my room goofing off and messing around. My glasses hadn't been touched since last night and remained where they were since. They lay on the bedside table patiently, the blockade to my mind waiting to be put back up.

But I didn't need that around (Name).

“Oh, that's it.” I shook my head, picking up the smuppet- that missed me entirely-, and jumped in front of my turn tables, staring her down.

She giggled, the sound throwing me into the sweet embrace of her gaze as our eyes met. Her eyelashes swept over her eyes innocently, each blink quick and charming.

My bones felt hallow as she bat her eyes at me and with much effort, I threw the smuppet, tearing myself from her trance.

She dodged it, as I expected with such a handicap for myself and was thrown onto my bed in a fit of giggles.

“Ha! You couldn't hit me even if you tried!”

“Are you sure about that?” I smirked, approaching her form sprawled out on the floor slowly.

It felt normal for me to approach her so casually, so natural for me to approach the saint lying before me.

Her (e/c) eyes flickered up to my gaze as she sat up, her ambrosial orbs locking me into her infinite creaseless gaze.

I felt as if I was frozen in a time line she controlled, her very will the only thing keeping me slave to her words, to her being. A sort of panic ran through me, the thought of someone having control over me a damning thought, an action to rebel.

I broke our gaze as I studied her body language, the frigid movements in each breath she took an amplifier to the air. Just as I was caught in her spell, she was teetering ever so close to thin walls before my complete existence, entranced by my soul, a yearning to 'know' me burning within her.

Within seconds we were within feet of the other, the magnetism between us stronger than we could ignore any longer.

Her soft babbling lips murmured sweet words to my ears, my mind focusing on the sounds rather than meaning. It was deciphered shortly after my brainwaves shivered with the joy brought upon me by her voice, and from her mouth I heard what she had said.

“Dave, I....”

“What...” I breathed, sharing the holy air with her. My mind hummed with distracting thoughts.

She didn't finished her sentence. Within seconds our lips had met, the final tugs of the string of attraction finally connecting us together.

I was lost in the nirvana of her essence, the beating heart inside her chest a beacon for my existence. Our tastes mixed, the contrast a huge difference but a tantalizing taste together.

My fingers swirled in the silk ribbons of her hair, greedily scrunching up as much of it as they could as they filtered through the strands. My skin met hers in the most acceptable of places, our hands finding the others and exploring the enclosed space between us like never before. Palms were pressed into the sides of faces, stroking jaws, necks were trickled with fingerprints, our eyes cloaked in wonder, the ecstasy of the flowing emotions an experience like never before. We crashed into one another, our breathing synchronized in ways I couldn't even begin to explain. I knew her thoughts before she thought them, the primal instincts moving me like a puppet on strings, the desire no longer burning inside me. I was moved with the waves of eternity as I locked my body to hers, sweeping in her fragile mortal tissue into my grasp. I inclined myself toward the light born into her spirit, swimming towards it as we drew closer and closer to the other, our words vaporized in the humid breath we shared. The imprint of her taste was a ravishing touch as she explored my psyche with her stroking velvet air, the wisps of her soul breathed into my eternity, a whole different universe of emotion and sensations rushing through our shared mortal shells.

With an enlightened revolution of tingling cells we separated, hums of satisfaction escaping our lips as we pulled apart from another, continuing to occupy the inches of personal space left between us. My eyes, glossed deep within me with unwavering raw pleasure met hers, the reflection of lidded charging stimulus a haze over her aura as well.

“I...” I started to whisper, but words escaped me, the experience fresh in my life time never one I had encountered before.
“Dave-” She gasped, but just as soon as my name left her lips, a shrill ring burst through the calming silence of awe.

I damned the world as I recognized the sound, the warm breath of passion buried under the cold reality as she swiftly freed herself from my grasp.

“Hello? Oh, Hi John!”

My chest shed my bones as the gelatinous feeling brought upon me by the name and crushing depression reappeared, my heart nothing more than a rotten core deep within me.

“No, no, I'm not busy...Uh, sure! Now? ...Yeah, alright...I'll see you in ten minutes.”

Her words stopped, the cheery tone she had hollow and bulky as it drifted in the air.

“I...I have to go.” She whispered.

Her voice drowned in regret, reality having smacked both us into the dawn of time.

'Don't.' I thought to myself, unable to make the word form from my mouth, the muscle tucked between my teeth refusing to move.

“I'll...See you later.”

With that, in the blink of an eye, she was gone from my room, stripped from thin air faster than the bullet through my subconscious flew.

Scourged, I sunk into my skin, my soul weeping into my lungs, the air crisp and cold like a winters morning. I could barely even lift my limbs when my own phone rang, my mind already processing the moment I had experienced as a sin, imploring it to be forgotten.

But now. Just like with the phone call from Jade wanting to hang out again, God couldn't let me forget that moment with (Name). I'd cursed myself by falling to the temptation, by allowing myself to be lulled into territory never to be trespassed
Now I had to live with the taste of her, the feeling of her whole entire organism stained onto mine.

Fucking. Dammit.