Chapter 6

Flora King

Looking around the room, it had all fell silent as this man shouted at Caleb. Nobody seemed to know what was happening, but we all knew it would not end pretty. Then suddenly, his hand thrust into Caleb's face.

James tensed beside me as his body language threatened to help separate what was about to happen, but he quickly retreated and stayed standing next to me. We both looked over at Gabby who stood with a terrified face.

I'm sure James wouldn't be happy about how scared Gabby was looking for Caleb. But, I knew there was something about him. It was what drew me to him in the first place. And I could tell the same exact thing was happening to Gabby.

As soon as the fight started, it had quickly finished, and Caleb was marching back to the kitchen, with other man walking straight out the door. James tensed once again when Gabby followed suit. However, instead of looking to Gabby, he looked back to me, his expression unrecognisable.

However, what made him finally move was Gabby holding onto Caleb as she helped him out the door. James began to stalk towards them, with anger in his eyes, but I held him back, not wanting him to regret anything he did.

She hesitantly looked back at him before continuing to help Caleb. Anger seeped through me as I watched Gabby care more for Caleb than she did for James. James didn't deserve her.

Even I saw the slight hesitation from Gabby before she drank in the 'never have I ever game'. Id watched James looking confused and angry before she finally pulled the drink to her lips.

Gabriella was my best friend, and she always has. But, being her best friend meant that I knew her inside and out. I knew when she liked someone, and I knew when she was lying. I would see it everyday with James. He loved her way more than she ever could.

I remember the exact day Gabby had come to school the day after her and James had, you know.

She was so happy, and would talk about how kind and caring he was, and how she was glad she had waited for the right person, like I was doing.

I looked over to James who had guilt and anger spread across his face, clenching his hands together and breathing heavily. I think when I grabbed onto James; it was because I didn't want him to run after Caleb. But, it may have also been that I didn't want him to run after Gabby.

It was selfish, I know. I wanted James to myself whilst his girlfriend chased after a boy she hardly knew.

"Caleb!" James shouted out, even though he knew they were long gone and wouldn't hear his voice. He glared resentfully at the open door where Caleb and Gabby had just walked out of.

"James, you're drunk," I pulled his body round to face mine. He looked defeated, like he had done all he could, and it just wasn't enough. Gabby hadn't really done anything but helped Caleb home, but it was enough to hurt James.

He stared down at me, contemplating something in his head. He kept looking between the door and me, like a tennis match. "Don't go after them," I continued, "it's not worth it." I'd hoped that he would leave them, go back to the kitchen and maybe drink even more.

But I wouldn't mind. For him, I would help him home; I would make sure that he didn't think about her. James and I were also best friends, but like Gabby, the way I felt about him as a friend soon shifted into something else. But, unlike her, I couldn't act upon it.

Before I could do anything about my situation, Gabby was telling me all about their love life and I struggled not to rip my hair out as she told him.

Before I could say anything else to him, I felt his cold, strong hands on my face, using his force to pull my head towards his. I didn't resist his pulling. I knew what he was going to do, but I did nothing to stop it. Before regret could travel through my mind, he had already connected his lips with mine.

When people say fireworks happen, they really mean fireworks.

All thoughts that I previously had about Gabby had disappeared, leaving me only to think about that way James' lips were moving against mine. Feeling like I was floating, I wrapped my hands in his soft hair and I didn't care if anyone saw us.

Although I knew this was wrong, every bone in my body was telling me that it was right. My head, my heart, my mind, everything. We kissed for longer than I had ever seen him kiss Gabby, I felt like he had been craving this for two years, and it was finally happening.

We finally pulled away for a breath. We did nothing but stare at each other, not knowing what to do next.

Thinking that he was going to reject me, push me off and tell me that 'this was all a mistake', my heart raced as he softly grabbed hold of my hand and led me away from the house. I knew where we were going, but I didn't want to give myself hope.

My mind was mixed between the emotions I was feeling for James, and how much I knew this would hurt Gabby. I wasn't sure if it was the alcohol, or something I had always hoped James had felt for me, but I wanted this.

The only excuse I had for my behaviour was that she stole him from me; I deserved this just as much as she ever did.

We soon arrived at his house, which I had become too familiar with. I knew his and Gabby's houses like they were my own. Luckily, when it came to finding the bedroom, it wasn't too difficult.

He lifted me up so my legs were wrapped around his muscular torso, and then he kissed me again, bringing me back to the reality that this wasn't a dream and I was getting what I had wanted for as long as I could remember.

His lips were soft as they glided across mine; closely resembling every dream I've ever had about James and I. My hands were still wrapped up in James' hair as he lowered me softly onto the bed. I wanted this so badly, it hurt.

I wanted my first time to be with him. Even if it wasn't the right time, with consequences we could hardly think about at this moment. Even if he didn't love me back, I felt like he did, underneath.

He took his shirt off, revealing his muscular chest, which I rested my hands on as he kissed me more, holding himself up with his hands by my head. This was perfect. Gabby was right, he was careful and soft.

I pulled the rest of his clothes off whilst he helped pull off mine. Never did I ever think that this would happen, and I had never been happier that it had.

This would be the best mistake I had ever made.

• • •

My eyes were stuck shut, not wanted to reveal them to the burning light of the sun through the window. Slowly, they unstuck and my eyes adjusted to the light, and to where I was. I recognised the room straight away, and the bed I was sleeping in.

James' room.

I turned my head to see James laying next to me. My heart stopped as I stared at the sight of James' naked chest. His arms were sprawled out, revealing his muscular biceps. If I weren't in such a compromising position, I would've swooned at how he looked.

That's when I realised what had happened. The night before all flooded my mind at once, and I was instantly reminded of what we did together. "Oh my god," I shouted out, pulling my naked body out of the sheets, only to cover up quickly with my red dress on the floor.

His eyes shot open as he stared at his surroundings before his eyes landed on me. "Fuck," he mimicked my tone and threw his head into his hands. I wasn't too sure if he was feeling the alcohol, or the regret of last night.

Then the most important name entered both our minds, "Gabby!" We both shouted out at the same time. "What the hell have we done?" I said with my eyes wide and my body slightly hurting from what I initially thought would be a painless experience.

"She doesn't have to know Flora," he suddenly reassured, seeming to be more regretful than I had wanted him to be, "this never happened." I felt a familiar stab to my chest at what he had just said. It reminded me of the days that Gabby would come into school with James. My heart would be aching every single time.

Even if I don't remember much, it was my first time, and it was special. To me.

I quickly nodded, looking around for one necessity that I needed to wear out of the house, other than my dress. I was holding in the tears that were heavily present in my eyes, not wanting them to escape until I was out of the house.

"Where's my bra?" I almost shouted as I searched relentlessly for it. He looked around the bed, hoping that I could find it and leave. "I don't know. Where did you leave it?" He asked, still attempting to search.

"James, we were drunk and we had sex, I don't remember where my fucking bra is!" I shouted back. The anger I had about what I had done, and James' reaction was finally coming to the surface. Stray tears escaped my eyes before I quickly wiped them away, hoping that James hadn't seen them.

Instead of searching, I pulled my dress on and left. I didn't say another word to him as tears finally rolled down my cheeks. I grabbed my purse from next to the door where I didn't remember leaving it, and walked out, holding my arms over my chest.

This was definitely not the way I wanted my first time to be. I wanted it with him, but not like this. More tears rolled down my cheeks as I walked home, regretting everything I had done.