Addicted

Chapter 7.

“So why are you picking me up?” I asked, when Zac began to drive home.

“Emmet was tired, and I was awake, so I offered to come,” Zac said. His hair was a little bit of a mess and he was wearing his grey trackpants and a plain white shirt.

“I need to start looking for cars…” I said to myself, looking out the window. 

“Speaking of cars, what kind of car is this?” I said looking around the car. “It’s not a Chevrolet Camaro or Corvette…” I said pondering.

He snapped his head towards me, and I watched as his smile began to grow. 

“What?” I asked.

“How the hell do you know about cars?” He asked, his face looked shocked and he kept looking back and forth from the road to me. 

“I grew up with two brothers,” I shrugged. 

“It’s a Chevrolet Chevelle,” He smiled.

“So close,” I snapped my fingers in front of me.

“What year is it? It can’t be the early sixties, maybe late sixties?” I asked, still looking around. 

He began nodding his head with a half smirk on his face.  

“1967,” he confirmed my suspicions. 

“Yes!” I cheered which made him laugh. 

He leaned his hand over then and pinched the top of my thigh high boots. 

“These are cute,” he half smirked again.

“Cute?” I laughed and pushed his hand away. I wasn’t really aiming for cute. I was aiming for sexy, aiming for extra tips in my jar kind of sexy. 

“What?” He asked. 

“I wasn’t really aiming for ‘cute’, but thanks,” I rolled my eyes. He looked down at my boots for a moment and then his eyes wandered up. 

“What were you aiming for?” he asked. 

I looked at him with my eyes wide open, an all telling look. 

“I wanted to get tips,” I shrugged. 

“And did you?” 

“Yes,” I said. “Great tips actually.”

“Great tips from James.”  

“Shut up,” I rolled my eyes again and looked out the window. 

“Okay then, you look better than cute,” he says with his eyes on the road. 

“Don’t just say that to make me feel better.” I kept my head facing towards the window, so he couldn’t see the blush I felt heating its way up my neck. 

He didn’t reply to me, so I looked towards him only to see that he kept his eyes firmly on the road. 

“How was your day today?” I asked to try and keep him talking. I liked talking to him. He somehow made me feel comfortable and nervous at the same time. 

“It was fine,” he smiled. “How was yours?” 

“It was good.” I began nodding my head, appreciating his side profile. Dark stubble shadowed his jaw, only emphasising his sharp facial features. 

Zac made a swift park into his spot in the space next to our house. He got out quickly, waiting for me to get out before he locked the car. We walked together side by side to the front door, Zac with his keys out already, unlocked the front door and held the door open for me to walk past. 

“I guess chivalry isn’t dead,” I say when I walk past him and heard a soft chuckle behind me. 

I began taking my jacket off and placing it over the back of the couch. I could hear Zac walking closer towards me and I turned around, leaning back against the couch. 

“Thank you for picking-.” I began to say but was alarmed by the close proximity Zac had become towards me. 

He stood no more than an arm’s length away from me. I watched as his eyes wandered across my face, down my neck, to my chest and back up again. I was sure he could see the blush rising from my chest to my face. 

With one of his hands, he reaches out towards my face and brushes a stray hair out of my face and tucks it behind my ear. I gasp softly. He lets the tips of his fingers wander down my jawline, his thumb trailing my cheekbone, until his fingers stopped below my chin with his thumb lightly caressing the corner of my mouth. 

“Better than cute,” he whispers, and his eyebrows furry in the middle of his face before he steps away and walks down the corridor to his room. 

I was too afraid to look toward him, so I kept my head facing forewords, feeling confused. What the hell was that? 

I took a shower numbingly. My mind focused on the tingly sensation I could feel in my lip from when he softly touched me there. The burning sensation in my cheek from his hand trailing down, and his words… ‘Better than cute’ played in my mind like a broken record.

How could a person sleep after such an intimate moment? 

I got into bed but stayed awake majority of the night. His words echoing inside my head.

Better than cute.

Better than cute.

Better than cute. 

I spent the better half of Sunday morning in bed, the lack of sleep from the night was already beginning to haunt me. I was scared to go outside but knew that I was going to have to at one point or another. When I did arise and leave the safety of my room, the three boys were around the kitchen table eating breakfast. 

My eyes quickly drifted over to Zac, but then retreated just as quickly. 

The boys clapped and cheered as I came out of my room. 

“Did you place bets again?” I asked to no one in particular.

“No,” Emmet laughed. 

“We’re just cheering because you actually put pants on today,” Zac laughed which made the others laugh. My nervousness and confusion stopped me from laughing, but after they continued laughing, my smile broke through and I shook my head.

After grabbing coffee and a bowl of cereal, I joined my roommates at the table. I almost felt robotic or zombielike after last night’s events. 

“So, what’s on the agenda today?” I asked, putting my feet up on my seat and bring my bowl close to my face. 

“Today is our rest day,” Burney said with a newspaper in front of him. 

“Sorry I couldn’t pick you up last night,” Emmet said to me.

“It’s fine, I know you must have been so exhausted.” 

Emmet looked at Zac then. “I told you not to tell her that.” 

“I had to,” Zac shrugged. 

“It’s fine,” I interjected. “I understand.” 

“Look, Ali, I have training earlier in the morning now, because we’re going into pre-training, and it’s getting very exhausted staying awake to come and pick you up every night this week,” Emmet continued. His eyebrows were pulled together in concern. 

“It’s fine, Emmet, seriously. I do need to find a car though.” 

“I can drive you some nights,” Zac said. 

I turned my head towards him. I would like that very much. The thought of being close to him again excited me. 

“Are you sure? Would you take me or pick me up?” I asked, looking at Zac. 

“Of course, I’m sure and both, I work Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, I can take you after or before work depending on what time I have work.” 

“Thank you,” I smiled at him. My phone buzzed in my pocket and an unknown number came up. 

Good morning, beautiful. It’s James. Are you free tonight? 

I left the message open on my phone.

“Why are you smiling like that?” Zac asked, reaching over to my bowel and taking a dry flake out to eat. 

“I’m not smiling,” I said and hit his hand away. 

“You were smiling,” Burney said, flipping the page of the newspaper.

“I was not!” I laughed. 

I picked up my phone to reply.

That depends.

Haha depends on what? 

What have you got in mind for tonight? 

Dinner and a movie? 

Sounds bearable. 

Haha It would be.

I smiled to myself but stopped and quickly looked around to see if any of the boys were watching me as I typed my response. I was nervous, my heart rate was racing. I do not know him well enough to go out with him just yet, but at the same time I really wanted to. 

What time?

I’ll pick you up at six. 

C U @6 x

 “See, she’s smiling,” Burney said. 

 “Oh, shut up!” I laughed. 

“Who was messaging?” Emmet asked. 

“Someone I met last night.”

“That guy who walked you to the car last night?” Zac asked. 

“The bouncer?” Emmet asked. 

“No, a customer I met last night.” 

“Ooh miss popular,” Burney said with a shake of his shoulders.

“Yeah,” I laughed. “He asked me out tonight.” 

“Cute,” Burney leaned forward. “Where are you going?”

“Dinner and a movie. Should be pretty chill.” 

“Is he cute?” Burney asked. 

“Oh yeah, very cute.” 

“He’s a redhead,” Zac interjected. 

“A very cute redhead,” I said and tipped my mug towards him.

“Yay,” Burney clapped his hands lightly in front of him. 

 “Should be fun.” 

The conversation continued as I finished my coffee. 

“Okay so seeing as none of you fake friends have asked yet,” Burney said to all of us and Zac laughed softly. “My birthday is next week, and I am planning a party.”

“That’s cool, where?” Emmet asked. 

“Here, you dipshit,” Burney almost screamed at Emmet. 

I tipped my head back and laughed. “He called you a dipshit,” I giggled. 

“Shut up,” Emmet threw a small piece of crust at me. 

“I’ve decided to have a dress up theme?” 

“Oh God no,” Zac laughed. 

“What kind of theme?” Emmet asked. 

“I was thinking, possibly doing a character from a favourite book or movie theme.”

“Sounds interesting,” I smiled. I checked my bank account through my phone and realised I got my pay for the week. My heart sunk a little bit when I saw the amount. I felt as if someone had drained the blood from my body. If this pay continues with the same hours, I’ll never be able to have enough money for rent each month and have enough for other luxuries in my life… like food. Last time I asked I couldn’t get more shifts, because I’m already at full capacity with hours at work with everyone else working as well. 

“f**k,” I whispered under my breath. 

“What’s wrong?” Emmet asked. I looked at him for a moment, contemplating whether or whether not I should tell him that even though I haven’t been here for that long, I wouldn’t be able to stay for much longer, unless I sell one of my kidneys; even then, I don’t think it would last me for very long. I had two choices, either I could keep quiet and deal with it myself, or I could tell him. I took a long deep sigh and decided with the ladder.

“If my pay continues how it is from the Bar I don’t think I’ll be able to make enough for rent each month and have enough to feed myself.” I ran my fingers through the roots of my hair, a habit that I have developed when I was stressed. 

“Could you work more?” Emmet asked.

“I’m already working as much as I can,” I said. I brushed my hair off of my face, feeling the anxiety pull deep within my chest. 

“Maybe, you could get another job?” Burney chimed in. I didn’t answer him straight away. I looked at Burney and gave him a small smile. No one would be hiring this time of year and even if they were it would take a while for me to be employed. And even if they were, who would employ me at this time.

“I have a friend who works at a bookstore across the street, I think he may be hiring. I can put in a good word for you?” Zac said. He was scratching the back of his head. His face was slightly pinched, as if he was fighting an impulse. 

I looked up at him from across the table. “Seriously?”

“Yeah, I’m good buddies with the owner. My work is across the street from the store.”

“If you could, that would be greatly appreciated,” I said. Hope was blossoming in my chest and I smiled enthusiastically at him. 

“I’ll pop by on my way to work and ask,” he smiled back at me and my heart did a flip. How could I be so enchanted by him in what feels like such a small about of time. 

By the time six came around, I was ready and waiting. My hair was glossy and bouncy in loose curls, my makeup was light and natural, and I was wearing casual clothes. I was nervous about what I should wear. I didn’t want to dress too casual but not too over the top as well for dinner and a movie. I wore my usual black jeans with my boots and a dark green top that showcased my waist and chests and after quickly brushing my teeth and putting on some lip gloss, there was a knock at the door.

“Ali, your date is here!” Zac yelled from the front door. 

“Coming!” I yelled back, adjusted my makeup and quickly went to the front door.

James stood with his hands in his pockets. He wore a dark blue button up top and a black denim shirt. The dark blue of his shirt brought out the green within his eyes. 

“Hello,” James said. 

“Hey, stranger” I smiled at him. 

“Are you ready?” James asked. 

“Yeah, just let me grab my jacket.”

Zac sat on the edge of the couch with his arm outstretched with my black denim jacket in his hand.

“Have fun,” he smiled. 

“Wish me luck,” I whispered. 

“Make sure she’s back by eleven,” Zac said to James with a laugh. 

I smiled back at Zac before stepping through the door and pushing James out. 

He led me to a silver jeep and opened the passenger door for me. 

“What’s for dinner?” I asked when he got into his car. 

“Do you like pizza?” he asked.

I looked at him faking shock. “Of course! Only mad people don’t like pizza.”

He laughed. “Well, I was thinking pizza before the movie. How does that sound?” 

“Sounds good.”

We drove in an almost awkward silence, apart from the soft hum of music in the background. 

We stopped to get the pizza first. 

“I’ll pay for pizza if you pay for the movies,” I smiled. 

“Deal.” 

After grabbing the pizza, I went to grab a table, but then James stopped me. 

“What are you doing?” 

“Grabbing a table.” 

“Nope, we’re going somewhere else,” he said already walking to his car. 

“Okay,” I laughed. 

We drove for a couple more minutes heading to what seemed like nowhere. The trees were thickening as James drove up hill. 

“Where are you taking me?” I asked.

“It’s a secret,” He said with one hand on the wheel and the other in his lap. 

“Is this the part where you kill me?” I nervously laughed. “Is that it? You take me to some foreign location and kill me before I can have a slice of pizza. Seems fair, seems like the perfect way to both kill and torture me at the same time.”

He laughed. 

“You like pizza that much?” He asked.

“Oh no, I don’t like pizza. I love it.” I corrected him and watch as he chuckled. 

“Seriously, where are we going?” I asked again.

“We’re almost there,” he smiled. 

He pulled up into a small parking lot surrounded by trees. 

I looked around. “Now what?” 

“Now we walk,” He said, taking the pizza from my lap and leaving the car. 

I jumped out and followed after him, crossing my arms to keep out the cool air. 

“So not only am I about to die and not have a slice of pizza, but I also have to exercise… great.” He walked upwards on a hill; a path created from many people walking the path before. 

“Stop complaining, slow poach,” He shouted down at me from the top of the hill.

I laughed.

When I was almost to the top, James reached out his free hand to me to help pull me up. 

“Oh wow,” I whispered to myself. 

We stood on a cliff ledge that overlooked the ocean. Light embedded within the rock underneath lit the edge of the ledge. 

“I know, right.” James sat down with the pizza in his hand and opened the lid. I sat down across from him, curling my feet under me. 

“How did you find this place?” I asked after a couple bites of my pizza. 

“Off of a friend.”

“And now you take all of your dates here?” I added. 

He laughed. “Only the ones I like,” he joked which made me laugh. 

“So, tell me about yourself?” 

“What do you want to know?” 

“Any siblings?”

“I have three sisters and a brother,” He said, a faint smile on his face, his eyes distant, lost in memory.

“Which sibling is your favourite?” 

He laughed for a moment. His hand rubbed his chin and he shook his head. “Ah probably, Jane…” He nodded his head. “She’s the youngest of us.”

“Why is she your favourite?” 

“She doesn’t bother me as much as the others,” He joked. “In all seriousness, she’s so kind and compassionate and makes me smile. How about you? Any siblings?” 

I nodded my head. “I have three brothers, one older and two younger twin brothers.”

“That must be fun,” He laughed. 

“Yeah so much fun,” I smiled, my voice laced with sarcasm and I rolled my eyes. 

“Now who’s your favourite?” He asked.

“That’s hard cause they’re all annoying,” I laughed. “But I think maybe Aidan. He’s one of my younger brothers.” 

“Why is he your favourite?” 

“I don’t really know. I mean he just makes me laugh. He gets me, but sometimes he can be very obnoxious and he’s my mother’s favourite, so he’s very spoiled but he is my favourite. ”

We continued eating until there wasn’t any pizza left in the box. 

I looked out into the ocean; a cool ocean breeze washed over us. 

“It really is beautiful up here,” I said. 

He nodded his head in agreement. 

“We need to get going to the movie soon,” He broke the silence. 

The movie went by quickly. We sat in an awkward silence. I couldn’t even focus on the movie we chose because all I could think about was the handsome guy next to me and how his hand was so close to my own. 

We drove in an almost uncomfortable silence on the way, only talking every now and then about the movie until he parked at the front of my place. home until he walked me to the front door. 

When we walked up the porch and stopped at the front door, I turned to him with keys in my hand. 

“Thank you for tonight, I had a great time,” I said to him, holding my jacket closer to my body to keep out the cold. 

“No, thank you. I did too,” He smiled down at me. 

“Would it be completely inappropriate for me to kiss you right now?” he asked, his green eyes searched all over my face and stopped at my lips. 

I could feel my heartbeat throughout my body. My chest rising and falling with anxiety. 

I shook my head and stared at his lips. 

“Not inappropriate,” I mumbled watching him take a step closer towards me. 

I tilted my head up, my eyes closing, and my lips parted, waiting for him. 

His lips lightly touched my own. I sucked in a breath, feeling a little spark throughout my whole body. 

I reached up and took his jacket in my hand to pull him closer to me. 

He kissed me again but with more pressure this time. He kisses me slowly at first but then the pressure builds and takes over me. I push him even closer to me until I am backed up against the front door. His hands ran up the side of my body, until they stop, cupping the sides of my face. I opened my mouth wider allowing his tongue into my mouth and he groaned against me. 

I want to take him inside and bring him into my room. I wish I was someone who could take someone I just met and bring them into my room. Someone who could give themselves to someone they barely knew and not feel bad about it later. 

I brought my hand from his jacket to his chest and lightly pushed him back. 

“James,” I said in an almost warning voice, and pulled back from him. “We need to stop.” 

“Okay, but I don’t want to,” He laughed. 

We waited for a moment, looking at each other. I pushed him back a little more, needing to get distance from him and let my head rest against the front door.

“Me neither, but we need to.” I smiled up at him. His lips were swollen and the skin around his lips were pink. 

“Thanks again for tonight,” I said.

“Goodnight,” He said and gave me a quick peck on the cheek, and I watched him walk down the porch and to his car.