Puppets on a string

LOVE YOU LIKE A LOVE SONG

A few days later, I was sitting in college cafetaria with Vicky and Jennie again. Vinnie was back to college but was in her class, Vicky kept her word and didn't mention about my relationship with Samuel to anyone, Vincent also didn't mention about my little 'confession' to anyone and was behaving like nothing happened between us making things easier for me and he is also in his class. Thankgod he didn't say anything otherwise I would have died of embarrassed. Samuel said that he has some urgent work at home and didn't come to college today. I was kind of missing him but I won't say this to anyone. The day was boring without him. We were also behaving like 'just friends' in front of others. Ralph and Sophie don't really care about these stuff. They are the biggest extroverts in our group, they are friends with everyone in the college.

"Hey Ash, Vincent is on the call and he wants to talk to you" Vicky said

Why does Vincent want to talk to me ? And why would he call on Vicky's phone, he has my contact number too ?

I took Vicky's phone and put it on my ear

" Hey Vin " I talked on phone

" Hey Ash, where are you? I have been calling your number since last 5 minutes but you are not picking it up" He said

I looked at my phone and saw 2 missed calls from Vincent and 5 missed calls from Samuel. He is busy then why is he calling me?

"Sorry Vin, my phone was on silent. I forgot to put it back in ring after the class" I said apologetically

" It's okay. Can you come to the basketball court now?" He said

Now why does he wants to meet me there ? I will just have to go and find out.

" Okay. I'll be there in a couple of minutes" I replied hanging up the call.

I gave Vicky's phone back to its owner and went to the basketball court curiously.

As I reached there, I saw Vincent with a guy with his back to me, so I couldn't see his face. The more nearer I got, I realized that it was not just a guy, it was the guy I have been trying hard not to fall for, Samuel.

The first thought that came to my mind was ' What was he doing here ? Shouldn't he be at home or something? The next thing that came to my mind was ' Was he lying to me and has been trying to avoid me?' but I shook the negative thoughts and approached them. As soon as I was near to them, he suddenly turned around as if he sensed my presence.

"Hey guys" I said to them.

"Hey Ash" they both said and gave me a side hug.

" Did you like my surprise baby?" Samuel whispered in my ear so that only I could hear him while giving me a hug. I blushed a little obviously liking his surprise and immediately composed myself. I hope noone saw me blushing.

"Why did you call me here Vin?" I asked Vincent

" I didn't. Samuel asked me to call you. He said that you were not picking up his call." He said looking at both of us questioningly.

"Oh! Sorry Sam, my phone was on silent" I said to Samuel

" It's okay Ba.. Ash" He said. Was he going to call me baby in front of Vin?

" So why did you call me here Sam?" I tried to behave formally not wanting Vincent to doubt us anymore. Samuel could have called Vicky himself and talk to me. Why would he need Vincent to call Vicky ? And somewhere I also knew the answer.

Samuel is jealous of my old feelings for Vincent. I have told Samuel about my confession to Vincent not wanting him to find out about it from somewhere else. Also I didn't want Samuel to think that he was my second choice. So I confessed everything to him, not wanting anything to cause any problem in our relationship in future. Samuel wanted Vincent to know about our relationship marking his territory. I liked jealous Samuel.

" I just wanted you to teach me a concept in Physics. I have been having some problems in Mathematical Physics and needed your help. I know you are genius in Physics" He said. I could easily see that he was lying as I see him trying his best to hide his smile.

" Sure" I said smiling to him.

Vincent was still standing there looking at us with curious and questioning eyes. I also saw something else in his eyes, Jealousy. He couldn't be feeling jealous. He doesn't feel for me. I must have misread him.

" Then shall we go ?" I said looking at both of them

"I will take my leave guys. I have a class. See you later" Vincent said and left.

"You said you had urgent work at home Sam" I said to my boyfriend as soon as Vincent left

" I did it early and came back to surprise my beautiful girlfriend" He replied back winking at him with a grin on his face. Ahh! He just needs to smile and I will melt then and there like Ice cream.

"Okay" I said trying my best not to smile.

" Don't pretend like you didn't miss me babe. I know you more than you know yourself"

I rolled my eyes in the reply.

"Would you like to go to the beacg? You can give me my personal class there?" He asked.

I only had one class left which was chemistry lab. Ugh! I hate chemistry but my parents forced me to take this as an extra subject. So, I agreed to go with him bunking my class.

Beach was not far away from the college, so we decided to go there by walking. He slowly held my hand intertwining our fingers as we went a little far away from college. He loves to hold my hands. What we didn't see was that Robert has already seen us holding hands and smiling to each other.

When we reached there, the beach was almost empty during the day. A couple of people were here and there but it was not crowdy. We put a blanket on the ground and sat on it.

He was sitting on my left.

I started teaching him but I could really see that he was not interested in studying. It was just an excuse to get me with him alone.

Somewhere in between he slowly put his right hand on my waist and pulled me a little closer to him so that half of my body was leaning on him making me gasp. I blushed looking down realizing how close we both were sitting to each other.

"Okay. Now you show me how to find the curl and gradient of this equation?" I asked shoving the notebook in his hands knowing very well that he was not paying attention to any of the words I was saying.

"Please close these books now Ash. You know very well that it was just an excuse to get you alone with me. I only wanted to spend some time with my girlfriend " He said pouting making me melt there. How can someone this broad and tall be this cute?

"But you need to know how to solve this Sam. Professor taught this in the first week of college" I said wanting him to focus on his studies. I don't want our relationship to affect our studies.

"You can teach me later." He said snatching the notebook and pen out of my hands and putting it back in my bag. I sighed. This guy is stubborn too.

After he put the books in bag, he again put his hand on my waist pulling me closer. I tried my best not to blush and get nervous. We started talking about our lives and our day. After few minutes, we were just looking at the ocean, listening to the calming sound of the waves. It was not awkward but comfortable silence with two people looking at the blue ocean.

From the corner of my eyes, I could see that Samuel was looking at me time to time as if he wanted to say something but couldn't. I looked up at him and our eyes caught each other like both of us were lost inside.I realized that Samuel was now looking at my lips with lustful eyes. He started leaning down a little. My mind said that I should back away as it was too early. We just started dating 5 days ago but my body and heart was saying otherwise. In the end, I listened to my heart and stayed rooted on spot. I didn't pull away and nor leaned closer. When his lips were just an inch away from mine, he kissed my nose and backed away fast as if scared that I will slap him. He looked at me to see my reaction but I was blushing which gave him a little bit of confidence.

I was again looking at the ocean, when I again felt him coming closer. I looked at him and saw his lips just an inch away from mine again. He came closer while looking at me in my eyes and gave a small little kiss on my lips pulling back quickly again. I could say that he was really nervous. Heck, I was nervous too but he was afraid that I would slap him. Hell, he confessed his love to me and I didn't even say it back. He was supposed to feel nervous.

When I didn't do anything, he realized that I am not going to hit him which made him more confident.

This time he leaned down again slowly and pressed his lips on mine and started kissing me slowly. As soon as his lips touch mine, a sudden chill went down my spine. I felt like my heart is going to explode and my lips started to move on their own. His eyes were closed and mine also closed automatically. His lips are as soft as rose petals. The kiss started slow and gentle. Soon, I felt his left hand gently holding my right cheek while his right hand was still on my waist. Both of my hands went to his chest as if they had the mind of their own. Soon, his lips started sucking my lower lip and my lips started sucking his upper one. He pulled me more closer as if it was possible. The kiss was slow yet passionate. I have kissed my ex before but the kiss didn't feel anything like that. I have never felt this much tingles and butterflies before. My whole body was shaking with need. God! What is this person doing to me?

A few minutes later, we both slowly pulled away. We both were breathing heavily as he slowly put his forehead on mine. His eyes were still closed.

"I love you Ashley" He said with his closed eyes. There was so much sincerity in his voice that I couldn't stop my mouth and my heart.

"I love you too Sam" I replied back shocking myself too not believing my own voice. F*ck. This is the moment I realized that I have fallen hard for Mr. Arrogant. This perfect man who claims to be in love with me made me fall in love with him just in a couple of days.

He opened his eyes suddenly looking me in the eyes as if trying to find the lie in them.

When he didn't find any he asked me, "Say it again, baby"

I didn't want to hide my feelings anymore. This man has been nothing but honest with me.

"Yes, I have fallen in love with you Samuel Stark. I love you" I said looking him in his eyes. As soon as those words left my mouth, Samuel slammed his lips to mine again, this time more roughly and passionately as if trying to put all of his feelings on this kiss. I gladly kissed him back pouring my feelings out in the kiss too.

This kiss was nothing like to previous one. I felt a lone tear leaving my eye telling me that what I was feeling for him was real. I quickly wiped it, not wanting him to see me cry. This kiss lasted a little longer than the previous one. Then we both pulled away trying to catch our breath.

"You know you are my first kiss Ashley. I have never kissed anyone before. Heck I have never been this close to any girl before " He said making me feel more special.

I smiled looking at him and blushing a little. Ugh! Why do I blush this much?

"I hope I am your first kiss too Ash. I don't think I will handle the thought of you with someone else well."He said again

Sh*t! How do I tell him that I have kissed my ex before? He gave his first kiss to me. I don't want him to think that the kiss we shared today was not special. I have fallen for this man. I don't want to lose him already. I can't lie to him but I also don't want to break his heart. What should I do? Should I tell him?

"So? Have you kissed anyone before?" He asked looking at me with hopeful eyes.

Jesus why are you doing this to me? I don't want to break his heart.

"No, you are my first kiss too" I lied easily to him on his face. I tried my best to keep a smile on my face but I was feeling guily down inside my heart. But I lied to make him happy. That counts right?

He smiled brightly and pulled me closer in a hug with our hands wrapping around each other while my head rested on his chest listening to his calm heartbeat.

We sat there till the evening sitting comfortably in each other arms and stealing kisses here and there. But I still couldn't help but felt a lump in my throat after lying to him shamelessly. I shouldn't have done that. I shouldn't have lied to my first love. But the connection I had with him was something different and I didn't want to lose him yet. I also know that he would have understood me but it would have broken his heart too. I relaxed myself thinking that what I did was right and enjoyed my day with him.