MORE THAN FRIENDS

Two

Aaliyah

The night was cold, but we'd been drinking too much to be bothered about it; never have I evers, drunken truth and dares… The walk home wasn’t long, just a lot of babbling and giggling from the unnecessarily clingy… well, me. Yet Xavier didn’t seem to mind. Xavier was the type to be happily sober while I was a happy drunk. Although his sobriety came with a price of its own.

“Can I sleep in your room tonight?” I said. He shrugged mindlessly. His eyes were glued to his phone as he scrolled through his i********: feed, double-tapping every post he saw. He seemed distracted, or he desperately wanted to keep himself distracted. I don’t blame him though. Not after what happened with his ex at the party. I was the one who took him there, which is why I’d decided to make it a point to cheer him up or stay with him at the very least.

He couldn’t… didn’t really say no to me, ever. He can’t bring himself to for some reason, no matter how unreasonable my demands can get sometimes. Maybe I took advantage of it a little. It’s not like it mattered if he let me sleep in his room or not. I welcomed myself most of the time anyway, regardless of his answers.

His dad was rarely ever home, he came back once a month, twice a month, sometimes never, and my mom went on a business trip. We were basically free to do whatever it was that we wanted to.

“Hmm… maybe?” He muttered. Unfortunately for him, I’d already decided that I’d be sleeping in his room whilst I curled one of my arms around Xavier’s. I’d noticed how much… skin he had exposed, and I wasn't not his girlfriend or anything but… “Why’s your shirt buttoned so low? If I hadn’t showed up when I did. She would’ve slipped her sneaky little hand inside—”

“And that matters?”

Whoa… it’s not like him to cut me off. I know I’m being annoying, but I know that something was bothering him, and he refused to talk to me. I hated it when he was like that. He knows that he can tell me anything, and yet he chose not to.

“I can f**k whoever I want, even my ex.” He added— snapped back rather, “Do I also fall under the ‘whoever I want to f**k’ category, Xavier? Just so you know, you were there for me, not her.” I mocked him back. I couldn’t help it. I retrieved my arm and tried to fish out the cigarettes from his back pocket, but he was quick to grab me by my wrist. “Do you ever ask?” “Do I ever?” I breathed out, exasperated. I leaned in and pressed our bodies flush to fluster him up. My lips almost brushed against his. It startled him but not to the point of throwing him off balance or making him lose composure. Shame.

He was always so calm and collected. Around me? Not so much. I should make it a point not to tease him too much except he’s so cute when flustered, and I can’t help but want to.

“Friends don’t kiss Aaliyah…”

It’s the only thing he muttered, his breath fell on my lips and his eyes were trained on mine. At least before I rolled my eyes at him and pulled away, mouthing a soft “Like I’d kiss you” under my breath. That’s a lie though. We’ve kissed… a lot of times before. In fact, I almost kissed him again. Some kisses were innocent and some kisses? Not so. He was my first kiss. That kind of thing is supposed to be special, isn’t it? I don’t regret my first kiss being Xavier at all. But that’s a secret he’s better off not knowing. I’ll tell him someday, probably. However, that ‘someday’ was not today.

It looked more like Rosie was f*****g you than you her, if you ask me.”

He disregarded the comment entirely, as if to say ‘Good thing I didn’t ask.’ and I stifled a laugh. Of course, he did. I’m not surprised. Xavier still loved her. I thought I was the only one who loved so hard, but Xavier loved harder.

The rest of the walk home was quiet, except for the sounds of my heels clicking. The cool night breeze calmed my throbbing headache. Ugh, I shouldn’t have drunk so much.

I turned to Xavier. I could only imagine how badly his head must've been hurting. I was pretty sure he was smoking before Rosie spotted him. That i***t.

Xavier had barely closed the door when I began to undress. I slipped out of my stilettos, then shimmied out of my jeans. My off-shoulder top followed, revealing pretty black lace with intricate designs underneath. Xavier was too used to this to be flustered by it anymore, but he made it a point not to stare for too long like the gentleman that he was.

“Hey…. You could’ve at least waited till I closed the door at least…”

“But those heels were killing me !” I whined. I get so whiny sometimes, whinier after downing a drink or two, and loud too for good measure. It didn’t irk Xavier in any way. He’d been taking care of me. He wasn’t obliged to do so, but he did anyway. I should get used to it, besides it felt nice to be taken care of. Sometimes I really wonder if all of this was okay and if I was taking advantage of him.

Barefoot, I padded down the hallway with my clumsy feet. He always told me that it was ‘endearing’ to him in a way that was apparently difficult to explain. He followed suit, picking up my clothes behind me. By the time he managed to catch up to me, I was already inside his room, and he found me sprawled in the centre of his bed in a disorderly fashion; limbs everywhere and my hair falling over my face. The lights are off, but he doesn't bother to turn them on and neither does he.

“You’ll catch a cold, Lia. You know where to find what to wear.”

Funny of him to say… considering my room was just across from his, but I appreciated it nonetheless.

Dropping the keys on the bedside table. He proceeded to rid himself of his shirt and I bit down on my bottom as he did. He made it look as if he’d been feeling stuffy. It was not like we hadn’t seen each other naked. I must've been out of my mind to find Xavier sexy while he took his shirt off. s**t! Of course not! It’s definitely alcohol!

I crawled out of bed to pick up the shirt that he’d discarded only moments ago. What the f**k even am I doing anymore? I’m sure there was mischief flickering in my eyes as I brought it to my face and nuzzled my nose into the fabric…. And take in his scent. I’d be lying to myself if I ever said I didn't like the way he smelled. I looked at him innocently before I put it on. He swallowed thickly at the sight of me doing so. My lips were curled impishly at his reaction.

Xavier perched on the edge of the bed and ran his fingers through his wind-tousled hair thoughtfully. How deep in thought he must’ve been because he didn’t notice when I moved closer to him but… I sat on the empty space beside him, then loosely draped my arms around him. “Are we cuddling?” I asked, resting my cheek on his shoulder. “If you want to. I was going to take the couch.” Xavier replied, shrugging before untangling my arms to free himself from my embrace, but I’m persistent. My arms were now encircling his torso instead. I traced the prominent vein on his neck with the tip of my nose and made sure to leave a playful peck there.

“Date me.” You’re the only one who can stand me after all. It was stupid of me to say, but it was just a random thought. Although I didn’t mean what I said, it didn’t fail to fluster him up. “Don’t say things like that if you don’t mean it.” Did I mention he’s cute already? “What if I mean it though?” “Stop it, Lia. You don't. You're drunk.”

He took hold of my wrist. His tone is commanding in a way, and it makes me nibble on my bottom lip and I feel a delicious shiver rapidly crawl down my spine. “But don’t you get jealous?” I purr. I know I shouldn’t have said that, but I know the effect I had on him and I hated Rosie. My nails dragged across the expanse of his chest, marvelling at the pale unblemished skin and the contours of his hard curves. I kept trying to convince myself that I was crossing the line… but I wanted to. “Come on. Tell me I’m better than her… I’m better than that b***h Rosie, so please…” Each word trickled sinfully into his ear that had gone beyond red. My fingers left a burning trail wherever they touched it seemed. It was enough to make him gasp for air. I know I shouldn’t be playing with fire, bit I can’t help it. I want to. I don’t even know what I want. I don’t even understand the things I'm doing, or saying anymore. Xavier just makes me feel that way. Maybe I don’t have the answers right now, but I'm willing to make the effort to find out. It doesn't matter to me what happens to me… to us…

“Won’t you?”