Trouble Next Door

chapter thirteen

I needed to use the bathroom and made my way out of the rowdy party scene. As I came to a lobby i clashed into someone and spilled their drink.

"Oops sorry!" I said looking up into a smiling blue eyed guy. He was cute.

"Nah don't worry." He said looking down at his stained shirt. "Its my fault."

"No its my fault really.... I'm sorry."

" No don't be. I can't be mad at a pretty girl like you."

Flirt alert!

"OK thanks."

I made to side step him but he blocked my path. " Hey what's your name?"

"Uh?" I asked surprised. What did he need my name for? I had to admit i was flattered that a cute guy like him showed interest in me but i don't go around telling my name to total strangers. "Why?"

"Don't know." He smiled sheepishly. " Just curious... I mean its the least you can do considering.... " His voice trailed off as he looked down at his stained shirt.

"Oh OK." It was the least i could do considering i had made a mess of his shirt. But I thought he said it was OK. Urgh! Boys! I decided to tell him my name. "Maury the name's Maury."

"I'm Jeff." He smiled. "Nice to meet you Maury. So i was wondering... Can i uh....get your number?"

Uh? Number? We just met.

"Why?"

He grinned. "Its just... I've wanted to ask for it as soon as you walk into the party?"

"Uh?"

"With your friend remember? I was standing by the door when you walked in.

" Uh OK." I hadn't notice him. I had to admit he was hot. On a good day i would have been flattered that he wanted my number but right now i wasn't in a good mood.

"So the number?" He asked hopefully.

"No."

"No?" He was surprised, obviously not used to girls rejecting him. Well there's a first time for everything.

"Why do you want my number?"

"Obviously cause i wanna get to know you. I want us to be friends."

He seemed harmless. Plus he was cute and it would not be bad making a new friend. It would also help me get my mind of Lucas. I frowned at that thought. Why is my mind on him again?

"So uh friends?" Jeff pulled me out of my thoughts.

"Hmmm..." I pretended to think about it.

"She has enough friends." A familiar voice said behind me. A chill ran down my spine, as my heart beat fast in excitement. Lucas. What the hell is he doing here? And why the hell was he answering for me? He sounded pissed.

I felt him come up behind me and snake an arm around my waist possessively. What the....What the hell is going on? Jeff's eyes widened in surprise and he drew back.

"Oh sorry Lucas. I didn't know she's your girl." He hurried past us sparing me an uneasy glance.

I stood rooted to a spot, feeling Lucas' breath on my neck. Stunned. His girl? Why the hell did he not correct Jeff? And why the hell did i not? Oh i know why. I was too shocked to speak.

" Just a few minutes alone and you're already flirting Maury." He whispered in my ear sending a chill down my spine.

Alright! I need to get away from him.

I pulled away in anger. "Really?" I folded my arms.

"Really what?" He asked, puzzled.

"I was having a decent conversation with someone and you had to come and interrupt it."

"Decent my ass." He snorted. "That guy is a total player Maury. You should stay away from him."

"What? When did you start telling me what to do? Why do you care?

I felt like slapping him, remembering how he had acted with those girls. He scratched the back of his neck uneasily, staring at me.

"I uh...." He began timidly. I seemed to have thrown him off guard with that question. Uneasy, timid Lucas was endearing. He licked his bottom lip, still staring heatedly at me and I had the sudden urge to pull him to me and kiss him.

What the hell? Where the hell did that come from? I shook my head trying to clear the stupid thought. I needed to get away from him, get Kathy and go back home. Coming here was a bad idea. Damn the pill! I made the brush past him but he held me back by the arm.

"Where are you going?"

"Home!" I snapped.

"Why're you so mad?" He wondered aloud, his grip still firm on my arm. I tried to pull away from his serious probing gaze but he only tightened his grip. He wasn't letting me get away.

"Let go." I gritted out.

"No."

What the...

"I said let go." I tried again.

"Not until you tell me why the hell you're mad."

He sounded angry. It was my first time seeing Lucas angry. I wasn't prepared for this.

"Seriously? OK let me start with those bimbos you had fawning over you a while ago, completely ignoring Kathy and i and then..."

"You're jealous." He stated. His brows furrowed as if he had come to a realization. Then his features softened.

"Jealous?" I chocked out angrily. He was totally right but i would never admit that. Never! "Yeah right....of those clueless girls?" I snorted in disdain, trying to appear nonchalant and calm although i was anything but calm. I needed to get away from him.

Why won't he let me go? I hated myself immediately as i felt the blush creeping up my face. Of course he noticed it.

"You're a bad liar Maury." Lucas said with a smirk. He sounded amused.

Urgh! How dare he make me feel like this, all hot and bothered and confused and he had the guts to smirk.

"Let go!" I pulled my arm but he wouldn't budge.

"Don't worry Maury. You have my undivided attention now."

"I don't need your stupid attention. I'm leaving!"

"But you only just got here."

"Well i'm done. I'm tired so i'm leaving."

"That's not our deal remember?"

"I don't care. Just let me go."

"But i need you at the party." He said pleadingly. "Stay awhile. I'll take you home."

"Don't want to. Let me go.....for now...please."

I needed him to let me go because i needed time to think. And breathe. Why couldn't he take the hint? If there was one thing i had begun to realise about Lucas was that he was very stubborn. The bullheaded i***t! I inwardly seethed. Ideas crossed my mind as i thought of ways to get him to leave me. I had a bold idea. I thought on it. Normally it was something i would never do, but desperate times calls for desperate measures. I braved up to get into the act. It can't be that hard.

"OK...I'll stay." I smiled sweetly at him.

A surprised look replaced the smirk. He definitely wasn't expecting me to agree so easily. I drew closer to him. What the hell are you doing Maury? This could backfire. I placed my free hand on his chest, looking up coyly at him, trying to bat my eyes seductively. I prayed i was doing a good job and that he fell it, otherwise i would look like a total i***t. I felt him tense and loosen the grip on my arm as i pressed up against him. I heard his sharp intake of breath as my lips grazed his ear. Good! Giving him a taste of his own medicine. I couldn't believe i was that brave or that i was having such an effect on him.

"Maury..." He breathed out in a strangled voice. His grip in my arm completely gone.

The plan was to distract him enough to get him to release my arm but even with my arm now free, i could not pull away. Traitorous body! I closed my eyes and breathed in his scent. Why the hell does he smell so good?

Snap out of it Maury! I mentally kicked myself. This isn't part of the plan. I regained composure immediately.

"Lucas." I whispered.

"Hmm?"

"Fooled you."

I pulled away and raced back into the hall in search of Kathy. She was with Reggie.

"What's going on?" Kathy asked when she noticed how heavily i was breathing.

"Need...to...leave..now!"

"I'll drive you." Reggie offered. God bless her. I love this girl. "But what..."

"Leave first. Questions later."

"Uh. OK." She was puzzled.

We hurriedly made our way out of the party to her car.

"Maury!" I heard Lucas call.

What the...

"You're trying to get away from Lucas?" Reggie asked as she started the car. She was amused.

"Silly." Kathy snorted. "I thought it was something important."

I looked out at Lucas who appeared on at the doorway, making his way towards us.

"Just drive please." I urged Reggie. I didn't have the strength to deal with him.

"OK." Reggie pulled out of the drive way away from the party and Lucas. Thankfully he didn't come after us.

"What happened?" Reggie asked. "Lucas seemed pissed." He was, alright.

"You have a lot of explaining to do when we get home." Kathy whispered to me.

I did not fail to catch the excitement in her voice. I rolled my eyes. Kathy and gossip.

"From the look on Lucas' face it seems you're in a whole lot of trouble." Reggie laughed.

I definitely was in a whole lot of trouble.