Free Falling

18|More Than Friends

It'd been a couple of days since I confided in Eli about the horrors of my past, and ever since then, I found myself gravitating towards him in the slickest ways possible. Whether it be to ask him a simple question or to just be in his presence, I couldn't help but feel something for him, and it scared the absolute s**t out of me.

Eli and I hadn't told anyone about that night, especially his friends because we knew they would make a big deal out of it. Besides, I didn't know what this shift in our friendship meant or even if he felt a smidge of what I did for him.

Was this how Caden felt when he told me he liked me? Not knowing what my reaction would be and hoping that I would feel the same? Because if so, it sucked.

Everyone agreed on hanging out at me and Kenny's house again seeing as our parents weren't home, as usual, and we didn't want to spend the night alone in an empty house. Kenny ordered Chinese while I collected movie DVD's from our dad's office, preferably horror movies. Skylar had already told me that she was spending the night, and Kenny confirmed that the boys were doing so as well, so the living room couch was piled with blankets and pillows.

"Dude, this is going to be so fun," Kenny said, a smile stretching across his face. He tossed me another pillow and I threw it on the couch with the rest. "It's been so long since we all hung out."

"Yeah," I replied absentmindedly. "Is Caden coming over?"

He shot me a confused look. "Of course he is. Why wouldn't he?"

I swallowed the ball of nervousness and shrugged. "Just making sure so I know if we have enough pillows and stuff."

"Don't worry about it. We'll probably bunk in my room if the living room gets too crowded."

The doorbell rang and I sighed in relief, volunteering to get it.

"So, I brought candy, popcorn, sodas, and your favorite chips." Skylar pushed past me and walked into the kitchen, setting everything on the table. Sighing, she placed her hands on her hips and turned to me. "Did I forget anything?"

"Maybe changing clothes?" I offered, noticing the lack of her duffel bag filled with spare clothes she would always bring over when spending the night.

Skylar waved her manicured hand. "I'll borrow some of yours. Are the boys here?"

"Not yet. Missing André already?"

She rolled her eyes and bypassed me to the living room. "Please, if anything it's the opposite. I love André and all, but he follows me around like a sick puppy." She plopped down on the couch and huffed. "At first it was cute, and now I can't even go to the bathroom without him standing on the other side of the door like a stalker."

I chuckled and sat beside her. "Well, have you ever considered talking to him about it?"

Skylar shot me a horrified look. "Why would I do that?"

"Because there might be a reason why he clings to you. I mean, you do know that he's..." I trailed off. Eli had told me about their past, but I wasn't sure if Skylar knew. If I told her and she was clueless, not only would I lose the boy's' trust, but she would be mad at me for keeping their secret. I wasn't even sure it was a secret, but it still wasn't my story to tell.

"I don't know," Skylar continued, her face twisted with conflicted emotions, "I don't want him to feel like I'm being ungrateful or unloving because I do love him. I can just do without the following me around 24/7 bit."

I smiled and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "From my experience, communication is key. Talk to him."

She nodded, and at the same time, Kenny emerged from around the corner. "Sky, did you bring my Skittles?"

"It's in the bag," she said, a small smile forming on her lips as she shook her head. Kenny hollered in excitement and dashed to the kitchen.

Half an hour later, the living room was crowded as everyone sprawled around on the couch with popcorn and candies in their reach, getting themselves comfortable while I decided on the movie we were going to watch.

I held up Jeepers Creepers 2 but got brandished with a lot of boos and no's. Next was Oculus, and a few agreed while Skylar, Brandon, and Kenny all shook their heads. I grunted in frustration and held my arms up, gripping the DVD cases.

"Pick a movie," I said exasperatedly.

"That one is too scary," Skylar commented, her face scrunching up. "I like horror movies but that one's a bit too much."

"I think it's boring," Brandon said.

"Agreed." I shot Kenny a glare in which he only shrugged.

Whirling around to the DVD player, I pushed Oculus into the slot and pressed play.

Skylar narrowed her eyes as I plopped down between Eli and Miles. "You didn't."

I plucked a piece of popcorn out of the bowl in Miles' hand and tossed it in my mouth, winking mischievously at Skylar. "I did."

Eli chuckled and shook his head at me. "You are something else."

"And what might that be?"

He lowered his gaze to my lips and looked away. I smiled triumphantly.

Preston turned off all the lights in the house and settled beside Caden, who, surprisingly, hadn't glanced my way ever since he got here. He made sure to keep his distance, staying glued to Kenny's and Brandon's side all night.

Eli shivered next to me, and, wordlessly, I covered him with my blanket, scooting closer to him so that it reached across his lap. From my peripheral, he turned his head to me, and the light from the TV illuminated the side of his face where a smirk curled at his lips.

I jerked when warm fingers trailed up my leg, and from the blaze of heat it left behind, I knew who they belonged to. Clearing my throat, I shifted a bit so that my legs were out of his reach.

"Don't," I whispered, keeping my eyes on the TV.

"Don't what?" he replied innocently, but I could practically hear the amusement underlying his tone. "Someone's nervous."

Biting the corner of my lip, I slipped my hand underneath the blanket and gripped the inside of Eli's thigh. His leg tensed underneath me and I grinned. "I'm never nervous."

The movie continued playing and our friends were oblivious to our playful transaction. Eli would purposefully find ways to touch me, whether it be his leg brushing against mine or his arm reaching around my shoulders when he yawned. I wasn't any better because I would let my hand explore across his midriff, deeming satisfaction when he flinched.

It went on through two movies until everyone picked a spot to fall asleep in.

Hours later, I had woken up in the living room where bodies were scattered about on the floor and couches, all of them sleeping soundlessly. I spotted André and Skylar sharing the smaller couch, his arm tucked underneath her head while they cuddled.

I smiled softly and averted my eyes to Eli who laid beside me, his chest falling evenly to the pace of his breathing. He was even more beautiful when slept; his lips parting with every exhale with his hair sprawled out on the carpet, giving me a clear observation of his face. I wanted to reach out and trail his jaw with my finger, but that was a bit too much, even for me, so instead I stood up and headed to the kitchen for a glass of water.

My feet padded along the tiled floor of the kitchen as I trailed to the sink. Opening the cupboard, I reached for the glass cup sitting on the top shelve, but my shortness failed me. Grumbling, I stood on the tips of my toes and pushed myself up using the sink counter, but I barely grasped onto the rim.

Suddenly, a hand shot up and grabbed the glass for me, setting it down on the counter. Startled, I whipped around only to be met with a hard, bare chest. My eyes followed it up to a face I recognized to be Miles.

"You scared the absolute f**k out of me," I whispered, placing a hand on my chest to calm my erratic heartbeat.

"Sorry," he mumbled, grinning sheepishly. He scratched the back of his head. "I woke up a few minutes before you and couldn't go back to sleep."

I turned back to the sink and filled the glass up halfway, then polished off the water with hefty gulps.

It was when I saw two hands gripping the counter on either side of me that I froze, laid the glass in the sink, and slowly pivoted.

"What are you doing?" I said, eyeing him as he approached me, trapping me within the walls of his arms. His eyes darkened as they flicked down to my lips, and I couldn't do anything as my feet were glued to the floor. "Miles-"

"Do you like Eli?" he asked suddenly. He was so close that I could feel his lips brush against mine. Subtlety, I inched my head back and cleared my throat.

"If I say yes, are we going to have to stop being friends?"

Disappointment flashed across his face and he bowed his head. He took a step back and let his arms fall to his side. "No, it's okay," he said, providing a weak smile. "He deserves someone like you."

"You deserve someone, too," I said softly. "And just because I don't share the feelings you have for me, doesn't mean that I won't be here for you."

He smiled but it didn't reach his eyes. "I know."

Without another word, he turned and exited the kitchen, leaving me battling with raging hormones and my confession that I had feelings for Elijah Wales. I didn't know whether to cry because I finally gave my heart another chance to feel something instead of succumbing numbness, or run because I was too afraid of what was yet to come.

Because with every happy ending was evil lurking around in the shadows waiting for the perfect moment to strike.