Secret obsession

CHAPTER 7

My heart starts shaking again, and I realize it's too late to stop it now. My feelings for Henry grew so fast that I don’t know if that’s normal. I look through the doors of my balcony and I see Henry standing next to his car. I didn’t know he had a car. I thought he always walks to school… that is not the issue right now. I don’t think I should go outside. He ignored me today. I should not forgive him that easily. I have all those thoughts while looking at him through the curtains, and he starts walking towards the front door. “Oh my God! He is gonna start screaming again!” I say to myself, getting more nervous. I froze a little bit thinking about what to do when I decide to go out to the balcony. I was about to open the doors when I hear the doorbell. I stay quiet for a moment and I hear my dad talking to someone. I stand close to the door of my bedroom, opening a small c***k, trying to spy a little bit and I listen to the conversation my dad was having with Henry.

“This is the first time I have seen you around here Henry; do you guys go to the same school?” my dad asks.

“Yes sir, actually that is why I came. We have homework together”, he lies.

“You should come early next time; you will not have enough time to finish”

“Don’t worry Sir, actually I am very smart, so I will push Erin to follow my rhythm.”

My dad laughs at what Henry said. What is wrong with him? Plus, I’m pretty sure I’m smarter than him. Is he trying to make me look bad in front of my dad?

I hear steps approaching, so I close the door and start running in my room thinking about what I should do. Should I grab a book and pretend to be reading? Go to the bathroom? Fake sleeping? I’m fighting with myself deciding when my dad knocks at my door.

“Erin sweety? There is someone here looking for you!”

“Thanks Dad! I will be down in a minute” I shout trying to sound busy.

“Actually, he is right here next to me”

I throw all my books and notebooks on my bed and then open the door. “Hi Henry” I say faking my lack of breath.

“Hi Erin! Ready to do the project?” he asks playfully, knowing it's just a lie.

“Sure, come on in, I have already started”, I say, showing the mess on my bed pretending I was studying or something. Henry walks inside with a big smile on his face.

“Well, I’ll leave you two to work on your assignment sweetheart… Henry, nice meeting you son” my dad looks at Henry with a gently smile. I can say already that he likes him.

“Nice meeting you too, Mr. Bennett, and don’t worry, we’ll finish soon”

My dad nods and closes the door, leaving us alone. Henry looks at me victorious, and I just can’t believe I went with his lie. The big question mark is back on my face.

“Hi beautiful, did you miss me?” he asks, tilting his head and giving me his half-smile that makes me blush.

I try to be strong and act angry at him. After all, he ignored me today at school. I should not act as if it was nothing.

“What are you doing here Henry? I thought you didn’t know me” I say, holding a strong stare crossing my arms trying to keep serious.

“Are you talking about what happened today? C’mon babe didn’t you notice your ‘friend’ reaction?” he says while sitting on the edge of my bed. “If I had approached you he would have gone insane don’t you think?” he shrugs waiting for my answer then he sighs, standing up getting close to me “I think you should suggest to your friend that he has to be honest with you and his girlfriend” he places himself in front of me very, very close that I can smell again his addictive perfume, but his words keep me thinking about what is he trying to say, and what is going on with him and Jake?

I look down, staring at nothing wrapped in my own thoughts when I notice his breathing so close to me, I feel how Henry places his hands on my waist, pulling me close to him. His touch is so warm, even through my clothes I can still feel his temperature. I blush instantly and avoid eye contact with him, getting afraid that my heart might run out of my chest. He holds my chin with his right hand and raises it, so I look at him. We both stare at each other for a brief moment.

“I’m sorry” he says, then he bends down a little without letting me go and starts kissing me, softly, calmly, his tongue roses mine and his hands pull me closer to him. My hands go up to his neck as an instinct and the kiss starts to get warmer and warmer and, without controlling myself, I left a small groan escaping from me, scaring the moment. Henry stops kissing me without letting me go, his nose is touching mine and we are both trying to regain our breath. I open my eyes and see him smiling without opening his. “I’m sorry babe, I just couldn’t resist, I told you already, you look pretty when you concentrate” he finally opens his eyes letting my body go, hesitating as if he doesn’t want to let it go. I gulp nervously, trying to fix myself, blushing, avoiding his eyes.

“So, do you wanna listen to some music pretending that our project is about that?” I say walking away from him, bringing my laptop and sitting on the mess of the bed. I hear Henry chuckles.

We’ve been listening to a lot of music, chatting about senseless stuff, laughing, and discovering new things about each other. We got so relaxed in my bed that we are both laying on our stomachs looking at my laptop screen. I have been having so much fun that I completely forgot to look at the time. Until my cellphone beeps, I grab it to check who sent me the message while sitting next to Henry when I see it's from my sister.

‘I think your friend should go soon sis. Dad has been worried that he is still in your room – Lisa’

I look at the time, and it's really late for me to have a boy in my bedroom. My smile fades, and I look at Henry, who is still looking for some videos on YouTube. How should I tell him it's late without him thinking I’m kicking him out? I bite my lip thinking about some nice way to say ‘you have to go’ when he looks at me.

“Is there something wrong beautiful?” he turns to face me more comfortably.

“Not really, it's just… I got a text from my sister and I didn’t realize how late it was” I say, awkwardly rubbing my neck. Henry raises his body to sit next to me.

“It’s OK babe, I forgot about the time too” he smiles and pets my head, making me feel less worried. “So… I should go now” he says while standing up and waits for me to stand up too.

We both walk to the door of my room and stand there in silence. I can’t stop looking at his mouth and I notice he can’t stop looking at mine either.

“I will walk you outside” I say, gulping and wishing with all my body that he kisses me once more. Henry smiles and gives me a quick peck on the cheek.

“Let's go then” he opens the door and goes out faster than I wanted.

Henry says goodbye to my dad, who is still laughing at everything he says and then says goodbye to my mom and my sister. He is so charming that he has got all my family in his pocket already. We go out of my house, and I’m still waiting for a goodbye kiss, but instead of that, he just waves and turns to start walking to his car. Since I know it is over, I also turn to enter my house when I feel him grabbing my wrist to make me turn back again and, before I realize what is happening, he hugs me, a hug so tight that I respond it immediately, smelling his neck while he smells my hair.

“I’ll miss you” he whispers, and let me go.

I wait for him to go to his car and wave. Once his car leaves, I enter my house to encounter something weird that has never happened before. Right in front of me, my whole family was waiting for me to come inside with big smiles on their faces and sparkling eyes.

“So…” my sister begins. “Is that your boyfriend?” she asks excitedly, and I can see that my parents have the same anticipation in them.

“What?! Boyfriend? No!” I answer nervously, this is completely new to me. I don’t even know how to react.

“It’s OK sweety, this is the first boy that visits you besides Jake, and we know that Jake is like a brother to you as well as a son to us”, my mom says, trying to explain why they have that idea of Henry.

“Your mom is right Erin. Although he seems like a good guy, I think he should come earlier next time”, my dad adds.

“Well, you shouldn’t worry about that because Henry is not my boyfriend and, if you excuse me, I want to go to sleep”, I tell them while walking through them and going upstairs. Once in my room, I keep touching my face with both sides of my hands trying to cool me down. I’m pretty sure I blushed with all those questions and I hate my body to react that way. I start cleaning my bed to go to sleep, but I can’t stop thinking about Henry and our kiss… Oh my God! My first kiss, and it was everything I was expecting. I feel so happy that I think I should call Kim and tell her everything… but then I remember, I have been so focused on my own happiness that I forgot my best friend. Sure Jake is also my best friend, but this time is Kim the one I’m worried about. I fix my bed, get in my PJs, cover myself with the blanket and start calling Kim. She answers after a few seconds.

“Hello”, Kim answers, and it sounds like she was crying.

“Hi Kim, how are you? How is your wrist?”

“Well, it's not that bad. My parents didn’t even notice”, she says without energy.

“Glad to hear that…” a silence fills the moment. “Have you talked to Jake yet?”

“Yes, actually, before you called, I was talking to him… he keeps apologizing and explaining to me what happened.” She stops thinking about something. “He sounded sincere”, she says, without believing it.

“I don’t think that Jake wanted to hurt you Kim. He is not like that and you know it… I guess something else is bothering him.”

“That is the thing Erin. I know what is bothering him, but I never thought it would be this big… it's like he suddenly realizes that he is losing something he never had.”

“Is he losing something? Are you guys breaking up?!” I ask with horror; I love my friends and I want them together.

“No silly” she chuckles, the first time I hear her laugh a bit since she fought with Jake. “I forgot how oblivious you are” she pauses for a moment. “I decided to forgive him, but I still have my doubts about his real feelings and our future”

“Well… whatever you decide, you know I’m here for you, right?”

“I know” she sighs. “Now tell me, how are the things going between you and Henry?” she asks again, just trying to be polite.

“We kissed!” I couldn’t hide my emotion and just dropped it like that.

“Really?” she gives me her fake happiness. “Your first kiss girl, so what now are you guys dating?”

“Mmm I wouldn’t say that” I lower my voice. “He keeps telling me that I’m pretty, and comes to my house, and we text but about dating… I’m not sure.”

“Ok Erin, I’m in a bad situation right now, but listening to what you are saying and considering the guy you are talking to, it is obvious that you should wait for him to ask you out or at least to come clean with what he wants with you!” she lectures me like the Kim I know “this guy likes to play with girls, I already told you that and Jake already told you that…” she stops for I moment “I guess I understand now why he is so worried about you” she adds lowering her voice almost to herself.

“Yes, you’re right, you’re right! It's just… this is the first guy I really like”, I claim, almost like apologizing for being attracted to him. Kim sighs.

“Just promise me that you will not do anything that you will regret later please”, she sounds annoyed now.

“I promise, don’t worry”

“OK then, now let me sleep because I had a rough day today and I have the feeling that tomorrow will be the same.”

“Alright, good night”, I end the call and stare at the ceiling swimming in my thoughts and all the situations that are going on right now. I know Kim is right, they told me what kind of person Henry is, but I have the feeling that I can trust him. There is something in my heart telling me that it is OK to trust this guy, or maybe I believe in him because I like him… anyway, there is nothing that a good sleep cannot solve. I snuggle under the covers and close my eyes. Tomorrow should be better.

I am starting to feel my body relaxed and heavy when my phone beeps, I got a text, I sigh annoyed and look at the screen… is Henry.

“I don’t know about you, but I cannot sleep – The Most Handsome”

Me: “Really? Why is that?”

“It's just that I finally kissed the girl I like, and I can’t stop thinking about her – The Most Handsome”

Me: “What a coincidence, I also kissed the guy I like today.” My heart is so happy, beating and beating as if it’s dancing.

“Really? Who?... who is the guy you like Erin? – The Most Handsome”

The way he starts playing and then stops playing confuses me. It is like he makes me believe it's me the one he is talking about, but then it is not me… maybe he just wants me to say I like him, but if he doesn’t tell me he likes me first, I will not say it.

Me: “Is just a guy I know”

“Tell me his name, because the name of the girl I like is Erin – The Most Handsome”

Oh my God! It's me! He likes me! Is he confessing? Is this for real? I think if he said it already I could be honest with him.

Me: “His name is Henry, the guy I like is Henry.”

“Mmm, I think I know that guy… and I don’t think you should trust him – The Most Handsome”

What?! Is he playing with me or something? I can’t believe he answered that.

Me: “Why not? Is there something wrong with him?”

“There are a lot of things wrong with him. Be careful beautiful – The Most Handsome”

I can’t believe it. This makes no sense, it is so frustrating. I don’t get the game he is playing, and I don’t want to play like that. If this is the way he is gonna be, I prefer to go to sleep. If I can after this, I feel so angry and confuse.

Me: “Maybe we should go to sleep. It is getting late.”

“Good night – The Most Handsome”

Is that it?! Just ‘good night’?! I exhale so angry, so annoyed, is just… I can’t believe this guy! Who the hell is he? Why is he telling me those things? Why did he confess that he liked me and then warn me about him? I just don’t get it! I try to calm myself; he looks so sincere when he is with me. I don’t want to think that he might be just playing with me… great! Now it will be hard to sleep.

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After what happened yesterday, Kim and I went inside school without waiting for Jake. She said that everything is OK for now, but obviously she’s still disappointed. Once inside, we separate to go to our own lockers. We have different classes for now. I grab all my stuff, but I hear someone fighting in the first classroom next to me. I walk to the door to see what was going on, and I found Jake holding Henry’s shirt from the neck.

“If you ever get close to her, I will f*****g kill you man” Jake says furiously while pressing Henry against the wall.

“Really?” Henry asks sarcastically, then he frees himself from Jakes' hands and pushes him away. “Why don’t you stop worrying about other girls and put more attention to the one you have? You know your precious girlfriend is more in danger by being with a boyfriend like you” his eyes are darker than usual.

Both guys stare at each other with hate. They are both holding their fists waiting for some excuse to release the first punch.

“What did you say?” Jake asks, “What happens between my girlfriend and me is not of your business and if I want you to stay away from Erin, I will make you stay away from her!” Jake shouts the last part, getting the attention of other students that are now waiting excited about a fight between those two.

Henry shows a pretentious smile and says to Jake in a daring way, “Just try to do it, Jackie boy.”

Those were the words that Jake was waiting for. He gets closer to Henry, ready to give the first punch. Everyone is excited to see it when I get in the middle and scream “STOP IT!”