Almost Always You

Chapter 9

We got settled down. I took out my laptop and notes. Xander opened his laptop.

“I suggest we divide the assignment into two sections. One section can be done by you and the other by me. If we have any doubts, we can ask each other, and we can compare the notes we made at the end. What do you think?” I asked.

“I thought we were going to do this together.”

“We still are, but that doesn’t mean we have to be together for every little thing. We don’t have to meet frequently.”

“I think you don’t want to spend time with me, El. What’s your problem? Do you hate me?”

“I don’t hate you, Xander. It’s just that if we see each other frequently, then everyone will think we are having s*x, and I don’t want to be labeled as a slut.”

“No one will think that. Everyone knows how desperately I want to pass this class. No one will think that we are having s*x. And I feel offended. Are you because people will think you are having s*x with me?” he asked in a rather deep voice.

“Xander, you’re taking my point in a wrong way. I never say anything about you…” I was cut off by Xander’s laugh.

“El baby, you have to stop taking everything so seriously.” I was relieved. Do I take everything seriously? I thought. Mercy said the same thing.

“I can’t do this alone. “I want your help, so please don’t abandon me,” he said.

“Alright, drama queen, we’ll do this together. “No need to be over dramatic,” I said, smiling.

We worked for half an hour sincerely. After that Xander got bored and started distracting me.

“Let’s take a break now.”

“It’s only been 45 minutes, Xander. We can’t take a break.”

“Oh come on, EL. I’m really tired. I think I’m going to pass out. I’m dehydrated, and I can’t get up. Can you fetch me some water, please?”

“Always been so dramatic,” I said and got up.

I went downstairs. Everyone was still there.

“How’s it going?” Pete asked.

“It was going good at first, but now he’s being a drama queen.”

‘It’s expected. He will now convince you to stop,” said Nikki sweetly. I just find it hard to hate this girl. I just smiled at her and said, “Well, that’s not going to work on me.” I grabbed two bottles of water from the refrigerator and went upstairs. When I opened Xander’s room, I saw all my things were placed back in my bag, and Xander was lying on his bed scrolling through his phone. I closed the door shut louder than I intended.

“Why did you pack everything? If you don’t take this assignment seriously, we’ll both end up getting failed.”

“Relax. We have plenty of time; come here, I want to show you something.”

I walked towards the bed and sat far away from Xander. He noticed and got up to sit beside me. We were very close now. He showed me his phone.

“Look, it’s Emma.” Emma is Xander’s little sister. She was a year old when they moved to London. Now she’s grown and is very cute and chubby.

“Oh God! She’s so cute.”

“It was a fancy dress competition at her school. She dressed up as a butterfly.”

“That’s the cutest butterfly I’ve ever seen.”

“Would you like to meet her?”

“Yes, and I would also like to meet your parents; it’s been so long.”

“Woah! Hold up, girl, at least take me out on a date first,” he said, laughing as if he had said the most amazing joke.

“That’s the worst joke I’ve ever heard.”

“We can go this weekend and stay a night there. My parents would be really happy to see you, especially my mom.”

“Oh. I don’t want to intrude. It would be a problem for your family if I stayed.”

“What? No. My mom loves you. They might not need me when they see you.” He said, smiling.

“Okay. Only because I’m desperate for a home-cooked meal.”

Xander showed some other pictures and videos of Emma. She’s the cutest kid I’ve ever seen. Xander was scrolling through his phone when he suddenly asked.

“Why are you still a virgin, El?”

“What?”

“I mean, you said you were in a relationship, right?” I nodded.

“Then why didn’t you guys ever have s*x?”

“I don’t know, Xander. We were both immature and inexperienced. What Adam and I had was more like an innocent relationship. All we did was never going to happen between us.”

“So, you know, what are you going to do? Wait for the right guy who would love and marry you?”

“No. I’m not that type of girl. I just want someone who knows what they are doing. He should be experienced and should make sure I feel satisfied. And of course no feelings included.”

“You know I can f**k you.”

“Wait. What?” I was a bit surprised with his forwardness.

“Come on, El. I’m that guy whom you just described. I’ll make sure you feel good and feel satisfied. No feels included.”

I thought about it. He was right. But it’s Xander, and it will be hard for me to not catch feelings for him.

“You know what? Let’s do this,” I said without even giving it a second thought. Xander beamed like a kid on Christmas. He was really happy; I don’t know why.

“But I have some conditions,” I said.

“Okay. Let’s hear it.”

“We’ll not call this friends with benefits because I don’t want to catch any STDs.”

“Just so you know, I get checked every other week at college because I’m on the football team. Our coach is very strict. But if it’s what you want, then you have a deal.”

“Last. No one knows about this because I don’t want people to talk about my s*x life.”

“Alright. I have just one condition, which is that you’ll not date anyone until the whole deal’s done. Is that okay?”

“Yes.” I was excited. ‘So when do you want to do this?”

“Eager now, princess?” he smirked. “You said all you did was make out with your boyfriend, right?”

“Yes.”

“So I’m going to give you the full experience. s*x is last on my list. Get ready, baby; things are going to get hot,” he said, grinning.

OH BOY!