Walking out of my room, I rubbed the sleep from my eyes as I made my way down the hall , seeing different colors from the harsh rub of my palms against my eyelids.
I took another step forward and caught my foot on none other than Alex Parker's leg stuck out in my path. I hurled forward, coming to a clash with the floor. Ouch.
Once again, I heard the loud obnoxious laughter fall from his lips as he grasped his shirtless stomach while doubling over.
"That was too easy cupcake." he shook his head.
I waited on the ground, in hopes he would redeem himself by giving me a hand up. Of course, that was not the case. I clambered up on my own, scowling for what felt like the millionth time within the last few days.
"You're such a..!" I scrambled for the appropriate word. Alex smirked and folded his arms across his chest.
"Say it cupcake." he dared me. I shook me head and clasped my lips shut, turning to walk down the stairs when he grabbed my arm. I turned back to him and his smirk was gone.
"I'm such a...?" His tone was serious, but soon turned playfully annoying again.
"Babe? Hottie?" His smirk returned and I felt my cheeks burning and flooding a bright pink.
"I hate you." I told him, looking into his eyes and hoping that it would help to twist the knife. I proceeded to walk down the stairs with Alex following closely behind.
Retrieving the flour, eggs and milk from various different cupboards in his home, which I realized I knew better than I'd thought, I ignored his presence.
"What're you doing?" He asked, stood close behind me.
"Making breakfast." I tried hard to make it sound as blunt as possible. I hope he knew here was the last place I wanted to be.
Alex came to the counter space beside me and began throwing eggs into a bowl. I looked at him questioningly.
"I'm helping." He told me and I shrugged, rolling my eyes and continued doing what I was doing.
Alex reached over for the flour, stretching across me. I ignored him and pour milk into the bowl. He struggled to open the sealed flour bag , pulling at it harshly. He gave it one last hard tug and the flour flew in my direction in puffed clouds. I gasped loudly as it settled all over me. I turned to Alex who at first, held a horrified look, which as always settled into his trademark smirk.
"You did that on purpose!" I accused. He shook his head no, but looked satisfied as the flour was left powdered across my face and hair.
Nodding, I grabbed a handful of the flour, throwing it at his face. He choked and spluttered as he inhaled the powdery mess.
I couldn't help but laugh, he suddenly seemed unamused. Looks like Alex Parker didn't like it when the tables were turned!
In one swift movement which was quicker than my eyes could bare, Alex snatched up the milk carton and before I knew it, the cold white liquid was over my head.
I screeched and grabbed an egg , throwing it at his chest before grabbing another and smashing it on the top of his head. Before I knew it we were out of ingredients and Alex's hands were attacking my waist. I laughed uncontrollably, gasping for air.
"S-stop! Alex!" I managed to get out. My waist hurt from the tickling attack Alex was currently making as I collapsed to the floor, pulling him to sit next to me. His hands let go of me and we calmed down our laughter.
Looking up at him, he was still way taller than me even when we were sat. His defined chest was covered in a mixture of flower and egg and his hair was exactly the same, his eyes were full of life and excitement, I had never seen him this way before.
"Your hair looks ridiculous!" I giggled, running my hands through his dark brown hair that was gooey from egg and flaked with powder. Alex scrunched his nose and laughed with me.
"Look who's talking love." He wiped his messy hands on my pajama t-shirt and jumped up. This time, he held his hand out for me. I gratefully take it. However, he pulled it away last minute, letting me fall on my bum hard. He once again was in fits of laughter.
This time, I didn't mind his jerk move, I was having to much fun. I got up and shoved his shoulder.
I was just glad most of the mess was on us and not on the kitchen cabinets or floor.
Alex told me he would be going out again today and I told him I would be too.
He jumped in the shower and I waited for my turn.
I had fun this morning with Alex, which felt foreign to say, but I did. He showed a side I'd never met before and I'd come to thinking maybe he was a little less aggravating that I thought. Then again, I was most likely wrong.
~~~
"No. I'm sorry Max. I'm grounded." Casey sighed down the phone, cancelling our plans last minute. Great. Alex left and Casey was grounded and thus, I was a loner.
Awesome. Terrific. Splendid.
"Okay. I guess I'll just...watch tv or something. Call me later!" I brought our conversation to an end.
She yelled her usual "kisses!" Down the phone before hanging up.
With nothing else to do, I decided on re-watching my favorite American horror story season...murder house. How I loved Tate Langdon and Violet Harmon. Especially together, their love story excited me.
I sat for hours and by the time I had reached episode 4, I heard the door open, loud, rowdy voices and the door close again.
Pausing my show to investigate who was here, I followed the voices into the kitchen and stood awkwardly as Grayson Ledger, Jace Samuels, Kyle McCall and Alex Parker talked, not noticing my presence.
I stood frozen as West Vales group of bad boys lounged on the counters before me.
It was crazy, how each of them were so beautiful yet looked nothing alike, all with different features that made it nearly impossible to tear your eyes from them. One thing they all had in common, the perfectly sharp jawlines that made all girls drool.
I cleared my throat awkwardly.
All four of the boys attention snapped too me and a silence fell suddenly. I kept my gaze on Alex Parker as his facial expressions turned quick from shocked, to embarrassed, to slightly angry.
"It's Little Max Carrington!" Grayson, Alex's best friend, burst out at the realization as to who I was.
My cheeks started to burn as I became painfully aware that I most likely resembled a drug addict.
"What're you doing here?" Kyle asked surprised.
I realised this was the first time ever that Kyle McCall had spoken directly to me.
What am I doing here? Did Alex not tell them I was staying here?
"That is a good question . You said you'd be out." Alex gave me an icy glare, As though we'd never had a nice moment together in our entire lives. He looked embarrassed and I couldn't help my heart sinking as he stormed toward me.
"I had a change of plan." I murmured, Alex's hand wrapped painfully tight around my wrist as he tried to think of what to do, where to take or even hide me.
Kyle, Grayson and Jace were laughing obnoxiously and making jokes about Alex and I, but I didn't care enough to listen in. My attention was fully on Alex Parker.
"You're hurting me." I winced at the tight grip on my wrist and he hesitantly pulled away, running a frustrated hand through his hair.
"You didn't tell them I was here?" I said loud enough to get all four of the boys attention. They listened to Alex and I quietly, I didn't bother to try and hide the hurt from my voice.
"Why would I?" He scoffed and glanced back at his friends shrugging his shoulders. I looked down at my feet before meeting his eyes again.
"You, Alex Parker, are a jerk." I spoke through my teeth. I couldn't deny I was hurt that he didn't tell them, didn't even mention me. I was hurt that he looked embarrassed to have his friends know I was here and I was hurt that he was being meaner than usual now that his friends were here.
"Awe cupcake, careful. That could have hurt my feelings as much as I look to have hurt yours." His smirk grew wider and his group of bad boys were laughing hard.
"I'm just going to leave." I murmured, grabbing my bag. I walked away from them and turned to give one last look at Alex Parker. His back was turned to his friends and and his eyes were glued to the floor, perhaps in a trance. When he caught me looking at him, he snapped yet again, his eyes turning darker.
I grabbed the door handle , but someone held the door closed.
I couldn't deny that I'd hoped it was Alex Parker, but it was not. It was Grayson Ledger, his smirk inevitable.
As I stared up at him, I noticed that his hazel eyes looked deeper than I'd ever imagined. I'd never had the chance to look at him properly like this, but now that I had, I didn't want to look away.
"You should stay. Max." He told me. Turning his head to look at Kyle and Jace, who were sharing a similar smirk. On the other hand, Alex didn't seem to fond of the idea.
"No way." Alex butted in.
"Why?" Grayson asked the question I had also wanted to ask.
"Because...because she's annoying and uptight. She's boring!" Alex rushed out all these awful words about me and all I could do was stare at my feet.
"That's a little harsh bro." Grayson still held his smirk. Grayson had never once defended me, so why was he now? In all honestly, I didn't think he really thought it was that harsh. I thought he was just looking for some tension and argument. Some playful demeanor .
"I said no." Alex gritted his teeth.
"I say yes." Grayson argued.
"We also voted yes." Kyle spoke, gesturing between him and Jace.
What were they playing at?
"So it's decided. I'm staying." I forced a smile and Grayson snook me a wink.
These three boys hardly knew anything about me. Only what Alex had told them over the years, so now, I thought they were just trying to wind Alex Parker up.
"What are we going to do?" I grinned, hoping they'd say something along the lines of bake a cake or watch a movie. Wishful thinking aye?
Alex, finally giving in to letting me stay, smirked. "Something that will get your adrenaline going...if you must come that is."
"I must." I copied the smirk that's so easily plastered on his lips. He wanted me to back out, be scared, but no way was I leaving now.
~~~
I awaited Alex, who was grabbing my things from upstairs that I would need. The four boys came up with something for us to do that I was not allowed to know yet.
Alex ran down the stairs with his backpack, my stuff in it too. It was getting late, 10pm, what were we getting up too?
We joined the others in Grayson's jeep, Alex jumping in the front and me being sandwiched between both Kyle and Jace in the back, who were both towering over me. My mind raced at all the possibilities of what we could be doing. Going to a party? A hang out spot? Who knew.
After only a little while, we pulled up on a side street among other cars. I looked out the window in hopes of our location given away, but it was too dark.
We all hopped out of the jeep, the boys looking excited and me probably looking more nervous than ever.
They led us up the street and through an empty parking lot, up to a buildings door.
Alex stood at my side. "Too late to back out now cupcake..." His hot breath fanned my cheek and ear making me shiver.
How I hated when he called me cupcake.
We approached the door of which Jace bent down in front of , making very little noise as his back blocked my vision of what he was actually doing .
Was he picking the lock?! Oh no oh no oh no! I was not doing something illegal?!
The door opened with a small click and all the boys turned their smirks to me, a horrified expression plastered along my face.
I followed them inside, it was dark and my heart was thudding against my rib cage so much I feared it would jump out.
Should I trust these boys...?
The familiar smell of chlorine hit my nose and I realised where we were. We broke into out local swimming pool?!
My eyes adjusted and I found myself in the changing rooms. Alex passed me my bikini I had packed in hopes of coming here this holiday, but not like this.
"Alex Parker, this is illegal!" I hissed , glaring at all four of them. The boys chuckled at my use of his full name.
"That's the point princess." His voice held humour, much more relaxed than mine. Was this a normal thing for him?
"Get changed. " he winked and they each disappeared into their separate cubicles.
In the nearest empty cubicle, I hesitantly changed.
This was wrong! This was so so wrong! I could get into so much trouble for this! Arrested?! A record?! What would my mum say?! No. Stop. They had probably done this more than enough times. Lighten up. You wouldn't get caught.
I took a deep breath and wandered out of the cubicles, following the boys voices to the pool area. They were already in the pool. Jumping and splashing about , making the amount of noise a group of thirty probably would. I walked around the edge and sat, dangling my feet in.
"C'mon , get in the water Maxy!" Grayson gave me a look I bet he'd give if he were daring somebody to do something against the law. I shook my head no, the water wasn't cold, yet it wasn't really warm. I'd much rather stay dry.
"Get in the water." Kyle repeated, singing the words a little.
I stared at them all who watched me with the same smirk planted on their lips. Why was this such a big deal? I didn't want to get wet.
"Please just get in the water max." Jace spoke up. I looked from them to the water and back to them, shaking my head yet again.
"Fine. Have it your way cupcake." Alex spoke, he was closest to me. He pushed himself out of the water and sat beside me on the ledge.
"Then I'm staying out of the water too." He looked at the others expectantly and Grayson followed his actions, sitting at the other side of me. Kyle and Jace followed in suit, pushing up and plonking themselves in the row.
It grew silent for a moment, the boys looking at each other, possibly communicating which left me confused.
Suddenly, they burst into action, jumping onto their feet. My heart skipped a beat as I came to the conclusion that I'd fallen into their little trap. Alex and Grayson grabbed an arm each and Kyle and Jace grabbed my legs. I struggled, shouting, screaming and laughing. They swung me back and forth.
"One....two...THREE!" They yelled in sync and let go, sending me flying into the center of the pool. I held my breath just on time to go under water and came up with my hair pasted to my face.
I couldn't find it in me to scowl, I was in too much of a good mood. Instead I laughed as they jump in together making a huge splash.
"That wasn't so hard was it?" Alex whispered in my ear. I smiled, not facing him, but watching the other boys mess around in the water. I turned my body to face Alex and looked up at him a smirk evident on my lips.
"It was way too hard Alex Parker." we locked gazes, going into a little trance. I noticed his body inching closer to mine and soon we were merely millimeters apart. I stayed still, floating, looking up at him.
I didn't think either of us knew what we were doing exactly, but the sound of the others had disappeared. I wanted to look, see if they were still there , but Alex's piercing gaze made it impossible. His eyes searched my face, his hot breath fanning me.
I became panicked.
what was he going to do?!
So I did the first thing that popped into my head. Quickly, I shoved my hands on top of his head and plunged him underwater. It clearly took him by surprise because he didn't take in a breath. He came up coughing and spluttering, the moment we had before was long gone now.
"Oh you're dead Carrington!" Alex grinned, diving through the water like a maniac. I tried to run through the water, with no such luck.
I kicked the water in hopes of moving away faster, grabbing the first body I could get too, it being Grayson. I pushed myself around the back of him and he wrapped his arms around his back and clasped them around me.
"Alright you two, at least let us play!" Grayson yelled and we all set off in different directions of the large pool.
~~
It was at least midnight and we were still playing different games in the pool, currently , Marco Polo.
"Marco!" Alex yelled. Nobody answers.
"Polo" I spoke up for the others and he came in my direction.
After only moments, he yelled again. "Marco!" He was within arms reach of me now so I kept quiet .
"Polo" Jace yelled from a few feet away. I turned to swim to the side of the pool, the side where you can see the parking lot partially. However, I was blinded by colors of blue and red racing down the street. The sirens were only close enough to be heard quietly, but they were growing louder and louder.
"Cops!" Grayson boomed from beside me. Each of the boys rushed to the sides, but my feet stay planted to the bottom of the pool.
I couldn't get arrested! What would my mum say?! I should have listened to my instincts! Oh my god oh my god oh my god!
"Max, get out of the pool!" Alex rushed me, awaiting the side while the others collected our stuff from the changing rooms. The cars were getting really close now and I won't lie - I was panicking.
I clambered out of the pool and grabbed onto Alex's hand as he ran, dragging me in the direction of the back door.
"Come on you two, take your time!" Grayson hurried us along he held open the back door. How he could have humour in his voice when we could get arrested was beyond me.
The cars had come to a screeching halt and I could hear the rushed footsteps of the police.
Alex pulled me through the door and all five of us ran as fast as we could, I lagged behind a little , but Alex's tight grip on my hand pulled me with him.
It felt like we'd been running for hours with the burn in my thighs, but I knew it had only being minutes. The sirens faded into the distance as we ran further away, but I knew they were still there and we we're still being chased.
We followed Jace, who was currently in front of us all, he took sharp turns left and right before coming to an old picket fence and jumping over it, Kyle followed in suit and Grayson and Alex both helped me over, Kyle catching me on the other side easily. Jace began in direction of the house.
Oh my god! He wasn't going to break in was he?! He pushed open the door and strolled in.
"Mom I'm home!" He yelled and relief flushed through me, we were at Jace Samuels house
. It was only then that I realised just how cold it had gotten and the fact I was still in my bikini, yet no longer dripping wet, the wind had sorted that out .
At least my boob didn't pop out aye?
We changed back into our clothes, I of course scowling at the boys the whole time.
"That , Alex Parker was too close!" I pulled my top over my now dry bikini followed by my skinny jeans.
"You loved it" he smirked.
"It was kind of amazing..." I admitted quietly.
"Much more where that came from love." Grayson, who I didn't realise was even standing around us, winked at me as he buckled up his belt.
~~~
We lit a fire outside and pulled up chairs, laughing and joking about what happened tonight.
"No no no, the best part was the games in the pool." I grinned at them all, Kyle rolled his eyes, he had mentioned his best part was running from the cops.
Grayson hushed our debate and spoke up. "Guys you're all wrong, I think we all know the best part for Max was seeing all us babes half naked" The biggest smirk I'd ever seen him pull settled on his lips as he gave a naughty wink. I scoffed and feel the blood rush to my cheeks.
"Obviously" Kyle and Jace grinned. From what I'd seen, these two had a habit of being in sync.
"Yep that's definitely it , right cupcake?"
"Get over yourselves already!" I laughed.
These four boys were probably, just about the most conceited boys with the biggest egos I'd ever met.
This holiday should be fun...