Chapter Sixteen
I'm not entirely sure how this happened.
I mean one minute Trent and I were just hanging out in his dorm watching a movie, but then the next minute... we're making out.
Now I can't really say I'm opposed to it. The only thing I'm really concerned about is the fact that his laptop has been pushed down by our feet, so I just hope we don't knock it off the bed.
I run my hands up Trent's neck and into the ends of his hair as his lips continue to move against mine. He's hovering over me, propped up on his arms, completely cocooning me in his warmth. I trail my hands down to his shoulders and skim them down his biceps all the while feeling his muscles strain underneath my fingertips most likely from holding himself up. I worry for a second if he needs a break just so he can relax his muscles, but Trent shifts, deepening the kiss further, and all my thoughts seem to disappear into thin air. I point my toes, stretching them, as my hands find the sides of his cheeks. His skin is soft, having most likely shaved, but it's still incomparable to his lips.
Bringing my hands back down, I rest them on Trent's chest, and feel his heartbeat steadily drumming underneath my finger tips. That seems to only drive my own heart beat to pound faster as it continues to echo in my ears. My hands continue to venture down on their own accord because I'm finding that part of me has no idea where to put them and another part of me just can't seem to sit still. Warmth sears the tips of my fingers when they come into contact with Trent's stomach and I barely have time to even decide whether, or not his shirt was ridden up, or I put them there myself because before I know it his shirts up and over his head. My stomach flutters now seemingly completely wrapped up in him and I almost smile at the thought.
Instead I find all the heat trapped between us traveling to my cheeks and I finally pull back needing to breathe. Trent only groans in protest as he turns his head and skims his nose along the side of my cheek and down my neck.
"Trent!" I squirm because despite the slightly intense situation I'm still ticklish and this only makes him smile against my neck.
"Put on some clothes you filthy animals!" The door bursts open and Zack walks in.
He blocks his view of us with his arm and I quickly sit up, forcing Trent to sit up in order to prevent from receiving a bloody nose from the impact of my head. Zack goes over to their closet and digs through it for a second before turning to us. He looks at me, then at shirtless Trent, then back at me, before finally pulling the bright red sweatshirt over his head. Although I'm suddenly cold, now in my own air space, I still find that my cheeks are burning, not helping me feel any less flustered. I look down at my hands finally aware of Trent's eyes as well as Zack's as he laughs and walks back over to the door.
"I'm just kidding, go crazy ya lovebirds!" The door slams shut declaring his exit and I suck in a breath, feeling as if I'm finally allowed to breathe again.
I look back over at Trent, meeting his eyes, before darting my gaze down to his stomach for second, and then back up again. A grin stretches across his lips and I look away because I know I put it there before getting up from the bed.
"Um, I guess I should go," I say as I quickly slip my boots back on.
"What? Wait," Trent stands up as well, "but we didn't finish the movie."
"It's okay." I wave my hand at him and glance around to make sure I have everything just as his phone starts ringing, but he ends the call before even checking who it was. "You could've answered that." My mouth spits out the words while my brain seems to still be too preoccupied with the fact that I'm standing here like an awkward mess now, but only moments before I was completely wrapped up and careless.
A quick glance at Trent only allows me to catch wind of an incredulous look. "What? No." He walks around the bed as I start to head towards the door. "Lacie, wait." He grabs my hand effectively turning me around and halting my movements. "Where are you going?"
"Oh you know..." I trail off avoiding his gaze and sliding my leg one step closer to the door.
"Lacie." He steps to the side a little blocking me from turning around and I go to take another step back only to come in contact with the door I was headed for. I fidget with my sleeves as my eyes dart around the room looking at anything, but him. "Lacie, look at me." Trent takes a step closer and brings his hands up, officially caging me in. Not wanting to stare at his sculpted muscles I willingly comply to his command, dragging my eyes back up from the floor to meet with his. He stares back at me for a few seconds as if looking for something that's not there before leaning down. "Why are you always running from me?"
"I don't run." Is my immediate response, but he gives me a flat look.
"The day we met you ran away before I could get your name."
"That's because I was embarrassed." I fold my arms across my chest as he curiously tilts his head to the side.
"Then when I saw you again at the frat party you ran away."
"I didn'tâ" I start, but he holds his finger up.
"And then you ran away every time I tried to ask you out."
"I didn't know you wereâ"
He gives me another deadpanned look. "Then you ran away when we accidentally fell asleep during our first cuddling session and," he leans down again, leaning his forehead on mine, "you're running away from me now." I look away as my teeth sink down into my lower lip. I guess I can't really deny the facts when they are all perfectly laid out right in front of me. "Lacie." Trent's voice is just as gentle as the hand he puts under my chin and I'm once again met with his bright green gaze. "I will never ever pressure you into doing anything you don't want to, okay?" I nod, but feel my ears burn a little in embarrassment and I look away again. Trent just picks up my hand and places it on his chest right over his heart. "You feel that?" He asks as his heart beats rapidly underneath my fingertips. "That's what you do to me. Of course," He pauses tilting his head down. "You do other things." My shoulder's tense up at the thought of what he's referring to, but then he leans back in and I can't help but sag back against the door. "But that doesn't matter this," he squeezes the hand that he's still holding over his chest. "This matters." I stare back into his eyes for another second before giving him a small nod and a smile.
"So... you're okay with keeping it PG?" I ask and he grins, tilting his head from side to side.
"Maybe more like PG13," he leans his forehead back on mine, "but yes, PG."
****
"Oh god, this nail polish is giving me a headache," Stephanie complains holding the small yellow bottle away from her in disgust. Her hair is perfectly braided to one side, the pink and blue streaks almost forming a pattern.
"Well, maybe that's because you were inhaling it," Savannah says giving her a pointed look before continuing to file her nails.
"But it said it was scented!"
"I still don't think that means you should smell it," Megan says picking up a bottle and examining it for a second before placing it back down. Stephanie, Megan, Savannah, and I are currently sitting on the floor between Steph and I's beds attempting to paint our nails. Key word being attempt.
We have a few bottles of nail polish laid out in front of us and I reach over picking up a teal one. Maybe if I paint my nails a nice light color spring will come faster. I glance over at the window across the room and sigh at the thought, seeing the dimming sunset.
"So you know what I was just thinking?" Stephanie asks.
"That I suck at painting my nails," Savannah grumbles closing the blue nail polish and Stephanie laughs.
"No..." She picks at her thumb nail for a second before looking back up at all of us. "That freshman year is almost over."
"Jeez, way to kill the mood," Savannah mumbles and Stephanie nudges her arm.
"I'm serious. I mean we only have a few weeks until spring break, then we take finals, and then that's it. Freshman year of college is over."
"Well," Megan straightens up twisting the cap of the bright pink nail polish in her hand closed, "it's not like we're never coming back."
"I know..." Steph sighs. "It's just crazy. I mean I still feel like yesterday I just graduated from high school."
"More like we were actual freshman in high school," I say carefully painting my pointer finger.
"Ugh," Savannah snorts. "I really hated high school."
"Who didn't?" Megan laughs.
"Man," Steph dramatically slaps her thigh, "I had such high expectations for collegeâstill do actually."
"Oh yeah? Like what?" Savannah's question is teasing, but Stephanie's posture straightens as she considers it.
"Likeâ" She throws her hands up before dropping them back down to her sides. "Like being able to make a solid group of friends that aren't annoying bitchy highschoolers and will hopefully be my friends for the rest of my life." She pauses and passes each of us a glance. "Which is you guys I guess."
"You guess?" Savannah inquires and Steph nudges her again.
"Yes, and you're my cousin so you don't even count."
"Okay," Megan nods stretching her legs out next to Savannah's. "What else?"
Stephanie holds her now yellow painted pointer finger up. "Experience a frat party, which was, but then wasn't as crazy as I expected." We all nod in agreement, but my eyes are focused on my own nails. "Oh oh!" Steph attempts to snap her finger without damaging her wet nails. "Avoid freshman fifteen."
Savannah laughs. "I don't think you did." Stephanie lets out a shocked squeak as her mouth drops and she elbows Savannah in the ribs in, but Savannah laughs again. "I'm kidding."
"Anyway," Stephanie drawls and looks over at me. "I also expected to have an epic unrealistic romance with a cool, hot college guy, but," She looks back over at Savannah and Megan. "Lacie's the only one who accomplished that." Megan bumps her shoulder into mine and I bite my lip to keep from smiling. "I mean seriously," Stephanie throws her hands up again, "why can't I find a guy? Movies and T.V. shows really give me such false hope for romance."
"That's because all you watch are old cheesy eighties movies," Savannah says and Steph raises her brow at her.
"Says the girl who owns the whole box set of Boy Meets World."
My mouth drops. "I never would have pegged you as a Boy Meets World fan."
Savannah gives me a sheepish smile. "What can I say? It's cheesy, but it's a classic."
"Exactly! So don't you want a relationship like Cory and Topanga's?" Stephanie turns to her cousin and Savannah shakes her head.
"I love their relationship, but it's just so cheesy that you already know it would never be possible in the real world."
"Ugh," Steph groans and defeatedly slumps down against the side of her bed. I lean back against mine as well and lightly blow on my nails. I glance back up at the window seeing it's a lot darker outside than it was before. "You know what I could really go for right now?" Steph asks holding her finger up.
"What?" I ask amused.
"Some mashed potatoes."
"Oh god," Savannah shoves her arm. "You're so random, you know that?" And Stephanie elbows her again before we all laugh.