Chapter 24// "And he kisses me"
I stir awake as I feel the dim light hitting off my eyelids. My body is warm as I feel someone wrapped tightly and securely around me. I peel one eye open at a time.
It's like a scene from a killer party, people are sprawled across the floor, some lying in piles.
I feel stiff as I have my back propped up against the wall. But I don't want to move, I never want to move.
My left arm is limply wrapped around his shoulder like I'm hugging him, then my other is placed on his lap with the palm facing upwards. His head is leaning against mine, some of his soft brown hair brushing my forehead. Against my shoulder I feel his chest moving as he breathes.
My cheek is touching the inside of his warm neck. I slightly shift myself so I'm able to glance at his face. His long dark lashes are nearly brushing his high cheekbones. His face is priceless. There's no expression, no anger, and no quirky smirks.
He slowly peels his deep blue eyes open his face only centimetres away from mine. When he sees me looking up at him he gives me a sweet smile.
"Good morning beautiful" He leans down to kiss my forehead, his soft lips brushing against my hairline, my heart stops and my eyes widen.
My expression instantly changes, and that's when it hits Elliott. Simultaneously, we both pull back from each other awkwardly.
"Crescent?" he asks as though he can't believe it's me. Elliott cracks his neck, clearly still half-asleep.
"Wow I didn't mean to kiss you, I didn't know, well I don't know what I was thinking."
"It's okay Grayson I know my morning complexion is too tempting for any guy. Don't blame yourself they all fall for it" I joke.
That's when I see a shadow standing in front of me, I look up and raise an eyebrow at the figure.
"Problem here Aribella?" I try and add some humor. But this girl is having none of it. She suddenly grabs my arm and yanks me up, today she is completely raging.
For a second we are staring in each other's  look alike eyes, her eyes blazing in anger.
"Aribella..." I begin, feeling really confused but I don't get the chance to  finish as her hand shoots up and slaps my right cheek. When Aribella slapped me, I saw from the corner of my eye that Winter flinched almost like she was the one being slapped.
I clutch my burning cheek. "You bitch" She snarls venomously. Elliott is instantly at my side, his face is tense and he looks a mixture of upset and angry.
"Aribella, don't you dare" Elliott warns.
"No, don't you even try and tell me off, this is all because of  you" Her voice is cracking like she's in serious pain.
Daniel has also reached my side, concern written all over his face.
"There you are Crescent, two boys always at your side as usual, you're so needy"
"What's going on?" Daniel asks rubbing his eyes obviously having just woken up.
"Have you not noticed? Well Daniel let me enlighten you? Your best friend is in love with your sister"
The room is shocked into silence, some people sit with their mouth's hanging open. I look at Elliott's angelic face but it's filled with surprise. Then dare I say, I turn to Daniel, his face is beyond expression.
"Elliott every time you slept with me, you told me I was special, you told me it would be me that you would love one day, that every other girl was a pass time" Her voice is aching like Elliott has betrayed her.
Those words sit in my heart. Elliott has slept with her, and he called her special. None of which he has ever said to me. Love, he told her he could love her.
Aribella points at me "And it's all your fault, Â you've taken him away from me"
It's the moment that either Elliott or I should have spoken but it's my brother who speaks instead.
"You're deluded Aribella, Crescent and Elliott? Do you not understand how stupid you sound. Elliott practically tortured her all her life and Crescent? She hates him with every bone in her body. And you think they are in love?"
"Don't you see the way he looks at her, it's as though his eyes change color every time he glances at her, I know Crescent can have any guy she wants but she takes him, my Elliott"
"Crescent isn't mine, we are not in a secret relationship, I would never betray Daniel like that and Daniel is right Crescent would never like the guy who made her childhood a living hell" His voice is low and it's like he's trying to reassure himself.
"And I'll even prove it" Elliott's final words make my chest tighten, that's when he goes up to one of the cheerleaders who's also watching the scene in front of her.
Elliott grabs her by the shoulder and locks lips with her.
Daniel looks satisfied, Aribella looks even angrier and me, well I feel so much pain course through my veins that it's unbearable. The way he passionately kisses her and places his hands around her neck.
'The same hands the held me last night' My mind wanders.
When he pushes her away, Elliott turns to look at Aribella his cold eyes filled with anger. "Does that prove my point, I don't do love, I don't do girlfriends, and I do not do my best friend's sister" And with that he whips his bag off the floor, leaving the room, he smashes the door shut behind him. Along with his footsteps down the corridor, I hear him punch the lockers a couple of times but it feels like he's hitting me in my heart.
*
We get the next two days off school but when Saturday approaches everyone is running around in my house. Today is the semi-finals of the football match. The other school are hosting this game, and everyone is buzzing with excitement.
Bags filled with shoes and football kits are being thrown down the stairs. Daniel is swearing and asking where everything is. He even has the cheek to ask me why we have no milk left in the house, oh I don't know ask Elliott, seeing as his best friend always steals it when he runs out.
I stand at the bottom of the stairs in my Stilinski 24 jersey and my black ripped jeans.
"Daniel, Carter, Alec are you coming down?" I shout through the house. That's when a huge bag falls from the sky, I squeal and move aside.
"Are you fucking insane?" I shout at Carter who's laughing from the top of the stairs.
"Come on Cress, we're both going in the back" He states as he lifts up two of those heavy bags as if they are as slight as a feather.
We we're arriving very early because all the boys on the team wanted to train and I was just being dragged along.
In the car Daniel is driving because if I'm being honest he's the only person who can actually drive without getting a speeding ticket. In the car Carter sits himself right next to me.
His muscled shoulder is pressed against my arm, the boys are talking tactics, as the other team that they're playing against is supposedly quite good.
"Man it's too early in the morning" Carter groans from beside me, he lifts his arm up to stretch and then out of nowhere he puts it around my shoulder.
"Really?" I turn to him, giving him a 'what the fuck look'
"Old but gold" Is his only reply.
When we finally reach the nearly empty car park, Daniel parks in front of the football gate. I'm bloody happy to be getting out of that car.
"Hey you both go on ahead, I need to...em talk to Cress" Carter says, Daniel is probably so consumed with his thoughts on the football game that he just shrugs and leaves with Alec.
My back is pressed against the car and Carter is in front of me, he leans forward to put his hand on the car, towering over me.
"Carter what are you doing because I'm really not in the mood for it"
"I'm guessing you're in a bad mood because of the tantrum Elliott pulled the other day" He raises his brown eyebrow at me.
"Come on Cress, you're better than him, he uses every girl he's ever been with, why not go for a guy that actually has the power to love you"
He leans forward so his face is close to mine. His blue eyes look at me, but something feels wrong. They aren't the blue eyes that I adore.
"Crescent I have liked you since the year started, I like your laugh and the way your so protective about Dan, I noticed you when Elliott didn't, I could be everything that Elliott is not"
His words make me feel sad, it's true I do want someone to love me, someone that isn't so complicated.
He slowly brings his face closer to mine and I feel like this is the right idea.
And he kisses me.
It's soft and gentle as he cups my cheek, I wrap a single arm around his neck, instincts making me do it.
His chest is against mine and I don't feel it, I don't feel my heart drumming in my chest.
And then when I think of Elliott I can't breathe. He's stupid, annoying and... oh my god.
I like Elliott, it's only Elliott, it's always been Elliott.
I end the kiss before Carter can, something about his expression looks smug and satisfied. Boys.
A car door slams, and Elliott walks past me, he keeps his eyes trained on me. His eyes are filled with disgust, his jaw clenched.
Do you ever realise you've made a mistake? It's like the ocean is crashing down on you. The realisation is flooding my veins.
I've made a mistake, I know it, I feel it and it hurts.
"See you later Cress" Carter tells me, going to join the rest of the boys.
"Elliott" I say but it's only a whisper "...I'm sorry"
*
I sit on the benches, a book placed in my hands, I'm tempted to bounce the book off my face.
I like Elliott Grayson, I must be mental.
I look over at him as he jumps over a bunch of hurdles and high fives Daniel when he's completed them like it's his greatest achievement.
I shake my head smiling, he's such an idiot.
That's when he catches me glancing at him and I know my cheeks are burning with embarrassment. His expression turns bitter and cold.
I shrink back, I've ruined everything.
Coach for once isn't acting like a complete dick. He's actually being serious about training and giving constructive criticism. He blows the whistle for a break.
I peak over at Elliott to see him pouring a bottle of water over his head. The cold sunlight reflects off the droplets making them look like crystals.
My conscience is nagging at me in the back of my head "Shoot you're shot Dawson"
Maybe I've been spending too much time with Elliott, that even my own conscience is calling me Dawson.
I almost run to the metal railing, trying to catch Elliott.
"Hey Elliott" My voice is soft, almost kind.
"You here for a kiss" He rudely remarks.
I take a step back "What?"
I don't know what to do I've ruined everything, panic builds up in my chest and I can't breathe.
He brings his thumb to my lip and brushes over it 'You're going to chew your lip off" He tells me off.
"Look Cress, Carter might seem like a nice guy, probably looks like the perfect boyfriend but..."
"I don't Elliott, I don't like him"
"You don't, so he didn't ask you to be his girlfriend?"
"No" I laugh. "Never, I... I like someone else"
"Do you now Dawson?" He smirks, shouldn't he be annoyed that I like someone else, I mean he was annoyed at the thought of me liking Carter.
"Yeah" I half cover my mouth, like I'm telling him a secret "Word has it he's a bit of a dick" I shrug.
"You tell me if he pisses you off, I'll introduce him to my left fist"
Well enjoy punching yourself in the face Elliott.
"Dawson, you're here early, came here to watch me flex my muscles didn't you?"
I elbow him in his side "You wish Grayson, I just came here to freeze my butt off"
"You know what, for the final game I'm getting you a hoodie that says Grayson 17, wouldn't want some Stilinski guy getting the wrong idea. Or any Dickson's"
"You are so bitter. You're acting worse than Daniel"
"Don't even start, I'm going to keep this a secret from him, don't want him killing my favourite girl"
"You're jealous" I poke at him.
"I am not, I can kiss any girl, and if I wanted you I'd have you"
My smile falls off my face as I remember him with the cheerleader at school. Jokes aside, he really can get any girl.
So why would he want me?
"What about a hug Dawson?"
"A hug" I laugh as its the most random thing.
"Yeah isn't that what girls always do, they hug it out?"
"Go on then" Because I'll take what I can get.
He wraps his arms arounds my neck and pulls me close. I tuck my head in to his chest and nearly cry because nothing has ever felt so beautiful.
*
"Knees higher Crawford, Grayson, point your feet, throw cleaner and for the love of god pick up the pace"
"Dawson we are not training for the ballet, give us a break we've been at it for hours"
"Grayson cut it and get back in shape" I blow the whistle repeatedly in his face.
I love this coaching job, getting the authority to boss a bunch of boys around and constantly blow a whistle.
That's when I hear the loudest screech of a whistle and we all turn to look at coach.
"That's it boys training is done, now get down the showers, freshen up and get the gear on, the game begins shortly" Coach booms out. All the boys get in action gathering up their stuff.
"You're lucky coach told us to stop you don't even know what I had planned for you next" I tell Elliott.
"You make it sound really sexy when you say it like that Cress" He grins in my direction.
"Well I guess you'll never know what I was planning then" I shrug at him. I love it when I make him smile and he shows off his dimples, his smile is so contagious.
"Good luck Grayson" I give him a thumbs up before he turns around towards the changing rooms.
Important author note:
THIS CHAPTER HAS BEENÂ COMPLETELYÂ CHANGED
Yes this chapter was a lot longer before, but while editing, I hated the other half of this scene so I've rewritten it and its on the next chapter.