Kiss | A FORTY TWO

A/N: Dedicated to jheneaik0222 and iluvraspberries. Thanks for all your feedback and funny comments!

My intuition had been right that in  putting all of my feelings out to Garren was a spur of the moment thing. It dissolved when that Sunday morning, I was stirred by somebody shaking me awake. I'd figured it was a dream when I opened my eyes to find Garren standing over me. I'd neglected Nadia's mention in returning the spare key to my suite she leant out.

His grin was far from pleasing.

Skipping the club meetings to keep my cover on my X follow ups had come with more troubling consequences than worrying Will. Garren brought it upon himself to organise a 24 hour crash course to prepare me.

Thus began the most aggravating hours of studying that I didn't think were possible to feel. When I simply wanted a little more sleep, I was shoved off my mattress. Garren didn't let me shower until I had properly recapped everything I'd previously revised and when I could shower, he hurried me with the excuse of not wanting to waste precious time.

Then lectured me on my messy bed.

I wanted to rip off my ears, he nagged worse than my own bloody mother.

Also, in between the harsh orderings, he'd mention how I should be grateful to him for going out of his way to help me and I felt tempted to kick him out again. Take back any implications I made about how I thought of him and ditch the tournament.

We'd be boarding a flight to Amsterdam somewhere past noon. Though, there was just one thing I wanted to take care of before leaving. I found him by the academy's football pitch, chatting with some other guys where the midway fence separating the girl's pitch was anchored.

When Hess' eyes found mine, he didn't bother giving his company any notice and started moving towards me with a large grin. Then his face fell at seeing Shaun stood beside me. The disappointment almost appeared genuine.

"Hey, Buns." He greeted, purposely acting like the frowning athlete beside me didn't exist. "Is that new?" He pointed to my hairband. "It looks good on you."

Shaun's eyes narrowed while I ignored the compliment and dipped my hand into my bag. I watched his grin vanish when I plunged out the busted mobile with the frame hanging off. A ghastly burnt screen and a hole where the camera lense would be.

"Here you go."

Both boys were slack jawed. Hess' gaze in particular was bewildered as he stared at the device I placed in his hands, then turned back to me. "What the hell. You actually put it in the microwave?"

"I might've dropped it."

"Dropped it? There's a bloody hole big enough for me to put my finger through it.”

"Then be more careful where you misplace your property. And now that we're done here, never bother me again. Is that understood?"

Hess quirked a brow, eyes fixed on me as he dropped the shambles onto the grass without a care. "Let me at least take you out to dinner for returning my property so safe and soundly."

"Hess would you just quit it?" Shaun sounded exasperated enough for the both of us. "You've got to be getting tired of this. Don't you have anything better to do?"

Hess didn't shift his eyes from where they steadied on me. "Stevie, would you mind telling your boy toy to run along? He's ruining the moment."

Shaun made one affirmative step, shielding me from the other boy. "Enough already." His voice was civil but I was sure there was a scowl on his face. "This is just stupid, Alger."

At that, the playful exterior unmasked to emptiness in Hess' eyes right before there was a spark of unmistakable anger flickering by. Finally, he made eye contact with my shield. "You don't get to call me that. You lost that privilege a long time ago."

It was a first to say the least, that I felt wary of him. The curious glances from those guys in conversation and other students lurking the pitch seemed to sense the defiant stances holding the signs of a fight on the brink breaking out. I didn't want any blood, I was wearing my brand new boots.

Quickly, I latched my hand on Shaun's arm to gracefully incline him to withdraw. "I'll say this one last time, Hess," I spoke sternly, "leave me alone or I'm going to the office with this as harassment."

When those empty crystals of blue switched to me, I held my stare despite the slight apprehension that stirred in me. He momently lowered his gaze to my hand on Shaun. "Alright, I was just having a laugh. God, you two are boring." He turned his back to us, walking to his mates as if nothing happened.

That was it? It was over? Had I finally made a breakthrough?

"That guy really needs help." I heard Shaun mutter, releasing a breath. "Glad we finally got the message through." He beamed at me. "Don't worry, Stevie. He knows we're serious so he won't come near you again."

I gave a smile. "I was kinda scared of being alone with him." I confessed in a vulnerable voice, pressing my body closer to his. "I'm glad I asked you to come with me. I don't think he would've listened without you."

As expected, he acted accordingly to embrace me for console, irrespective of how hot his face would turn from the public affectionate gesture. Not that I enjoyed taking advantage of Shaun's gentleman side but I felt I deserved some form of reward at my accomplishment.

We were one step closer to a paradise of perpetual peace.

**

"When will you be going for the OIA thing?" Shaun asked me as we're parked by my locker to pick up a binder.

"IAO." I corrected. "And it's not until one thirty. Why?"

When he proceeded to put forth the nervous habit routine of rubbing the back of his neck and aimlessly looking elsewhere, I derived it's big. "I was thinking we could have lunch together. And um, you can meet my friends."

"Oh."

"They've been really curious to meet you and I don't want them ambushing you— not that they'd really do that. I think." He added as an afterthought. "Is that okay?"

"Of course. I'm thrilled, just hope you haven't gotten their expectations too high. I'm not much to go by."

As anticipated, Shaun was swift to disagree and flatter me. "What are you talking about? You're great."

My lips curled upwards but it had spread far from shy and I casted my head to the floors to hide it. "Thanks." I managed in a small voice.

"You're welcome. So, you'll come?"

"Let me just let the guys know." I lashed out my phone.

Me- I'm having lunch with Shaun today

Garren- Who?

Me- my boyfriend

Garren- oh you mean Mr. Gone in two weeks and counting. Sure go ahead

"Something wrong?" asked Shaun at catching the deep glare I sent the text.

I plastered on a smile. "No. All good." There was no point even sending the reply that I had formed in my mind. I'd be the one relishing in triumph when I proved the prick wrong.

**

I'd known about the little school café but would never frequent there as the prices were far more jacked up; all the food was exotic, purely organic batches with regulations to outside food. So stepping foot in the vicinity with my supermarket packed lunches was not allowed. It made sense why I'd never seen Shaun around earlier.

I'd forgotten he'd mentioned his closest friends weren't fellow teammates until I was ushered to a table where three people were already present who definitely weren't on the rugby team. One was far too scrawny, the other I recognised was amongst the school bands who played in various events at St. Sinclair and the last was a girl. A rather pretty one, freckled and bearing jet black hair with vibrant blue highlights. At my approach, they were whispering frantically at one another before the girl elbowed Scrawny's ribcage beside her, alerting the boys we were standing right in front of them.

"Oh hey Shaun." greeted Scrawny.

"Hey guys." Shaun started and they all were promptly grinning, like they weren't in any way ruffled by the elephant in the room. Me, in this case.

"Guys, I want to eat my pasta salad and parmagane toast before next winter so could you hurry up and get this over with." demanded the girl.

Shaun rolled his eyes, clearly prone to her tone. "I'd like you to meet Stevie. My girlfriend." He bore that sheepish grin that was tremendously cute.

"Ha!" suddenly exclaimed Scrawny. "I told you he wasn't lying. Pay up, losers."

The other two traded looks of annoyance and forked over fivers. Like that, the ice broke and I followed Shaun to settle in a seat, introductions subsequently were in order. The scrawny lad went by the name Thomas, the band member was Rodger and I'd already overheard them during their little huddle throw over the name Carmen before the spunky girl supplied it to me herself. It appeared more out of obligation than anything else from the steely stare she sent me.

I returned it only with closed smiles, tuning in at the topics which went round and it wasn't difficult like back in those times I'd hopelessly try to fit in. I just did. Thomas was a riot and Rodger was one of those guys puberty bestowed with very intimidating growth spurts and features but passed the cover, an easy to read gentleman who wore his heart on his sleeve. Exactly the kind of people I excepted a saint like Shaun to call close friends.

And then there was her.

"I've got to say," Carmen began at one point, "I'm surprised you could eat with us. I thought Aces didn't normally mingle with average students."

"Carmen." Shaun's tone treaded in a wary place.

"What?" She appeared oblivious but her voice fell flat. "That's why we were finding it so hard to believe when you said you were dating her, for real. Like, come on. Even if our guest is 'royalty' it's painful just watching you lot sucking up. Thomas isn't even pulling out his best jokes ‘cause he's so scared that the princess here will grass to Garren about how he makes fun of them half the time."

"Carmen shut up." Thomas hissed, tone pitched in panic. He passed me a nervous chuckle. "She's exaggerating. I-It was only this one time, I swear. Rodger does it way more than I do."

"Thanks, Tommy." Rodger rolled his eyes, evidently better at keeping his cool. Granted, he wasn't part of the mass blindly terrified of three twats.

"Now, I've got a question Stevie," Carmen started.

I'd hoped it wasn't my imagination at the start when I laid eyes on her but I was confident of it now. This girl was one of those rare gems who truly despised The Aces and wouldn't be afraid to say it out to their face. To think I'd find another Ashton in this school— I prayed they'd never meet. She would be the perfect best friend to replace me in a heartbeat.

Shaun could easily tell this was straying to edgy waters but I beat him to piping in. "Yes?"

"Do you actually hang out with those dickheads or is just an image thing? Did Garren like, only have you join their cult as a feminism vote or something?"

"Carmen." Rodger hissed.

She didn't bat an eye, awaiting my response.

"No." I answered. "Garren has no interest in that sort of thing."

"Yeah, I thought so." Carmen sneered. "From all those girls he strings along, he didn't catch me as one who held any regard for other people. You must think you're something pretty exceptional then."

I blinked. "Yeah. Guess so."

Surprise flared on the three boys, shocked by my blunt honesty while Carmen's eyes narrowed, fiercely as I stared back. Yes, the fire was in them but not as daring as Ashton. Ashton could've grilled me with her glares alone.

Shaun was the one to break the tense air with a laugh, assuming it was a joke I was making against his friend's snide comment, the other two quickly joining him. For the rest of the meal, her tongue didn't lash out any more venom, mouth firmly shut unless to take a bite of her salad. Carmen was the first to leave, abruptly screeching her chair when she pushed it back and departed without a single word.

Shaun and his friends relentlessly apologised but I assured them I didn't mind. I truly didn't. If anything, the encounter with that familiar spunk made me amused.

As I made my way along the grounds to the entrance where I'd found Garren's car to drive us to the airport, I searched up Carmen's social media. I was curious to absorb as much info I could sponge, the first thing being the girl seriously liked to change her hair. It was bright green at a few months back, bubble gum pink the next and even black at one half with white on the other. Artistic and spontaneous, but I wouldn't go as far to call her fearless for particular deductions I gathered.

A part of me knew deep down my intrigue was just a way to cope. To cope with a loss that was still eating away at me and I was on to stalking Carmen Costello til my fill, when a hand yanked me to the sides. I snapped my eyes to the figure which had me pinned by the gates. Those eyes that had seemed so empty at the pitch were as lively as ever once more.

"Relax, Buns. It's only me."

"And I'm struggling to understand why." I sighed.

"Come on, you didn't actually think this…" A prideful smirk as he gestured to the enforced contact. "What we have, is just a laugh?"

When he attempted to hold my chin, I smacked his hand away. "Well did you actually think I was kidding when I said I'd go to the office if you came near me again? Harassment, Hess. What you're doing is harassment."

He was unflinching towards my threats, smirk only seeming to broaden no matter how blunt I was being.

"You don't need to act so defensive." He leaned in and I backed up as much as possible in the limited space, his voice but a whisper. "I know you love this attention, no one's going to catch us here. So rest assured, I won't leave any leads for your pooch Shaun to learn about this again."

"Shaun is my boyfriend."

Hess chuckled and shook his head. "Is that what you call the way you treat him?"

"What are you on about?"

"I heard everything. Back when you and him were up in your room and he accused you of sleeping with me which I had to agree, was a hasty assumption."

My eyebrows scrunched. "What? How...?"

Then it hit me. At that intimate moment his stupid phone had interrupted with its nonsensical vibrating. Well, I'd thought there was no sense to it. While it turned out in fact, it was receiving a call. No guess the damaged software accepted the call without our knowledge as Shaun blew his top.

Now the worst possible set of ears had heard how the whole thing went down. Did he plan to manipulate me with it? Not that there was any reason to warrant that course of action— I didn't do anything wrong back there.

Furthermore, how I treated Shaun was none of his concern. Last time I checked, they weren't even friends. Who was he to judge my methods? I was only showing my boyfriend what line he couldn't cross with me. That was right, that was all it was. Hess had nothing on me.

I glared up at the blonde, remaining silent. He took it a different way. "Don't worry, I ended the call before he got his tongue deep down your throat— which brings me to a question I had in mind; when we kissed, was that your first time? You kinda clammed up back there."

"I was paralysed in shock from having a creep slobber his lips all over me. Now get out of my way, Hess. I have a tournament to attend and you know Garren will kill you if I'm late." I warned.

Hess paused. For the first time, he showed genuine reluctance and eased up, if only a little on cornering me. "I'll leave it but after you do one thing."

I had a very unnerving feeling on what he was going to say with the glaze look in his eyes and exactly where his eyes were focused. "Which is?"

"Kiss me." He tapped a finger to his lips as if there was need for clarification.

I groaned. "Y'know, just when I think you're not going to say something completely moronic. Garren!" I shouted, resolving to my plan B. "Will! I'm—"

Hess shoved a hand over my mouth and what tiny space I had was gone. "Listen, just do me this one favour." There was this earnestness like I'd never seen before. An opulent blaze aflame in those blue pools. "If you kiss me and can stop yourself, feel nothing from it— absolutely nothing, then I won't get in the way again. I promise."

I blinked, repeatedly and stood taking in the words. I couldn't grasp what this urgency was or why make a plea. Did it mean he took my threat seriously? Was he trying to show he meant the same, even if he went about it terribly?

A kiss. Just a kiss. Fine, I could do that. Easy-peasy.

I nodded my head to signal him of my cooperation and he dropped his hand from my mouth. "No funny business." I cautioned.

He nodded, vigorously and placed his hands behind his back in what supposedly should've reassured me. It didn't really work out with the massive grin slapped across his giddy face. Holding back an eye roll, I moved in. Rivalling Will's height, I was inclined to go on my tippy toes. I dismissed how he oddly stiffened when I latched a hand around his neck. He'd been in more compromising positions than this before with tons of girls, what was the anxiousness for? I placed my other hand on his cheek.

My thumb stroked his pale skin slowly down to his jawline. He swallowed. I brought my attention to his pink lips and he dropped his eyelids shut. I was close. So close that I could see how the sun light shimmered against his light lashes and then with all my might, I drove my knee to the target between his legs.

His eyes flew open, flooded with sheer pain as he doubled over, hands on his groin and a low howl crawling from his lips.

I released a breath, baffled my plan actually worked. "Pressuring me to perform intimate acts? Definitely classify that one as sexual harassment. See you at the head's office in four days, Hess."

With that, I hurried along certain of the impatient boy sat in the front seat ready to scream his head off at me. Didn't you just love Mondays?

**

"Maybe he really fancies you."

I snapped my head to Will, incredulous if those words truly left his mouth just now. "You better be kidding or I'm pushing you right out of that window seat."

When Garren was done fuming and lecturing me on punctuality, we drove to the Heathren Airport. Mr. Hertford, the school supervisor who was our chaperone and the rest of the club members were all camped by the gates. I begrudgingly apologised and Will being the considerate, ingenious soul had offered me a tic tac along with ears open to hear my story. I loved this boy, honestly. So in that state, I decided to tell him what happened at the school as we were three thousand feet in the air, millions of miles away from persistent sleazebags but I wasn't sure I made the right choice.

"Hear me out,” Will started. "I wouldn't say I'm best mates with the guy, but I've known Hess for a while and his title as St. Sinclair's Casanova—"

"What? People actually call him by something so gaudy?" Not to mention, ignorant. Giovanni Jacopo Casanova was a romantic, not a player and he was Italian.

"Did you think being known as The Aces was my first choice for tasteful names?" He countered.

"Fair point."

"As I was saying, Hess is a flirt but only a tease when it comes down to it. He doesn't chase girls, he has them come to him. How he's acting, this isn't this normal routine."

"Then he changed his routine, simple."

"Possibly." Will concurred. "Or..."

I didn't appreciate the shifty eyes he was giving me. "Or what?"

"Maybe he's doing this because somebody is leading him on."

I was aghast. "What?! I am not leading him on!"

There was a blunt clearing of the throat and I glanced to the source, a steward passing me a pointed look. I shot him my own, but reformed to a lower volume. "Let’s say, hypothetically, Hess actually does like me. Why is hell bent on having me want to choke him? I told him multiple times that I'm not interested and to stay away. He doesn't listen. Does 'liking' me warrant such behaviour?”

"Of course not.”

“Then what do I have to do to make him stop? Get a restraining order?”

Will's lips pursed. “I wouldn’t say it’s drastic enough for that but chances are, you could end up enabling him further.”

“Further?” I parroted. “I told you, I've never lead him on!”

“I’m not saying you are. Look, it’s like this; some people, especially those used to having their way, perceive things entirely differently. If it doesn’t match their expectations, it won’t count as real.”

"I don't get it."

"For whatever reason, Hess has an interest in you. Genuine feelings or not, he wants something from you. You might not be flirting, but any thing you say his attraction will make it seem otherwise."

"That sounds like a mental deficiency."

Will shrugged. "Hope springs eternal, Stevie. Bradford still thinks I'll come round to be his experiment, even though I've rejected him on every social media platform known to man. Three times."

"Yeah, but he's at Harvey Julliard. He can't just show up in the halls and ambush you."

"You think that's bad?" scoffed Will. "Once Bradford hijacked my digital alarm clock and every morning at 5am exactly it would go off, even though I'd set it for a different time. Then I'd hear a voice calling me, saying 'Rise and shine, Willy.' And love songs would start blasting out. Really, really old cringey love songs. I'd change my alarm clock, or set one on my phone— still happened."

"Whoa, isn't that like, really illegal? Why didn't you got to the police?"

"Step-dad, remember? And I had no evidence to prove it was him."

"God, that sucks. I'm sorry."

"It's alright. Stopped after four months so, yeah." He didn't appear too fussed. The incident must've been long worn out but I had fresh resentment to seethe.

Although, Will had a point. My situation was nothing in comparison to a crafty snake who used his talents and dad to do as he pleased.

“So, that’s it? I'm just meant to put up with him harassing me forever?”

Will shook his head. “Let’s not jump to conclusions. If it’s nothing, he'll get bored and stop. The more you act bothered and retaliate, he can get off on it. I made that mistake in dragging Garren into sorting out Bradford and it seemed to work. I have 'boundaries' Bradford won’t cross but, it hasn’t stopped him trying. If anything, I gave him more power by showing he gets under my skin.”

Hearing such a confession, I suddenly found mine rather insignificant. Would I eventually just accept this as my reality?

“You said there were boundaries,” I started. “How can I do that to Hess?”

Will thought for a moment. “I don’t know. Bradford is borderline obsessive and narcissistic. Hess honestly looks like a dumb kid who'd pipe down over a little compromise.”

“A compromise like what?”

“Hess is eager to prove he can rival Shaun. Obviously, you’re not going to even consider him but if you maybe settle a condition not to hound you, say you'd like to be friends.”

"Will." I griped.

"What? It's not so bad. Hess doesn’t do friends without the benefit kind of thing with girls, he'll leave you alone in good time. Until then, have fun with it. You'll have eye candy to your disposal.”

I somehow couldn’t find myself satisfied with that. “I don’t want to call that creep a friend, even for pretend. I also don’t want to hold in puke in my mouth every day.”

Will have me a skeptic once over. “You're telling me you don’t find Hess attractive? Like, not even a little?"

"No!" I bellowed. "And if you think he looks so great, why don't you go shag him?"

Intervening was a tap on my shoulder and I was faced with that steward, an irritated look on. "Excuse me, but would you mind using your inside voice as discretion to the other passengers?"

"Yes, actually Aidan I would mind it very much." I replied. "As sorry as I want to seem because I know it must be no picnic waltzing about in a vertical line for six to ten hours in those god awful uniforms a clinical moron must’ve designed to think lemon yellow would match mucus green.

But don’t take it out on strangers just because you don’t have the backbone to confront your boss and keep in mind, I'm also not to blame for why you chose to jot down this career path on a piece of paper back in some classroom ten years ago, give or take."

The steward blinked, face fallen and mouth ajar before eventually reality had tapped out of its freeze frame as he collected himself. Professional smile synced back on but with a strain. He dutifully nodded, making his retreat to the cabin with face reddening and lips quivering.

I huffed, resting back in my seat when I discovered Will's quizzical expression.

"What? He was being nosey and this is a plane, not a library." I justified.

"N-No, it's not that. You, um... how'd you know his name is Aidan?"

"Oh. The woman in row three, she was talking to her accountant on the phone who was called Aidan and I saw him turn instinctively." I explained.

"Right." Will muttered. "Well, let's leave Aidans and Casanovas aside and relax. It'll be no good getting stressed before the tournament."

"We have the whole night and morning to relax at the hotel when we land."

"Yeah, maybe but there's a few things to consider."

"Like what?"

"We normally book the same resort hotel as a few competing schools. A ton of them like making it personal in and out of the matches. Also, since this is the first time our club is participating with two female members, Amina won't need a suite to herself."

"Wait, I'll have to share a room with her?"

"Afraid so."

I cursed under my breath, dragging my hands down my face. "Wonderful." Although, I should've put it together sooner.

"That's why I'm saying we should enjoy ourselves right now and not focus on the negatives."

"You're the one who brought it up. I was blissfully ignorant."

"Are you gonna be a grumpy smartass all through the flight or pick a movie for us to watch?"

"... Movie."

"Good choice. Now, I don't want to impose but I'm not a big fan of films starring Dwayne Johnson, okay?"

I nodded.

Will smirked. "You don't even know who that is, do you?"

I shook my head.