"Oh, I wasn't expecting you so soon," Heather furrows her eyebrows at me.

"I'm sorry, I can come back..."

"No, it's fine," she motions for me to come in, "why didn't you use the elevator?"

"I didn't know whether or not your parents would be home...I'm not sure which one of them I'm more intimidated by, but I wanted to make a good impression."

"That's sweet," Heather says distractedly.

She likes to refer to things as "sweet," instead of nice or pleasant...I always liked how it sounded coming from her, but today it sounds different.

"Was it a bad idea?"

"No, it's good, but I don't recommend wasting your time," she shrugs. "We should go upstairs, actually. They'll probably be home soon."

"Okay?"

I let her take my hand and lead me there. This gesture is small compared to what I'm becoming accustomed to, but I'll take it...because something seems off.

"You can shut the door," she tells me once we reach her room.

I nod and close it behind me, "so, what are we doing here? Which Heather do I have today?"

"What do you mean?"

"Are we good? Or are you doing that thing where you distance yourself from me again?"

She sighs sadly, "I don't want to."

"I figured," I say unsurprisingly and turn to reopen the door.

"No, Leo, you don't understand. This is why I didn't want to say anything," Heather huffs, "why does it have to be all or nothing with you?"

"The same reason it has to be absolutely nothing with you," I argue.

"My parents hate you so much that they've started trying to pawn me off to the nearest guy who doesn't make their stomach turn," Heather continues, "and you're not even cordial with any of my friends. We don't talk in school unless we're partners on something or if no one is watching. Admit it, this doesn't work outside of your bedroom."

I scoff, "That's bullshit, you just want out."

She rolls her eyes, "you're so obstinate. Can you listen for once?"

"I am listening."

"I don't want you to hate me for being realistic. It's not like either of us were happy to have feelings for the other. So, what can really happen between us, huh? I just want to stay your friend...I want to help you with homework and watch movies with you and share songs."

I step up closer to her, "but, I like you."

"And I like you too, but we can't do this."

I sigh in disappointment, but there's no point in trying to change her mind.

"Fine, if that's what you really think...we'll keep being friends."

"Thank you," she gives me a small smile.

I force one onto my face as well and walk past her toward her bed, "are we just going to sit around here all day or do you have something planned?"

"We can go out somewhere...but it's freezing outside and— oh, my god, you came all the way over here despite the snow?"

"It wasn't that bad," I shrug.

It sucked, and if it weren't for that carpet in the lobby, there'd be shoeprints all over her floors.

"Why would you do that?"

Isn't it obvious by now? "I wanted to see you."

Her eyes lingered on me like she was trying to make sense of things. I wish I could help...but I lost track of meaning about a month ago when I danced with her outside of school.

Her hands hook behind my neck and she moves up to press her lips to mine...like she just said we couldn't do.

"Heather," I groan but still let her kiss me, "you're so annoying."

"I know," she replies before tangling her hand in my hair and deepening the kiss.

The harder you try to keep this from happening...

The harder I'll make it to resist.

I slowly stand to my feet so that I wouldn't break the kiss, I pull Heather up with me and she lets me guide her over to her dresser. With her back pressed against it...my body pressed against her...and my hands on her face, it's intense enough, but I turn her anyway.

"What are you doing?" Heather asks breathlessly as I kiss down her neck.

"Do you trust me?"

"Yes," she responds, turning her head so that I could peck her lips again.

"Then be quiet..." or try to be.

My hand slowly trails down her body while I stare back at her in the mirror. When I reach the hem of her skirt, I raise it little by little and watch her expression change from flushed to subtle surprise.

She gasps when my fingers brush over her skin, they're still a bit cold. Her gasp turns to a soft breath when I slip them into her panties.

Now, her eyes are completely locked on the mirror.

I keep my other hand on her waist to keep her steady and her skirt held up before gently rubbing her clit, applying pressure in small circles to get her wet.

She was mesmerized, and I moved quicker until her heavy breathing turned to quiet moans. Heather covered her mouth to mask any sounds at all...which only lead to muffled moans when I traced two fingers down to be coated as they slid into her.

I curled them in and out and watched as she hummed against her hand. Her eyes poured into mine through our reflection, pleading for something. More, maybe? Or mercy.

I complied by thrusting my fingers deeper and letting my palm rub against her, getting her closer and closer.

"Leo..." Heather whimpered, and I loved every second of it. I mean, holy fuck did it get me hot.

Her thighs threatened to close shut as my pace quickened. Her hands grasping onto the one I have in her underwear, grabbing it to try and keep me from moving. Heather let out a string of moans as her fingertips dug into my skin. You're only egging me on, butterfly.

My free arm held her against my torso as the roughness of my touch made her legs start to shake. I can tell she hasn't felt like this in a long time...if ever.

The clenching around my fingers showed that she was on the brink...that, and the number of curses slipping past her lips. I didn't know hearing her swear breathlessly as she practically forgets how to breathe would turn me on so much...

When her eyes fluttered closed and her mouth fell open, I quickly took my fingers out to rub at her clit. The only sound in the room came from how wet she was and me toying with her.

Her body tensed in my arms when she climaxed, the pleasure leaving her in silent stillness until she came crashing in waves, cum dripping down her legs, soaking her panties and my fingers.

I gazed at her through the mirror in awe, her eyes were still closed, and she bit down on her bottom lip as if anything could stop her from moaning as loud as she was.

I hummed in satisfaction when she began to calm. My movements coming to a slow stop before I slid my hand out from her underwear and released her from my hold.

She continued to try to catch her breath and lowered herself onto the floor in front of her dresser. Heather looked up at me almost innocently, crossing her legs.

I couldn't help but feel smug knowing her panties were drenched under that short skirt.

But I hid it as I knelt down to be face to face with her.

"I can make you cum like that every day...but we can't do this, right?" I smirked.

"Leo," she breathed out and leaned forward like she wanted to kiss me.

"I'll see you later, butterfly," I gave her a quick kiss to please her before standing up and heading back out of her room.

She's not going to be able to think straight with me here, not after that...and she needs to rethink how we'll ever manage to be only friends.

I knocked harshly on the door for the third time. I know somebody's in there.

"Okay!" I hear shouted from the inside, "I'm coming."

It didn't sound like Matt.

"Fucking finally," I grumbled when Caleb tiredly opened the door.

"Danny?" He rubbed his eyes.

"I need to talk to Matt, is he here?" I asked out of courtesy, but I'm pretty sure he's somewhere in this apartment.

"Um..." Caleb hesitates, so I peer past his slouched figure to look for myself.

"I see him on the couch, Mathers."

"Yeah, alright," he steps out of my way.

They both look like they haven't showered in two days. Matt is laying on empty bags of chips and candy bar wrappers.

"Have you heard of garbage bins?" I say as I kick crushed up soda cans away from my feet.

"We've been— busy," Caleb scratches the back of his neck.

"I can see that," I say in disappointment when I glance down at the bag of mushrooms Matt fell asleep with.

No wonder it took forever for someone to open the goddamn door.

"He said he just needed a place to stay for a while...I didn't think it would be a problem."

"He's got a place to stay." I pick up a bottle of water from off of the coffee table and smell it to make sure it's actually water before pouring it all over his face.

Matt jolts up and immediately tries to shield himself from me.

"What the fuck?" He blows air out of his nose to clear it of water.

"Oh, good, you're awake," I say slyly. "Pack your shit, I'm taking you home."

"Why do you have to be such a dickhead?" He complained and laid back on the sofa despite the puddle.

"You're doing shrooms and crashing on couches while people are going crazy worrying about you, and I'm the dickhead?" I grab another half-full water bottle and dump that one on him too.

"Cut it out!" He shouts.

"Get off your ass!" I shout back.

"I'm not going home, Danny."

"Why not?"

"Because, man, I'm the reason Spence is in jail. I should've done a better job of wiping the window off after he hit me. Now, he's taking all of the blame so that I don't get in trouble. How am I supposed to go home knowing that?" Matt says in defeat. "My mom and dad are trying to be cool about it, but I know they're upset it's my fault."

"Did you not hear me say your brother is juicing?"

How could you feel guilty when he hit you as a side effect of steroids?

Matt shrugs, "that's not why he's going to jail in Connecticut."

"Yeah, and you're not either. A bloody window isn't what got him caught, the guy he sold the car to sold you both out for a shorter sentence."

"Who told you that?"

"Who do you think?" I asked rhetorically. "My dad after a few beers."

"Does Spence know?"

"Maybe he does, maybe he doesn't, but you're not going to find out by staying here on a drug binge with that loser."

"Fuck off, Danny," Caleb said from where he's brewing coffee in the kitchen.

"Are you coming or not?" I say to Matt.

He nods and stands up, shaking some water out of his damp hair.

"I'll see you around, Caleb."

Matt grabs his backpack and I hold the door open for him to walk out of.

"Oh, and Caleb? Cherry is like 16, my dad's a cop, and you should call Penny."

I snicker at his baffled expression and leave before he could question me.

Let's consider this a favor.

I never tip her.

"I'm gonna fold," Jace sighs when Trevor lays out three cards.

"Afraid to lose your jeans?" Evie teases.

"I'm out too," Alison places her cards down.

"Hm...I'll raise," Liz smirks at the hand she has.

"Elizabeth," I say lowly to her, "you'll be left in almost nothing."

"I guess, I should get used to it, right?" She purses her lips at me.

"What do you say, AJ?" Trevor smiles deviously.

"I'll call," she replies.

"Okay," he puts the other two cards down.

"I'm all-in," Audrey nods.

"Well, this just got interesting," Tony raised his eyebrows in surprise. He lost somewhere in the second round and decided to opt-out before the boxers were out betted.

"Liz?" Trevor turns to her, "are you going to fold?"

"No, count me in."

"Show me the cards, ladies," he shrugs.

"Someone's going to be showing more than cards," Jace laughs and Evie slaps his arm at his unsubtle excitement.

"What do you think you're doing?" I whisper to Elizabeth.

"Strip poker, what does it look like?" She narrows her eyes at me.

"It looks like you're bluffing, and Audrey doesn't do that. Unless you have a royal flush, fold."

"You're not the boss of me," she rolls her eyes.

Yes. I. Am.

"Three of a kind," Audrey puts her hand down.

"Straight," Elizabeth happily lays her cards out as well.

"We have our winner," Trevor claps, and everyone joins him excluding me and Audrey. I don't because I'm annoyed with Elizabeth, but Audrey doesn't because she bet all her clothes. "I believe you owe us a strip show, my dear," Trevor teases.

"You're kidding," she glared.

"Audrey, why didn't you quit?" Alison looks at her empathetically.

"I thought she would," Audrey motions toward Liz.

I thought she would too, especially after I told her to, but it serves Audrey right for trying to one-up Elizabeth. She hasn't been that nice to her the entire time we've been here.

"I'll do it for her," Tony intervenes, "a bet is a bet...I'll pay her dues."

We all watch him doubtfully and try to figure out whether or not he's joking...but, he stands up and his hands move to tug down his underwear.

"Jesus Christ, Milligan. Keep your dick where it is, her debt is erased," Trevor says in disgust to keep us from being flashed.

Tony smirks victoriously, "you're welcome," he says to Audrey.

"I didn't ask you to do that," she replied bitchily. I hope he expected that. "But, thank you..."

He gives her a smile, and she rolls her eyes and looks away from him.

"That's enough for tonight," I speak up, "I'm going to bed."

"This early?" Jace furrows his eyebrows, "it's like 10 o'clock, we were going to have drinks in the jacuzzi."

"I'm still worn out from the slopes."

"Alright...Goodnight then," Jace shrugs.

"Elizabeth," I motion for her to follow me.

"I'm not tired," she responds, and I send her an expression that shows that I wasn't asking.

She rolled her eyes before complying with crossed arms. I wait until we're right in front of the bedroom before saying anything more.

"What is it exactly that you wish to accomplish by irritating me?" I say as I lean up against the door.

"Is this question for you or your ego?"

I laugh lightly, "Elizabeth, you need to break the habit of thinking my orders are suggestions."

She scoffed, "Your orders?"

"You're an employee," I nod, "so, next time...do as I say, or I'll have you replaced with someone who will."

"You're a control freak, you know that?"

I smirk in amusement, "no, I just believe in a punishment and reward system. Is that going to be a problem?"

I could tell she was biting back a snarky comment. "No, sir."

There's something I like about that title...

"Good," I say with a pleased expression, "now, go back and join them if you'd like. But, remember...keep your clothes on."