EPISODE 4

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I don’t want to do it.
Parting my lips from his
are probably the one of
the hardest thing I have
come across in a while.
But I have to part my
lips from his, even if it’s
only for a fraction of a
second. I need to
breathe, don’t I? But his
lips are on mine, and we
are kissing so furiously,
it seems impossible to
do it. I’m scared that if
I remove my lips from
his, the magic that has
evolved between us,
this weird connection,
would break. But alas, I
do what I must—I part
my lips from his and
gasp for air as I stare
into his sparkling blue-
green eyes. They look
better in the morning
light, so much better
than in the dark.
The flavor of his tongue
is making me crazy. My
head is spinning. All this
seems so unreal. But it
is true after all. I am
kissing Dylan Kennedy,
commonly known as Mr.
Player. I know I
shouldn’t, but I am. And
I know I shouldn’t be
enjoying it, but I still
am. Again, the painful
parting comes. I feel his
slightly warm breath on
my skin. It sends
tingles down my spine.
Damn, he’s too good at
this—this art of kissing.
I don’t blame all the
girls for kissing him if
this is how he makes
them feel every time
their lips touch his. If
kissing was a business,
he’d be a billionaire.
His hand slowly travels
down my back and
stops on my hips. He
squeezes me closer to
him. God, I’ve never
been this close to any
guy. Till last night, I
hadn’t been kissed, and
now—now things are
so different. I’m openly
making out with a guy I
barely know up against
a tree.
Wait a second…What
the hell am I doing?!
I push Dylan away from
me and stare at him
with a horrified
expression on my face.
He just smirks
knowingly, like he
knows how the kiss we
just had affected me.
“What the hell?!” I curse
angrily and turn away
to walk towards my
car. I suddenly feel his
hands around my arm
and a strong pull. Then I
crash straight into his
rock-hard abs. “What
the hell do you think
you’re doing!?” I hiss
angrily.
“Enjoying myself?” He
says smirking. He
starts leaning towards
me again, his eyes
never leave mine, and
for a second I actually
feel hypnotized by
them. My body goes
rigid and stops
functioning and all I can
do is helplessly stand
there and let him do
what I want.
But that only lasts for a
second or two. Before
he can close the gap
between us even
further, I shrug off his
hands. “Let me go you
dumb-ass!” I say and
push him off again, but
in vain, he is just too
strong.
“That’s hard. I mean I
just can’t let you go…”
he brushes his lips
softly against mine,
causing shivers to run
down my body, tickling
me everywhere. Damn!
This is so not good. I
don’t mean his lips
brushing on mine thing.
(That feels beyond
awesome) No, the bad
thing is, the way I’m
feeling when he’s doing
this.. Or the way it feels
whenever he touches
me, whenever we’re
close. The way it feels
to never want to let go.
I turn my face away
from him, as one last
try for him to stop. His
lips are not on mine
anymore. Instead, they
are just a little above
my neckline. He places a
soft kiss there too.
Oh god, somebody
make him stop!
“Stop it or I’m going to
kick you so hard that
you won’t be able to
walk for a week” I
speak up, finally being
able to catch my breath.
My voice comes out a
little shaky and
strained, but I say
what I want to clearly. I
don’t want him doing
this. I’m not like those
girls he’s used to, the
one who let him do
whatever he wants—
no, I’m not like that and
I’ll never be.
“I don’t understand…”
he mumbles to himself.
I don’t bother asking
him what he doesn’t
understand. I just want
to make the most of
this moment by rushing
off to my ford fiesta
instead of going into his
black sports car; too
bad though, I don’t
succeed. He is blocking
my path.
“Look, I’m sorry. It’s
just that it gets a little
hard to control myself
when I’m around you.
Ever since that kiss you
gave me last night, I
can’t help but want
more.” He says. My
mouth drops open in
shock. What did he just
say?! I take in a huge
amount of air and shut
my mouth again. I can’t
help but stare at him in
shock.
“Look, I’m serious
okay? You’re a really
good kisser. I won’t
mind kissing you again,
you’re too good! Almost
as good as me.” he
starts smirking again as
he says this. Oh how I
want to remove that
sexy smirk off his
gorgeous face! I decide
to keep a good (safe)
distance from him and
head towards his car. I
mean what choice do I
have. He won’t stop
bothering me until I do
as he says. I sit on the
passenger seat of his
car. He starts the
engine and we leave for
school. We don’t talk
much during the
journey. He silently
drives while I stare out
of the window. The
trees pass by in a blur,
he is driving really fast.
“Alex?” he prompts
suddenly. It startles
me. I hadn’t thought
he’d be interested in
conversing at all. In fact
I’d started thinking that
maybe he was
regretting his decision
of giving me a ride to
school.
“Yes?” I reply, glancing
at him from the corner
of me eyes. I don’t
know why but I’m
getting a weird feeling
in the pit of my
stomach.
“How do you do it? I
mean how are you able
to resist me? How can
you be so different
from the other girls?”
he says. He sounds
really exasperated. Like
this thing has been
bothering him for some
time now.
“Well, I never said I was
like all the girls. I’m
unique.” I reply back
smartly, hoping he’ll
drop the topic now and
get back to driving.
Alas, he does no such
thing.
“What I mean is, how
do you resist me? All
the girls I know are
crazy for me, except
you. You’re different.
You don’t like me at all.
Why?”
“One, you don’t know
me, so you cannot
count me as the ‘girls
you know’. You don’t
know anything about
me except my name.
Two, maybe me not
being all gaga for you
has something to do
with you messing
around with all these
girls and then dumping
them away, like used-
up tissue papers. You
seriously disgust me.
How can you do this? I
mean, don’t you feel
bad at all?!” I blurt out
angrily before I can stop
myself.
There, I’ve done it
again. I’ve opened my
big mouth and said
things I shouldn’t have.
What he does is none of
my business, so then
why am I going around,
telling him that what he
does is wrong? I’m so
impulsive, why don’t I
think before doing
something?
“Oh” is all he can
muster up to say. His
face stares ahead
blankly. I’m sure no girl
has ever talked to him
like this before. I sigh
and turn away and
continue to stare
outside. But soon the
silence in the car starts
to bother me. It starts
bothering em to the
point that I cannot take
it anymore.
“Look, I’m sorry. I know
it’s none of my
business what you do
with all those girls or
why you do it. As long
as I or someone I know
is not in the picture, it’s
none of my business.
Who am I to stop you?
We’re not even friends.
So go on. Go and mess
around with all the girls.
Kiss them, hold their
hands, and take them
on dates and then
break their hearts.
Heck! Go and have sex
with each one of them
and end up with HIV
AIDS. It’s none of my
business.” I say, still
not meeting his gaze.
We drop the subject
then.
“Your mom is nice. I like
her. I mean, she’s really
sweet. You both look so
much alike. I mean
you’ve got dark brown
locks just like her and
your face is so much
alike, but your eyes…
they’re not hazel.
They’re brown…like your
dad, I suppose?”
I bite my lip and nod.
Silently hoping he won’t
continue onto this topic
and keep talking about
my dad. I don’t ever
discuss my dad with
anyone—not mum, not
even Tia. It’s a taboo
topic for me, it makes
me really
uncomfortable.
“So, what’s his
profession? He left
pretty early I mean. If
he would have been
there, I would have
seen him eating
breakfast or something.
Is he out of town?”
Dylan asks casually.
I sit there silently for a
second or two, silently
contemplating how to
make him change the
subject of our
conversation. After a
lot of thinking, I decide
to tell him the truth.
Not the whole truth of
course, but tell him that
my dad doesn’t live
with us. “Oh, uh…umm…
dad doesn’t live with us.
My mom’s divorced.” I
say slowly. I feel my
insides twist and my
throat starts to clog.
“Oh, I’m sorry.” He
replies, sounding slightly
take-aback. He clearly
feels uncomfortable
now too, like bringing up
the topic was a big
mistake.
“No, it’s okay.” I
mumble. I feel
something warm and
wet trickle down my
cheek. Shit, I’m crying.
How long has it been
since I’ve cried because
of my dad? A while,
yes. I silently curse
myself for losing it and
start crying right here in
front of this stranger.
Dylan glances at me at
the same time and on
seeing me crying, he
immediately stops the
car.
“Alex, are you okay?
Shit! You’re crying. What
happened?” he looks
so…concerned. Why is he
concerned? Who am I to
him but a stranger? And
isn’t he supposed to be
a jerk? After all he’s an
expert in trampling over
people’s feelings? So
why does he look so
concerned?
“Alex, talk to me. What
is wrong?” He slowly
tilts my chin upwards,
so that my gaze meets
his. I quickly look away
and wipe off my tears.
Damn! I’m so stupid. I
randomly started crying
in front of him! Geez,
how bad can I get? I
feel like vanishing off in
thin air right now. This
is so embarrassing. This
is the second time I’ve
started crying in front
of him.
“Is it because of your…
dad? I’m sorry. But I
seriously had no clue.
I’m—I’m really sorry.”
he says, looking really
uncomfortable. Clearly,
he’s not used to girls
crying. He doesn’t know
what to say or do,
that’s why he’s simply
sitting in front of me,
looking all awkward. I’m
sure he wants to bolt
right out of here.
“No, it’s not your
mistake of course. It’s
just…nothing.” My voice
comes out as a
whisper.
Maybe it’s my tone of
voice that finally makes
him realize that I’m not
comfortable talking
about it. He finally drops
it. “Alright, I believe you.
I won’t bug you with
questions and all…
sorry.” I nod slightly and
he starts the car again.
After this he keeps
glancing at me from
time to time, probably
to make sure I’m not
crying. By the looks of
it, I know he’s
wondering why I
suddenly started crying
so much. Not that he’s
going to find out any
time soon.
****
“Stop the car. Stop it!
Stop it now!” I suddenly
exclaim, taking Dylan by
surprise. He looks really
startled.
“But why? School is like
three to four blocks
from here.” He says,
looking confused. Small
worry lines crease his
forehead.
I try to ignore how
adorable he looks while
he confused. “I
absolutely have no
problem with that. I can
walk to school from
here.”
“You don’t need to. I’m
dropping you off to
school, remember?”
“I don’t want you to!
Don’t you get that? I
already have a car! I
don’t even know why
I’m here in the first
place.” I say as clearly
as possible.
“But I want to give you
a lift to school!”
“You don’t have to do
anything, alright? I don’t
want you to driving me
to school and back. I
repeat I have a car. Why
would I want you to
drive me around? Please
stop the car.”
“No, I won’t” he replies
adamantly.
“Yes, you will.”
“No I will not”
“Yes you will or I will
jump off the car.” I say;
my expression serious
and my tone adamant.
“You would not!” he
exclaims, sounding
shocked.
“Oh really? Wanna give
it a try? Watch me!” I
threaten him. Of course
I will not jump. I’m not
that stupid. But I’m
seriously enjoying this,
his slightly frightened
expression. I open the
door of his speeding car
to make him think that
I’m really about to
jump.
“Hey, are you crazy?!
Shut the door!” he
shouts.
“Then stop the car.” I
reply back coolly.
“Fine!” he exclaims. He
has given up, I can see
it in his expressions,
and hear it in his voice.
He drives the car aside
and parks it under a
tree. He immediately
turns to look at me, his
eyes narrowing down
on me. “What the hell is
wrong with you?! Are
you insane?” he
exclaims, sounding
pissed.
I snort. “No, I’m not
insane. It’s just that I
have no interest for the
whole school to see me
with you, Mr. Player.” I
reply back honestly.
Dylan gives an
exasperated sigh. I
know I can be a pain in
the butt whenever I
want to, and I enjoy it
too. “Why? What’s
wrong with you?! You’re
getting to drive with
me! Dylan Kennedy! Girls
would kill to get a drive
in my car with me!”
I snort again. “Puh-leez!
I’d prefer walking a
hundred miles then
spending it with you in
your car.”
“What is your
problem?!” He sounds
so exasperated, and so
irritated. I don’t know
why but I’m enjoying
this thoroughly.
“You! Yes, you are my
problem. Ever since
yesterday, at the party,
you just won’t leave
me alone. Why can’t you
leave me the hell
alone!?” We glare at
each other continuously,
our eyes narrowed
down onto each other,
not leaving the others
for even a second, not
even blinking.
Dylan is the first one to
give-up. “Fine then, miss
stubborn. You are free
to go.” I happily get off
the car, smiling to
myself triumphantly.
“But not without me.”
He adds, and gets off
the car too. I turn
around to glare at him,
all the happiness leaving
my body immediately,
making it go cold.
“And what about your
car?” I say cocking my
eyebrows enquiringly.
My hands wrap
themselves around
each other below my
chest and I stand there
in front of him
demandingly.
“Who cares if someone
steals my baby? I mean
it’s a beautiful car.
Crooks would love to
have it. But I can’t leave
such a beautiful girl like
you alone on the
streets. Cities aren’t
safe, especially for a
hot chick like you” He
says sounding really
concerned and worried.
I narrow my eyes at
him. I know he is just
exaggerating about the
“cities aren’t safe” part.
But his car can get
stolen, that is true.
Besides, car or no car he
is coming, which is
definitely not
something I want.
I make a face at him
and then groan. “Why
can’t you just leave me
alone!?”
“Because, I’m
interested in you!” He
exclaims. My heart skips
a beat when he says
he’s interested in me.
It’s so surprising. No
one ever notices me—
ever. I’m plain, and
ordinary and boring
and…Me. No one ever
gives me a second look.
And now the school’s
hottest guy here is
standing in front of me
and is saying he’s
interested in me! This
seems so unbelievable.
Not that it changes
anything. Interested or
not, I don’t want to be
seen with him. I keep
thinking about how to
get rid of him and then
finally get the perfect
idea. “Okay, let’s go by
your car. But, I’ll drive!” I
chirp.
“No way!” he exclaims. I
giggle, my plan is
working. I know how
guys are totally
passionate about their
cars. They don’t like it
when someone else
even touches them.
Then the idea of him
letting me drive it was
next to impossible. So
this means I’ll finally be
getting rid of him. Yay
for that!
“Yes way, or else…I’ll
walk; you bring your
car” I say, smirking.
Finally things are going
my way. Any minute
now, he’ll give up and
drive away and I can
happily walk to school
on my own.
“Damn!” he mutters. I
start crazy dancing
right there on the
street. He glares at me
as I do. I simply laugh in
return. I’ve finally
emerged victorious.
Now he has no choice at
all. He has to leave me
alone.
But alas, my happiness
is short-lived. “Okay,
you drive” he tosses
me the keys. “But with
care. I love my baby,
don’t let anything
happen to her, or I
swear I’ll kill you.”
My mouth drops open.
He’s okay with me
driving? Damn! I guess I
won’t be getting rid of
him anytime soon.
“Wow, at least you love
a car, if not a girl, Mr.
Casanova.” I say
snidely. I turn to look at
his car. It’s gorgeous,
no kidding at all. I guess
I’ll make the most of
this chance and just
drive this amazing car. I
get into the driver’s
seat as Dylan gets into
the passenger’s seat. I
start the engine, the
car roars to life and we
set off.
I wait for a second or
two for Dylan to fully
get out of his car, and
then toss him the car
keys, and then without
a single glance, I
hurriedly walk away. I
notice people staring
curiously at me from
afar. It’s not every day
that you see a girl arrive
in school in Mr. Player’s
car. Especially a girl like
me—plain, boring
looking, not belonging to
the popular crowd, an
invisible stranger. It’s
not that Dylan didn’t
bring girls to school, he
did. He brought tall, slim
girls with model-like
figures and long legs. He
usually pushed them
against his black sports
car and made-out with
them right there and
then in the parking lot,
in front of everyone.
This was nothing new,
a girl arriving with him.
What was new was a
girl like me being seen
with Dylan.
I hurriedly walk away,
trying to hide
somewhere from all the
judgmental eyes,
analyzing me, judging
me, like they know me.
They all are probably
thinking along the same
lines—that I’m an easy
‘catch’, another one of
Mr. Player’s plaything,
that I probably won’t
last more than 2-3
days. They can’t be
more wrong. I’m not
anyone to Dylan,
definitely not one of his
girls who fall to his feet
the first chance they
get. But they all
probably consider me a
slut anyway, for being
seen coming out of
Dylan. But what do they
know? They don’t
know I’d never been
kissed until last night.
But that’s how people
are, judging is human
nature. It’s in our
genes, our blood. We
assume things about
people without actually
knowing anything about
them. We think of
nasty things and
stereotype people, not
considering that these
same people might
have some goodness in
them too. And honestly,
I don’t blame them. I
myself have judged
uncountable number of
people—intentionally or
unintentionally, but I
have. It’ll be hypocritical
of me to lash out at
these people for doing
something I’ve done
myself many times.
I silently walk, not
paying attention to
anyone. Suddenly, a
hand clasps around
mine. My first instinct is
to yank off that hand
and punch whoever it is
doing this. That’s just
who I am, I don’t like
being touched
unnecessarily. But I
don’t do it, something
prevents me from doing
it, and boy am I glad I
didn’t do it! It’s Tia
who’d grabbed my
hand, not some lousy
stranger. Thank god I
didn’t do what I was
about to do. I don’t
think my best friend
would appreciate me
punching her.
“Thank god, I thought
you would never stop.”
she exclaims. “I’ve been
calling out your name
for the past minute,
didn’t you hear me?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. My mind
was too preoccupied. I
just didn’t want
everyone to stare at
me. You know how
much I hate it when
people stare at me.” I
mumble.
“Yeah, I know. So tell
me, how did it go? How
in the world did you let
Dylan give you a lift?”
She asks in her let’s-
gossip-about-someone
voice. She wants all the
juicy details, not that
there are any.
“Oh, it’s a long story.
Besides, I’m not talking
to you, so I don’t have
to tell you anything” I
reply back, suddenly
remembering I’m
supposed to be angry
at her for giving Dylan
my phone number and
address. I mean who
does that, giving their
best friend’s personal
details to a random
(hot) stranger?
“What? Why? What did I
do?” Tia asks, her voice
laced with worry.
I narrow my eyes at
her. “You know very
well what you did”
“Fine, so I gave him your
phone number, and
address, big deal!” she
exclaims, rolling her
eyes, like she can’t
believe how childish I’m
acting.
“Not to mention I have
to endure car rides with
him every day, because
of you, when I don’t
even need to. I have my
own car thank you very
much.”
+++TO BE CONTINUED+++