“I’m so sorry, but it’s my dad. I couldn’t disobey him,” I said, looking at Marco through the phone. His expression was tight, clearly trying to keep his irritation in check.
“You’re 18. You can choose to do whatever you want,” he replied, his tone sharper than usual.
“Not in my family, Marc,” I sighed. “You know how strict my dad is.”
“Yeah, cool,” he muttered, his eyes shifting away from the screen. I could tell he was annoyed, but he was trying to hide it.
“Um… we can still see each other tomorrow,” I suggested, hoping to lighten the mood. “Maybe we can hang out then?”
Marco looked at me, his frustration softening a bit. “Wanna come to my house?” he asked suddenly.
“Your house?” I echoed, caught off guard. To do what Exactly.
“Just make it up to me tomorrow,” he said with a small smile, trying to sound nonchalant.
“I’ll have to make plans for that,” I said, my mind racing with how I’d explain this to my family.
“Just figure it out,” he said, nodding before ending the call.
I sighed, laying back on my bed. The idea of going to Marco’s house felt exciting and nerve-wracking at the same time. I’d need a solid plan to make it happen without raising suspicion. Maybe I could tell my brother I was meeting friends for a group study session after classes. That seemed believable enough and would buy me some time.
As I stared at the ceiling, I started mentally rehearsing my excuses, hoping they would hold up under scrutiny. I couldn’t help but feel a mix of anticipation and anxiety about what would happen tomorrow.
~~
The next day arrived with a rush of anticipation and anxiety. As the morning sun filtered through my curtains, I stretched and glanced at my phone to check the time. I needed to leave early for school to avoid any awkward run-ins at home.
I dressed quickly, opting for something casual but nice-a pair of jeans and a fitted top. After a quick breakfast, I grabbed my bag and headed out, trying to suppress the nervous flutter in my stomach. I’d have to act natural, especially around Ezra, who had a knack for sensing when something was up.
School was the usual bustle of students chatting and rushing to classes. I met up with Eva, who raised an eyebrow at my apparent distraction.
“You seem jumpy,” she noted, eyeing me over her coffee.
“Just trying to avoid trouble today,” I muttered, adjusting the strap of my bag.
“Trouble with who? Your brother?” she asked, sipping her drink.
“Something like that,” I said, giving her a vague smile. “Just need to keep things low-key.”
Classes dragged on as I kept glancing at the clock, the minutes ticking by painfully slow. By lunchtime, I was fidgeting in my seat, my mind half on the lessons and half on my plans with Marco.
Eva noticed my restlessness. “Got somewhere to be?”
“Just a lot on my mind,” I replied, dodging the question. I didn’t want to go into details about Marco’s invitation just yet.
Finally, the last class ended, and I gathered my things, heart pounding. I sent a quick text to Marco to confirm our plans, then made my way to the exit. As I walked towards the parking lot, I mentally rehearsed my excuse again, ready to head to his Car.
my phone buzzed with a message from Marco confirming our meet-up. Just as I was about to reply, I nearly bumped into someone standing in my path.
Cyrus stood there, his usual smirk on display. “Hey, you heading home?”
I frowned, confused. “What do you mean?”
“Thought I’d offer you a ride,” he said casually, his eyes glinting with amusement.
I glanced around, trying to think of an excuse. “I’m meeting someone,” I said, clutching my phone.
Cyrus’s smirk widened. “Let me guess-your toy, right?”
I rolled my eyes, trying not to show my irritation. “I’m just meeting someone. It’s not like that.”
“Is Marco giving you a ride?” he asked, his tone taking on a sharper edge.
“Not yet,” I replied, feeling my cheeks flush. “I’m meeting him after.”
Cyrus studied me for a moment, then shrugged. “Whatever you’re up to, just don’t do anything stupid.”
I blinked, caught off guard by his sudden seriousness. “I won’t,” I muttered, looking away.
He nodded, his gaze lingering on me for a moment longer before he turned and walked away. “See you around,” he called over his shoulder.
I watched him go, feeling a mix of frustration and something else I couldn’t quite place. Shaking my head, I texted Marco that I was on my way, then continued towards the exit. As I walked, I couldn’t help but replay the conversation with Cyrus in my head, wondering why he always had to complicate things.
I spotted Marco leaning against his car, scrolling through his phone. His face lit up when he saw me approaching. He opened the passenger door with a flourish and gestured for me to get in.
“Hey,” he greeted with a warm smile. “Ready to go?”
“Hey,” I replied, sliding into the seat. As soon as I buckled up, he leaned over and planted a soft kiss on my cheek. The gesture made my heart flutter, a mix of excitement and nervousness tingling in my chest.
He pulled away, still smiling. “I missed you.”
I grinned, feeling a bit giddy. “Missed you too.”
Marco started the car, and we drove off, the cityscape blurring past as he navigated through traffic. We chatted casually about school and mutual friends, the conversation helping to ease my nerves about what lay ahead.
When we arrived at Marco’s house, I was struck by how beautiful it was. The modern exterior was sleek, with large windows and a meticulously maintained garden. But as we stepped inside, the atmosphere shifted. The house was spacious but felt strangely empty. The walls were bare, with only a few generic pieces of art hanging in the main hallway. There were no family photos or personal touches, giving the place a stark, almost sterile feel.
“Nice place,” I said, glancing around. “But it’s kind of… plain.”
Marco shrugged, setting his keys down on a minimalist side table. “Yeah, my parents aren’t really into decorating. They travel a lot, so it’s just me most of the time.”
I nodded, feeling a bit awkward in the impersonal space. “It’s still a great house.”
He smiled and took my hand, leading me further inside. “Come on, let me show you around.”
As he gave me the tour, I couldn’t help but notice the emptiness in each room. It felt more like a showroom than a home, with no signs of daily life or personal history. We finally stopped in the living room, where a large, plush sofa faced a state-of-the-art entertainment system.
Marco gestured to the couch. “Make yourself comfortable. Want something to drink?”
“Sure,” I said, sitting down and trying to relax. “Whatever you have is fine.”
He disappeared into the kitchen, leaving me to take in the room. Despite the dullness of the decor, the house had a certain charm. Maybe it was Marco’s presence that made it feel warmer than it looked.
When he returned with two glasses of soda, he handed one to me and sat down beside me, his arm draped casually over the back of the couch. We sat in silence for a moment, sipping our drinks.
“So, what do you think?” Marco asked, nodding towards the room.
“It’s nice,” I said honestly. “Just different from what I expected.”
He chuckled. “Yeah, I get that a lot. But hey, it’s home. Sort of.”
I smiled, feeling more at ease. “I like it.”
He leaned in, giving me another kiss on the cheek. “Glad you do.”
We settled into a comfortable silence, the awkwardness from earlier fading away.
Marco grabbed the remote and flipped on the TV. “Let’s watch a movie,” he suggested, scrolling through the streaming service until we settled on a lighthearted comedy.
As the movie started, I leaned back into the sofa, trying to focus on the screen. Marco sat close beside me, his arm resting behind me on the couch. The opening scenes were funny, and I found myself laughing along with him.
About twenty minutes into the movie, I felt Marco’s hand lightly brushing against my thigh. I stiffened slightly but tried to keep my focus on the film. He didn’t seem to notice my reaction and continued his gentle touch, his fingers slowly tracing patterns on my jeans.
I shifted uncomfortably, my heart racing. “Marco…” I started to say, but my voice trailed off as he turned to look at me, his expression still relaxed and friendly.
“Just getting comfortable,” he murmured, leaning in a bit closer. He slid his hand up from my thigh to my stomach, the touch light but sending a shiver through me.
I swallowed hard, unsure how to respond. The situation felt charged with a mix of excitement and anxiety, and I wasn’t sure how to navigate it. Marco’s hand moved to my side, gently caressing my waist through my shirt. His gaze remained on the TV, but his touches were growing bolder.
“Are you okay?” he asked softly, glancing at me.
“Yeah, just… a bit nervous,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.
He smiled reassuringly and wrapped his arm around my shoulders, pulling me closer. “Don’t worry. We’re just relaxing, right?”
I nodded, trying to calm my racing thoughts. He shifted his position so that we were practically cuddling on the couch, his arm securely around me. His fingers played lightly over my shoulder, and I could feel the warmth of his body pressed against mine.
As the movie continued, Marco’s touches remained gentle, but the proximity between us made me hyper-aware of every movement. I tried to focus on the movie, but it was hard to ignore the sensation of his hand resting on my hip or the way his thumb occasionally brushed against my side.
The movie’s plot seemed to blur as my thoughts raced. I was torn between enjoying the closeness and feeling uncertain about where things were heading. Marco’s attention seemed genuine, but I wasn’t sure how far I was comfortable going.
Finally, as the credits started to roll, Marco’s hand stilled, and he glanced at me with a soft smile. “You okay?” he asked again, his eyes searching mine.
“Yeah,” I replied, managing a small smile. “I’m okay.”
We both stared at the credits that continued to roll, Marco turned to me, his gaze lingering. Without a word, he leaned in closer, his hand gently cupping my cheek. Before I could fully process what was happening, his lips pressed against mine in a soft, tentative kiss.
I froze for a split second, my heart racing. But then I found myself kissing him back, Marco’s kiss deepened, his lips moving against mine with a mix of urgency and tenderness. His hand slipped to the back of my neck, pulling me closer as his other arm wrapped around my waist.
Our breaths mingled, and the world outside seemed to disappear. I felt my hands clutching at his shirt, pulling him closer as we lost ourselves in the kiss. Marco’s touch grew bolder, his hands exploring my back, and I could feel the heat of his body against mine.
We sank deeper into the couch, our kiss becoming more intense. Marco’s lips moved from mine to trail down my jawline and neck, sending shivers through me. My fingers tangled in his hair, and I could hear the soft sounds of our breaths mingling in the quiet room.
His hands roamed over my sides, finding the hem of my shirt and slipping underneath to touch the bare skin of my waist. I gasped slightly at the sensation, my body responding instinctively to his touch. The intensity of our makeout session increased, the world around us fading into the background.
Marco’s hand slid up my shirt, tracing the curve of my side, and his kisses grew more fervent. My mind was a whirlwind of sensations and emotions, caught between desire and a flicker of hesitation.
Just as things were escalating, a sudden wave of clarity hit me. I pulled back, breaking the kiss abruptly. My breathing was ragged, and I looked at Marco with wide eyes, my heart pounding in my chest.
“I… I can’t,” I stammered, my voice shaky. “This is moving too fast.”
Marco’s expression shifted from passion to concern. He immediately withdrew his hands, giving me space. “I’m sorry,” he said softly, his eyes searching mine. “I didn’t mean to push you.”
I nodded, trying to catch my breath. “It’s okay,” I said, my voice still unsteady. “I just… I need to slow down.”
Marco nodded, looking genuinely remorseful. “I understand. I’m really sorry if I made you uncomfortable.”
“It’s not that,” I said quickly, shaking my head. “I just need some time to figure things out.”
He nodded again, leaning back slightly to give me more space. “Of course. Take all the time you need.”
We both sat there for a moment, the intensity of the previous minutes hanging in the air. I could see the concern in Marco’s eyes, and I appreciated his respect for my boundaries.
“I think I should probably head home,” I said, feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside me.
“Let me drive you,” Marco offered, standing up and extending his hand to help me.
I nodded, accepting his hand and standing up. As we gathered our things, the atmosphere between us felt different-still charged with emotion, but tempered by a newfound understanding.
Marco drove me home in silence, the tension from earlier giving way to a more subdued mood. As we pulled up like two miles away from my house, he turned to me with a sincere expression. “I’m really sorry about earlier,” he said.
“It’s okay,” I said, managing a small smile. “Thank you for understanding.”
He nodded, his eyes meeting mine with a mix of regret and affection. “Bye” he said softly.
“Bye,” I replied before stepping out of the car. my mind still reeling from the evening’s events.
That was awkward though but I just didn’t feel the spark.
Like the one I felt with Cyrus.
But I didn’t want to compare them both. Cyrus is an asshole for sure and I guess Marco isn’t.
As Marco’s car pulled away, I took a deep breath and started walking toward my house. My mind was still swirling with the events of the evening, making me walk slower than usual.
Reaching my doorstep, I stopped short when I saw a familiar figure leaning against the doorframe. Cyrus was there, his arms crossed, a look of concern etched on his face. He straightened up as he saw me approaching.
“Hey,” I said softly, trying to gauge his mood.
He met my gaze briefly, then rolled his eyes, the tension between us palpable. “So… he fucked you?” Cyrus’s voice was sharp, almost accusatory.
I flinched at his blunt question, my face heating up. I looked away, not wanting to answer, but the intensity of his stare made it impossible to avoid. “No, he didn’t,” I finally said, my voice barely above a whisper.
Cyrus’s eyes narrowed, and he nodded toward my neck. “Those hickeys on your neck say otherwise.”
I instinctively reached up, my fingers brushing the tender marks left behind by Marco. I sighed, feeling a mix of frustration and embarrassment. “Cyrus, you and I aren’t dating. You don’t have any right to question what I do or who I’m with.”
He clenched his jaw, the muscle in his cheek twitching.
” Fine, fuck whoever you want to fuck. But Don’t say I didn’t warn you about that your shitty toy” he said before walking past me.
TBC