Loving Kinnick (Rewritten)

You Have Shitty Friends

Behind a series of shops, hidden downtown sat a brick building that towered the others. The garage door opened for Kinnick's truck after entering his code into a device propped from the ground. Golden lights illuminated the parking garage as we pulled inside. As he pulled into a spot near an elevator, I waited for him to get out first.

When he came to my side to open the door, he lent out his hand for me to take. Our fingers laced together as he pulled me toward the steel doors. I smiled down at our conjoined hands, trying not to make a big deal out of it. I didn't want him to think I was weird or anything or let him know I liked him. What if he didn't like me back?

Kinnick pulled a sleek black card from his wallet, pressing it over a screen next to the elevator. After scanning the card in his hand, the screen turned green, and the doors separated. I watched with wide eyes as we stepped inside of the golden elevator lit up with Edison Bulbs. He kept the card in between his fingers as he pressed it against another screen.

Our ride didn't last long before the elevator came to a halt. I watched in awe as the elevator doors opened again, and we were surrounded by black walls and a golden chandelier hanging from the living room ceilings. I stepped onto the chocolate wooden floors, polished to perfection, wondering how often people walked on them. An antique black couch sat in the middle, facing a large curtained window.

"You are going to love this," he murmured behind me before pulling on the obsidian curtain to reveal a rounded top window.

"I love big windows!" I squealed.

He nodded. "I know, you told me before."

"When?'

"We were at Trevor's house," he said. "Do you remember anything else from that night?"

"Not really."

"Do you want to change first, and you can ask me anything?"

"Is that a serious question?"

A smile cracked on his lips as he led me down a hallway. I stayed close behind him as he led me somewhere I had never been. He pushed open a door, showcasing his bedroom. My eyes searched the black walls, looking over the large bed in the middle of the wall. Everything looked untouched.

As he searched through his closet, articles of clothing came flying at me. A pair of boxers smacked me in the face; unfortunately, I still couldn't catch them. Everything he owned would be too big for me. Even the boxers I grabbed from the floor. He does pack a little junk in his trunk.

I blinked at him, "I'm not wearing these."

"Why?"

"Would you wear my underwear?"

"They could be shorts on you," he gives me a smirk. "There's a bathroom down the hall."

After pushing through the door he pointed at, I nearly gasped. The wall in front of me was made of nothing but glass. I could see all of our town from up here. A million lights scattered the empty streets. Kinnick's bathroom beat luxurious - it was calming.

A glass door leads to his shower, built with articulate gray stone. The room is enclosed and sits by itself. Unless you're standing in front of the glass door, you can't see inside. His accent wall is marble white, while his tub and sink are marble black. I peeled off my boots but kept my eyes on the view. When I tried pulling down my zipper, it wouldn't budge. I yanked on the small piece of metal.

"Bookworm," there was a soft knock at the door. "Are you doing okay?"

I contemplated answering. "Can you help me?"

He pushed the door open. "What's the problem?"

"I can't get the zipper down and I'm afraid I'll get stuck if I try pulling it off."

"Lift your arms," he instructed.

His fingers slipped under my sweater, tugging at the hem and lifting it my torso. I felt the cool wind prickle my skin. Goosebumps raised on my arms as small beads of water fell down my back. My clothes fell to the floor.

"Better?"

"Thank you," I smile.

"Do you need any more help?"

"You don't have to-"

His hands grabbed my waist to lift me on his bathroom counter. I leaned back on my hands as he kneeled in front of me. His finger slipped into my socks. His eyes looked up at me before pulling the material down my calf.

I swallowed a lump of nerves when he stood up. He played with the hem of my leggings. His eyes trailed up my torso to meet my eyes. My rapid breathing didn't go unnoticed. A smirk tugged on the corner of his lips.

"Do you want me to take these off?"

I could feel his breath on my lips. "Yes or no?"

"I can get it," I choked.

His thumb ran over a scar on my hip. Was he going to kiss me?

"Did your -"

"Stupid best-friend push me down in a hill in a shopping cart?" I finish his question. "Yes, but did I get in willingly? Also yes. Luke put me back in the shopping cart and ran his sister and me home."

"What happened?"

"A piece of the shopping cart broke from the impact. Luckily, it wasn't enough to puncture me. It did, however, cut me deep enough to need stitches."

"How long ago?"

"Last year," I giggled. "Yes, I was eighteen and fully aware of how stupid we were being."

"You weren't scared?"

"I was terrified," I corrected him. "But we knew if my dad found out, we could never see each other again."

"It didn't get infected?"

"We sterilized it with Sambuca," I stifled my laughter. "I also cleaned it every day and covered it with anti-biotic cream."

He grinned. "You're the girl to go to if I need stitches."

"I am a pro."

He rested his hands on the outer sides of my thigh. "This is how I brushed your teeth."

"What else happened that night?"

"You mean like, moaning while eating canned cheese and dancing on top of a bar counter in front of half the campus?"

My eyes widened. "You're joking, right?"

He directs the conversation. "Can I ask you something?"

I nodded, "go ahead."

"Do you know who roofied your drink?"

I let my gaze fall to the floor. "Of course you do."

"Please don't be upset with me," I begged.

"How am I supposed to keep my promise if you won't let me?"

His hand cupped my cheek as he caressed my skin with his thumb. My eyes fluttered at the sensation. I pushed deeper into his palm as the warmth soothed the discomfort in my chest. Without struggle, he brought my head to his chest as his arms wrapped around me.

"You don't have to protect me."

"I need to make sure you are safe."

"Friends don't do that."

"That is because you have shitty friends."

"Then what does that make us?"

He leaned forward on his counter, his face close to mine. "Whatever you want us to be."