More Than Friends

Part 121 (Tessa)

After our last class I force Hardin to drive me to the store, so I can pick up some things for the trip.

Hardin pulls into the parking lot and immediately starts complaining. "How long is this going to take?" he groans.

"I don't know, but it will probably go quicker if you stop complaining," I point out and then get out of the car and walk towards the store.

Hardin rushes to catch up to me. "Well, what are we buying?"

"I'm not sure, but at least some food," I say as we enter the store.

"Why? Can't Emma and her boyfriend bring that shit?"

"Hardin! He invited us to his place. It would be rude to not bring anything."

"Fine..." he groans.

"Now, help me pick out some food." As I go down each aisle, Hardin reluctantly follows behind me. "Oh, I'm definitely getting these," I say as I toss some marshmallows, graham crackers and chocolate into the cart. "I've never made s'mores before!"

"You know, Tess, you're really beautiful when you're excited about something."

"Really?" I ask and start to blush.

"Yes. You're always beautiful, but your smile is so much brighter when you're excited."

"I love you." I hug Hardin and squeeze him tightly.

"Don't forget to grab some Crackle Flakes for me."

I look up at Hardin, while still hugging him. "That's what you're thinking when I tell you that I love you, you big jerk?"

Hardin starts to laugh. "What can I say? You and Crackle Flakes are the two great loves of my life." He shrugs.

"And which one of us comes first?"

"You, of course." He kisses the top of my head. "But it was really close."

I pull away from Hardin and playfully hit his arm. "If you're not careful, you'll be spending the whole week, just you and your damn cereal."

"No need to get jealous, baby." He pulls me close to him again.

"Come on, we still have lots to buy."

We're almost done shopping, when Hardin calls over to me. "I guess I should buy like five packs of these," he says while holding up a box of condoms. "Oh, wait... I don't need them anymore." He smirks.

"Hardin! Shhh!" I start to blush as someone walks by and stares at us.

Hardin walks back over to me. He leans down and whispers in my ear, "I can't wait to feel you again, Theresa."

Hardin's words cause me to feel electricity shoot throughout my entire body.

"I can't believe I've been able to keep my hands off you. Burying myself inside you and feeling you against me is all I can think about," he continues to whisper.

"Hardin..." I whimper.

Hardin stands up straight again and smirks before saying, "Okay, let's go."

"You ass!" I say and hit him.

After paying for everything, Hardin helps me carry the bags to the car. "After all the money we just spent, this better be the best damn trip ever," he warns. We climb into the car and head home.

"So, what do you know about Emma's boyfriend?" Hardin asks.

"Not too much. I think she only started dating him a few weeks ago."

"Is he going to turn out to be another one of your exes?" he growls.

"No. Before you, I only dated Zed and Noah," I say and roll my eyes.

"Good."

"Yeah... Now you can stop being jealous."

"I'm not jealous."

"Then stop being paranoid."

"What do you know about him?"

"You mean besides knowing he's rich?" I giggle.

"That just means he's definitely going to be a douchebag."

"Stop! I think his name starts with a 'D'. Darin... or Daryl."

"Does Emma really like him?"

"Why?"

"I just think she deserves to be happy."

"Excuse me? If I was driving, I think I would have crashed the car!"

"What's wrong with me caring?"

"Nothing. It's just so unlike you," I giggle.

"I just feel bad after what happened with Noah and what she told me happened with-"

"What she told you happened with...?"

"Uh, nothing," he says and clears his throat. "I just feel bad that Noah cheated on her."

"Okay..."

The rest of the ride home is silent and Hardin is acting weird. I try not to make a big deal out of it. He's probably just embarrassed that he's showing me he's capable of having real feelings for someone other than himself or me.

Once we get home, we carry our stuff to the apartment and then unload the groceries and put them away until our trip.

I spend the rest of the night finishing up some assignments that are due before break. Then, Hardin and I have dinner and snuggle up on the couch together to watch some television.

"Let's head to bed, Tess." Hardin yawns.

"Okay."

We change, get into bed and Hardin snuggles up to me.

"Thank you for agreeing to go on this trip and taking me shopping. We'll have a good time."

"I just want to see you happy. I love you, baby." He kisses the top of my head.

"I love you," I say before falling asleep, safe in his arms.