Hate at First Sight

Chapter 31

Alice's P.O.V

We're sitting in the middle of a beautiful meadow listening to the birds chirping softly. I've lost track of time to be honest. The world seems to have simply just paused for a while. All of the rushing and anxiety of every day life just fades away and I feel content.

Ben presses his lips gently against the side of my neck. I lean my head on his. His phone beeps and he pulls it out of his pocket reluctantly.
"Oh shit."

And we're back to the real world. He grabs my hand and pulls me up gently. I groan. "I wanna stay." I say, collapsing back onto the blanket I was sitting on. He pulls me up again laughing.
"No babe we seriously have to go."
I cross my arms over my chest and plop down again.
He pulls my arms around his neck and grabs my legs, lifting me.
"It's not optional actually." He grins.

I pull his face down to me and kiss him.
"Stop. Distracting. Me" he mumbles in between kisses.
"We have to go." I kick my legs until he puts me down again and we walk the rest of the way back hand in hand.
We get to the door and he pecks my cheek.
"Fix your lipstick." He grins cheekily.
I pull my new lipstick out of my pocket and put another layer on. I open the door then and he pulls me inside.
"SURPRISE!"
Everybody shouts making me jump. Ben chuckles to himself.

The party seems to be already in full swing and I can't see Lea anywhere. I smile and thank everyone before turning to Ben.
"Are we late?" I murmur under my breath.
"Told you you shouldn't distract me!"
I shake my head as I laugh, pulling him further into the party.
"Alice!" Lea runs up and hugs me to her. She hugs me for a long time before turning to Ben.
"Well hello there! One job you had apparently! One job! And you were late!"
He laughs.

"Two jobs actually! I had to be the distraction first of all and divert her attention from the plans which neither of you knew about and then I had to get her here after you went and arrived early!"
Lea giggles as she wanders back in the direction she appeared from. "Easy!"

Ben wraps an arm around me from behind and rests his head on mine.
"I can't believe you're leaving early." He murmurs in my ear, holding me tighter to him.
I clutch his arm with my hand, trying desperately to contain my emotions.
"How do you know that?"
He spins me around, casually making it look like he's just dancing with me. I wrap my arms around his neck and follow his lead.
"Your cousin messaged me on Facebook ages ago. Was chatting to him the other night and he mentioned it."

I rest my head against his chest.
"I have to. "
"No you don't!"
I pull away enough so he can see my face.
"Ben this is the biggest cheerleading competition in the US and we actually have a shot at it. I can't say no! I'm head cheerleader."
He shakes his head, reluctant to accept it.
"Have you told your parents? Lea?"
I look at the ground again.
"Not yet but I will."