Love, Romance And A Boy (bxb)

Part Eighteen

Part Eighteen

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After hours of wandering and tripping over roots, we finally stumble upon a river. The water gurgles softly, a welcome sound in the silence of the woods. I grin as I see the shimmering stream, feeling a flicker of hope that we might actually find our way back.

Scott wipes the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand, his shirt sticking to his back. He looks at me with a relieved smile, and I nod toward the water. "Let's follow it. It has to lead somewhere."

As we walk along the riverbank, I nudge Scott, a mischievous grin spreading across my face. "Remember that party where that girl threw up on you when you tried to flirt with her?"

Scott groans, but a laugh escapes him. "How could I forget? I had to burn that shirt."

I chuckle, the memory vivid. "You looked like you were ready to burn your whole wardrobe."

He shakes his head, smiling. "She had terrible aim. I was just an innocent bystander in the splash zone."

Our laughter echoes through the trees, the tension of being lost melting away with each joke. After a moment, Scott turns to me, curiosity in his eyes. "Hey, why don't you ever go to parties? You're always at home."

I shrug, kicking a pebble into the water. "It's not really my thing. I'd rather stay in and binge-watch a good show."

Scott nods, a thoughtful look on his face. "I get that. Honestly. It's kind of refreshing."

I smile, feeling a warmth that has nothing to do with the sun. We continue along the river, our laughter mixing with the sound of the flowing water.

As we walk, the weight of being lost feels lighter, the journey becoming a little more bearable with each shared story and joke.

As we continue along the river, I notice Scott glancing at me every now and then, a thoughtful expression on his face. I pretend not to see, focusing on the path ahead, but my curiosity gets the better of me.

"What?" I finally ask, unable to keep the grin off my face.

Scott hesitates, then shrugs. "I was just thinking about how different you are from most people I know."

"Different good or different weird?" I tease, raising an eyebrow.

"Definitely good," he replies, his tone sincere. "It's like... you don't care about all the superficial stuff. You just... are."

I feel my cheeks flush, and I look away, pretending to inspect a particularly interesting rock on the riverbank. "Well, thanks. I guess."

We fall into a comfortable silence, the sound of the river and our footsteps filling the air. Suddenly, Scott stops and bends down, picking up something from the water's edge.

"Hey, check this out," he says, holding out his hand. Resting on his palm is a small, smooth stone, its surface glistening with tiny flecks of gold.

"Wow," I breathe, taking it from him. "It's beautiful."

"Just like you," he says softly, and I look up, surprised to find him watching me intently.

My heart skips a beat, and for a moment, I forget about everything else—my sister, the wedding dress, even Elliot. It's just Scott and me, standing by the river, lost in the best way possible.

"Scott, I..." I start, but he cuts me off with a gentle smile.

"It's okay, Zayn. We don't have to figure everything out right now. Let's just enjoy this moment."

I nod, slipping the stone into my pocket. As we continue walking, the sun begins to set, casting a golden glow over the landscape. Scott reaches out and takes my hand, and I don't pull away. We walk in silence, the warmth of his hand in mine making everything seem a little less daunting.

As the river leads us closer to home, I can't help but think that maybe, just maybe, getting lost was the best thing that could have happened to us.

We decide to take a break, and I find a comfortable spot under a sprawling oak tree while Scott starts doing push-ups nearby. I lean back against the rough bark, watching him through half-lidded eyes.

Scott's muscles ripple under his t-shirt, which clings to his skin with sweat. Each push-up makes his back flex and his arms strain, and I can't help but admire the way his body moves. The sunlight glints off the beads of sweat, making his skin look like it's shimmering.

I swallow hard, my thoughts drifting to places they shouldn't. I imagine what it would feel like to run my hands over his chest, to trace the lines of his muscles with my fingertips. Heat rises in my cheeks and I quickly glance away, hoping he doesn't notice the flush spreading across my face.

But the fantasies don't stop. I imagine pulling him close, feeling the warmth of his body against mine. I imagine his breath on my neck, his hands on my waist. The images fill my mind, and I shift uncomfortably, trying to will away the sudden arousal. It's no use; my body reacts to the thoughts, and I feel a familiar tightening in my pants.

Desperately, I try to distract myself by focusing on the sounds around us—the rustle of leaves, the distant call of a bird—but my eyes keep drifting back to Scott.

He switches to sit-ups now, his abs tensing with each rise and fall. I can't help but let my gaze linger, each movement stoking the fire inside me.

Finally, Scott finishes his workout and sits up, wiping his brow with the back of his hand. He catches me staring and gives me a crooked smile. "Enjoy the show?" he teases, still breathing heavily.

I laugh, though it sounds a bit strained. "Yeah, I'd pay for front-row seats to that anytime."

Scott laughs too, shaking his head as he stands up and stretches. "Maybe next time you can join me instead of just watching."

"Maybe," I say, my voice a little too high-pitched. I shift again, hoping he doesn't notice the bulge in my pants.

Scott walks over and sits down next to me, his shoulder brushing against mine. The touch sends a jolt through me, and I force myself to focus on the river's steady flow, trying to calm my racing thoughts.

But with Scott so close, his scent mingling with the fresh air, it's a losing battle.

•••

A/N:

My boy Zayn caught the L-O-V-E