Cabin 13 ~Book 1~

27

 Ethan's kiss was sweet and tender. And it brought me back to 10 months ago when our relationship was at its best. I was flooded with flashbacks from the start of my junior year. I had just turned 16 and I had the biggest, most embarrassing crush on Ethan.

"There he is." I whispered to my best friend back home, Nicole.

Ethan had just left the boys' locker room after a swim meet. And before you ask, yes, I was the type of girl that stalked her crushes.

"He's ok." Nicole acknowledged.

"He's better than ok. He's hot." I said.

"So why don't you tell him that you like him already?" Nicole asked.

I looked down. "Because I feel like he only sees me as a friend." I answered honestly.

"But you're Sydney Greene, the most badass girl. He'd be crazy, or gay, not to be attracted to you."

I rolled my eyes. "Well he's neither."

"I can't believe you're letting some guy make you insecure." Nicole admonished.

"I'm not being insecure." I grumbled.

"Yes you are." Nicole sang.

"No I'm not." I insisted.

"Yes you are."

"No I'm not."

"Yes, yes you are."

"No I'm not."

Nicole raised her eyes to something behind me and she smiled as her eyes returned to me. "Just admit that you like Ethan and he makes you nervous and I'll drop the subject." Nicole reasoned.

I furrowed my eyebrows. "But you already know that I like Ethan."

"You do?" I heard an unmistakingly masculine voice say from behind me.

I whirled around and came face to face with an amused Ethan. My cheeks heated up as he looked me up and down and gave an appreciatory head nod.

"Of course I like you. You're like my best guy friend." I covered.
"Why do I feel like you're lying to me right now?" Ethan asked. "Do you have a crush on me Sydney?"

"Well I- I kind of-"

"Cause I definitely like you like that." Ethan cut me off.

"What?" I gasped.

"I said," Ethan started and grabbed me, "I think you're sexy." He finished and tugged me into his arms.

"I can get used to this." I sighed into his chest.

My mind was brought back to the present when I felt his tongue dart into my mouth I realized that we were getting too carried away. I gently pushed him away and used the time to catch my breath.

"Wow Sydney." Ethan breathed heavily, a giant smile on his face.

"Shut up." I groaned and slid down the wall. Here is where the guilt and regret started to seep in. But surprisingly it wasn't as strong as I thought it would be.

I mean don't get me wrong. I felt bad about kissing Ethan knowing that I hadn't broken up with Jesse yet. But he lied to me. And he's a murderer. So in light of those facts, my kissing Ethan wasn't that big of a deal.

"I know this probably isn't the time to say this, but I really miss you Sydney." Ethan told me as he crouched down and lowered his face to mine.

"Please, just stop." I said weakly.

Ethan frowned. "No. I love you and I miss you and I deserve you."

I felt the need to remind him that he almost raped me but stopped myself. It was time to let that go and move on.

"I'm still with Jesse." I reminded him. "So technically I cheated on him just now and I refuse to do that again."

"You're going to break up with him though, right?" Ethan asked.

"Yeah." I muttered. "I have to." There was a moment of awkward silence.

"Alright get your ass up right now." Ethan said suddenly.

"What?"

"I said get up." Ethan smirked and hoisted me up to my feet.

When Ethan took out his phone and started to play romantic music I raised an eyebrow. Ethan set his phone down and then bowed to me.

"May I have this dance?" Ethan asked as "Make you feel my love," by Adele started to play.

"What are you doing?" I giggled.

"I'm taking your mind off of Jesse fucking Peirce." Ethan told me.

I shook my head but still allowed his arms to wrap tightly around my waist. As we began to sway to the soft tremors in Adele's voice I rested my head on Ethan's shoulder. It actually felt really nice to be in his arms again. I felt cared for and secure.

I don't remember how long we danced for but I do remember when I heard movement to the right of us.

"What the hell!" I heard Jesse yell.

I barely had enough time to turn around before I felt myself being tugged out of Ethan's arms and thrown across the porch.

"Don't ever touch her again." Jesse yelled in Ethan's face as he got in between us.

Rather than get mad Ethan just looked sad. But he wasn't sad for himself, he was sad for Jesse. "She's not yours to control Jesse."

"She's my girlfriend and I don't want your dirty hands all over her." Jesse growled.

"Actually," I trailed off stepping forward, "We need to talk."

Jesse turned around and frowned when he saw the look on my face.

"Sydney, I know you're mad at me butplease don't do what I think you're about to." Jesse's voice broke.

"I'm sorry, Jesse but we're just not good for each other."

"That's bullshit and you know it." Jesse hissed. He took a deep breath and calmed himself down before lowering himself to his knees.

"I'm begging you Syd, please don't leave me. I'll get better, I'll change. I'll even turn myself in, just please don't leave me. I need you."

I shook my head. "We're over Jesse."

Not able to take anymore I turned around and left the cabin, ignoring Jesse's screams and tears.