Mr. Player

Chapter Eight - Risking the Reputation

Chapter Eight - Risking the Reputation

A heavy object laid down on me causing me to wake up. I am a morning person, plus I had a really good nights sleep so it was fair to say that I was in a good mood. My lungs felt heavy but a cheeky smile leaped on my lips when I saw him. He began to tickle me at my sides, I wriggled away from him trying to catch my breath.

"Stop!" I squeaked while I continued to laugh because I am a very ticklish person.

"Never." He replied and continue tickling my sides.

As I squirmed away I soon felt myself rolling, rolling off. It was a hard landing on the floor boards but I didn't hit my head which was a good sign. I looked up to see Brooks sprawled out on the bed looking down at me. The fair share of blankets came down with me and my legs became entangled with the linen. I wriggled my legs to try and escape from being held captive by bed sheets but I was having no luck.

"Would you help?" I asked the person staring down at me with a smug smile on his face.

"Depends on where you need the help." He said with a simple smirk.

"Luke." I said tugging on the bed sheets that bunched up at my feet.

"Fine." He said and he lifted himself up and off the bed.

He crouched down at my side and I soon realized that he wasn't wearing a shirt. His muscles flexed as he used his arms to free me. The back of his hand brushed along my hip bone that I now realized was revealed and my singlet had crawled up to mid stomach. As his hands worked on the bed sheets, his eyes were on my bare skin. I pretended to not make a big deal as with one hand I pulled down my singlet and the insecurities spiraled in my head.

Lifting the now untangled bed sheets off the floor, he rolled them up into a ball and threw them on the empty mattress. A smile crept on his face as he looked down at my helpless body on the floor. I gave him a look with my eyes that said 'a little help' but he just smiled at me.

I used my palm to push myself up off the floor boards but I think on the way down I must have twisted my ankle, "Ouch" I said as a force of habit. Now his smile turned to worry.

"What's wrong?" He asked, looking over me. His perfect complexion loomed over me. I could see why the girls leaped at the chance to get in bed with the guy. His body was one your fingers yearned to skim along. I think he caught me staring but he tried not the plaster his signature smirk on his face.

"I think I twisted my ankle." I told him, answering the original question. It was only a minor injury that can be fixed with a bit of ice but at this moment in time I could not get up.

"Let me examine." He said, crouching down back at my side. As an instant reaction he placed his warm hands at my waist and with little effort he picked my body up and placed me on the bed. With my legs dangling over the edge all I could focus on was the burning sensation at my waist. It could still feel his hands on my sides even though they were now at my ankle.

His heat radiating through my whole body with one touch. I can see that he is avoiding my gaze. I looked down at my ankle which he was examining and it wasn't swelling which was a good sign. I avert my eyes to his face, my heart jolted because I know he can feel something, the same thing that I feel. His chest rises and falls at the same pace mine is which is very fast. Luke Brooks was nervous.

"I'll get you some ice." He said, avoiding eye contact and soon it was just me, all alone in his bed room.

He hustled back in with a packet of frozen peas and a bandage. This time he looked at me in the eyes, I stared at him in awe. Brooks was helping me. Peeling up my skinny jeans he began to wrap the bandage over my ankle. It was fine nursing, as though he knew what he was doing.

"Bike injuries." He stated, clarifying his experience as if he had read my mind.

With the bandage securely on he placed the packet of peas on my ankle and he held my leg up with his knee.

"Will you be okay to go to school?" He asked me, breaking the ear piercing silence.

I cleared my throat, "I should be." I said weakly.

Damn, school. I had no clothes. Luckily that it was an excursion so I didn't have to drive back to my house to retrieve my uniform.

"What's wrong?" He asked, his eyes searching for an answer with in mine.

We did that. We look into each other eyes in hope of finding emotion or words without having to speak. It was our thing.

Alex what are you saying? Our thing? He doesn't look into your eyes and read you like a book. He doesn't care about you in that way so stop thinking about him.

"I have no clothes for the excursion." I said bluntly, trying not to sound like every other girl who needs to wear new clothes all the time.

He smiled, "I think I might have something." He paced over to a laundry basket, with tons of colourful clothes. Clothes that didn't belong to Brooks. He picked out a gorgeous green jacket. He carefully placed the jacket in my hands and I inspected it. It was the right size but it was Gucci. Man, where did he get this?

Then I connected the dots. A little prize left behind by an admirer. I didn't want to wear it, hell, I didn't even want to touch it.

"Which girl is missing this?" I inquired. As I looked over at the basket I realized just how many girls Brooks has been with. Suddenly I didn't want to be remembered as 'One of those girls'. I couldn't do that to myself.

"It doesn't matter, it's yours." He replied with a simple smile as though he were doing the right thing. And in some respect he was, it was kind. But I couldn't, it defied my morals.

"No. I don't want it." I said, pushing it back at him. He could tell there was something wrong. An apologetic look lingered in his eyes.

"You can't do that." I told him straight.

"Do what?" His voice was soft and calm.

"Care for me." I said gesturing to the peas, the bandage and now the jacket.

"And why not?" He asked, not understanding.

"Because you are Luke Brooks." I answered but he still couldn't comprehend.

"And what? Just because I'm Luke Brooks means that I can't help you out, can't be your friend?" He asked me, trying his best to understand.

"Exactly." I mumbled.

"Bullshit!" He exclaimed, he just didn't get it. Maybe he was too oblivious to see our two different worlds.

He studied me, "I know it's cliche but it's true, you're bad and I'm good, your popular and I'm invisible..." He was now smirking at me.

"I think we went over this Al, opposites attract." He said it so strongly, so confidently. I opened my mouth to say something but Gina walked in.

"Have a nice sleep you two?" She asked, her eyes glued on Luke's bare chest, trying to connect the dots to see if anything happened.

"Yes, thank you very much." I said politely and Luke scoffed before whispering, "Suck up", it wasn't meant to be harsh because he was smiling.

"Mum," Luke said in a fresh tone, "do you by chance have a jumper that Al can wear today for her excursion?" Gina's smile grew as if she knew of the perfect item in her wardrobe.

"Follow me love." She said, turning on her heel and exiting the premises.

I shrugged at Luke with a simple smile and I followed her out of his room and into hers. Walls plain white and bed neatly made, I walked into a room that was much like my parents. This room resembled the love of a mother towards her children. Scattered through out the room was frames with pictures of her three boys.

I smiled at a cheeky photo in my hand of Luke and Jai on their fifth birthday. Luke with his face full of chocolate mud cake and Jai with his hands full of cream.

"This." Gina said, holding in her hands and thin cream jumper. As she unfolded it my eyes gleamed at the perfect craftsmen ship of this jumper. It was beyond gorgeous.

"I can't wear that." I said, politely rejecting it.

"Sure you can." She said, placing it in my hands. "It deserves a day out." She said with a warming smile. Gina is a beautiful women, strong and loving.

"Thank you." I said quickly, almost forgetting my manners as I admired the jumper laid out before me.

"Go on, put it on." She egged, it was as though she were sparing and savoring the moment, due to the fact that she didn't have a girl of her own.

Carefully, I lifted the jumper above my body and I slipped my head in, followed by my arms. It was slightly big but it made my body look smaller, plus it generated more heat to keep me warmer. I was so grateful and I thanked Gina multiple times. With my ankle feeling slightly better I walked back to Brooks' room to see that he was now dressed.

Maroon jumper, white plain t-shirt, dark jeans and black shoes. If anything, Brooks had style. Upon stepping into his room, my nose became filled with his good smelling cologne. It made my heart flutter that how good he smelt.

"Al." He said, was Brooks at a lack of words? Finally he has shut up!

He took a step towards me, he was eyeing me up and down. I was feeling slightly uncomfortable.

I hit his arm. "Luke Brooks, are you checking me out?" I squealed.

You wish Alex!

"Dont deny it, I saw your eyes all over my torso earlier this morning. Don't doubt that I didn't catch you." He said was a smug look on his face, once again taking a step closer. I blushed, I knew he had caught me.

I didn't take a step back. He was now right in front of me, our chests so close to touching. I've been experienced in reading books and correct me if I'm wrong but isn't this the moment he is supposed to make a move? He lowered his head, ever so slightly.

Make your move Brooks.

My heart was thumping so loudly in my chest I almost couldn't hear his breathing. "You smell good," I heard myself mumble.

Alex, get a hold of yourself.

He was leaning in, his arms raising from his side, his arms were reaching up. He was about to I swear.

"Al." He whispered, I saw him shake his head as I looked into his chocolate brown eyes. Our eye contact was intense, neither of us prepared to look away.

His hands rested above my breasts, close call. He adjusted my necklace which was lopsided. As if he'd kiss you Alex. My heart race wasn't slowing even though he took a few steps back, as if to control himself.

"Breakfast is ready downstairs." He said, picking up his phone and sliding into his pocket.

"Brooks, why aren't you in your uniform?" I inquired, trying to relax from that intimate moment we both shared.

He smiled, "You see Al, I'm going to join you on your excursion." He decided.

"But you have school." I said, taking note that he was not in my history class.

"It's called ditching genius." He retorted, stepping past me and out of the room. Leaving me alone, hot and bothered.

                                                                              ***

"Luke, would you give Alex a ride to school considering her ankle?" Gina asked, smearing her nutella on her toast.

My eyes flicked over to Luke as I munched on my apple. Please say no. "Sure, I'll take her." He said with a big grin on his face. He knew just how much I hated his bike.

"Oh it's fine," I replied back, glaring at Luke.

"Please, it's the least I could do." He responded with a big grin planted of his face.

Great.

"Just wait, let me get my camera from my car." I instructed as I unlocked my Audi. Just where I left it, I retrieved my camera and I locked my car again.

"Saddle up." Luke said, enjoying my unhappiness way too much.

He helped me with the helmet which weighed down on my neck. He hopped on the bike and let the engine roar. Uneasily I stepped on the bike, swinging my leg over and sitting. I placed my hands on the edge of the bike making sure not to touch him.

"Al, wrap your arms around my waist." He said firmly, he wasn't driving off until I did so.

"Al, it isn't safe." He said, getting slightly frustrated.

"Fine." I replied knowing that if I didn't listen we would both be late for school.

I placed my hands on his waist which was radiating warmth. Brooks zoomed out of the driveway once he felt contact. Almost instantly I found myself hugging his back. I could just imagine the smirk on his face as I did so. I couldn't help it, gravities force was stronger.

I listened to the birds and the cars engines while I breathed in the petrol. I loved the feeling of the wind flowing through my pony tail. We were about two blocks away from the school when Brooks pulled over. He stayed there for a good minute just contemplating.

"Why did we stop?" I asked him but he didn't respond. Then it clicked. He didn't want to walk in with me. He didn't want to be seen with me on the back of his bike because it would ruin his reputation and what was I expecting, his friends to accept me? The school to accept me? No. That's why Good Girls and Bad Boys shouldn't associate themselves with each other.

Receiving the message loud and clear, I began to climb off the bike. Instinctively, Luke's hand grabbed hold of my thigh. "What are you doing?" he asked.