Same Old Love

// nine //

I feel his hand run down my back as he kisses me. Just as he's about to go lower, reality hits me like a brick. Scratch that, it hits me like a cinder block. 

I move my lips off his and sigh. "I think we should go and find coach."

Reed looks at me and shakes his head. "Yeah, yeah you're right."

I nod and step into the bathroom, slipping into the soccer pants and a t-shirt he gave me. When I get out, I see him wearing practically the same thing. Normally, I would've made a comment but I just don't think it'd be right at this point. 

"I know where the aquarium is. Come on." Reed nods to the door so I follow him.

We walk silently to the aquarium, this time under an umbrella. We brush every 2 seconds, trying to keep under the shelter of the umbrella. As we walk into the aquarium, we finally see our group. Reed tells the receptionist who we're with and gets some stamp on our hands. Once we make it over, we split into our separate groups. Coach doesn't say anything, he merely observes.

"Why are you so late?" Sarah asks, pulling me away from everyone else.

"We stopped for ice cream and got caught in the rain." I shrug.

"That doesn't explain the hotel." She raises her eyebrows.

"Reed was taking long and Kent stopped by." I simply answer and move over to Lauren.

"I'm craving a salad. Are you?" Lauren wiggles her eyebrows.

"What? Since when do you like-" She drags me away and walks to the food court.

"I just needed a reason to get away from them." Lauren sighs.

"Are you going to ask me what happened too?" I roll my eyes and look down at my hands.

"Hey, what happened?" She looks at me with a frown.

"Nothing. I don't want to talk about it." I shake my head.

"I'm your best friend, Anna. I can tell when something has happened or not. I'm sure you'll feel better when you let it out." We sit down on the bench and I take a deep breath.

"Well Kent stopped by and said it was an act or some bullshit." I take a second to scoff before continuing. "It took Reed awhile to get ready and then I wouldn't talk to him. He bought me ice cream so I would and we got caught in the rain. We were soaked so Reed brought us to his dad's penthouse. I-I couldn't get my wet shirt off so I asked Reed for help. He did and we kind of got into a heated make out." I bite my lip and watch as Lauren is about to squeal.

"Oh my gosh! I can't believe you kissed him again!" She jumps up and grins.

"Laur. It's not good." I sigh.

"Are you saying he's a bad kisser?" Lauren raises her eyebrows.

"No. I just-ugh Lauren shut up and let's get back." I roll my eyes playfully as she continues to fume with excitement.

We walk back to Coach and he gives us a suspicious look. The rest of the time at the aquarium was uneventful. We looked at all the fish and headed back to the bus. By the time we got back, there was an hour until the guys' game. I wasn't sure if I should go back to my room and face the awkward tension between Reed and I. Of course I did, since I'm an idiot.

"So you ready for your game?" I ask, sitting on the edge of my bed.

"Sure. Your brother's a good captain so." He answers, facing me from his bed.

"Yeah, he practices a lot." I agree.

"Lise, this is fucking stupid let's just talk about how we made out." Reed goes straight to addressing the elephant in the room.

"Okay. We made out, it was nice. I'm a nerd and most likely just one of your fuck buddies. Problem discussed." I lean back on my bed.

Reed stands up so he's towering over me. "Just because I call you nerd sometimes doesn't mean you are totally one. Also, if you haven't noticed it's been awhile since I had a so-called 'fuck buddy'."

"And that is because?" I raise my eyebrows.

"You. I don't know what it is but every time I'm with you I just want to hold you." He shrugs.

I try my best not to laugh. We're talking about Reed Lawrence, a stubborn asshole who doesn't understand the word love.

"What's so funny?" Reed frowns.

"You know." I smirk.

"Do I?" He raises his eyebrows.

I nod and slide over so he could lay next to me. He settles down beside me and interlocks our hands. 

"We can't do this though." I sigh.

"Why? Is it because of Oliver? I can explain to him how much I like you." Reed shakes his head.

"It's not Oliver. It just goes against my rule." 

"You have a rule to not date me?" He chuckles.

"No, I have a rule not to associate with you." I laugh.

"Well, will this change anything?" He leans over and kisses me, his hand on my hip.

"No." I pull away and smile.

"Really?" Reed goes back to kissing me and soon hovers over me. I go along with it until there's a knock at our door.

"I'll get it." I push him off me and jump off the bed to get the door. I open it and someone places their lips on mine. I shove him away. "What the hell?"

"Look, Annalise, I screwed up major and I want to make it up to you." Kent pleads.

"Not this ass again." Reed rounds the corner so he's standing next to me. "She's not interested."

I go to close the door when Kent throws a punch at Reed. He stumbles back and presses his fingers to his nose as blood oozes out.

"Leave." I glare at Kent and look back at Reed. If he stays any longer, Reed will try to fight back.

"Fine." Kent storms away so I lock the door and turn to Reed with a smirk. 

"Come on." I pull him into the bathroom and grab a wash cloth before handing it to him. "Tilt your head forward until the blood stops coming out." I sit on the counter and watch as he leans against the wall.

"You cause a ton of trouble, you know that?" Reed sighs.

"Eh." I shrug and smile.

"Why weren't you ever with us at school? I know you'd always stay with your girls but you guys hated us." He asks.

"Well we thought you guys were all pricks that wanted sex." I admit. "Of course I had to like my brother."

"We thought you were all bitches." He shrugs.

"Thanks." I smile.

"Well, I know now." Reed rolls his eyes.

"Mhm." I shake my head. "You done bleeding yet?"

He pulls the towel away and nods. 

"Okay, then get dressed because we have to go down to the arena in 5 minutes." I hop off the counter and pat his shoulder.

"What are we going to tell people?" He stops me.

I bite my lip and look back up at him. "You tell me."

"Annalise Johnson, will you be my girlfriend?"

***************

Author's Note:

What do you think about this new potential relationship? What do you think other people will think about it? Do think Kent will stop bothering Reed and Annalise or do something else?

Find out in the next chapter of Same Old Love!

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much love,

Hailey

ps: Mattew Daddario as Reed??