Young Lust

27 - Are You For Real?

Steven stood up and walked over to me. He slid his arms around my waist and pulled me in close.

"Okay. I'll chill out, I don't mean to get so worked up..." Steven shook his head. "I just... you're mine, you know?"

"I'm still allowed to socialise."

"I know, I know, I'm sorry." Steven gently rested his chin on the top of my head and hugged me tight.

---

A few weeks passed and Steven was a lot more relaxed about me hanging out with my guy friends - as he should have been all along.

The day of Tom's return to Australia came. I was so upset to see him leave; who would know when our next meeting would be?

"I wanted to save giving this to you for when I was about to leave," Tom handed me a square photograph as we waited in the airport. It was a photo of Tom and I when we went to a rainforest for one of my last days of living in Australia. We were standing on each side of a giant tree, wrapping our arms around it - although the trunk was so round we were nowhere close to being able to.

"That was such a great day," I said, smiling. "Thank you." I hugged Tom as tight as I could.

Tom left a gentle kiss on my cheek as I pulled away.

"Come back soon," I said eagerly.

"Nah, mate, your turn to come and visit me!"

We hugged our last hug and then Tom left for his plane.

---

"Thanks for driving us to the airport." I said to Steven as he drove. "You didn't have to stay in the car you know,"

"Oh well." Steven looked pretty hot driving. He had the whole one hand on top of the wheel, other hand on the stick thing going on, all while sitting on a slight angle to face me better.

Over the last week or so our relationship had progressed. We'd gone on a few dates - dinner, movie, that kind of thing.

"I want to show you something." Steven announced.

We ended up back at his place.  He grabbed my hand and led me to the end of the hall.

"What, are you showing me your linen cupboard?" I asked, confused.

"Ha ha, no," Steven smirked and reached up to open the entrance to the attic.

"Oh," I responded, now interested, "I didn't realise that this house has an attic,"

"Come on," Steven let me go up first and followed me closely.

"Holy..." My mouth dropped open as I looked around the unexpected sight before me.

There were strings of fairy lights and lanterns layered over the top of beautiful tapestries and sheer material which draped over the walls and across the ceiling.

In the middle of the floor was a pile of blankets and pillows and cushions and a few stuffed toys; I saw a panda straight away - my favourite animal.

"Do you like it?" Steven asked as his arms wound around my waist. I turned to face him and looked into his gentle, dark eyes.

"This is... magical," I gasped. I leaned in to give him an appreciative kiss.

"I just thought that we should have a nice, private place that only the two of us know about." Steven returned my kiss.

He gently ushered me to the makeshift bed and we sat down together.

"Jade," I could see Steven begin to blush in the soft lighting, "I've wanted to tell you this for a long time..." He seemed to trail off.

"Tell me what?"

"I..." Steven looked me straight in the eyes and ran his fingers through my hair, resting his strong hand on the side of my face. "I love you,"

I joined him in blushing. Only then did I realise that neither of us had said those words to each other.

"Really?" I answered without thinking. "Uh, I mean..."

"Yeah, really." He pushed my hair behind my ear, nervously smiling and not looking me in the eye. 

"I love you, too." I said. As soon as I said it back, it hit me that, even with his temper and jealousy, I really did love him too.

Without hesitation, Steven moved closer to me and kissed me slowly and lovingly. In no time I found my fingers lacing through his messy, long hair and pulling him closer.

Steven's body pushed mine backwards so I was relaxed against the mountain of pillows and his hand pulled my face even closer still towards his, his other hand tracing from my shoulder, down my torso to rest on my waist.

I broke it off and looked at Steven's eyes. The soft light was caught in them. I found myself smiling up at him.

---

I woke suddenly, startled by a knocking noise. It happened a few times before I realised that it was rocks being thrown at my window.

I approached the window slowly, trying to see who the culprit was before they saw me. I looked towards the ground to see Tom standing with a handful of small stones which he dropped when I opened my window. I gave him a hush gesture as I pointed downward, hinting at him to meet me at the front door.

"What the hell do you want?" I whispered irritably as I opened the door to Tom. "It's like two o'clock!"

"I know. I didn't mean to wake you," Tom replied guiltily as he stepped inside.

"You didn't think throwing frickin' rocks at my window would wake me up?"

We made our way to my room so I could at least get back into bed. "So, what?"

"I have to tell you something."

"It couldn't wait 'til tomorrow? You know, during normal-people-awake-time?" I asked as I pulled the covers back up.

Tom replied by sitting on the edge of my bed and looking anywhere but at me.

"What?" I pressed.

"He's part of it," Tom said quietly.

I gave him an are you for real? look. "Am I supposed to already know what you're talking about?"

"Steven. He... He's part of that bet,"

I was silent for a moment. "The bedding bet?"

"That's the one." Tom looked down as if he was ashamed.

"He told me he wasn't a part of it. Why would he lie to me? And why are you telling me? At two-fucking-fifteen in the morning?"

"I don't know. And, well, believe it or not, I was in the neighbourhood."

I glared at Tom. "How about you get out of my house and talk to me tomorrow? Well, later. Whatever. It's Saturday, right?"

"That's right. I'll come back during normal-people-awake-time,"

"Lock the door behind you."

I didn't even leave my bedroom as Tom let himself out. At the window, I watched to make sure he'd actually left, then I returned to my disorderly bed.

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A/N: WOW. I know, I know... It's been a helluva long time coming, and I am so, very sorry!
However, I must ask a favour. Please let me know, whether it be in the comments or in a private message, if you find any mistakes: typos, irregularities, anything that you think isn't quite right. Even in the last couple of weeks of re-reading I've noticed and fixed a few mistakes.
THANK YOU, AND I'LL TRY TO NOT LET THIS SLIP AWAY LIKE THAT AGAIN.