Twisted

Chapter One: Eli

"School's out forever!" Brian sang at the top of his lungs. "School's out for summer!"

I clamped his mouth shut. We were in the middle of a hallway filled with numerous students. I don't want an additional embarrassing moment on the last day of school.

"Oh come on, Eli. Don't be such a killjoy. The others are smiling. Who wouldn't want school to end?" Brian whined after I took my hand off his mouth.

He had a point. "Whatever, Bri." I said dismissively. I walked ahead of him, towards my last class.

"Eli, can we talk?" Brian suddenly asked me. He sounded serious so I turned around.

The next thing that happened totally shocked me.

His pink, soft lips that I've wanted to kiss for so long came on contact with mine. Brian kissed me gently, sweetly. It was how I imagined it would be. It was perfect. It's just that everything else . . . wasn't.

Tears streamed down my face as he kissed me. I kissed him back. Brian pressed me against him and more tears poured out. I felt my hand go to his cheek. I pulled away.

Once our eyes opened, I immediately wished that this was all a dream. My fantasies are strong but reality just keeps on breaking through.

"I'm so sorry, Eli. I just wanted this day to be memorable for you." Brian apologized.

"I know, Bri. I know." I said while sobbing. Brian held my shaking shoulders and held me still. I just wanted to break down there. In his arms. But I know that I couldn't.

"Elizabeth Rosewood, look at me." He said. I looked at his sparkling green eyes. "Remember that you're the only girl that I would ever kiss. You're the only girl that I would ever call beautiful. You're the only girl that I would call my best friend. Eli, you're everything to me. And lastly," Brian took my hand in his and held them tightly. "you're the only girl that I would ever say I love you to."

A smile crept into my lips. "I love you so much, Brian Donnelly." His arms wrapped around my waist as I hugged him.

"I love you too, Eli." Brian replied. A laugh came out of my mouth as I detached myself from him. Brian clasped my hand with his.

RING! RING! RING!

"Oh, snap. I gotta go." I muttered, trying to take my hand off from Brian's.

"Eli, we have the same class." He simply said. I face-palmed myself and started to walk towards my classroom.

Still holding hands, Brian and I entered the classroom. Several eyes stared at our entwined hands. Others gasped. Others laughed.

I ignored them all.

"Are you going to the library later?" Brian asked me, easily ignoring the fact that our hands were still entwined.

"Of course. It's my favorite place, remember?" I sent him a teasing smile as I dropped my bag beside my desk. Brian let go of my hand and placed his bag close to mine.

"Are you going with me?" I asked him as I tried to fish out a book. My eyes searched his face for a reaction or an expression. Brian kept a poker face but his eyes were sad.

"My family and I are ... going out." Brian quietly said. He played with his thumb.

"It's ok, Bri. I get it. No biggie."

Brian faced me, full-on. "It is a biggie, Eli. Don't act that everything's fine because I know it isn't. And the last thing that I'd do is hurt you." His piercing green eyes stared into mine. I took deep breaths.