Down the Winding Road

Chapter Two

Goal: 3 votes, 1 comment
A/N: Above or to the side or wherever you see pictures is the pajamas she ends up wearing. Minus the bunny slippers .
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Chapter Two

    The next few weeks go by without another 'incident'. I avoid Raphael, even though he continues to attempt to approach me. I walk back to my house every day after school, and surprisingly I haven't gotten lost yet. The final bell rings for study hall to end on Thursday, and I gather up my stuff and head to the front doors of the school.
     By now, I'm one of the populars in the eyes of my peers. They have no reason to doubt that I am confident and happy. They have no idea who I really am, and I'm fine with that. If people find out my secret, I don't know what I'll honestly do.
     Letting my gaze wander, I pull out my iPod and put the battered up earbuds in. I quickly start my happy playlist to get these thoughts out of my head. Keep moving, Emmie. Faking a smile, I start to jog my way to my house, making good time. I stop for a moment to catch my breath, recalling lunch and the, well, 'incident' afterwards. I don't know. Maybe Raphael isn't that bad. He did try to help me. And Julian seems like a good guy, too. Doesn't matter Emma. Trust no one with your secrets. They don't care, they would laugh at you, or hate you, or both. You'll just get yourself into trouble again. Sighing, I let myself relax for a second, leaning against a light post.
     I didn't hear the car coming, or stop in front of me for that matter. I had my eyes closed and didn't hear the person get out and until till it was too late. The person came up behind and put their arms around my waist. My eyes fly open, and I scream I shock and fear. Fortunately for the guy ( I've decided it's a guy because of how muscular his arms are), I don't have the fastest reflexes and there's a pole between us so that I can't kick him where the sun don't shine. Unfortunately enough for me, however, he grabbed me around the pole meaning that I'm trapped against it and can't turn my head enough to see who the guy actually is, as the pole is hiding his face. Sometime in my fairly non-existent struggle my earbuds fell out, so I could hear him laughing. Wait, what? Is that...
     I step on the guy's foot and use that distraction to pull out of his grasp. I turn fast, and honestly what I see doesn't surprise me.
     Julian bursts into laughter while I stand there, arms crossed, and if looks could kill, he would be six feet under. Then I, like the mature, responsible adult that I nearly am, slapped him upside the head and practically shoved my middle finger down his throat. Seething, I walked away, continuing towards my place. Checking my phone for the time, I know I'm screwed. She said to be home before four, and here it is, 4:15. I look helplessly back at Julian who is apparently coming to his senses enough to know somethings up.
    "Emma, I'm sorry I thought it'd be funny."
     Idiot. Shaking my head I wonder if showing up with Julian would make things better, somehow? Or if I don't go to my house at all... Yeah that's a better idea. Can I trust him? I mean I guess I have to. I can't go back there, not right now. I already know that I trust him a heck of a lot more than I trust her.
     "Hey Julian? Um..." Having never asked to stay at someone's house, specifically a guy's house, I had no idea how to go about it. "My... mom is kind of, well, harsh when it comes to punishments.. Would you mind if I stayed at your house tonight?"
     I bit my lip, hoping he would say yes. Slowly he nodded his head, almost like he was thinking about something. But I didn't think that was possible. I mean how can you think without a brain? Anyway...
     He begins to smirk, and now I'm actually kinda scared. "Thought you'd never ask! We have no spare bedroom, so you'll be staying with me! Well, I mean my parents are out, you could always sleep in their bed. Not sure if the sheets are exactly " He wiggles his eyebrows, continuing to grin evilly. I regret asking Julian and not texting Lizzie. Oh shit, Lizzie! I meant to apologize for sitting at Julian's table rather than hers again. Oops?
     Getting out my phone and texting a quick apology, I tell her I'll call her later tonight, and that I'll sit with her tomorrow. Exasperated, I followed Julian to his car and tried getting in the back seat. The door is locked. Huh. I open the passenger seat's door and ask him to unlock the back door. Closing the door, I try to open it again. I point to the door then made a 'discreet' slitting throat sign. He just shakes his head, that smirk back in full force, plastered across the face of the reincarnated devil. He points to the shotgun seat, and motions for me to sit there.
     I trudge to the door and plop down into the seat, scowling. "Why can't I just sit in the back, Julian?" He doesn't answer. "You're such a brick."
     At that he turns and looks at me. "What did you just call me?" As he talks we start to swerve, and someone starts to scream. Oh wait, that's me, because as much as I hate life, my cause of death will not be the idiotic acquaintance, whose driving will make even the blind cringe!
     "Julian keep your eyes on the freaking road, or I will stalk you until I die, and come back from the death to stalk you until you die! And then, in the afterlife, I swear I will kill you again!"
     "Damn, girl, I'm watching the road now, okay? Remind me not to get on your bad side." I scoff and receive a message from Lizzie. As fast as I can, I grab my phone and open up the message. Well, hopefully she forgave me.
"Hey Em, it's fine. You forget I sat alone the majority of high school, I'm used to it :)". Feeling bad for her a little, I text her back.
     "No it's not Liz. I'm supposedly a friend, but I don't sit with you. I promise I WILL sit with you tomorrow!"
     "Honestly, I can't blame you. Honestly, I wouldnt MIND sitting at their table, but you know. Not exactly popular, like you guys. I kind of like Raphael, you know. It'd be nice to get to know him. I've had a small crush on him for ages. He never actually made fun of me or laughed at me when Lily made cruel jokes about me."
     Wait, Lily bullied Lizzie? Lily Sorto? I honestly don't believe it. I don't know why, but for some reason, I was feeling something other than anger or sadness for once when Lizzie said she likes Raphael... What was it? Shame? Curiosity? Pity? Jealousy? I don't know why, though. Raphael is a player. He's a bad boy. He wouldn't go for me, but for a while in the closet he made me feel, I don't know, happy? I haven't felt that happy in a long time. Up until he asked me why I had been crying, or rather, sobbing, in the first place. He's hot too, which doesn't help me in any way, but nor does it really hurt me.
     It's good that I know that Lizzie isn't a complete robot at the very least. When I finally glanced up, we are parked in a driveway and Julian was staring at me again. I blinked, and my eyes darted away from his, not quite sure what he was staring at. He broke the awkward silence about a minute later, apparently uncomfortable.
      "Well, so this is my house."
       It wasn't really a house, it was more like a glorified shack, but honestly anything is better than where I live. I can already tell that this wasn't the best neighborhood, either, because this was one of the better houses on the street. The house looks like it was made in the mid 1900's, because it had very old windows, and doesn't look as, well, stable as more modern houses would be. The house exterior from here looks like it's made out of wood. I look over to Julian and his head is hanging down, and his cheeks are tinted a light pink. Oh god, I must've looked like I didn't like it!
     "I love it Julian, honestly it looks so comfy! How many bedrooms does it have?"
     He looks up slightly confused at my reaction, but recovers easily.
     "Well three bedrooms, but as I said before, my parents are out of town, so if you really want, you could sleep-"
     "It's fine! So who's the other bedroom for?" He looks kind of annoyed thinking of the person, so it's probably a sibling or someone close enough to Julian to be able to aggravate him
     "My sister. She is usually at college this time of year, but she says she is 'taking a break'. Pft. She's probably taking the time off so she can pick a new major that she might actually like. She should be home by now, but with her you never really know when she brings home the new boy toy or stays the night away in some poor guy's house."
     "As so she's going for the slut image. Must be fun, though, I'm an only child. I wish I had a sister sometimes, but-" I cut myself off before I could say more. "Yeah, anyway, pardon my French"
     "You wanna see my room, since you'll probably end up staying in there for a night of endless temptation?"
     "Tour, yes. Your servitude, I'd appreciate. Of course I would love for you to lend your charger because I left mine at home. I see chivalry isn't dead after all." I just ignored the temptation part.
     "Ouch, touchy touchy. Come with me, 'master', for I will show you to your room for the night!"
     Smirking, I forget all about the punishment that waits for me at my house, and the injuries that will probably accompany it. That night, I had more fun than I've ever had since I was six. We watch movies, Julian attempts to teach me how to play some game called Grand Theft Auto, and I totally crush him in monopoly. Sighing, we both collapse onto the couch, laughing our butts off after a failed game of chess in which we both cheated and made up our own rules that only benefitted one person. I glance at the clock.
     "Holy shit! It's three in morning- I swear when I last checked it was only midnight!" He yawns, making me yawn. "Ugh we should probably get to sleep, but whatever. What'cha wanna do, Jules?"
     "Huh. I actually like that nickname. I-" He breaks off yawning again, and continues. " I think we should call it a night. Since Sis never came home, you can sleep in her room if you want." I shake my head.
     "In the bed of scandalous activities? No thanks. Not sure which is worse- your parents' bed, or your sister's. I think I'll just sleep on your floor, and you take the bed."
     "Em, just take the bed." Great. He's stubborn too. Now I have to break him.
     Fast forward fifteen minutes, and we are still arguing over who gets the floor. Why must he beat stubborn! I throw my hands in the air, and I pretty much snap. I break first, God, this is new.
     "Fine, Jules! How about we both just sleepy p in the bed?!" Blushing for the first time in quite a while, I realize what I suggested about second after I said it. I mumble a few incoherent swear words under my breath, refusing to face him.
     Without needing to look, I know he was wearing a grin worthy of the Cheshire Cat, wild and completely, utterly mad. "If you wanted me that badly, you should have just said so!" He came closer to me, the devil reincarnation that he apparently is. I keep taking steps back, until I hit the wooden wall behind me. He now is directly in front of me, and he smells so good, almost like cinnamon and bonfires. Wait, did I just think that? I try to get away, but he puts his arms on either side of me, effectively trapping me. He leans in close, and puts his mouth by my ear, and I can feel his breath, which actually makes me involuntarily shiver.
    Julian lowers his voice to a whisper level, and I gotta admit, he can be very seductive when he wants to be. "I wouldn't do anything to hurt you, or do anything you wouldn't want. I won't touch a single hair on your head to tonight, I promise." He draws away and leaves me confused as hell, almost wanting more. Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I follow Julian towards his room, completely hesitant and unsure in my steps.
     Things just changed between us, and it's too soon. I'm not ready for any kind of romantic relationship. I'm already fully committed to my food, sorry boys. I'm no longer positive sleeping in the same room, on the same bed, is a good idea. At all. Welp, no going back now, I guess. It's only now that I realize I have no change of clothes for pajamas or for school tomorrow.
     "Um, Julian?" He turns around and looks at me. "Does your sister happen to be my size? I don't have anything to wear..." I trail off, not sure what Julian would say.
     He contemplates something, and heads past his room towards where I guess is his sisters room. I follow him, and when I enter it, I'm astonished and, honestly, a little frightened by the amount of pink that the girl managed to stuff into her room.
     "Pick anything you want, she only wears things once, and I honestly don't know where she gets all the money for new stuff all the time.." Looking kind of dejected, he walked out of the room, leaving me to change. I look around, but all I see for clothes are short shorts or skirts and revealing tops. I sigh and examine the tiny closet for maybe, I don't know, more of a dress? For tomorrow I finally decide on this one blue dress that's higher in the front and lower in the back and is the one dress in his sister's closet that actually has straps. I look around for another minute and find cute simple black flats and a golden belt to match it. I sigh as I continue to root through the room in search of pajamas. Not finding any pj pants, I end up grabbing these cute short checkered shorts and a grey 'Take me to Paris' sweatshirt. Changing quickly, I head back to Julian's room and sit on his empty bed, wondering where he was. Bored, I put my hair up in a messy bun, and I take it out and redo it. Still no sign of Julian. I look around Julian's room to pass the time, and his is a lot simpler than his sister's. Though he has some random stuff scattered across the room, he is actually pretty neat compared to some people. Some people being me. He has the wooden exterior wall, and the ones on the inside are painted a white. His bed is pushed over to one side, and honestly I'm thankful it's a queen and not a twin, otherwise I would've taken the floor no matter what Julian said. He has a bookcase type backboard thingie, making me wonder if he reads. Before I could really think more, Julian walks in shirtless. Twice in one night, I could feel myself blush madly after years of not blushing at all and I look anywhere but him.
     "Picked something out for tomorrow, Em?" I nod and gesture towards the bed. He walks around the bed and sits down in his side, while I sit on my side, not facing him. Eventually we both lie down, with the light turned off, not saying anything.
     "Well, good night, Julian."
     Silence. "Julian?"
     He suddenly sits up and and looks at me. I sit up too, unsure of what's wrong. "Um Julian what's up? You seem to be thinking, and you know that's dangerous. I can see the fumes coming out of your head now. He turns his bedside lamp on and looks at me. He stares into my eyes and, almost so quickly his eyes dart down towards my lips and back to my eyes. I remain frozen in place as he leans in closer to me. And closer. And closer.
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QotC: Would you guys like to see another point of view, like Julian or Raphael's? Or should I keep it in Emma's POV?

A/N: I'm sorry I'm so evil. I didn't mean to there, but the temptation was way too strong...  Please leave comments if what I write doesn't make sense! I'll be going through some massive amounts of editing after this story is finished, or when NaNoWriMo ends, so don't try to be mean about the criticism. I won't have time to edit this until after NaNo is over, due to the fast pace I have to write at. Thank you, my ducklings! 2812 words