The Battle of The Bad Boys (#Wattys2016)

Chapter 12: Leila's Choice

We head to the living room and I sit on an armchair to eliminate the question of who I will sit next to. Hunter and Tyler sit on opposite sides of the sofa, still glaring at each other. I awkwardly clear my throat.

"SO." I realise that I'm shouting and, blocking out Hunter's laughing, start again. "So. Obviously this situation can't continue - it's going to ruin our friendship group and, to be blunt, it's super awkward." Both boys shift slightly uncomfortably yet their glares remain rock hard. "I just want you to know that this is a really hard decision for me." I mentally cringe at how utterly cliche and overused that line is. "But I have made up my mind." I sound like Tyra Banks on America's Next Top Model. Both boys look at me expectantly, no longer the badboys of our school, just boys. Vulnerable and waiting for me to break one of their hearts. Okay, maybe that was a bit melodramatic.

"Just spit it out Leila." Hunter half jokes through clenched teeth.

"Tyler." I say and Tyler's face lights up whilst Hunter's morphs into one of disbelief and he starts to protest. Shit. "No I mean Tyler I need to talk to you and explain why I choose Hunter." I'm such a dumbass.

"You choose Hunter?" Tyler asks, looking confused. I can't really blame him.

"Look Tyler I had an amazing time on our date and we get on so well. I really don't want this to ruin our friendship because you've always helped me out. Like remember the time that you told Mr Carter that I had my period so I had time to quickly copy your homework before class? You're such a good guy..." And I should really stop talking. There's no way I can explain my decision to them without telling them everything.

"Well, I mean I gave it my best shot." Tyler shrugs in an attempt at nonchalance although his eyes betray his pain. "I should go."

"No, you don't have to..."

"Yes I do." He gives me a small smile before grabbing his jacket to head out. I sit back down to comprehend the gravity of what I have just done. Yeah it was only one date with each guy but Tyler has been there for me for the past few months for whatever shit I was going through with Amy or just generally helping me out. Hunter, on the other hand, always laughs at me, makes me do crazy shit with him and bursts into my room unannounced fairly often. But I can't help but feel so alive when I'm with him.

Suddenly Tyler bursts back into the room.

"I'm sorry Leila but I really can't let you make this decision without knowing something about Hunter." Queue the dramatic music because let's face it, this is practically a scene out of Keeping Up With The Kardashians. "He's a player." I raise a skeptical eyebrow at Tyler's hypocrisy. "No I mean we're all players but this is his game. He ropes girls in and then once he has made them fall in love with him, he leaves. There's a difference between one night hook ups and playing with a girl's emotions. You saw him do it with Amy," again I raise an eyebrow so Tyler continues, "and don't judge that relationship until you've heard both sides of the story. I'll treat you right, you know I will." He's practically tripping over his words in his haste to have them heard. Hunter growls in response.

"You know this is different Ty. Amy was completely different."

"We all heard stories while you were away."

"Rumours." Hunter corrects vehemently. "They were rumours."

"Isn't that why you came back? Too many broken hearts over the years so your reputation caught up to you?" Hunter springs out of his chair as Tyler says this and squares up against him.

"You have no idea about what happened back in Arizona. None. So just shut your mouth before I shut it for you," Hunter shouts in Tyler's face, livid with rage. I put a hand on his shoulder and slowly pull him away.

"Tyler, I think you should leave." I say quietly.

"Don't say I didn't warn you." Tyler shakes his head as he leaves, looking at me almost with an expression of pity.

*~*~*

Hunter has calmed down from earlier so we head up to my room, a tub of Phish Food at the ready, to watch Impractical Jokers. Just as I hop onto my bed and begin to assemble a pillow and blanket fort, Hunter's face turns serious.

"Leila I need to ask you something."

"Yeah sure what is it?"

"Do you want to be my girlfriend?" He puts a finger to my lips before I can answer. "I want you to think carefully about that questions. Because what Tyler said, it wasn't completely untrue, if a little exaggerated. I was a player. But I want to change. I want to change with you." He releases my lips, allowing me to talk. I do not hesitate,

"Yes."

"Yes?"

"Yes." I laugh as The Fault in Our Stars fandom enters my head before jumping off the bed into his arms, wrapping my legs around his waist. He pushes my body against the wall and before long his soft lips connect with mine. I move my hands to his chest, my thoughts just as blurred as they were earlier today when he kissed me, although it feels like a lifetime since then. Hunter and I are finally dating. A couple. After weeks of playing around. I never want to stop kissing him, his lips shaping to mine perfectly. His hands hold me firmly at the waist to keep me from slipping and he deepens the kiss so I can no longer breathe. Gently he lifts me up and lays me on the bed, our lips still not parting as he gently lowers himself on top of me. For a moment he parts, his breath tickling my face.

"This position has literally haunted me." He whispers in my ear, referring to the times he has landed on top of me before. "But now it's okay because I can do this." He leans in again his finger gently lifting my face towards his again as I succumb to his touch, his other hand gently winding my hair around his finger. Caught up in the moment, I feel his muscles against my body and want more so I gently start tugging at his t-shirt to get it off. He parts for a second, looking at me cautiously before pulling it over his head. He knows. He knows that I'm not trying to go too far. I'm not ready.

"All those times you watched me working out not enough for you?" He murmurs against my lips and I lightly slap his back, only to become fascinated by how smooth his skin feels over his taut muscles. He undoes a few buttons of my blouse but doesn't try to push it much further, occasionally cupping my breast over my bra. I don't know how long we're in this position or how long we would have stayed there is we weren't interrupted by someone at the door.

"What are you doing in my daughter's room?!"

Hey Guys,

I hope you enjoyed this chapter, let me know what you thought of it in the comments. Sorry it's a bit shorter but I wanted to give you guys the chapter and I have a lot planned for the next few so stay tuned! Also can we just appreciate how hot Francisco Lachowski is, like omg ❤️❤️

- Did Leila make the right decision?

- What will Tyler do?

Love all my readers,

Charlotte Hope <3