Hated, Dated, Fated

Chapter 11- Dated

ALEXA POV

 A large part of me knew I was making a huge, monumental mistake but I pushed it away. I wanted the comfort, the care, the feeling of someone being there for you, holding you and telling you that everything was going to be okay. Caleb was… different. He was a joker and a pain in the ass, but he was also crazy loyal, loving, funny, not to mention oh-so-cute, and I knew, or hoped, that he would protect me.

Caleb pulled me into his lap on the sofa in the room that the principal had lent us for the party. It looked more like a lounge and Caleb, Riley, Josh and I loved hanging out there.

“Lexa, you have to promise me you’ll tell me when they do something. I don’t want you to spiral down again,” he murmured, after having briefed the rest of the committee while Riley tried to stop my breakdown.

“You won’t always be there to help me. What if I’m in the girl’s bathroom? Or in a class we don’t share together? Then what?” I asked, the hopelessness seeping back into my mind.

He frowned and cupped my face in his hands. “I can’t guarantee that I can stop them completely, but I can promise you I will try. I will protect you, even if it means losing everything else. You’re the only thing that matters to me now, understand?” he said, his eyes sincere and sombre.

I gaped at him, my eyes widening in shock. “You’d give up your captain title? Your popularity? Everything?” I whispered, unable to believe it.

“In a heartbeat,” he said, kissing me on the forehead. “Although I would be pretty pissed if someone tried to take away my team just because I’m dating you,” he added as an afterthought.

I couldn’t help it, I had to laugh. It was so typical of a jock to not want to lose his title.

“And here I thought I was the only thing that mattered,” I teased, the dark thoughts retreating into the deep, recesses of my messed up mind.

“You are, but basketball’s important too,” he said, a smile tugging on his lips.

“You two are good for each other,” Josh commented and Riley laughed.

“So mushy and sweet! Aww,” Riley taunted, making faces at me with a big grin on her face.

I knew she loved it when I was happy. After all, she was one of the most important people in my life who helped me get past all the shit.

“Hey Riles, maybe we should act like that,” Josh joked, then winced when Riley punched him in the shoulder. “Dude that hurt!”

Riley just smirked and winked at him. “I gotta head to class. Definitely do not need another detention with that old hag,” she muttered, rolling her eyes.

The old hag was the detention teacher, Ms. Maine. She was a cranky old woman who thought she owned the world and everyone had to do her bidding. She was the one reason why no one wanted detention.

“I’ll take you. I have Biology next anyway,” Josh said, hopping up from the beanbag he was sitting on.

Riley glanced back and winked at me, and it was our secret sign for ‘oh my god he’s so cute! Help us get together.’ I laughed and waved goodbye, comfortable in Caleb’s lap.

“What was that about?” he asked, wrapping his arms around my waist, pulling me even closer to him.

“Matchmaking time,” I grinned at him, before picking up the list of bands Amber and Riley had collated. “But first… work.”

 CALEB POV

Listening to her talk to herself while pacing the room was actually pretty funny. I would just nod absently and she would continue rambling on and on, debating whether or not they should get this group to perform, or ask this act to dance. Eventually I gave up on pretending to listen and started admiring her. I loved the way her entire face lit up when she saw something she liked, the passion and fire in her eyes when she was fighting for something, the way her lithe body moved slightly each time she was agitated about a certain point of an act. The way…

“CALEB! Have you had enough of staring at me like I’m a piece of meat?” she said, pouting and waving the pieces of paper in front of my face and dragging me back to reality.

“Huh? Oh… er…” I trailed off, shooting her a sheepish smile at being caught red-handed.

Alexa just rolled her eyes, but I caught the smile tugging on the edge of her lips. Grinning to myself I reached out and pulled her to me, wrapping my arms around her securely to make sure she didn’t hurt herself.

“Caleb what are you–” she started, but I cut her off with my lips.

“Shut up and kiss me,” I murmured, biting her lower lip teasingly.

“But… ah what the hell,” she smirked against my lips and deepened the kiss, her hands fisting in my hair as she moved to straddle me.

I groaned and traced my tongue along her lip, seeking entrance, which she gladly gave. She wriggled on my lap, which sent shockwaves of pleasure straight down south, and broke our kiss for air. I put my lips right below her ear and bit lightly, causing Alexa to gasp. Working my way down I reached her collarbone and marked her there, knowing she would kill me for it, but doing it anyway. We were so caught up in our make-out session we almost didn’t hear the door open.

“WHOA! Sorry man! I’ll leave you to tap that one,” none other than my Vice-Captain called out, causing Alexa and I to jump apart guiltily.

“Shut up Ashford. Don’t you have Biology to attend?” I asked, and Josh’s smirk grew even wider.

“Absent teacher. No old hag today whoop! I was going to ask you if you wanted to shoot some hoops but I see you’ve got your hands busy,” he snickered and walked away, leaving Lexa and I with half amused smirks on our faces.

I slung my arm over my girlfriend’s shoulder as she showed me pictures for the celebration. I was over the moon I could finally call her my girlfriend. She didn’t know it but every day I spent with her was better than the last, and my feelings for her were growing, fast.

“Let’s do it Victorian style. It would show how old the school really is and when they first opened Sierra Academy,” she said, sitting upright and looking at me hopefully.

“Then the rock band is obviously out. 19th century music is really boring though. It’s all opera and classical music. The decoration is gonna cost a bomb too,” I replied, trying to think of a Victorian ball from all angles.

“That’s true, and a lot of it is going into the venue already. How about a modern Victorian theme? That way we can use our current pop music and maybe hire that pop violinist, Lindsey Stirling, to do a remix of some classics? The dance crew Amber was talking about could do a ballet break-dance routine too!” Alexa blurted excitedly, her hands flying in random directions and her eyes sparkling while she spoke.

“Whoa slow down tiger you still need your team around you remember? Anyway we have a meeting next week. For now, we have homework and matchmaking. What’s that about anyway?” I answered, mimicking Alexa’s overexcited manner.

“Fine. Meeting tomorrow. Riley thinks Josh is hot and wants to get together with him, and excuse me but I already finished all of mine,” she smirked back and my eyes widened.

“When did you finish all your work? And how do you know if Josh even likes Riley back?” I asked, amazed that she had done it without my knowing, considering I spent most of my time with her.

“Last week, before everything started. Please, it’s so obvious! Did you see the way he jumped up and offered to walk her to Bio? Even you aren’t that nice!” she retorted, laughing away.

I narrowed my eyes at her playfully before pouncing on her, sending us flying safely into the beanbag.

“I’m not nice hmm?” I said, nuzzling her softly before my lips descended on hers and the fireworks started.

“Nope, not nice at all,” Alexa replied contentedly, snuggling into my side as we enjoyed the companionable silence.