The Love Trials: Ashley

Chapter Five

"It's date five already? Are you sure?" Caitlin frowned looking at me over her coffee cup. Kieran too looked unsure.

"I'm sure. Date one was the nightclub. Date two was the restaurant. Date three was the movie. Date four was the picnic. Date five will be bowling."

"Bowling? Then sex? It sounds horrific." Kieran laughed. I dipped my fingertips into my cup and flicked the hot liquid in his direction. It didn't miss but didn't stop his laughter either.

"Maybe so... But I think tonight will define what happens with us."

"Do you like him?" Caitlin asked me.

"I do. There's something so... Different about him. He's sweet and kind... Different."

"We still have to meet him." Kieran told me. I rolled my eyes.

"Of course you do. But maybe not for this date. I might suggest it for our next date."

"Good idea because I don't like the idea of bowling with you two thinking about intimacy the whole time." I laughed.

"We won't be thinking about intimacy the whole time!" I actually wasn't so sure about that but I shook it off.

"What are you thinking of wearing?" Caitlin asked.

"Something casual but sexy for sure." I replied.

"Like?" She encouraged. I told her my clothing plan, already laid out on my bed upstairs. Dark blue jeans and a simple black vest, low cut.

"I like it." She approved.

"Good. I was going to ask Cathy but knowing her... She would want details on the condoms I was planning on taking."

"Screw that, she would want you to take some of hers."

"The unused ones I hope." Kieran murmured. I snorted with laughter and my tea went up my nose. As my eyes watered and my nose burned, I saw Caitlin looking disapproving at Kieran.

"We all know you fancy her, Ki." Kieran blushed a deep red, something that I had never seen before in my life. I almost choked on thin air.

"Fancy?!" I gasped.

"Kieran told me a while ago. I thought you knew."

"No!"

"Well now she does." Kieran sighed, helplessly.

"Why don't you just ask her out?" Caitlin suggested.

"You know why!"

"Why?" I pushed. Kieran groaned.

"This is why I regret moving here. You girls are just so... Persistent!" Caitlin and I exchanged a look, trying not to laugh before turning back to Kieran.

"Why?" I repeated. Kieran looked at me like I was dumb.

"Because. She's got a guy in her bedroom every day."

"She's under the impression that you're gay." Caitlin pointed out.

"We're all under that impression." I laughed. Kieran nudged me with his sharp elbow. I rubbed my arm as Caitlin and Kieran continued to tease each other as Kieran now started to pick on Caitlin's lack of love life. I had lost myself into a fantasy about the date with Bradley... Wondering how it would go...

I kicked Caitlin and Kieran out at four so I could get ready. In my excitement, I could barely eat but I forced myself to anyway, eating Pot Noodle while running a shower. I got ready like a whirlwind and eventually at six, as Bradley ran the doorbell to let me know he was there, I checked in my mirror to see if I looked alright. My hair had been curled and sprayed so it would stay put for a few hours, or hopefully all night?

I left my house, locking it and putting my keys into my bag.

"Hi." I said as I slid into the car, pulling the door shut behind me.

"Hi." He said back as he drove off. I looked at what he was wearing before saying anything else. Black jeans, blue shirt.

"How has your Saturday been going so far?" I asked him. He smiled back at me.

"I kept thinking about you."

"Me too. Thinking about you, I mean." I blushed at my own foolishness. His expression became very soft and he stroked my cheek.

"Such a beautiful colour." I smiled.

"Thank you."

He moved his hand to my shoulders and kept the arm there the whole way we drove to the bowling alley. Once we got there, Bradley signed us in at the desk and got our shoes. We were then directed to aisle eleven, the last one. The one next to it, ten, was empty. I had a feeling that Bradley probably booked it for the night and would leave it empty. Wondered how much that had cost.

Bradley did the machine bits while I strapped on my shoes. When I was done, I looked up at the screen. Bradley was first with Brad and I was second with Ash.

"You ready?"

"You're on." I laughed. He smiled then took a bowling ball and walked to the beginning of the strip to throw the ball.

We didn't talk much. We were extremely competitive and it was fun to get my first strike, overtaking Bradley's thirty-seven points. He bought us drinks after the first round (which I won) and told me he had paid for another round. I sipped at my blue raspberry slushie as he bowled to begin the second round. We got more competitive, even more so when Bradley scored a strike one after the other. Of course, he won. I therefore paid for our next round of drinks which we took outside into the chill night.

"Should have had one more." Bradley said, laughing.

"Needed to define a winner for sure." I said, shivering as the melting ice slid down into my stomach.

"How about a thumb war then?" I smiled.

"Sounds fair enough." We put our slushies on the bonnet of his car and started our thumb war match. He surprised me with his strength, winning almost immediately.

"You win." I said, nursing my sore hand with my ice cold slush.

"Course I do." He laughed. He picked up his own slush and downed the rest. "Should we get going then?" I nodded, no longer laughing. I was nervous. This moment would define our future to come.

I couldn't finish the slushie so I binned the cup and his and got into the car again. Bradley started the car but didn't drive yet. He was hesitant now.

"Yours or mine?" He murmured. I felt my stomach knot.

"Mine." I whispered back. He nodded and drove off. I wasn't quite ready to sleep over at his house. Wasn't quite ready to give myself up in an unfamiliar environment. Rather have the comfort of my own home.

Bradley parked his car on the road behind mine. He cut the engine and twisted the keys out of the ignition. I got out of the car and walked to my front door. He followed me, I could hear his footsteps. I unlocked the door and flipped on the hallway lights. It relaxed me slightly to be in my own home.

"Well here we are." I murmured. My nerves refused to let me speak any higher than a whisper.

"It's a good home." He said, quietly. I nodded. I heard the door shut and it sounded so final!

Bradley placed his left hand on my waist and brushed my hair over one shoulder to reveal my throat. I swallowed as his other hand ran down from my shoulder to my waist. Stayed there as his lips kissed my cheek then down... Down to my throat.

Sparks were going off in my stomach and I bit my lip. This was so different... I wasn't sure if I could do this... I could do this... I could...

He spun me round so we were facing each other. He then slowly backed me up against the wall, cupping one hand against my throat and tightening his grip on my waist. His lips were on mine then, crushing against them. I could taste strawberry slushie and I'm sure he could taste blue raspberry. This was something I had not expected, something unusual and I knew that Bradley was it. He was it.

"This would be easier in a bedroom." He murmured. I smiled, my nerves erased.

"This way." I took his hand and led him upstairs.