18

Chapter Eight- One Step Too Far

Pacing back and forth in her pool house, Quinn found it impossible to relax. The moments of two days prior played in her mind like a broken record. She recalled the feeling of her lips pressed against Hudson's, how his tongue just grazed her bottom lip as he desperately wanted to kiss her back, but alas, ended the kiss. She remembered how he placed his hands on her hips and for a moment, held her in place-telling her he wanted her. But then the thought turned depressing as she was forced to reminisce about him turning her down. She rubbed her fingers on her temples as she wished more than anything she could take it back. But as time travel was not a viable option, she knew she would just avoid him until it would be forgotten. Given the fact he did not seemingly reciprocate the feelings, she thought he wouldn't bring it up.

Starting her day with breakfast, she brought the kids food as they were stricken with head colds and desired orange juice and pancakes. Bringing it to them within an hour of making it, she turned to hear the shower running in the other room. Her desire to see him was something that overtook her and she made her way across the hall, leaning against the door frame. For a moment, she lingered and caught a glimpse of his tan body in the mirror that angled in the bathroom. Biting her bottom lip, she shook off the thought and continued to tell herself to be professional.

Believing it would be nearly impossible, she found herself taunted by a lover from the past. David constantly spoke smutty comments about her, but had never done anything beyond repair. That was until today. Sitting in her lifestyle and management class, Quinn found whispers being done behind her back. Fingers were pointed in her direction as she had done everything possible to ignore them. By the end of class, David was handing out fliers with her picture and a warning claiming she paid guys to have sex with her and had several STDs. By the time lunch came around, she felt that everything had been too much.

Finding a bench away from everyone and just off campus, she threw her head in her hands and let everything come out. Cursing on the inside, she prayed hard that everything would go back to normal and the mistakes she made never would have happened. But as the intercom played through the lot, she found her next class was starting in a handful of minutes. On her way inside the school, she was pulled by a forceful hand and placed against the wall.

"You know it is only a joke."

"A joke is teepee-ing someone's house not writing things like that. I made the awful mistake in thinking I could trust you and be with you. Just leave me alone, David-"

"That's not how things go. I am the richest kid on campus and every girl literally begs to please me...why won't you?!"

"I like someone else...you know that."

"Like he's gonna care about you. Last I heard, he's married. All you are gonna be is something for him to screw."

"At least he'd be good at it."

David pulled her back towards him as he delivered a slap against her face.

"You will NEVER embarrass me like this again, do you understand?"

Without a word, she ran across the way and began walking several blocks, unknowing that that moment did not go unseen. Waiting on the couch as Olivia and Roderick did their homework on the table, she stared continuously back and forth from the couch to the clock until the door finally came open. Seeing Hudson enter with a slightly red complexion, he told the kids to finish their homework in their rooms as he wanted to speak to Quinn alone.

"I'll just save you the breath...I'll leave without-"

"Wait...what? What are you talking about?"

"You're firing me."

"Of course not."

"You aren't?" Tears filled her eyes as he shook his head and placed one hand over hers. It was then that she saw his knuckles. Bleeding and swollen. "Oh my God! What happened?"

"Worked out on my knuckles."

"You have a gym here...and that's not where you've been..." She squinted.

"It doesn't matter."

"It does if you did what I think you did..."

"I saw you. I saw what he did to you....I saw the flier...I saw his hand-It was it. I lost it."

"You can't do things like that. I know that I've been a relief for you-"

"No you haven't actually."

"You told me-"

"My God, you are annoying as hell! You walk around and are sophisticated and mature and never slip up. And the one time you do, you own up to it. You avoid me, but accept whatever you feel is necessary."

She gave him a confused expression.

"I don't understand-"

"You are always understanding and don't judge...you are so beyond beautiful," Her brow arched. "The way you do everything from make pancakes to dance when you clean...you are not a relief...you make everything harder for me."

He moved closer to her, pinning her back against the counter. Her palms rested on the surface as she was intrigued on the rest of his words.

"I have sat here for six months watching you...trying to tell myself to not feel like I do...but...screw it." Pulling her into him, their chests crashed against each other as their lips touched. For a moment, she was stunned as he pulled back.

"But...the campground-"

"I told you it wasn't a good time...not that I didn't want to..."

"Are you sure?"

He smiled as he went to kiss her again but she stopped him. "Won't I make things difficult for your divorce?"

Placing his palms on the surface behind her, he gave her a smile before looking around him.

"I promise it won't always be this way, but for right now...you can't say anything about us-"

"I wasn't going to."

"But when the time does come...I promise you that I will show you off like a new Camaro." He brought his lips to her ear. "And I'll ride you like one too." She got chills through her entire body as she pulled him in by his lapels. For several minutes, he held her against the counter, kissing her passionately-eventually pulling back as the front door came open.

"I'm home!" Rochelle said as Hudson and Quinn looked at each other with frustration.