Code and Conduct

Nagging mothers and whiny brothers

It had been approximately a week since Nikolai had taken me out for dinner. But since I never told my mom where I was going or with whom, I was practically on house arrest.
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"You went where?! With who?!" my mother had screamed at me when I arrived home an hour after curfew. "I went out to eat with my friend, Nikolai." I stated stubbornly. "Nikolai Davidson?!" she hollered loud enough to wake up the dead. I suppressed a giggle at her strained red and purple face, watching the vein in her forehead throb more with each passing second. "Yep." I said simply. "I do not want you hanging around that boy, all he is is trouble." Of course, when she said this it only made me want to hang out with him more just to piss her off.
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So that was what led to my grounding. However, I was planning on sneaking out of my bedroom window to go hang out with Nikolai and Jaxson tonight. If I ever got left alone, that is. Hudson and Easton, my younger and older brothers were in my room begging me to use my television so they could play their stupid video games. "No way." I said for about the millionth time. "But you have the biggest TV, Al." whined Hudson. "Yeah, forreal. Look if you let us use your TV for the night, we'll tell mom we watched you all night while she was at the art gala and you can go see your little boyfriend." Easton bargained. "Okay, one, he is not my boyfriend. Two, you have a deal but only if you can keep Elissia's mouth shut so she won't snitch like a little bitch." I inadvertently rhymed. The boys chuckled but nodded their heads. "Oh, and you have to leave us a joint." Hudson tacked on another agreement. I rolled my eyes. "You're fourteen, Hudson. You shouldn't be smoking pot." I said, trying to keep a straight face and knowing damn well that I was doing the same at his age. He just laughed and ignored me. I held up their negotiation terms and slipped out of my window. I was on the third floor, but I was an agile climber... just kidding. I had a ladder, I don't have a death wish. I went out and started my car, my mom was still home so I hoped she hadn't heard it. Either way, I sped off, lighting my cigarette as I went. I was headed for Nik's penthouse.

   "Well look who showed up." Nikolai chided; I was a little late. I giggled and plopped on the couch between him and Jaxson. "We were about to smoke without you." Jaxson said jokingly. "Yeah, uhuh." I said, finally finishing my cigarette and putting it out in the ashtray. "Well light it up then, smartass." Nikolai said, tossing the smoke to me. I did as I was told.

   About thirty minutes later, Jaxson gave a sorry excuse that his mom needed him to "do the dishes" and left. Since Nikolai's parents were also at the art gala, we were left alone. Suddenly, there was an almost tense air in the room that I had never felt around him before. He turned to face me, studying me intently. I almost forgot to breathe when he was staring at me like that. "What?" I whispered. "Alethia.. you're so beautiful." he said softly, staring into my eyes. His bright blue eyes were the color of the ocean and so deep you could get lost in them. His hair was a sandy, dirty blonde and curly. I reminded myself to breathe. But at that moment, I could feel the heat from his face getting closer and closer to mine. He cupped my chin with his hand and pushed my hair out of my face with the other. He leaned in and softly kissed my lips. The kiss got deeper until he pulled back. I looked at him, obviously having confusion in my eyes. He smirked sweetly. "I wanna take it slow with you, you're special." he said, searching my face. I relaxed, and he pulled me in for a hug. "The others won't like this. It'll show weakness in their leader.." I whispered. He kissed behind my ear. "I don't care.. I do what I want, remember?"