Falling

Chapter Sixteen

"So what exactly is the team dating policy?" Owen asked, unable to stop himself from blushing as Amelia began to smirk.

"Any particular reason you're asking? Clara interested in getting more into archery is she?" Owen looked up suddenly and looked her in the eyes.

"No, because I want to ask out Sarah."

#

"Why did you call me?" He asked again as the silence dragged. Sarah looked over bed, remembering how it had felt, how she had felt as her skin continually crawled at the feeling of him. How destroyed she had felt, in a way still felt. How she had felt so betrayed by her body, how it hadn't fought back as hard as her mind had begged it to.

She thought about his question, they hadn't been as close then as they were now, but he had still been the most important person in her life along with Nola. He was her best friend, she had relied on him. he had always found ways to make things better. He'd never said anything about the break-up at Nationals, he hadn't even mentioned the fact she was crying. He come and sat beside her, not saying anything, and he'd played her songs from his phone, the weird, wacky and downright crazy. It had made her smirk, then chuckle and full blown laughter had eventually followed. Then, they never spoke of it again.

She didn't know why she had called Owen, at least not in the way she had the power within herself to admit.

"Why did you call me Sarah?" Owen asked, once more scooping ice-cream into his mouth.

"I don't know." Sarah replied, her ice-cream now gone. She got up and walked over to his desk, put down the cup and picked up the paper on his desk.

"You're applying to university." Sarah whispered and Owen got to his feet.

"Only one of them, if I don't get in I'll forget it."

"Why only one?" She asked, turning to face him, immediately overpowered by his ridiculous height. He leaned down closer to her, getting into her face.

"I'll answer, when you do." Sarah swallowed hard, buckling under the pressure.

"I couldn't think. All I knew is that I wanted you. I needed you. I didn't think I'd be able to breathe until you were there. I don't know how to explain it, I just needed you."

"That's not the right answer." Sarah looked at him, completely perplexed, unable to find this answer he apparently already knew. If he knew, why didn't he just tell her the answer?

"Then what is?" Sarah asked, her breath melding with his in the air.

"You know."

"I really don't." She replied, he traced the line of her bottom lip with his thumb, intent on her face. He was so close he could feel the rise and fall of her chest, jagged breaths as she arched her neck to meet his gaze.

"Yes, you do." Sarah stayed quiet under his intense stare, she couldn't give up, that wasn't how it worked with them, they were both stubborn to the end.

"I-"

"You wanted me."

"I said that already."

"But you haven't said why."

"Owen..."

"You know."

"I don't want to say it." He was so close that when he chuckled Sarah could clearly smell the mint on his breath.

"If it's what I think, I don't want to say in case I'm wrong about all this. We both know my ability to put myself into awkward situations is legendary."