Hotter Than Fire

5 - Free Lessons

Seeing Juan and his sunshine bright smiles the next day made my hurt over the whole mysterious girl issues dissolve. Like usual he strode in through the front door and into my room as if he owns the house. My parents and family were far too used to Juan to make that any issue. Issues as in 'a guy doesn't walk in like that to a girl's room' issues.

"Morning Kat," he said, coming over to my desk and perching on the edge.

"morning," I replied, removing my glasses wiping my eyes which were straining due to working on my writing project the whole of last night and the first thing in the morning.

"still working on the project, nerd girl?" he asked teasingly grabbing my glasses from my had and holding it out of my reach. I gave him the don't-disturb-me look. "come on, lets have some fun," he said.

"I did not do this to you when you were working on your software thingee." I argued.

"hey is this the mood from yesterday?" his voice took a soft tone. "I swear I'd kill Ashley if he did anything-"

"hey chill," I said. "Ashley didn't do anything," almost I added mentally.

Juan grinned, but I've been his best friend long enough to know how faux it was. "that's good cause Andy called me the first thing in the morning and said that they're having a song writing session and were invited."

"aren't we just gonna distract them?"

"actually he wants to distract Ashley to write in peace." he said through gritted teeth almost making it inaudible.

"what?" I asked.

Juan's face suddenly took a fierce look. "Kat, seriously be careful, you know Ashley doesn't have very good gossip about him... a girl once ended up pregnant-"

I threw my hands up. "woah, dude, that's what you're afraid of?" I shook my head. "am not going that far already, I mean I don't even know if he likes me and seriously with the whole long distance thing? And even if he did there's always protections," I added the last bit quietly.

"you know what Kat?" Juan said interrupting my string of self excuses which were getting ridiculous. "I never thought you're the kind of girl for stuff like this. I've seen you go through a million of flings, and flirt with a zillion random guys but this is way too much. You seriously went to his bedroom? Don't lie I have a good idea about what went on yesterday." exactly what was going on in my head. What I was doing is so not me. not that I was gonna admit defeat to Juan, and seriously fighting with him does suck.

"who," I said getting up from my chair to face Juan so that we would have only a foot of height gap between us. "put you in charge of my life?" I said with a huge icing of venom.

Juan mumbled something incomprehensible which ended with a sarcastic "I wish."

I couldn't raise an eyebrow but I made the facial expression that ones who cant raise eyebrows used.

"are you coming with me or not?" he said.

Damn, fighting with Juan sure leaves me drained. "yeah," I replied.

Juan stormed out of the room leaving me to wonder if he would be happy if I just changed my mind. I dragged my feet to the mirror. "fuck him," I said weakly. I dragged a hair brush to straighten out my tangles and slipped my feet into a pair of flip-flops. I was not in the mood to dress up so I was meeting Ash wearing a huge Bullet For My Valentine t-shirt and black cotton leggings.

Juan was leaning on his bike and wordlessly got on as I went to him. I got on like usual behind him and put my arms around him. Juan exhaled and I felt him relax. I felt myself relax with him.

"are you mad at me?" I asked him softly.

"never," he replied with a worried tone of voice.

***

When we arrive Andy's garage, we greeted by Andy's frustrated scream. "GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE!!!" he yelled.

Juan laughed getting off his bike. "I thought the scream was a part of the new track," he said.

I joined in the laugh. "are you sure its safe to go in there?"

"well its our job to make the environment peaceful for Andy."

I smiled and walked into the garage.

The garage was the perfect setting to frustrate a writer. I knew that very well being a writer myself.

Andy was sitting on the couch with his spiral bound notebook and his hands on his head ready to let out another of his screams when he saw us and exhaled a sigh of relief. "please, take these people away." he said gesturing widely at his band mates.

CC was practicing his drums. Jinxx and Jake were talking very loudly about what should be the art for the new single and Ashley... Ashley appeared out of no where and picked me up off my feet.

"Cat," he said through his smiles.

"please take the cat outside," Andy pleaded.

"my pleasure," Ashley whispered in my ear with a seductive twist to the word 'pleasure.' out of no where the story Juan said about the pregnant girl and shuddered. Pleasures.

I patted his shoulder once he had carried me out of the garage and into Andy's house. "you can put me down now you know," I said.

"yes, am well aware that I can put you down, its just that I don't want to." he said. "did I shock you yesterday?"

I looked down, avoiding his eyes. "sorry about the running away thing, its just this whole thing is new to me."

Ash shook his head disbelievingly. "you're telling me you never had a boyfriend before?"

I waved my hands around vigorously. "no no no, I mean I never had a serious relationship, but what I meant was..." shit. Not as easy as talking about these stuff with Juan.

Ashley shook his head again but with a little smile this time. "I think I know what you're talking about..." he said softly, carrying me up the stairs. "that happens to be my field of expertise." he whispered in my ear.

A million thoughts rushed through my head. This is not me, right? but I like Ash, right? is it about time I grow up? What the fuck is growing up? What about Juan? What about Juan? Am I ready for this?

I was still entangled in my mess of thoughts when Ash dropped me on his bed and landed on top of me.

"I'll teach you everything from step one..." he whispered in my ear.

I tried not to wriggle off his grasp. 'cause I like him. He's Ashley Purdy. About time I grow up. Face the music. "you know I didn't ask for these lessons."

"no one refuses free lessons, cat..."