Head Over Leather #Wattys2017

XI. Pure Seduction

Mia and I smoke in silence for a few more minutes, before I finally turn to her, ready to spill all that I had to spill. "My parents are divorced. Dad used to come at least once a week and we'd catch up, now I never see him and he cancelled our spring break camping trip. And Eva basically told me this morning that Ethan will never fall in love with me, because he's crazy about her." I manage to get out in one breath, watching as Mia nods slowly, processing it all.

"Okay, first of all, who goes camping with their dad during spring break?"

"Why does everyone say that?" I can't help but let out a laugh and she joins in, her head tilting back slightly against the wall.

"But seriously, if you're so bummed about your dad cancelling, we can just plan something during spring break." At her suggestion, I break out into a full beam, relishing in the fact that she seems to consider us friends.

"And don't worry about Eva. She's just bummed that Ethan isn't showing much sadness over their break up. She's used to being his world. And you kinda swooped in and interrupted it." Mia explains, tossing her cigarette on the ground and flattening it with her shoe. I do the same and she motions her head to the door. I nod and we head inside, towards the cafeteria.

As we enter the cafeteria, Mia begins walking to the table occupied by Ethan, Eva, and Derek, along with two other students I haven't met yet. The first is a girl with shoulder length brown hair and the greatest cheek bones I've ever come across, who's poking at the salad occupying her lunch tray. The other is a guy with shoulder length dark hair and a slight stubble along his tan face, who has a bent paperback novel in his hands, eyes moving according to the lines. Mia stops, rotating her torso to look at me, seeing as I've stopped. She gives me a tight lipped, but reassuring smile and I breathe in, before heading over.

"Ryder, Riley, this is Maya." I give a small wave to the two and they nod in return, acknowledging me. Ethan smiles, patting the seat beside him. Once I've planted myself next to him, he snakes his arm around my waist, pulling me closer. "Have you been smoking?" He questions, eyebrows raised in surprise.

"We had a smoke. Some chit chat." Mia interrupts, plopping down in front of me next to Ryder. Ryder grins in her direction, placing his book down and holding out a piece of mint gum, which she takes. He runs a hand through his hair, ruffling it, before beginning to twirl a piece of Mia's hair around his long fingers.

"There's a first for everything." I shrug, turning my head away from the scene to face Ethan. He lets out a low chuckle, leaning in and pressing his lips to mine, biting down lightly on my bottom lip, as his fingers trace the hem of my dress that had ridden up.

"You guys are kinda cute. You seem way too good for him, but it's cute." Riley pipes up, grabbing the gum packet from Ryder and handing me one.

"Thanks. For both." I muse, holding up the gum, before placing it in my mouth. God knows I need teachers or my mom smelling smoke on me.

"So, we are dying to know who's winning. Ethan won't give anything away." Riley leans forward on her elbows, a curious expression gracing her features. I laugh and move my fingers to entangle in Ethan's hair.

"I am obviously." I say cockily, earning a laugh from everyone at the table, but Eva who has chosen to focus her attention on her phone. Ethan rolls his eyes playfully, shaking his head in response.

"You're full of shit, Sawyer." He counters, hands moving to slip my jacket off my shoulders. I give him a bewildered look to which he chortles, continuing his task.

"You looked a little flushed." He shrugs, breath tickling my shoulder, as he leans in close. He smirks and I narrow my eyes at him, figuring that he was plotting something.

"You guys should totally come over to my house for Halloween this weekend. We have Friday off, so us girls can make a costume shopping trip and then I'm having a small get together Saturday." Riley grins brightly and I find her whole personality enlightening. She was like a ball of sunshine as opposed to most cynical teenagers.

"Small get together?" Ryder snorts, raising his eyebrows, as leans over the table to look at Riley. Derek and Ethan snicker quietly to themselves, as the table watches Riley turn to him, glaring.

"Seniors only." She finally responds after a full minute of glaring.

"Riles is known for small get togethers that actually turn into wild parties that get shut down before midnight." Mia explains, running a hand through her hair.

"So I guess my costume will have to be able to survive the night?" I chuckle in amusement.

"Yeah, so keep the sluttyness to a minimal. Those tend to survive the least amount of time. Unless you wanna impress Mr. Hornball over there." Mia rolls her eyes, motioning to Ethan who smirks, gaze trained on me.

"All I wanna do right now is rip your dress open and throw your leg over my shoulder so I can have my way with you." He whispers in my ear, causing me to choke on my gum. The group, besides Eva, turns to me in concern but I wave my hand indicating I'm fine. Don't get me wrong, I love spending time with the real, toned down version of Ethan.

But when he gets like this...it drives me crazy. In a really good way.

He nibbles slightly on my ear, pressing kisses behind it, trailing them down my neck and along my shoulder. I notice Eva giving us a dirty look, but she turns away as she notices me looking at her. "Ethan, we're in public." I mutter under my breath, suppressing a moan as Ethan harshly bites down on my skin. He ignores my warning, instead slipping his hands under my dress, caressing my thigh underneath.

"Get a room!" Mia groans, covering her eyes. I push Ethan away from me, my cheeks turning a deep red, as Ryder and Riley watch us with wide eyes.

"Well why are you looking? Perverts!" I tease, watching as Ryder places a hand over his chest in mock-offense, while Riley shrugs, nodding her head.

"I have to go find Jess. It was nice to meet you guys." I smile towards Ryder and Riley who wave me off, before I leave with Ethan following after me.

"Sawyer." I turn around to find him leaning against the lockers, hands tucked into his pockets, his eyes filled with something I can't quite make out. He slowly trails his tongue along his lip and I almost choke again on the gum.

"Come here." He smirks, finger tempting me forward. I swallow hard, trying to even out my breathing. Why was he doing this now?

Despite my own inner protest, I do as he asked.