The Stare Games (editing)

3

Slowly, as if he knew all eyes were on him, he turned his head in the direction Heather was pointing at. I watched as he searched the floor before coming to a halt at the victim's petrified face.

At first, his pupils grew wide at the sight of someone like me at an actual party. Even I would be surprised if I saw myself perched on the couch, knees to the chest like I was going to pee my way out of this.

We stared at each other, eyes-locked for what seemed like the hundredth time and I was met with the same warmth and embrace I longed to call mine.

Then he smirked, the same smirk I've seen him do on so many other girls but me.

"The pleasure is mine, Miss." he suddenly said, jumping on his feet and extending a hand towards me. Ever so slowly, I got up and slipped my crinkled fingers into his warm, soft ones.

Before I could process what was happening, I was led upstairs by Seth while a small crowd followed us, eager to hear whatever noises were heard behind teenager's closed doors.

That was when it dawned on me.

Was I actually going to make out in a room with the Seth Jones?

I was in a state of panic.

There was no way I could back out of this without looking like either a pussy or a crazy person because who wouldn't want the opportunity to taste those sweet lips of Seth?

But was I ready to have my first kiss because of a stupid game? As cheesy as this sounded, I was saving it for my first ever relationship.

"Um," I whispered to the boy next to me while we ascended the steps. He quietly shushed me.

As soon as we got into the room, we moved to the very back of it as far away from the door as possible. I watched his every moment from the shut of the door to the shuffling of his feet. He had a way of doing things in complete silence.

"So, I guess this is a good time to finally introduce myself. I'm Seth." he said with a laugh. Not a smirk but a laugh. A beautiful laugh that sent goosebumps up my skin.

I smiled down at the floor. All my life, I've been waiting for this moment and here I was, absolutely speechless.

I wanted to slap myself.

Realizing he had just introduced himself, it sounded only sane for me to do the same. The only problem was I had forgotten my name due to the close proximity we had between us. It made me weak, stupid and above all, pathetic.

A name suddenly popped into my head. Thinking it could be mine, I blurted it out.

"A-Aeryn." I mumbled.

"That's a really beautiful name."

His voice had a soft touch to it with a tint of an accent foreign to the American land.

That's when it hit me. Seven minutes in heaven.

"We don't have to do this, right? It's not—"

He cut me off. "Aeryn, it's okay. Honestly I don't want to either and it's not because you're not beautiful. You are-you are beautiful. It's just I'm not that kind of guy, although it may seem like it?"

I wasn't so sure but I was pretty sure he cursed under his breath after his splutter.

He shot me an embarrassed smile as a way of recovering himself and I couldn't help but laugh at his quirkiness.