Bad Boys' Game

Chapter Twelve

I couldn't believe it.

William Young just took my first kiss.

And what could possibly be more unbelievable than that?

The fact that I wasn't even mad.

His lips were still sealed to mine, his hand still rubbing my waist, his other hand still entwined into my hair.

His tongue started to linger around my lower lip and I automatically opened my mouth more, letting him in.

His hand slid down to my thigh, and he picked me up, still yet to break the kiss.

He carried me back up the stairs, and laid me down on my bed, climbing on top of me.

I didn't know what he was getting at, but I had to stop him.

I gently pushed on his chest.

"What was that for?" He jokingly pouted, breathing heavily.

"Will," I whispered, "I can't."

"You can't what Autumn? We don't have to have sex right now if you don't want to."

"Will, it's not that." I sighed.

"Then what is it?"

"I'm scared. I'm scared to fall for you. I'm scared to be with you. You're bad news." I couldn't even look at him, I didn't want him to see how much he really affected me, though it's probably too late.

"Autumn," he tilted my chin up so that I had no choice but to look him in the eyes, "if you just let me explain, I promise I'm not as bad as you think."

"I get it, Will." I sighed again. I'd been doing that a lot lately.

"You really don't," Will retorted.

"William, please. I just need some time. If I really want to be with you, it'll happen, okay?"

"William?" He laughed. "I can make fun of names, too. I'd watch it, Autumn Rose Summers."

I threw a pillow at him, and my room was quickly filled with laughter.

I checked the time to find that it was almost one in the morning, and I had to be up in five hours.

As if reading my mind, Will tucked me in and laid down beside me, ripping his shirt off, and throwing his arm around me. I was too tired to care. Or maybe I was just opening up to my true feelings.

When I woke up, Will was still sleeping. I figured I could let him sleep a little more before he had to leave, so I got dressed in the bathroom and brushed my hair. He was already up when I got back, and it was a little awkward.

"Hey," I said, "you should probably go home and get ready."

He chuckled and said, "That anxious to get rid of me, aren't you?"

I rolled my eyes as he climbed out the window and went to finish getting ready.

School was weird, to say the least. I couldn't focus the entire day, and every time I saw Will or Austin I was reminded of last night. His lips on mine. His hands in my hair.

Stop, Autumn. Don't do this to yourself.

When I got home and looked over my chemistry notes, I could barely read any of it. I was so not looking forward to tutoring tonight.

Austin showed up and I sighed painfully. I mean, at least he was coming over for once.

Halfway through studying, Austin asks if I'm okay.

"Maybe. I don't know," I tell him. I remember again how it felt to kiss Will. I was a little nervous, but it still felt nice. More than nice. Maybe a lot more than nice. I look at Austin, and I see his muscles tense up, which were most definitely from his football tendencies, his seemingly permanent smirk, his blue-green eyes that make you wonder impossible things.

A thought hits me, and I swear that it's crazier than kissing Will.

What if I kissed Austin? All those things I felt with Will might have just been how it feels to kiss someone, anyone. If it happened with Austin, I'd know.

I look out my window at Will's room. The light's off. He's probably watching TV downstairs or something.

"Close your eyes," I said.

He chuckled and said, "Sure, but why?"

"What, do you not trust me?" I ask lightly.

" Of course I do. But I might just be a tiny bit afraid of you. You can be pretty scary when you're angry."

"Well, I'm not angry." He shrugs and dutifully closes his eyes.

I look at him, sitting next to me. Just the other day, we were playing video games and laughing together. Before that, I hated him. Now, I was about to kiss him.

I leaned over him, close enough to hear his breath.

I couldn't believe I was doing this.

I shut my eyes, and closed the gap between us, gently putting my lips onto his.

I could feel him smiling under my lips, as he lifted his hand onto my back. I stopped him before it escalated too far, though.

When I pulled away, I looked over at my window to see Will standing in his room on the other side. He just saw this whole thing.

"Hey," he said, "you're just gonna leave it like that?"

"We should get back to studying." I gulped. I didn't want to hurt Will. I don't get this.

"You know, Autumn, you can be just as much of a jerk as I am sometimes." I laughed uneasily.

I was completely and utterly confused, as both times I kissed them, they felt the same. I couldn't say one felt sparkier than the other, but these weren't just normal kisses. There was some sort of emotion behind them.

Who do I choose? Austin or Will?