Imago

Chapter V

The walk to the Matthews household after school is a little bit awkward. I know Izzy is dying to tell me about her conversation with Jed, but she doesn't want to say anything in front of her brother. And the tension between Isaac and I is almost palpable. It feels like it's been a lot longer than two days since I last walked with either of them.

As much as I want to be there for my friend and hear about her day, I can't concentrate for the anxiousness swirling around in my stomach. I tell her that I really need to get stuck into my history assignment, so I should get home.

It's only a half lie. The devil on my left shoulder says soothingly to the disapproving angel on my right.

"I'll write you a letter," she says, before heading inside.

"Ready?" Isaac asks.

I nod, and we make our way, silently, to my house. I take him back through the park and he laughs when I get on the swing again. This time, when I jump off, he's ready to stop me from stumbling over. He holds me at a distance, makes sure that I can stand on my own two feet and then drops his hands to his sides. I look up at him and squint.

"Don't you ever want to let loose and just be a kid for five minutes. Come on!" I turn, run over to the slide and start climbing the steps. "Come down the slide with me!"

Surprisingly, he starts to walk over, but instead, he makes his way to the front of the slide.

"I like watching," he says with a smirk.

"Boring!" I yell from the top of the slide.

"C'mon. I'll catch you."

I laugh and shake my head, before pushing myself down. When I'm at the end, I stand up on the bottom of the slide. I'm thinking about going again, but then I realise something.

"Hey, I'm pretty tall when I stand on here. I reckon I might be taller than you."

"I doubt that." He smiles and walks toward me. "I think I'm still taller." He smiles that lopsided smile and I instinctively reach out and grab his hand, pulling him closer. He laughs as he takes one more step closer.
"Nuh-uh. We're the same height. Look." I look directly into his eyes, which are almost level to mine. I'm waiting for him to protest again, because, truthfully, he is still a smidge taller. But he's not saying anything, and I realise that he hasn't let my hand go either.

The moment he sees that I've caught up and can feel what's happening in the small space that separates us, his eyes pierce me. There's a hunger within them that makes my breath hitch.

"Fuck it," he groans.

And with that, his lips are on mine, and it's better than I could have ever imagined. My eyes close as his tongue brushes over my bottom lip, making it part from the top one. Our fingers untangle and one of his arms moves to my back, while the other cradles the back of my head. My arms hold him to me and the kiss deepens even more. It's urgent, as though we've been waiting years to finally do this, but at the same time it's soft and sensual.

I've never been kissed like this before. This is far better than whale kissing. I could do this forever.

Of course, it's during that very thought that he slows the kiss and pulls away.

"What are you doing?" I sound bossy. I'm never bossy. What the hell has gotten into me?

He chuckles at me and gives me a quick peck to appease me. "We have to get you home."

I pout. "I quite like it here. Why do we have to go home?"

He kisses me again, only this time he deepens it slightly and I embarrassingly make a little whine when he pulls away.

"So we can do more of that."

"Oh, hmmm, good point."

We smile at each other widely and he gives me another peck before picking up my bag and walking, arm around my waist, to my house.

The moment the door is closed, my back is pushed into it and Isaac is tightly against me, his lips capturing mine once more. It deepens quickly and he moans. He swiftly lifts me up and I wrap my legs around his waist. He pulls from the kiss momentarily and looks around him. We share a few small pecks, smiling widely at each other in between, as he carries me to the couch.

He lays me down gently and moves to his side a little, holding himself up, so as not to put all his weight on me. He looks me over and smiles momentarily, before furrowing his brows.

"Are you okay? Is this okay?"

I smile widely and nod. "Yeah, are you?"

He leans on his elbow and cups my face with his other hand. "Yeah, I'm okay," he says huskily, before giving me a small peck.

I want to make out again, but instead he engages me in conversation. He asks about why I moved from Saint Joseph's and what it was like there. Then we move onto talking about our favourite music and movies. Before I know it, we've been talking for about an hour, and we're jolted back to reality when I hear my mother's car pull up.

Isaac sits up, moves to the other side of the couch and sits casually. I instinctively copy his demeanour, but stay sitting where I am. Surprisingly, he doesn't look panicked at all, and I wonder if he's done this kind of thing before. And then I mentally slap myself. Of course Isaac's done this before. He's way too hot to not have kissed a few girls, plus didn't Emelia say he has an on again, off again thing with a girl called Michelle? How have I not thought to ask about Michelle before now? Ugh!

When mum walks in the door, she's a little surprised to see Isaac on the couch. He bounces out of it and moves to grab a shopping bag she has in her hand.

"Hello, I'm Isaac. I walked Loren home. Here, I'll take that."

"Oh, um, thank you." Mum looks past him, flashing a disapproving look at me. I know I'll have some explaining to do later, no matter how innocent this looks.

Isaac drops the bag onto the kitchen bench and then reappears near the doorway.

"I live just down the road and my neighbour has this friend over that's stalked my little sister before, so I thought it best that I walk Loren home. He can be a real creep."

"Uh-huh." I'm not sure my mum is fooled. I desperately want to bury my head under a tonne of pillows and pretend this isn't happening. "And your little sister is?"

"Izzy, she's in year eleven. Part of Donna's group," I answer for him.

Mum nods slowly and looks around. "And where's Izzy?"

"Grounded." Isaac smiles as though he's amused with this whole conversation. "She's the delinquent of the family," he adds.

"Oh, well her and Loren will get along splendidly then," mum quips, looking pleased with her quick wit.

"Mum!" I gasp.

Isaac smirks at me and waggles his finger. "I had a feeling you would be a bad influence."

I stand, mouth agape, and he's completely amused by my reaction.

"Well, now that I know that you're safe, I better head home and do my homework."

"Thank you, Isaac," my mum says before busying herself putting her bag and keys away.

"No problem." He smiles and winks at me.

I feel a rush of heat and it takes everything I have not to grab him and kiss him one last time before he goes. I open the door for him and watch him leave for a while before closing it.

"Nice boy." Mum gages my expression and I do my best to look casual.

"He's okay," I say nonchalantly, and shrug.

I pick up my bag and take it to my room. Once I'm in there, I throw myself down on my bed, bury my face into the pillow, and scream with glee and sexual frustration.