Thicker than Water

Chapter 1 (Lauren)

So I decided to try my hand in some young adult romance! I hope you enjoy it!

As Lauren was readjusting her cheerleading uniform, she had to reflect on her current state. Who would have thought two months ago that she would be hooking up with Josh Riley? Under the bleachers? During a football game? However, once she saw that look in his eyes while he was leaving the field, she knew it was time to meet up.

She knew how upset he was to be injured and watching the game from the bench. He had broken his ankle over the summer, before the season had even started. Because he was a senior, this was his last chance—in his mind—to finally make his dad proud.

"Why do you even care what he thinks?" Lauren had asked him during one of their joint physical therapy sessions.

He wouldn't even look at her. "You just wouldn't understand." She dropped it.

Josh and her went to physical therapy together every Tuesday evening for eight weeks. She had torn her Achilles tendon while jogging over the summer; she always tended to push herself too hard. Tonight was her first time cheering again.

Of course she had known Josh before that--they were in the same grade and high school, hang out with the same people, he was the star quarterback and she was on the cheerleading squad--but she hadn't had a real conversation with him in the entire four years since she and her mom had moved to town.

There weren't many physical therapists in their small town. When word got out that the star quarterback needed mending, it was decided that Lauren could share her time slot. No one had asked for her opinion.

She quickly realized, however, that it was nice to have someone who understood what you were going through so completely. Lauren didn't have any pressure from her mom though; it was all self-inflicted.

During the second week, their therapist, Adam, had to leave the room to take a phone call, leaving them alone.

Lauren didn't see the point in wasting time, so she began some of the motion stretches Adam had shown them last week. Just as she was finishing her last count of eight, she felt a tingling sensation run up her leg. Her first thought was that someone left a spark plug on the mat as a practical joke, but when she looked she simply saw that Josh's fingers had accidentally grazed her shin. Wow that's odd.

She knew he was feeling the same energy because he didn't move his hand. He looked up at her and held eye contact. Slowly, he placed his palm on her leg and began slowly raising it. What is happening? This is insane.

But she didn't stop him.

When he had reached the knee, she heard the gym door slam open and jumped back. "Well, that's all folks! Time to pack up. See you two next week," Adam shouted towards them. He proceeded to walk out the side door, not waiting for a response. The two of them were alone again.

Lauren didn't know how to feel. That might have been the most sensual  moment of her life...and they had barely touched. Why is he affecting me like this?

"So I guess I'll see you later," Lauren said quickly, picking up her bag and walking away. She needed to get out of here and answer all the questions that were going through her head.  Josh quickly grabbed his crutches and hobbled behind her.

"Wait, Lauren!" She stopped and turned around to look at him. "I know you may have somewhere to be but...do you maybe want to go for a drive or something?"

Lauren knew very well that he didn't want to drive around looking at the scenery. She knew what he wanted. "Sure"