AFTER. (lxc version)

Chapter 25.

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I have no words. Lauren's raspy voice and dirty words make me weak, vulnerable, and confused. I have become a rabbit in a fox's trap.

"You don't have to admit it, I can tell." She says, her voice is so arrogant but all I can do is shake my head. Her smile grows and I back against the wall. She takes a step towards me and I back against the wall. Not again.

"Your pulse has quickened hasn't it? Your mouth is dry, you have that feeling.. down there. Don't you Karla?" Everything she is saying is true and the more she talk to me like this, the more I want her. It's a strange feeling to want someone and hate them at the same time. The attraction I feel to her is purely physical which is strange considering how opposite she is from Matthew, other than she's a girl obviously. I don't remember ever being attracted to anybody except Matthew.

I know that if I don't say something now, she will win.

"You're wrong." I mutter and she smiles. Even her smile sends electricity through me.

"I'm never wrong." she says and I move away from the wall before she can push me against it.

"Why do you keep saying I throw myself at you if you're the one trapping me now?" I ask, my anger pushing past my lust for this maddening tattooed girl.

"Because you made the first move on me, don't get me wrong I was as surprised as you were." she laughs.

"I was drunk and had a long night, as I already told you. I was confused because you were being nice to me, well your version of being nice." I said as I sat down on the curb before I end up against the wall. Talking to her is so exhausting.

"I am not that mean to you." she says, the statement sounds more like a question than a comment.

"Yea, you are. You go out of your way to be mean to me. Not just me, but everyone. It just seems like you are extra hard on me." I can't believe I am being this honest with her. I know its a matter of minutes before she turns on me.

"That's just not true. I am no meaner to you than the rest of the general population." she smirks and I stand up. I knew I couldn't have a normal discussion with her.

"I don't know why I keep wasting my time!" I yell as I am walking away from her.

"Hey, I am sorry. Just come back over here."

I groan but my feet move before my brain can catch up. I stand a few feet away from her and she sits on the curb where I was previously sitting.

"Sit" she demands and I do.

"You're sitting awfully far" she says and I roll my eyes. "You don't trust me?"

"No, of course I don't, why would I?" Her face falls slightly as my words hit her but she recovers quickly. Why would she care if I trusted her?

"Can we just agree to either stay away from each other or be friends? I don't have it in me to keep fighting with you." I sigh and she moves a little closer.

She takes a deep breath before she speaks. "I don't want to stay away from you." What? My heart beats out of my chest.

"I mean.. I don't think we can stay away from each other, with one of my best friends being your roommate and all. So I suppose we should try to be friends." I try to hide my disappointment from her words but this is what I want right? I can't keep kissing Lauren and cheating on Matthew.

"Okay so friends?"

"Friends." She agrees and reaches out her hand for me to shake.

"Not friends with benefits." I remind her and feel the blood rush to my cheeks.