Breathe

Chapter Six

Since the party, several weeks have passed and multiple assignments have been handed up, including the paired assignment with Mason. Seth has dubbed ourselves the 'friends who kiss, but aren't actually dating' and it has everyone at school confused as well as me. I know he wants to take things slow, and a part of me wants the same. But the other part of me also likes the idea of knowing that he's wholly mine.

Naomi is still extremely salty about her failed attempt of causing drama and I'm sure she's stewing in anger, already planning another attack. Right now though, I couldn't care less because Seth has just slipped his hands around my waist, pulling me back into his warm chest. He kisses my cheek and slips into the vacant seat next to me, unthreading his arms from around me.

Luce, who is sitting across from me beside Charlie, does nothing but smile into her sandwich without comment. The rest of the guys also accompany us as yesterday Ben had entertained his plan to go ice-skating as a group since today would be the first day of our two-week mid-semester break.

I vaguely recall Seth agreeing with the idea, stating that it sounds like fun. The only catch was that 'ice-skating' is not something I would deem as being fun. I mean, look at me, I struggle to walk on the pavement most days let alone slippery ice with the addition of blades that could slice you open at any given time. Yeah, ice-skating was not an anxious girl's best friend, but Seth was so I supposed I could make an exception.

I was currently wearing my usual attire, black jeans with a white hoody, but this time it was for warmth purposes as it was bloody freezing in this bloody place. Said best friend had left his seat and was currently kneeled in front of me placing death traps on my fuzzy sock-clad feet. "And you're sure I'm not going to break an ankle?" I ask, fear slightly tinging my voice.

"Oh no, definitely not. Maybe just an arm." He comments in all seriousness and it's not until I notice that familiar spark in his eyes that I realise that he's joking.

"I'' give you a broken arm," I threaten through gritted teeth as I smack his shoulder, repeatedly. He ignores my attack and places a soft kiss on the tip of my nose in response.

"You love me," he states sincerely, but I shyly look down without commenting, a flush warming my cheeks. Like I said, we're still in the 'friends that sometimes (most of the time) kiss' phase of our relationship and this isn't the first time that he's made the "you love me" joke and though it's not quite 'love' just yet, I know without a doubt that I'm falling.

"Yeah, yeah, don't kid yourself." I eventually forced the words out of my mouth, attempting at humour to disguise my true feelings, shooing him away with a flick of my wrist. He heads towards the rink of ice with Charlie, Ben, Mason, Will and James and once on the ice, glides around easily like ice-skating is his profession. Bloody hell, how is it fair to have everything come so easily to someone while I'm my uncoordinated ass self. Damn, I was ripped off by life. Fabulous.

While watching him skate, Luce and I had tentatively made our way to the edge of the ice, contemplating stepping foot on the unforgiving surface. As Seth comes screaming back to where I stand nervously, he skids to a halt, shaved ice flying at my legs.

"Show off," Luce and I murmur in unison and all he does is wink. The cocky bastard.

"How about instead of proving how great you are at everything you show your poor uncoordinated girlfriend how to skate so she can enjoy herself, sorry Lil," she shrugs her shoulders at the dig at me but I laugh knowing I'd say the same thing.

"She ain't my girlfriend, Luce," he shakes his head, and my eyes drop to the floor in embarrassment. I should have known, of course, he wouldn't want to date someone like me. "Yet." My head whips up at the continuation of his words, "Taking it slow remember, Doe."