Sweet Caroline

Chapter 5: What People Know Won't Hurt

      "Alexander slept over last night!" I said quickly as I stood in my mom and dad's doorway. They just looked at me like I was crazy. "Avery, it's okay. We aren't mad... We're actually proud of you. It's about time you broke some rules. Plus, Your mother and I told him to come over, but to not say anything to you," my dad said. So that must've been who he was texting last night! I thought. " Um, oh, " I said embarrassed. "He's in my room right now," I said pointing in the direction of my room with my thumb. "We know," my mom said, "I'm talking to him right now, sweetheart." Well geez, what were they not up to? Can't I just get in trouble? I thought. "Oh?" I said raising my eyebrows. "Oh! Oh my gosh! I don't look presentable to really be around him! Crap! Why didn't y'all tell me?" I asked. I was freaking out and the only thing I could do to fix my problems was to get a shower and do my make-up. "Go get a shower and get presentable so y'all can go on a date today! We already talked to Alexander about it," my mom said smiling. Ugh! " Okay! " I said as I ran out of my parents room. I ran through the house to my bedroom. When I walked in, Mr. Abate was on his phone. He looked over at me and I couldn't help but squeal because he had seen me in my worst way. I quickly turned around and grabbed my clothes, and my bag of toiletries and dodged out of the room to the bathroom.

       After freshening up, I walked into my room. I was still in my towel but I didn't care. "Where are we going?" I asked as I walked into my room. "Let's go to the movies. Cheesy; yes, but I like cheesy. And afterwards we can go out to eat," he said happily. "So, then what should I wear?" I asked. "Something casual," he answered, not daring to look at me. "Okay," I shrugged.

      I ended up in a burgundy crop top, high-waisted skinny jeans, and a pair of black converse. I had in my favorite diamond earrings and I straightened my hair. "How's this?" I asked walking into my room from my bathroom. He looked up at me and gave me a once-over before answering my question. "Uh, looks good," he said. He sounded surprised and speechless. "Let's go," I suggested. He slowly got off my bed and stood up to stretch. "We have to go to my house first, then we can leave," he sighed. I already knew we had to go to his house so he could get a shower and change. "Okay," I answered happily. I grabbed my phone, my ear buds and my wallet. You never know what will happen.

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      We arrived at his house about 45 minutes later. As I unbuckled my seatbelt, he came around and opened the door for me. "Thank you," I smiled as I stretched up on my tippy toes to kiss him. He grabbed my hand and lead me towards his house. It was huge. Why did he live alone in such a really big house? Why doesn't he live with anyone else? Doesn't he at least have cats and dogs to keep him company? Or maybe a fish? Any animals at all? I thought. "Why is your house so big when you live alone?" I asked, obviously being nosy. "Let's just stay here so that nobody finds out about us, okay?" He said as he unlocked and opened the door. Why did he dodge my question? Is the reason that bad? Does he have a random dark past that I shouldn't know about? I thought to myself. " Seriously, why do you live alone Mr. Aba-Alexander? " I asked as I forced out a laugh. "Uh, I used to have roommates back in college. They died last year in a wreck. Gladly, I didn't go with them, but then again, I miss them and I wish they had never gone out in the rain to get food from a fast food restaurant so late at night," he said trying to hide the depression in his voice. " Oh, I'm so sorry. If I had known, I wouldn't have asked you. I hope I'm not being too nosy or annoying. I'll stop talking. Should I stop talking? Nevermind, I'll stop talking right now, " I said. I was trying to hide my nervousness from him before he realized I'm a total nut case outside of school. "Avery, it's okay," he laughed, " I like hearing your voice. And I love it when you get nervous and freak out. By the way, the little towel show you put on earlier, I saw it all. Very cute, Avery, very cute, " he said as he hung his keys on the key rack hanging on the wall, along with other keys. Are those the keys to his old roommates cars? Did he keep them in reminder of them? I thought to myself. I walked over to his couch as he stepped out of his shoes. He pointed at my shoes and pointed beside him. "Oh!" I said embarrassed . I felt myself blush as I stood up. As I skipped out of my shoes, he wrapped his arms around my waist. "Cuddle with me, beautiful," he said, kissing my neck. I nodded as I turned around to face him. He smiled before kissing the tip of my nose. I giggled like a child before he scooped me into his muscular arms and I squealed like a 5 year old.

      He took me to his door, leaving me to open it to reveal his humongous room. I gasped he stepped in and shut the door with his foot. He walked over to his bed and gently sat me down on top of him. We began kissing, each kiss hungrier and rougher than the last. He laid me back and smiled as he played with the bottom of my shirt.