Love Game

Chap Fourteen: Something Wonderful.

From better to worse and then to awesome again. This night didn't cease to surprise me. I had gone bonkers when Neal had kissed me, I could still feel the shock of that kiss.

And then he had admitted that he liked me! Now, that was a shocker. But it also made me tingle all over and made me feel warm and fuzzy like crazy. Something had changed between us.

And it was replaced with Something wonderful.

I didn't know how to react in front of him anymore. I could hardly look in his ocean deep eyes and not blush. I still dreaded the goose-bumps on me at the mere thought of seeing him. I looked at my watch.

I was late. Yet again.

"Shit." I muttered. Overtime. Again.

I was almost running through the corridor trying to remain on my two feet and not fly! when I heard my name called.

"Summer, hold up!" And that was it.

I fell on the ground in the process of whirling around to see who had called me.

"Watch out!" Joey shouted but he was a tad too late, I was already on the ground. Face-down.

God, another thing in my embarrassing moments list.

Congratulations to me, I went over 1000 in my 22 years on this planet.

"I'm sooo sorry." Joey said but when he saw my slightly smiling face, he burst out laughing.

"You are incorrigible." He said between laughs.

"Tell me about it." I muttered and he rubbed tears from his eyes.

"Wow, this was awesome! One minute I was calling your name and the other you went whoosh!" He laughed harder.

"Okay, okay, you've had your fun. Shut it, now." I snapped and he zipped his lips.

"Sorry, I startled you." He said and then helped me up. I shrugged.

"Force of habit, not your fault." I assured and then picked up my bag.

"So, what up?" He asked and I sighed.

"Overtime, that's what up if I don't punch my card .." I looked at my watch.

"Now." Awesome. Another overtime.

"Well, now that you're already late. Listen up, we guys are going camping this thanksgiving. Do you wanna come?" He asked and I snapped my head up.

"What?" I demanded.

"Camping. Thanksgiving. You in?" He asked me and I gulped.

"Camping. Wow. Um, I'm not good with floors as you must have noticed and you wanna take me to a forest with rocky and harsh roads. And animals." I said and he laughed.

"Yes, well. It'll be fun!" He said, excited and I smiled. Joey was crazy.

"I won't come back alive." I warned and he grunted.

"It's gonna be a challenge. But hey, we'll take care of you." He said and then that pleading look came in his eyes.

"Please? The merrier the better!" He said and I sighed.

"Okay, Joey. I'm in." I said and winked at him.

"Awesome, Summer! You won't regret it." He said and then he was off.

I turned around laughing and came face-to-face with Neal.

"So, he got you, huh." He said smilingly but I blushed.

He was standing way too near to me!

"Summer?" He asked and I blinked.

"Um .. uh, yea!" I said and his brow shot up.

"What's with the lost look?" He demanded and he took a step closer.

Whoa! It was like we were standing pressed to each other, I staggered back and the smile came back on Neal's lips.

"Oh. Am I invading your personal space, Miz Summer?" He drawled and his head leaned in a little.

My heart went hay-wire! He was very VERY close to me, I could feel his hands burn through my shirt, I smelled the sexy cologne of him, I saw his pupils darken and my brain short-circuited.

Something wonderful.

Way too wonderful for me to handle.

"Neal!" I squeked, my heart was beating so hard, I was positive he could hear me.

"Yes, Summer?" He asked and his voice sent ripples down my spine.

"What are you doing?!" I squeked and I felt his hands tighten their hold around my waist.

"I'm trying to kiss you. Will you let me?" He asked against my ear and if I all but melted in his embrace.

"Wha .. I .. uh .." Incoherent. I was rendered speechless.

I looked up at him finally and his lips were a moment's away from mine.

Neal leaned in a little closer and then he hugged me. He actually hugged me!

"As much as I'd like to ravish you on the office table, there's a security camera looming over us." He said and then he chuckled at my expression.

"Oh, my God!" I shouted, frustrated and he laughed harder.

"I'm sorry." He said and then he muzzled my hair.

"So are you coming?" He asked but I wasn't gonna answer!

He was such a tease!

"Come on, tell me?" He asked and I shrugged.

There was no denying his demands.

"Yes." I said and then got away from him and went to my desk.

"Cool. We'll have fun." He said and grinned.

"You're coming, too?" That was all that came out of my mouth.

"Yea! And apparently, we share a bunk house." Neal said and when I snapped my head up he winked at me.

"We'll continue our discussions then, Miz Summer." He whispered and my slightly stable hearts pace was on a runaway train again.

Me and him! In the forest, under the twilight, sleeping just inches away from each other.

Oh, heck no. No no no no no!

"WHAT? NO!" I shouted and he laughed.

"Yea. We can't change the arrangements now." He said matter-of-factly.

"I'm not coming! I'm so not coming!" I all but shouted.

This was impossible! There was no way I was going to share a bunk with him! That would be disastrous! That would b ...

"We all share a bunk-house, Summer!" He said and I blushed.

"You sir, are mean, over-bearing, irritating and such a tease!" I said and threw the most heavy paper weight at him. Neal ducked, of course he did and then Neal's amusement got the better of him.

"And you, missy, are an adorable, sassy, sexy, little wild-cat." Neal said back and I all but fell from the chair!

Their was no point even talking to him! He was soooo .. ugh!

"Shut up!" I hissed and then I plugged in my ear-phones and let Snow Patrol soothe my jumping heart-beat.