No Strings *COMPLETE*

Chapter Eight

A few months have passed and the ground is covered in snow as we prepare for our midsemester exams.

Since Sammi went back to crazy town, things have been much better within the house. Nathan and I are doing our own little thing and Alec and Lilli are together- and stronger than ever.

I sit on the window seat in my bedroom, attempting to focus on studying. Although, it's practically impossible. I rack my brain about having to go home for Christmas Break and deal with my family ridiculing me for not being perfect, like their precious Alec.

Suddenly, there's a knock on my door. I sit up from my lounging position and close my textbook. "Come in!" I call out. The door opens slightly and Alec peeks his head in. "What's up?" I ask him. "Lilli and I were going to the library to study and then the coffee shop. Do you want me to bring you back anything?" I shrug,"My usual." He scrunches up his nose. "A Black and Gold?" I stick my tongue out in response. "I take that as a  yes. I don't know why you don't drink hot coffee like a normal person." I smile innocently at him. "Because I'm not. Be safe, love you." "I will. Love you, too, Little Sister," he says, closing my door behind him as he leaves.

I watch out the window as he and Lilli get in his truck and back out of the driveway. I didn't realize until now, how much I yearn for a relationship like theirs. But I don't need that. I don't need to be tied down. I need to have fun and make memories. I need...Nathaniel. Fuck. I do  need him. Without him, I would turn into Alec. A stick in the mud, goody-goody cardboard human being that does only as they're told and are afraid to color outside the lines.

'Time for a break,' I think to myself, as I get uo from my cozy little corner and head for the door. As I enter the hall, I hear yelling coming from inside Nathan's room. Woah, what's going on with him? I resist the urge to open the door, and settle for just quietly listening in.

"I fucking told you, Cecelia. I am not spending the whole two weeks of Christmas Break in the same house as that prick!" He shouts. I wince. I wonder who Cecelia is... i stay put and listen closely. He's silent for a minute- like he's listening. "You know what? Fuck it, I"m staying here for Christmas Break. I don't need this from you." That sounds like a 'conversation is over' comment, so I take the cue to tiptoe away from the door and downstairs.

I wander into the kitchen, and decide to make myself some breakfast. Grabbing a bowl from the dish drainer, I turn around to grab the cereal and milk, only to run smack into Nathan.
"My god, Nathan. You scared the hell out of me," I say. He gives me a solemn look and mutters an apology. That's not like him. "What's wrong?" I ask him, touching his hand. "Nothing." Okay... different approach. "Who's Cecelia?" He narrows his eyes at me. "I was walking by and I heard you in your room. She seemed to be making you upset." "Cecelia is my bitchy sister. Holidays are hell at my house, and she expects me to join them and play nice like my shitty step-father didn't just waltz in and take my dad's place just because he can." I squeeze his hand. "I'm sorry." He shrugs," I'm used to it, it just gets old."  "Well, I.. wouldn't want you to be stuck here all alone..." I say, an idea brewing in my brain. His tension seems to release a little bit. "There's no way your family would let you miss Christmas with them," he says quietly. My fingers trace patterns on his hand. "I'm sure I could convince them to let me stay. I mean I do need to focus on my studies..." I whisper, trailing off.  He gives me a cheeky grin. I knew I could change his mood. "You'd do that for me, Baby Doll?" "Hmm... I just might..." I purr "seductively. "You don;t know what you're doing to me, Ski," he says. "I don't?" I challenge, gently pushing his back to the counter.  He raises an eyebrow at me. "Trying to play my game, are you?" I smirk at him, "I can play your game twice as good, and win," I say, flicking my tongue at him. He chuckles. "Be my guest, Darlin'." Time for a little revenge. I run my hands up his torso, feeling his muscles through his thin t-shirt. He grins at me. "That all you got?" I bite my lip. "Not a chance." I slide my hands down his sides, letting my thumbs hang on the inside of the waistband on his jeans. I feel him twitch, and it makes me grin. The suspense is killing him. I stand on ny tiptoes and kiss down his neck, starting at his jaw line. I bite down softly on his collarbone and he nearly loses it. He's right, this is fun.

He rests his hands firmly on my hips and looks me dead in the eye, like it's killing him not to do anything about my torturing him. And that's all I needed. I kiss him on the lips quickly and smile deviously at him. Removing my hands, I back up and go to exit the kitchen. "I think I'm going to go take a shower," I say simply, walking towards the stairs. Behind me, I hear him groan in frustration and I can't help but giggle to myself. I put one foot on the bottom step, and suddenly I'm being lifted off the ground. Damn him! "Put me down!" I screech, writhing in Nathan's arms.

"No can do, Baby Girl," he laughs. I reach behind me and tickle his ribcage, resulting in him dropping me. I hit the ground feet first and I scramble up the steps, laughing the whole way. "Oh, you're so getting it now!" He exclaims jokingly, racing after me. I get to the second floor, and I make a break for my bedroom. He's hot on my trail. I swing my bedroom door open and dart inside. My solitude only last a few seconds before Nathan appears and I'm tackled onto the bed. "Oof!" I say, landing onto my comforter. "Get off me fat ass!" I yell. He fake gasps, "I resnt that!" He then begings tickling me, "S-Stop! Nathan I w-will kill you w-when I get up!" I shout between giggles. He stops and flops onto the bed beside me. I glare at him playfully. "How dare you," I accuse. He acts taken aback. "I am a sweet, innocent angel!" Ha! You're funny!" I reply. He sticks his tongue out at me, so I lick his nose. "Eeewwww!" He exclaims dramatically. I stare at him, lost in space. Out of nowhere, he kisses me. And its... different this time. It's sweet and passionate, not rough and rushed like he's hungry for more. I kiss him back without hesitation, and it feels amazing. The kiss. Our chemistry. Being here with him. All of it. And I know it sounds mushy, but it's true, and I can't get enough of it.

He pulls away and I give him a puzzled look. Did he not feel what I was feeling? "Ski." "Yes, Nathan?" He pauses, thinking about what to say next. "Do you want to watch a movie on Netflix?" Is this his way of nonchalantly asking me if I want to have sex? I give him a weird look. "Um, like...  Netflix and Chill?" "...No. I mean like watch a movie. Like... We're the Millers or Taken or Twilight-" "You would actually watch Twilight?" I ask skeptically, cutting him off midsentence. "Absolutely. I'm team Jacob all the way!" I roll my eyes at him. "You are such a goofball. What about Shameless?" He looks at me, confused. "What's Shameless?" I gasp. "Oh, you poor, poor boy," I say, patting the top of his head," We are so binge watching it," I say, grabbing his arm and pulling him with me so that we're laying on the bed correctly. He gives me a genuinely excited look. We make a nest of pillows and settle into them. I click on the first episode of Season One, and wait for it to load. I wiggle excitedly and he laughs at my childlike gestures. The intro begins and he grabs my hand, intwining our fingers. I blush and smile secretly. This is actually kind of fun. Is this really what Friends with Benefits do? Because it kind of feels like we're in a relationship.

Unaware of the thoughts going through my head, Nathan leans over and kisses me on the lips. "What was that for?" I question him. "Just because," he says. I lean against him and wait for one of his infamous perverted, smart ass remarks. He says nothing. The only sound is coming from Frank Gallagher on TV.

We watch for a few hours, until the front door opens and closes- interrupting our marathon. Nathan lets go of my hand and scoots to the other side of my bed. The warm feeling of him up against me disappears.

Alec appears in the doorway, coffee in hand. "Hey, Sis, here's your-. Oh hey, Nathan... What are you guys doing?" "Ski is showing me this show, Shameless." Alec seems to relax. "She's obsessed with that show," he says, walking over to us and handing my coffee to me. "Thanks,Bubba," I reply, retrieving the coffee and taking a sip. He nods. "Have you studied for midterms?" "Yeah, I've been studying all week. I think I'll do fine."  And it wasn't a lie, Nathan's been having study sessions with me, but I wasn't about to tell my brother that. "Good. Well, I guess I'm going to go cram more useless information into my brain and hope I don't fry the few braincells I have left. I really hate semester week," he whines, as he exits my room. His lovely dry sense of humor, just like our father's.

Once Alec is out of earshot, Nathan turns to me. "What? You don't want me to tell him about our... study sessions?" He taunts quietly, his fingers walking up my leg. I swat his hand away. "Shh!" I scorn him. I pause the show. "I should study some more," I say to Nathan. "Do you... want some help?" He asks suggestively. I chew on my lip. "It's tempting, but no. I need to study and I need to be able to focus." He nods understandingly. "Okay, Ski. If you change your mind, you know where I'll be." He kisses me and he's gone.