Is Life A Lie?

chapter 3

Eugene made me feel like the only girl in the world. First he took me to a Cirque-themed carnival that was in town. We watched, heart-in-mouth, unbelievable stunts, and cheered wildly when they were executed perfectly.  I cooed at the circus animals while Eugene wrapped his arm around my waist and told me I was cuter. We walked around the kiosks, hand in hand, licking our ice cream cones and stopped when we came across a game that caught our fancy. Eugene shot a few hoops for me and won a bunny which I gave away to a tiny kid that had no luck. Besides, I wasn't the kind of girl that liked stuffed animals.

            Call me crazy, or maybe it was just because I've fancied him from a distance for so long, but being this close to him even for such a short time gave me butterflies in my belly. "I'm having a great time," Eugene said into my ear. Looking up, I found myself lost in the intensity of his gaze.  

            "So am I." I could barely get the words out. He laced his fingers through mine and hugged my waist with his other hand. We had been walking to his parked car and there were a few people strolling by, giving us looks. We got to the passenger side of his BMW and I twisted around so I could face him. At this point, I didn't care what the people around us thought. All I wanted to do was kiss Eugene. I threw my arms around his neck, not being able to endure the torture of having his lips so close to mine, yet not tasting them. I stood on tiptoe, barely letting my eyelids flutter shut when I was rewarded with the feel of his lips crushing mine.

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            "So apparently, he thought I was with Ruell, so he never made a move. But then Ruell and him cleared that up at basketball practice, so he asked me out!" I explained excitedly to Alexandra. We were post mortem-ing my date. When Eugene had asked me out it came from nowhere and I had questioned his motives. I was not one to trust easily. I asked a million questions before I jumped into something. Usually. With the case of Eugene, however, I had agreed to go out with him because of the crush I had been harbouring. It had all worked out eventually, though, because I found out why Eugene finally did ask me out. We had always been acquaintances, we hung out together sometimes while I waited for the boys to finish basketball, but that had always been it. I had thought he was unattainable, and he had apparently thought the same of me. Never judge a book by its cover!

            Alex nodded at my explanation gravely. "Has he asked you out on a second date? Are you gonna fuck him?"

            "Alex!" I squealed. "The idea is very tempting," I got thumped on the head. "But I think I'm going to wait until at least the seventh date before I let him have some of this." I grabbed my breasts for dramatic effect.

            "Ugh, I don't know why. It's not like you're hot stuff or anything." Alex rolled her eyes at me. Alex loved people by insulting them. So did I. That was why we got on so well. "Besides, don't you British people fuck everything that moves?"

            I fake gasped. "I will make you pay!" I jumped onto my bed, where Alex was sprawled. Straddling her, I started tickling her ribs, her neck, her thighs. She screamed for mercy and started kicking the air. For better contact, I slipped my fingers underneath her tank top and continued my sweet payback. "Stop plea-please stop!" She half-cried, half-laughed, wiggling her body away from me.

            "Take it back! Take back what you said about Brits," I commanded. My thighs still had a firm grip on hers and she was pinned underneath me, helpless.

            Tears rolled down her face as she wailed out an apology. I gave her a last tickle, making her screech for mercy, and then rolled off her.

            "Wipe that grin off your face, you heartless bitch," Alex growled.

            "Aw, come on, you know I love you." I pulled her toward me and kissed her temple. "I'm sorry, I just had to defend the motherland."

            Eventually Alex went home and I was left alone with thoughts. This was the last time I'd be seeing him in a while. A lot could happen in two weeks. I didn't know where we stood, or if we were waiting for each other, or even if we were exclusive. I felt like such a drag bringing it up during our date, so I completely skipped it. I raked my fingers through my hair in frustration. Sometimes I wished I was better at talking about my feelings.

            My phone started buzzing just then, and I could feel my face breaking out in a smile as I saw Eugene's name across my screen. "Hey! What's up?"

            "I miss you already. Can I see you now?" Eugene's honey-warm voice came through the phone. I sighed happily, and told him to come over.

            He must have rushed, or had already been on his way when he rang me, because he was at my place in 6 minutes. I flung open the door before he could ring the bell and tumbled into his arms. I turned my face up for a kiss and he obliged until we had to come up for air. "So, I'm going to miss this." I led him by the hand to the couch. My parents go to bed at 9.30pm, and Joel was glued to his computer so I had this space to myself. And Eugene.

            "I know, that's why I want you to reconsider coming with me. I want you with me." Eugene tugged on my hand until I fell onto his lap.

            "But, we're going to New York," I replied remorsefully. I'd been wanting to see New York so badly and my mates and I had finally decided to take a road trip to NYC.

            "Come home with me. I'll take you to New York on one of the weekends. Please babe?" God, who could say no to those puppy dog eyes? "I think we've started something really special. I don't want to take a break when we're so fresh. Do you know what I'm saying Hayley?"

            "Are you saying you don't trust me?" I narrowed my eyes.

            "It's not that. I just don't want to not be able to do this," he started kissing my neck. "Or this," he nibbled on my ear, ever so softly. "Or this," he flicked his tongue over the sensitive spot just below my ear. "Or this," he ran his fingers lightly across my thighs. I melted against him, fighting the battle between my hormones and my head.

            "Alex and them would murder me if I pulled out now," I moaned. He was being a tease and he knew it.

            "You see them everyday. Two weeks away would probably do them some good," he grinned at me. "Please?"

            Sighing excessively, I gave in, "Let me talk to Alex first okay? I do think it's a splendid idea. I do wanna spend time with you. I've just made earlier commitments. I hate to break a promise."

            "Call her now."

            "God, you're pushy."

            He planted a kiss smack on my lips.

            "Okay, calling her."