𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐀𝐂𝐈𝐍𝐆

;flirt

Emma Chamberlain

Apparently a mother and baby group had, had a get together in the library and the screaming children had ripped apart all the bottom shelves.

Dorothy was practically on the verge of tears when I entered the shop, so I got straight to work placing the thrillers back in alphabetical order.

The door bell chimes and Dorothy begins to flap, she is so panicked and stressed. I stand up and touch her shoulder in a calming way and emerge from the aisles.

"Hi"

"Hi Ethan" I smile leaning my arm on the desk.

He looks so good. Black skinny jeans and a tight black T-shirt. His hair still perfectly flicked, with that strangely appealing smirk.

"I didn't expect you to do that back at school. That was- I don't know. Just stop getting yourself in those situations, Emma" he says and I scowl.

Why was he acting like he was my guardian, he didn't tell me what to do.

"I did it for myself not for you" I snap back taking a armful of books onto my hip and looking across at him a little hurt.

Ethan scratches the back of his neck but doesn't say anything which is awkward and annoying so I decide to carry on with my job.

He follows like a lost puppy

"I get that you don't want to be seen with me at school, Ethan, i understand that. So just stop seeing me out of school and it'll be much easier for you to ignore me" I say trying to put a book on a shelf, realising that I'm too small and growling into it before closing my eyes and trying to regain some calm.

Ethan reaches to touch my hand but I put my hand upwards as if warning him not to touch me or I'll implode or explode or both.

"I know it's true. You know it's true. So stop being two faced and just hate me, bully me like all your other friends do" I whimper looking up between the shelves spotting Dorothy who gives me a sad smile and motions to the door where she literally leaves.

Great.

Ethan looks down at my hand keeping him from touching me.

"Don't think you can tell me what to do, don't tell me how I feel or how I should act. That isn't fucking fair, okay?" He grabs hold of the book in my hand and places it on the high shelf.

Then he places his hands firmly around the side of my face slightly touching the bruising on my neck. I wince.

Ethan takes a little step backwards before realising why I was in pain.

His face stays straight as he runs his hands down to open the top button of my shirt and then the second.

Then he stops.

He runs his fingers along the bruising that his so called friend had created. Then he cranes his neck and brings his lips into contact with the bruising, it makes me gasp.

I stand completely frozen with both arms by my side as he pulls away and runs his lip to lobe of my ear.

"No ones going to hurt you again baby"

It shocks me and I don't know how to react, at first I want to pull him in and kiss him till I can't breathe, but then I want to push him away and tell him to get out.

But instead I do nothing.

"I'll stay away from you from now on" I whisper looking deep into his deliciously brown eyes.

"Do you think-" he kisses my neck again "-that's-" he trails his lips to the corner of my lips and pecks them sweetly "-what I want?"

I honestly don't know. What was going on? And since when did it happen? And why? And- wow.

Ethan turns away running his hands along the books as I did when I was going to pick one to read, inspecting the titles and the fonts.

"Did you get in a fight after you was at mine?" I ask folding my arms across my chest.

Ethan gives me a scowl like he has no idea what I'm on about

"You haven't heard the rumours?" I question with an eyebrow raise.

"Of course I've heard them I just didn't think you'd be dumb enough to believe them" Ethan shoots back at me and I feel offended; my anger fizzles when he smirks, obviously humoured by my annoyance.

"Okay but is it that unbelievable Mr Bad Boy?" I scoff back and he shrugs.

To be honest everything I had heard about him was rumours so he could actually be a saint.

I laugh at yourself.

Then I remember the police encounter, and the night at the party, and his friendship group. And then my hand trails up to my neck in embarrassment, reliving the whole thing all over again.

"Hey princess, chin up" he says lifting my chin with his fingers.

Urgh what a fuck boy move, I think, as my eyes connect and every thought I had just had flies straight out the library's front door

"I spent all my time with you, my nerd, and then I went home so your gal pals didn't beat me" Ethan laughs.

"Okay so why does everyone think you had a big fight and spent all day in the hospital" I say in a high pitch sarcastic voice.

Ethan does a slow yet meaningful clap

"Wow was that Summer?! I'm IMPRESSED" he mocks at my impression and I take a bow and blow some kisses like I'm accepting an award.

Ethan begins to beam, his smile uncovering his small dimples in a way that makes my heart melt like butter in a microwave.

"Obviously they think that the knuckle bandages are hospital standards" Ethan uses as his excuse and whole heartedly I believe that it was all rumours.

Hell, Ethan didn't even know where they started from.

I give him an eye roll,

"Okay sure sure, but I mean you don't even need to wear it anymore" I motion towards the bandage taking another step forward.

For once in my whole life I was making the first move.

"I think you just want to show off" I poke fun at his tough act and then smirk.

He takes me roughly between his arms in a playful manner and grits his teeth in my face playing along with the whole bad boy act.

And for the first time I'm suddenly not scared of him anymore

"Maybe I just wanted something on me to remind me of my little library nerd" he smirks with an attitude and confidence I literally dreamed of having.

"Then I think we can think of something better" I giggle reaching my arms up to wrap them round the back of his neck.

"I was thinking matching anklet bracelets, you see" Ethan teases slowly moving his arms down my back.

I can feel it but I don't dare move in case he stops.

And I really don't want him to.

The door bell chimes and through the book shelves I am just small enough to notice the figure that walks in.

I put my finger to my lips as if to tell Ethan to be quiet.

"Hello?" Calls Grayson throughout the library.

I decide I should go and speak to him just to find out why the hell he was in Dorothy's library.

As I begin to peel myself from Ethan making as little noise as possible, Ethan swings his hand back and slaps my ass.

I don't even have time to react, with hot flushed cheeks I come into contact with Grayson's eyes.

"Ah Emma"

He glances down at my slightly unbuttoned shirt, probably looking at the bruising more than the fact that it wasn't tightly done up but I still feel self conscious and begin to fiddle with the buttons to fasten it.

"You was just the person I was looking for"