I - New End: Danielle ✔️

Part 5 - Hello Mr. Rivers

Dannii /Tossing and turning, I whirl in my small bed. After we unloaded the groceries from the car earlier, Jackie made her famous turkey roast. During dinner we talked about old times. She knew all the stories by heart. About her brothers, my siblings, our parents famous summer parties, old boyfriends ... Strangely, all of the embarrassing moments featured me and none of them involved her. Then we ate way too much ice cream. After a few board games, which Ben won like every time, we all called it a night and crawled into our warm beds.

So here I lay in my mine. Tossing and turning, staring at that little annoying black spot on the ceiling. My head is exploding with indecisiveness. I hate this feeling of being at a crossroad. As I face the wall, memories of Cole appear. Kissing me passionately, as we went for one last swim in the lake, 5 months ago. I turn away to the door only to find Ben, sucking the skin on my neck, caressing my body, digging his fingertips into me, pulling me on top of him. I could feel his hunger for me, pressed against my sensitive area.

I finally decide to bury my head in my pillow. But that doesn't help either. It's like they both persist in whispering in my ear. So quietly, calling me over and over again. It's like a threesome from hell.

"Aaaaarrr!" I whisper yell.

Dannii - I can't sleep, are you awake -

I type a message to Ben but as soon as I press send I regret my action. Nothing good can come from this. Why can't I leave well enough alone? Maybe he's asleep, or won't notice the text.

Ben - Yeah -

Fuck!

I don't reply. Don't really know what I wanted from texting him. I hold the phone to my chest when it buzzes.

Ben - Come to my room we can talk for a while -

Talking, I can do that right? We are only going to talk. Like two adults. Hanging out. Alone. In his bedroom. Who am I kidding, I wanna jump his bones every time I'm near him.

Dannii - be right over -

This is not one of your good ideas, Danielle!

Maybe I should change into something more decent? I look at myself in the mirror. Shorts and a grey oversized T-shirt. I grab a rubber band and tie my hair into a knot. Ok, so it's an out of bed look. I did just get out of bed!

The hallway is cold and silent. Regret is emerging, I should've put on some sweats or something. Who wears shorts in the middle of winter?

I walk as quiet as I can into the dark. The wooden floor has a crack somewhere, if I could only remember where it is. I Don't want to wake up Jackie or George. Her door is closed but I can hear her snoring on the other side of it, I guess she's fast asleep.

A small lightbeam falls through the crack of Ben's door at the end of the aisle. Like a beacon it's luring me in. Excitement is creeping up on me, my heart pounding in my throat.

You're just here to talk, chill!

Ben's sitting on his bed, back against the wall.

He's busy drawing something, really focused, the pencil in his hand moves fast on the paper. I feel like I'm intruding. He doesn't look up at me when he waves me to come on in. The glasses he's wearing, give him the sexy teacher look. I have never seen him with glasses before, damn!

Well hello, Mr Rivers!

Funny how his glasses are more distracting than his naked upper body. But what a body it is though!

I turn to close the door behind me, come on you can do this! I take a deep breath and walk over to his bed. Does he want me to sit at the back? Or maybe on the floor. Or at his desk? I'm having a minor panic attack. Where does he want me?