The Protected One

O n L o c k

My legs felt as if they were going to give out from under me, and my heart felt like it was going to explode.

Despite these feelings, I kissed him back.

One of his hands finds a way to my hip to pull me closer, while the other cups my cheek.

I tangle my hand in his hair as our lips move together in sync.

After what feels like forever but no time at all, he pulls away.

We just stand there gazing into each other's eyes.

"I'm sorry. I should've asked your permission to kiss you." He says after a while.

I let out a small laugh.

"It's okay."

He sighs and takes a seat on my bed.

I follow his actions and sit besides him.

He again, let's out another sigh and buries his head in his hands.

"Ben? What's going on."

"It's nothing Im just stressed that's all."

"Do you want to talk about it? I ask him.

He shakes his head no.

"The whole reason I came here was to forget about it." He explains.

"Okay, that's fine." I nod my head in understanding.

"Do you maybe want to leave? I suggest.

He again shakes his head no.

"I'm fine here. As long as I'm with you." He says.
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It was the annoying sound of Marco's voice that woke me up early the next morning.

"Xander wants us all downstairs. And go wake your sister up." He says.

I roll my eyes.

"You could go wake her up yourself." I tell him.

"Ew, no way." He says, walking away.

I sigh and lazily get out of bed to go to Sophia Alice's room.

There she was, on her phone.

"Xander needs us all downstairs." I tell her.

She just gets out of bed effortlessly and if she's been up for hours.

I chuckled to myself.

She probably has.

As we make our way down the stairs, everyone was already there.

This must be serious if everyone is already downstairs.

We take a seat next to each other as Xander begins to speak.

"So as you all know, Spring break is coming up in 2 weeks. Every year for the past 2 years we take our annual spring break trip. Time to reveal this year's destination."

A huge smile makes its way to my face.

With everything going on, I've forgotten about our annual spring break trip.

Every year during spring break we go somewhere outside of Florida and we are all allowed one friend.

The very first time we went to Hawaii, last year we went to a ski lodge, and I was very excited to find out what this year's destination would be.

I just hoped we wouldn't be staying here in the south.

"So we are going to Las Vegas to Spanish Gardens spa and resort." Tomas says.