Burnouts

Don't Accept the Things You Want

Scene 1: The Helmsley Hotel

Heather Blakely

I pull away and playfully roll my eyes at him after he laughs again in the middle of a kiss.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he says as he keeps laughing. "This is just the worst make-out music ever."

"What— you made the mix."

"Not for this," Leo replies, "I didn't expect to be making out to Blister in the Sun. It's weird."

"Fine," I switch to the next track, "how's this?"

"Yeah," he nods, "I can kiss you with the stones on."

"Are you sure?" I raise my eyebrows, "because if you laugh again, I'll turn off the music."

"Wow," Leo smirks, "someone really wants to kiss me."

"Shut up," I smile and grip the collar of his shirt in my hands.

"See, so aggressive," he teases, "I've got you hooked, don't I?"

"Leo, you're so arrogant," I shake my head in amusement and try to climb off of him.

"No— come back," he grabs me and sits up to bring our faces closer together. I tilt my head to the side when he starts to trail kisses down my jawline and to my neck. "I know you can't help it..." He whispers against my skin, "it feels good."

He's right.

Whenever I see him, it's like he's been gone forever and I've been desperate to reconnect.

I hope I'm only this way for so long—because I'm going to drive him crazy always needing to be close.

"Leo..." I mutter out softly, "can we just..."

"Can we what?" He replies breathily.

And I don't even know what I want to ask.

"I-"

I stop speaking and we both seem to turn questioningly toward my room door.

"I thought your parents weren't home," Leo furrows his eyebrows at the sound of persistent knocking.

"They're not," I respond with the same confusion.

"Heather?" I hear my name called out.

"Audrey..." I say with a gasp.

"Shit-" Leo jumps up. "Should I hide under the bed or something?" He says in a loud whisper.

"Under the bed? No, Leo, there's more space in the closet."

"Right, yeah," he rushed toward it, and I wait until he shuts that door before I open the other one.

"Audrey— hi, I didn't know you were coming over," I try not to look as flushed as I am.

"Obviously," she sighs and walks in, "your shirt is unbuttoned but nice bra."

"Oh, " I laughed uncomfortably and buttoned it back up.

"I told the desk clerk that it was a surprise. You had to have been dying to see me."

"How was the ski lodge?"

"Interesting, to say the least," she rolls her eyes. "I'm moving back home now, I thought I should let you know."

"Thanks?"

"And I brought you your Christmas gift, here, open it," she hands me the gift bag.

"Audrey you shouldn't have," I say as I sift through the tissue paper.