Fifteen: Free Fallin'

Chapter 11: Ojos Asi

Avery and Caleb set out for their Sunday morning run. Ever since they met with the swim and baseball coach in the summer, they made a pact that they would help keep the other in shape. Avery was back on the swim team, but Caleb was still thinking about whether or not he should join baseball. His resolve to leave Texas for California had waned a little, but it was still there. After everything going on with him and Aria or lack thereof, Caleb felt it was more important than ever for him to get the heck out of the south and never turn back.

"What are you thinking about?" Avery asked as they completed a lap. "Nothing really." Caleb lied. Avery chucked and shook his head. "What?" Caleb questioned. "You're thinking about the same thing I am," Avery offered. "The girls that we stupidly let go of." Caleb sighed and faced the track.

He knew Avery was the only person that could possibly understand what he was going through when it came to Aria, because he was going through it with Brooke. It was no secret that Brooke and Jaden were an item and for the most part everyone seemed to ship them, but Caleb knew Avery and Brooke had a history and he sympathized.

"It was for the best," Caleb said as they turned the corner. "Aria is a wife type and I'm not husband material, but Stefan is. She deserves to be with a good guy and that's not me." Avery thought long and hard as they ran at what Caleb said. He couldn't relate with the bad guy trope, but Avery could understand how the dynamic played out for Caleb. However, he saw goodness in Caleb mostly.

"Listen man, I know a bad guy when I see one and you're not it. I think you're trying so hard to convince yourself that you're this guy that doesn't deserve a good thing, but you do. I honestly think you're too afraid to pursue something with Aria because you're afraid of what would happen if you really let yourself go and truly let her in." Caleb slowed down a tad in his run taken back. "Quit letting fear block your blessings."

"What's your excuse then? Brooke and you clearly have a rich history and yet you did nothing and watched her two-step right into Jaden's arms." Caleb retorted. "I treated Brooke horribly from the moment I saw her at Fish Fest. I treated her like every other prick that's bullying her now and the major difference is that I know her. I know how great she is, but I couldn't see past my misguided anger and pain from our past to see that she was the same beautiful girl I met in Colorado."

Caleb could see the sadness in his eyes and felt for him. "We can just care about them from afar," Caleb offered as they slowed to a brisk jog. "Jaden is a better man for her. He's from her world. He can take care of her better than I can." Caleb nodded in solidarity. "Stefan is the better man. He's probably the best man for her and she deserves the best." It was Avery's turn to nod in solidarity.

"Let's just focus on our sports this semester, how about that?" Avery offered with a slight smile. "I still haven't decided if I'm joining the team." Caleb sighed. "About that...Coach was talking about them needing a backup quarterback. I think you should try out. It's this afternoon and I think it'd be the perfect distraction."

Caleb wasn't sure about this. He did need a distraction, but he wasn't sure about committing to the team. He wasn't sure about committing to anything. "Don't overthink it, bro. It's only football and you've played before. It's a Fall sport, so you'll be done by the end of the semester and you can decide whether you're going to stay here or not by then. In the meantime, you'll have something to keep your mind off of your failing love life." Avery chuckled shoving him slightly.

Caleb knew he had a point and agreed. He would be on the football field in 3 hours to try out for the spot. It was backup QB, so he wouldn't be playing much but training with the team would help him stay fit and most importantly distracted. Caleb knew he needed to stay busy and with practices he would be too occupied to hang out with everyone as much. That sucked because he would miss his friends, but he wouldn't miss Stefan and Aria all over one another.

He needed to get her out of his system and hopefully tackling and running would help clear his senses of the smell of lavender, vanilla and cocoa butter. Every time Caleb closed his eyes, she was there and that needed to end.

*****

"When are you going to let me take you out," Preston harassed as he grinned at Elsa. "When you can complete a 24-hour fast." Elsa retorted causing Preston to gasp. "You know I can't do that! I love food too much!" Elsa chuckled. "I know you do, hence why us going out is never going to happen." Elsa packed up her books in the common area of the dorm.

She was doing some studying when Preston happened upon her and began pestering. "Come on, E. I know you feel this thing between us. Don't tell me I'm the only one who does." He pleaded as they made their way towards the elevators. "Preston, if Fish Fest is any indication as to the type of man you are then you're a player at best and a man whore at worst. Either way, I don't want anything to do with you romantically."

They stepped in the elevator as Preston seemed to be thinking. "Do you have feelings for me?" Preston asked looking directly into Elsa's eyes. "I don't think that..." Preston closed in on her placing both hands against the wall, one on each side of her. "Just answer the question and I'll leave you alone..." Preston leaned in his lips an inch from her ear. "...for now."

The minty waft of his breath caused Elsa's body to heat up. "So, I'll ask again, do you have feelings for me?" Elsa wanted to answer, but she couldn't take her eyes off of his plump lips. He's a hoe, he's a slut, he's a freak. Elsa mentally sang to herself as a reminder of both the ringtone she had set for Preston and the persona he had fully embraced.

Elsa looked Preston in the eyes before licking her lips. His gaze followed the tip of her tongue and focused on her lips which she had pressed in a smirk. "I feel nothing for you, Preston Smith, other than friendship and admiration of your knowledge for the sciences." The doors flew open and Elsa ducked from his caging and headed to her room.

She knew he was still watching her as she walked. She could feel the heat still coursing through her veins, but she wasn't going to give in and turn around. He needed to know that she was serious and she needed to hold her resolve. Boys like Preston were just like JT, trouble. She didn't need to end up like her sister or worse end up falling in love with someone who could never give their heart in return.

Daisy had just got off the phone with her twin Damon. They had daily calls to keep up with one another and it was the highlight of her day. She watched as Elsa came into their room, closed the door, and let out the loudest sigh she had ever heard. "Penny for your thoughts?"

Elsa slightly jumped. "Oh, I totally forgot you were staying in to study." Daisy laughed. "Yeah, I finished 30 minutes ago and then called Damon. What's going on?" Elsa filled Daisy in on the whole encounter with Preston, as well as, how she had been feeling about him lately.

"Girl don't go near that with a 10-foot pole." Daisy advised. "You know what guys like that are like. You literally have one for a best friend." Elsa nodded her head in agreement. She had witnessed the damage JT and his three F rules had done to the girls in their high school.

Preston may not have had the rules, but he had the persona and actions to follow suit. "You're right. I won't give in to these hormones. They'll go away in time." She said this more for herself than Daisy. "Oh, they won't," Daisy retorted. "You need to get fucked."

"What?!" Elsa shrieked. "I mean it, E. You already said you're not waiting for marriage and felt the pomp around it all was just a societal construct to keep women controlled, so why is your V-card still intact?" Daisy made great points. Points that Elsa had expressed herself. She knew she didn't want to wait until marriage, because frankly she didn't see herself getting married.

She felt the hype about losing one's virginity as this special rite of passage was fully one sided when it came to girls. But she did want it to mean something. She wanted to lose it to someone that she liked and would make it good. She told Daisy just as much and Elsa could see the lightbulbs going off. "Lose it to Preston!" Daisy declared clapping her hands. "Are you crazy? You just told me to stay away from him?"

Daisy waved her off. "Hear me out. You tell Preston it is strictly physical and a one-time thing to get your needs met. He will either oblige and you will have given him the one thing he wants causing him to leave you be or he will run for the hills and never bother you again. Either way, you get Preston Smith off your back and possibly have the best sex of your life your first go at it."

She had a point and Elsa knew it. "Fine, D." Elsa smiled. "We got a plan."