Shadows dance around my room.

By now, it's nearly 1 am, and I can't believe that the two of us have been talking for almost an hour. Cruz lets out a sleepy yawn. I don't blame him. A lethargic ache tugs at my temples. I'm getting pretty tired as well. Guilt tugs at me, too. I didn't mean to keep Cruz up so late.

I feel the need to let him know, "Hey..."

"What?"

"I won't mind," I tell him, "if you end up falling asleep here. Just be careful not to let Ron or my aunt catch you whenever you go."

His breath hitches slightly. "You sure?"

My heart flutters. "Yeah."

For a second, the air thickens between us, and I don't know how he's going to react.

"I'll be careful," Cruz promises in soft but resolute tones.

The tension dissipates. His arms tighten around me. I sigh and snuggle closer. Our bodies meld together like perfect pieces of a puzzle.

As I lay beside him, the dark, on my bed, I can't help but wonder—

Is this normal?

Is this what friends do?

What we're doing is weird, right?

An uncertain frown pulls down my mouth.

Yet, it feels so... right.

Whatever.

I yawn and begin to doze, slipping toward that dreamy, hazy place between consciousness and sleep. Beside me, I feel Cruz's muscles relax. His breathing slows.

Soon, I stop thinking altogether as we fade away into the night.

***

The next morning, I awaken slowly, sluggishly. As my senses sharpen, I feel something poke my bum from behind.

It feels... hard.

Dafuq?

In a drowsy haze, I roll my hips to inspect it, rubbing lightly against the pokey hardness.

I hear a soft, sleepy groan.

Strong arms tighten around my waist.

I tense up when I realize that I'm not alone in bed.

Cruz is still here, and he's spooning me from behind. His long, solid form is pressed up along my back. He's topless. I'm braless. His dingaling is at full attention.

Oh, God.

Oh, God.

This can't be a good look for us if someone walks in right now.

Before I can start really panicking about his dad or my aunt catching us in bed, the idiot suddenly moves even closer to nuzzle my neck. He starts grinding his sizable hardon against my ass.

Holy shit!

The sensation sends a burst of confused, horny butterflies fluttering through me. I'm pretty sure this has nothing to do with me and everything to do with his morning wood, but I'm getting stupidly turned on, nevertheless.

"Dude! What are you doing?" I squeak, feeling mortified, yet, hating myself for liking it at the same time.

Just then, I feel Cruz's entire body grow taut.

"Oh, shit," he rasps, his voice sounds scratchy and hoarse from sleep, "I'm so sorry, Athena! I-I didn't mean to—"

With a frantic burst of energy, he rolls away from me as though I'm a hot potato and nearly falls off the bed trying to get away. Cruz catches himself right before he topples over the edge.

"It's okay, it's fine," I remind him in hushed, worried tones, "just be quiet! Or else they'll hear us!"

The they I'm referring to, of course, are Ron and Aunt Katrina.

"Right, right," he mutters in a decidedly calmer, quieter manner.

Cruz's eyes are wide with alarm, but there's still a groggy, not-at-all-awake gleam in his green, green depths.

I can't help but take a second to admire him in all his glorious I-woke-up-like-this hotness. His face is gorgeous as always. His black hair is rumpled in an adorably boyish way. His sculpted pecs and biceps and abs are pretty much works of art.

Ugh, so unfair.

I probably look like a crusty clown at the moment.

Yet, as Cruz's gaze falls on me, a faint smile graces his face as though he's happy to see my crusty-ass clown face. I feel sheepish under his scrutiny and avert my gaze. On accident, my eyes dip down towards his, ah... crotch.

Oh, shizzles.

The tent is still there. His joggers don't really leave much to the imagination. Earlier, he felt big on my bum. Now, he looks big, too.

My cheeks grow warm.

Immediately, Cruz takes notice and grabs a pillow to cover his goods.

"Sorry," he mumbles again. "It'll go away... soon. And I promise I won't do that again."

I chuckle, awkwardly, and try to ease the tension. Looking this way, that way, anywhere, but at him, I chirp, "No worries, it's cool, I totally get it! You're a guy. Happens all the time, I bet, haha. Biology and all that, right?"

As this cringeworthy ridiculousness spills out of my mouth, I want to smack myself.

What the fuck am I even trying to say?

He's a guy?

Happens all the time?

Biology?

I know full well that my dumb ass isn't making any damn sense right now.

Cruz flushes and frowns slightly. "What?"

Poor guy looks thoroughly confused.

I glance away once more, feeling extremely lame and uncool. "Nevermind."

My gaze roves around my room. This time, I focus on a more G-rated visual. My door. I remember, then, that it should be locked, and I feel dumb all over again. In retrospect, I'm not sure why I freaked out so much earlier. It's unlikely that Ron or Aunt Katrina will bust through a locked door and catch us red-handed.

However, we're not out of the woods yet. I have to find a way to sneak Cruz out of my room without either of the adults seeing him.

I steal a look at Cruz. "So, um..."

He grunts, "Hmm?"

I catch his eyes darting to my chest, but he looks away again so quickly that, I swear, I feel like I imagined it. I glance down, too, for a second. I see my nips poking through my thin cotton T-shirt in a very visible way.

Yikes.

Did he see the girls?

I hope not.

Self-consciously, I cross my arms over my boobs. I clear my throat. "What do you think we should do?"

He mumbles, "About what?"

Cruz looks distracted. He's clutching onto the pillow in his lap as though his life depends on it.

"About... you."

He blinks a few times. "Me?"

I stifle a sigh. Dude is being slower than a snail right now. I can only assume that his brain is still stuck on sleep mode or something.

I explain, "Do you want me to go out first? I can check if the coast is clear and then text you when it's safe to come out..."

Understanding finally clicks for him. He exclaims, "Oh... yeah! That's a good idea."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

We proceed to carry out my plan. I head out first to check the hallways, then, the bathrooms, the guestrooms, and finally the master bedroom. They're all empty. Ron and Katrina aren't upstairs.

Good.

I tiptoe down the stairs. Ron's car is already gone. He's probably at the hospital already. Aunt Katrina is in the kitchen, drinking coffee, eating breakfast.

I text Cruz: it's safe

A second later, the sound of a door opening and closing echoes from the second floor. I hear footsteps. It seems Cruz made his escape, I head back upstairs to shower, and Aunt Katrina is none the wiser. I purposely stay out of Cruz's way. I'm still feeling a tad awkward after our unfortunate eggplant-on-peach wake up call this morning.

I feel relieved, though, that we didn't get in trouble. Yet, I'm also strangely disappointed in my aunt. I wonder if all other parents and guardians are this fucking disconnected from their kids' activities. It's not that I want to get caught, but it's kind of sad to see, time and time again, how little my aunt seems to care about me.

I hope Ron and Aunt Katrina are the exception and not the norm.

I don't think my mom would be cool with a boy sleeping over in my room.

If she was still alive, I doubt Cruz would even have a chance to climb on my bed in the first place.

My heart clenches sadly, but I don't have time for a pity party. It's close to 7 am, and I only have about twenty minutes to get my ass out the door. Otherwise, I'm going to miss my bus and be late for school. My morning passes by in blur as I dive into my usual morning routine. The thought of running into Chrissa and Brody is making me sick to my stomach, but I try to focus on the other things, other tasks, like, brushing my teeth, fixing my hair, and putting on makeup.

I don't think about Chrissa or Brody or what they have in store for me today. If I do, then I'll probably chicken out and make up excuses to stay home "sick" for days on end.

By 7:15 am, I'm ready to go. My insides are jittery and nauseous. I grab my skateboard and backpack. I step out the front door feeling like a soldier being sent to the frontlines. Doom and disaster await me.

Suddenly, I hear Cruz's voice call out from behind me, "Hey!"

I stop and pivot around to face him, "What's up?"

We lock gazes. Green meets brown. I stare at him curiously. "Did you need something?"

Cruz looks down at his feet like he's shy or something. My heart goes out to him. He's probably still feeling uncomfortable about our weird morning together, too.

Then, he glances up and asks, "Do you, um, want me to drive you to school?"

My mouth falls open. "Uh..."

Well, this is unexpected. I'm taken aback by his offer. Cruz and I have never gone to school together.

I stammer, "No, no, it's fine. There's no need. I can take the bus. Like I usually do."

Quietly, he insists, "But I don't want you to show up alone today, you know, all things considered."

I'm a little stunned.

Wow.

Is he for real?

His kindness is just so, ugh, attractive.

Warmth envelopes my heart. Blushing and smiling gratefully, I practically beam at him. "You know what? I'd appreciate a ride to school today, actually. Thank you so much."

He smiles back, the corner of his mouth quirks up, all lopsided and cute.

I don't know what kind of hell is waiting for me on campus, but, suddenly, I'm not so scared of Chrissa or Brody anymore. Cruz will be at my side, and that thought alone makes all the difference.

***

Hiiii! Alice here.

How are we all liking Athena and Cruz so far? For some reason, I can't seem to stop writing about them lately. Get ready for some dramaaaaa at school and seggsual tension at home, teehee.

Anywho, don't forget to vote and comment! Fanks! <3