“So,” I began reaching into the fridge looking for a drink to bring Kate, a can of soft drink or something “tell me, what’s been going on these days for you? Having fun?” I asked softly, peering into the fridge.

Gavin shrugged beside me, leaning against the counter beside the fridge “Not as much fun as you and Kate.” He said amusement in his voice.

I coughed “Yeah, that was fun.” A blush coating my cheeks as I pulled out a bottle of soft drink, feeling awkward and shy as I made my way over to the cupboard to get a jug to pour it in with some ice, plus some cups for us all out there.

Gavin laughed making me feel less shy, a smile curling at my lips.

“So, tell me.” I began crushing the ice. “What exactly is this occasion?” I asked gesturing outside through the window seeing his family and my own – which included Kate – laughing in the backyard and mingling like old times. Mum and Gavin’s mum after all knew each other through work, so that meant dad as well since they all worked at the hospital.

Gavin gently moved me aside so he could crush the ice I was failing in doing so “Um, I’m not entirely too sure. Mum just said that our mum’s had been talking and organized it or something.”

Of course mum would be behind it I thought sourly as I thought of the other day mum had seen Gavin drop me off. First Kate and now my own mum, they were both obviously trying to play matchmaker. I was just glad that Gavin was oblivious; I’d be mortified if he found out let alone his response to the idea.

I sighed grimly “It would’ve been nice to have been told, would’ve saved me-“

“From getting caught out covered in mud in your swimmers?” he finished for me smiling cheekily at me.

I only blushed darker realizing just how embarrassing that was, not to mention him seeing me in my swimmers, that really goes to show how shy I was if I was shy about that simply but I had to admit in public I wasn’t one to show off my body that bare, I usually had a one piece of a swimmer tank.

“I have to say it was amusing, you constantly surprise me.” he chuckled softly, looking at me with those sparkling warm brown eyes.

I raised a brow “Oh do I? How so?” I asked honestly interested, I after all wasn’t purposely doing it.

He shrugged “Detention, mud fights and such, usually you aren’t so…..” he trailed looking for the right word.

“Fun? Noticeable? Boisterous?” I supplied.

He smiled at me softly “I never thought you were dull….you just are always so quiet, here though I get to see you for how you really are underneath that hair and cute school girl shyness.” He smiled, tapping my nose as it scrunched up under his touch as I smiled.

I laughed “C’mon.” I said as I made my way to the lounge room where the back glass door was.

Pausing by the door realizing my hands were full of the cups and jugs I paused turning to ask for help. I stopped, closing my mouth at the sight of Gavin stopped by my piano looking down at the scattered musical notes and sheets all over the seat bench, floor and on the keys even.

“Oi you!” I called smiling as he looked up slightly startled but his eyes still slightly filled with awe over what he had been looking at I gathered. “I need a little help here.” I asked holding up my full hands.

He came over with a sheepish grin “Sorry.” He said softly opening the door for me and letting me step through first.

“Later.” I said, taking a side glance at him I gave him a coy and – though I won’t admit it out loud – a flirty smile “I’ll teach you a bit more later.” I winked.

He smiled as we walked out onto the patio, all of the girls here at the table. As soon as we stepped out and they heard of our presence they turned in our direction all eyes on us. The man I noted where down the back in shed looking at something, doing whatever men do. I couldn’t help but notice how mum’s eyes and Gavin’s mum, Debbie’s eyes followed us slightly smugly and giddily, excitement clear on their face and smugness.

Debbie looked somewhat similar to Gavin, she was a short lady, with Gavin’s black hair that was in a short curly bob do that suited and shaped her fine featured face nicely. She had piercing blue eyes that stood out greatly once coupled with her thick bunch of lashes, she had that adult beauty about her but at the same time she just looked simply natural and carefree.

I sat down beside Kate who watched us, her eyes flickering between Gavin and eye before she smiled with approval probably piecing together that we had made up and proud of me for not playing invisible. I blushed under her close gaze just like everyone else’s, she smiled at me reassuringly with a small wiggle to her eyebrows making me blush deeper, she laughed softly under her breath before turning back to Gavin’s younger sister Jessica.

I had honestly forgotten about Gavin’s younger sister Jess, she was a couple years younger than Kate and I, in year nine. She was a gorgeous girl though, she had her dad’s blonde hair – though his was darker – and her mum’s bright blue eyes, she was tall like her dad and brother and she had her mum’s luscious curves and frame. Overall she was the perfect mix of her parents and she was a girl that was envied by her age and she was in the it crowd, fitting in nicely and yet she wasn’t some snooty bitch. The fact that she hadn’t let popularity go to her head had earner her my respect.

Gavin’s dad Ethan was a mix of his two children, he was a tall man just like his two children, and stocky with thick and wide shoulders and muscled body, Gavin I could admit wasn’t that thick and rough. Ethan may look rough but he was far from it, from previous meetings he was quite laid back and the joker too, like my dad. He had like Jess blonde hair but he was growing darker and dirtier with age, but most importantly he had Gav’s warm brown eyes that looked so warm and soft, like a caress.

Their family was nice, I knew them through my parents and Debbie working together at the hospital so if there was a Christmas party on, or when I went to the hospital or just in general I’d see them we’d smile and say hello, maybe even chat for a while. I knew these familiar people so I wasn’t so nervous, however knowing that our mum’s were playing matchmaker had me nervous.

I hand over the cups to all of them, smiling and saying “Hi.” To Jess as I did so, she smiled at me but Kate still snagged her up in conversation, at first I thought it was just simply to get Gavin and I to talk alone but she also seemed to really enjoy talking to Jess anyways.

I sat back down beside Gavin and he handed me a poured glass for me already, I smiled at him “Thanks.” I murmured shyly making his smile grow.

I looked over to find Debbie and mum smiling over at us like two cherished cats making me blush more “Lovely to see you again Debbie.” I murmured shyly but still being polite.

Debbie smiled greater and I knew it was because I was finally calling her by her name rather than Mrs. Bickim, that habit took a while to break. “Lovely to see you again sweetie.” I couldn’t help but smile back; she was such a sweet lady.

“Steph honey did you remember to turn the hose off?” Mum asked looking up from the table as she cut some more cheese on the platter to go with the dip.

“Shit!” I hissed softly before leaping up out of my seat and racing around the side to turn the hose off.

By the time I got back I was breathless with a sheepish, apologetic smile “I’m sorry for swearing.” I apologized politely as I sat back down.

Mum rolled her eyes playfully “Did you even wash the car?” she asked amused.

I paused “Um,” was all I said as I leant back in my seat craning my neck back hoping to see around the corner and into the drive to see if dad’s car was actually clean. It wasn’t obviously so inconspicuous by the sound of the soft chuckles around me “I don’t think so….” I said slowly.

Mum tsked mockingly “Did you do anything?”

I beamed back “Yeah, breathed, attacked Kate and embarrassed myself, you know, the usual.” My usual teasing self making those all around laugh amused.

The sound of their laughter and Gavin’s gaze on me with a smile and soft laughter had me stopping to think, was I really that different when it came to me outside of school and not trying to be invisible? And the scariest question of all; is that one reason why I didn’t have many friends, because I came across boring?

Ƹ̵Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

Everything went so great that day, it actually felt really nice for me and somewhat special, for Gavin to see this side of me, relaxed and happy and showing him who I really was. Plus he got to see my house and my family in a more welcoming way since I was hiding and the same went for meeting his family. I really had a great time and the moment was something I didn’t regret, who knew not hiding could be so much fun?

We had in the end a barbeque by the man as our mum’s had gone into the kitchen to make salads and such, us guys staying outside. We had at first joined in with Kate and Jess, but slowly but surely Gavin and I drifted off into our own land and conversation just laughing and talking, it was all so nice to just sit back and relax, not having to worry about others watching us and feeling shy. I just felt so comfortable and relaxed and I wished I could be like this all the time around Gavin.

By the end of dinner I felt more than welcomed within Gavin’s family, hell we weren’t even dating but they treated me in somewhat ways as if we were, maybe it felt like that since he was a guy friend?

Offering to clean up the plates and table Gavin helped me carry them all inside and helped me pack the dishwasher, Gavin handing the dirty dishes to me one by one as I packed them or sat them in the sink to be hand washed later.

“So, Jess and Kate seem to get along pretty damn good.” I mused out loud.

Gavin smiled at me “Yeah.” He agreed.

I put the last of them in the dishwasher “Not that it’s a bad thing though.” I said.

“No,” he said, his voice sounding distant.

I didn’t know why until I heard the soft sound of a high pitched music not fill the air. It bought a huge smile to my face as I turned into the lounge room to find Gavin sitting on the piano bench looking up smiling, eagerly. The sight made me laugh as he looked like a little kid on Christmas day.

I returned the smile back before he ducked back down and began hitting certain keys trying to remember what note they were, I had to give him credit for never playing piano or knowing much of music he had a knack for it, and a decent memory. I had tried teaching Kate once and that had simply been a disaster, a horrid disaster.

Walking over to stand behind him, keeping a slight distance behind him, he didn’t like that though, his hand reached behind him and weaved his finger with mine before drawing them back over the keys “Show me.” he urged softly my body reacting shamelessly to his touch.

Taking a steady breath I leant in and stepped in closer before holding his hand as I showed him and taught, I’d play along very slowly whispering softly the notes I played, letting his hands move with mine to help him remember as I played. At first I felt highly aware of his body and was slightly stiff being so close and easily persuaded by his presence but soon I was relaxing and falling into the lull of the music.

Stopping as the lullaby drew to end I suppressed a shudder at the feel of his hot breath swirling around my ear, tickling me greatly. His scent tickled my senses, leaving me just as dazed as what his touch did to me. To feel my front pressed up and hovering slightly above too his back and warm form, his body heat feeding into me as I practically held his hand, I couldn’t deny the burning in my body. My feet swayed faintly, my body more and more seeping and falling into his, caving into his enticing touch though he was utterly oblivious to it, if this was how we’d be simply being close to one another I’d hate to know how I’d react to those sinful luscious lips. The thought alone had a ragged breath hitching in my throat.

I felt Gavin move his face slightly, his nose touching my cheek and practically running along my skin, my body nearly shuddering and falling down at his feet at how wound up and hot I felt. Surely this was illegal. Slowly I turned slightly towards him, feeling his lips move closer, to simply rest at the corners of my lips faintly, the feel of his lips dragging along my cheek causing a breathless sigh pass through my lips beyond my control. Gav’s hands squeezed mine softly, reassuringly until one of his hands moved only to rest and curl in my hair by the side of my face, cupping it and holding my face slightly to his, his hot breath pooling and sweeping pass his lips and to coil and whisper along my skin as his head began to turn closer towards me, my lips.

The slamming of the back door and the laughter of Jess had me stumbling back and out of Gavin’s clutches like being struck by a taser. I was breathless and I felt as if my heart was ready to leap outside my throat as I tried to compose myself inconspicuously as I avoided Gavin’s gaze entirely.

Jess and Kate walked in laughing and chatting happily almost excitedly “Hey guys, we were just looking for you two, do you want to watch a movie?”

I nodded breathlessly, flustered “Yeah movie, yeah.”

Ƹ̵Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

It was late, near midnight when Gavin’s family declared home time, time having gotten away and our families to happy chatting and catching up to pay attention or care. It was late though and we’d just finished our second movie and were half way through our third when Gavin’s parents declared home time.

Gavin’s parents were out front down the drive with our my parents chatting and talking still, it was most likely going to be another hour before they left if they kept it up. which was what I secretly wanted as I stood near Gav, my back pressed up against the threshold of the doorway as he stood before me, the both of us silent, just watching one another.

My body couldn’t help but blaze feeling how close he was and the heat of his body, it was enticing and I honestly wanted more, more of what nearly had happened before what could have happened before if it wasn’t because of Kate and Jess. But how do I get back to that without making a fool of myself and finding such confidence?

“So,” Gav murmured softly, his body dark apart from the light streaming in through the front porch lights and all, a shadow against his features as he looked at me in a way that had me curious and yet anxious.

It was silent for a moment and I had to break it, the silence eating at me ”So…what?”

My body was quick to jump to life when his hand reached up and cupped and molded to the side of my face, his thumb stroking along the side of my face and leaving me with a short closed off breath, holding it. My lowered gaze fluttered under his warm touch but I drew my eyes up higher though finding them not on my own eyes but lower.

Why, was Gavin Bickim looking at my lips? Did he want to kiss me? I wasn’t the most knowledgeable person when it came to boys and all that sort of things, hell I had never even been kissed before and I was seventeen! I felt suddenly so daunted with inexperience and worried, I didn’t know what to do! Was I wrong or right? Did I lean in or let him do the work? Did I close my eyes and wait? All the questions nearly had me hyperventilating.

All in that time he had leant in closer to the point I could feel his warm breath pooling and caressing my lips, my lips faintly parted with my eyes fluttering shut. The sound however of someone approaching had my hands reaching up and pulling his hands away from my face quickly feeling mighty embarrassed and shy.

He quickly pulled back looking in the direction of the person approaching breaking like the moment earlier, what luck we had. I was however wasn’t even paying attention, my eyes were looking down at our hands, mine sitting in his, his hands feeling rough and yet so smooth and delicate as he held my hand softly, tenderly. My hands were also so tiny in his grip, sitting in his hands that were so huge that his thumb and finger could probably wrap around my wrist and touch. The sight though had a part of my body throbbing, his hands in mine for the first time in so long being absolutely cleared of all worries and insecurities, I felt so safe and protected and I loved the foreign feeling, I craved for it to never leave.

“No I don’t know where your shoes are.” Gavin said as I listened back in on the conversation he was having with our intruder, Jess. His voice that reassured me slightly was agitated and disgruntled; I just prayed it was because of the interruption and not the fact that I looked eager for a kiss. I didn’t look too eager though, did I?

Looking down at our hands I listened in to their conversation, my thoughts miles away “Have you asked her?” Jess asked.

Gav sighed heavy with frustration making the corner of my lips curl slightly “Go away Jess.” He nearly groaned, like true siblings, something I had never experienced.

Jess laughed as she left, her footfalls sounding softer.

My heart raced at the thought of Jess’s question “Asked me what?” I whispered watching as Gav’s thumb absentmindedly massaged along the back of my hand making my insides flutter.

“Oh, well….” He began sounding to be struggling over his words “I was going to ask you if you’d like to….” He trailed off “Steph?” he asked, his voice’s tone changing.

“Mmmm?” I hummed distracted by his touch.

“What’s up?” he asked with a hint of anxiety and worry that touched me.

Snapping out of my daze I looked up at him, smiling softly “Do you know how big your hands are compared to mine?” I asked softly.

Stunned he watched as I held our hands up showing him, laying our hands out flat palm to palm, his fingers longer than mine and his hand swallowing mine whole. The sight had Gavin laughing softly with a smile “Your hands are so tiny and cute, like a babies.” He murmured teasingly.

I rolled my eyes, fighting back a blush “So, what were you’re going to ask?” I said going for a change of topic to save me.

“Mmmm? Oh.” He said, his eyes bugging as he grew awkward again making me more curious “For the Senior Festival,” he began my heart in my throat “do you want to go with me?” he asked, his voice sounding soft and vulnerable, anxious.

I looked down at our hands before curling and weaving my fingers back with his again “Yes.”

“Really?” he asked in disbelief and relief.

I looked up to meet his gaze, nodding eagerly with a huge smile on my face.

“Gavin come on!” Ethan, his dad shouted by the car and down the front out of sight.

Gavin smiled softly at me “Okay, that’s….great.” he said as if he had still yet to come to terms with it with that huge goofy grin on his face “I’ll be in touch, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I nodded dazed and giddy, so giddy I didn’t even have the brains to ask him what was tomorrow “Bye.” I whispered back.

He smiled one last time giving my hand a squeeze before disappearing down the front path in the dark.

Watching their car pull out of the drive I felt my body melt into the threshold of the door, a goofy dazed smile on my face, dreamy as a giddy, foreign and intoxicating feeling took claim of my body, filling me with jitters.

Kate popped up with her gear, about ready to head home since dad was giving her a lift home “Good night?” she asked with a cheeky, knowing grin.

“You have no idea.”

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Okay so for those of you who have no idea why I have fallen off the face of the earth (read my messages next time!) it was cuz my laptop is broken and being fixed right now. Luckily I was able to find some chapters of my stories saved and use them, this chapter being one of them! I hope this can sate you 'till my laptop is back! I'll be keeping you all posted too thru messages to fans! :)

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Voting Aim is 20. So you guys know my drill; vote, comment and maybe give me a fan, yeah? Do it, I dare you ;) Xx

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