“Boo!”

I squealed as someone came up behind me squeezing me by the waist, I jumped startled with a hammering heart. “Jesus Christ Kate you almost gave me a heart attack!” I gasped breathlessly as I clutched my chest.

Kate looked around at all the other people walking around and we had earned them our attention, boldly she winked at some of them cheekily whereas I as usual blushed and let my hair fall in front of my face looking down.

Kate eagerly looped her arms through mine practically bouncing on her feet with excitement which I wish I could borrow “So, where did you get to last night?” she sang brightly turning to look down at me with a wiggle of her brows.

I blushed scarlet “Kate!” I hissed embarrassed.

Kate laughed “What? We were supposed to leave together and the next second I’m getting a text message off Gav telling me he took you home.”

My eyes bugged in realization “Oh my god! I’m so sorry Kate; I totally forgot to let you know! Oh I feel so bad!” I moaned the taste of guilt so strong it left me queasy.

Kate waved me off “It doesn’t matter, well it did at first but Gav was looking out for you as usual.” She smiled at me making me blush.

I smiled chewing on my lower lip as I mulled her words over, she was right; Gav really was always looking out for me, before we even started talking he caught me leaving the girls toilet these days he was even looking out for me! The thought of it had my smile growing larger and my heart feeling so light and buoyant, the thought of Gav alone had me feeling like it let alone how absolutely sweet that boy was.

“Seriously Steph that boy utterly adores you, and looks out for you. I don’t know why you don’t just give him a shot.” Kate mentioned as we waited outside our roll call room waiting for the bell.

I smiled glumly “I don’t think he thinks of me that way.” I murmured honestly.

Kate gave me a look of utter disbelief; she looked at me as if I was deranged “Are you kidding me? What on earth would even make you think that?” she demanded and I hoped with everything within me that she was right.

“He used the friend word last night.” I muttered glumly, slumping against the wall as we watched people walk by us and people socializing about, many talking about the party and memorial yesterday.

“Ouch.”

I nodded “Tell me about it.” I muttered glumly, the thought alone of it like a stab in the heart.

“How did he say it?” she asked as we watched a bunch of girls in our year frolic about with some boys that instantly had me green of jealousy.

“I said thank you for the drive home last night and he say said something like ‘no problem, what are friends for?’” I muttered bitterly using a manly voice.

Kate threw me a sympathetic glance “That sucks.” She sighed “Don’t worry about it, I mean he’s a guy he probably didn’t even realize how he worded it.”

I sighed “I know, guys are so freaking confusing but it doesn’t matter I mean this weekend I had been walking around flirting and acting like we were dating what with him being at my house, inviting me to the festival, the party and other things I was acting like this- this other person.” I ranted growing frustrated with myself to not find words to explain myself, thinking back to the party and how I had acted like such a slut. Well, as slutty as I could act which wasn’t much at all but for me the invisible nun my actions was like you were in slutsville.

“Wait what! Festival?” Kate demanded looking at me sharply with wide eager eyes.

I shrugged having the decency to blush despite still feeling miserable and hopeless “Yeah, Gav asked me to go to the Seniors Festival or whatever the theme is this year with him.”

SMACK!

“Ow!” I cried at the burn at the back of my head “What was that for?” I hissed.

Kate snorted “You and your whole we are just friends and acting like a miserable loser thinking you have no chance and he asked you to the senior festival?!” she demanded looking at me as if I was the biggest moron on the planet.

I looked at her hopelessly “How do you think I feel Kate? I’m so freaking confused!” I moaned “I mean there was no ‘as my date’ mentioned, I mean for all I know it could have been an apology or pity invite.” I cried miserably “Than there’s part of me Kate, this part I hate so much that I even think it, but I have this doubt that what if he’s simply inviting me to the festival because I’m suddenly the talk of the school.”

Kate sent me a somewhat sympathetic but a glance that told me she thought that I was stupid and it was that look that had me feeling less anxious about it possibly being true and more guilty “I am so tempted to hit you again.”

I sighed miserably burying my head in my hands “I know! Trust me I want to hit myself too but I can’t help this part of me that honestly feels unsure, I mean Gav and I have never spoken before so I can’t help but second question.”

Kate sighed as she reached over and gave me a side hug as we still kept waiting for the bell “Look this is how it is, Gav would never and I mean never do that to you, it’s obvious that boy cares about you even if it is just as friends. Besides if he ever hurts you I’m here to talk to and kick his ass.” She reassured me soothingly, reminding me exactly why we were best friends.

I sighed heavily “I’m just so confused, plus this is all new for me, I don’t have guys interested me and I certainly act like this so I’m a little….unsure I guess you could say.” I shrugged.

Kate giggled “Honey the way you are acting isn’t slutty or bad, the way you are acting is how girls act when they are happy and in love.” She reassured smiling affectionately as she gave my shoulder a rub.

“I’m not in love!” I denied in a hushed tone.

Kate smiled tauntingly at me “Not yet.” She sang “But you’re definitely crushing.” She cooed making me blush a bloody crimson just as the bell rang and giggling Kate dragged me into roll call.

Ƹ̵Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

“Hey you,” Gav murmured closely behind me “I’ve been looking for you.”

I smiled largely looking over my shoulder in the canteen line at Gav who stood really close behind me, my cheeks darkening shyly “Really? Want your jumper back?” I asked instantly cheekily, not even intentionally and yet it was an instant reaction to flirt with him.

Gav smiled dazzling back at me “No, you can keep it. No I was looking for you because I have something for you.”

I raised my brow “What so you weren’t looking for me because you wanted to hang out with me?” I teased back.

Gav gave me a sheepish look “Woopsie?”

I giggle “You’re such a baby.”

Chad raised a challenging brow “And you aren’t shorty?”

I pouted “Hey! That’s not fair!”

Gav chuckled reaching over to grab food around me as I had been doing before he scared the crap out of me before handing over a few notes of cash to pay for the both of us. I speechless with a wide mouth trying to find words of protest and seeing it only had Gav chuckling again as he shook his head “Don’t even say it, I’ve got it.”

“But- But-“ I stuttered.

“Don’t.” he said strongly looking down at me “It’s a compensation since I didn’t get to dance with you last night.”

I blushed looking down as I chewed on my lower lip “Well that’s not just your fault; I was the one that ditched.” I murmured picking up my salad wrap handed to me.

Gav shrugged as he wrapped his arm around my shoulder as he reached for his own burger thing and left it there as he dragged me in closer as he spun us around and steered us off to somewhere unknown. I blushed faintly as I chewed on my bottom lip nervously also to fight back the oncoming grin at this, it was just so nice and casual. How could I not get mixed signals by all of this?

“So what is it you have for me?” I asked him making conversation as I resisted with everything within me to lean and snuggle into him closer or to even suck in his spicy masculine scent that left me dizzy.

Gav smiled dazzling down at me as we reached a shady tree on the schools’ oval and he threw his bag down on the ground as I nestled down under the tree. Gav paused though still standing up as I grabbed my drink and took a drink from it and drooled over my wrap, I was starving! I glanced up noticing he still wasn’t going to join me and I couldn’t help but frown up at him questioning and a little nervous.

Gav smiled down at me with that smile of his that always left me breathless as he fished into his pocket “I’ve got a surprise for you.”

I smiled up at him “What is it?” I couldn’t help but ask eagerly as I leant forward.

“This.”

I looked down into his hands at two strips, two tickets. I looked at it utterly amazing that he had already gone and bought them, it was reassuring. I couldn’t help but swallow nervously and yet with excitement as I read the ticket;

“We would like to invite you to Emming High School Senior Festival’s Masquerade Ball.”

“It’s masquerade themed.” I murmured out loud as I thought reading the rest of the details such as dates, time, where and then down the bottom the mentioning of underage drinking will not be condoled and all that other teacher’s rules crap.

Gav chuckled softly as he sat down beside me, our shoulders more than brushing as he read the tickets I held in my hands “Yeah, it’s better than the Grease theme they did last year, god I’ve never seen such dog ugly hair styles.” He snorted making me giggle.

“Gav?” I murmured softly turning more towards him so that my knees were brushing his and I was leaning more into him as I nervously licked my lips.

“Yeah? What’s up?” he frowned looking a little worried behind the confusement.

“Are you,” I began nervously “are you sure you want to take me? I mean if you want to pull out I totally understand, I mean what with all the talk and the rumors about me being a suspect and a messed up-“

Gav’s hands covered my mouth and suddenly all I could hear was the muffle of me still trying to talk against his large hands. Gav shook his head part amused and part well honestly it looked annoyed “Steph,” he began speaking deliberately slow “I want to go with you, really. But if you want to pull out tell me and you tell me now because I don’t want to go out and buy a tux for nothing.” He murmured a smile tagging on at the end and yet I could see it deep within the anxiousness, the vulnerability of my reply.

I couldn’t help but gape at him, was he seriously feeling the vulnerable one right now? “Gav,” I murmured softly reaching over without thinking and grabbing his hand “I honestly would love to go with you, really.” I said earnestly as I looked him in the eyes as he looked down at me with those gorgeous eyes of his own “I was just worried that you didn’t want to take me.” I couldn’t cringe at how coupely this was sounding “You know, as friends.” I added on anxiously.

Gav smiled down at me squeezing my hand back in reassurance “Right, as friends.”

I nodded trying not to cry right at that, oh god why? “So this Friday? You think you can find a tux on time?” I asked him trying to lighten the eerily serious mood right now.

Gav chuckled “I’ll be fine; I’ll just get mum to do it.” I laughed whacking him on the shoulder “The question is, do you have time to save up for the perfect dress?”

I rolled my eyes laughing ”Don’t forget the perfect shoes.”

Chaz sighed sadly “This isn’t going to end cheaply will it?”

I laughed whacking his shoulder again just as two shadows loomed across our faces and instantly setting dread deep within me the both of our stopping at the same time. I looked up nervously to see two familiar police officers looming over us and my stomach instantly began to churn and I felt sick as dread filled my senses.

“Steph.” Carl acknowledged me with a curt nod, the officer who had interviewed me in the girls’ bathroom not too long ago. Chris who filled the shoes of the bad cop simply just gave me a stiff brooding head tilt of acknowledgment.

“W-what’s wrong guys?” I stammered the worst possible outcome being that I was going to be arrested.

“This Cindy girl,” Chris began straight to the point and no pleasantries. My heart instantly lurched and I hung onto any words, what were they going to say? She was found guilty, that she did it? My mind spiraled at the possibilities.

“What about her?” I asked clearing my throat awkwardly.

“Have any of guys seen her about?” Carl asked his tone lighter as the good cop.

I shook my head “I’m not friends with her.”

Gav interjected “She wasn’t in any of her classes today.”

Carl and Chris shared a look.

“Why? What’s wrong guys?” I asked a part of me petrified of the answer but a larger part of me desperate for answers, to hear what I suspected.

“We’ve been trying to find her for some more questioning but no one knows where she is, including her parents.” Chris grunted out clearly frustrated and showing no compassion what so ever which I admitted kind of pissed me off, sure Cindy was acting more than weird but it didn’t kill to show some empathy.

“Well that’s to be suspected.” I sighed sadly.

The both looked at me questioningly.

I shrugged “I don’t know, I mean her best friend just died,” I murmured “and she’s apparently been acting a bit weird.” I added with the intention to at least make sure they paid attention to her at least because there was something going on in that girl’s head.

Carl sighed heavily and Chris only grunted “Okay well we’ll be on our way, thanks.”

I frowned “Wait!” I cried.

They turned around to face me questionably, Chris looked bored and Carl just look hopeful for something and that only worried me more.

“Have you guys got no leads?” I asked fearful of the answer. The pair shared a glance again and that was answer enough for me. “Unbelievable.” I muttered.

Carl sighed sadly “I must remind you Steph that we can’t share anything with you for obvious law and legal reasons.”

I nodded sadly as I sighed in frustration going to speak but Gav beat me to it “God this suck, the sicko deserves to be caught.” He practically growled.

The two nodded and for the first time Chris showed a sense of interest for once although it was anger. Bidding farewell the two of them walked off leaving us alone to dwell on our own deep thoughts, mine full of fear, anger and frustration. This wasn’t right for Georgie, she deserved to have that sick person put behind bars rather than walking free with the chance of doing it to others. It made me so mad and yet fearful.

Gav’s sigh bought me to his attention and I couldn’t help but stare at him openly in awe and breathless. Gav had his head back on the tree, his black scruffy hair getting bark all through it. His eyes were shut peacefully hiding those warm brown eyes that honestly were the warmest depths I’ve ever been held in. I watched him unable but to drool at his strong structured jaw and the skin along it that looked a little rough with stubble. His skin looked so clear and smooth though and I honestly wanted to reach out and run my fingers along it, maybe even through his hair and along his lips…right down his throat to his broad fit chest.

Come on, just reach out and fell it, trace, it, kiss it, taste it. Enjoy it the naughty voice within me beckoned like a siren my body heating up and flushing at my wanton thoughts making me breathless and my body light up.

What was wrong with me? I mean, I’ve never kissed a guy let alone want to tear a guy’s shirt off! I wasn’t so… confident and sadly that well sexy and seductive, not to mention experienced or slutty. Gavin wasn’t the only one that didn’t know me fully; I was just as clueless as him when it came to my bodies desires. It was like hitting puberty but instead of being scared of boobs and your period I was scared and also new to wanting and needing to express myself physical, starting with throwing myself at someone who wanted to be just friends. Hormones were scary. The unknown was scary. I was scary.

What was wrong with me?

I should have been petrified and asking that of myself, or rather demanding and yet all I wanted to do was plunge my fingers into his hair, to kiss him all the way down to his toes and to explore every contour along the way of his sinful body. There were things I honestly wanted to do to his body, things I had only heard of and never experienced and the places I wanted to put my tongue and hands was utterly new and erotic that left me breathless. My thoughts turned even naughtier as I thought of what I’d like him to do me, such as-

I was bought out of my thoughts by Gav clicking his fingers in front of my face dazed – and embarrassingly to even think – aroused I blinked up at him to find him standing before me, my head having to tilt back further as I furrowed my brow even deeper.

“We have class Steph.” He chuckled softly at my confused expression as he offered me his hand.

Taking his hand I instantly noticed how secure I felt in his warm, large and yet tender hands and noting how tender he held me every worry was swept away. I didn’t know what was happening to me except that I did know that if Gavin Bickim dragged me to the end of the world or even to danger I’d still follow him because no matter what I was going to be with Gavin Bickim.

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