Lea

         He stands only inches away from me. With the simplest of movements, his legs brush across mine, which are dangling off the countertop. The heat radiating from his body makes me shiver. He is that close to me, and he chooses to be this close to me, out of all the space available in this grand kitchen. My heart jolts within my chest; it's beating so rapidly that the increase in my breathing rate is inevitable.

         He isn't going to make a move.

         He might make a move.

         The area that River held as he picked me up by my waist still burns as if his hands left behind an infinite fire when they touched me. Studying him, I can see that he too is blushing as intensely as me and that his breathing is malfunctioning in the same way that mine is. He feels it too.

         He's going to make a move.

         No. He can't. He has a girlfriend, and the last thing I want to be is a homewrecker, I can't do that another person. No bloody way. So, reluctantly, I bow my head to face away from him, looking at my plastered finger that nestles is nestled in my lap.

         "I wanna get down now," I say, attempting to be reticent.

         Nevertheless, you can tell, by my shaking voice and the added warmth collecting in my cheeks, that I am nervous as hell. River moves away from me, leaning against the countertop behind him and allowing me space to jump down to the black and white checkered floor. He, too, faces away, dipping his head to the floor. Is he embarrassed? Or is he annoyed?

         Opening my mouth, ready to speak to a very quiet River who is now itching the back of his head, making his bicep bulge against the hem of his white t-shirt, my lips seal shut when I hear a rattling from the patio door to my right. River and I both look surprised in the door's direction, spotting two figures standing on the other side of the tinted glass. Luckily they can't see inside.

         Jake and Ky.

         Pushing his weight off of the counter behind him, River strides towards the patio door. Oblivious to River approaching the door, Jake raises his fist to knock again only to pause in his actions when River opens the door, a confused look appearing on his face.

         "What are you doing here?" River asks them both, eyebrows knotted together.

         "Sorry to intrude, bro," Jake starts. "The key to the wood house wasn't under the mat, so we came here instead. Who's got your pants in a twist?" And just as he asks River the question, his eyes avert to meet mine, and his confusion subsides.

         "Are we interrupting something?" Ky inputs, his head peeking into the kitchen to face in my direction. "Jake, I think we should go." 

         "No." River says automatically. "You can stay, and no, you're not interrupting anything. Lea and I were just cooking lunch, you guys can help." He sighs, widening the door even more, in order for them to walk through.

         "Hi Lea, how you liking staying in the same house as River?" Jake walks smugly forwards, crossing his brawny arms over his chest and standing a little too close for comfort. 

    "It's alright," I reply, peeking in River's direction to see his reaction, and he sure looks irritated. Ky shuts the patio door behind him and marches towards Jake, shoving him away from me – finally allowing me my personal space. I let out a grateful sigh.    

         "Sorry, Jake's the man-whore, if you haven't already guessed." Ky smiles sympathetically towards me. "I bet he just wishes you were staying at his house instead."

         Jakes laughs at Ky's comment. "Sorry, Lea, but you're not my type, so don't take anything Ky says seriously. I prefer...experienced girls." He chuckles, though what is even more annoying is the fact that River is also finding it amusing. Even though he tries to hold a straight face, a grin remolds his lips.

         Don't let it get to you, Lea. Don't.

         "For fuck's sake..." Ky mumbles under his breath. "Would you two grow some balls and give the girl some respect?"

         Surprised, I turn to Ky. In all honesty, I wouldn't have thought he would stick up for me, having friends like dickhead River and man-whore Jake.

         He smiles shyly back at me "excuse my French."

         "No problem, I'd rather be listening to your swearing rather than a couple of boys laughing at my inexperience," I say, calmly. Jake and River's grins are still present, making it terribly hard for me to resist slapping it off their faces.

         Why the fuck do the hottest boys have to be the nastiest? Can't someone have good looks and a nice personality at the same time?

         Well, there's always Ky. 

         Obviously, River wasn't going to make a move earlier; he would never be interested in me like Jake said.

        "I've already cut my finger, so I think you guys should cook lunch," I nod towards Ky, struggling to keep my annoyance from showing. Turning on my heel, I start towards the door of the kitchen but halt to twist and face River, my hair spinning around my shoulders. "If I'm not back by the time my parents come, tell them I'm out," I instruct River, keeping the straightest face I have ever achieved.

         Trust me, I'm no good at theatre.

        River's eyes are piercing, making it hard to look away again, but I force myself to. Walking out and into the entrance entryway, I hear footsteps coming after me – a part of me hopes for it to be River, only so that I can tell him how much of a dick he is.

         "Lea, wait!" Ky shouts behind me, making my legs pause immediately.

         "Hey..." I reply, turning to face him.

         "Where are you going?" He asks.

         "Just to friend's house, why?"

         "Look, don't listen to whatever Jake says, he's just...Jake. And River...he's not considerate either." He swallows. "But trust me, once you spend more time with them, you will come to like them both, as friends."

         "Ky, that's just another way to say that they're dickheads, and once I get to know them, I'd get used to their disgusting personalities, but I wouldn't mind it because I'd get used to it. Am I right?" I debate.

         He shows me his dashing smile. "You have us all figured out."

         "I have those two figured out." I correct Ky, pointing in the direction of the kitchen. "But you're fine, you're nice. Thank god."

         This time, Ky chuckles, throwing his head back to face the white patterned ceiling above us. "I'm glad you think of me like that." He licks his lips. "But what you've assumed about those two, it isn't true."

         "Of course you'll say that you're their friend," I huff.

         "Lea, hear me out a second," he claps his hands together, getting himself ready to convince me. "They are spoiled brats; I have to admit that. And sometimes they don't have manners, but they are my best friends, so if you think I'm good, that also reflects on them. They just..." he sighs, shaking his head, which makes a few strands of his silky brown hair fall onto his forehead. "Just, give them a chance."

         Taking in his striking dark blue eyes, I recall back to a year ago in the library. Stuck on a maths question, he asked for my help in solving the problem. I even remember thinking he was sweet, and I know now that he is.

         Ky clears his throat, bringing me back from my thoughts. "I can give you a ride if you want, I'm usually the taxi man anyway," He smiles – he really seems like a good guy.

         "Uhm..." Before I can take up his offer, we hear the sounds of River's footsteps coming towards us along with the clunking of the set of car keys in his hand.

        "Where are you going?" River asks, never looking at Ky but only at me. His footsteps discontinue once he is stood a few feet away; his presence puts me on edge for reasons I'm not too sure of.

         "Out," I say, bluntly.

         "Do you want a lift?" He mirrors Ky's offer. I haven't known him for long, but at times he's sweet, like now, and then at times he's a dickhead and it's sort of giving me whiplash.

         "Ky beat you to that offer," I state, bobbing my head towards Ky. "But I'll pass, thank you."

         River turns to Ky, wearing an expectant expression. For a few seconds, they just stare at each other until Ky eventually takes the hint.

         "I, uh, better go help Jake," he says quickly, giving River a look before heading back into the kitchen. I frown at River as he watches Ky walk back into the kitchen – I'm angry with him, and I want him to know it.

"You were just about to let Ky give you a ride, why won't you let me?" He questions.

"Oh, so you were eavesdropping?" I scrutinize.

"No." He instantly replies, clearing his throat. "Your voices were loud enough to be heard from the kitchen."

"Why do I think you're lying?" I say, narrowing my eyes at him.

"Because you don't trust me." He explains as if it's the most obvious statement to make.

"And I wonder why that is?" I step away from River and move towards the door of the house. 

"Hey, wait." River tugs onto my shoulder, spinning me around to face him.

His index finger and thumb graze the skin on the nape of my neck, sending stupid goosebumps along my arms. I don't want to have goosebumps, I don't want these weird feelings.

"What?"

"Let me drive you." His hand drops to his side.

"Why?"

"Because..."

"Why?"

"Where do you want to go?" He asks, ignoring my repeated question.

"River, you're not exactly being nice to me, so why do you want to drive me?" My brows furrow as I speak. 

"I'm sorry, I know I've been an idiot. What I said today was out of order," his eyes are apologetic, convincing me his words are true. "And don't listen to Jake, that's just his sense of humor, he means no harm by it." 

We stand staring at each other for a few seconds, and I take a moment to appreciate the small dark brown flecks in his irises. For a split second, I notice his eyes flick down to glance at my lips before returning to meet mine again. The movement shouldn't make me feel anything, but I can't deny that it does. 

"Where do you want me to drive you?" He finally breaks the silence.

After contemplating his offer of driving me, I eventually make a decision. "What's the catch?" I sigh, trying to control my rapidly beating heart.

Slowly and quite creepily, a small smirk remolds the shape of River's lips. His eyes twinkle mischievously as he speaks, "let's have lunch out before I drive you anywhere." 

***