Do I Wanna Know? - Arctic Monkeys

     I've started to believe that the people who have labeled me as the reckless bad girl have had some kind of psychic experience that triggered their assumptions.

I never knew the exact definition of reckless until now. In the span of forty-eight hours I've come to realize just what the word means. Before 3:00 AM Monday morning, I would have never understood just how much of a toll being reckless would have on me.

It's been two days since Monday. Two days since I kissed Torez. Since I decided I wanted to explore my given label to a whole other extent. Reckless was just a word, but the actions that fell into the category were on very dangerous territory that was new to me.

Sneaking around behind my best friends back was an epiphany I wasn't fully prepared for. Especially when it involved Preston Torez.

Even though it's been only two short days, we've come so close to getting caught countless times, we were starting to place our bets down.

I say one week is all it will take before we're busted.

Pres says three days.

Although we were betting on how long it will take for Katrina to find out about this cliche affair going on between her boyfriend and bestfriend, we still found humor in the situation some how.

Behind this facade I've been putting on, underneath was a shining layer of guilt I was hellbent on keeping away. Lord only knows what would happen if I were to allow the guilt to flood back.

What the hell was I saying? Guilt would stab me for the rest of my life the longer this little secret continues.

I liked to believe I had a portion of a heart, at least.

The first time Preston tried showing me affection behind Kat's back--quite literally was yesterday morning.

She was pouring herself another cup of coffee. Preston and I were sitting at the kitchen island, shoveling breakfast into our mouths. The moment Kat turned her back to us, Torez gripped my thigh and planted a sloppy kiss on my neck.

I immediately pulled away, horrified at his actions.

Katrina was literally less than five feet away, and he had the guts to kiss--let alone touch me?

I had raised my hand, prepared to slap his cheek so hard, it would turn a plum purple.

His lips didn't leave my neck when he wrapped his fingers around my wrist with his free hand, gently pulling it down, away from his face.

Later that day, Preston told me it would get easier.

I made it known that I highly doubted that, but here I was on Wednesday afternoon, biting my lip to keep myself from laughing every time Kat turned to the TV and Preston looked over at me from the other side of the room and winked.

I knew I was being a shitty person, a ghastly so called best friend, but my vile temptations were much stronger and louder than the Angel sitting on my shoulder, begging me to do the right thing, representing my conscience.

To be honest, I had given up on my conscience the moment Preston stepped into my room early Monday morning.

Even though my temptations have gotten the best of me, I always reminded myself that this wouldn't last.

This was an impulse, a spur of the moment affair that would end the moment we started our road trip back to Texas.

That realization made me feel like a slightly less heinus person. Slighlty.

"Oh, shit!" Kat shoots up from her spot on the couch, staring worriedly at her phone.

I lean up slowly, keeping my eyes trained on Kat and my expression neutral.

"It's my mother," Kat sighs, looking at Preston, then me.

"Please keep it down."

With that, she rushes out of the living room, raising the phone to her ear as she went.

I didn't realize Preston had made his way over to me until I felt his cool fingers brush across my upper arm, making me shiver.

"I really hope I'm not the only one who absolutely hates this movie."

After reaching over for the remote to pause the movie, I lean back, trying to keep my distance from him.

"Aw, come on. The Proposal is not that bad. Plus, this," I point between the two of us. "It's just as cliche."

Preston frowns slightly, confusion dancing in his eyes.

He was sitting on the edge of the couch, his hands clasped together.

"Really, Torez?"

I glance down the hallway, making sure Katrina's out of earshot.

"They're in a fake relationship, we're...sneaking around behind my best friends and your girlfriends back. Hell, we can take our situation right out of a teen romance novel." I scoff, rolling my eyes at the comparison.

"Also, we're technically supposed to be in Alaska."

A huge grin broke out on my face a second later.

Preston runs a hand through his hair, his frown not leaving his lips. "So?"

Well, shit. I thought Kat told him about her parents false insight.

Shaking my head, I pull out my phone and start to scroll through my social media. "Nothing, never mind."

The sound of a door opening makes Preston instantly return to his earlier spot.

I pretend not to notice my best friend walk in the room.

As she walks past me to get to her seat beside Torez, she picks up the wine bottle from the coffee table on her way. "Well, my parents are still as oblivious as ever. I told my mom I got to touch a whale."

After taking a large gulp of the white wine, she snorts heavily.

With that, I hit play on the TV remote.

* * * *

     Another cringe worthy chick flick later, we all decide to turn in for the night.

"We're gonna need as much sleep as we can get, because we're going out tomorrow night."

I blink up at Kat as she picks up the empty ice cream cartons and wine bottle.

Preston silently takes them from her, heading for the kitchen.

"Out?" I repeat, the statement coming as news to me.

Katrina rolls her light eyes playfully. "Yes, out. We're in New York City and we've barely experienced the party life. Time's, a ticking, Ada." With a bright smile, Kat kisses my cheek and heads for her room, telling Preston to go say goodnight to her when he's done in the kitchen.

I laugh cynically, taking my time to get up.

The viberation of my phone causes me to stop mid-stretch.

How'd your day go?

My heart plummeted the moment my eyes scanned over the name in which the message was sent from, just like it's been doing for the past two days.

Nic keeping true to his words, has called and texted me everyday since he left, just like I had wanted.

Now, everytime I see his name on the top of my phone screen, a sense of pity rolls through me, reminding me of what I'm doing to him.

"Thank fuck that's over." The soft yet deep voice makes me jump, causing me to try to hide my phone behind my back.

"What's over?" I ask curiously, my eyes bouncing all over.

The moment Prestons fingertips grip onto my chin, forcing me to look into his eyes, most of the guilt and pity washes away.

"Those shitty movies," he responds conspicuously, the question 'what else would I be talking about?' dancing in his eyes

Haha, funny thing...

I hum my reply, gulping nervously.

Why was he still tilting my chin?

"I would keep you company until you fall asleep but..." he trails off gently.

"I know," I say quickly, wanting him to know I understand. I know.

He scans my face, taking his sweet old time.

I couldn't help but squirm under his intense gaze, his brown eyes seeming brighter.

"Goodnight," He whispers softly, still not making a move to step back. Or leave.

"Night, Torez." I offer a tight lipped smile, prepared to be the one to expand the distance between us.

Before I can even move, his lips hover over mine for a few long seconds, taunting me.

I hold back an annoyed huff, but fail in hiding my irritation when I see his eyes light up, a hearty laugh escaping his lips.

We stand there for a few seconds just staring at one another until finally, he gives in, going against everything his own bad boy facade stands for when he places a gentle, sweet kiss on my lips delicately, like if he were to apply any more pressure, I would shatter.

He pulls away all too soon, winking quickly and smiling willfully before heading for the hallway, his next task--going to wish his actual girlfriend a goodnight.