Chapter Seventeen

The four steps I've come to learn is not what I expected. Especially from a guy like Hayes. There's no real order. It's all mixed together but divide into four simple steps.
  
1) Take risks.

I think it's crazy and can end up doing more damage than helping. But it also keeps life interesting. It helps keep my mind off of things and more on a certain person. I can't take that risk.

2)Follow your heart.

It can be a good thing or a totally bad thing. So far my heart isn't helping me. Just the opposite. It wants me to fall in love again. Why? I don't know. It's crazy. Boy crazy to be exact. Every second I spend with Hayes I fall for him even more. But my walls are still built up.

3)Dream big.

Yeah this one isn't too bad. I'm kinda ready to play again but I'm not quite there yet. Performing in front of an audience shouldn't be as scary as it sound but it makes my heart pounds unnaturally. Ironic isn't it? I love singing and playing instruments but I'm too scared to do it for an audience. Maybe if my family was here it would be different.

4) Break the rules.

As easy as it sounds, it's hard. I can't go around breaking the rules for fun. Teri could. Actually every teenager could but not me. The only time I broke the rules is when I snuck out to see Jason and when I got caught, I didn't have in me to do it again. I didn't want to do it again. To be honest, I was kinda a rebel when I was fifteen turning sixteen. It was exciting but after disappointing my parents I stopped.

"So tell me again why are we at Shawn's parents lake house?" I ask, stepping through the threshold.

"The beach is too crowd and we always come to the lake house." Teri tells me, dropping her suitcase.
 
It took four hours to get to the lake house. Four hours with Chris and his constant talking about everything he did. Gina didn't seem to mind but Daire and I did. Teri got lucky and rode with Shawn, Hayes and our suitcases.

The lake house is pretty amazing. It was big but not too big. Everything is on one floor.
 
The kitchen is the left, the living room is in the middle, leading the lake, and the four huge bedrooms are to the right.

"Where are we going to sleep?" Daire asks. "There's seven of us and four rooms."
 
"Forget about that" Chris says. "Why did you move the kitchen. It was closer the bedrooms."
   
"To make the rooms bigger." Shawn explains.
  
I think they moved the kitchen because of Chris. I learned he liked to eat a lot.
 
Shawn and Teri gets one room. Chris and Gina gets another room. Hayes gets his own room. That left me with Daire.
 
 "Who's up for a bonfire?" Gina asks, holding a bag of marshmallows.
 
I follow them the backyard where the bonfire is already set up. It actually looks like we're camping out in the woods and not in someone's backyard. We surround the fire and Teri passed out the bonfire sticks and marshmallows.
 
A smile crawls on my lips where I feel Hayes shoulders pressed against mine. I turn my head to look at him. His grey eyes burns with gold, his olive skin is flawless, he's muscles are relaxed, and his smile makes my heart skip a beat. A had a feeling I knew him from a different place.
  
"How burnt do you want your marshmollow to be?" Hayes voice brings me out of my trance.
  
I quickly pull out my marshmallow and scrunch my nose. It's beyond burnt. I pull the sticky black cloud off the stick and throw it behind me.
  
Hayes laughs. "Here you can have mine." He gives me his perfectly golden marshmallow.
   
Before I can say anything, Teri brings out a guitar. "It wouldn't be consider a bonfire without music."
 
I know what she's doing. She wants me to play a song.
 
"Who wants to play the first song?"
  
I turn my head, looking away from her and the instrument in her hands.
   
"I'll do it." Comes Daire's responds. Teri hands her the guitar and Daire begins to play a song that we all know.

Waooh oh oh it's always a good time Waohh oh oh it's always a good time

Then Chris jumps in with his horrible singing. I laugh.

Woke up on the right side of the bed What's up with this prince song inside my head Hands up if you're down to get down tonight Cause it's always a good time

I know at some point of time I was going to have to sing but it isn't this time. Teri went for me.

Slept in my clothes like I didn't care Hopped in a cab Take me anywhere I'm in if you're down to get down tonight Cause it's always a good time

Shawn comes back with water balloons and starts throwing it at us. Daire is still singing. It's always a good time
 
I grab a blue balloon and aimed for Chris but missed completely and hit Hayes who wasn't playing. Everyone stops in mid throw and glances back and forth at me and Hayes.
  
"Yeah Audrey" Teri says. "If I were you I would be running right now."
  
One look at Hayes told me everything I needed to know. He is pissed. I back up slowly and turn around to run.
   
"Audrey!" Hayes yells.
     
"I'm sorry!" I shout. "Why were you standing there in the first place"
 
I know I can't outrun him but I tried anyway. I didn't make it 200 meters before he wraps his arms around me.
   
He picks me up and takes his time walking back to the lake. I hit his chest.
  
"I said I was sorry" I tell him. "Put me down."
   
His eyes is filled with mischief. "You better not, Hayes." I warn. "I said sorry"
   
"Well then I'm sorry too."
      
Before I know it, I'm falling. It's over before I can utter a scream. I break the surface and glare at Hayes. He's smiling.
  
I make my way to the dock and pull myself out the lake. I walk past Hayes and straight into the house.
 
After a nice hot shower, I meet up with everyone in the living room. I walk into the room to see Chris and Shawn dancing to Just Dance.
 
I bit my lip to keep from laughing. I sit beside Teri and she's cheering for Shawn.
  
When they got done, Teri jumps up, pulling me with her. "It's our time."
  
I frown. "I can't dance."
   
Gina rolls her eyes. "Neither can Chris."
 
She has a point. We spread out and they selected Best Song Ever by One Direction.
  
I felt stupid trying to keep up with them but it was fun. At the end we're  on our knees in a stupid position. I drop my arms when I hear snickering behind me.
 
"That was cute." Hayes says, grinning.
   
Rolling my eyes, I get up off the floor. "Everything's cute to you"
   
"Not everything." He says, staring at me.
   
Memories fills my mind. Hayes was so close to me. He was about to kiss me. He motion for me to follow him and I do.
  
He leans against the wooden rail and I place my forearms on it, looking at the sky. Mainly the moon.
  
"Do you ever feel like you known someone for a long time but it was only for a couples of months?" I ask, not looking at him.
  
"Yeah sometimes." He replies back. "Why?"
   
Shrugging, I glance up at him. My hazel eyes looking at his grey ones. "That's how I feel when I'm with you."
   
He grins. "You make me feel a lot of things. Things I wouldn't expect to feel"
 
"Oh yeah?" I move closer to him. "How do I make you feel?"
  
"Right now, you're making me feel happy and crazy about you."
 
My heart flutters.

He likes you. The voice says. Break your walls down.
  
Easier said than done. But in this moment, I feel like I can break them down. He's doing a perfect job of loosen them up. Go ahead and break down.
  
"What are you thinking?" He asks.
   
"How crazy I must be for not giving in already and just fall for you."
   
"Stop resisting." He whispers as he slowly leans in.
    
Listen to him. The voice tells me.
     
For the first time in two months, my heart and mind is on the same page. I close my eyes and my heart begins to race out my chest. My pulse is pounding out of control. In the next moment I can't deny it anymore, I'm falling for him.
  
He soft lips brushes against mine. He's giving me time to pull away but I'm not. I wrap my arms around his neck and bring him closer to my body.
 
  He deepens the kiss, still kissing me slowly. My knees goes weak and if I wasn't holding onto him, I think I would've fell. He send sparks through my body, igniting my every being. He pulls away from me, and grins. I lick my lower lip.
  
My heart slow down but my body is still on fire. Sparks are still shooting through me. For two months I tried to contain the love I have for him but I couldn't do it anymore. He made me feels things, I never felt before. Things I didn't think I could feel. He made my heart beat like a sledgehammer.
   
"I told you, you couldn't resist my charms, Boo"

I grin at my nickname. I like the way he said it. "I'm glad I didn't."
  
A few minutes later we head back inside. No one noticed the change in the atmosphere. Teri will be mad if I didn't tell her about what happened so I made a mental note to tell her in the morning or whenever I can.

I head to the guest room, feeling exhausted. I collapse on one of the bed and sleep had no trouble finding me. It wraps around me like a blanket, pulling me in deeper.
 
My thoughts of Hayes vanished and replaced by a girl who looks just like me. The only problem is, I'm not looking in the mirror. She's how I would look if I had straight hair instead of wavy hair. Her hazel eyes looks at me. She's as confused as I am.

"Do I know you?" I ask, feeling a strong connection with her.
  
Her eyes widen in shock. Before I can get an answer from her, the dream come crashing down as if it was made of rumbles.