“… and that’s why we’re never allowed back in,” Matt shook his head, chuckling.

I turned to face Jimmy, tears lining my eyes. “You’re fucking kidding me?”

The boy in question shook his head, a goofy grin locked in place.

“You guys are unbelievable,” I shook my head and glanced around the room. We were in Jimmy’s basement, a homey room with an assortment of junk – namely the band’s equipment, mismatched couches, a mini-fridge and well, junk – lounging around. The five of them had just finished band practice.

The five boys shrugged, each smiling from ear to ear. I sat there, wedged between the corner of the couch and Zack, in disbelief. They were kidding, they had to be. That story couldn’t possibly be real – could it? Then again…

Zack shifted next to me, scooting closer and draped his arm over the back of the couch, his hand lightly caressing my shoulder. I tensed. The mere touch of his fingertips across my skin sent shivers down my spine, and sent my mind reeling. A familiar-growing feeling surged to life. Damnit, not now. I folded my left leg over my right and pressed my body further into the corner of the couch, trying to move away from Zack, even though I didn’t want to.

“So, Amelia,” Matt commenced, turning his hazel-brown eyes on me. Up close, Matt was boy-ish cute. You know, the baby brother or cousin kind of cute. Sure, his dimples gave him an edge but, I peeked at Zack, he wasn’t my type.

“Yeah?” My accent came out thicker than I expected, transforming my ‘yeah’ into a ‘ja’. I felt myself blush. I hadn’t stopped doing that for the past two hours or so.

There was a loud chorus of ja’s as the five boys mimicked me, before cracking up laughing. I felt the heat in my cheeks intensify. Damnit. I suddenly felt very self-conscious and so I looked down at my hands, my hair curtaining around me. Zack snickered quietly to himself, his body shaking. Damnit, had he moved closer again?

Suddenly a loud shriek broke out. Mortified, my eyes immediately snapped up to Jimmy; who was seated on the floor across from Zack and I. He was bouncing up and down in his spot while drumming on the floor, a huge grin plastered across his face, excitement burning bright within his terrific blue eyes. Oh dear.

“The fuck dude?” Brian chuckled, a small smile playing at his lips. He was busy nursing the half empty beer bottle, sipping it occasionally.

“ADVENTURE TIME!” Jimmy screeched, jumping up from his spot and leaped across the room. Within seconds, he was towering over Zack and me, a crazy glint in his eyes.

“Jimmy!” I yelped as Jimmy gripped my waist and threw me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, my dress hiking up. Instantly Zack whistled. Once again, my cheeks were set on fire. As if on cue, Jimmy bolted for the door, his body bouncing with every step he took. I didn’t have time to register what had happed when I was suddenly flung forward and dropped. I fell, my body aimlessly failing about until it hit something. Something cold and wet. A scream escaped my lips, instantly muffled when my body crashed into the water.

“What the actual fuck?!” I growled, gasping for air as I resurfaced, my clothing and hair drenched. My lungs burnt from swallowing water and my nostrils burnt from the chlorine. I spluttered. I hated pools, I hated swimming.

“Hmm, you know Amy, you still look pretty good wet,” Jimmy winked at me, a giant grin in place.

My mouth fell open, my face heating. Speechless, I gawked at Jimmy, his face red with laughter. Clumsily, he tugged his shirt off and dived in. Around me water, splashed against my immovable body. Jimmy re-emerged, a wicked grin in place. I gulped and tried to swim to the edge of the pool, water spraying everywhere. A shriek escaped my mouth as he whisked me up into his arm, bridal style and spun me around.

“JIMMY!” I screeched, giggling. “Put me down!”

“Okay,” I felt him shrug. I sighed in relief. I just wanted to get out of the pool.

As if reading my mind, Jimmy launched me into the air and with a rather loud splash, I was tossed once more into the water. I resurfaced, gasping for air, my teeth clattering. Just as I was about to say something, the backdoor swung open and out stepped the four others. All four halted as they looked between Jimmy and I, each boy confused as the next.

“The fuck?” Brian uttered as his eyes trailed over my body and licked his lips. He was beginning to sound like a broken record. I shivered under his gaze and quickly crossed my hands over my chest, feeling a bit too exposed. Water rippled around me.

“POOL PARTY!” Johnny shouted abruptly. I snapped my attention to him watching as he bolted for the pool, his clothing – save for his underwear – discarded.

Johnny jumped into the pool with a splash, spraying water onto the bricks. A couple of minutes later, Johnny reappeared and flopped on his back. He closed his eyes and calmly floated across the pool. I shook my head in his direction, a small smile tugging at my lips, before turning back to others.

Feeling tired, I lazily swam up to the edge of the pool, and crossed my arms on the bricks. Resting my chin on my crossed arms, I watched as Zack took a drag from his cigarette, deep in conversation with Brian and Matt. Suddenly Brian erupted into a fit of laughter. Killing his cigarette, he shook his head from side to side and walked back into the house. Deeply immersed in his phone, Matt followed Brian. I drew my eyebrows together, where were they going? My gaze drifted back to Zack. With a flick, he got rid of the cigarette and turned his attention to the pool.

Zack’s eyes locked with mine. He froze. Suddenly that infuriating smirk spread across his lips. Timidly, I tugged a strand of stray hair behind my ear and quickly averted my gaze. My thoughts returned to earlier, to the hallway, the car and to the couch. God, I wanted to feel him next to me. I wanted to be close to him, feel his heat, touch his skin. To kiss those perfect lips.

A familiar feeling surged through my body. I shifted, and bit my cheek. Besides me, Jimmy let out a wolf-whistle and laughed. Curious, I glanced back at Zack just as he shook off his shirt. I licked my lips, as my eyes trailed over his body, savouring every inch and aspect of it. He was beautiful, perfect. A perfect green-eyed angel.

“Hey! Stop eye fucking him!” Jimmy cackled, splashing water at me. “Get your ass in here, Baker!”

Zack’s attention immediately turned to me and smirked. Eyes glued on me, he ran a hand through his hair, and winked. He sauntered up to the pool’s edge and jumped in, his body disappearing beneath the surface.

“Haner! What the hell are you waiting for? Get in!” Jimmy enthusiastically waved his hands above his head, jumping.

I turned back to the door to see Brian step out, a plastic bag in hand. Scowling at the tall goon, Brian gently placed the bag on the ground, the contents of the bag clinking and reluctantly pulled off his shirt. I gasped. No way! I blinked.

“Like what you see, sweetheart?” Brian purred, shooting me a wink. Not waiting for a reply, he run for the pool and with an elegant belly-flop, he fell in, sinking to the bottom. I shook my head, that sudden urge to runaway surfacing.

Arms quivering slightly, I pushed myself out of the pool and onto the bricks, my dress weighing me down. I sighed and helplessly gazed down at the ruined material. Great, my mother was going to kill me. A lumped formed at the back of my throat at the thought of my mother. She was going to kill me either way. I closed my eyes and clenched my jaw. I didn’t want to think about this, not here, not now.

“What’s up Amy?” Jimmy swam to the edge of the pool, where I was seated, and laid his head on my lap. His voice was soft and raspy.

I cracked an eye open and peeked down at him, a small smile playing at my lips. I gently ruffled his wet hair. “Nothing Jim-Jam.”

He cuddled further into my lap. I tensed, trying to hold as still as possible. Jimmy had pressed his head further up my thighs while his hand absentmindedly caressed my bare thigh. A shiver ran down my spine and I quietly sighed. I felt warm and fuzzy inside. Happy.

I was suddenly overcome with the feeling of someone watching me. Instantly, I lifted my eyes in search of who it was, and gasped as I met a familiar green-pair of eyes. Zack’s piercing green eyes were narrowed to slits, his face torn into a mask of anger. I gulped and my heart squeezed with guilt. His eyes hardened and I squirmed under the intensity of his stare, shivering as the air around me changed and crackled with electricity. Without muttering a word, he swam up to the steps and got out, his body dripping water onto the bricks. I shivered at the sight.

“Jesus fuck woman, you’re freezing!” Jimmy complained. He lifted his head up slightly, his blue eyes burning holes into my soul. I shook my head as a reply, not trusting my voice.

“Who’s your new friend Jimmy?” a new voice suddenly called out.

I twisted around and caught sight of her. She was gorgeous. Red, auburn hair and eyes as green as Zack’s. She stood in front of two other girls, each more striking than the other. She turned her jade green eyes on me, a look of disdain befalling her features.

“The fuck you staring at?” She snapped at me, her eyes hard and angry.

“Um…” I trailed off, not sure what to say.

“Cute, you boys brought home a retard,” she flipped her hair and placed a hand on her hip. Behind her, the shorter of the two girls snickered while the other rolled her eyes. I sharp pang pierced my heart, and my eyes began to well up with tears.

“Shut the fuck up Jordan,” Zack growled in response, his tone sharp and low.

The redhead – Jordan – swiftly turned her attention to Zack and narrowed her eyes. “What the fuck did you just say?”

Zack rolled his eyes at the girl, choosing to ignore her. He, then, walked over to the plastic bag Brian had brought outside and began ruffling through it. Seconds later, he had pulled out a bottle of beer. I stared at it in aghast. That was the biggest bottle of fucking beer I had ever seen.

“What? You’ve never seen beer before?” Jordan sneered. She sauntered over to Zack, and took the bottle from his hands, seductively stroking his hand as she did so. Zack paid no attention to her.

“Jesus fuck Jordan, leave her alone,” the blonde girl sighed, and stepped around Jordan and made her way over to Jimmy and me.

“I’m Bianca, by the way,” she introduced herself as she sat down beside me, a smile lighting up her ocean-blue eyes.

“Amelia,” I hesitantly returned her smile.

“No need to be shy,” she laughed and swept her hair out of her face.

“Amy’s naturally shy!” Jimmy chuckled loudly, his voice slightly muffled. I jumped and nervously laughed, a blush spreading across my cheeks.

“Amy, huh?” Bianca smirked and raised an eyebrow at him.

“No.” As if reading her mind, Jimmy shot her a pointed look, dispelling whatever thoughts might have been racing through her mind. She laughed and turned her attention to the pool, scanning it, her face fell a little when she didn’t find what she was looking for.

“The fuck did you disappear off to?” Brian suddenly called put from the other side of the pool.

“Was searching for towels assholes,” Matt’s deep voice sounded from behind me. I turned around and noticed he had re-emerged from the house, a pile of towels in the one hand and a beer in the other.

Next to me, Bianca squealed and leaped forward. In two steps, she had launched herself into Matt’s arms, wrapping her arms around his waist. Taken by surprise, he dropped the towels, his arm snaking around her mid-section. A huge, dimpled grin spread across his face as he gazed down at the blonde. She giggled as he whispered something into her ear, his hand trailing down to her ass.

“Get a room assholes!” Brian teased, as Matt leant down and passionately kissed Bianca.

I averted my gaze and shifted slightly, the bricks scraping against my skin. A small moan escaped my lips as Jimmy dug his nails into my skin, tightening his grip on my thighs. Blushing, I looked down at him in confusion.

“Seems like we’re not the only ones in need of a room.”

Intrigued by her comment, I turned around to face Bianca. She was pointedly staring at something to her left. Instinctually, I followed her gaze and froze, my heart skipping a beat. No! My breath caught in my throat. No.

No.

Notes

Hmm, not too sure how I feel about this chapter... I think I must've deleted it and re-wrote it at least five or six times but alas, here it is. Enjoy. Leave some love while you're at it, and who knows, maybe the next chapter is just around the corner. Also, I do believe this is the longest chapter I have ever written...

In other news, my other work, Dirty Little Secret is going on Hiatus. For how long, I'm not too sure.

C.H. Sullivan

P.S. I'm currently working on some Christmas one shots , therefore, I am looking for three ladies (for Brian, Zack and Johnny) who'd like to feature in it. If you're interested,please message me.

Title cred: Frnkireo andthe Cellabration - Joyriding