The First

Why do I always do this? Why do I always have to fuck things up? What is wrong with me? A million questions are swirling through my head as Zach's face hardens in anger. He gets up from his place at the table and walks towards me.

"How dare you!" He bellows. I shrink back a little at his harsh tone, but recover soon after.

"How dare you!" I scream right back at him. I have to get out of here. I turn on my heel and bee-line for the back door to the garage. I would go out the front door, but this way is closer, not to mention Brian and the rest of the guys are blocking my path to the front of the house.

"Allison!" I hear Brian call after me.

"Just let her go, man." I hear Zach say, as I slam the door, leaving the five of them behind me. I make my way out of his garage and down the driveway.

Fuck. I can't go home, Dave lives across from me. He knows where I live. I can't see him again after last night. I also left the shit that I brought with me in Brian's house. Fuck!
I pull my phone out of my pocket and quickly dial Allison's number. She picks up on the second ring.

"Hey, girl!"

"Hey, can I maybe hitch a ride back to Johnny's to get my car?"

"Sure! Where are you at?"

I give her directions to Brian's house and we hang up the phone. Not long after, she pulls up next to the curb in front of me. I get in the car.

"Wow." She says, taking in Brian's house. "Who lives here?"

"Brian."

"What?!" She squeals. "You were in Brian's house?!"

"Calm down." I laugh at her excitement. "Yes, I was, now I'm not. Can we go now, so we don't look like crazy stalkers sitting out here in front of his house?" After a moment of thought, she puts the car into gear, and pulls away.

"I can't believe you were in Brian's house." She says.

"Me neither, really." I smile at the thought, but it's quickly replaced by a frown, knowing what I did.

"Should I ask how you ended up there?" She smirks.

Recalling the events that lead up to me ending up at Brian's house last night, I quickly answer. "No."

"Gotcha. I won't ask questions then."

"Thank you." I smile genuinely at her. I'm glad she's not asking questions.

"How did it go with Aiden, after I left last night?"

"I thought you said you weren't asking questions?" I tease her.

"I meant about you ending up at Brian's house."

"It was fine. We talked for a bit, had some drinks, you know, shit you do at a bar."

"Fine?" She laughs. "That's all?"

"Should it have been more? You're not trying to set the two of us up, are you?"

"No." She answers too quickly.

"Lindsey." I look at her pointedly.

"Okay okay, you caught me. I was just trying to get you two to spend some time together alone outside of work. If I would've known you and Brian were together, I wouldn't have set anything up. I'm sorry."

"We're not together." I correct her.

"Oh."

"It's fine, Linds. I just... I'm not looking to be in a relationship. Though I appreciate your effort." I smile at her.

"Noted. I'll leave you be, then." She pulls up outside of the bar.

"Wait, what are you doing today?"

"Nothing, really. I thought about going to the pool. I'm looking pale and need to get my tan on."

"You are far from pale." I laugh at her. "Do you mind if I hang with you?"

"Not at all. Do you have a swim suit?"

"Umm..." I don't want to go back to my place to grab one, but I'm not going to tell her that. "I think I lost it. Do you mind swinging by a store, so I can grab a new one?"

"Sure." She smiles and pulls away, leaving my car and Johnny's in the rear view.

--

After spending the whole day at the pool with Allison, she drops me back at my car at Johnny's, which has definitely picked up speed since earlier this afternoon.

Before she's able to pull away, I ask her for Aiden's number. It would be nice to have another friend to talk to. She gladly gives me his number, before bidding me goodbye and driving off.

I check my phone, which I've just entered Aiden's phone number into, and realize it's already 5:00 in the afternoon. We really did spend the whole day at the pool. My skin feels warm from all the sun, and my hair is still a little damp, having been pulled up most of the day. I let it out of it's ponytail, and it cascades down my shoulders.

I get into my car, trying to decide where to go. Do I call Aiden or text him? Is that weird if I do? Does he even want to be my friend outside of work? He did leave me sort of hanging last night. But, he also came to find me, when he sensed something was wrong. He was concerned about me.

I turn the key in the ignition, and the engine spurs to life. I grab my phone again, still debating on texting Aiden. Before I realize what I'm doing, I'm pulling up Brian's name and sending him a text instead.

Hey... I am sorry for earlier.

It's fine.

I left some stuff at your house. Do you mind if I come by and grab it real quick?

Yeah.

Yeah he minds, or yeah it's fine to come by? Why are men so confusing?

Before I can respond, he sends another message.

You can come by whenever. I'm home.

Thanks. Be there soon. I type out and put my phone down, driving to Brian's house.

I pull into the drive and the events from earlier come crashing back to me. How could I do that to Brian? Why did I have to throw that in his face? He has been nothing but nice to me, and I had to go and fuck things up like I always do.

I step out of the car, and up to the front door, knocking lightly. He answers the door, clad in just a pair of shorts. He is breathtaking, as always. Damn this man, can't he put a shirt on, at least for right now?

He's wringing his hair into a towel, and little beads of water are still cascading down his neck, down his chest and torso. I force myself to look away.

"You can come in." He steps to the side to let me by. I do as he says.

"Brian..." I start, but he cuts me off.

"It's fine." He says. "Let's just forget about it."

"I'm sorry." I say, anyway.

"Zach explained to me what happened. He wasn't trying to anger you, he just was looking out for me. He's one of my best friends, you know."

"I know."

"It was wrong of you to accuse him of ruining my relationship with Michelle. That's all on me and her. However, I have forgiven you, and so has he." So has he. His words are like bricks being thrown at me. I know they are meant to calm my nerves, but they are unnerving me. I'm still mad at Zach for meddling in my business, hearing that he forgives me, when he was the one being a prick, angers me. I hold my anger back, I'm not going to make a bigger mess of this.

"I thought he said to just let me go?"

"He did."

"I really am sorry." I repeat.

"I know. Like I said, you are forgiven. Let's move past it." He takes a seat on the couch. "Do you want to stay here again tonight?" He looks up at me. For once I am taller than him, but only because I'm still standing, as he sits on the couch.

"Is that okay?"

"You can stay as long as you need to, Allison. I'm not going to make you go back home, when that creep lives right across the street from you, and he's probably still out there somewhere preying on other women to pass his time." I shudder at the thought, and he takes notice. "Sorry. I really think you should start looking for a new apartment."

"I am going to." I say truthfully. I have every intention of moving.

"Good." He says, getting up from the couch. I can't keep my eyes from wandering over his body, as he stands in front of me.

"You are..." I trail off, not having meant to say the words aloud. He is so handsome, I can't even put it into proper words. There's not enough words to describe it, to describe him.

"I am what?" He's looking at me, studying me, awaiting an answer.

"You are too nice." I say.

He takes a step closer. "Is that so? Is that really what you were going to say?"

"Yes." I lie.

"I don't believe you." He gently grabs my chin and lifts it, so that my eyes meet his.

"You don't have to." I say, moving a hand up so that it's on his chest.

His arms wrap around me, pulling me to his body.

"I don't know what it is about you, but I don't want to let you go." He says, his face in my hair.

Notes

Sorry for the delay in updating. Here's a new chapter for you all!
Hope you enjoy! Remember to vote/subscribe/comment your feedback!

Much love
- J