The Heaven I Found In Hell

by Ashley Andrews

  * * *

  They wanted to escape noise, but even if Blake and Mandy were already outside, on the balcony, shouts of people and the loud music still enveloped their surroundings. They wanted peace, but they knew they weren't going to get it. Mandy rested her hands on the thick glass ledge while she faced Blake whose arms were at her sides, protecting her. Inches apart, she leaned her head forward, so as to close the gap separating their lips. After a few minutes, the two broke apart and decided to talk.

  "Will I ever see you again?" he asked, sounding like he actually cared for once.

  Blake didn't know what Mandy had that other girls didn't. He wanted to get close to the model, and know her better. He was confused with his feelings, and as to why he was attracted to her in a deep sort of way. Maybe it was just that she came from France. He had never dated anyone who was French. Maybe that was it…but like he cared. She made him happy.

  "Do you want my number?" she asked, sounding idealistic.

  The both of them knew that if ever they hooked up, it was just going to end up being a fling, and nothing more than that. They were a thousand miles away, and they had just met. They weren't in love. The two were just in it for the fun.

  "Seriously?"

  "Why? Don't you want to…?" Mandy asked, hesitance heard in her voice.

  She was falling, deeper and deeper, and she didn't know what to do. Her heart was taking over her mind, and she didn't want that. She was blinded…infatuated…she was acting dumb.

  "Do I want to what?" he asked, oblivious that he was slowly hurting the girl's feelings.

  Mandy, not knowing how to translate her feelings into words, decided to just simply kiss Blake once again to get her message across. She wrapped her arms around his neck, while Blake's hands were at each side of her waist. Blake begged for entrance, and she gave it, and now, they were lost in each other, and didn't know, nor did they care, if other people were beginning to watch. After a few more minutes, Blake's hands made their way up under her shirt, and stayed there. She felt the skin of her stomach turn warm, and she smiled at the sensation she felt. She was absolutely enjoying the party, and she had never expected that to happen. Blake's lips left hers, as they trailed kisses down to her neck, and further below. Mandy, with her lips feeling bare, decided to bite softly onto Blake's ear.

  After about half an hour, they pulled way, and decided to enter the room once more. But before they walked around to try and find the others, they settled at one corner of the room, and began doing each other again.

  Another hour passed, and finally, reality set in on them. They had no other way to go but the end. Tonight was fun, although it wasn't going to last, and even though the both of them hated what was going to happen, there was no other choice. He knew, and she knew, that they couldn't be loyal to one another. Everyone had flings. Theirs just had a little more emotion to it.

  "I can still get your number, right?" he asked, actually stating the truth.

  Even though he didn't want a long-distance relationship with Mandy or anyone for that matter, he still wanted to keep in touch with her. She was a great gal, although he couldn't really say anything more since they had just met.

  Mandy grinned.

  "Definitely, I can't let you end your night without you getting any digits," she said with a sheepish smile, which made Blake give her a tight embrace.

  They searched around for any kind of writing material, and when they found a black marker, Mandy uncapped it, and started writing on Blake's arm. After doing so, it was Blake's turn to give his number.

  "So, I'll call you?" he asked, wearing a small grin on his face which Mandy returned,

  "Definitely," she replied. "I can't just let you go like that."

  * * *

  "It's okay. Everybody gets cheated on," Dylan said the moment he saw Cindy frown.

  He had no idea what he was supposed to say, and he felt that with what he had just told the blonde, that she was going to hate the world even more. He shouldn't have reminded her of what had happened. Dylan smacked himself mentally before he did the only comforting thing he could think of doing. He embraced her. His arms found their way around Cindy's waist and without giving off any sound, the woman leaned closer, silently enjoying her time spent alone with the superstar.

  Their night ended with Dylan accompanying Cindy to her room, before he went to his own. He replayed the events that took place tonight in his head, and tried to remember even the littlest details. Alex suddenly came into his head. He missed her, his ex, but in a friendly way of course. She brought him into a world full of uncertainty, but was fun at the same time. He was part of her life.

  * * *

  "You really are a good dancer," Alex told her boyfriend for the millionth time. "But a very, let me repeat, very, very sucky singer!"

  She laughed endlessly, as she covered her stomach with her hands, at the same time, trying to keep up with the fast beat of the song. Prior to Pop, Lock It, Drop It, a slightly slow-paced song played, and since Alex knew the lyrics well, she started to sing. She tried forcing Nathan to join along, but then she remembered the time when they ate at The Cheesecake Factory. Nathan was trying to make her go deaf. She grinned at the thought that busied her mind.

  "What? Why are you smiling in a freaky way?" Nathan asked. "Are you gay?"

  Alex slapped Nathan's arms instinctively, before she put her hands on his chest, and started swinging her hips. The couple moved in sync, only looking into each other's eyes, as they blocked out the people and everything else around them. It was only him, her, and the music.

  "Me? Gay? Dream on, fag!" Alex said in a loud voice as she was unable to control the laughter that escaped her lips.

  Nathan placed his hand on the part where his heart was, and feigned a look of hurt. Aside from that, he pouted his lips, and with it came his puppy-dog eyes. Before, when they were only friends, Alex couldn't help but give in to Nathan's wants, and she had followed him, but now, he was her boyfriend, meaning, she had some sort of control over him. She could tease him for eternity without having to worry about the possibility of Nathan getting fed up or annoyed.

  "You're calling me a fag?" Nathan said in mock-surprise. "After I kissed you so many times? That's what you're going to give me?"

  Alex continued laughing, as the two of them left the dance floor, and decided to sit down and down a few more drinks before they left. They found a nearby sofa with two unoccupied seats, and immediately, they sat there with Alex leaning her whole body against Nathan's chest.

  "Yeah, I'm calling you a fag," she said in response. "What are you going to do about it?"

  Nathan didn't know what else to say. He didn't want to call his own girlfriend crap, an A-hole, or a female dog, even though it was just for a joke. He knew Alex wouldn't take him seriously, but he just didn't want to take his chances. He liked her that much.

  "Just, shut your mouth, before I staple your lips together," Nathan answered with a small evil laugh.

  Alex touched her lips with her fingers, and winced at the idea of them being stapled together. Ouch!

  "You're really going to do that?"

  Nathan cocked an eyebrow up at her, before his arm made its way around her waist. Alex looked up to meet Nathan's eyes, and she saw something, desire. With this, she moved in closer, and changed her sitting position so that now they were comfortably facing each other. She placed her hand on his neck, and pulled Nathan's head closer to hers. It was he who covered the space separating them. They started to share a slow kiss full of longing for each other. To the others, the two might just have been a typical couple having fun, but to them, a simple kiss was something deep. It showed love.

  * * *

  Chapter 18: Not So Messed Up My Ass

  * * *

  I woke up by hearing the sound of water hitting the bathroom tiles, and it was only after a few seconds that I realized what was happening. Nathan was taking a shower. I stayed in bed, not wanting to get up, as I tried to close my eyes again, b
ut it was useless. I was awake now, and the sound of the door opening and then closing with a 'bang' roused me up even more. I turned my head to the direction of the restroom, and that was when all the wholesomeness I had immediately went bye-bye. Nathan greeted me with a simple smile, as he walked over to me with only a towel hanging dangerously low on his hips. He didn't realize how much his being half-naked bothered me since he even sat on the empty space beside my head, as he played with strands of my hair.

  "Go get dressed," I said, looking up to meet his eyes. "Are you trying to seduce me?"

  He instinctively grinned at what I had said before he answered, "Is it working?"

  I sat up, and then slapped his shoulder, before I tried to push him off the bed. He stayed stationary, and after a while, he leaned his head closer to mine, trying to kiss me. I immediately pulled myself farther away from him, and held up my hands in front of his face.

  "I didn't brush my teeth," I said with a look of disgust. "You wouldn't want to do that."

  He pouted at me, which made me smile like a Cheshire cat since he looked so adorable. I was about to give him a victorious grin, but before I could curve my lips up, his clashed on mine and I found myself giving him what he wanted. He pulled away after a good twenty seconds, and it was him smirking in triumph.

  "That was unfair!" I said, still feeling the touch his lips made on mine. "You caught me off-guard!"

  He stood up, and opened the cabinet drawers, before he got a hold of his boxers. He put them on, removing his towel, and in front of me was an unwholesome, but yet eye-captivating scene. Etched on the upper part of his stomach, his abs were distinctly seen, and as much as my soul wanted me to look away, I couldn't. My eyes remained on him, as I savored the view in front of me. He knew I liked what I saw since he simply smirked and told me, "I like surprising you, and come here. Help me pick out what shirt I should wear."

  I obeyed, stood up, and walked up to him. I could still smell his scent. It was a refreshing odor, not too strong, but a little bit faint, and it made me want to take a bath. He held up three shirts in front of me, and told me to choose which would suit him best. I picked an orange Oakley shirt with a graphic design printed in silver, and said, "This is hot."

  "I know. I'm dashing," he answered teasingly with a wink.

  I hit his chest, and laughed at the same time. It was still so early, and he already had the energy to joke around. Even I'm not on a high 24/7.

  "I said 'it', not 'you are..Know the simple difference," was my response. "Duh."

  "For once, you're actually using your brain."

  I looked at him in awe, gasped, and put my hands over my opened mouth. How dare he make fun of me in that way! I was about to shout and stick my middle finger at him, just as a joke, but I decided to act and pretend to be mad, and that he offended me, and so, I frowned. I looked at him in a serious way, and slowly his smirk started to fade. He put on the orange shirt, and then a pair of Levi's before he turned to me, and said, "You know I was just joking, right?"

  In reply…let me rephrase that. I didn't reply. I opened my duffel bag, picked out my clothes, entered the bathroom, and slammed the door shut, before I locked it. After doing so, I grinned. I knew he was already starting to feel guilty, and so, with happiness and triumph clouding my brain, I got into the shower and took a good eight-minute bath. After I did my thing, I put on a pair of pinstriped brown Bermudas and a simple white tank top, before I left the lavatory. I was greeted by a Nathan who didn't look guilty at all. He was just watching television, and he didn't even turn his head to my direction when I entered the room. Well, two can play that game…

  We passed the time just ignoring each other, but when the clock struck twelve, he couldn't take it anymore and started talking to me.

  "I was just kidding, Alex," he said, closing the gap between us, as he circled my waist with his arms. "I was just playing."

  I looked at him, still seriously, before I nodded, acknowledging what he said. I saw his face immediately fall, and that was when I started to apologize as well. I couldn't stand pretending to be mad at him. That was just impossible. Before he could realize what was going on, I gave him a quick peck. I was about to pull away, but his hands cupped my face, pulling it closer to his. He covered my lips with his own, and after a couple of minutes, his tongue begged entrance, and I allowed it. My hands brushed through his hair from time to time while his found their way under my shirt. They stayed there, holding my waist tightly, as his lips trailed kisses down my neck. Before things could go on any further, my mobile rang, breaking the 'moment.'

  "Damn, Alex," he said in a whiny tone. "Turn that off next time."

  I looked at him, and gave him a raised eyebrow, before I replied, "You wish."

  I got my phone, answered it, and held it up to my ear. It was Riley.

  "Yo! Hey Ri!"

  'Hey, Hun. What are you up to?"

  "Oh, nothing. Nathan and I just finished taking a bath."

  "What the fuck?" she shouted, wanting to make me go deaf. I started to wonder where I went wrong, and after a few seconds, my brain started to function. Oh…

  "Separately, dear."

  I heard her breathe out a sigh of relief, before she told me that what I said wasn't funny. While talking to her, Nathan would catch me by surprise by giving random kisses, and I, stupidly, would smile. I mouthed out the words 'Stop it.' to him since I was starting to not understand Riley anymore, but he just continued. I slapped his chest a couple of times, bit still, nothing.

  "Ri, your brother's seriously messed up," I said, sounding annoyed. "Go talk to him."

  I handed my phone to Nathan who got it looking a little bit hesitant, before I went over to my bag which was on the floor to get my make-up. I put on the usual, my eyeliner, mascara, lip gloss, and my eye shadow. I checked the mirror one last time, and then smiled. Love it!

  "Okay, we'll be going down in a sec." I heard Nathan say to Riley.

  I walked over to where he was, and leaned on him, and in return, he pulled me closer for a tight embrace. I rested my head on his chest, while my hands stayed on his knees, and snuggled nearer.

  "Okay, bye Ri! See ya." He said, before he hung up.

  I looked at him, and asked if we were leaving, and he said we were.

  "We have to check out at four, so we still have four hours to hang out, but Ri told me everyone was going to go down to get lunch. Do you want to come?"

  "Why wouldn't I want to come?" I asked, while I searched the room looking for my shoulder bag.

  "Apparently, it's a buffet."

  I looked at him, and then gave him a long 'oh.' He just smiled in return, before he told me it was okay for him if I didn't want to eat, but that didn't mean he was going to stay with me.

  "You can stay here while I'm having fun eating my sashimi," he said playfully, making fun of me again.

  I thought about what he said, and decided not to give him the time of day.

  "In that case, I'll come, and get all the sushi before you can."

  He whacked me softly in the head, before he kissed my forehead to apologize. We stood in our room just hugging and looking at each other, and it was only when our surroundings became completely silent did we realize what we had to do. I pulled away from him, before I told him we had to go.

  "Game," he said, as he walked over to the door, and held it open for me.

  * * *

  "Alex!" someone shouted. "Alex! Over here!"

  I turned my head to see who was screaming my name, and when I saw Cindy blocking my view, my mouth opened. My mouth didn't drop to the floor because of her. It was because she was with Dylan. Hell no! I'm not playing the part of the jealous ex, but it's just that he and she were…I can't see them going out.

  "Hey guys," I said, putting on a half-smile.

  "What took you guys so long?" Dylan asked, stepping forward so that he could pull me in for a hug.

  I returned his embrace, and after doing so, I asked Cindy where the rest of the gang was
, and she answered by saying, "They're already inside, and I reckon, they're eating by now."

  The four of us entered the restaurant, and immediately, we spotted the table where everyone sat. We took the empty spaces which were at the table's ends, before we greeted everyone 'hello.'

  "You guys should try their Mexican station. The quesadillas are great," Blake said, and for the second time today, I was in awe. Seated beside him was, if I remembered correctly, Mandy, the model from France, and memories of last night's party came flooding back to my head. I looked around, and noticed that neither Scott nor Natalie was with us.