by Dawn Doyle
“Hey guys” Holly said as she got into the car. “Have a good night?”
Dev and Ben both blushed.
“Mhmm.” Dev said, as she nodded. Ben hid his face in Dev’s hair, smiling.
“Uh huh.” Said Holly and narrowed her eyes.
Once they’d gotten to school, they walked to Dev and Holly’s homeroom. Alex held Holly for a slow, deep kiss.
“I’ll see you soon, back here.” He said into her ear. “I love you, babe”
“I love you too” she replied and kissed him again. Ben and Dev were also saying their goodbyes.
The girls watched their guys leave, then went in to take their seats.
Holly noticed Dev wince as she sat down.
“Oh. My. God!” Holly whisper shouted.
“What?” She asked, innocently and failing to hold back a face splitting grin.
“You know what.” Said Holly, shaking her head and smirking at Dev.
“Oh Holly, I’m so happy.” Squeaked Dev, excitedly. She told Holly about the talk she and Ben had had, the same one she told Alex, and how they’d gone to her room as soon as they’d gotten him. They’d kissed and somehow, found themselves naked…
“It hurt a bit, at first. But it was great, Holly. Really great.” Dev said with her fists balled up by her mouth with happiness.
“He left this morning. We heard Alex get in the shower, and he sneaked out before my parents got up. He stayed with me all night. Oh, Holly. It was the best birthday I could have ever wished for.” Dev wrapped her arms around Holly and squeezed her tight. “Thanks, Hol. You said not to give up, and you were right.” Dev said, emotionally.
“I didn’t do anything, hun. He would’ve come round regardless of what I said.” Holly replied.
“But still…You’re a great friend Holly. The best.”
Holly was glad that Dev had finally gotten her guy. She deserved to be happy, and so did Ben. They were so well suited to each other.
The girls met up with Alex and Ben, outside homeroom. They were walking along the hallway, and they heard some of the students whispering.
“Devon and Ben?”
“Is Alex still with Holly?”
“He tells her he loves her.”
“Ben’s off the market too?”
The girls rolled their eyes, and the guys shook their heads in annoyance as they all walked to their business class.
English was next, but Holly and Alex were next door to the others for A.Eng.
After the previous night, Alex was finding it hard to concentrate on anything. He was fidgeting in his seat.
All through business class he was uncomfortable too. They’d been rushed to their next class, by the teachers walking through the halls, so he didn’t get a chance to talk to Holly properly because their next case was so close.
“Mr. Valencia, are you alright?” Said the teacher from the front. Holly spun round to look at him, her face full of concern.
“Uh…yeah. I’m fine.” He answered.
He looked to Holly, and he was biting the inside of his cheek, which made his lips pout. He saw Holly’s jaw slacken and her lips part.
“You look a little agitated.” Said the teacher.
“I’m ok.” He replied and as the teacher looked away, Alex gave a sexy smile and a jerk of his eyebrow, so Holly knew why he was ‘agitated’.
Her eyes opened wide, and she put a hand over her mouth to hide a huge grin. She kept glancing back at Alex throughout the class, and he could tell she was uncomfortable too.
Her knee had begun to bounce.
No sooner had they finished class, Alex took Holly’s hand, walking at a fast pace. Not waiting for the others to catch up. Holly almost had to run to keep up.
“Where are we going?” She asked. She had a strong feeling what they were going for, but she didn’t know where. Her stomach as full of butterflies with anticipation.
As they got near their biology class, Alex turned towards the stairwell and opened a door to an empty store closet.
Possibly one of his hiding places from Stacey.
Alex turned and closed the door behind Holly. He immediately cupped Holly’s face and pulled her lips to his, kissing her hungrily.
Holly whimpered as one of Alex’s hands held around her waist. The other up her back to hold her head, keeping her close, and angling her to deepen the kiss.
Their mouths opened to lick and taste each other. Tongues swirling together.
Holly’s hands tangled in Alex’s hair as their bodies pressed tightly to each other.
“Sorry babe.” He said, breathlessly as he broke their kiss. “I was going crazy in there. I needed to get to you.”
“I’m glad.” Holly replied, just as breathless. “I wanted to drag you away myself. Besides, kissing me like that in the hallway might have gotten us in trouble.”
“Definitely.” He chuckled.
“Is this…?” She asked him, softly, not finishing the sentence.
“Yeah”
It was a hiding place. He’d told the police officers that he’d had to hide from Stacey whenever and wherever he could.
“Now I’m hiding for a better reason.” He said in his low tone and took her mouth again.
“I could stay here all day.” She whispered. She would like nothing better than to be locked in a room with Alex.
Just the two of them, all day long.
Things would get pretty hot, but it was better than the short moments they could steal during school.
“That would be awesome.” He said, pressing her breasts into himself. “Oh my…shit.” He said, almost growling. “We better get to class before I can’t stand up anymore”
Alex kissed her once more before unlocking the door and both of them leaving the store closet.
The hallway was almost empty, apart from the few students lingering after walking from the other side of the building.
Ben and Dev were in their usual seats as they walked in the class.
“Where were you?” asked Dev with an accusing, but humorous tone.
“Um…slight detour.” Holly replied with a satisfied smile. Dev opened her mouth in shock.
“What did you do?” she asked, her eyebrows raising.
“Just kissing, why?”
“You both look a little hot under the collar.”
“Ok, class.” Said Mr. Benson from the front. “Now that you’re all here, finally, let’s begin”
Holly and Dev turned back to sneak a peak at their guys. Alex and Ben winked at them, and they turned back to the front with huge grins on their faces.
The lesson dragged on, and they couldn’t wait for lunch.
“So. I didn’t get a chance to ask you. What happened last night, when you went home?” Asked Dev.
In homeroom, they’d been talking about Dev’s first time with Ben and how he’d waited for her. He hadn’t wanted anybody else. Riss had said almost the same thing about Ryan, and Kayla about Kyle. It was truly amazing that they’d all waited for the person they were in love with. Even with raging teenage hormones.
“We had a cuppa with my parents when they got back.” Holly said with a shrug.
“You know I meant before that. I know they stayed around longer.” Dev said with an ‘I’m waiting’ expression.
Holly whispered as she told Dev about the counter activities. Omitting the part where Alex had almost ‘touched’ her.
“Interrupted again?” Dev kept her voice barely audible so that the teacher, or students wouldn’t hear. “Maybe it’s for the best though. I mean, you don’t want your parents walking in on you getting naked in the kitchen.” She stifled a laugh as Holly froze in shock.
“Dev!” She whisper shouted.
Lunch went by too fast as they were discussing the party and the gifts they’d received. Holly admitted she had told her Mum the size and had said what colour, style etc, the T-shirt should be, to complement Alex’s skin tone and physique. Dev mentioned that it looked good on him and Holly tur
ned her head to whisper.
“You can show me later.” Alex held his breath, before slowly blowing it back out. He squeezed her leg in acknowledgement, letting her know how she was affecting him.
After lunch, Dev and the girls went to their class and the guys were using the gym for their free period. Holly hadn’t used her own gym since Thursday, and she needed to get on the cross trainer.
“Do you mind if I use the gym too?” She asked.
“Of course not, babe. Why would I mind?” He would be happy if Holly were there.
“Just maybe…imposing on guy time."
“Not at all. I’m glad I’ll still see you.” He held her close, arm around her, as they walked to the changing areas.
In the gym, the guys were in the weights section that was separated by a narrow wall and a weight rack. Holly used the machine closer to Alex, this time. She could see him training, and he could see her.
Holly had to concentrate extra hard not to lose focus and fall off. Watching Alex lift weights, his forearms, and biceps pumped, was making her hot all over and it had nothing to do with the cross trainer.
He lay on the mats to do a workout on his abs, and Holly had to restrain herself from jumping on top of him. Watching him roll up and down, his abs prominent through his T-shirt tensing and releasing. He made eye contact and smiled, knowingly at her whilst she drooled over him.
Holly needed to do some work too. So, after she cooled down and stretched her legs, as Alex watched her doing so, she walked over and sat beside him.
“Hi gorgeous.” He said, affectionately, reaching up and brushing a loose strand of hair from her face and tucking it behind her ear.
“Hi handsome” she replied with a blush.
Alex was still lying down with his knees bent, resting between sets.
“I have to work on mine too.” She said, patting her stomach.
“You might not get a chance, babe.” He whispered so nobody, but Holly could hear. “Lying there…I might just…Mmmm.” He said, as he scanned up and down here body.
“Alex!” she mouthed and he chuckled.
He turned on his side, propped up on his elbow.
“I was watching you on the cross trainer. Your body moving up and down. So sexy.”
Holly bit her lip as a wave of heat flowed through her. He leant over and pecked her lips.
“You’re dangerous, Alexandro”
“I love how you say my name.” He whispered, smiling mischievously. “But if you keep that up…” He lay back down to start his next set of crunches.
“What will happen?” Holly wanted to know the rest of that sentence. The look on his face, in his eyes, told her it wasn’t innocent.
“I won’t be held responsibly for my actions.” He said, locking eyes with hers.
Holly swallowed hard and became very nervous, or excited, or both. She squeezed her knees together, knowing Alex had noticed her doing so. He wagged his eyebrows.
“Ok you two, get a move on.” Said Ben as he snickered.
“That was my intention.” Said Alex then laughing at Holly’s shocked expression. He was clearly referring to his text regarding the activities on the counter in her house.
Somehow, Holly managed to finish her workout before they all left for the showers.
Holly put her wet hair in a loose, low ponytail and no sooner had she met up with Alex, he’d reached behind and pulled out her hair tie. He loved her hair loose.
“They get in the way.” He said and ran his fingers through the wet strands, pulling her in for a deep, lazy kiss.
“Fuck me, that’s hot!” They heard a male voice say as he walked by.
“How long do you think it’ll last?” A girl’s bitter voice said with a snort.
They broke their kiss and turned to see where the voice was coming from.
It was one of the girls from the day before, who’d hoped for a party invitation. The other two with her.
Alex could tell Holly was furious. Her eyes had narrowed, her breaths deeper and slower and her fists had curled up.
“What did you say?” She almost whispered, but loud enough for the girls to hear.
The girls took a step back, obviously wary of Holly and judging by the looks on their faces, they hadn’t intended for her to hear them.
“Babe, don’t.” Alex said gently, and he held her around her waist, to stop her doing something that would get her into trouble.
“Forever.” Alex replied, aiming his answer at the girl who made the comment. “That’s the answer.” He took Holly’s hand and led her outside.
“Cheeky bitch!” Holly spat.
“Who do they think they are? Saying shit like that.” Said Alex. He was pissed off with people thinking his relationship was any of their business.
He took a deep breath and held onto Holly.
The touch of her calming him immediately.
“You said forever.” Holly looked up into his eyes.
“I did. I told you, I want you always, eternally.” He stroked his thumbs across her cheeks.
“I do too.” She said, beaming.
They held each other tightly when Dev and Ben came out to the car.
“What’s happened?” Asked Dev “Those girls yesterday said something about you saying ‘forever’” She said to Alex.
“I’ll tell you on the way home.” He said.
“We were never on the market.” Said Ben about the comments they’d heard that morning, after Alex told them what they’d just heard.
There’d been whispers as they walked past other students, but they just ignored them. Even though it was surprising that the usually ‘dateless’ group were now all coupled up, it wasn’t the ‘groundbreaking news’ that some students had made it out to be.
“They’re jealous bitches, Hol. Ignore them.” Said Dev with a snarl.
“I will, but when I saw it was the same girls from yesterday, it annoyed me.” It was a good job Alex had held her back. She wanted to smack the girl.
Holly knew her hostile reaction was because of what had happened with Stacey. Bitchy comments aimed at her, or Alex and it brought all those feelings back. Dev was right. The girls were just jealous and Holly needed to let it go and ignore them. It would be hard because she knew how much the girls at school had wanted Alex, and the other guys, for themselves. There was bound to be some jealous comments flying about for a while to come and it wouldn’t do them any good to listen to them.
They got to Alex and Dev’s house and went inside.
“I need a shower.” Said Dev, and Ben followed.
“Ben?!” Said Alex, taken aback at his friend following his sister as she went upstairs. Ben just smiled, keeping his face turned towards him.
“Don’t you be joining her!” He said, pointing at him.
“Dude. I’ve just showered” Ben replied as he disappeared up the stairs, still smiling.
“Alex?” Evie said from the kitchen and him, and Holly, walked through.
“Hi Holly.” Said Evie. “¿Cómo estás, cariño?” She asked with a warm smile. She’d obviously heard about Abuela’s comments to her, in Spanish at the party.
“Estoy bien, graçias Evie. ¿Cómo estás?” She replied.
“Estoy muy bien!” Evie said with a grin. She was certainly happy about something. “The party was fun, last night, right?” She asked, back to English. It was good too because there was no way Holly could follow what she said. She could mange the basics and had just about translated a few of things that were said to her at the party.
“Oh, anyway…” She said after looking between them, happily for a moment “…Alex, you need to go to your room. Not the spare one.” She said with a twinkle in her eye.
Alex frowned but her took a breath and walked out, taking Holly with him.
His hand was shaking as he turned the door handle.
He slowly opened the door, and his eyes widened and he gasped.
The room had been completely redone.
The wa
lls were now white with a black border around the top, that had silver strips on the top and bottom edges. A large, black square, thick pile rug that had silver specks running through it. Just like the one in Holly’s hangout room.
The new bed, like Holly’s, was set up under the window this time, instead of to the left of the door.
The contemporary style duvet covers were white with black, white, and silver stripes running horizontally across the top edge. White pillow cases with the same stripes on the outside edge. The drapes were black with silver tie backs, vertical blinds on the windows, like before.
The furniture that Alex had ordered, had arrived the day before, were set up. A black desk with silver legs and computer chair to match. The five draw dresser, placed where the old bed had been, matched the wooden nightstands and bed.
“Do you like it?” Evie asked from behind them.
“Mom, it’s amazing, Thank you!” He said and pulled her in for a hug.
“We finished it when you were at school. We kept it quite plain so you can have whatever color on your bed, and it’ll still match. Like Dev’s.”
Alex was stunned. He loved it. Even better than it had been previously, and with the white walls he could put pictures of him and Holly up or even draw directly on them.
Rami joined them, Alex hugging him too.
“Thanks Dad.”
“You’re welcome son.” Rami’s eyes had misted with emotion.
Evie showed Alex where she had put all of his things and the other bedding sets. She’d even moved all of his clothes for him.
“We have a few errands to run. We’ll be back soon” Evie and Rami left Alex and Holly alone.
