29 | 𝑃𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑒𝑠𝑠

I was scoping out the aisles, ambling my way through them as Keiona made suggestions in my ear. "Does he like cars?" she suggested.

"To be honest..." I started, "I don't know." I pursed my lips while we walked through the Six and Below store as we passed by the colorful display of candy. I stopped in my tracks and pointed my finger while scanning the brands.

"What candy does he like?" she wondered, stopping at my side.

"Chocolate," I voiced. "Nothing sour." I plucked out the chocolates that I thought he'd like, and found ones shaped like little kayaks and I thought that was funny. I tossed it into the silver basket with the handle on Keiona's elbow.

I looked up to Keiona as she motioned to the milks. "I need creamer." She waltzed to the fogged up glass and yanked open the door, crouching down and grabbing the one she needed. "So, why do you seem so down lately?"

"I'm not down," I retorted defensively, crossing my arms. "I am so happy. What could be better than this? I'm hanging out with you, at Six and Below, going on a vacation for winter break, and practically dating my crush," I exaggerated with a grin. "Nothing can be better than this."

The freezer door closed, sealing the gush of cold air inside as Keiona stood weakly, situating the creamer in the basket. She looked down on me with a softness to her eyes. "Riyah, you seem... sad--"

"Fine," I gave in, throwing my arms up by my head. "For some strange reason when Sullivan kissed me, Victor saw and he looked... sadder... like I did something wrong."

"Ooh," she released with a hum. "Someone's catching feelings--"

"Puh-lease." I scoffed. "I see him with a new girl by the hour." I rolled my eyes and strolled to the next aisle.

"Riyah," Keiona scolded, her heels clapping the tile behind me. "Is that his sweatshirt--"

"Shut up," I spasmed, looking over my shoulder. "It's cold and you know that saying, you have to pretend to become someone by wearing their shoes to know what they're thinking?" I ramble, "well this is basically the same thing."

"You're strange," she muttered lightly, smacking her lips and raising a hand towards me. "Put the coloring book down--"

"I'm looking... for Victor." I quickly slapped the coloring book down on the shelf and continued to hurry to the opposing side. "I don't know anything about him except that he likes candy and Billy Joel--"

"You're in luck," Keiona said from behind me. She picked up a bobble head and sure enough there was Billy Joel at the piano. I smiled gleefully and nodded.

"Perfect--and oh my God, look!" I pointed to a bobble head in the far back with brown hair and big hazel eyes. "She looks just like me." I paused and grabbed another one, a bobble head with a leather jacket, black hair, and sunglasses. "And this looks like Victor! I'll get all three!"

"Oh my goodness," Keiona breathed.

"But look, now it's like Vicky and I going to a Billy Joel concert," I described, smiling brightly towards Keiona as I situated the bobble heads a certain way.

"I almost slept with him a long time ago," she reminded, "and I don't think he's the type of person who would have a display of bobble heads in his room."

"Well, I think it'll cheer him up--oh, and balloons!" I zipped to the opposite end of the aisle, grabbed a box of cake mix, candles, a plastic bag of balloons, and streamers. While overlooking the shelves stacked with plastic things concerning birthdays, I picked up plates and lastly, party hats because I found them cute.

Keiona gave me a look as we walked out of the aisle, but I just brushed it off and continued on my merry way. I grabbed on some chips as we exited and walked over to the registers. Keiona snatched my wrist and said, "let's go to the next register over--"

"But that one has a line," I refuted, shaking my head and taking the items out of the basket to put on the assembly line.

"But, Riyah, you're not listening to me--" Keiona urged persistently, going to grab my hand when it was already too late and I looked up from the birthday objects for Victor to see Sullivan Corbett wearing a green apron with his name tag.

Shit. Why does everyone work everywhere?

"Who's birthday is it?" he jested, motioning with his hand to the variety. I gulped, looking down by my feet then up to Keiona.

"Uh--- Keiona's birthday!" I exclaimed, putting the spotlight on her. "My friend, Keiona. And uh--Keiona, meet Sullivan, Sullivan meet Keiona." I introduced awkwardly, getting flashbacks of when Victor introduced Keiona and I.

"So, you're Sullivan?" she questioned tightly in her teeth. "And yes, it is my birthday. The big..." Her eyes shot down to the plates and read off, "retirement?" She glared at me.

I weakly shrugged. "Those were the only ones they had left," I mumbled, retreating to his eyes. "I didn't know you worked here." Under my breath, I added, "Apparently, I don't know where anyone works."

"Yeah, I've had this job since I was fifteen. It pays pretty well. We're actually hiring, you should come swing by--"

"Oh, no I couldn't," I chuckled joyously.

But, Oh, sweet Jesus, I could.

He scanned the items individually as the scanner noise pierced the air each time. "I don't know," he murmured, "I would like to see you around here more--"

"An application wouldn't hurt," I shrugged off, smiling prominently as he slid out a few pieces of paper from under the register. He handed it over, bagging the items and giving us a short smile, but as Keiona and I were walking away for the person behind us to go, Sullivan ran out, planting a quick kiss on my lips.

I was taken aback, standing and staring at him blankly in return when suddenly my smile connected with his and we shared a short kiss--and by that, I mean, I squeezed my eyes shut and wanted it to be over. He slobbered everywhere but my lips and his tongue kept jabbing into my mouth. I separated from him, smiling faintly as he brushed a hand over my cheek. "I'll call you next week about the project. Which reminds me, we can't work on it tonight, I'm sorry--"

"No," I interjected, "that's fine. Don't worry about it. We're on the right track so far anyway," I told him optimistically. "Listen, I have to go, but I'll see you soon."

"See you soon, and enjoy the bobble heads. Not gonna ask about that one," he chortled towards me distantly before scurrying off to the register and apologizing to the customers on line.

When Keiona and I exited the Six and Below store, I gave one last look down at the papers in my clutch and stared at the information as it crinkled furiously in the brisk wind. Keiona led the way to her small yellow cooper, popping open the doors and getting in. "He's... not what I thought," Keiona said once the door closed.

"I know," I giggled cutely, slamming the door and positioning the plastic by my feet. "He's beautiful. His perfect green eyes and build, and--"

"Not what I thought," she repeated, then defensively added, "I mean, when I saw you with Victor, I expected Sullivan to be some walking goddess, but he's..." She sighed hard. "I mean that in the nicest way--"

"Keiona, just because I find him ridiculously attractive doesn't mean you have to also," I assured her solemnly.

"Yeah, but--" She clutched the steering wheel. "I was expecting a model, and when I read the name tag--let's just say, there aren't a lot of Sullivan's out there," she noted, twisting the key in the ignition and rolling out of the parking space.

"He is model-like!" I protested defensively, watching as she veered out of the parking lot and drove onto the highway. She pressed her foot harder on the gas pedal, shaking her head.

"He's alright, but definitely not what I imagined," Keiona described for me, her eyes sympathetic. "I'm really trying to see it." She paused and silence emptied through her cooper. "Seriously? He isn't that muscular as you described--"

"Keiona, he is perfect."

"I know," she agreed emotionlessly. "We may have similar taste in Victor, but we don't have similar feelings about Sullivan."

"Good," I curtly replied. "I don't have to worry about you taking him on me," I jested playfully, shooting a quick look her way and a broad smile. "Hey, can you drop me off at Vicky's house?"

"Does Victor know that?" she tested quizzically in my direction. I froze, my eyes panning over to the window.

"Keiona," I started, "Vicky never knows with me anymore." I was laughing now, my head pressed up against the back of the passenger seat.

Keiona drew a finger to her lip and said, "You and him are really cute--"

"Victor and I?" I retorted dramatically. "Ew, God no. We are friends," I stated clearly.

Keiona's eyebrow levitated to her hairline. "Just that?"

"Just that." I deadpanned again. "I'm telling you, I can see the attractiveness, but I'm not attracted to him. Like you!" I exclaimed, catching her attention. "Like you're a model, but I'm not gonna date you--"

"Are you trying to tell me something? I support you," she teased lightheartedly.

"Oh my God," I grumbled, beckoning my head to the block that we needed to turn down. She drew the car to the right, veering down the street as she pulled up to his house just as snow flurries patterned against her windshield. "Thanks, Key," I beamed.

"I'll drop these off by your house on my way home so Victor doesn't see them," she said, gesturing to the bags in the back seat. "Do you need me to drive you home or you'll be alright?"

I guffawed. "Please, I'll wiggle my way into getting a ride somehow," I assured, slapping the door close after giving a quick wave and jogging up the lawn, bleached with a sheer coating of frost. My shoes thundered up the porch steps and my hand swiftly rapped against the door.

Then again, three times.

Then again, four.

Then again, five--

"Can I help you?" he reprimanded, throwing open the door.

Fuck me.

He was shirtless, the contours of his abs blatantly staring back at me. The sharp v-line was just there--like just there. His low rising sweatpants hung loosely below his abdomen and I got the sudden urge to just tackle. I don't know what I would be doing if I was to tackle him, but I had the small urge to find out. Then I remembered I was sort-of dating someone else.

"Can I come in?" I asked.

He scanned over my shoulders. "Where did you come from?" He paused, raising a brow. "Don't tell me you walked again."

I noticed a gleam of sweat shimmering along his body and a feverish tone to his olive complexion, darkening his cheeks. He was slightly out of breath, causing me to swallow. "Shit," I mumbled, catching his attention. "Someone's here, aren't they?"

"Cambria's at a friends' house and Ed is working--"

"Not what I mean."

"I know what you mean." He rolled his eyes, inviting me inside. "Just... in my thoughts," he admitted with a lopsided smirk.

"What do you--" My mouth opened. "Oh..." Exaggeratedly, I emphasized, "oh!"

"Yeah," he muttered, sealing the door closed, demonstrating mountains for shoulders. He spun around, his olive tone shining with a thin layer of remembrance as what I imagined Victor looked like when he-- shit. I gotta stop trying to imagine things.

"You know, I gave you my phone number for a reason," he cared to remind me, sauntering into his bedroom, waving a hand over for me to follow. I did as told, shutting the door and startling him even more when I locked it.

"That's..." he started, pointing a finger to the ceiling. "Suspicious."

"I mean it now. Make out with me."

"No, Rhy--"

"You saw me have my first kiss and that's what you didn't want. You didn't want me to give my first kiss up, but I need practice because I'm not enjoying it like I thought--"

"Rhy," he scolded thickly, his voice sharp and raspy.

"No, it's true!" I expressed dramatically, pacing his room quickly. "I thought I'd hear fireworks, see stars, feel light and airy, and solve world peace! Y'know? It's nothing like the movies, Vicky."

"Rhy, I'm not going to kiss you," he rebuked, lowering his gaze.

"Why?" I interrogated, my face boiling. It wasn't fair and I raised my tone, saying things... a lot of things. "Any girl who passes you, you want to fuck! Why not me? I'm letting you! You know what? I think you're just a coward because maybe you know that Sullivan is better!"

He started walking towards me--fuck--really fast, he practically sped over, his fingers curling into the base of his palm. A blur of abs was the last thing I saw. I started backing up against the dark ash gray walls to his bedroom, tripping over a sneaker and colliding onto the dry paint.

He towered over me, his hands grasping my bony wrists and throwing them up over my head, asking breathily in my face, "you wanna say that again?" The heat radiating off his body made the clothes on my body give me claustrophobia.

I gulped. "No."

"Try me, Rhy," he warned. "You're the only girl who's told me no every chance you got, I backed off, and now you suddenly want me? Yeah, I fucking want you right this minute, but it doesn't work on your terms, now does it?" His warm breath fused between my lips.

"And for your information--" He squeezed my wrists tighter above my head, making me squirm. "I can't kiss you, you're right about Sullivan being the better kisser. Wanna know why?" I nodded at his words, stuttering my breath. "He could stop. I couldn't."

"What are you saying?" I murmured.

"I wouldn't stop, Princess," he mused, releasing my hands and letting them fall against my sides. He started to walk towards his bed, kicking his shoe I previously tripped on to the side out of my way. Victor threw his back onto the bed, propping his elbows up and turning towards the TV strung on his wall. "Since we aren't fucking," he started. "We can watch a movie, unless, now you don't wanna be here?"

"No, I do," I claimed.

I demanded the so-called bad boy to kiss me and got rejected. Yet, why was I more hurt that he rejected me, but Sullivan rejecting me for the past--all my life-- felt like a hiccup, but this... this felt like a punch to my gut. I was only hoping my lunch with Keiona wouldn't come back up.

"You're still standing," he noted, gesturing with his head to my stance. I nodded, jumping towards his bed and seating myself next to him.

"Vicky," I started shyly, fumbling with the comforter, which I climbed into. It was a tidal wave on top of my body and I mindlessly picked at the thread without tearing it.

He scrolled through the Netflix shows mindlessly, humming in reply to tell me that he was listening.

I stared at my fingers as they pinched the thread. "You looked mad when I kissed Sullivan--"

"You're so adorable." He sounded sarcastic. His two fingers grabbed at my chin subtly, dropping to sit by his waistline. "Mad's an overstatement. I was hurt."

"You were hurt?" I retorted, my voice heightning as I threw myself upright. "Why?" I questioned, leaning towards him, but he was studying the TV screen.

"Because, I don't think Sullivan deserves you. Are you kidding me, right now? He's pathetic."

"But you're helping me get him," I rephrased, tilting my chin to allow my eyes to casually fleet over his abs one last time.... Okay that was a lie. There were multiple times.

He stilled his movements delicately to lower the remote to his thigh. He looked at me coldly, then his eyes softened, looking at me like I was some complicated and complex math problem. I felt a shudder rise up my spine at the touch of his eyes on me, but something changed in the air when he said, "that doesn't mean I don't want to see you happy, Rhy."

His eyes pounced back onto the TV. "Besides, you and I are going on a plane to San Francisco tomorrow to find my brother--"

"Tomorrow," I stated, feeling it on my tongue.

"Plus--" He got giddy. "My birthday is coming up and I'll officially be a legal adult. Eighteen, here I come," he crooned, rubbing his hands together hotly. "God, we are getting drunk and high off our asses, I hope you know."

"I guess, I've never really gotten high before," I admitted.

"Not for long, but don't worry, anything you do with me, we'll be safe," he assured. "But as you were saying earlier, which intrigued me," he drawled out, "you said you didn't enjoy kissing Corbett?"

I sighed, pursing my lips tightly as he writhed his legs under the heap of covers, getting comfortable.

I briefly gazed at the movie displayed across the screen, turning to him again. "The Silence of The Lambs?" I wondered and he nodded joyously. I rolled my eyes and quietly described, "it's just... It's fast and a lot more tongue than I expected."

"Have you ever thought... that maybe he isn't a good kisser?" Victor asked with a hopefulness in his tone as the movie began. The woman took up a majority of the screen. He flicked off his lights and his black out curtains shielded all sun from entering. As he spoke, he wriggled into a black hoodie, comfortably lying along the bed next to me.

"It's not him, Vicky. It's me, it's something I'm doing because I don't have practice," I vouched, squirming lower under the covers. I so badly wanted to feel his warmth and weight against me--woah. My thoughts were slowly getting the best of me and finding a way to catch me off guard.

"Believe me when I say, I doubt it's you."

"How do you know that?" I shot angrily. "You're abstaining from kissing me," I recalled, crossing my arms childishly over my chest.

"And you have to understand--" He rolled over so his body hovered atop mine, staring at me dead in the eyes as a feverish warmth enveloped me deeply. I got suffocating by his mint tainted breath and faint, but sharp nutmeg smell swept off him and into my mouth and nose.

"If I was to ever kiss you, Princess--" He brushed his index finger over my bottom lip, but it bounced right back into a straight line, while I was hoping he couldn't notice my escalating breath, he stated, "I'd want more of you, therefore, I'm looking out for you."

"Stop calling me Princess and what you are, is greedy,"

"I'm responsible."

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