She stopped speaking, nervously looking at Levi from across the couch.
His skin was flushed, black hair clouding his eyes. She couldn't see his expression and it terrified her. Maybe Levi didn't feel that way about her. Maybe telling him had been a mistake. Maybe she should have just narrated the story and not told him about her feelings towards him.
Maybe if he rejected her right now, she could go hide under a rock for the rest of her life.
Or go back to her old girl's school.
Yes, that was a good idea.
"Look Levi," she started. "I understand if I was too forthcoming and this is too sudden, we can just---forget I said anything okay?"
Levi turned to face her, his eyes latching on to hers in an instant.
"Forget?" he said huskily as he stood up. He walked over to Vicky's side of the couch and bent down to whisper in her ear, "I never want to forget anything about you."
VIcky's heart raced at a pace she could not keep up with, and blood rushed to her skin, causing her to blush uncontrollably.
He suddenly dropped to one knee in front of her legs, taking her hands within his own.
"You lovely, lovely girl." he said drawing his forehead close to her own, as she bent down to meet him halfway.
What was he saying? The butterflies in her tummy weren't letting her think clearly.
"Levi?" she asked gingerly. "What do you mean?"
"I can't believe you found me after all these years." he said with a laugh so genuine, Vicky wanted nothing more than to share it with a kiss.
Wait what?
"I thought you would have forgotten about me." he said giving her hands a light squeeze. "I didn't think you'd want to know someone like me."
"You saved my life." she said cupping his face with one hand. His skin was soft but the sides slightly rough after shaving. She wondered how that would feel against her skin.
Vicky stop being a pervert.
"Did I really?" he asked with another one of those adorable chuckles. "You were even on the afternoon news that day, the police would have found you."
"No not just that. I was depressed, upset with life and so very lonely when you met me." she said. "I'd never spoken to anyone my age before. Those kids were so mean, I wasn't ready to handle all those snide remarks. And then you showed up and you believed in me. Even though you didn't even know my name."
"Would you have helped me if I was in your place?" he asked, playing with a strand of hair framing Vicky's face,
"Of course." she said without missing a beat. "Levi you went to the police station in your boxers for me. I'd do anything for you."
"Anything?" he asked raising his eyebrows, making Vicky blush. He came even closer, and for a moment Vicky thought they were going to kiss...finally some respite from all that pent up sexual tension...
"How did you find me?" he asked, his breath hot over her skin.
Way to kill the mood.
Vicky tensed up at that, groaning and flinching away from Levi's touch. Shit, he wanted to know how she had found him.
Oh I found you after stalking you online for 6 years, then tracked you down at a party, transferred to your school and matched my entire timetable with yours.
Sure Vicky, that's not creepy at all.
"What's wrong?" he asked concern etching his face, bringing Vicky back from her daze.
"Um, you might not like the answer." she said scratching her neck awkwardly. "You might sort of um hate me after this."
"Hate you?" he asked raising an eyebrow. "I can never hate you."
"Do you really need to know?" she asked pouting slightly.
"Not really." he said seriously. "But if you want to tell me, I promise I'll listen."
God, he's perfect. How can you lie to someone like this?
"Um, I, um I found you online." she said trying to be vague enough so she didn't have to lie.
"But how?" he asked surprised. "You didn't know my name or address or anything."
Vicky squirmed on her seat. She hated these kind of heart-to-hearts. Was it so hard to skip to the kissing and make-out phase already?
"I knew that you were the celebrity chef, Ms. Fannington's, daughter." continued Levi, sounding so guilty, Vicky thought her heart would break. "I knew roughly where you lived and if I searched enough I would have found your name and contact details. But I thought you wouldn't want me to find you again. I thought that you'd probably be embarrassed of me, I'm nowhere near as classy or good enough---"
He stopped mid sentence because Vicky had suddenly launched herself into his arms. Wrapping her arms around his nape, she buried her face against his collarbone, at the crux of his neck.
"Stop talking." she said, her mouth close to his ear. "Levi, do you not know how amazing you are? I learned hacking for you, I stole State surveillance footage for you, I went through scores and scores of junior school transcripts and pages and pages of Yellow Pages list of phone numbers just to find you. I transferred schools for you. I spoke to high school boys for the first time for you.
Levi, I am this close to kissing you right now, so God help me if you say one more time that you are not good enough. Because you're really not simply 'good enough'. You are perfect and the only one for me."
Levi went completely still, as Vicky withdrew a little to stare at his face. He was looking at her incredulously, and she could almost feel the gears of his brain springing into action.
"Um Levi?" she asked tentatively as she tried to retract her arms and move away. It would not be unreasonable if he declared her crazy and called the cops on her right now. Shit.
Levi grabbed her hand pulling her back to him.
"Vicky," he asked huskily trailing a finger down the side of her cheek. He planted a soft kiss on her forehead. "You absolute complete genius."
Vicky looked at him nervously, chocolate brown eyes clashing with his dark ones. She looked rather like a deer caught in the headlights, afraid that she might be run over by circumstances she herself had orchestrated.
"So you said something about wanting to kiss me..." prompted Levi a sly smile tugging at the edge of his lips.
Out of that whole speech, that's what got his attention?
"Um yes," said Vicky doe-eyed and insecure. "I um, is this okay? I mean I understand if you want to call the police or get me arrested---there's really no evidence though so I should warn that you might lose the case."
Levi laughed, and in an instant everything was right with the world again.
"Oh Vicky, the only thing you're guilty of in my eyes, is stealing my heart." he said, bringing his face so close to hers that their noses touched.
"Can I kiss you?" blurted out Vicky, blushing furiously at her own words.
Levi teasingly raised an eyebrow at her request. "Of course."
"I've never kissed anyone before." said Vicky as she moved to close the gap.
She fumbled a bit, as her lips found the perfect angle. Levi waited patiently as she adjusted to his presence. The simple feel of his lips against hers set off fireworks in her head as she closed her eyes to savour the experience. Levi returned the gentle pressure she pressed forth with, his hands reaching up to tangle in her hair.
His mouth was soft, warm and welcoming, though Vicky didn't dare slide her tongue in. He tasted faintly of peppermint chocolates and he smelled earthy and ethereal at the same time...
And then far too soon, she started getting breathless, lightheaded, seeing stars and...
Levi broke away from the kiss first.
"Breathe Vicky." he said understandingly as he grabbed the water bottle at the side table and handed it to her. "Drink some water."
Vicky nodded, feeling much better as the cool liquid soothed her hot throat.
"Sorry," she said looking embarrassed. "I don't really ---"
Levi silenced her with a chaste peck on the lips.
"You know I wished for years to have another chance to talk to you, to get to know you. At least so I could tell Samthon that my first crush was on a real person, and not someone I made up." he said with a smile. "I never thought in my wildest dreams that you would come searching for me, that you would share your first kiss with me..." he added sadly. "I'm sorry I didn't wait for you, I've been in a few relationships before."
"That's okay Levi." she said with a laugh. "At least one of us should know how to kiss properly."
There was a small pause, not uncomfortable or awkward, but relaxing and companionable silence.
"So," asked Levi. "Does this mean we're dating?"
"Do you want to date me?" asked Vicky self doubt creeping up on her.
"Never been so sure of anything in my life." he said swooping down for a kiss. He cupped her chin and guided her lips to follow his own. He allowed tiny spaces of pause to let Vicky breathe, before kissing her again. Her hands rested on his strong shoulders as he buried his in her hair.
The doorbell rang just then and they pulled apart.
"That's probably my mom." said Vicky calmly, though Levi had already broken into cold sweat.
"Should I hide or something?" he asked looking around nervously for a billowing curtain or a large ficus plant.
Vicky giggled. "Of course not. You're here for the Spanish class project remember?"
"Oh yeah right." he said heaving a sigh of relief.
"I'll go open the door." she said getting up. "Oh and Levi, I have something I wanted to ask you."
"Sure, what is it?" he said surprised.
"Will you go out with me?" she asked eagerly.
"Hell yes." he said instantly with a laugh. "Though it's unusual to be asked out. I feel flattered thanks."
Vicky laughed as she walked over to look through the keyhole.
"Shit." she said soon after.
Levi walked up to stand behind her. "What's wrong?" he asked looking through the hole to see a pair of twin preteen boys, looking very angry and agitated. They each had a baseball bat in their hands as they tapped their foot impatiently.
"Who are they?" Levi asked.
"Well, they're sort of like my brothers," she said with a groan. "You know you may need to hide after all."
A/N: Sorry for the late update! I've been down with the flu and couldn't get this up on time.
What did you think of this chapter?
Let me know :)
Lots of love,
Andy
Fun fact: I used to write One Direction fan fiction when I was younger.