"...And then I met you"

⋆✧⋆✧⋆

"So, where is everyone going this weekend?" Beth asks the group as she bites the head off a gummy worm.

We have a long weekend coming up and everyone takes this time to go home to their families and catch a break from school.

"Well, Chase and I are going back home to our parents and Jemma is coming, of course," I explain.

"Mason is taking me on a skiing trip," Daisy gushes.

Harper scowls jokingly. "Lucky, Beth planned nothing for us."

"Hey! I tried to get out of staying with my parents but they had the whole weekend planned and booked, you know I couldn't say no. Plus, I invited you and you couldn't come," Beth defends herself.

Harper just laughs at her girlfriend and kisses her on the cheek lovingly. "I'm joking, babe. You know I love you and your family, but I already agreed I'd go see my dad."

Aspen, Owen, and Luke all announce that they're just going home to their family and Theo talks about the trip he's taking with the hockey team he's coaching, "The kids are really excited, they have a list of all the things they want to do."

"What about you Sterling? Are you going home to see Charlotte?" Mason questions.

"No, actually. My dad is taking her on a trip with his girlfriend, Nancy. It's a week and a half long so I couldn't go, I'd miss too much school and hockey practice. I think I'll just stay here and have the house to myself."

I try and ignore the pang in my chest when I hear his plans for this weekend. I know him, and as much as he's acting completely unaffected, I can tell he's disappointed. I mean, no one, not even Sterling, wants to spend a long weekend alone doing nothing.

So, before I can stop myself, words fly out of my mouth. "Why don't you come home with me then."

Oh shit.

Why would I do that?

Yes, I am actively ignoring him because I'm terrified of talking about the kiss that's currently hanging over both our heads.

Yes, I did just invite him to stay with me for a few days and meet my parents.

Fantastic plan, you fucking idiot.

Jesus, Laney. Get a grip.

"Really?" Sterling's eyes go wide.

I feel everyone else's eyes on me too and I curse myself for not thinking before I speak. I'm pretty sure everyone in the group knows about the kiss. Obviously, Chase and the girls do because I told them, but judging by the guys' reactions right now, Sterling did the same.

The room goes awkwardly quiet, waiting for Sterling or I to say something. Anything. But for some reason, neither of us do.

Chase, thankfully, makes the first move. He clears his throat loudly to snap everyone out of this weird silence. "Yeah, man. That's cool. I'm sure my parents would love to meet you, they've heard a lot about you. It's super casual, we don't even really have plans."

He subtly nudges Jemma with his elbow and she starts talking too. "Right, yeah. You should totally come. It'll be fun. Lisa and John are the best."

"Um, yeah," Sterling looks hesitantly over at me and I avoid his stare. "If it's alright with them then I'd love to come."

"Great, I'll let them know," Chase speaks for me because I am currently not able to talk, still stunned by this idiotic decision of mine.

Note to self, when you're avoiding someone, don't invite them home with you over the long weekend.

⋆✧⋆✧⋆

"Dell, wake up, we're here," Jemma whispers to me as I lay sleeping on her shoulder.

Reluctantly, I open my eyes and force myself to wake up.

Chase parks the car in the driveway and Sterling gets out of the passenger seat. The boys go to the trunk to bring our bags inside and I groggily unbuckle myself and join them.

"Buck up, man. Mom will love you and I'm sure dad won't be too harsh." Chase gives a hard yet comforting pat to Sterling's back.

"He's joking. You'll be fine, Sterling." Jemma laughs and runs up to open the door.

"Laney?" Sterling stops walking and turns to me

"Yeah, darling?"

"Are you sure you want me here this weekend?"

I look up at him, forcing myself to actually see him for the first time in what feels like a while. His green eyes peer back at me and I just about melt.

As much I tell myself I need to avoid him, as much as I'm scared of talking things out with him, I can't help but still want to be around him. To see him, to touch him, to kiss him.

"I'm sure. One hundred percent. I want you here, with me."

He bites back a smile and nods his head as he places his hand on my lower back and leads the two of us into my house.

"Harley!" I go straight to my golden retriever, kneeling down so I can pet her. Clearly, she has other plans. Harley lets me pet her for about three seconds before she walks away from me and over to Sterling.

Sterling places our bags down on the floor beside him and bends down to pet Harley. She immediately loves him, leaning into his touch and wagging her tail.

I look up at Jemma and Chase, my mouth wide open in shock over Harley's betrayal. They laugh at my expense and Sterling just shrugs his shoulders innocently.

"Ah, look who the cat dragged in," My dad jokes as he and my mom make their way over to us.

"Hey, Delly-doo," My mom sings as she brings me in for a big hug. "Hey, mom." I smile against her shoulder.

"We missed you kids," My dad says, wrapping his arms around me.

"We missed you too." Chase throws an arm over my mom's shoulder as she gives Jemma a kiss on the cheek.

"And who is this handsome young man?" My mom questions as she inspects Sterling who, by the way, looks more nervous than I've ever seen him before.

"I'm Sterling Blake. It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Lawrence. Thank you so much for having me this weekend." He holds his hand out to shake my mom's. "Oh, honey, please, call me Lisa. And it's a pleasure to have you with us, truly." She disregards the hand Sterling offers and hugs him instead.

"Yeah, we're just excited to meet the guy that's been able to capture Delly's heart," my dad speaks as he shakes Sterling's hand.

My eyes bulge out of my skull at his words. Oh dear god. This was a mistake.

"John!" My mom lightly smacks my dad on the shoulder. "Don't embarrass your daughter," she tells him off in attempt of helping but only makes matters worse. "It's just that she mentions you a lot is all."

"Alright!" I clap my hands together and smile awkwardly, my face burning of embarrassment. "Let's change the subject, shall we?" I look over at Jemma desperately.

"Right!" she jumps into action, saving my ass from this horrible interaction. "What's for dinner? It smells great already!"

Jemma, Chase, and my parents disperse into the kitchen to discuss dinner plans and I let out the breath I've apparently been holding.

"So, I've captured your heart, eh?" Sterling's face sports a cocky grin.

Heaven help me.

I pick up one of the bags from the floor and shove it into his chest. "Definitely not. Now, are you coming or what?" I take the other bag and head upstairs.

⋆✧⋆✧⋆

He follows me and the two of us make our way to my bedroom.

Oh god, I hope I left it clean the last time I was here.

I'm pleasantly surprised when I walk in and find it acceptably tidy.

"So, this is where little Laney grew up." Sterling starts snooping around my room and I immediately regret taking him here.

He spends the next ten minutes looking through some old photos of me, and commenting on my room decor. Somehow the two of us end up sitting on my bed and actually talking, letting me completely forget about my plan to avoid any kind of situation or conversation that could lead to discussing the kiss.

"Hey, did you check your email?" He asks a little out of the blue, and the tone of his voice makes me nervous.

"No, why?"

"Check."

A pit forms in my stomach in anticipation as I unlock my phone and look for a new email.

I click on the notification and read it over, 'Dear Delaney Lawrence, you no longer need to tutor Sterling Blake for PSYCH 101. Thank you for all your help but it seems your work has paid off and your services are no longer required. Kind regards, Coach Fleming.'

I look up from my phone and my eyes immediately meet Sterling's.

"I took my last test and apparently I'm doing pretty well. Or at least good enough to meet coach's standards," he says.

"Oh," is the only response my brain can form.

Suddenly, I feel him slipping away from me. I know deep down that tutoring is hardly the reason we see each other. Sure it started that way, but it definitely isn't now. Yet, I'm still worried. Especially after the kiss and how I handled everything. What if I screwed everything up.

Shit.

"Don't do that, Laney. Don't think that. Don't even go there." Sterling's voice is firm.

"Do what? Think what? Go where?" My voice, on the other hand, it's shaky and uncertain.

He grabs my face with both his hands forcing me to see him. "I can read you. I know you, remember?"

I nod my head, using all my self control to not look away.

"Do you really think the only reason I see you is because of tutoring? I mean, I fucking hate psych, but I went to every tutoring session for you, to see you, to get close to you. This isn't going to change anything."

I break free from his hold, moving off my bed to stand up. I lean against the nearest wall, needing some space. When I'm around him, I cannot breathe, I cannot think.

He invades all of me. The air around me, and the thoughts flooding my brain. He controls all of my urges, leaving me helpless and completely at his mercy.

I watch as Sterling's green eyes go dark, filled with lust and craving. He leaves my bed and walks over to me.

His scent invades my nostrils, nearly knocking me off my feet. He is so close to me, I can almost feel the heat radiating off his body, and yet, he is not nearly close enough.

"Laney, come on." His voice is just barely over a whisper. "Don't you feel this?" He bends down and his lips brush my ear.

Oh, fuck.

I shake my head.

"You're telling me u don't feel this?" He drags his hand across my waist, leaving a trail of goosebumps in his wake. "Or this?" His fingers hook onto the top of my jeans and he pulls my hips into his. I almost whimper at his words, and his actions have my head spinning.

Focus, Delaney.

I clear my throat. "I don't feel anything."

Judging by the big smirk on his face, I'm not doing a very good job at convincing him. He can see straight through my lies.

"Oh yeah?" He lifts my chin up with his thumb and pointer finger, and our eyes meet once more. Then he moves his hand from his chin to feel my pulse— which, by the way, is going about a thousand miles a minute.

Shit.

"Don't lie, Laney, it's bad for you."

I have nothing else to say. No way to react.

So I do the only thing I can think of, grabbing him by his shirt and bringing his lips to mine.

His hands find their familiar place on my hips and I snake my arms around his neck, going up on my tippy toes to reach. His lips are so soft as they move against my own and I absentmindedly moan into the kiss, making Sterling bite down on my lip, gently tugging at it between his teeth.

His grip around my waist gets tighter and the pressure feels so fucking good. I slightly part my lips enough for him to slip his tongue into my mouth. I press myself into him, earning a groan from Sterling.

Somehow the kiss is both rough and gentle at the same time. In some impossible way, my senses are heightened, yet I can't process anything.

I feel completely and utterly consumed by him. By absolutely everything about him.

Down to his touch, taste, sound, and smell.

The two of us are completely lost in each other. It's as if he's all I know and I'm all he knows.

Before this kiss goes any further, I stop it. As much as I want him to rip my clothes off and fuck me until I can't walk, we can't. At least, not here and not now.

"Sterling," I grudgingly break away from the kiss and rest my forehead on his, the both of us out of breath and panting. "My parents are downstairs."

"Right." His hands drop from my waist and he backs up, giving me room to walk away.

I quickly slip into the bathroom while I leave Sterling alone in my room to collect himself. I look into the mirror and my eyes widen. My cheeks are flushed, my lips are puffy, and my hair is messy. I splash some water on my face and quickly brush through my hair.

Sterling appears behind me and we make eye contact through the mirror. I can just see it in his face, how much he wants to say to me. But, like the perfect man he is, he's giving me my time.

The two of us walk downstairs in silence and I join Jemma in the kitchen while Sterling goes to find Chase and my parents in the dining room.

⋆✧⋆✧⋆

"So, how was it?" Jemma asks.

"I have no idea what you're referring to."

"Oh, don't even try, Dell. I know you and your expressions like the back of my and. That right there..." She points to my face. "...is an 'I just made out with the guy I like and it was fantastic' face."

Clearly she needs no confirmation from me, already having come to the conclusion on her own, so I grab the salad bowl and walk out of the room.

"I knew it!" she yells as I turn the corner.

God save me.

Dinner is filled with about a million questions thrown at Sterling, which he gracefully answers, earning a sense of approval from my parents. I look over at my mom and I can just see her planning out our wedding in her head.

I move on to my dad, scanning his expressions, which are slightly harder to read. As much as he's trying to put on this tough guy facade, clearly feeling protective over his only daughter, I know he likes Sterling. I can see it in the way his eyes light up as he watches the two of us. How he nods his head every time Sterling answers a question perfectly, with respect and honesty. And how he instinctively smiles at the way Sterling cares for me in subtle ways like when he listens to me intently anytime I speak, even when it's of no importance.

When we finish, my parents wish us goodnight and retire to their room, not without reminding us that Sterling and Chase are to sleep in the same room and Jemma is to stay in mine. As my dad puts it, "There will be no funny business under his roof."

As much as the four of us don't want to, we listen to my parents, and Jemma and I head into my room. I spend the next couple hours telling her about the kiss and she analyses every piece of information I give her. Soon, Jemma is asleep leaving me to toss and turn on my own.

I can't sleep. My brain won't shut off. It just keeps replaying the kiss over and over again.

Deciding that sleep is not an option for me right now, I get up and walk downstairs. I don't bother turning on the lights, scared of waking anyone up as I slowly find my way into the kitchen. I want a snack.

I open the fridge to look for something to eat, and I just about jump out of my skin when I hear someone's footsteps get closer to me.

I turn around frantically, my heart beating out of my chest, when I realize who it is. "Laney, calm down, it's just me," Sterling whispers.

"Oh," I take a deep breath. "Couldn't sleep?" He shakes his head and I offer him the bowl of blueberries I'm holding.

The two of us take a seat at the bar and sit in comfortable silence. That is until he breaks it when he says, "You're beautiful, you know."

"You can't even see me right now, it's dark," I point out the obvious.

"No, I can see you. I always see you. But, even if I couldn't, I feel confident saying it because you're always fucking beautiful."

I can't help the smile that breaks out on my face and I look down avoiding his gaze, trying to hide my stupid grin.

"Why do you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Avoid eye contact when I compliment you."

"I don't."

"Laney," Sterling starts.

"Yeah?" I ask, my voice barely audible.

"You are the most beautiful girl I have ever seen. Truly." His voice is filled with so much conviction, so much certainty, so much confidence.

And for the first time, I almost believe it. Because I believe him, wholeheartedly.

"Do you believe me?"

"Actually, I think I might. And I think that's why I need you," I get carried away, blabbing any words that come to mind. "Because there are a lot of things I don't believe. Things I can't believe. Things like compliments. Until they come from you."

He smiles and the two of us stop talking, just enjoying each other's presence.

"Laney," Sterling breaks the silence once more.

"Yeah," I sigh.

"We need to talk about it."

"I know. We will. Not right now, okay? But we will, I promise."

"Alright." He kisses me on the forehead. "Goodnight, Laney." Sterling walks back upstairs and leaves me sitting alone in my kitchen. In the dark and wrestling with my thoughts.

"Sweet dreams, darling."

⋆✧⋆✧⋆

I don't know if you guys are going to hate me or love me for this chapter... lol.

But, it's like double my normal length, so you're welcome. I just wanted to sincerely thank you all for the support I've been gaining on this book. Writing this is an escape for me and it has helped me immensely. You guys are the reason I am able to do that. So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Also I just wanted to mention I post chapters every Tuesday and Friday for the people who are always asking when a new chapter will be out. Currently, that is the schedule that works best for me and it allows me to write chapters I'm proud of. I know what it's like to be desperate for more chapters, but when you guys are constantly commenting about needing a new one, it stresses me out a little. I hope you can understand that.

Question of the chapter: If you can remember and if you have one, what has been your favourite chapter?

Please vote and comment!!

Stay safe and healthy