"I want this too" —Sabrina Claudio.

••

He opens the door to his room and steps aside to allow me access. I look at him hesitantly before making my way in, immediately taking a fancy to the moonlight blue and grey theme of his dwelling.

Blaze's quarter is different than the normal wet-dreams adolescents' room. There are no posters of half-naked ladies or former sports champions pasted on his walls, and the room is so organized and immaculate that I doubt there is even a speck of dust in sight.

A king-size bed with grey sheets is sitting in the center of the room with a glass window draped with blue curtains stationed above it. The blue-sprayed dresser sitting on the left seems unbelievably expensive, and the grey wardrobe with gold knobs drilled on it exudes the idea that his dad has to be a wealthy man. The interior and exterior of this home are too lavish to belong to a normal man of society.

I hear the door close behind me and turn to look at Blaze as he walks over to the wardrobe, opening its top cabinet and retrieving a grey blanket.

"You can sleep on my bed," he says as he puts it on the duvet, and I smile gratefully.

"Thanks."

I perch against the bed, admiring how the mattress hugs me pleasantly as I slip off my boots. He jams his hands in his pockets as he watches me from across the room. Laying down onto my side, I snuggle my head against the soft pillows, unintentionally inhaling the inviting scent of him.

He's everywhere. On the bed, the sheets, the pillows. I can smell him, and the scent is divine.

I imagine all the times that he has probably slept in this very spot and my face blooms at the thought. It makes me feel a lot closer to him now, as creepy as that sounds. Truthfully, I haven't slept in a proper bed in a while. The one at the dorm is extremely uncomfortable and leaves me feeling lethargic even after a long night's rest. It feels good to lie down freely without worrying about a spider hovering above your head.

Blaze is watching me with a faint smile on his mouth, and when I look over my shoulders, he erases it quickly and jerks a thumb behind him.

"I'll be downstairs," he says.

He turns away to head out and I realize I am yet to apologize to him.

I prop up onto my elbow. "Wait, Blaze."

He whirls to me with a hand on the doorknob. "Yeah?"

I swallow and get up, not bothering to put my shoes on as I trod bare feet down to him. I regret it immediately because the tile is terribly cold, causing me to flinch at each step like a kitten walking on fire.

"Um, I just wanted to say that..." I grimace, putting one foot on top of the other as I balance on a leg like a gymnast. Blaze's eyes fall to the action and he laughs throatily.

"Why didn't you just put your shoes on, Harmony?"

My face reddens. "It takes a while, and I don't want you to go because I have something to say."

His smile settles into a straight line while he studies my face, and I clear my throat.

"Um...thanks for that time in the cafeteria."

He knows exactly what I am talking about and just nods. "You don't need to thank me; she was being rude, and I don't care about her feelings like I do yours."

His response slaps me speechless. Did he just say he cares about me?

"Is that all?" He asks, and I shake my head quickly.

"Um, no...I... I am sorry."

He pushes a hand through his hair. "About what?"

"About not trusting you." I look down guiltily.

"It's okay, you don't need to apologize. You have all the right to distrust me. I am not a good guy."

I shake my head, disagreeing with him. "No... that's not what I see. You are a good guy to me Blaze. You may not be an angel, but you're not a bad guy."

I mean that. The care he showed me earlier during my asthma attack has heightened my faith in him. I know he isn't as unethical as everyone says. And I will prove it.

He releases the door to push his hands in his pockets, his figure towering over me easily. "That's because I treat you differently. That's because I care about your feelings. I normally don't. So, I am a bad guy for everyone else. And majority rules."

Why does he treat me differently than everyone else? My mouth opens to quench my curiosity when he speaks first.

"See you later, I'll be downstairs."

He turns away, and I sigh in disappointment as he grips the knob and turns it. It doesn't open and his eyebrows furrow as he tries again. The results are the same and confusion settles onto both our faces.

"It's locked?" I ask.

He sighs. "Yeah, from the outside. The door is like that, if it gets locked with the key from the outside then whoever is on the inside won't be able to leave."

I narrow my eyes. "But who would lock the door from the outside?"

Blaze leans his back against the door as his shoulders lift in a careless shrug. "The person who has the key. James."

I scratch my forehead bewilderedly. None of this makes sense to me. "Why would he do that when he knows we are inside?"

"Probably hoping I fuck you..." He says it under his breath, but I heard anyway. My eyes grow a bit larger at the blatancy of his tongue. Blaze's mouth can be unfiltered and dirty and it's something I can't get used to.

He notices my expression and titters a little. "Sorry. I didn't mean to say it like that. I meant sex, he's probably hoping we sleep together or something."

It's still uncomfortable regardless of the fact that he censored it a little. Sex isn't a topic I am fond of. It always leaves me feeling anxious and uncomfortable.

"Give me your cell." He extends his hand toward me and I realize instantly that I didn't take my cellphone with me tonight.

Leaving it behind was a very unwise thing to do considering I am away from the premises of Homewood, but it tends to happen to me a lot since I don't have many people to talk to. I already spoke with my mom this morning and Collum has been super busy lately, so we don't talk much these days. It's evident that we are probably one of those fading out friendships that withers away when separated. I hope not though, he's a great friend. Maybe we can catch up on the upcoming holidays.

"I don't have it, where's yours?"

"James has it. He borrowed it, remember?"

I nod. "Oh yeah...I forgot."

He exhales and lifts his eyebrows, drumming his fists against the door on either side of him. "So, I guess we have to wait until he decides to stop playing his foolish game."

I purse my lips, uncertain of what to do at this moment. Being stuck in a room with him is terribly awkward, but from the looks of it, he doesn't seem to mind the fact that we are locked in here together.

He eases up from the door and walks over to a grey safe at the corner of the room. He squats down and punches the lock combination in before swinging it open. The smell of liquor wafts the air as he takes out a bottle of what seems to be alcohol before setting it on the floor to close the vault back.

He walks over to where his dresser is stationed and flumps down on the grey carpet there, and I am still standing weirdly in the spot he left me in like an immovable statue.

He chuckles at this, shaking his head. "You should sit Harmony, are you going to stand there all night?"

I twist my lips, and he pats the spot next to him, his full lips tilted in a smirk. "Join me."

I stare at him cynically, and he lifts a brow.

Hesitantly, I stroll down to where he is, pulling my skirt down before lowering myself onto the rug next to him.

I stretch my legs out, ensuring most of my thighs are covered appropriately as I lean my back against the dresser. He looks over at me with his smile still present. "Comfortable?"

I smile a little. "Yeah, thanks."

He eases up and pulls a bottle opener from his pocket, fixing it around the head of the liquor before twisting it. The bottle opens with a loud click and the frizzy sound of vapor, and I watch him as he puts the container to his mouth, taking a long drink.

His Adam's apple shifts at the passing of the fluid and suddenly, I am intrigued by it. I am always confused as to why people drink especially since it doesn't seem to taste pleasant, judging from the grimace on their faces after drinking it.

"Does that taste good?" I query, and Blaze removes the bottle from his mouth, his pink lips now wet as he wipes the residue away.

"I guess, why?"

"It's just that...I have never drunk before." I reply, averting my eyes to the mat beneath us.

The corner of his mouth elevates, and a gleam of what could be perceived as admiration flashes in his eyes. "Wanna taste it?"

I think hard on it for a second before slowly nodding. "Yeah, okay."

He hands it to me, and my small fingers can hardly enclose around the bottle, causing him to smile softly. "It won't affect your asthma, will it?"

I shake my head. "No."

He rolls his head back against his dresser as he watches me in amusement. I bring the bottle to my mouth, ignoring the flushing fact that his plumb lips were on it a second ago. I shut my eyes and begin to gulp the liquid down, hard and fast as if it's merely a bottle of water.

Blaze notices that I am on the verge of downing the entire alcohol and he chuckles as he grabs it from me quickly. "Harmony! Jesus."

I scrunch my face up, sticking my tongue out at the bitter taste. "What?"

"You don't drink it like that."

"Did I do it wrong? But that's exactly how you did it." I wipe my lips.

He laughs. "That's because I am used to it. You're not experienced so you will get yourself drunk."

"Oh," I say, and he smiles and shakes his head. "Watch. You take small sips like this." He grips the bottle and brings it to his lips again. In no time he removes it, and the liquid looks untouched.

"Whenever you drink in the future just take small sips, okay? You'll get yourself drunk and I don't want you doing anything crazy...when I am not around."

I nod my head then stretch my hand out to him again. "Can I get more?"

He looks indecisive as he narrows his eyes. "Are you sure?"

To be honest, it does taste awful but there is just something addictive about it. It gives me an unusual rush; a weird thrill that I have never experienced in my entire life. The feeling is new and interesting, and I can't help craving for more. Now it finally makes perfect sense why people drink.

"Yeah...I am sure." I say.

He hesitantly passes the bottle to me and I take it from his hand and take another swig. Not much this time as per his advice. We begin to share the liquor, passing it to each other after taking small portions of our own.

And now I can feel a slight change in my body.

I flash my head a little and Blaze looks over at me, smiling widely as he takes the container from my hand. "No more, alright? You look tipsy already."

He is right. I feel weird right now.

The room is spinning, and I feel as if I am now floating on white, puffy clouds. Was this what that guy meant when he said the drink would make me walk on stars?

Blaze watches me with concern as he takes a drink of his own. "You okay?"

I nod, groping forehead. "I think...I feel...lighter."

He almost chokes his liquor out as he laughs. "Are you drunk already?"

"I have no idea...I just feel weird."

"Okay no more alright? I feel weird as shit too. I think we have had enough."

He rests the bottle down and lays his head against the dresser. I mirror his actions and it makes the room stop spinning for a while.

There is now silence and I contemplate whether to bring up the fact that Mal gave me a summary of what may have happened with his sister, but Blaze seems relaxed right now and I wouldn't want to ruin the mood, so I swallow the words and decide to leave them for another time.

He tilts his head that is still laid up against his dresser to look at me. "How do you feel?"

I shrug. "I can't explain it."

He chuckles. "Don't ever drink again, you're worse than a lightweight."

I laugh at the truth his words hold. "You too, your eyes tell me you're just as tipsy as I am."

He smiles at this, white, milky teeth revealing themselves. "You wish. Misery loves company."

"Whatever." I giggle, and he's chuckling along with me.

The silence returns with only the faint sound of music from downstairs filling the stillness. Blaze's alluring eyes are fixed on mine and mine on his. We aren't saying anything, but the silence is strangely not uncomfortable.

Our smiles are now non-existent, and his expression is now an intense one, laced with what I recognize as lust. My breathing has become rapid because I know that look all too well. It's the same expression he gave me after I sang that night at his dorm.

His head begins to lean in, and I lift my face to meet his, giving the silent signal that I wouldn't want him to pull away. He looks into my eyes, and I can tell he's a bit drunk, but I can also tell that he knows exactly what he's doing.

"Can I kiss you?" He asks softly.

I swallow nervously and nod my head.

Without hesitation, his cool lips press against mine. My eyes flutter shut while he reaches a hand up to hold the side of my neck for support.

The kiss is different than the one we shared at his dorm that night. This time it feels like I am sharing a million emotions with him; like somehow, we are becoming one just by a simple kiss. My legs are weak beneath me, my stomach twisting into a blissful knot of avidity.

His warm tongue gently probes against my lips and I instinctively part them, feeling as he skillfully slides it inside. It feels strange and intense as it sweeps against the walls of my mouth, and I timidly try to slip mine in too, sighing in content when I do so successfully without throwing him off.

He positions a hand on my waist, pulling me closer into him and pressing my body against his as he hastens the kiss. The savor of his mouth is the familiar minty scent like that first time our lips connected, and I can identify the sweet taste of the liquor we had just been drinking. It is a heavenly experience.

He grips my waists in his strong hands and in no time, sets me onto his groin as if I am nothing but a light feather. The action catches me off guard as I stare at him with wide, skittish eyes. My thighs are pressed up against his while my palms are gripping his shoulders reflexively.

His lips spread in a smile, his flawless dimples causing my heart to leap even more. And then I feel it, a huge bulge poking against the area between my legs. The heat spreads to my face immediately, and Blaze notices this and chuckles knowingly.

"What?"

I shake my head and lower my eyes. "Nothing."

He gropes my waists in his hands and with his lower lip tucked between his teeth, he subtly presses me down onto the arousal in his jeans. Feeling him easily through the tights I am wearing under my skirt, I hold my breath as hot blood rushes to my face.

He stares at me with misty eyes, pretending to be innocent, but I know he knows exactly what he's doing based on the smirk he's wearing.

"No, tell me, what is it?" He prods softly, his eyes now trained on my lips. "Tell me why your face is so red Harmony..."

He is obviously teasing me. I am sure he's aware of the reason I am this flushed.

I swallow hard as my chest rises with each anxious breath. "Nothing..."

"Are you sure?" He puts his mouth to my ear, and a shiver trails down my back at the feel of his lips grazing my skin. "Because I can feel how wet you are through your tights...so I can guarantee that something is causing your body to react that way."

My stomach leaps at the lust in his tone, and he repeats the gesture, pushing me harder onto the slope in his jeans. I quiver at the feel of his nature, that has grown even more, as it makes contact with mine.

He continues to do this while he leans back to study my feverish face. The way my lips part in desire tells him that I am enjoying what he's doing, and so he continues to squeeze our lower regions together. Slowly and Firmly. With lustful eyes fixed on mine.

It's strange to think that we are fully clothed, yet I am feeling all of him as if there are no barriers in between. Each time he lowers me onto him, he lifts me again, just to repeat the same pleasurable action.

He kisses along my neck while his hands continue to squash me against his erection. His lips are like cotton as he pulls the skin on my neck between his teeth, gently sucking on the area. It stings a little, and he kisses it after, pressing his cool lips against what now feels like a bruise. I guarantee that there is a red mark there left by him and I just hope April doesn't see that after.

His warm hand trails along my leg, leaving goosebumps on every part of my skin.

"You're deceiving, Harmony."

I meet his eyes, but mine are so squinted from the desire that I can barely look at him.

"I would have never guessed you have such sexy legs," he utters, and my heart flips in my chest. The arousal between my legs has now grown and my hands become tangled in his shirt.

"I guess there is really more than what meets the eyes..."

Squeezing my thighs in his palms, he leans his forehead against mine, sinking his teeth into his flushed lip as he continues to push his middle against mine. I am now aware of the fact that my skirt has ridden up, but I am not sure if it's the adrenaline or the alcohol that has awarded me the confidence to leave it be.

"I want you to move against me," he whispers. "Do you wanna do that?"

I look at him genuinely confused. "Move against you how?"

He smiles. "Like you're riding a horse."

I brighten further as soon as my brain comprehends the simile.

"With our clothes on of course," he adds.

Secretly, I want that too. Being in this position feels good, but I would never let those words leave my lips. Blaze is different. He says exactly what he is thinking but I am the type to keep such desires hidden deep within.

The alcohol has clouded my reasoning skills, granting me this free-spiritedness that I have never felt before, and so without a word, I begin to circle my hips against his groin. He seems satisfied as he tightens his hold on my waists, helping me to move against him. He's looking into my eyes as he brings his head forward to connect our foreheads. "Downstairs you claimed to can't dance, now look how good you are at moving your waists."

My face tinge pink at that.

I have never done this on a guy before, and it surely is out of character, but I decide to ignore the disciplinary voice in my head as he raises his hips to match my movements.

He rolls his head back, shutting his eyes as he sighs in satisfaction. "Damn, you feel so good against me, Harmony."