I looked down at my heels, glittering and winking at me in the spacious lobby light. The silver bracelet and the flowing night blue gown made me feel fancy and satisfied. The clock struck seven, and I whimpered when Brandon still didn't show up at the lobby. Only ten more minutes for the appointed bus to leave for the cruise were left, and I was still waiting for Brandon.

People had been bustling around the whole time, so it hadn't been lonely. But the numerous looks I had received unnerved me. I couldn't decide if they stared because they thought I was stunning or looked like a pitiful stood up date.

Though was I stood up?

I checked my phone once again for any messages or missed calls, but there were none. Brandon and I had agreed to meet at six-thirty pm, and I had been late, but I didn't expect him to be this late.

"Tyler are you coming along?" Sarah asked me, hand in hand with her boyfriend. Even she had dressed up for the event.

"Brandon isn't here yet. Can you wait for me while I call him? He is not picking up his phone." I bunched up my dress and stood up. The loose hair fell on my shoulders, contrasting drastically with the blue of my dress.

"Sure. I won't let the bus leave. Hurry!"

"Thanks!" I gave her hand a squeeze and made for the lift. My phone beeped, and my heart squeezed at the thought of a message from Brandon. Half scared that I was stood up, I sighed when it was just a spam message.

The door bell echoed but there was no reply from within. I tried once again, but he didn't open. Panic struck in and I took the electric key card out, barging inside the hotel room. What if Brandon had slipped and broke his hip? Or what if he really stood me up?

Or maybe that he was flat on the bed, sleeping like a pig.

"Hey! Brandon. Brandon!" I slightly shook his shoulder, but he was deep in sleep and nothing woke him up. Way to make people worry. For a moment I just stood there and watched him.

He was lying on his stomach, the covers were tangled up with his torso and legs. His mouth was open, and his hair stood in different directions yet made him look sexy. The anger I had mustered up to shout at him dissipated at his tired form.

Sliding open my phone, I dialed Sarah's number. She picked it up on the second ring. "Hey. Sorry I can't make it. You enjoy."

"Are you sure? It will be amazing!"

"Yes, you go ahead. Bye." I ended the call before she could make me regret the decision. Placing the phone on the side table, I went up to the mirror and looked at my reflection. It was such a waste, dressing up and yet being stuck in the hotel room.

I kicked off my heels and plopped down on the sofa chair beside the bed. Resting my head back on it, I thought back to the events of the day. First the kiss in the morning, then the competition and now. It had been so jam-packed that I never really had the moment to sit back and relax.

Two days from now the school will reopen, but I won't be there. And I was hundred percent sure that the trending topic of gossip would be me. It wasn't something new, yet the jests and comments had hurt every time like a fresh wound. Only thing new this term would be this sleeping boy next to me and his team. But what could they do? Our world had been so apart for so long, will this past spring break change it all?

How I wish it did...

Closing my eyes, and lost in the memories, it wasn't long before I fell asleep.

"Oh shit! Shit, shit, fucking shit." Constant muttering of the same word irritated my sleep. I flipped over trying to get away from the sound, my left side of the face now smashed with the couch.

"Hey?" I heard a small whisper in my right ear, tickling it. My shoulder hunched up to make the tickling sensation go away and sure enough I felt warmth move away from me.

"You are taking your revenge on me, huh?" It was weird that I kept hearing Brandon's voice through my hazy mind. I tried to make sense of his words, but it was too much of hard work. Cool air hit my legs, and in my sleepy state I realized that I was still wearing the gown. And also that my one leg was over the other. Which meant a lot was on display.

Before I could act on it, two layers of blankets fell on me and I woke up, startled.

"Brandon!" I screamed as a reflex, making me realize how habitual his presence had become.

"What! What did I do?" He peeled away the blankets from my face and I glared at him.

"You dropped these on me!"

"But I-I thought you would be cold-"

"You are hopeless! First I had to cancel the cruise plan and now you are going around poking me here and there." I crossed my arms over my chest, at once feeling guilty for blaming him. But now that I had crossed the line, I couldn't back down. "Why did you throw these on me?"

"Y-your g-gown got up and you weren't waking up, so I-I-" He blushed.

"Oh," I said, more than embarrassed.

"I should shut up," he mumbled.

"You should," I replied, looking away. We stared in space for a few awkward minutes. He got up and finally put away the blankets on the bed, and I hurriedly straightened my gown.

"About the cruise, I am sorry. You should have woken me up, even if it meant putting ice cold water on me." He turned sheepish, sitting on the edge of the sofa chair, next to me.

"I'll remember it for the next time."

"Am I forgiven?" He bumped his shoulder with me, giving me those droopy puppy eyes.

"Well," I drawled on, not wanting to let go of the upper hand.

"I promise I'll make it up somehow."

"But I especially dressed for it today, and it was to be a dinner from a chef--"

"Wait here." He got up and grabbed his phone and wallet.

"Where are you going? It's almost ten o'clock." I pointed to the wall clock, and he nodded.

"I'll be back, don't you go anywhere." He warned and was out of the room.

"Okay," I said to myself as the door slammed shut.

Passing time on my phone, I thought of a nice bath. There was no point keeping the makeup and dress on if we were going to be in the room. But, what if-? Nah, it couldn't be possible, where would we go this late?

Though thoroughly sure that there was no chance of going out, I kept my dress and makeup on. Just in case.

Twenty seven minutes and fifty seconds later, just because I had been counting, Brandon opened the door. I stood up when I noticed his hands overflowing with items. He didn't let me take anything and put everything on the main table.

Popcorn, movie DVD's, soda, gum, plastic cups and plates decorated the room. It wasn't hard to guess what they all meant.

"A romantic movie night with your boyfriend, in a hotel room in Singapore with unlimited popcorn and soda instead of a boring cruise amidst a crowd of people? I did well, right?" He fluttered his eyelashes and smiled, and I wanted to murder the one who taught him that.

I rolled my eyes. "You do make it sound appealing," I said. Taking a straw and a cup, I poured myself orange flavored soda.

"You really just thought I was creepily cheeky and wanted to hit me, right?" he asked in a monotonous tone.

"You got me," I said, raising my fist to hit him lightly on the head. We both laughed. I slurped on my soda and motioned for him to bring everything to bed. He grinned and then complied.

Spreading everything on the bed, I gave it a closer look. The DVD titles choked me.

"Why are they all horror?!"

"Huh? I like them." He shrugged, giving me an innocent look.

I put down the soda, and crossed my arms over my chest, mustering a good pout. "How is this supposed to be romantic in any way if I can't even watch them?"

"Um..." He scratched his head.

"I won't be able to sleep at all."

"Well, I am sure we can find something to do then." My eyes widened at his statement, and he blushed. "I meant, we could play or something...oh shut it, everything is coming out wrong!"

He got up in frustration and I held in my laughter. With a giggle, I gave in. "Whatever, put on the movie. That bitch of a ghost won't be able to get to me today."

I went to the bathroom as Brandon set up the DVD and changed into respectable pajamas. Flopping down on the bed, I covered myself up with the blanket.

"You sure you'll watch it?" Brandon asked me slipping on to the bed and switching off the lights.

"Uh-huh, but we are switching it off the moment I say so. You'll be responsible if I die of heart attack!" He snuggled next to me, leaning against the dashboard and I let my stomach do free falls at the closeness.

"Why is there blood coming out of the faucet?" I whimpered, the suspenseful music killing me. Brandon hushed me, already half way through his popcorn.

Brandon or my free falls were forgotten as three minutes into the Chinese horror movie, I was about to pee my pants.

It'll be all right. I'll be all right. I mean, even if the ghost came, it'll eat Brandon first. Right? He's closest to the door. And then I can run and call security. But wait, what if it came through the window?

I shook my head and concentrated on the movie. The same Asian girl was dancing in a club with a random man.

"I thought you didn't watch Asian stuff." I said, to make small talk with Brandon, whose eyes were glued to the screen.

"The horror ones are good. They have the best gore stuff!" His hand brushed against mine, as he took popcorn out. I looked at him, but he didn't even seem to notice. Though he must have sensed my disappointment because the next moment his left arm was around my shoulder and I was by default leaning on his chest.

Now that's more like it.

"I don't even understand what's going on," I whimpered, mostly to get his attention than anything else.

"The girl is possessed by a lustful ghost. She's luring that guy." He pointed to the screen, and I moved to look at it. My whole right side was leaning on Brandon and a little push and I would be on top of him. But since neither of us minded that scenario, I stayed put.

I made soft circles on the palm of his skin and giggled when his fingers twitched. He took his hand away, and I looked at him and to the TV.

The scene blew me away, because before I knew it, the onscreen couple was having a power struggle to take each other's clothes off in a shady motel. When did the movie turn into an adult movie?

No wonder he was so interested.

I heard Brandon take in a sharp breath, and couldn't stop myself from asking, "I-isn't this censored?"

"It's from a local shop." Our mouth remained open as we watched the colorful stuff on TV.

"Oh," I replied, my throat dry.

That's all we said for a while, as we strained our eyes. Brandon's body seemed hotter and hotter as we watched the scene. Neither of us had the guts to do anything, yet we couldn't stop watching it.

In one movement the man tore away the girl's top, and I gasped. She was dry humping him now and thankfully still in her bra, her lips sewn to his lips. Or not, when she went further south, and the man opened his zi-

"Okay!" Brandon shouted, startling me. He ran to the TV and switched off the DVD before I saw anything else. "Sorry I got scared, let's watch something else."

Came his reply from the dark room.

I strained my eyes to make out his form. "Why don't you switch on the lights? I can't see you."

"Huh? You can't? I can see everything fine," he replied, as something bumped hard with the bed. Ha!

"I'll just put on the cable." TV started again, and Brandon ran back to the covers, using the remote to navigate. I gave him a side glance, and he seemed to be blushing as hard as me in the soft lights. He won't be selecting movies for a long long time after this one.

"Oh, wait up! I think I know that actor." I tapped his arm to make him flip back to that channel.

"Who? Him? He's Chinese." I shifted closer to him again and rested my head on his shoulder. From the corner of my eyes I saw a small smile lit up his face and he put his arm around my shoulder.

"Shut up, he's Korean." I squinted my eyes, trying to pinpoint where I had seen him.

"How do you know?"

"I-" My reply died down, when I noticed the scene that was playing out on TV. Both of us froze, and I felt Brandon's hand tighten around my shoulders.

The supposed Korean guy slammed the girl hard on the back door and kissed her roughly along the jaw and collarbone area. He grabbed her hair, and she arched her back, giving out a long moan.

"You're right. I d-don't think this is Korean..." I gulped giving a nervous laugh. Why was everything filled with sex scenes?

"You think so too." He mirrored my broken laugh.

"It's so hot in this room." I fanned my face, pleading inside my head to Brandon to change the channel. His side pressed against mine felt even hotter.

"I know! Like we should sit a bit away, it's way too hot," he mumbled, shifting away a little, so only our shoulders touched.

"Oh, I feel so sleepy. You can change the channel."

"Haha, is that so?" He clicked the remote, but instead of changing the channel he increased the volume to the top.

Ear splitting groans and moans filled the room. I slapped my hand to my forehead, embarrassed beyond belief. We could just have someone we know pass through the door right now-- I groaned inwardly.

"I will switch off the TV!" Brandon shouted over the noise and cut the sound off. Silence and darkness swallowed the room and my already spiked heart rate went up another notch.

I made a coughing sound as Brandon climbed back up on the bed. There was no way we would sleep at this rate. Not that I wanted to... But still.

"Um, you were sleepy right?" he asked me, and I blinked hard to make out his form.

"Yeah, like I'll just sleep in this corner..." I trailed off.

"Okay, then I'll take the sofa." He picked up his blanket and made way to the sofa.

"Oh," I said, not expecting this. "We can switch if you want. And I don't really mind sharing the bed. I mean it's not like I don't know you or anything. We can always take the opposite sides-"

"Really? Cool." He grinned and was back on the bed in a second. I expected him to take the far corner, but he surprised me by sliding towards me and pressing up against me.

"You were just waiting for me to invite you on the bed, right?"

"Yup." He laughed. "You really think I would pass up this opportunity to make you uncomfortable?"

"Uncomfortable, how?"

"Like this." Brandon wrapped his arms around my shoulders and turned me away from him. His broad chest pressed up against my back as we both slid down into a laying position. I stayed still, my ears drumming with the sound of my fast heart beat.

He kept his position, wrapping me up with his body like I was a doll. His mouth found my ear, and he whispered, tickling it with his hot breath, "Do you find this uncomfortable?"

"I-I don't," I whispered back, and he tightened his hold around my collarbone.

"That's good." He dragged his face up to my hair and breathed a long exhale. "This is good."

My heart skipped a beat, and I finally understood the plight of girls I had read about in books. Because apparently cuddling gave the perfect feelings ever.

"Wait a minute," Brandon said, and pulled his arm out and left the bed. He came back with his phone in his hand, typing with one hand.

My phone beeped, and I leaped out to get my phone, knowing the message was from him. I settled back in before reading the message.

"This song is for you. Listen to it while you sleep."

I didn't reply, but did as he asked and shut my phone, and closed my eyes. Brandon took his previous position, his arm around me, his head resting snugly behind mine. A low hum started from his phone, and I smiled when Brandon sang the chorus,

I'm gonna stay eighteen forever

So we can stay like this forever

And we'll never miss a party

cause we keep them going constantly

And we'll never have to listen

to anyone about anything

cause it's all been done and it's all been said

we're the coolest kids and we take what we can get

"Good night," he murmured, and we fell asleep.

up the phone and Rebecca's rushed voice filled my ear from the other end.

"Ty?" she asked.

"Yeah? Reb? What's up?" I blinked hard to see that it was five in the morning, and that meant five in the evening back home.

"Did you just woke up?"

"Uh-huh," I replied, looking at Brandon's sleeping form next to me. Heat crept up my face, but I ignored it for the moment. "Is something wrong?"

"I-I don't know how to tell you this..." She trailed off, and I felt the beginnings of something bad in my chest.

"What is it? You're not pregnant, are you?" I stumbled with my words, whispering low so to not wake Brandon up. He still held my right hand with his own.

"No... I just got a link from a friend." She sighed on the other end, making me nervous.

"What is it?" I asked with earnest this time, untangling my hand from Brandon's and getting up from bed.

"I can't. It's all over YouTube. I have sent you the link, watch it." I put the phone down from my ear and saw my inbox filled with messages. Dread filled my stomach as I put the phone back up to my ear.

"And Tyler?"

"Yeah?"

"I am sorry. Stay strong." The call ended.

*****