After Damon breaks off the kiss, he climbs into his mustang and drives off, leaving me breathless and craving for more. But instead, I open the door and enter my house. Sliding down the wall next to me, I touch my lips and ponder everything I experienced tonight: from learning about Damon's family, to reminiscing over how easy it surprisingly was to just hang out with him, how natural it was. A smile spreads across my face and I can feel the butterflies stirring.

"So, how was your night?" My mom asks, breaking me from my trance.

"Wonderful," is all I reply.

"Really? Can tutoring really be that fun?"

Shit. I forgot that that's what Damon told me to tell her. Well, I might as add some truth into it, "Yeah, mainly because I think I like the guy I'm helping."

"Oh?" She raises her eyebrow quizzically, "Well you do remember that you're going to be leaving in a few months for college right?"

I felt as if the air had been knocked out of me as my butterflies came crashing down and replaced with knives. I had forgotten, but now that I've been so kindly reminded that I only have a little more time here, my whole demeanor changes. She didn't have to say it, it was written in between her words: what's the point of getting close if you're leaving before you'll even get a chance?

"Yeah...I remember. I think I'm going to go upstairs now."

I rise and pass my mom, and then turn to climb up the stairs towards my room. Tossing my phone aside, I fling myself onto my mattress and stare at the ceiling. She's right, there's no point in trying to get close, only to be hurt in the end. The surrounding emptiness begins to crawl inside of me, widening the void I thought had I filled. I get up and start undoing the many buttons to my outfit, and then change into a shirt to sleep in. I notice how much smaller it is than Damon's, yet it feels so less secure. I mechanically finish my nightly routine before crawling back into bed, cocooning myself within my blanket. I angrily roll onto my side, infuriated with myself because I can't comprehend why I'm so upset. I've known Damon for a couple months now, yes, but I've only begun to view him differently just in the past week. I don't understand why I am getting so distraught over leaving a boy I barely even have a friendship with, let alone relationship. Frustrated, I toss and turn, not even remotely tired, just left alone and wide-awake with my aching thoughts.

*tap*

I sit up so fast that I have to take a second to allow my breath to catch up. I spin my head towards the window by the end of my room. I know I heard something. I wait awhile longer, but end up just laying back down, concluding that it was just a fluke. I feel myself beginning to drift off, into the stormy sea of my dreams.

*TAP*

I jump involuntarily and end up falling off the bed with a thud. I scramble up and search for something to protect myself with before I make my over to the window to investigate. That sound was much louder than before, and I know it's definitely something now. I grab my old softball bat by the handle while I cautiously step towards the window. An eerie stream of moonlight seeps through the translucent panels, only creeping me out more. Once I finally reach the frame, I undo the hook holding the two vertical panels of glass together (I have this nifty vintage window), and push them open with one hand. Timidly, I step out onto my tiny balcony, only a few feet long, and glance around wielding my bat, ready to strike.

"Nice panties."

I scream and stumble backwards as I try to turn towards the voice, but I trip over my own feet and lose my balance. A hand reaches out and grasps my wrist, steadying me from toppling over the railing. I snap my head up to roof ledge above to see Damon's shimmering eyes watching me and a playful smile across his face.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" I yell at him.

"You should've seen your face; you look like you could've shit yourself!" He responds, desperately trying to hold back his laughter.

"That's because you scared the living shit out of me!"

"I only wanted you to come open your window; I didn't know you were going to emerge armed and terrified!"

"Just, what are you doing here? How'd you even get up there?" I ask while tugging down at my short shirt.

"I climbed up by the trashcan besides the garage, which just so happens to be connected to the rest of the roof. And I wanted to see you," then his eyes travel downwards, "I'll start coming every night if you're going to be dressed like that," he adds with a suggestively raised eyebrow.

My cheeks heat up, but at least the night will hide it. I signal "one minute" with my pointer finger, and then climb back into my room to pull on a pair of sweatpants. Once I'm done, I clamber back outside and climb onto the roof with Damon. Before he can say a word, I punch him in his arm.

"Hey! What was that for?" He yells while rubbing his arm.

"Scarring me," I reply.

"Fair enough, your reaction was worth a punch to the arm."

I ball up my fist again, but he grabs my wrist and tugs me into him, landing on his chest. I gulp and raise my head to meet his eyes.

"Easy Scarlett, don't try anything stupid now."

I scowl, but don't move. Instead, I sit there on my knees, keeping the close distance between mine and Damon's face. However, I don't feel as if I'm doing it on purpose; it's as if there's this undetected attraction pulling us together, like polar opposites of two magnets near one another.

"So," I breathe, "Why exactly did you want to see me?"

I'm so close that I can see the creases in his laugh lines as he opens his mouth to respond.

"I left unsatisfied."

"Well I thought we had fun tonight, but I guess the feeling isn't mutual," I say, annoyed.

"No, I mean the kiss. I drove the whole way home trying to stay collected as my mind raced. My hand even started to twitch by how hard I was trying to suppress the urge to just turn around and kiss you till dawn. And, obviously, I was unsuccessful."

Damon starts to inch closer, I can feel his warm breathe flow across my skin, and for once, I'm close enough (with my eyes open) to notice the golden flakes delicately placed between the emerald layers of his eyes. I'm so captivated that I begin to feel myself lean in too. Our mouths are a hair length away when I feel my eyelids flutter shut, and his lips brush against mine.

He kisses me tantalizingly slow, much unlike our previous two. Although this kiss is gentle, electricity shoots through my veins, making my hairs stand on end. Damon starts to pick up the pace then pulls me up onto his lap. I inhale sharply and I can feel him smirk against my mouth. I am about to throw a rude remark to him, but a strong breeze passes by, chilling me to the bone. I shiver, and Damon pulls back.

"Are you cold?"

"Maybe a little, it's alright."

"No, let's go inside."

I freeze in place; I've never had a boy inside my room before, alone with me. But my desire surpasses my anxiety.

"Uhm, sure." I say while I start to climb down.

Once I get inside, I turn around to see Damon climbing in after me. I start to get too nervous for my own good and am about to state that this may not be a good idea, but he doesn't give me the chance. He's on me almost as soon as he enters the room, aggressively pressing his lips against mine in a fluid motion. I melt and follow quickly behind him. He starts to back me up, never breaking the kiss, until the back of my legs bump up against my bed. He lays me down, crawling on top of me, hovering his body over mine by his elbows.

My nerves have just kicked in full throttle. I've certainly never lain on my bed making out with a guy before, and I have no idea how far it's going. I tangle my fingers in his thick locks as he finally breaks the kiss, only to travel down to my neck, kissing and nipping along the way.

"What are you doing to me Scarlett?" I hear him mutter, not really as a question, but more as a remark to himself.

One of his hands lifts off of the bed and travels south to my waist, then my hips, fingers skimming across the lace waistband of my underwear which my sweats have fallen under. He hooks a finger underneath the brim and slowly pulls it across my waist, his nail skimming my skin and sending shivers down my spine.

Removing his finger from my waistline, he sneaks his hand underneath my t-shirt and drags his fingers up my stomach like feathers, also moving his mouth up below my jaw. His fingers reach the middle of my ribs and I tense, knowing that I don't have a bra on. I'm just about to tell him to stop, until I hear footsteps on the wooden steps outside my door. I immediately kick Damon off of me and cover his mouth with my hand before he says something unnecessary. I put a finger to my mouth to indicate to shut up and point to the ground. He understands and lays down, right as my door handle rattles and my mom enters.

"Hey honey, have you seen my laptop? I need to get some work done and I can't find it anywhere."

"I think I saw it in the cabinet below the lamp in the living room." I say, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Oh yeah! I had put it there to get it out of the way so I could clean."

She closes the door and I listen to her walk back down the stairs. I let out the breathe I had been holding. Damon sits up crossed legged on the ground next to me, a smirk plastered across his face.

I lay on my back and throw my arm over my eyes, "I think it's time for you to leave."

"Unfortunately."

I hear him shuffle as he rises, then silence fills the air. I'm about to move my arm until I feel him softly kiss my nose and whisper, "Sweet dreams, love."

I look out, but he's already out the window and gone before I can respond. I get up to splash some warm water on my face. Flipping on the bathroom lights, I stare at my flushed reflection and place my hands on either side of my pink cheeks. A cheesy smile starts to spread across my face. I stand there, how long I don't know, while I face the hard truth: I've already fallen too far to care about departure. And honestly, I don't give a damn.