As Tessa and I finally got to the party I spotted John looking around for Daisy. I smiled, I feel like a match maker tonight. Daisy pushed through the crowd and pulled into a hug. We chatted for a bit until she left to find Eric. “Speaking of Eric,” Tessa started.

“Oh God, please don’t.” I laughed and pushed her with the shoulder. “We were just talking.” She smiled wide at me.

“To you, maybe, but to him, it was like making out with you.” I laughed and rolled my eyes and started dancing to Lady Gaga. “I’ll leave you two alone.” Tessa said, I looked up at her confused and turned to see who she was looking at. It was Eric, in a regular shirt and pants without a mask on.

“Hey! You didn’t dress up.” He laughed and was about to say something when I cut him off. “Hey! How did you know it was me?” I fake glared at him.

“Daisy.”

“That slut.” He laughed and held up a mask.

“I was wearing this, but I didn’t want to creep you out, again.” I smiled and took the mask out of his hand and tied it on him.

“We’re cool now Eric.” He smiled. “Want to dance?” I asked as a slow song started. He nodded and wrapped his arms around me; I put mine around his neck. He was a great dancer. “I was really scared that you would step on my feet.”

“Psh, I’m the best dancer in Arizona.” I laughed and pinched his arm. “Ow, stop doing that,” he whined.   I stared at him as I smiled innocently. “You’re beautiful,” he said, his voice lightly cracking. I smiled.

“Thank you, Eric.” He licked his lips a little, oh man, he wants to kiss me. Guilt took over me as I knew that either way he would get hurt; if I turn away, if I kiss him, in the end, I wouldn’t want him. Just as his lips were about to touch mine, I heard Gabi screaming at Kenny and I turned my head. His lips crashed onto my cheek. I turned back and looked at him, his head hung low and his looked really sad. I lifted his head and smiled.

“I’m sorry, I’ll make it up, but Gabi…” I pointed my thumb back in her direction. His face lit up.

“Promise?” I stuck my pinky out and he locked his with mine.

“Promise.” I don’t know what happened between the two, but we were planning a girls night to help her out. I was a little scared at how excited Rach was about picking the movies. I don’t think I’ll be getting much sleep tomorrow night. After we all walked away from each other I went in search of Eric.

“Looking for me, Babe?” Eric asked as he wrapped his arms around me.

“No, I saw this really good looking guy with a red mask.”

“Yeah right, you missed me.”

“You’re full of yourself.” He turned me around and pulled me into a hug.

“John and Daisy are making out.” Eric mumbled into my ear. I turned and smiled at the two.

“HA! I KNEW IT!” I shouted their way, and Daisy flipped me off. “I made that happen.” Eric laughed.

“You owe me. Remember?”

“Nope.”

“But you promised.”

“I never said I’d kiss you. I said I’d make it up to you.”

“You’re a tease.”

“You keep coming back.”

“You’re like a drug.” I pinched his arm. “Stop! You pinch the same spot everything.” After the DJ announced to take off our masks, Eric and I walked, hand in hand, to the elevators; wanting to get there before the crowd. I pulled my mask off and handed it to Eric.

“You can have it.” He pulled his off and handed it to me.  I smiled and moved closer to him as a group of guys got in. One of them, the guy from the pool. Eric tensed up, but I grabbed his hand and smiled up at him. “Relax.” I whispered and stood on my toes and kissed the corner of his mouth. He smiled and relaxed but when the door opened again he pulled me out of the elevator as fast as he could.

“Want to stay the night again?” he asked with a hopeful look as we walked towards his room.

“I don’t have my pajamas.”

“I can loan you some clothes. Please stay.” I smiled and nodded.

“Since you were good in the elevator.” He laughed and slipped the key into the whole and pushed the door open. The phone buzzed. I pulled it out and smiled at Daisy’s text.

‘Stayin with john 2nit. That cool wit u?’

‘no problem, im staying with eric’

‘;D’

I rolled my eyes. “Where are those clothes you promised me?” He threw a pair of shorts and a red shirt at me. “Can you untie my dress?” He looked at me nervously. “It’s not going to kill you.” I giggled. He walked over and pulled on the strings. “Turn around, no peeking.” I slipped out of the dress and into Eric clothes tossing the dress on the chair, then tackled Eric onto the bed, “Finished.”

“I wouldn’t have guessed,” he laughed. “Is it cool if I sleep in my boxers?”

“Whatever floats your boat.” He rolled me over and got off the bed. I slipped into the covers and closed my eyes. “I’m cold.” I whined.

“I’m coming, I’m coming.” He said climbing into the bed and pulling to his side. I yawned and got comfortable. “Better?” he asked. I nodded and looked up at him. He smiled at me and I quickly reached up and briefly pressed my lips to his. He held his breath after I pulled away and nuzzled back into him. “Tease,” he mumbled and laughed.

-*-*

“No, I refuse to watch that. I HATE clowns.” I said the next night as Rachael held up IT.

“You’re watching it, dammit!” Daisy yelled at me. I flipped her off and pulled my phone out, refusing to look at the television screen.

‘):’ I texted to Eric

‘what?’

‘they’re watching IT, I hate clowns’

‘sry, want me to come over and hold you,’

‘daisy will freak out.’

‘so you want me to come over?’

‘maybe… just a little bit, I really hate clowns.’

‘I’m on my way, johns coming too’

I smiled to myself as I stared at my lap and waited for a knock on the door. “I’m going to go home guys.” Gabi said standing up. “Thanks for everything I love you all.” We all hugged her goodbye, and I walked her out as an excuse to not watch the movie. As she drove away, another car drove up. I bounced on my feet as I waited for them. When Eric and John got out of the car, John went straight into the apartment.

“Hi.” I said, excitement in my voice, oh how my thoughts about him changed so fast.

“Hey.” he said as he hugged me.

“I really don’t want to go back in there.” He laughed, and dragged me inside despite my pleas.

John was being yelled at by the girls and had popcorn thrown on him. I giggled as he tried to block it with a pillow. “Wait!” Daisy yelled. “I can’t be mad anymore.”

“Why not?” Tessa asked throwing one more handful of candy at John.

“Cause ‘Lyss and Eric are holding hands.” She turned back to the movie, ignoring all of us staring at her like she had five heads. Before John took a seat on the floor next to Daisy he threw the pillow at Tessa, it bounced off her head and hit Rachael. Eric dragged me to the couch, literally, and sat me down. When he took a seat next to me a buried my face into his chest.

“Oh no you don’t.” I heard Rachael mumble, and the next thing I knew she was forcing my to look at the TV.

“Kill Me? Oh you are priceless Brat! I am eternal, child. I am the eater of worlds, and of children. And you are next! I’m every nightmare you’ve ever had. I’m your worst dream come true. I’m everything you ever were afraid of.” I screamed and tried to get out of Rachael’s grasp.

“Rachael, stop!” Daisy said, pointing at me as tears poured down my face.

“Oh, shit, I’m sorry Alyssa.” I jumped off the couch and pushed past her as I made a run for the door.

I fiercely wiped my tears as I fumbled with the key to my door. My hands were shaking to hard to get the key into the hole; I let out a frustrated grunt.  Then a pair of hands held my hands steady. “Hey,” Eric said. “Come here.” He turned me around and pulled me into a hug, letting me cry on his shoulder.  As one of his hands rubbed my back, the other pulled my key out of my hand and unlocked the door. He walked us inside and sat me on the couch. Not saying a word he just let me cry. He pulled me onto his lap and rocked me back and forth, rubbing circles on my back. My sobbing turned into hiccups.

“I hate myself. Everyone just saw me crying like a baby.” I mumbled as I gripped him tighter.

“Don’t. It’s okay, I think it’s cute.”

“You would.” I laughed looking up at him. “Thank you, again.” He rested his forehead on mine, our noses touching and smiled.

“No problem, Babe.” We stared into each other’s eyes and I sighed.

“I was wrong about you Halvo. You’re not a creepy stalker; you’re more like my knight in shining armor.” He smiled, blushed, and gave me an Eskimo kiss.

“Good to know,” he smiled again and pulled away.

“Oh no you don’t.” I said laughing and pulling him back by his collar. He made it seem like I pulled him hard by making us fall into a laying position on the couch. “Didn’t know I was so strong.” I said giggling, forgetting all about being afraid. He smiled, and leaned in, and I didn’t try to stop him this time, at all; not evening when our clothes hit the floor.

It’s funny how I’ve only lived here for a week, but I feel like I’ve been here my whole life. How a week ago, I hated Eric, and how this morning I woke up and kissed him. How he looked at me and apologized for taking it too far and instead of agreeing and kicking him out of my apartment and telling him I never wanted to see him again, I kissed him again.  We both agreed that we weren’t together, but we weren’t not together.

“This isn’t a game.” Daisy yelled at me as we sat across from each other, eating Chinese food. She had just taken me to her work, FYE, for an interview and I got the job.

“I didn’t say it was. We were both fully aware of what happened.” I said to her.

“But Eric—”

“”But Eric nothing, we both agreed that we wouldn’t date,” I paused. “yet.”

“Yet? So there is a possibility you would? Because if there wasn’t and you’re just messing with Eric then I’m going to have to hurt you.” I laughed at her as I stuffed some food into my mouth. She glared at me. “I’m serious here; Eric’s been hurt a lot.”

“I’m not messing with him. I swear.” She smiled at me, satisfied, and then her face changed into mild disgust.

“I can’t believe you had sex with Halvo.” She faked shuddered.  “He’s so awkward.”

“Shut up.” I mumbled, feeling my cheeks blush. “Don’t tell anyone either or I will punch you.”

“Well, do you like him?” Daisy asked with a smirk.

“Yeah, he’s cool.”

“That’s not what I meant. Do you like him the way he likes you?”

“I don’t know,” I mumbled and reached for my phone that started ringing. “Hello?”

“Hey what are you doing?” Eric asked.

“Eating lunch with Daisy. You?” Daisy looked up at her name and asked who is was. “It’s Eric.”

“HI, ERIC!”

“Shut up Daisy!” Eric yelled, and I pulled it away from my ear. “Sorry babe.” He laughed. “I’m really bored, come over to my place when you’re done eating, kay?”

“I don’t know where you live.” He began to give me directions, and then said he had to go walk his dog. I hung up and started eating my food quicker.

“Want to see him that badly?”

“Shut up.” I said with a mouth full of food. She laughed and looked at her watch.

“Shit, my lunch break is over, see you at home.” She grabbed her tray and left. I finished up my food and headed to Eric’s. As I pulled up to the curb he was walking up his driveway, he stopped and waved at me. I got out of the car and jogged his way and pulled him into a hug when I reached him.

“Don’t tell Halvo, but I really missed him.” He laughed.

“My lips are sealed.” His dog barked and licked my leg.

“Who’s this pretty lady?” I asked as I bent down and pet her.

“My girlfriend, Lucy.”

“Damn, and I thought you were single.” We laughed together, and walked into his house. “So, what are we going to do today?”

“Movies and I’m making dinner, DUH!” He unhooked Lucy’s leash and she ran and jumped on me, knocking me onto the couch. “Someone likes you.” He laughed, “She hates Daisy.”

“We have something a common, Lucy, I think we’re gonna be best friends.” She licked my face then jumped off and ran around the house. “So, what are we watching.”

“I was thinking IT, because it ended so nicely.” I flipped him off and he laughed. “Kidding, kidding, how about a comedy?”

“Do you have the Hangover? I fucking love that movie.”

“The Hangover it is.” We watched three movies before he started dinner, and forbid me coming into the kitchen and dining room area for his house.

“Okay,” he said pulling me off the couch, “Close your eyes.”

“Seriously?”

“I’m trying to be romantic here.” I laughed and closed my eyes. He led the way into the dining room, “Okay, open.” I opened my eyes and looked at the table set for two. I smiled widely, he had two candles on both sides of a vase of lilies. And a pan of lasagna waiting for us, “Like it?”

“Wow, Eric, you’re too good to me.” He blushed as I kissed his cheek. We didn’t talk while we ate; we sat in a comfortable silence. He watched me the whole time, but I didn’t mind. I was used to it now. I considered it more as a compliment now. “Wow, that was amazing, I can’t believe we ate that whole pan.” I laughed as we finished. “You cook so good, I’m in a food coma.”

“Me too, and thanks my mom made me learn. I guess it finally came in handy.” I smiled.

“I guess I should go now.” I said looking at the clock. “It’s eight.”

“Holy shit, I didn’t even notice.”

“Time flies.” I giggled and got up. He walked me to the door and kissed me. “See you later?”

“Of course, I’m your stalker.” We both laughed, when I walked to the door Lucy blocked my way out and nudged me back. “Move, Luce.” Eric said trying to grab her but she whined and nudged me again, making me step back inside.

“I don’t think she wants me to leave. You Halvorsen’s sure can’t get enough of me.” I laughed as I tried to get around her but she kept blocking me.

“Then maybe you should just stay.” Eric said with a smile. I arched an eyebrow. “She’ll cry all night, do you really want to break my doggie’s heart?”

“Will she cry, or you?”

“Little bit of both.” He joked. I sighed and tossed my purse back onto a chair. Sleeping with Eric is becoming an everyday thing.

All the things she does.
Make it seem like love.
If it’s just a game.
Then I like the way that we play.

-The Maine

Chapter By: Krystal