The Boy Next Door, Chapter 14

I swim over to Adrian and lean back against the side of the pool, my elbows bent back behind me, resting on the deck. He walks over and stops a couple feet in front of me. "So what made you decide swimming at midnight was a good idea? What if I get a cramp and drown?" I hear him chuckle.

"Thought it was a good excuse to see you in a bathing suit, but it's kind of dark so it backfired on me." I'm thankful for the darkness so he can't see me blush. Which I feel like I've been doing a lot of the past couple days. Lyssa would take that as a sign that I'm into him. Maybe she's right. I almost jump when I feel fingers slide across my waist. "Someone's jumpy."

"How do I know you're really Adrian and not some type of serial killer?"

"Would a serial killer smell so good?" I roll my eyes. One of his fingers traces patterns across my stomach.

"Chyeah, to lure poor, unsuspecting Emma in. Duh. Besides, you smell like the pool." He comes one step closer and slides his other hand up my side, resting it at my ribs. I'm suddenly very aware of how my stance is making my boobs stick out, what little of them I have. I contemplate moving my arms but I'm afraid moving would interrupt whatever is going on right now.

He gives my side a slight squeeze and I feel goosebumps break out all over my skin despite how warm I feel. My breathing quickens as I feel one of his hands slide around my side and rest at the small of my back, making him step even closer to me, but not yet touching my anywhere else but with his hands. If only I were taller I would lean in and see if he kisses me, but he's a good 5 inches taller than I am.

I feel the hand that's on my back creep up and try to tug at the strings on my top. Thank goodness I double knotted them, cheeky bastard. "What do you think you're doing?" He moves closer so the front of our legs are touching.

"You got me. And here I thought I was being all sneaky." I roll my eyes and move his hand back down to my hip.

"Careful there, bub. My brother might be gay but I bet he could take you."

"If he's built anything like you I highly doubt that." I duck under his arm and turn around, walking backward to a deeper part of the pool.

"Nah. You're a twig. He'd crush you." From the light of the moon I see Adrian advancing on me. I stop when I reach the part of the pool floor that dips to make the deep end. Adrian walks up to me and I faintly see him smile.

"Wanna say that to my face?" I poke his chest with my finger, turning a little so his back is to the deep end.

"I said, you are a twig. He would beat your ass to the curb and back." Before he can reply I stick my hands on the top of his head and dunk him under the water, turning and running toward the edge of the pool before he can retaliate. I'm about half way out when his arms get me by the waist and drag me under the water with him. I wriggle out of his grasp and surface the water, getting a breath before I'm pulled under again.

I try to escape again but he won't let go, so I turn around to face him. I can see the vague outline of his head from the moonlight above the water, so I know approximately where his face is. I reach for his neck and bring my lips to his, surprising him enough so that his hold on me loosens, giving me enough room to get away. I break the water and kick around with my feet, laughing when I feel contact with some part of his arm. I get to the edge of the pool as he comes back up for air. hoisting myself up and sitting on the edge.

"Even I can kick your butt. Pretty sad." He walks up to the side of the pool and sits beside me.

"You cheat." I laugh and use my foot to splash him.

"I don't hear you complaining."

"Nope. That's the second kiss today I haven't had to even try for."

"How do you know I don't go around kissing random boys all the time?"

"Uh huh, I see how it is." I give him a shove and then lean against his arm. He rests his chin on the top of my head. Before I can stop myself I yawn and Adrian chuckles. "Wore you out huh?"

"Guess so." I hear him inhale like he's going to say something else, but then he lets the air out and is silent. All of a sudden I'm exhausted and want to go to sleep. I get up and go for my towel, picking up my keys and turning back toward Adrian.

"Where you going?" I suppress a yawn.

"To bed." He gets up and walks a few steps toward me.

"Oh. Do you, uhm.. did you want to stay at my place?" I smile and wrap my towel around my shoulders. Now that I'm not moving I'm getting chilly.

"Sure. I just need to change." I turn to the house then stop. "Want to come up?" I let myself and Adrian into the house quietly, leading him up to my room. I unlock my door and toss my keys on the bed, going to my dresser to find something to change into. His house is a tad cold so I decide on a long sleep-shirt and a pair of shorts. "I'm just going to wash my hair quick." He nods and sits on my bed.

I close the bathroom door behind me and have a quick shower, brush my teeth, and stick my hair back in a french braid. Once I'm presentable I go back into my room to see Adrian asleep on my bed. "Uh oh.. Hmm." I cross my room and stand a couple feet from my bed, wondering what to do. My dad would freak if he found a guy in my bed under his roof. I reach my arm out but before I can do anything Adrian jumps up and grabs me, pulling me over him and onto the bed. After he lets me go I sit up and shake my head. He just grins.

"I got you, admit it." I shove his legs with my feet, grab my keys and phone and get off the bed.

"I admit to nothing. Come on, let's get to your place before I fall asleep on my feet."

The Boy Next Door, Chapter 13

"Where are you going?" I give Adrian an odd look.

"It's midnight, where else would I be going?" His face falls and I smile. "Relax, I'm going to the bathroom." I start to head out his bedroom door and stop. "Uh, where is it?"

"Downstairs." I make my way to the bottom floor of the house, trying to be quiet because Adrian's grandma is sleeping. I'm kind of surprised I'm still here at midnight, considering I don't usually sleep over at boy's houses when I've known them less than a week. But it feels different with Adrian. I feel like I've known him for years.

After I'm done in the bathroom I take it upon myself to check his fridge for a drink. I find two cokes and bring them back upstairs with me. I stop short when I hear Adrian talking to someone.

"Yes, I've got her. No she doesn't. Let me take care of this." I frown, wondering what, or who, he could be talking about. I decide to put it in my mental files to check up on later and walk into the room.

"Got us a drink." I toss him a coke and sit down on the bed, opening mine and taking a sip. Neither of us say anything so it's quiet for a few minutes.

"It's probably cooled down if you'd like to go for a walk."

"Moonlit walk, huh? That the best you can do?"

"You haven't seen anything yet, honey." I feel a blush creep its way up my face.

"That so? Well then give it your best shot." Suddenly Adrian leans toward me and I feel like he's going in for a kiss, so I lean slightly toward him. Only for him to reach behind me for his cell phone. My blush deepens in embarrassment.

"You're kinda cute when you're embarrassed." I roll my eyes and give him a shove.

"Shut up. So where are we going?"

"You're still the tour guide, remember?" I shake my head and stand up, stretching.

"Nope, it's after midnight. My guide duties are officially over. You're turn."

"The last time I was here I was 3, you think I remember this area any?" I smile and look down at him. He's leaning back on his elbows. The thin wife beater he's wearing leaves little to the imagination when it comes to his body. Not like I need one after seeing him half naked the other night. My eyes wander back to his face and I see a mischievous look in his eye.

"What?"

"We should go swimming in your pool." I'm about to tell him he's crazy but stop, not finding a good reason why we shouldn't.

"Fine, but I'm not going naked. I'm going to get a bathing suit first." He smiles.

"Who said anything about being naked?" I roll my eyes and grab my purse, slinging it over my shoulder.

"I'll meet you outside in 10." I make my way downstairs and out his front door, across our yards and onto my back porch. I unlock the door and quietly head up to my room, unlocking my bedroom door and shutting it behind me. I'm about to turn my light on when I remember that Adrian can see me from his room so I shut my curtain first.

I survey my options and decide to take a risk, picking one of my smaller suits. Lyssa always tells me to wear it when I want to make a guy's jaw drop. I frown, thinking of Lyssa. But instead of dwelling on it now I decide to think about it later, intent on having fun. I redo the french braid in my hair, wash my face and grab a towel, suddenly feeling nervous about being in the pool with Adrian. Which is silly, of course. We're just swimming.

I lock my bedroom door behind me and make my way to the backyard. It's dark, save for the reflection of the moon on the water. I drop my keys on the grass and lay my towel over them, sitting on the edge of the deck, waiting for Adrian. After a couple minutes I see him walking from his yard to mine. He can't see me yet because I'm covered by the house shadow. I watch him check the water temperature with his toes then glance up at where my bedroom window is.

I think about surprising him but he's positioned too far from the house for me to sneak up on him. So instead I stand up and walk over. "Made it finally." I think I see him smile but it's so dark it's hard to tell.

"I did." He looks at the pool. "Ladies first." I walk to the shallow end and stick a foot in. The water is still warm from the sun earlier in the day. It feels almost like warm bath water. I step down the ladder, sighing at the feel of the water. I've always loved swimming, ever since I was a baby. My nickname was Ducky for the longest time. I look up and catch Adrian watching me.

"Coming in or what?" He hops down into the water and makes a bit of a splash. I turn away and glance back just in time to see water come flying at me, which hits me square in the face. "What are you, 12?" I turn back to Adrian and am surprised when I don't see him. I look under the water but it's too dark to see where he is. Suddenly I feel hands on my ankles and give a shriek just before I'm pulled under. My butt hits the bottom of the pool and I float back to the surface to see Adrian an inch from my face. "Yep, you're 12, all right."

"Just having a little fun, so sue me." I grin and use his chest to kick back with my feet, flipping and going under the water. I feel fingers try to grab my toes so I kick faster and head for the far side of the pool without surfacing. I break the surface under the diving board quietly, watching Adrian look around for me. He can't see me here because the diving board shadows me. I smile as he puts his hands on his hips.

I take a deep breath and go back under, using the side of the pool to push off and glide toward him. He's wearing white trunks so it's easy to spot him. I reach my hand out and tickle his side, moving before he can spot me. The idea to tug his shorts down comes to mind, but I'm not that bold. Although frankly I doubt he'd have any trouble doing the same to me.

Instead I swim to the middle of the pool and surface, trading water as I watch him spin around. I let out a laugh and he turns toward me. "Are you a fish or something?"

"No, just real good at holding my breath. Truce?" I see him hold his hands up.

"Truce."