Brandon

You okay with me popping over? I wait in my truck whilst I wait for to Lizzie to respond. I know she'll be up already; usually Lizzie gets up pretty early and goes for a run. Her favorite day is Sunday to run because she knows she doesn't have to run around for school or anything.

Sure. I guess. Right, that wasn't what I was expecting just a half-hearted response. I shrug my shoulders, place my mobile in the center console, and start the engine up.

Denver waves to me as he comes out of the stadium gates. I raise my hand and wave back. I'm guessing he and Lilly are getting together today. It makes me feel a bit jealous. Why? Because I think it's what I want now.

Whenever I see them lately, all cuddled up, the look that passes between their eyes and the way they have so much fun, it kinda makes me think maybe this is what I want instead of damn meaningless hookups all the time. The problem is, I want this with Lizzie, not any other random girl.

I put on my music and start listening to my chill-out playlist. It's various artists and some instrumental. Yeah, go on, say it. Brandon, hotshot, the coolest guy in school, listens to instrumental music. So what? I do, and I fucking enjoy it. I'm not all about RnB or Hip Hop. To be honest, I need something soothing right now.

I pull up outside my house and park my truck, close and lock the door with my key fob and head straight across the road to where Lizzie's house stands in its full glory.

It's huge, and her mother sure has done some serious work in the garden. I find it kinda cool that she does it all herself, even though they could hire a dozen gardeners or more. The path is adorned with small rose bushes on each side, each a different color from burnished orange, red, lilac and pink. I didn't even know you could get lilac roses. I stop myself from bending forward and picking one for Lizzie. She'd think I'd gone nuts or something.

For some reason, my heart is racing, weird. I ring the doorbell even though her folks and Lizzie keep telling me I can simply come on in. But that feels wrong and disrespectful. It's not my house. And even though I've been coming over for the last thirteen years or so, I still always knock or ring. Unless of course, I am shimmying up the trellis to get into Lizzie's room. I haven't done that in over a week, not since Denver and I drove out to teach that fucker who hurt Tammy a lesson.

Apparently, he is now being held and will go to court in the next week or so. Good. He deserves to have the book thrown at him. Her mother opens the door.

"Hey, Brandon. Good to see you. She's upstairs in her bedroom."

"Good morning ma'am," I say as she opens the door wider for me to enter. "Thanks, I'll run straight on up."

"You want any pancakes? I've got plenty left over from earlier." She closes the door behind me. Now that sounds like a perfect idea since the training session has left me starving. I give her my wide and dimpled grin.

"C'mon. Let's get you plated up. Had practice?" I nod.

"The coach is going crazy with the game coming up," I tell her as I follow her into the large modern kitchen. The sun is streaming through and blinds me at first. I sit myself down at the island and watch as Lizzie's mom bustles around getting a plate out and the pancakes from the warmer.

"How are you guys feeling about it?" She sets the stack down in front of me, maple syrup and some blueberries in a small blue bowl. I pick one and place it in my mouth. Yeah, I like fruit and vegetables too. Bet you didn't think so.

Lizzie comes into the kitchen as I begin to tuck into some pancakes with the maple covering them. Okay, the pancakes are literally swimming in maple.

"I thought I heard you." She's wearing bright blue yoga pants, a matching bra top, and a pale blue shirt over it, still unbuttoned. Wow, she looks so beautiful with her creamy complexion and rosy cheeks from her run. Lizzie walks past her mother, grabs a mug from the rack, and pours herself a coffee. "You want one?" I nod, too busy to talk as I stuff my mouth. Damn, I am so hungry.

She hands me the mug. "I'll leave you two kids to it." Her mother says and leaves us in the kitchen, both now seated at the island. Lizzie rolls her eyes.

"Like we're still kids." I chuckle.

"We'll always be kids to our folks, Lizzie, even when we're thirty, probably."

"I suppose." She sips at her hot coffee. "Listen, sorry about running out on you last night. I just." She stops. I raise my eyebrows, expecting more. Just looking at her sends a shiver down my spine. How could I have not noticed before just how beautiful she is? And. When did Lizzie grow up? It only seems like yesterday she was wearing pigtails and braids, running around with little socks on, in frilly dresses or dungarees and tees.

"No problem. What happened that you ran out? Did someone hit on you?" I ask, feeling angry that someone may have made a move on my girl.

"Nah. Nothing like that." Lizzie bites her lower lip. Now I know something did happen. She only does that when she's nervous about something or has something playing on her mind

"I just, I just couldn't stand seeing you with that girl. It made me feel weird." Her eyes are huge. Mine are now almost popping out of my own head. At least that's how it feels.

"Were you jealous?" She nods, looking like she is fighting back tears.

"I think I'm a bit all over the place, to be honest, Brandon. Listen, there's something I need to tell you. It's pretty huge, so eat up and let's go to my room." I don't need to be probed or told twice. If there's one thing I know about Lizzie, it's that if she says she has something to ask or talk about, then it's likely to be pretty major.

I stuff the last of the delicious pancakes in my mouth, knock my coffee back and stand up. Lizzie clears everything away and places the plate and mug in the dishwasher. She wipes her hands together, then makes her way to the staircase. Did I tell you, it's like something out of a movie, the way it sweeps round then splits at the top? It's amazing, and the wood is as soft as silk.

We're now in her bedroom, and she still has her fairy lights on. She must have woken up seriously early for these to be on. "What time did you go for your run?" I ask as I flop myself down on her bed. I place my arms behind my head and cross my ankles.

"Very early. You don't even want to know." She sits down in the easy chair in the corner of her room. Weird, normally she flops down next to me.

"So, what do you want to do today? I have my assignment to finish."

"Don't worry, but I still have to finish my science one before I can get to help you."

"Cool," I say and notice she is fidgeting with her shirt; she's rolling the bottom hem. "You okay? You seem a bit distracted?" She nods and opens her mouth, then closes it again.

"I erm,." Shit, man, she looks so fucking nervous, like a rabbit caught in the headlights.

"What is it? You're worrying me now. Did something happen last night? If some dude made a move on you, I swear I'll rip his fucking head off. Especially if it was one of the football guys. You know what they're like." Lizzie shakes her head emphatically.

"No, nothing like that." There's a silence. I'm not used to this; we don't often have any silent moments since we're usually too busy talking about our friends, school, trips, music, and movies.

Now she folds her hands in her lap.

And then she speaks.

"I've decided to give my v-card away."

Holy Fucking S'kmoley.

What. The. Fuck. Did. She. Just. Say?

Lovelies, the next chapter will be on Monday. Taking a weekend off. xo