I wrote this in one sitting.

I haven't proofread it or gone over it.

So, I apologise if it's shit.

I just got super excited.

I HOPE YOU ARE TOO!!!!!

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Chapter 32

The first time I kissed Matt I thought that I would never experience another feeling like it. My hands were clammy, my breath shaking and my heart wouldn't stop pounding in my chest and when he finally pressed his lips against mine the giddy feeling washed over me like a cool breeze.

It made me wonder what kissing Trent would be like.

I stand, waiting for him to say something, the silence around us deafening as he doesn't move, his eyes staring at me; unblinking.

All the confidence I had races out of me and my hands now shake out of nervousness, out of embarrassment. 

So much for that idea.

I slowly take my hand away from him but he doesn't seem to notice, it's as if he has turned into a statue.

One which apparently didn't want to kiss me.

I clear my throat and glance at the boys beside him who are all staring at me with the same awestruck expression, except occasionally their eyes dart to Trent as if they were waiting for him to make a move.

"Well then," I half shout, my voice unnaturally high and I quickly cough as I take a step back, trying to cover up the fact that tears are starting to pool in my eyes, "I'm just gonna go," I manage to choke out before I spin rapidly and start power walking my way across the grass, determined to get back to Kristie before my tears betray me.

What was I thinking? That Trent would just kiss me? Fucked up, ruined and emotional mess me? 

Yeah, sure.

I look up at Kristie, expecting to see her running towards me with open arms, ready to comfort my idiotic idea and wipe away my tears but instead she's standing with her hands clasped together, jumping up and down on the spot.

And so are the girls beside her.

What the–

Before I can process the idea that everyone is loving the most embarrassing moment of my life and that I would most likely never be able to show my face in school again, footsteps echo behind me as if they're heading right for me.

I only manage to turn half around before an arm is wrapping itself around my waist and pulling me the rest of the way, straight into a warm and toned figure that towers above me.

As I go to lift my head up a hand cups my jaw and does it for me, the gentleness but strength in it making my stomach flip and I barely get a chance to catch my breath before lips are pressed against my own.

I wish I could say that I remember every single detail of that moment.

That I can still feel how his arm felt around me, tightening with every second that we were pressed together, or how it felt to wrap my arms around his neck and twist my fingers into his hair.

How his lips felt against mine.

But I can't.

All I can feel is bliss.

It pulses through me from my fingertips to my toes and it's not butterflies in my stomach, it's a hurricane that picks up all the feelings of doubt that I've ever had about him and throws them from my being and all that's left is us.

All that's left is this connection, this string that's wrapping around the two of us and dragging us together like an unstoppable force that's determined to make us one.

It's mind blowing.

It's euphoric.

It's comforting.

It's Trent.

I pull away with a gasp, my lungs screaming for breath but his arms lock me in place, only letting me move about an inch away from him so that as soon as I open my eyes all I see are his staring back at me, sparkling.

Simultaneously our faces split into the biggest grins we've ever had and I can't help but stare at the gorgeous smile that takes over his features and it's almost like an aura around him lights up, glowing with happiness.

"Wow," he whispers, his eyes glazed over and I giggle and bite my lip, trying to control the urge to smile even wider, "You, mon âme sœur... you have no idea what you do to me."

Although a blush rises in my cheeks I smirk at his words, pulling myself closer to him as I rise on my tiptoes, his fingers tightening around me, steadying me.

Please kiss me again.

"Oh really?" I ask with a wink, "And here I thought you weren't going to kiss me."

He shakes his head as he lets out an inaudible scoff, one of his hands leaving my body to hold my face, his fingers gently pushing back my hair.

"It took me a minute to understand what you had said," he glances at my lips, "I thought I was dreaming."

All the confidence I had before dies as I swoon over his words, my heart melting at the soft gaze he stares at me with.

"Well," I mumble out, trying to slow down my breathing, "It's not a dream."

I think.

He raises an eyebrow in response as he thinks about it for a second, the smirk on his lips itching to break free.

"I'm not so sure," he tells me with a click of his tongue and a mischevious look in his eye, "I might have to do it again to be sure."

A noise of agreement makes its way out of my throat almost immediately in response to his words and his cheeky expression darkens at it, his jaw clenching as he wraps his hand around the back of my head and pulls me against him without warning, my hands splaying themselves on his broad chest.

Our lips collide almost feverishly this time and now I can feel everything that's happening to me; every touch of his fingertips against me as he tries to pull me closer to him, every breath of his that graces my skin as he draws in a haggard breath.

And when his tongue runs itself along my lip I'm so grateful for his arms because my knees give out and I accept it, completely at his mercy as he devours me, sucking every breath from my waiting lips as fire ignites through my veins, right to my core. 

I couldn't have even dreamt that it would be this good.

A bolt of courage shoots through me as I tug lightly on his hair, causing an almost growl like noise to emulate from his chest and it encourages me to pull his lip into my mouth and gently bite it.

In an instant he pulls his lips away from me, his eyes squeezed shut and jaw clenched as he holds me to him, my forehead against his.

I wince at the reaction.

Maybe he didn't like that.

As nerves swoop over me, my hand finds the pendant dangling from my neck - which seems to be becoming a habit of mine - and almost immediately Trent pulls me back into him, his breathing ragged.

"I would enjoy nothing more than to continue," he whispers, the words almost seeming to strain his voice as he takes deep breaths, his eyes closed, "But I promised myself that I would never lose control with you."

His eyes snap open and my body heats up at the intense gaze in them.

"However, I didn't account for the fact that your lips would make me crumble under them and forget about that."

The honesty in his voice shocks me and I bite my lip again, not sure how to respond but that only makes him groan and kiss me again, mouth firmly against mine.

The kiss is brief but my legs shake like jelly for seconds after it as I try, yet again, to catch my breath that he has stolen from me, thoughts racing across my head as my fingers run over his biceps that are curled around me, the heat of his skin making my own flame up in desire.

"I think stopping the kissing, for now, would probably be best for both of us," I admit shakily, slowly looking up at him as he chuckles but nods in agreement.

"I think we've put on enough of a show," he whispers to me, amusement coating his features and I freeze, finally looking around us to see that pretty much every single person was watching us with gobsmacked expressions.

Except for one person.

"Yeeeeeeees!" The person screams, throwing their hands up in the air, "That was so hot! Get it biiiiiiitch!"

I groan and hide in Trent's chest as it vibrates with laughter, a groan escaping my lips.

"Thank you drunk Tom, the support is much appreciated!" I shout, my words muffled by the chest that I was currently burying myself into. 

I mean not that I at all minded in any way.

I hear a holler back from him and then the chatting restarts and I can relax a little when I don't feel eyes on me anymore. 

Trent laughs for a moment before gently lifting my head up to him, despite my moans of protest about how embarrassed I am that everyone is staring.

"It's okay," He reassures, making me open my eyes, ready for his comforting words, "You can 'get it' anytime you like."

My mouth pops open at his words and his laughter that follows and I shove him away, trying to seem annoyed but the smile on my face betrays me and I know he can see it.

"Oh for that," I scold, "You're not getting anything." He gasps at my words as I nod, walking away from him and towards my friends, "You sir, can think about what you've done."

His smirk is almost blinding as he folds his arms across his chest, "Oh trust me," the wink he sends almost makes me stumble over my own feet, "I'm going to be thinking about exactly what I've just done."

I stammer over words as my whole body flushes and I quickly turn away from him and instead of trying to speak verbally, I throw a middle finger over my shoulder in his general direction.

I don't think I'm strong enough to look at him again.

"Awww, babe don't be like that!"

The words make me freeze and I spin around in shock, replaying what he's just said.

Babe.

The most surprising part of it is that Trent seems to be more surprised at what he's said than even I am and his face has lit up in a red hue, his hand awkwardly scratching the back of his head.

"What?" I ask, holding in my laughter and he winces, trying to think of something but eventually, he just grimaces and begins to walk away.

"I'm getting a drink!"

I watch him walk away from me and into his friends who all start shouting and laughing at him, their hands slapping his back and before I know it there's a weight on my back and limbs flying around me.

"Oh-em-gee, oh-em-gee, oh-em-gee!" Kristie squeals in my ear, the shrillness of it making me flinch and I notice Rochelle and Laura do the same, their faces twisted for a second into a flicker of pain.

Strange.

"Elle, I always knew you were destined for great things, but boooooooy," Tom fans himself dramatically as he sips his drink, "There are great things and then there are even greater things."

Kristie and I look at each other and immediately start laughing.

Drunk Tom always came out with stupid things that oddly made sense.

He sighs, sinking down into the grass at our feet.

"I mean you two, when you kissed, just like fit, like a... what's the word again? Oh, jigsaw! Like two parts of those weird 'him - and - her' salt and pepper shakers you get in tourist shops!"

I laugh at his amazed expression, his wide eyes lit by the fire crackling beside us.

"You mean like the ones your mom bought that are like two people hugging?" I ask incredulously, not able to contain the smile I have due to his excited smile.

"Yes!" He shouts, grabbing my hands and throwing his cup behind him in the process, "That's the one!" 

We all laugh at his thoughts as we lift him up, helping him over to the logs set up like chairs around the fire as we guide water into his awaiting hands.

"You're such a lightweight," Kristie chides, rolling her eyes at his lulling head, "You were trying to keep up with Laura and Rochelle and look what happened."

"Pfft," he grumbles, almost falling back off of the log, "They were trying to keep up with me!" He points at himself and then proceeds to slide onto the ground, the water in his hand spilling all over him and we erupt in laughter, all of us sliding together on the ground.

After a few moments, we calm down and sit drinking, looking at the scenery.

"I wish Cam was here," Kristie sighs, a slight pout on her lip and I immediately feel guilty.

I hadn't even thought about him.

"Did he say why he couldn't come?" I ask and she rolls her eyes shrugging.

"Something about family, he got all weird when I said we were coming here. I don't think he likes those boys."

I frown at her words and glance over at the people who had welcomed us with open arms and were probably the most fun group we had ever met.

"Why would Cam not like them?" I ask and Kristie just gives another shrug.

"Maybe it's because he doesn't like them taking things he thinks are his," Tom chimes in and I look at him, his blonde hair plastered over his face, "Maybe he doesn't like competition."

I laugh, shaking my head as I hand Tom another glass of water.

"He knows we're his friends, what would he be competing for?"

Tom opens his mouth as if to speak but before he can a voice speaks from behind me which immediately catches all my attention.

"Fancy a drink?"

I don't think I ever would have described Trent as timid but that's what he seemed to be now – deep in thought and almost apprehensive to interrupt our conversation.

I look at the cup in his hands and wrinkle my nose up, peering into it in an attempt to figure out what is it.

"It's Fanta," Trent chuckles, passing it to me, "I heard you're not a fan of alcohol."

Butterflies flutter through my stomach as I stand up, accepting the cup and what it means.

"So, you've been asking about me then?" I question and he sighs, a mischevious smile on his lips.

"I figured that if I'm going to kiss you then I might as well know what you're going to taste like."

Well, I was not expecting that.

He finishes speaking and looks me dead in the eye, his tongue slightly touching his sharp canine that flashes briefly under the fairy lights and everything in me clenches.

Visions of his mouth in other places light up in my mind and I thank God that he can't read my thoughts.

Although, I'm sure the heat creeping up my neck doesn't make it hard for him to guess.

I watch as his nostrils flare as he takes in a deep breath and when he opens his eyes I swear that their golden hue is darker - almost like a shadow has cast itself over them.

I take a step forward to get a closer look but before I can there's an awful sound from below me and I halt in moving, scared to step in anything.

I hear Kristie's sigh and immediately know what's happened before I even have to glance down.

"Tom was just sick wasn't he?" I mutter as I look up at the sky and take a deep breath, "Please tell me it's not on my shoe."

"Um..." Kristie's voice trails off but I don't miss the slight shakiness of it that gives away her withheld amusement and when I finally look down I realise why and my own body starts to shake.

"I-I'm..." Tom stutters, his voice wobbling with either laughter, fear or just plain drunkedness, "I'm so sorry Mr Oak Tree, I did not mean to spew on your roots."

After a second I finally look at the tense figure whose eyes are closed in a meditative type state and I can't hold the laughter in as I take in his defeated stature; his slouched shoulders confirming what had just happened.

"You're not wearing any shoes, are you, Trent?" I giggle and I can't help but laugh even more when his eyes snap open and glare at me, his jaw clenched, "I mean at least that's easier to wash?" I offer but it does nothing but set Kristie off in a round of hysterics as well as Tom.

"I can try to spit on it to wash it off if you'd like?" Tom offers and I quickly shush him while simultaneously trying to shush Kristie's giggling too but the alcohol in their systems makes it impossible.

"I appreciate that offer, Tom," Trent mutters, "However, I'm going to use the perfectly good lake situated behind me." He nods at us, "If you'd excuse me."

And without another word, he turns and walks away. He seems to be heading straight for the water but as he passes a laughing Cole and a couple other guys he pauses.

I can tell that Cole knows his mistake immediately because he moves to run but Trent is quicker, kicking his legs out from under him in a second and no doubt spreading Tom's love all over them.

There's screams as the boys disperse in a hurry, all moving away from the towering man with a puke covered foot but he doesn't seem to notice them as he continues on his way and calmly treads into the water.

I watch him for a second, his hands clenching and unclenching under the moonlight above him and I look down at Kristie who is still giggling with Tom, who is now thankfully drinking the cup of water that someone has placed in his hands.

"I'm going to go see if he's okay," I tell them with a sigh, "Don't know what kind of germs you've got Tommy."

"Only the good kind!" Tom shouts after me as I walk away and I can't help but laugh at the mess of him – he really was a lightweight.

Now that I'm, not so focused on my mission of kissing Trent I now realise that with his shirt off I can see the entirety of his back; and the tattoo that is splayed across it.

When I saw the small section of it in the English classroom I had thought that it was one wolf, howling up at the sky, but I was wrong. On the other side of his back, mirrored perfectly is another wolf, howling upwards at the exact same thing and it's not a moon. It's a woman.

My feet slow down as I get close to him, my eyes taking in every detail of the beautiful ink that decorates his skin, the designs all flowing into one another so naturally that it's difficult to see where it starts and where it ends. 

Trent's head turns a little towards me as he notices that I'm approaching but he doesn't say anything, he just turns back to the landscape before him, his head tilted up slightly at the moon.

Just like the wolf.

My feet hit the water and I gasp a little at the coolness of it but my limbs quickly adjust and I had towards him, grateful that Kristie had stopped by hers and gotten us more suitable clothing for the party than what we had been wearing to school.

I stop beside him, the water rising to just above my knees and I look up at the same moon as him, only now noticing how bright and clear it seems to be.

Eastern Valley Woods really was a remarkable place.

"It's so beautiful," I murmur, mesmerised by the glow of it and Trent sighs.

"It is, but it can also be dangerous," he replies and I look at him in confusion.

"The sun, you know is dangerous to look at, it hurts you as soon as you do it, there's no hiding it, you learn to not stare at it or else you'll suffer." I stare at him as he speaks, watching the way his eyes do not blink and his jaw does not release, his mind clearly far away in thought. "But the moon, it may surprise you. If you were ever to look at it in a solar eclipse... it blocks out the sunlight, it controls the waves, it can cause you harm that lasts a lifetime."

I'm not stupid, I know he's not just talking about the moon. No one talks like that about the moon. But whatever it is he's talking about, he doesn't want to share right now.

And I was okay with that.

"Well," I begin, nudging him in the side, "I do believe that tonight the remains of Tom's stomach have caused you more harm than the moon so maybe it's him that you should be worried about."

Trent's sombre expression disappears and a small smile graces his lips as he glances at me. I shrug in response and roll my eyes.

"I'm just saying, the moon did nothing to you tonight, Tom meanwhile could have definitely killed you with a disease or two."

Trent laughs and looks away from me, back out towards the water.

"I suppose that means you wouldn't kiss an infected man?" He asks slyly and I smile down at my feet as I watch them in the water, glistening just below the surface.

"I suppose we'll have to see," I tease, glancing up at him, expecting him to be still focused on the moon but instead he staring down at me, a softness over his expressions.

"I suppose we will," he echoes, taking my hand gently in his and everything inside me melts.

Fucking swoon.

A crash interrupts the moments between us and I want to scream in frustration but instead I turn around and glare at the stumbling figure of Tom as people try to help him up, laughter bubbling through the crowd.

"He's so drunk," I sigh, watching him collapse again, with Kristie disappearing under him, "he can't go home like this." I murmur to myself.

"How come? Parents not into alcohol?" Trent asks and I sigh, shaking my head.

"He has younger siblings, his mom would flip if he woke them up, and he can't stay at Kristie's because her dad is home for the first time in forever and he can't stay at mine because..." I trail of, glancing nervously at Trent who frowns at my lack of explanation but I quickly move past it, "so basically we're going to have to find a twenty-four hour diner and sober him up."

I want to groan at the thought, we'd all done it plenty of times for each other but it was always a bit of a hassle, although we never complained.

Friendship at it's finest.

"Or," Trent startles me, interrupt my planning, "You guys can all just stay at ours, there's plenty of room and trust me he won't annoy anyone."

My heart stops in my chest.

Did he just invite us to his HOUSE?

"Oh no," I reply, my hands shaking a little, "We couldn't intrude like that, honestly we can–"

"Elle," he stops me, taking my hand and immediately I shut up, "You don't have to say yes, I don't want you to feel uncomfortable," he begins, his eyes watching me carefully, "But, you'd never be intruding to me, or to any of the boys, trust me; you're more than welcome."

I hesitate in his offer as it dangles in front of me, his now bright golden eyes sparkling patiently, waiting for an answer and as I look back at the heap that is a flailing and drunk Tom in the grass I sigh.

"Okay, we'll stay at yours."

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Honestly, I'm about 3 seconds away from dying over these two and FINALLY being at the part in the story where I can make FUCKING CUTE ASS SHIT HAPPEN TO THEM.

I'm living my best life.

I love you all xxxxx