Hickeys and Heartbreak:

"How come every time I'm with you, I always end up getting drunk?"  I ask - slowly enunciating each syllable, defending my sentence from failing in the face in of alcohol.

"Because like alcohol, I'm addicting."  He winks as the sentence flows from his lips, the cup and its content flowing down my throat - the emotional wall constructed over the weeks of avoiding each other now gone;  dissolved by beer.

Subtly he bites his lips, the radiating confidence infectiously uplifting.  Don't bite your lip Justin.  My heart can't handle how hot it makes you look.

"Yes you are."  I whisper under my breath, the confession revealing my mindset that deteriorated without Justin and his intoxicating charm around me.  His eyes shimmer in happiness as he laces his hands around mine, the chaotic energy of the bar unable to compete against Justin's purely charming aroma - a playful smile sneaking onto his lips.

"Are you ready to lose tomorrow?" He asks cheekily - I look up to him, unsure of the question.  What am I going to lose tomorrow? 

"What's happening tomorrow?"

"The big game of course. Riseford vs Buckingham."  I entangle my hand tighter around his in shock - his fingers a vessel to vent my surprise.  My worry for Justin has completely eclipsed any responsibilities I've had as Football Captain.

"Fuck." I mutter - Justin giggling; humoured by my lapse of memory. "I guess I didn't remember because I know it's gonna be an easy game."  My sarcastic confidence causing his eyes to roll.

"Pffft.  That's cute that you think you're gonna win.  If it's gonna be such an easy game, then let's make a bet." I raise my eyebrow, curious about his proposition.

"What type of bet?" My tone flirts with the idea as his lips morph back into their familiarly charming grin.

"Whoever loses has to do whatever the winner says. Deal?" He reaches out his hand as I silently contemplate the proposal, the glint flickering as he intimidatingly looks over me.  I hope I don't fucking regret this.

"Deal." I conclude, an eager giddiness flashing through his eyes.

"Wanna dance?"  He asks as he stands up, my grip stabilising him as he reaches for my waist - I nod, his stumble leading us to the dance floor.  My hands reciprocate his, pulling him and his body closer to mine - the dark night and neon lights concealing our exploring hands to the surrounding crowd.

Khalid blasts in the background as the loud bass silences my groans evoked by Justin's roaming hands - his fingers traversing underneath my shirt.  The cold touch of his fingertips is electrifying, each digit delicately swiping across my sensitive skin.  Slowly he raises his palms up to my nipples, my lips unable to suppress the moans.

I open my eyes, his hands retreating away - his ego reassured by the emotional and physical reactions he elicits from me.  He backs away casually, continuing to dance, fully aware of the trance he's entrapped me under;  my body strangely craving more.

I gratefully accept the malibu cocktail from Justin as he brings it over, the fruity drink slithering down my throat - an empty cup the only remnant of the drink.  The amount of liquids in my system quickly catches up to me, my bladder moaning as I urgently search for the restroom to pee.

My blurred gaze leads me to the bathroom, the closing door decreasing the blasting music to a meagre murmur as I start to pee - the room giving me time to process the day so far;  appreciative of how the night has turned out.

"So this is where you disappeared to."  Justin's husky voice startles me as I start doing up my zipper, my thoughts distracting me from hearing him enter.  I dismiss his nearing presence as I let the warm water and soap flow over my hands, Justin leaning on the nearby stall watching idly.

He leisurely paces over to me, the cold tiles hitting my back as he constrict me in - his hands leading my arms up the wall - trapping them beneath his grip over my head.  The minute space between our faces makes my heart beat.  We've been here so many times.  So many times we've been this close.  And this time.  I want it;  I need it;  I crave it.

With my body at Justin's mercy, he slowly lowers his lips - my eyes roll back as his lips connect with my neck, his hips simultaneously pushing into mine;  the sensation from his succulent lips on my body filling me with ecstasy.

I slip my hands out of his grip and slide it down his waist, cupping his ass and pulling his body closer to mine - my hands exploring all areas of his body which I've deprived myself off.

Slowly his lips retract, the hickey revealed as a slight purple mark is already visible on my neck;  his beautiful eyes staring back at mine - both of us panting as a result of the abrupt session;  his tongue tracing over plump lips I've never been able to stop looking at.

I start to panic as his lips near closer to mine, my dreams and desires from the past few weeks coming to fruition.

"Wait.  I have a girlfriend."  I interject, pausing him in his path - disappointment in his eyes as he forges a distance between our lips.  I regret the words as soon as they leave my mouth - the hurt in Justin's eyes a feeling I've caused so many times before.

"Ugh.  Eddy.  You're killing me."  He slams his fist against the wall whilst simultaneously slumping his head onto my chest;  my hand slipping up to hold his head - a subconscious need to comfort him overtaking me.

"I'm sorry but Tralee is-"

"She's not good for you Eddy."  He sighs in frustrating, peeling his adoring gaze away from me.

"Justin she's my gi-"

"She's cheating on you Eddy.  Tralee is fucking cheating on you."  I gasp as I try to process his revelation, linking scattered puzzle pieces of doubt that I've had for a while together.

"What but- how do yo- How would you know?"  My blubbered attempts finally combining to form an actual question.  He returns back to me, saddened eyes processing the damage his confession has done to me as my eyes roam for anywhere other then him.

"Eddy, don't be sad;  I hate seeing you sad."  He whispers as he pulls me back into a hug, my body collapsing into his for support - the strong embrace that I've yearned for now swallowing my body whole as I gladly reciprocate its warmth.

"How do you know?"  My strained voice asks as I dig my head his chest.

"She's sleeping with someone from Buckingham football team."  Slowly I process the information, flashing back to the very first night we went to the movie theatre - our willingness to leave ironically both fuelled by Buckingham players.

"How long have you known?"  Justin's mouth grimaces as he diverts his eyes, his silence communicating the painful truth;  his mouth now obsolete as the silent war in his irises answers my question.  "How long have you known Tralee's been cheating on me Justin?"  I repeat, this time my tone filled with urgency.

"Since the very first night I met you;  and I saw her on your desk."  I pull out of the embrace, angered at his suppression of truth.

"What?  We've been friends for months and you never thought to tell me once that my girlfriend was cheating on me!?"  Despite trying to keep my cool, my accumulating anger transforms the question into a yell - shocking Justin as he sees me angry for the first time.

"I wanted to tell you Eddy I did.  But I- I didn't want to hurt you."

"Well you've failed."  I wince at my harsh tone, my blinding anger preventing me from seeing Justin's care and authentic intentions - the alcohol deconstructing careful walls I've built up around myself.

"Just leave me alone."  I push him to the side, a sigh leaving his lips as I storm to the door.  My stride pauses, halted by a combination of anger and pain.  "I never want to see you again."  The careless words slip out of my mouth;  weaponised in the same way I used them the night he came to Riseford. 

"So you came all the way to Buckingham...then all the way to the stadium...then all the way to the bar to tell me that you never want to see me again?"  He nears from behind, his lips coming close to my ear as he confidently eliminates the fake statement, his hands turning my obedient body around to face him .  "If that's the way you want it.  Then so be it.  But it's going to be a bit hard to avoid me at the game tomorrow."

I sigh;  once again forgetting about our game tomorrow;  nodding in defeat.  Justin's confident wit unravelling my empty threats.

"I've already done the whole leaving you alone thing Eddy...and I hated it...so I'll see you tomorrow...and the day after that...and the day after that."  My silence greets him as my rushing mind and pounding heart fail to harmonise and communicate my tumultuous feelings.

 "I'll see you later Eddy.  Message me when you get home so I know you're safe."  He whispers as he places a kiss on my forehead before exiting back into the crowded club, leaving me and my thoughts isolated in the bathroom.

Ugh.

A/N

That was a really sweet way to end the chapter, in my opinion - because I was tired of the main characters fighting and drifting apart constantly;  so I'm pretty proud of the approach Justin took:  not arguing, just waiting.

Anyways, the next chapter will be the big game, and everybody from the story so far will be there:  Justin, Eddy, Riseford, Buckingham, Tralee, Brad and of course the onlooking crowd.

It's going to be exciting, so stay tuned! ;)

- YOP