LEIGH

"I didn't mean it... I-I didn't want to." Susan cried. For a moment pacing back and forth until dad pulled her to his chest, where she began to let out a long sob, her body shaking with every intake of breath. "I didn't want to. I just lose it." She kept murmuring.

I, on the other hand, was too stupefied at everything. I couldn't move until Claire nudges me.

"Go after her." She signaled to where Ava followed.

I swallowed down, but a lump remained there in my throat.

Everything had become hazy after what just happened, I tried to keep my calm, but it was hard too.

Why would Susan do something like that? Of course, Ava was out of line, but I couldn't stop myself from taking Ava's side.

Susan is the adult, and we all know something isn't right with Ava. Instead, to distance ourselves from her, she should be listened to. She needs someone to confide in, someone who could dig to the root of all this deception, not get a slap in the face.

The only sound in the kitchen was Susan's sobs and Lilith's shaky breathes, which I just recognized.

She was scared.

I advanced for her and wrapped a hand around her shoulders, exiting the awkward environment.
From above her, I could feel her heartbeat thumping in her chest.

"You wanna go to your room?" I asked her, pulling her back to see her face.

She blinked her watery eyes and inhaled shakily.

"Ava?"

I dipped my head down until our heads were almost leveled. "I will go after her. But let's get you to your room."

"I can do that." She sadly responded and looked away from me. "Just a couple of weeks." She whispered to herself.

"Hey?" I grabbed her chin and made her look over at me. "I am here, you know."

"I know." She muffled her breath, heaving. "Is just so messed up." She cried and leaned into me, holding me firmly as if she was afraid if she let go, I would disappear. "I thought everything would be fine, I thought we would be happy again, but I am wrong. Things just keep going the wrong ways."

I also thought the same.

"I am happy, I came home, and you and everyone are in one piece. That's progress." I joked, stroking her back with my hands; she chuckled breathily.

"Thank you for coming." She whispered and pulled back, wiping her wet face with the back of her sleeves.

I smiled at her softly, hoping it lightened her mood.

"You should go after her. She intends to make the wrong choices these days." She muttered sadly.

"And you worried about it," I mentioned playfully.

"Of course, we are family. She needs us."

I suspiciously stared at her until she nudged my stomach and rolled her eyes as the typical Lilith would.

"There, my Lilith is back." I quipped, and she chuckled.

After Lilith was relaxed and kept calm, I emerged from the house with Susan's car key and started the vehicle. Halting by the gate to examine the right and left directions.

Deja vu.

This should be easy; she's on foot this time, she must not have gone too far. But the only confusion is the turn she took.

Having the stress similar to last night's overwhelm me, I closed my eyes and rubbed my palms against my thighs until I was snapped out of my almost breaking point by a car horn.

When my eyes fly open, I find a car trying to get through the gate. Exhaling briefly, I gently press the accelerator and provide the vehicle with enough space to pass through.

The car didn't drive through, though. It stopped next to mine, and the window was lowered to the extent there's an opening above it, disclosing our guests.

"Going somewhere all alone?" Claire and Addison Francois unison in a high-pitched voice as if they've been practicing the phrase for a few days.

Wow.

"Have you by any chance seen Ava on your way here?" I asked the ladies, giggling for no absolute reason.

I didn't care. I never did when it comes to other girls acting too friendly, mostly now that Ava has slipped out from my supervision for the second time since I came to this city.

"No." Said Addison, who's by the driver's side of the range rover.

"Okay, thank you. Have a good afternoon." I politely waved at the girls and inwardly thanked God for the clue, considering I would need the support these days.

This time I didn't gently press the accelerator; I pushed hard on it, taking off to the possible path Ava could be hiking.

And it happens to be my lucky day; I spot her from a distance. She is strolling in black ankle boots and her cute pinafore dress by the side of the road.

She's so petite and adorable; it brought a smile to my face.

I drove the car at a low speed and pulled by when I reached a preferable spot that allowed me to see her clearly.

When my window was lowered, she was already peering.

"What are you doing here, Leigh?" She quietly asked and embarrassingly wiped her teary face with the back of her hands.

"Get in." I jerk my head to the passenger side.

She scoffs and begins walking away. I had to gentle press in the accelerator, following her.

"Ava, please. Is just me."

She glances at me for a couple of seconds and diverts her eyes back to the road. "Did your dad send you to chase after me?"

"I thought maybe we could talk?"
Actually, I didn't think of that earlier, but I had thought of it all night long after that kiss that I can't take out of my head.

"What is there to talk about?" She huffed, not sparing me a glance. "My mom is a bitch, so?"

"That's not what I want to talk about."

She stopped and turned around.

"Please come in." I pleaded, stopping the car.

Her eyes wander around the empty road as if weighing the option.
"I am not going back home." She cautioned.

Good with me.

"Cool, I can steal you for a while then." I smiled, and suddenly she became a hue of rose, bringing cheerfulness in every part of me.

AVA

Going back to that hell? No way, but having Leigh steal me, that part I wouldn't mind.

I had slid into the car that had now begun to grasp the scent that reminded me of Leigh's Bugatti.

That's when it down in me he didn't come home with it, not that the last time he left he drove it to Princeton or something, but I thought he would get it transported here for summer.

"Why didn't you bring your car along?" I asked without thinking while he drove through the mountains, far away from home.

"You miss it?" He peeked at me from the corner of his eyes. I felt the need to gnaw on my lip.

"I was just thinking..." I lied.
The truth is, I missed the car badly. I had too many memories of it.

"It is okay to say you miss it, Ava? I missed the two of us in it, too." He calmly said. His eyes focused on the road when I looked up to him. He pressed his lips into a hard line, emphasising his jawline, cheekbone, and the depth of his dimple; I struggled in the seat, battling with my instincts not to give in and trace the tip of my fingers against his smooth skin.

The flash of his radiant eyes reminds me he has said something.

What was it?

"Stop here." I suddenly suggested. Distracting the fact that I didn't clasp anything among what he had been saying in the past two minutes because I was busy drooling over his flawless features.

"Okay?" He sounded confused, but he pulled by anyway.

"You climb?" Keenly, I asked him.

It took him by surprise, so I let him process while I climbed out of the car, knowing he would follow behind.

I blushed at that thought.

Maybe, after all, he still feels the same way about me like he did last year before summer.

There comes the sound of the door opening and closing, then eager footsteps follow behind me.

Knew it, he would follow.

"Ava, I don't think that's a good idea." He said, sounding anxious.

I turn over to him with a smirk and beckon to our target. The moderate mountain, not so bad.

"Ava. You shouldn't."

I look back at him and chuckle at his statement.
"Start considering yourself too, because you are climbing," I said and began walking in backwards. It is hard to take my eyes away from him; he's too attractive. He deserved all my concentration.

I hope not to fall on my arse, though.

"Is too risky. I am entitled to keep you safe." He protests, running his hand through his gorgeously holy hair.

"Come on, for once, let yourself have fun." I tease him.

"That's not fun. it's a life or death situation." He argued, and I burst into laughter at his choice of word.

"That sounds like what an old man would say." I mock him, and he begins to turn a cute red. "You're eighteen; make use of your youth, and live a carefree life." I take a look back at where I was stepping and continue to walk in backwards.

"Not all the stakes are worth it." He pointed and stopped walking.

Smiling, I take two steps and close our distance, pushing myself on my toe. I whisper in his ear: "Believe me, the thrill is worth it." and slip away just as he made an attempt to catch me.

"Ava." He laughs, contemplative.

"Come on. It's the least among the mountains; it should take us half an hour to ascend." I look back at his doubtful reaction.

"We don't have supplies, and the foremost backup, a rope. What if we slip?" He inquired.

He's so cute. I had to stifle a laugh.

"Then we try not to slip." I hinted and ran toward the mountain.

I could hear the sound of his footsteps hitting the ground as he followed behind me, running towards the targeted mountain.

"You should follow my lead, hold tight to..." I cut him off when I started climbing, ignoring all those principles of his.

When I looked down, he was gaping, his hands on his waist, watching me distancing away from him.

"Get up here." I taunted him, laughing, and he began to climb.

A couple of times, Christian and I had climbed some mountains around here, and up there, I found comfort that the ground couldn't deliver.

Right now, with no water, no ropes, not to mention the helmets that Christain always makes sure of when we climb, Leigh and I kept going. At the same time, he reminded me how much I've changed from the girl who had almost shit her trousers on the X-scream to the girl who's recklessly climbing a mountain without backups and protection.

I had laughed and blushed at the memories and responded with an oblique answer to avoid hinting at the part where I almost believed being physically and mentally strong could overpower the emotions I have for him. That's while I started boxing and climbing to fight that feeling that still won over me.

What I thought would take minutes ended up taking an hour, on account of Leigh's cautiousness as he had been particular about carefulness every single minute.

But with the challenges, we still finally get to the goal and exhaustedly fall on our arses, heaving and producing a lot of sweat, given that the weather wasn't very friendly for this experience.

"That's something." Leigh panted, and I began to laugh at the amusement on his face at the view he found up here, with our shoulders touching.

Staring at the side view of his angelic face while he adorably gapes into the distance, I asked him: "How was it?"

He chuckled and shook his head before he brought his eyes to me and quietly said: "I am not doing it again."

His gemlike emerald green eyes were vivid, sparkling with what said he'd follow me anywhere.

And so he lied; he'd do it again.

I bit my lip and dropped my gaze from the intensity of his deep-set of fascinating eyes.

"I am thirsty," I said out loud and threw my head back.

Water is one of the essential supplies for climbing, Christian had said. It is important to hydrate frequently. If he could see our situation right now, he would be disappointed. Actually, he will probably send an entire rescue department up here.

"I have something that will keep you hydrated," Leigh said beside me.

My eyes came back to him, and I giggled at his joke after inspecting him for a nanosecond.

We both came out here empty-handed. Unless he has a miracle faucet in his pocket, I don't think there's another option.

He inclines forward, prompting my giggle to stop and smoothen into anticipation for what I think he's about to do.

"If I kiss you, would you kiss back?" His calm and inviting voice had a pleasant and deep tone that conveyed lure and richness. It was highly distracting that felt like sugar on my lips.

I blushed, staring at his deep red lips that at the moment promises ease.

My eyes briefly drag to his eyes, crammed with a familiar emotion, longing. I feel that too.

"In movies when the actors get dehydrated in a stranded desert, they never thought of..." He cut me off, melding his lips with mine.

"Don't mind them." He whispered against my lips, I had to exhale a nervous laugh that offered him an entry, and he thrust his tongue into my mouth.

He was warm and tasted like heaven. I kissed back desperately, wanting more of this bliss.

I've kissed other boys the past year, but none of them felt a little bit close to how good Leigh tasted.
Savouring him right now brought back the memories of how satisfying it was kissing him secretly while we avoided getting caught in school or at home, in our bedrooms.

Without conscious thought, my hand came to his pulsing neck, holding him close while we devoured each other like a meal.

We pulled back after what felt like forever, and we needed to breathe, or more precisely, I needed to breathe, because Leigh didn't seem he needed any break. He held my neck in one hand, trailing kisses from my cheek down to my throat; I could hear his heavy breathing and soft groaning while he deepened his kiss, which I am sure would leave a mark afterwards.
The softness and everything about this situation had me moaning as tension began invoking in my groin.

I raked my fingers through his soft hair, my breathing hitched.

I didn't realise he gently laid me on my back until I felt my skin touch the ground, then he hovered over me. That sure added more tension between my thighs. Hell, my entire body burns for him.

My legs hooked around his waist, holding him down to me. My hands slipped underneath his shirt; his body shivered from the contact. I could feel his abs tightening the higher my hands travelled until I reached his bulge pectorals.

Damn! Man is hot!

His touch had me turned on, and he only had one hand in my hair and the other over my clothed hip.

I even began to believe it was finally time. I was sure he would take me right here, at the top of a mountain, on a sunny summer day in the middle of nowhere when he brought back his lips on mine, his eyes closed, his face flushed with desire, but all of a sudden he pulled back and swallowed, with his eyes pressed tightly shut-robbing that exciting hope from me.

At that instant, I realised he wouldn't do it.

I don't get it though; I am ready now. I've always been prepared for him. Why does he always turn me down at a very progressive moment, where he could have me and let me feel it with him for my first time?

I watched him exhale and inhale above me as if he was trying to calm himself.
After he repeated that action for a while, he opened his eyes and smiled warmly. There was barely any emotion that hinted at the desire I saw in them a minute ago.

"Satisfied?" He still had his charming smile when he asked.

"Why, though?" I asked him, hoping I had concealed my irritation. Confusion flashed across his complexion before he asked: "Why what?"

I look over his broad shoulder to the bright blue sky above us.

"Why did you kiss me?" I didn't mean to sound sad, but it came out that way. I guess our feelings wouldn't stay hidden forever.

"Apart from the fact that we're both thirsty?" He sounded playful, so when he realised the seriousness in my expression, he paused for a while, boring his gaze on me, but I didn't look at him; I kept my eyes to the motion of the small white clouds around the clear sky. Afraid he might see my vulnerability, and that's the last thing I want. For him to see how much he had broken me.

"I missed you. I told you that last night, you were drunk, so it doesn't matter." He quietly said and rolled back, laying on his back too.

We talked last night?

I tilt my head to the side, finally watching him watch me.

"What did I say?" I asked.

I hope I was rational; I can't take any more embarrassment right now.

Leigh smiled small as if he was reminiscing something.
"You kissed me back." He answered.

I did that? Why can't I remember?

"You also called me Hercules." He added, laughing softly.

Intuitively, my hand came to my face, shamefully covering my eyes while I struggled to stifle the laugh that rose to my throat.

"Then you puke all over Claire's hair." He cracked into loud laughter.

Oh my goodness.

Terrific, I've been humiliated to the impressive degree in the presence of Princeton Claire. How wonderful, Ava.

I peep through my fingers and plead: "Tell me you're kidding."

"You were cute, though. You cling to me" His laughter at my reaction turned down; he only smiled.

"Oh my God." I closed the fingers, hiding my face behind them.

I heard him chuckle, causing my blush to deepen even more.

"She kind of deserves it, though." I thought out loud.

Shit!

"I don't think she does," Leigh replied.

And, of course, he heard.

I rolled my eyes at his instinct to defend her

"You are defending her," I angrily point out, sitting up.

"Because she's my friend. She'd do the same for me." He said behind me, still laying back.

"Girlfriend?" I swallowed roughly, staring into the distance. I felt his eyes on me.

"Just friend." His deep voice was smooth and low, he added. "Ava, Claire is gay. She has zero desire for men."

Heavens above. Who would have thought?

"That's a relief." I exhale a relieving laugh.

"What?" Leigh queried behind me.

Did I think that out loud too?

Oh, Ava.

My blood suddenly drops when I instinctively turn to him with bulgy eyes and a dry mouth.

His amused gaze narrowed at me while I mumbled: "Nothing."

He folded his lips between his teeth slowly until my breath quickened, and I couldn't swallow.

The need to ask him what rouse to my mind unexpectedly burst out, so I put my card on the table and cut to the chase. "And me? What am I to you?"

He inhaled deeply, his eyes examining me thoroughly when he pointed out: "I should ask you that. You were the one who dumped me."

"Oh!" I look away from him, biting on my inner cheeks at the reminder.

"But if you will have me back, I am here." He softly said and pushed up to a sitting position. "Hopefully, waiting." He appended, looking down at his hand, playing with a strand of my hair.

I blushed, mentally doing a victory dance he didn't know.

"And why would I do that?" I quietly asked while watching his flawless face a couple of inches away from mine.

He looked up, but didn't release my hair; he kept twirling it around his finger.

"So we can make up for the year we missed. I just want to kiss you on repeat until the summer end." He seriously said.

Air caught in my throat while I tried to breathe.

He softly grabs my cheeks in both hands; his brows pulled together.
In his worried eyes, there was support as he counted on me to breathe.

Come on, Ava. Stop embarrassing yourself.

However, my body would always disagree with my head. I just froze without a word or, at least, the necessity, that is, breathing.

Until he closed the distance between our faces and gave me a deep kiss that reactivated my entire system and woke my senses, I was able to breathe.

"There." He smiled and rested his forehead against mine, letting his scent invade me.

I returned a small smile, looking into his eyes.
"I'd like that." I finally responded.

If he could see through my eyes, he must have seen the debate over telling him how much I want him back and how much I missed him in a million ways; it would take years before I am done interpreting.

"What do you say then?" He asked, breathing softly in my face.

"But it's risky now. Your dad and my mom are together." I sadly remind him and drop my eyes between us.

"That sounds like what an old woman would say." He used my words against me with a challenging smile, attracting my eyes to his daring ones.

It was impossible not to smile when his smile was so contagious.

"What do you..." He began, but I interrupted him by blending our lips.

To have this ecstasy, I will take all risks, no matter the stake.

"I want you back, and this time you are not going to leave me." With our eyes closed, I ordered in his sweet mouth while straddling his lap. "I am going to be the only person you write about, dream about, and live about." I didn't care what I was saying. I just desperately wanted to be his priority.

His hand wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer to him until our heaving chests were touching.

With our lips not disconnecting, he asked in my mouth: "And you won't push me away?"

"Never," I promised back, with my hand around his nape.

We stayed up there on the mountain until evening, just talking and listening to his laughter and voice that was music to my ears.

When it was beginning to get late, Leigh suggested: "Is getting dark. We should get back home."

"I prefer it here," I argued.

My head on his chest, I was listening to his steady heartbeat while our breath was even and syncing in weird but good musical harmony.

"With no water?" He chuckled; his body shook along with mine.

I smiled and looked up into his eyes. "You are here. I can survive."

He smiled back and kissed my forehead.

"I can come over to your room."

The thought got me turning into a red ripe apple.

I draw in a breath and rest back my head on his chest, along with my hand around his clothed torso. He was heaven when everywhere was hell.

"That'd be great, but it's risky, and I thought we should take it slow? A lot has changed."

"Everything is still the same. You just need to look into the mirror." He disagrees quietly.

I didn't oppose because deep down, I know he's right. So instead, I held him tightly and told him how much I missed him.