"Hey dude, stop staring at her like that. It's too much. You might make people think she has cast a spell on you or something."

Seth laughed it off, "Nah man, you've got it wrong. I was just checking out the leather jacket she has on. It looks good on her, don't you think?"

"Yeah the leather jacket is shiny and all but hey, I haven't spent the last ten minutes checking her out or grinning like a fool every time she laughs." Josh kicked a stone out of his way, "Why don't you just tell her you like her?"

'I already kissed her and now I don't how the fuck I should proceed next,' Seth wanted to tell Josh that but he stopped himself. Rebecca and him weren't anything yet. They have barely had time to talk all day. It seemed Rebecca has suddenly gotten new friends. Girls had been all around her since morning asking her about Europe and pestering her to tell them all about her hometown, Ireland.

Becky had been patient and calm, much to the surprise of Seth but every now and then her eyes would dart to him, beseeching him to come to her rescue. It was clear she didn't crave unnecessary attention to herself. It made Seth like her all the more. "You're making up illusions in your head man. Becky is just a friend and you know that if she and I ever become anything, you will be the first person to know."

Josh patted on his back, almost making him stumble, "Hope so man. You will need a love expert like myself to teach you the basic things about a relationship otherwise, forget that Becky is Irish and one of the most nicest people you've ever met, she will dump you in less than a second."

Seth scowled hard to him, "I will keep that in mind." Unlike Seth who likes to keep to himself most of the time, Josh was exactly the opposite.

He wasn't a Casanova—that will be an overstatement—but all the same he likes everything fancy, lavish, fun and most importantly anything that has girls in it. One will find Josh everywhere. Be it the party they hold after every school season or a friend's party or be it a special get together—as they call it—where every guy has to pick a girl for himself and later engage in naughty activities afterwards, be sure to expect Josh because he will definitely be there. "What are you going to teach the girls anyway?"

Josh shrugged as if unimportant but there was no mistaking the slight smirk on his lips. "Oh nothing fancy or dangerous. The ladies want to get fit," he winked at one of them who blushed, "Not sure why but I'm certain they think their boyfriends are running behind Mercedes because she's so pretty and fit but I think the guys are being like that because she is related to Snoop Dogg. You know that rapper, don't you?"

"Who doesn't," Seth pointed to a bench as the park came into view. "Thank God, there's a bench. Whatever training you're going to give those girls, I'm not taking part in it."

"Relax dude. I've got it all covered. Leave the beautiful damsels to me." He flashed Seth a knowing grin before taking off and smacking a girl's ass making her yelp. Seth flopped down on the bench and stretched out his legs, groaning. They had come quite a long way from school and home. Hopefully they would be able to head back home before sunset.

Rebecca placed her bag beside his between them as she sat down next to him. "Hey there. Boring, huh?"

Seth shook his head, "Nope. There's nothing more entertaining than watching Josh do his thing. I don't know how he does it but he always makes the girls squirm and giggle. It's pathetic."

Rebecca laughed, "It's not hard to like Josh. He is funny and warm to everyone. He socializes a lot, meet new people everyday and isn't afraid to let you rant to him when the need arises. He's a great friend."

Seth clapped in a dramatic fashion, "Wow, what a compliment!! What I wouldn't do to have you compliment me like that?! I wonder what I should do." He feigned an attempt to stand and go over to where Josh and the girls were, doing Josh's version of yoga. "Maybe I should go there and smack their asses like Josh did?"

Rebecca pulled him down to sit back on the bench, "No, you silly. I think I already showed you how much I like you last night, didn't I?" She smiled sweetly at him, making Seth's heart flutter before glancing around at the quiet park. "We may be far from home but it feels nice to be here. It's quiet and peaceful."

The park is always quiet. The only sounds heard were the chirping of birds singing in the trees and the sounds of cars in a distance. "Yeah, it's nice around here. My father and I used to come here with my mother sometimes and drink coffee."

"Where is your father?" She asked. "He seems like a wise man but I've never met him before."

"He's not only wise," he replied, "but also kind and generous. He is my role model well aside Stone Cold Steve Austin that is but he is my number one favorite person." He sighed bitterly, "Unfortunately, my parents have broken up. They were fighting a lot and they had problems which I believe they couldn't fix. My dad moved out and is now staying at Los Angeles. I know it might seem desperate considering your father is in another country while mine is with me here in the United States but sometimes. . . . sometimes it feels like he is millions of miles away. Talking to him over the phone every once or twice in the week isn't the same compared to having him here watching football on the couch."

She squeezed his arm sympathetically, "I know how you feel. I feel the same way whenever I talk to my father over the phone. My parents have been separated since I was two but at least he would visit from time to time back in Ireland. Now he can't because he is so far away."

Seth returned the gesture and clamped her hand tightly, squeezing it for dear life. He wanted to ask her so many things but he didn't know where to start. He hated it that his mind was doubting her, pestering him to ask her about the whole alcohol and drugs thing. His heart believed her because he likes her so much and wanted her to be with him. Moreover he trusted her. Perhaps she might tell him in due time, when the hour is right.

"Didn't know dancing was part of the lesson," Rebecca remarked watching Josh and the girls. "Is he teaching them Salsa or something?"

Seth followed Rebecca's line of gaze to see Josh dancing with one of the girls while the other three watched. He happily waved at Rebecca and Seth and ordered the girl he is dancing with to twist her hips in a more sexy way. "He is taking advantage of the girls. Poor them. The ladies only want to get their boys back."

"They asked for it so they better deal with Josh's commands and him pinching their asses and all." She glanced back at him with a worried look, "Was aunt Holly angry last night? Did she shout at you or did anything? I can tell she didn't like me there."

Seth gulped. This was the moment he has been dreading since last night. "Yeah, she was kinda angry and all," he admitted. It was better to tell her the truth than lie as to not hurt her feelings.

Rebecca nodded, "I can understand. Finding me in your room like that," she sighed, "the lights weren't even on. She must have thought we were making out or worst. Did she see us. . . . kissing?"

Seth hesitated for a moment but nodded, "Yes. She did."

Rebecca's face landed in her hands as she grunted and groaned. "No, no, that can't be. She shouldn't have seen us. No wonder she was angry. She had a every right to be."

"Becky, we weren't doing anything wrong. I told her that. You were in my room and the fact that we kissed doesn't mean we've committed an unforgivable crime or something. I believe we are old enough," he assured her.

"Seth, it doesn't matter what you and I think is right. Our mothers will think it's a mistake," she paused as a thought hit her. "Aunt Holly will probably tell my mother and then. . . . oh fuck, I will be doomed."

A confident grin appeared on Seth's face, "Your mother likes me so I think we've that aspect covered."

She snorted, "No matter how much she likes you, she wouldn't approve of you kissing her daughter when you've known her for only two weeks."

"Do you regret it? The kiss?" Seth asked her.

The dazzling smile he loved so much on her appeared turning his thoughts to mush, "I will do it all over again if the opportunity represents itself."

Seth grasped her hand and squeezed, "I think I remember you leaving the kiss incomplete. I might have to let you finish what you started before my mother interrupted us." He glanced around and whispered, "But not here. You wouldn't want the girls to gossip about you to the others. We will become the talk of the school until we eventually finish."

Rebecca laughed, "I already have a handful of trouble on my hands with the way you look at me. The girls complain that you stare at me too much. Don't get how that's anyone's problem but in any case, I will like to not attract much attention either."

Seth made sure Josh and the others were all distracted doing one thing or another before leaning in to peck Becky's cheek. "This will have to do for now. We might have to leave for home much early than planned if you want a proper kiss."

"I don't want to break poor little Josh's heart by leaving here with the girls. What if he needs backup," she teased, giggling at the way his eyes darkened when she trailed her fingers around his neck. "You will never know when the girls might start pulling each others' hairs out. Girls are so unpredictable these days. Poor Josh will be all alone. Not fair."

Seth caught her wandering hand and kissed her fingers. Her breath caught. "I'm sure poor little Josh as you call him can handle himself pretty well. What is unfair is you refusing to finish what you started yesterday. So unfair."

Her eyes trained on his lips kissing her fingers, she whispered almost too breathlessly for Seth to make out her words. "If I remember correctly, you are the one who kissed me, not the other way around. The second one doesn't count. You were taking so long so I had to do something and I did." She wrenched her hand away from his mouth when she caught Josh looking at them out of the corner of her eye. She cleared her throat and signalled Seth to be patient. She blushed when he pouted cutely. The urge to pull his cheeks was strong but she managed to suppress it. "Hey, let's keep things slow okay. Let's keep this a secret until I get into your mother's good books again and you gain more of my mother's trust and confidence. Can we do that?"

Seth wasn't sure about the former but he nodded anyway. He knew his mother well. She was hard to please and there isn't anything he could say to his mother that will make her accept Rebecca if she didn't want to. Seth felt angry and helpless that things were getting so difficult. His friendship and relationship with Rebecca was one of the things he felt shouldn't have gotten complicated simply because both of them got along so well. Yes, they disagree on things like mint chocolate among silly other things but that has never been an obstacle preventing them from liking each other. He wasn't sure his mother should be a reason why Rebecca will drift away from him. "I totally agree with you," he told her, tugging a fallen tendril of hair behind her ear.

For now, he will let Rebecca think his mother was upset because she had found them kissing. She will tell him eventually. Sooner or later, he will be bold enough to ask her questions and at that time he hoped she will be comfortable and trusting enough of him to tell him about her past and secrets.

After all, they have their whole lives together.