Cillian POV

It was turning out to be an interesting night at my pub.

Alice had come with two friends of hers. So far they got on well with Caden and the boys.

Actually that Beth chick and Asher seemed to be getting on more than well… The two of them spoke mostly with each other. She seemed to make him kind of nervous ‘cause the boy kept on blushing. Not that he didn’t have his effect on her; she kept on giggling and playing with her hair.

The other pair that had formed was Keegan and Skyler. They separated from the others to go and flirt with two girls who I think were sisters. Sky seemed to be just as much of a player as Keegan himself so them teaming up was pretty natural.

The last two of the group were Caden and Alice, who seemed… different. The girl looked really good tonight. Actually, she looked and acted as a teenager and not in her usual childlike manner. Something Caden must have noticed because he hadn’t called her “kid” a single time tonight. And he spent a lot of time talking with her.

I smiled amused remembering his reaction when he first saw her tonight.

The three boys had already arrived when Alice came and introduced her friends to us. Caden was in the restroom at the time and I had already served their drinks by the time he came back and saw them.

He was coming straight towards the bar but stopped dead in his track when he saw Alice. His eyes widened and traveled up and down her body and since she had her back to him, they eventually landed on her ass. He stared at it for a long while before closing his eyes and shaking his head as if trying to get a certain thought out of it. He resumed walking and stood next to her. The moment Alice turned to greet him with a smile on her face, the boy’s eyes scanned her again but realizing what he was doing, Caden quickly averted his gaze.

Speak of the devil…

"Pour me another one of mine and Alice wants another soda and a lollypop," Caden ordered, approaching me.

"Here are the drinks," I started, "and the lollypop… But don’t you want to give her something else to do with her mouth?"

"Cillian, I’m not in the mood for crude insinuations," he answered irritated.

"But you seem to be in a mood for Alice," I grinned at him. Why those two hadn’t hooked up yet was beyond my understanding.

"Why would you think that?"

"Because of the way you’ve been looking at her the whole evening."

"Just because she looks even better than usual tonight doesn’t mean the way I view her will change!" He grabbed the drinks and the lolly and walked back to their table and back to Alice.

*****

Alice POV

"I have a suggestion," Beth said when Sky and Keegan finally came back to our table. "My brother and I checked in a hotel… Pretty luxurious one for such a small town… Anyway! The suite has two bedrooms connected with a living room. Each of those bedrooms has a king-sized bed… So my idea is this: why don’t all of us go back to the hotel and we can have a sleep over? Alice, Sky and I will take one of the rooms while Asher, Caden and Keegan can take the other."

"I get to have a threesome with twins… kinky!" I giggled.

I noticed Caden raise an eyebrow at me. Oops! I guess he wasn’t used to seeing me behave like this but Sky, Beth and I used to make jokes like that all the time.

"Actually, sis, we came to tell you that we’re heading to those girls’ place," Sky announced, pointing towards the two girls he and Keegan had been flirting with up until now.

"And we’re having “a sleepover” there," the other boy added and the two of them left with the girls in question.

"But you guys are still coming, right?" Beth turned to Caden, Ash and I. "You won’t leave little ol’ me all alone in that big place?" She gave us her famous puppy dog look. I sometimes hated it; she looked so ridiculous yet cute that I just had to agree to do whatever she wanted me to.

" Well, I’m coming," I smiled at her.

"If you’re sure you’ll enjoy our company…" Ash started a bit abashed.

"I’m sure!" Beth eagerly cut him off and I noticed the cheeks of both of them getting slightly redder.

They were so cute!

"Then I’d love to come," the boy admitted. "And you Cade?"

I noticed Caden sneaking a glance my way before responding and it took a few seconds for him to answer.

"Sure," he shrugged, trying to look nonchalant but I could tell something was on his mind.

"Okay!" Beth beamed. "It’s all settled then!"

"Yay!" I exclaimed merrily. "We’re having a foursome!"

Caden gave me a funny look before shaking his head at me.

Oh, well, I guess I should really cut it with these remarks!

*****

All four of us were on Beth’s bed watching an action movie on the flat screen TV that was in the hotel bedroom. Well, Caden and I were watching it. Beth and Ash had fallen asleep next to each other some time ago.

"Beth and Ash... Has a ring to it!" I thought and smiled watching the two sleeping blonds.

I felt someone nudge me slightly and looked at Caden. He turned off the TV and gestured with his head for us to leave. Once we were in the living room he asked:

"Am I taking the couch here or are we sharing Sky’s bed?"

"The bed of course. I’ll just go grab one of Beth’s nighties to wear and be right there."

I went back into the girl’s bedroom and quietly went through her closet. I had forgotten about her taste in nighties: short and sexy. Good thing she was taller than me so that what barely covered her thighs reach just above the knee when I wore it. I took the more modest one I found: smooth black satin with a bare back. My other option was red silk that would show a fair amount of cleavage. I got dressed in the bathroom and with a huge yawn went to Skyler’s bedroom.

Caden was already there, semi-lying, semi-sitting on the bed with the upper part of his back on the headboard. He was wearing only boxers as what I now knew was his usual attire when he slept.

"That was fast. I thought it’d take you a while to find them…" Caden turned his head in my direction. "… and get dressed…" he trailed off as his eyes scanned my body thoroughly before he hastily turned his head away from me.

Oh-oh! Was the nightie too reveling?

I put my clothes and purse on the sofa and gingerly climbed into the bed, keeping a bit of distance between us. I didn’t want to make him feel uncomfortable.

Silence fell in the room and unlike most of the times when this happened between us, this time it was quite… well, uncomfortable.

"Were they still sleeping?" The boy asked, aiming for small talk in an attempt to make things between us less awkward.

"Yeah… Both of them."

Silence.

"Do you think she’ll mind sharing a bed with Ash?" He spoke again.

"If I thought so I wouldn’t let him sleep there, would I?"

"I guess not."

Silence again.

"Maybe I should sleep on the couch…" he started.

"No!" I protested hastily putting my hand on his arm in order to stop him from leaving. He looked at my hand with raised eyebrows, surprised at my reaction. "I mean…" I tried to correct myself and think of a reason for him to stay but nothing came to mind.

It was like my brain was taking the day off. You know the feeling; like the one you get when you speak to your crush for the first time or right when you’re taking that very important exam at school…

"What do you plan on doing when you finish school?" I blurted.

He seemed to be taken aback by my sudden question.

"Umm… I don’t know…"

"But we are seniors. Don’t you at least have an idea?" I prompted.

"Not really," he shrugged. "What are you going to do when you finish?"

"Oh, that’s easy!" I smiled hugely at him. "I’m going to be a vet."

"A vet?"

"Yeah!" I got off the bed and went through my purse. I took out a page torn from a University brochure. I pretty much always carried it with me to remind me of why I had to study and keep my grades up. I had a goal after all. I climbed on the bed once again, this time sitting right next to Caden and showed him the piece of paper.

"Here’s where we will be studying." I gave him the torn page.

"We?"

"Yes, we." I nodded. "Sky is going there to study finances and Beth will come with me to study for a vet. The two of us have always been fond of animals so we’ve decided it years ago." I slid in bed slightly and rested my head on his chest.

Then I went on to tell Caden about my dreams for the future.

*****

Caden POV

I lied in bed listening to Alice. She held her head on my chest and my hand was drawing circles on her bare back.

"… and that is how our clinic will look like." She concluded, done with describing the vet clinic she and Beth were going to build and work in after they finished their education.

They had it all planed, even the details. And I don’t mean simply fantasizing about the place having this and that. No. They had found a terrain (the land belonged to Beth’s father and she’d convinced him not to sell it) and done a research about what kind of equipment they’d need. They even made a catalogue about it and kept updating it regularly. Apparently Skyler helped out too. He figured out how much money they would spend on the whole project and would be managing their finances once the clinic was built.

I was amazed by how much thought they’d put into the whole thing. I never even though Alice would get so serious about something. While she was explaining everything to me in detail she looked like a real business woman. All that made me think about my plans for the future. Or should I say the lack of any.

So far I lived day for day. I never even thought about changing that. And really, what could I do? I was a below average student when it came to grades and I skipped classes often. I had a police record and a notorious reputation. I had absolutely no interest to pursue a career in anything. And I had no talents apart from fighting for money, stealing cars and sneaking into people’s houses to take stuff.

Unlike Alice I didn’t seem to have a future.

I looked down at the girl in question.

She was sleeping now. She still had a small smile on her lips from when she was telling me about her dreams. I had no doubt she’d make them come true. And I was happy for her; she deserved that.

I imagined Alice at work in her clinic and smiled as well. I felt… What did I feel when I thought about her future success? I couldn’t describe it… Was it pride? I think that was the right word: pride.

I sighed.

Whenever this girl was involved I seemed to be going soft. I’d become all emotional and irrational.

But I’d also feel peaceful.

I had no idea why Alice had this calming effect on me. Maybe it was because she was such a decent person... so childishly innocent.

Although tonight she seemed nothing like a kid.

I remembered her attire at the pub. God, she looked so hot! The first thought I had when I saw her from behind… Well, it wasn’t something I should be thinking about when it comes to a friend of mine. Good thing she didn’t catch me staring at her ass, that would’ve made things awkward between us.

Kind of like when she entered the bedroom dressed in her friend’s provocative black nightie that caused a certain part of me to stir. And the first thought I had about her then was R-rated…

I realized my fingers were still drawing patterns on her bare back. Her skin was soft and smooth and so pleasing to touch. Holding her like this felt really good… but it was somehow different from before.

Usually when I snuggled her like this I would feel happy and relaxed. But holding Alice in my arms tonight with her head on my bare chest and feeling her skin and the nightie’s smooth fabric was…

Erotic.

I shook my head.

No. That wasn’t the right word.

Okay, maybe it was the right word. But it wasn’t what I should be thinking. This was Alice after all, my friend Alice.

Perhaps I just wasn’t used to seeing her dressed sexy. That and I had a bit too much to drink tonight at the pub.

Yeah, that was it! It was new and it would take some time getting used to seeing her looking like that but I could do it.

And I will.

*****

Alice released a huge yawn and opened her eyes. I didn’t know what time it was, but by the light that was in the room I’d say it was late morning or midday when she woke up. She tilted her head up to look at me – the guy who she used as a pillow for the night. I was already awake and was looking down at her with a small smile.

"Morning!" She chirped.

"Hey," I greeted quietly.

"You look tired. Didn’t you sleep well?"

"Not really," I admitted.

"Why not?" She asked concerned.

"Because you dressed in that nightie had me dreaming of things I shouldn’t."

"Too much to drink last night," I answered instead.

"Oh!" She exclaimed. "How’s the head?"

"Pulsing. Had worse."

"Anything I can do?"

"Get dressed in what you usually wear so that you’d stop turning me on."

"Nope." I shook my head.

"Oh!" She repeated a little disappointed and snuggled closer to me.

I gulped. What she did wasn’t helping the situation. In fact, it was making it worse.

"I know! I’ll give you a massage so you’ll relax a bit," she exclaimed enthusiastically.

A massage? Right now? When she was dressed like that?

Was she purposefully making things hard for me? Both metaphorically and physically? Because one part of me below the waist definitely perked up remembering how I felt last time she massaged me.

"No, thanks!" My voice came out a little raspy.

"Why not?"

"You still look sleepy is all," was the first lie that came to mind.

"Okay! Your loss." She yawned and closed her eyes.

"Trust me, it’s better this way!" I thought.

"It’s hard, isn’t it?" She asked opening her eyes.

"What?" I shot out hastily.

Had I spoken out loud a while ago?

"Waking up with a headache," she clarified. "Not that I’ve ever had a hangover with the way I drink but I imagine it’s not a pleasant feeling."

"Not really." I relaxed a bit. "How come you never drink alcohol?"

"It’s not that I never drink it… It’s just that I rarely do. No particular reason for that." She shrugged. "Hey, Cade?

"Yeah?"

"Sorry if I bored you last night with my narration about the vet clinic; I get carried away when I start talking about that."

"Don’t worry about it," I smiled. "I like getting to know you."

I looked down at her face again. She was biting her lip.

What was wrong now?

"What’s the matter?" I questioned.

"Well…" she started unsure. "You said you liked getting to know me… But I don’t know that much about you."

I made my face unreadable. It was a habit of mine to do so whenever somebody started asking questions about me. I found it was very useful on the occasions I’ve been questioned by the police.

"Like that time you first came into my room…" she went on.

I knew what she meant by that. She was talking about the coke. I knew that eventually we’ll get back to it, but it wasn’t something I wanted to discuss.

"The less you know about that the better," I stated sternly.

"I just want to know if you’re into that or was it a one time thing!" She insisted.

"Neither." She looked puzzled so I clarified. "I used to take it years ago so it’s not a one time thing. But I don’t do it anymore so I’m not into it."

"And Keegan and Ash?"

"They never use."

"Good!" She nodded.

"You want to know more, don’t you, Alice?"

"Yes! But you’ll tell me when and if you’re ready."

"My life is a mess, you better not know about it."

She laughed bitterly.

"My mother is a cold-hearted, stuck-up serial bride that blames me for my father’s death; it’s not like my life is picture perfect either!"

Her eyes grew wide and she clasped her hands over her mouth realizing what she just said.

"She… She blames you for what?"

Alice removed her hands and opened her mouth but no words came out. I waited patiently for her to make the decision whether to tell me more or keep quiet about it. I was hoping for the former.

"He was supposed to pick me up from day care after work..." she eventually started in a low voice. "But his boss made him work overtime that day. So on his way to me he went a little above the speed limit… just a little… and crashed the car. That’s how my dad died."

I wrapped both of my arms around her and started rocking her gently. Placing a kiss on her forehead I said:

"You know it’s not your fault, right?" I tried to make my voice soothing. "He chose to go above the speed limit and lost control. It could happen to anyone anytime."

"I know." Her voice was still quiet. "But Elanor seems to think otherwise. She never said it straight forward but she insinuated as much."

We were silent until I blurted out:

"My mom is in a mental hospital."

I wasn’t sure why I was telling her that. Very few people knew about my family’s situation. I guess I just wanted to return the gesture. Alice had shared so much with me since we’d met. She trusted me and I wanted to show her I returned the feeling.

I knew I could trust her.

"Mom hadn’t always been the way she’s now," I went on. "One evening when she was coming home from work a man tried to rob her. He pulled a gun to her head. She panicked and froze. The man would’ve probably shot her but luckily she was still close to where she worked and her boss saw them so he beat the crap out of that guy. But mom was never the same after that. The robber was supposed to go from one jail to another and while they were moving him, he escaped. The whole thing was in the news and my mom saw it. That’s when she completely lost it. They caught him eventually but…"

I took a deep breath. The next part was probably the hardest for me.

"You don’t have to tell me!" Alice squeezed my hand reassuringly.

"I want to," I said quietly. I took another calming breath and spoke before I could change my mind. "She was so stressed she tried to take her life. That was when my father decided she needed professional help and had her committed into the hospital."

The room was quiet until Alice’s soft voice broke the silence.

"Thank you!"

Her words confused me.

"For what?"

"For sharing," she explained simply. Her head left my chest and got closer to my face. Alice placed one soft, lingering kiss on the side of my jaw.

"For trusting me enough to share," she added with a small, comforting smile on her lips.