Chapter 29: Maria

Rachel and Liam confirmed to me and Terri they were official. Terri defined herself as an independent since her breakup with Eric. During the days whenever me and Scott walked in the hallways at school together was the same thing: his friends and others boosting his ego while the girls grimace, I even spotted Lauren giving me thumbs up. I didn't know if it was for luck or pity. I had to ignore it, besides I liked him. Last Thursday he became distant, like he was distracted.

I didn't want to ask about it, knowing that he's being awkward from the dinner last week. He'll talk to me when he's ready.

"Okay, you have our numbers to our cells and know the name of the hotel we are staying for emergencies. We'll be back in three weeks, love you and stay safe." Mom told us in a rush when she was putting her suitcase in the car. Mom and dad were going to this associate's convention she got invited to in New York since she's the manager at Macy's. Dad gave a warning to Jason of no parties, plus we're on neighborhood watch. That meant if we do anything reckless, he'll be back down here immediately. Mom gave us a tight hug, "we'll call when we land." Dad hugged us too, telling us to behave and be safe.

Getting into the car Jason and I waving to them as they reversed from the driveway, not before my dad yelled out the window that I didn't want to hear from him: "NO SEX!"

"Oh my God, he did not just do that," I hid my face behind my Dave, mortified because some neighbors were walking by and heard.

"It's good advice for you," said Jason as he nudged me in the stomach. I pushed his shoulder and walked to the house.

"So it doesn't apply to you?"

"Nope, I'm a man." Jason declared, thrusting his chest out.

"You're an idiot." Opening the front door, I plopped on the couch and grabbed the remote to search what's on TV.

"I'm in charge of the house." He stood in front of the TV, his hands into a fist and on his hips making his stance like Superman.

"No, you're barely even home," I frowned to him, trying to see the TV behind him.

"Well, someone has to take care of you," he responded.

"I'm not a baby."

"You are a baby. My baby sister." He sat next to me, pinched my cheek. I rolled my eyes. Flipping the channels, it landed randomly on the TBS network.

My eyes began to feel heavy, we all woke up so early this morning around six am to help mom and dad pack. Dad went over the guidelines of being home alone, emergency money, numbers to contact them. Sleep succumbing over my body, I closed my eyes.

-&-

Sitting up now wide awake from my nap, 'Family Guy' on the screen and the space next to me is empty. The clock reading 8:15 p.m., I rubbed the crust from my eyes and my phone vibrated in my pocket, pulling it out with notifications of two missed texts from Jason: Went to a party. Mom and dad arrived to New york- big bro

'Good. ❤. What time are you coming back?'- Maria

'!'

I shook my head at his response. Take care of me, he says. Headed to the kitchen and checked around. "What's there to eat besides cereal?" I opened the fridge: ketchup, water, mayonnaise and a pot of stew mom made before leaving. Not in the mood for that tonight. I checked the freezer, spotting a microwavable Stouffer's lasagna. "Yay!" I screamed fist pumping the air. I placed it in the microwave and waited for the cheesy and saucy meal.

After I finished my dinner, I washed my dishes. The doorbell rang, I went to see the peephole, squinting hard. It was Scott, leaning against the door frame, wearing a jeans jacket with his black shirt and jeans hair messy he gave me a small smile. "Hi," I said opening the door to let him in.

"Hey," he spoke lowly as he entered. Closing the door, he made his way to the living room. I'm glad he's here but he seemed so despondent. Hair messy, posture slumped, he removed his jacket, placing it on the couch.

"Everything OK?" I asked.

"Yeah. Lacrosse season started, It's gonna be some long practices," he told me.

"Oh! I thought it started in the spring," I wondered.

"No, it's this season for the fall and ends at spring."

"Right." I nodded.

"Anyway the coach has the team practice Monday thru Thursday, he wants us to really win."

"I get it. I'm not gonna beg for us to spend more time with each other. I have my stuff to deal with too. Even trying to pick a play is time consuming, I'm working so hard for the principal to ok the 'Spring Awakening' musical but he's saying it's inappropriate and I suggested-" I rambled on, so I was caught by surprise when Scott started kissing me. Softly, his lips lingered on mine for a minute before we broke apart.

"I missed you," he said in a whisper, our foreheads touching.

"I missed you too." My head swimming and floaty. I didn't think he wants to talk about anything now that his tongue was in my mouth. Leading us to the couch, me on my back and him on top of me, caressing his soft hair, he began to run his fingers over my jawline. Kissing my collarbone and almost to my cleavage, he brought his lips back on mine more roughly.

"You taste like tomato sauce and ginger ale," he said making me giggle.

"I had lasagna for dinner," I responded.

"You already ate? I wanted to take you out."

"It's fine, Scott. You don't have to spend money on me tonight."

"You're right. You just saved me ten bucks." I punched him in the arm lightly, pushing him off to get up but he pushed me back down.

"We're not done here," he told me with a sly grin and we started kissing again. He ran his fingers over my stomach, pulling my shirt to take it off but I moved his hand away.

"Scott, no."

"Why not? We're dating now, we should"

"We've only been official for two weeks."

"Come on Maria!" he whined.

"Scott, don't beg." I crossed my arms and leaned back on the couch.

"I'm getting blue balls here. I haven't touched or kissed another girl since we've been dating."

"You should be proud of yourself. That's a real improvement," I clapped three times to him.

"Hahahahaha, you're so funny," he said sarcastically.

"I am? Thank you!" I gasped with a big smile, hand on my heart of his fake compliment.

"Seriously, let's just-"

"Scott, no. I know you want to and I do too," I started to explain, holding his hands with mine. "I'm not trying to be prudish or say our first time should be 'special'. It should at least be nice. I just want us to take things a little slow and get to know each other more."

"But we already know each other."

"Not really, let's just be more intimate without the physical."

"Why?"

"Do you not know how a relationship works?"

"Yeah, that's why I've avoided them for two years."

"Well you're in one now so get used to it," he pouted and lay back on the cushion, head up the ceiling with his eyes closed.

"So you want to get more intimate?" He opened his eyes to look at me, I nodded with a little enthusiasm. He grabbed my cheeks again but I reject his kiss. "Maria," he sighed frustrated, "for someone who's not being a prude, you're acting like it."

"I'm not, honestly. Just give it a little more time," I said.

"Okay how long more time?"

"Maybe two months?" It came out as a question, I pursed my lips to the side.

"Are you kidding me?" He frowned.

"You can't wait two more months?" I started to laugh but he glared at me.

"No." His anger was even funnier, holding my stomach and tears running down my face.

"Wow. Thank you for that," I wiped my face when I calmed down.

"Do you know that it's dangerous for a guy when they don't get any? I could really hurt my nuts." He said seriously.

I tried to stifle my laugh, hiding it with my hands.

"Well we can do other stuff." He smiled darkly.

"Not tonight." I shook my head dismissing the idea.

"Ugh," he groaned but I pecked him on the lips to reassure him.

"We'll chill in, watch a movie. You can stay over," I recommended.

"Like Netflix and Chill?" He raised his eyebrows, grinning widely.

"In a literal sense," I answered.

"You're parents aren't home?"

"No. they're in New York for a convention."

"What about Aaron and your brother?"

"Jason's out and I'm assuming he's with Aaron." He hummed an answered and sighed.

"Fine, but you owe me." I rolled my eyes.

Deciding on 'Man of Steel'. He pulled me in closer for a cuddle; I rested my head on his shoulder. My eyes started to close again, I am in serious need to sleep.

"Maria," Scott's voice in a whisper, he patted my cheek softly.

"Hmm?" I grumbled.

"The movie's over." I lifted myself up, rubbing my eyes, the screen on the guide and the on the clock read it's one am.

"Ok, come on," I grabbed his hand, pulling him up with me. Turning off the TV, lights, closing the curtains, made sure the stove was off and the doors are locked before I go to bed. It's a routine my family did before bed time. Scott waited for me until I finished, we headed upstairs hand in hand, I opened the door to my room. "You want a shirt or something? I have a large sized Nike shirt that can fit you." I offered him.

"Nice room. I can sleep in my boxers," he said to me while taking off his clothes, revealing his plaid black boxers.

"Thanks, it gets real cold at night." Marvelling his body, biting the inside of my cheek to hide my temptation

"Oh, so you're not wearing any pants tonight?" He wiggled his eyebrows while sitting on the edge of the bed, I gave him a blank stare.

"Do you want the shirt or not?"

"Let me see it." I pulled out the black shirt with a Nike symbol on it from my drawer. It's extra large, I bought it because there was none in my size, I still liked it.

"That's huge. I don't want your ex's hand me downs," he grimaced.

"It's not Tyler's, it's mine," I threw the shirt to his face, he smelled the collar, gave a nod before putting it on. I frowned before turning off my lamp. "Why did you smell it?"

"So I don't smell like a girl," he laid back on my pillow.

"I only wear that shirt during the summer." I replied. I got under the covers, getting comfortable on my side facing him. He held my hips gently, rubbing his thumbs on my skin.

"FYI, I tend to toss and turn a lot," I warned him, some nights I couldn't find comfort during sleep.

"Then I'll just have to hold you closer," he said, pulling me into his chest. He rubbed his hand at the small of my back, making me shiver a little. Staring into his hazel eyes, I melt again in his touch. It could be sooner than later when we do have sex, him touching me sensually was not making it easy for me either. He tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear, muttering to me goodnight, responding back to him and we both slept cuddled together.