VII
• • •

As soon as he took a bite of his burger he moaned, making me let out an unexpected laugh. I shook my head at him and took a bite of mine.

"So what happened? Should I beat anyone up?" He asked, taking a sip of his Diet Coke.

"No," I rolled my eyes," it was just the movie we watched.. there was a lot of stabbing and shit so, yeah," I told him.

"Are you okay?" He asked, looking into my eyes.

"Better now, yeah," I replied and gave him a small smile.

We talked about random shit until he brought up Cassidy.

"Did you ever call that girl you were talked about from the café?" He asked.

"Nope.. I'm honestly kinda scared to," I confessed.

"Why? Whatever she has to say can't be too bad if she's just now telling you after all this time," he reasoned.

"Yeah, that's true," I agreed, "I don't know though, something just feels so weird about it."

"Understandably so," he commented, stuffing his face with more fries. "It's not gonna go away if you keep avoiding it, though."

"I know, I know," I sighed. "I'm gonna call her tomorrow I think."

"Do you have any classes tomorrow?" He asked, and I shook my head no. "Wanna check out my college? You can meet my awesome roommate,"

"Is he cute?" I joked, and he playfully glared at me.

"No, actually, he isn't." He responded. We finished eating and paid the bill, then headed back out to his car.

"I'm excited to see your dorm," I said as we pulled out of the parking lot.

"There's isn't much to see.. it's not like I really decorated."

"You mean you didn't put my picture up all over the place?" I asked jokingly.

"Well, the cardboard cutout of you hasn't come in yet, so," he joked back.

"Oh, okay that's fine then," I replied. I heard a good song come on the radio and I turned it up, singing along.

"This song sucks," he yelled over the music.

"You suck," I yelled back.

"Nice one," he replied and chuckled.

A little while later, we arrived at his college. I looked around at the campus as we drove through. It looked pretty nice, for what I could see at least. When we got to the building, he put the car in park and took the keys out of the ignition.

"If you fall madly in love with him I'm gonna be pretty upset," he told me as we got out.

"Can't. I've already done that with someone else," I looked up at him and linked my arm through his.

"Who?" He asked and I rolled my eyes at him as he scanned his card, the door unlocking.

When we stepped on to the elevator and the doors closed, he wrapped his arms around my waist from behind me. I giggled as he pulled me closer to him and kissed my neck.

I brought my hand up to the side of his face and turned around, planting my lips on his with a smile. When the doors opened, I walked backwards and brought him out with both hands.

We walked through the halls until he stopped at a door. He shot me a look, bracing himself to see his roommate, and opened the door.

When we walked in, I immediately saw his roommate laying down on his bed with a playboy magazine open above his head. As soon as he saw us, he quickly chucked it on the floor beside his bed.

"What's uppp Ash-enator," he got off the bed and came over to greet us. He didn't try to hide the fact that he was intently checking me out. "I'm Trevor, and you are?"

"Taken.. she's taken bud," Ashton gave him a friendly pat on the chest and I rolled my eyes at Ashton.

"I'm Crystal, nice to meet you," I smiled.

"Likewise," he turned to Ashton and leaned against the wall. "You didn't tell me she was this hot."

"Yea, well, she is.. is that all?" He asked, his patience clearly running thin.

"Yup, I'm out.. Chad called me up and apparently there are some seriously hot babes over at the Conway dorms.. I'm gonna go scope the scene- you guys wanna join?" He asked excitedly and started towards the door.

"Nah, we're good," Ashton shot him a weird look, which he didn't notice.

"Let us know how nice and big their personalities are, though," I said sarcastically to him as he opened the door. His brows furrowed in confusion, not understanding my comment, but he quickly shrugged it off.

"I'll be back sometime tomorrow," he said and shut the door behind him.

"See? He's a prick," Ashton commented and went over to bolt the door.

"Can't argue with that one," I replied and looked around the room a little. There really weren't any decorations of Ashton's except for a tiny little finger painting of Jake's. I let myself reach out and touch the painting, a smile making it's way into my face.

"It's clear that my outstanding decorating ability hasn't rubbed off on you yet," I said over to him, referencing his boring side of the room. He came closer to me, and I turned to face him, sultry excitement instantly filling my body at the look in his eyes.

"Is that so?" He asked with a grin. My back ended up against the wall, his face inches from mine.

"Yeah, actually," it came out as a whisper, my lips longing to be on his. He smirked and brought his lips to mine.

My hands went up to behind his neck, with his gripping my waist and pressing me against the wall. After a few moments, he lifted me up and threw me down onto the bed. I let out a giggle as this happened.

He slipped his shirt off and crawled on top of me on the bed. He all but ripped my shirt off before kissing down my collar bone. I chuckled.

"Someone's eager tonight," I joked with him. I felt him smile against my skin, but not say anything back for a few moments.

"I'm just happy you're here," he replied, shifting to lay down completely on top of me, which made me laugh. He was basically squishing the air out of my lungs, but I couldn't help but love the feeling.

He rolled off of me after a few moments and wrapped his arm around me, bringing me into his side and leaning over to kiss the side of my neck. Then he moved up to plant a kiss on my forehead.

"What did I do to have such a cute boyfriend?" I asked, settling into his arm and looking up at him.

"Cute?" He asked.

"Yeah, like a big teddy bear," knowing it would annoy him, I reached up and poked his cheek. I couldn't help but chuckle at his reaction.

"Sorry, I always forget how fragile your masculinity can be," I joked, and he playfully glared down at me before placing a sweet kiss on my lips.

"Jake and Layla wanted me to tell you that they miss you," he told me, playing with my hair.

"I miss them, too," I frowned at the thought.

We talked about some more random stuff until I noticed he had drifted off. I nestled into his chest and tried to do the same.

"I've really missed you," I said against his chest, and smiled to myself when I felt his heartbeat pick up slightly under me when I slid my hand down his chest to rest on his lower abdomen.

His breath hitched when I traced my finger along his waistband, and I bit my lip at the small, deep noise that sounded from him when I slipped them slightly under it.

"I won't be able to sleep if you keep touching me like that," he told me, and I held back a chuckle.

"Do you want me to stop?" I opened my eyes to look up at him. His eyes were still closed, but his jaw kept clenching and unclenching, telling me that he was very much awake.

"No," he rasped out, and I smirked, bringing myself on top of him and bringing my lips to his neck, letting myself tease him. My hands slipped lower, and my eyebrows rose slightly at what I felt.

"Already?" I chuckled, and I could tell that he blushed a little as he kept his eyes closed.

"It doesn't take much from you," he told me, and something in me fluttered at it.

Deciding to go with it, I kissed him again, this time letting a little noise slip out that I knew would get him going even more. I felt his reaction to it, and held back another chuckle.

I palmed him gently threw his underwear, and he groaned softly as I kissed him deeply. I bit his bottom lip, and then trailed some kissed down his neck. He gripped my waist firmly, and it shot a blast of electricity through my core. I started feeling along the line of his underwear and kissing down his chest, but he quickly flipped me over and pinned me down. I shuttered and couldn't keep in my moan when he started kissing my neck.

"I've missed making you feel good," he spoke against my skin, and I let out a small whimper at it, which I felt him grin at. "And the little noises you make when I do," he added, and squeezed my waist. My back arched slightly.

I went to respond, but my breath caught in my throat when he slid his hand up my shirt and under my bra. He kissed down my neck and kept going, pushing up my shirt and kissing down my stomach. He slowly slid off my underwear, and I bit my lip as he kissed his way down my stomach.

And I could tell that he had missed making me feel good, because he then proceeded to pull out every little trick that he had in his pocket. He knew exactly how to get me going. His name was the only word I could remember as I breathed it out, the feeling of his tongue and fingers euphoric.

I felt my hands through his soft hair, pulling it slightly as everything in me clenched and unclenched, my hips wanting to roll upwards into him. It didn't take long for me to come completely undone under his touch. I failed at biting back my deep moan as my body practically convulsed, and my vision immediately blurred, my ears ringing. I breathed out, and the world around me didn't feel like reality. It felt like every star in the universe was shining within me.

"And I've missed that look you get on your face," I heard him say after a few long moments. I finally opened my eyes again and but my lip, still taking it in. He gave me a sweet kiss on the lips, but I finally gathered enough willpower to push him over. I smirked down at him from right above his face, the love in my eyes reciprocated by his.

"Right back at you," I told him, and he leaned up the final few inches to lock our lips, before I then slid down him and proceeded to return the favor.

* * *

I desperately tried to push my brother away from me, but he had already tackled me to the ground.

I tried to scream, yell, cry, but I couldn't move. I couldn't scream. I couldn't even move my eyes. I was dead.

He stabbed me and stabbed me, and I continued to mentally scream. I felt myself being shaken.

I woke up frantically, startled out of my sleep. I immediately realized that Ashton had been shaking me awake. I felt the tears that had been streaming down my face and quickly pulled him into a hug. I cried into his shoulder while he held me protectively and spoke softly to me in efforts to calm me down.

After a little while of me calming down, I pulled away and checked the time. It was 5 am.

"Shit.. sorry," I sighed.

"No worries, the earlier we wake up the more time I get to spend with you," he said and laced his fingers through mine. His morning voice and messy hair was always unnecessarily attractive. I gave him a small smile.

We got ready for the day and freshened up. It felt so good to shower, especially since the showers at his school were nicer than mine.

"Can we get coffee?" I asked as we got in the car.

"Duh, we should go to that café you work at," he suggested, pulling out of the space. I felt kind of bad that he was driving me back to my school, but I mean he's the one that offered, so..

"You won't get to see me in my little café uniform, though," I told him.

"That'll have to be next time, then," he responded. "Hey, uh," I started, sounding more serious. "How are you doing? You haven't had a nightmare in so long."

"Oh, um, well," I hesitated, "I actually have started having them again lately.."

"Crystal-"

"And before you say anything," I cut him off, "this is completely normal and they'll probably go away in a little bit and they-"

"Crystal." I looked over at him. "I know you're set on this being a new year and whatnot, but, that doesn't come from you trying to be happy all the time by ignoring the times you're not," he spoke. I didn't really know what to say.

A while later, we pulled up to the café and parked. I took his hand off my thigh and held it between my hands, getting his attention.

"If Seth's working, I want you to be nice," I warned and he chuckled.

"No promises, Summers."

We made our way into the café and rest assured, Seth was working the register. I sent a mental apology his way. When we got to the counter, he looked up.

"Oh hey Crystal," he smiled at me and I smiled back.

"How's it going Seth?" I greeted him. I felt Ashton wrap his arm around my waist, now knowing this was Seth, and I stopped myself from rolling my eyes. Seth looked over at Ashton and gave him a friendly smile. Which as you could probably assume, was barely returned- if at all.

"Seth, this is my boyfriend Ashton," I introduced them and Seth cleared his throat.

"Did you know you're dating a Dunkin girl," Seth joked to him. See, Seth doesn't like Dunkin.. which is a sin in my opinion.

"Yeah I did, actually," Ashton replied stiffly and I didn't hold back my eye roll this time.

"Okay, how about you go sit in that corner booth and I'll be right over," I pushed him away from me and gave him a stern look. I legitimately felt like a mom trying to tell her kid to be polite. He nodded and gave Seth one last sarcastic smile before heading over to the booth.

"Sorry about him, we're working it," I laughed it off, referring to his lack of hospitality.

"No worries, I'd be threatened by me, too," he joked and we laughed.

"I won't tell him you said that," I replied and then ordered our drinks.

Ashton and I drank our coffee and honestly had a really nice time. I was sad when he had to leave. I told him I would walk back to my dorm because it was a nice walk. We stood up and I gave him a big hug next to the booth. Being the petty bitch he was, he brought me in and planted a kiss on my lips for Seth to see.

"You're ridiculous," I chuckled when we pulled away. He continued to smirk down at me.

"You love it," he said and picked up his phone and keys. "See you soon."

"See ya," I said and sat back down in the booth, watching him walk out and to his car. My face fell a little again as I was left alone.

I pulled my phone out of my pocket and opened up my contacts. Hesitantly, and with a deep breath, I clicked on Cassidy's contact and texted her about a time to meet up.

She replied almost instantly, saying that now worked for her. I blinked, not knowing how to respond.. I didn't know if I was ready.

Stop being a little bitch, Crystal. I told myself. Thanks self, I needed that.

Okay, where should we meet up?

I felt my heart beating fast as I waited for her reply. She texted me to meet her at a park close by. I let out a stressed sigh and and started walked back to my dorm after saying bye to Seth.

* * *

I continued to take deep breaths as I drove. It would be fine. There really wasn't anything too crazy that could happen. Right?

I eventually got there, parked, and stepped out of my car. Shortly after locking my car and starting to walk, I spotted her sitting on a bench. I looked up to the sky and back down, then started walking over to her.

"Cassidy," I caught her attention with a smile. However, my face immediately fell and I all but stumbled backwards.

I must have been in a fucking nightmare or something. I had to. I was dreaming. This was a dream.

Sitting next to her on the bench was my brother when he was 3 or 4. Tears immediately swelled up in my eyes as I looked closer at him.

"I'm so sorry I never told you guys sooner," she started, and I looked at her confused as hell.

Wait a minute.. that's not my brother. This isn't a dream.

"This is Connor.. Me and John's son."

• • •

Heyyy guyss

Did you expect that?? Hehe

P.S. you'll get smut later on- patience my children.. lol

QOTD: What are your favorite names?

>>> I've put most of them in this book, haha.

Be safe and wash yo hands!

Stay beautiful,
Briella