Chapter 7 

Drive with Mr. Player

ALEX 

I don’t want to do it. Parting my lips from his are probably the one of the hardest thing I have come across in a while. But I have to part my lips from his, even if it’s only for a fraction of a second. I need to breathe, don’t I? But his lips are on mine, and we are kissing so furiously, it seems impossible to do it. I’m scared that if I remove my lips from his, the magic that has evolved between us, this weird connection, would break. But alas, I do what I must—I part my lips from his and gasp for air as I stare into his sparkling blue-green eyes. They look better in the morning light, so much better than in the dark.

The flavor of his tongue is making me crazy. My head is spinning. All this seems so unreal. But it is true after all. I am kissing Dylan Kennedy, commonly known as Mr. Player. I know I shouldn’t, but I am. And I know I shouldn’t be enjoying it, but I still am. Again, the painful parting comes. I feel his slightly warm breath on my skin. It sends tingles down my spine. Damn, he’s too good at this—this art of kissing. I don’t blame all the girls for kissing him if this is how he makes them feel every time their lips touch his. If kissing was a business, he’d be a billionaire.

His hand slowly travels down my back and stops on my hips. He squeezes me closer to him. God, I’ve never been this close to any guy. Till last night, I hadn’t been kissed, and now—now things are so different. I’m openly making out with a guy I barely know up against a tree.

Wait a second…What the hell am I doing?!

I push Dylan away from me and stare at him with a horrified expression on my face. He just smirks knowingly, like he knows how the kiss we just had affected me.

“What the hell?!” I curse angrily and turn away to walk towards my car. I suddenly feel his hands around my arm and a strong pull. Then I crash straight into his rock-hard abs. “What the hell do you think you’re doing!?” I hiss angrily.

“Enjoying myself?” He says smirking. He starts leaning towards me again, his eyes never leave mine, and for a second I actually feel hypnotized by them. My body goes rigid and stops functioning and all I can do is helplessly stand there and let him do what I want.

But that only lasts for a second or two. Before he can close the gap between us even further, I shrug off his hands. “Let me go you dumb-ass!” I say and push him off again, but in vain, he is just too strong.

“That’s hard. I mean I just can’t let you go…” he brushes his lips softly against mine, causing shivers to run down my body, tickling me everywhere. Damn! This is so not good. I don’t mean his lips brushing on mine thing. (That feels beyond awesome) No, the bad thing is, the way I’m feeling when he’s doing this.. Or the way it feels whenever he touches me, whenever we’re close. The way it feels to never want to let go.

I turn my face away from him, as one last try for him to stop. His lips are not on mine anymore. Instead, they are just a little above my neckline. He places a soft kiss there too. 

Oh god, somebody make him stop!

“Stop it or I’m going to kick you so hard that you won’t be able to walk for a week” I speak up, finally being able to catch my breath. My voice comes out a little shaky and strained, but I say what I want to clearly. I don’t want him doing this. I’m not like those girls he’s used to, the one who let him do whatever he wants—no, I’m not like that and I’ll never be.

“I don’t understand…” he mumbles to himself. I don’t bother asking him what he doesn’t understand. I just want to make the most of this moment by rushing off to my ford fiesta instead of going into his black sports car; too bad though, I don’t succeed. He is blocking my path.

“Look, I’m sorry. It’s just that it gets a little hard to control myself when I’m around you. Ever since that kiss you gave me last night, I can’t help but want more.” He says. My mouth drops open in shock. What did he just say?! I take in a huge amount of air and shut my mouth again. I can’t help but stare at him in shock.

“Look, I’m serious okay? You’re a really good kisser. I won’t mind kissing you again, you’re too good! Almost as good as me.” he starts smirking again as he says this. Oh how I want to remove that sexy smirk off his gorgeous face! I decide to keep a good (safe) distance from him and head towards his car. I mean what choice do I have. He won’t stop bothering me until I do as he says. I sit on the passenger seat of his car. He starts the engine and we leave for school. We don’t talk much during the journey. He silently drives while I stare out of the window. The trees pass by in a blur, he is driving really fast.

“Alex?” he prompts suddenly. It startles me. I hadn’t thought he’d be interested in conversing at all. In fact I’d started thinking that maybe he was regretting his decision of giving me a ride to school.

“Yes?” I reply, glancing at him from the corner of me eyes. I don’t know why but I’m getting a weird feeling in the pit of my stomach.

“How do you do it? I mean how are you able to resist me? How can you be so different from the other girls?” he says. He sounds really exasperated. Like this thing has been bothering him for some time now.

“Well, I never said I was like all the girls. I’m unique.” I reply back smartly, hoping he’ll drop the topic now and get back to driving. Alas, he does no such thing.

“What I mean is, how do you resist me? All the girls I know are crazy for me, except you. You’re different. You don’t like me at all. Why?”

“One, you don't know me, so you cannot count me as the ‘girls you know’. You don’t know anything about me except my name. Two, maybe me not being all gaga for you has something to do with you messing around with all these girls and then dumping them away, like used-up tissue papers. You seriously disgust me. How can you do this? I mean, don’t you feel bad at all?!” I blurt out angrily before I can stop myself.

There, I’ve done it again. I’ve opened my big mouth and said things I shouldn’t have. What he does is none of my business, so then why am I going around, telling him that what he does is wrong? I’m so impulsive, why don’t I think before doing something?

“Oh” is all he can muster up to say. His face stares ahead blankly. I’m sure no girl has ever talked to him like this before. I sigh and turn away and continue to stare outside. But soon the silence in the car starts to bother me. It starts bothering em to the point that I cannot take it anymore.

“Look, I’m sorry. I know it’s none of my business what you do with all those girls or why you do it. As long as I or someone I know is not in the picture, it’s none of my business. Who am I to stop you? We’re not even friends. So go on. Go and mess around with all the girls. Kiss them, hold their hands, and take them on dates and then break their hearts. Heck! Go and have sex with each one of them and end up with HIV AIDS. It’s none of my business.” I say, still not meeting his gaze.

We drop the subject then.

“Your mom is nice. I like her. I mean, she’s really sweet. You both look so much alike. I mean you’ve got dark brown locks just like her and your face is so much alike, but your eyes…they’re not hazel. They’re brown…like your dad, I suppose?”

I bite my lip and nod. Silently hoping he won't continue onto this topic and keep talking about my dad. I don’t ever discuss my dad with anyone—not mum, not even Tia. It’s a taboo topic for me, it makes me really uncomfortable.

“So, what’s his profession? He left pretty early I mean. If he would have been there, I would have seen him eating breakfast or something. Is he out of town?” Dylan asks casually.

I sit there silently for a second or two, silently contemplating how to make him change the subject of our conversation. After a lot of thinking, I decide to tell him the truth. Not the whole truth of course, but tell him that my dad doesn’t live with us. “Oh, uh…umm…dad doesn’t live with us. My mom’s divorced.” I say slowly. I feel my insides twist and my throat starts to clog.

“Oh, I’m sorry.” He replies, sounding slightly take-aback. He clearly feels uncomfortable now too, like bringing up the topic was a big mistake.

“No, it’s okay.” I mumble. I feel something warm and wet trickle down my cheek. Shit, I’m crying. How long has it been since I’ve cried because of my dad? A while, yes. I silently curse myself for losing it and start crying right here in front of this stranger. Dylan glances at me at the same time and on seeing me crying, he immediately stops the car.

“Alex, are you okay? Shit! You’re crying. What happened?” he looks so…concerned. Why is he concerned? Who am I to him but a stranger? And isn’t he supposed to be a jerk? After all he’s an expert in trampling over people’s feelings? So why does he look so concerned?

“Alex, talk to me. What is wrong?” He slowly tilts my chin upwards, so that my gaze meets his. I quickly look away and wipe off my tears. Damn! I’m so stupid. I randomly started crying in front of him! Geez, how bad can I get? I feel like vanishing off in thin air right now. This is so embarrassing. This is the second time I've started crying in front of him.

“Is it because of your…dad? I’m sorry. But I seriously had no clue. I’m—I’m really sorry.” he says, looking really uncomfortable. Clearly, he’s not used to girls crying. He doesn’t know what to say or do, that’s why he’s simply sitting in front of me, looking all awkward. I’m sure he wants to bolt right out of here.

 “No, it’s not your mistake of course. It’s just…nothing.” My voice comes out as a whisper.

Maybe it’s my tone of voice that finally makes him realize that I’m not comfortable talking about it. He finally drops it. “Alright, I believe you. I won’t bug you with questions and all…sorry.” I nod slightly and he starts the car again. After this he keeps glancing at me from time to time, probably to make sure I'm not crying. By the looks of it, I know he's wondering why I suddenly started crying so much. Not that he’s going to find out any time soon.

**** 

“Stop the car. Stop it! Stop it now!” I suddenly exclaim, taking Dylan by surprise. He looks really startled.

“But why? School is like three to four blocks from here.” He says, looking confused. Small worry lines crease his forehead.

I try to ignore how adorable he looks while he confused. “I absolutely have no problem with that. I can walk to school from here.” 

“You don’t need to. I’m dropping you off to school, remember?”

“I don’t want you to! Don’t you get that? I already have a car! I don’t even know why I’m here in the first place.” I say as clearly as possible.

“But I want to give you a lift to school!”

“You don’t have to do anything, alright? I don’t want you to driving me to school and back. I repeat I have a car. Why would I want you to drive me around? Please stop the car.”

“No, I won’t” he replies adamantly.

“Yes, you will.”

“No I will not”

“Yes you will or I will jump off the car.” I say; my expression serious and my tone adamant.

“You would not!” he exclaims, sounding shocked.

“Oh really? Wanna give it a try? Watch me!” I threaten him. Of course I will not jump. I’m not that stupid. But I’m seriously enjoying this, his slightly frightened expression. I open the door of his speeding car to make him think that I’m really about to jump.

“Hey, are you crazy?! Shut the door!” he shouts.

“Then stop the car.” I reply back coolly.

“Fine!” he exclaims. He has given up, I can see it in his expressions, and hear it in his voice. He drives the car aside and parks it under a tree. He immediately turns to look at me, his eyes narrowing down on me. “What the hell is wrong with you?! Are you insane?” he exclaims, sounding pissed.

I snort. “No, I’m not insane. It’s just that I have no interest for the whole school to see me with you, Mr. Player.” I reply back honestly.

Dylan gives an exasperated sigh. I know I can be a pain in the butt whenever I want to, and I enjoy it too. "Why? What's wrong with you?! You're getting to drive with me! Dylan Kennedy! Girls would kill to get a drive in my car with me!"

I snort again. "Puh-leez! I'd prefer walking a hundred miles then spending it with you in your car."

"What is your problem?!" He sounds so exasperated, and so irritated. I don’t know why but I’m enjoying this thoroughly.

"You! Yes, you are my problem. Ever since yesterday, at the party, you just won’t leave me alone. Why can’t you leave me the hell alone!?” We glare at each other continuously, our eyes narrowed down onto each other, not leaving the others for even a second, not even blinking.

Dylan is the first one to give-up. “Fine then, miss stubborn. You are free to go.” I happily get off the car, smiling to myself triumphantly. “But not without me.” He adds, and gets off the car too. I turn around to glare at him, all the happiness leaving my body immediately, making it go cold.

“And what about your car?” I say cocking my eyebrows enquiringly. My hands wrap themselves around each other below my chest and I stand there in front of him demandingly.

“Who cares if someone steals my baby? I mean it’s a beautiful car. Crooks would love to have it. But I can’t leave such a beautiful girl like you alone on the streets. Cities aren’t safe, especially for a hot chick like you” He says sounding really concerned and worried.

I narrow my eyes at him. I know he is just exaggerating about the “cities aren’t safe” part. But his car can get stolen, that is true. Besides, car or no car he is coming, which is definitely not something I want.

I make a face at him and then groan. "Why can’t you just leave me alone!?"

"Because, I'm interested in you!" He exclaims. My heart skips a beat when he says he's interested in me. It's so surprising. No one ever notices me—ever. I'm plain, and ordinary and boring and...Me. No one ever gives me a second look. And now the school's hottest guy here is standing in front of me and is saying he's interested in me! This seems so unbelievable.

Not that it changes anything. Interested or not, I don’t want to be seen with him. I keep thinking about how to get rid of him and then finally get the perfect idea. “Okay, let’s go by your car. But, I’ll drive!” I chirp.

“No way!” he exclaims. I giggle, my plan is working. I know how guys are totally passionate about their cars. They don't like it when someone else even touches them. Then the idea of him letting me drive it was next to impossible. So this means I'll finally be getting rid of him. Yay for that!

“Yes way, or else…I’ll walk; you bring your car” I say, smirking. Finally things are going my way. Any minute now, he’ll give up and drive away and I can happily walk to school on my own.

“Damn!” he mutters. I start crazy dancing right there on the street. He glares at me as I do. I simply laugh in return. I’ve finally emerged victorious. Now he has no choice at all. He has to leave me alone.

But alas, my happiness is short-lived. “Okay, you drive” he tosses me the keys. “But with care. I love my baby, don’t let anything happen to her, or I swear I’ll kill you.”

My mouth drops open. He's okay with me driving? Damn! I guess I won't be getting rid of him anytime soon. “Wow, at least you love a car, if not a girl, Mr. Casanova.” I say snidely. I turn to look at his car. It’s gorgeous, no kidding at all. I guess I’ll make the most of this chance and just drive this amazing car. I get into the driver’s seat as Dylan gets into the passenger’s seat. I start the engine, the car roars to life and we set off.