Don't Make This Easy, I Want You to Mean It

“You have our CD’s!” Alex screamed, leaping off the chair he had been stood on to reach my CD collection, which was stored above the TV set. It was the stupidest place for a shelf, but it had been the only spare space for my stupidly large collection of CDs, but at least we had a stool on hand to help us reach it. My dad’s handyman skills had come in really helpful when Marissa and I were getting ourselves settled in, considering we had no other men in our lives who could possibly help. “Jack! Did you know this? My favourite girl likes us! She has our CDs! How great is that?!” I saw Jack roll his eyes and suppressed a giggle. It was past midnight and we were all crashed out on the sofa, listening to music and attempting to carry on a conversation. Alex had been just as tired as us less than five minutes ago, however his turn at picking the music had led to the discovery of his own music. Honestly, I absolutely adored Alex’s voice on both of them, but I’d never admitted that to Jack, instead playing it cool until he forced the discs on me and I had to admit that his band was okay. Ever since then, he’d been trying to convince me to come to one of his shows, but I’d never had the inclination to meet any of his other friends or become part of the throng of girls surrounding Alex, so I’d never gone. Alex threw the CD into my old hifi system, turning the volume up a little before returning to me as the music began to play. His arm curled itself around my waist, almost upon instinct, as if second nature to him already, and I rested my head softly against his shoulder. He sang softly in time with himself and I closed my eyes, listening to him as his chest vibrated, almost lulling me to sleep.
“I think it’s time we went to bed,” Marissa spoke up, only a couple of songs into the disc. I opened my eyes, seeing her stood in front of us, hand in hand with Jack, who had the smallest hint of triumph and awe pulling at his lips.
“Oh, ‘we’ are, are ‘we’?” I asked, raising my eyebrows at the pair and smirking. Marissa scoffed lightly, silently reminding me that I was wrapped up in Alex like it was nobody’s business.
“Yes, we are. And by we, I mean Jack and I. Goodnight guys.” I waved her off, saving all my innuendoes for the morning, allowing the pair of them to walk to her room and close the door softly.
“Ten bucks says they hook up on or before Saturday night.”
“I give it until Sunday morning. Hook ups happen at 2am, Holly.” I snorted at his words, though had to admit just how apt it usually was. 2am was pretty much the time most of us would be a drunken mess, though right before we were too far gone to know what was going on. If 2am rolled around, you either picked a guy for the night, or you dragged yourself home to your bed. Anything that happened after that was bad news. Trust me.
“You’re on, Gaskarth. Before midnight, you owe me ten bucks. After 2am, I owe you ten bucks. Deal?” Alex laughed lightly, shaking my hand to seal the deal. I let out a yawn as I sank back into him, closing my eyes once again.
“Go to bed, Hols.”
“No,” I grumbled. “I don’t want to be alone, and I don’t wanna leave you out here by yourself all night.”
“I’ll be here in the morning. Don’t worry your pretty little head. Just go and get some rest.” I pouted lightly, opening my eyes at him, while trying to ignore the way my heart skipped a beat at the tiny little bit of concern he felt over me.
“I’m not going to let you stay out here, listening to your own CD, by yourself, like a loser. I’d feel bad.”
“I’m sure you’ll be asleep before you can dwell on it too much. You’ve almost fallen asleep on me more than once already.” I blushed lightly, though didn’t argue. Alex’s voice had almost put me to sleep a couple of times tonight, so I wasn’t going to tell him otherwise.
“Come with me,” I said quickly, biting my lip and hoping I didn’t seem too presumptuous or give him the wrong impression. “That way, neither of us will be alone, I won’t feel guilty, and you won’t feel shit in the morning after sleeping on my god-awful couch. Trust me when I say it’s not comfortable, nor do I have any halfway decent blankets or pillows to spare.”
“I thought you’d never ask,” he laughed, taking my hand and pulling me from the couch. I grabbed the CD as we went by the player, following Alex into my room and putting it into my much smaller player in here.
“Turn around,” I ordered, letting go of his hand and grabbing my pyjamas as I made my way to the other side of my bed.
“Aw, come on Holly!” He tried to protest, pouting at me lightly and causing me to roll my eyes at him and fold my arms over my chest.
“I’m not turning you on.”
“Are you ever going to let me forget that?”
“Never. I’m going to use it against you forever. Now turn around.” Alex groaned loudly, though turned around as requested, pout still firmly on his lips. I pulled the top over my head, quickly shimmying on my clothing and making my way back over to Alex, wrapping my arms around him to let him know I was ready.
“You do realise there’s a mirror in front of me, right?” I glanced up, noting that Alex was stood in front of my dressing table and the mirror thereon, my cheeks beginning to burn as I scolded him for his words. “Relax, Holly. I didn’t peek, I promise. Besides, I love it when you blush, but I’m not sure why you do it so often. Do I make you nervous?”
“A little,” I admitted, removing my arms from him and allowing him to turn around and face me. He chuckled lightly, kissing my forehead and grinning at me.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart, you make me more than just a little bit nervous.” My knees buckled a little and I felt such a surge of gratitude, just knowing that I wasn’t alone in the way I was feeling. I’d given up trying to convince myself that it was all just words, and felt myself beginning to fall under his spell, just like all the girls before me. I was just as independent and strong as I had been before, but being around Alex just made me feel a little less alone in it all and I genuinely wanted to keep him by my side. “Come on, get to bed. You look like you’re going to pass out at any second.”
“Like I haven’t heard that before,” I grumbled, though allowed him to push me back and onto my bed, where I quickly jumped under the covers and got myself comfortable.
“The only difference is, I mean it in a lot less of a pervy way than you’re used to. Trust me, this is for your own good, not just so I can get in your pants.”
“Yeah, not just so you can get in my pants.” Alex laughed at my sullen tone and I let a smile form on my face. Alex began stripping off his clothes ready for the night, leaving only just his boxers on as he made his way to the vacant side of my bed. “See, you’re even getting naked in preparation. I see how it is, Alex: you’re just here to have your way with me and be gone. I’m not that easy,” I joked as he slipped under the covers.
“Jesus Christ, Holly. If I was just here to have my way with you, my moves would be a lot better than they have been so far.”
“Oh, so you’ve been making moves on me?” I asked, feigning innocence.
“Ninja moves,” he confirmed. “So smooth you didn’t even notice. I’m playing a long game. Soon you’re going to realise your body is aching for me and I’m gonna act like I have no idea what’s happening when you finally break down and beg me to have my way with you.” I snorted lightly.
“If anyone is going to be doing any begging, it’s going to be you. Haven’t you heard? I might be the biggest slut in school, but I’m also the biggest tease. You’ll be on your knees by the end of the week.”
“Is that a challenge, Jasey Rae?”
“There is no challenge, Gaskarth. I’m the biggest flirt in our school, and I’ve mastered the art of teasing to get what I want. You will be on your knees by the end of the week if I want you there.” I sat up, leaning against the headboard as Alex looked at me mischievously.
“You really think you’re the true ruler of our school? You don’t think I could break you if I wanted?”
“Alex, I’ve known you three days, and I’ve already managed to get you into my bed, half-naked, just by pouting at you. Who do you think is pulling the strings here?”
“Please. It’s all part of my master plan.” I glanced at Alex, noting the arrogant look on his face before biting my lip softly and looking at him innocently.
“I mean, are you sure?” I asked quietly, batting my eyelashes at him. “Oops, hold on,” I said, seeing him open his mouth to respond to me. “You know, I think I dropped something down my top earlier.” I looked down at my chest, pulling the top away from my body and adjusting myself, feigning like I was looking for something. “I guess I was wrong,” I told him, pouting and looking up from my chest. Alex looked at me with a little awe, trying to act as if I’d had no effect on him. He cleared his throat quickly. “Yeah, and that was my worst move. Bring it on,” I said, dropping all pretence of innocence and laughing at him.
“What are you? I mean, fuck.”
“I’m the biggest tease you’ve ever met. Are you still up for the challenge?”
“Oh, you are damn straight,” he laughed. “I love a good challenge and you’re quite possibly the only person I’ve ever met who might actually be a challenge.”
“Oh, Alex, you have no idea,” I laughed, letting out a yawn.
“And you need to go to sleep, Hols.” I pouted, but turned and switched the lamp off next to me, settling back into the bed.
“Goodnight, Alex.”
“Goodnight, Holly.” He shuffled underneath the covers, moving closer to me and putting his arm around me.
Alex’s voice was the last thing I heard that night, and I wouldn’t admit this to anyone else, but I fell asleep with a smile on my face for the first time I remember. My ego aside, the boy had me exactly where he wanted me, now he could make or break me as he chose.

Notes

It's crazy to think the original of this was half the length of this rewrite.
What a difference seven years makes...