Chapter Fourteen

Holly hopped into the van, climbing into the back seat. Cynthia took a seat next to her, Jayden and Landon choosing the front row, and Hannah drove with Paige in shotgun. Hannah and Paige were cheering from the front seats, their excited voices chattering on about the thrilling win. Instead of joining in on the conversation, Cynthia immediately turned to her best friend. "What was that all about?" she demanded, her eyes smug.

"I don't know what you're talking about," stuttered Holly, her cheeks pink.

"Maybe it was just me, but I could have sworn Matt was going to kiss you," she commented slyly.

Holly shrugged, trying to act nonchalant. "He probably wanted to," she agreed evasively. "You know he likes me, C."

"What seemed even crazier," Cynthia went on mischievously, "is that it looked like you were going to kiss him back."

"Maybe I would have," Holly hedged, squirming.

"I knew it," Cynthia giggled. "You do like him. How many dates have you two been on?"

"H-how did you know we've gone out?" stammered the black-haired girl.

Cynthia rolled her eyes as if it were obvious. "I didn't know for sure until just now," she smiled, "but you didn't answer my question."

"Two dates," Holly admitted.

"It's about time!" Cynthia sighed dramatically. "You've been crazy for him since last year!"

Holly was suddenly aware of her interested brothers' listening ears. "Not really," she lied. "I've just recently realized how great he is."

"Oh sure!" Cynthia winked. "I'm sure your staring at him and loss of words every time his name came into conversation for the past year has been nothing but friendly thoughts."

Holly flushed. "You're exaggerating!" she declared, praying that her crush hadn't been so obvious.

Ignoring her, Cynthia pressed, "Do you think it's anything serious?"

Landon turned around in his seat. "Yeah, Holly. Is it?"

"No," Holly rolled her eyes, tired of the inquisition. "We haven't even kissed yet." She glared at Landon, who appeared pleased with himself.

"Don't worry, Holly," Landon winked. "I'll watch out for you." Holly knew he meant that literally.

"Thanks," she replied, moaning internally.

"We're here!" Paige announced. "And look who's already here?"

Holly glanced up. Ben Lakes stood, leaning against the Heart's brick wall, acting cool. Next to him stood Matt, looking as handsome as ever, even after a sweaty football game. Holly's heart skipped, and heat rushed into her face, but, this time not from embarrassment.

"Oh come on!" shouted Ben, stomping his feet on the ground.

"Another win?" wondered Brad Falls, who, despite being a sophomore in college, came to celebrate with his old team, in awe.

"Read it and weep, boys," Cynthia grinned, pulling her arms behind her head and leaning back into the soft cushions.

"You couldn't have gotten so many kills!" exclaimed Ben, looking frustrated. He let his control drop in his lap. "You're a girl."

"A girl that beat you," remarked Cynthia, raising her eyebrow.

Landon, who sat next to her on the sofa, punched her arm playfully. "Well, we'll see how you hold up that killing streak in the next level," he challenged.

"Yeah, we will see," she answered firmly, her voice firm.

Why am I here? thought Jayden, his eyes struggling to remain open as he listened to the buzz of the party. More than anything, he wanted his bed. Even his pillow would be a sweet relief.

"Jayden," Hazel cut into his fantasies of sleep. "Isn't it hard?"

"Is what hard?" he asked, confused.

"The no love rule," explained Paige.

Before he could respond, Hannah answered for him, "Of course it's hard! I know I couldn't stand being forbidden from dating."

"How do you cope?" asked Hazel curiously.

"I don't really think about it," Jayden answered truthfully.

The girls gasped. "Impossible!" declared Paige. "You must've had a crush at some point! Wouldn't you like a girlfriend?"

"No," Jayden repeated. "I've always wanted to be a doctor, and I know the rules."

"You poor thing," Hannah gushed in that way that girls do.

"I don't need some stupid girl to make me happy," snapped the blind boy, his eyes narrowed in annoyance.

"You don't need girls?"

"Are you calling us stupid?"

"How rude!"

The three cheerleaders stomped away, leaving Jayden alone at the table. Great, he thought, Now I've offended them! He sighed before shrugging it off. He was growing tired of their, or any sort of, company, anyhow.

"Come on," chuckled Matt, grabbing Holly's hand. "I think I saw a clear room down the hall way. What do you say?"

"I say," giggled Holly, "that that sounds perfect."

Matt began to lead her around the couch and out of the living room.

Holly's heart was beating wildly. She knew this was would be their first kiss together, and even more significant, it would be her first kiss ever. She couldn't think of any other boy she would rather be with. His green eyes held hers, and suddenly he was the only person in the world.

"Eh hem," coughed an all too familiar voice. "Where do you think you're going?"

Holly ripped her eyes away from Matt unwillingly and moved them instead toward Landon. "That's none of your business," she snapped, tired of his over-protectiveness.

"I do believe it is," he disagreed, standing from the couch. "You're my sister, after all."

"This is between Matt and I," retorted Holly. "Get out of it."

By this point, everyone in the room was watching. Even the boys had paused their video games. "Ooh," crowed Ben with a booming laugh. "This is getting interesting.

"No, I will not get out of it," snapped Landon, throwing his hands in the air. "You hardly know the guy, and you're just going to let him lead you on? I thought you were smarter than-"

Holly had more than half a mind to slap the cocky bronze-haired boy. She stepped toward him, her eyes nothing more than cold slits. She opened her mouth to send a scathing retort when Matt pulled her to his side tightly.

"You know," he grinned. "What's the point in hiding it?"

Matt swiftly spun raven-haired girl back into his arms, leaning her down half-way to the ground. Her hair draped off from her shoulders. She couldn't breathe, captivated by his glowing green eyes. She tipped her chin up, and the brown-haired boy pressed his lips softly to hers. Holly wrapped her arms around his next and returned the favor passionately.

The crowd, whom Holly had forgotten all but about, giggled, cawed, and cheered. She didn't care that Landon was glowering at her side, or that she would be the topic of Forest Creek High for the next several weeks. She didn't care that Cynthia was smugly watching, or that Jayden, despite being blind, probably had his back turned. All that mattered was that the most beautiful, perfect boy was holding her in his arms.