Part Two

My eyes that had originally closed somewhat unconsciously find themselves open again and I notice his are open too. But we're still kissing, me finally returning some of the pressure he started using. And oddly, it's not all that bad. That doesn't change that I now need to breathe.

We are both panting a little after we disconnect. Neither of us moves, our bodies awkwardly meshing together. This was definitely not part of the deal.

"You think you could…" I begin, continuing the thought by motioning to the empty space beside us.

"Oh, yeah, sorry," he replies, moving smoothly off of me.

"Alright, I'll admit, that wasn't bad."

"Third time's a charm," he says with a wink, looking ready to lean in again, but I hold out a hand to pause the action.

"I think the last one was good enough. We can't look too rehearsed or people will think we've been secretly dating or something…"

"You really don't want to try again?" Freddie asks with disappointment etched on his face.

I wish I didn't, but I kinda enjoyed the feeling of attempt two. It wasn't necessarily spark-ish or anything, it just felt different somehow.

"Alright, this is the last one though, okay?"

We both lean in together this time and mutually contribute from the beginning. When I fall back again, it's on purpose. What should have been a kiss turns into more like ten, lasting long enough for me to end up on top of Freddie although we started out the other way around.

At some point we just kind of stop, but rather than move and readjust ourselves to a neutral position, I rest my head on his shoulder while facing sideways over the left side of his body. I've never cuddled with someone before, or even kissed while in a guy's bedroom now I think about it. Before my thoughts can wander deeper his voice interrupts.

"My mom probably shouldn't find us like this…"

I nod in understanding, although I am tempted to let her do exactly that since I've discovered how comfortable this feels. He looks at me expectantly when we're still in the same position a minute late. Right, it'd be easier for him to get up if I moved first. What was I waiting for?

I slide off smoothly, landing beside him. We move similarly into sitting positions except he doesn't pause, getting up to return to the computer chair so there's more distance between us. With perfect timing, Mrs. Benson enters the room. I smile at her innocently as she peeks between us.

"It's time for dinner. I know you lied about eating your lunch. I'll have to send someone over to install feeding tubes if you skip another meal," she threatens seriously, looking directly at Freddie.

I don't know whether to be scared or laugh. She probably would do something like that.

"No mom, it's fine. I'm actually hungry," he responds, jumping up to head for the kitchen.

I follow Freddie and his mom out of his room and decide it's a good time to leave.

"Uh, Spencer probably has dinner ready for me too. I'll see you at school tomorrow, Freddie?"

"Yeah, but I might stop by tonight too. If that's alright?"

His mom seems a tad suspicious at his sudden recovery and I'm not sure whether a refusal or approval will add to it more. I wish Sam was spending the night so I'd have a good excuse to tell him not to come over.

"Sure, maybe we can see if anyone posted video responses to our last broadcast?" I suggest weakly, at a loss for better ideas.

I wave on my way out the door and sigh as I greet Spencer when returning to our loft.

"Uh oh…that doesn't sound like a sigh of relief," Spencer analyzes from his position in front of the stove.

"Sam owes me a whole lot more than money this time."

"You didn't try to apologize for her, did you?"

"Are you kidding? If I were to apologize to Freddie for her I'd be over there for a few weeks reciting things I'm sorry about…"

"Right, what was I thinking?" Spencer smirks, looking up from the pan that he was currently pouring the contents of into a large bowl.

I spend an hour in front of the television, not having any other homework to do since I finished reading the last chapter of our assigned reading earlier. Spencer has gone out to store to stock back up on a bunch of food supplies we've run out of, even after I protested that it could wait until tomorrow. The knock on the door doesn't surprise me at all, and neither does the person I see when I open it.

"Come on in," I gesture to him, turning around after I close the door and walking over to the computer on the counter to turn it on.

"You think we could wait on checking the videos? There were the same nine up when I looked a half hour ago," Freddie explains as I turn around to check on any intention I might find behind his expression.

"Okay…" I agree nervously, certain I'm not going to like what's on his mind.