Unbreakable (Accidental Crush #3)

by Adrienne Torrisi

  “Oh, yeah?” I question as I bite my bottom lip. I’m not sure what we are doing here in the middle of the night.

  He gives me his crooked smile as he opens his car door. “Yup. Come on.”

  I return his smile as he opens the door for me. “Um … I’m pretty sure the pool is closed.”

  “Precisely.” He intertwines his fingers with mine, and for the first time, I notice he’s carrying a big duffle bag.

  “What’s in the bag?” I try to peek in, but his reflexes are faster than mine. He pulls it away before I even get a glimpse.

  The next thing I know, we are standing at the emergency-exit gate, and Todd is punching in a code. Within seconds, he has it open.

  “We’re in.” He gives me a sly smile with a quick kiss. There is no hesitation on his part, not for second.

  “Does George know we’re here?”

  “No, Ash. That’s the point.”

  “Are you feeling okay? I’m not sure I’m clear on what the point is we’re trying to make. Is it getting arrested? Is that the point? Because I’m pretty sure there are cameras in there.”

  “Well, it wouldn’t be nearly as much fun if we asked for permission. And there are no cameras where we’re going; I checked.” He glances over and catches the nerves I’m wearing all over my face. “Hey, don’t worry. We’re good.” He steps in close to me and cradles my face with one hand as his other holds the gate open. His face is inches from mine, and then he kisses me deeply. “Now, come on.”

  Before I know it, Todd pulls out our blanket from the field and two towels. Then he gently lays the blanket out on the side of the pool.

  The sky is filled with bright, sparkling stars, and the pool is illuminated by the underwater lights. It’s as if it’s glowing, surrounded by the darkness of the night. The warm air kisses the night’s sky. It’s the kind of warm that feels like summer is never going to end, even though it’s early October.

  The pathway is lit by what looks like old-fashioned gas lanterns, but they are filled with glowing light bulbs instead of fire. The grounds are beautiful at night. Still. Silent. It’s just us. We are truly alone. It takes on a different meaning being here at night, having the entire place to ourselves, with only the stars and pool lights giving us light.

  “Too bad I don’t have a bathing suit,” I say matter-of-factly.

  “Who needs a bathing suit?” Todd flashes me a mischievous grin as he takes off his jersey then starts to unbutton his shorts, his eyes never leaving mine. He’s standing there in just boxers, and I can’t get enough of each contour of his perfectly defined body.

  He steps closer to me. “Need help?” he asks, his look so intent, so focused as he pulls my thin, cotton shirt over my head. I’m suddenly grateful I only changed into my PJ bottoms since I’m still wearing my bra. “Let’s keep going.” He effortless unsnaps my bra.

  Oh, well, so much for still having my bra.

  With each move, he is gentle, and within the blink of an eye, the only thing covering both of us is the cool water from the pool. I have always loved the water, but this brings my appreciation for feeling it envelope my body to an entirely new level.

  I feel his warm chest against mine as the cool water tickles my skin. His kisses are deep and full of intensity. I can’t help kissing him back just as deeply. There is electricity between us. I want him, all of him. I don’t care that we could get caught or that I snuck out of my room. I don’t care about anything, only him.

  I twirl my tongue around his, pressing my body farther into his as he runs his hands over my soaked hair, the heat of our bodies enveloped by the cool water. I adore the feeling of strength that surrounds me as his arms wrap around my waist. Then he runs his hands over my arms, noticing my goose bumps.

  “Are you cold?” he whispers.

  Smiling at him as our gazes connect, my heart stops at the beauty of his eyes reflecting off the color of the water. His long, black eyelashes are even more defined, and his brown hair is almost black because it’s drenched as it hangs in his eyes. I push his hair back so there are no obstacles to keep me from enjoying the view.

  “I’m good,” I say as I wrap my legs around him.

  Feeling him hold me up in the water makes me want him even more, and I know he feels the same way as he presses into me.

  It’s exhilarating to be here with him, but it’s also crazy. This is where we worked, where I swim every afternoon, where we couldn’t even hold hands when we walked through the gates over the summer. Now we are here in this same pool—our pool—and I can’t help all of these thoughts running through my head.

  “Hey.” I hear his voice and look up to see the smile in his eyes. “What are you thinking about?”

  My lips turn up in a smile. “You and how incredible this is. Thank you for rescuing me. When I saw you outside my window, I never thought this was where we were going. What are we celebrating, anyway?”

  His smile deepens; but I feel him ever so slightly pull away. “Penn State called my parents; they want me to kick for them. The scout is coming to the homecoming game.” His eyes shift away. “It’s not definite until you get an official offer, but it looks really good.”

  I don’t break my smile, but inside I am breaking. I knew this was coming, but now that it’s here and almost a reality, I hate it.

  “That’s so great,” I choke out, knowing he can see through me.

  “You’re not excited,” he says as his long fingers run over my hair.

  “Well, this means you’re definitely going away.” I look up at him, trying to hide my disappointment behind my smile.

  “Come on, Ash. We knew that. I mean, it’s not like there is a local school down the street with a football team, ready to hand out scholarships.”

  I look down at the glowing, rippling water, grateful to have something else to focus on. I wish I could remove myself from this conversation, from this reality, from these feelings. With my throat getting tight, I squeeze my eyes shut to try to hold back the tears that are welling up.

  The water is so peaceful, so calming, so beautiful. Focus on the water, only the water. But I can’t.

  I finally find the strength to meet his eyes again. The expression all over his face tells me he knows exactly how I feel. He can read me perfectly.

  “I’m sorry, Ash,” he whispers as his thumbs glide over my cheekbones.

  “I know,” I whisper back as a tear falls down my cheek. I hate that tear. I hate that I can’t just be happy for him.

  “Hey.” He gently pulls my face closer to his. “Stop it. We have a whole year, and Penn State isn’t that far. Plus, we have Skype and lots of phone sex to look forward to.” He smiles, letting me know he’s joking.

  I can’t help laughing. He can always make me feel better, and that makes me miss him more already.

  “Know what I haven’t done in a long time?”

  “What?” I give him a sideways glance, almost afraid of what he’s going to say.

  “A handstand.” With that, he dives through the water.

  I see his legs and feet sticking up in sort of a straight line, and I burst out laughing at how ridiculous he looks. As he pops back out of the water, his kid-like grin makes me want to jump in his arms again.

  “Come on. Let’s see what you’ve got, Miss Professional Swim Team Swimmer.”

  “Oh, yeah? You want to go there? I don’t think you want to go there,” I tell him, trying desperately to keep a serious face, before I cut through the water.

  I know my handstand kills his. My legs are perfectly straight, my toes pointed. If this were an Olympic sport, I would have nailed the gold.

  As I break the surface, his contagious laugh fills the air.

  “Impressive.” He rubs his chin as if he is in deep concentration, studying my form.

  “Shut up.” I swim up to him and kiss him. Then I push him under the water and kiss him again as we float under the surface.

  I feel the water swirl around us as elation rushes throu
gh me. We both separate to really see one another through the haze of the water, and then we break the surface together, laughing at how outrageous yet amazing this is.

  We give each other a knowing smile, we are thinking the same thing, and then we drop back down beneath the surface. Who needs to breathe when you can kiss?

  His breath floats into me and mine into him as we kiss each other intensely, knowing we only have a few seconds before we need to break the surface to take a deep breath. We both can’t stop smiling through each kiss as we go back under the water, again and again. We feel like kids in the playground, trying to beat the clock to make the most of the moment, to see who will break first. Todd pulls me up.

  “I love you, Ash.” He wipes the water droplets away from my eyes.

  “I love you, too,” I say back as I run my hands over his strong jawline.

  Todd’s smile drops away, but his eyes remain locked on mine. “I know we’re going to be okay.”

  A shiver runs through my body with those words, and I know he’s right.

  “Just like the tree, one step at a time.” I smile.

  The corners of his lips turn up in a smile. “Yeah, exactly. One step at a time.”

  That’s my new motto for this year.

  One step at a time, I repeat to myself.

  Chapter 6: Homecoming

  ASHLEY

  Homecoming week as a sophomore has been entirely different than as a freshman. For starters, I know what to expect, I’m somewhat of a homecoming expert now. I see the freshmen wandering the halls, dressed up with no clue what to do next, and I can’t help smiling to myself.

  So much has changed in just one year. Last year at this time, I had a giant, secret crush on my brother’s best friend, who happens to be my best friend’s older brother, and this year, he’s my boyfriend. Boyfriend! I still love saying that word!

  The boys have taken homecoming just as seriously as last year, if not even more because they are seniors now and this is their last one. They refuse to be beaten by the juniors, just as they did to the seniors last year. Our class knows we have no chance of winning, so we just dress up for fun. However, the seniors are serious about every, single dress up day.

  It’s Friday, Spirit day, at six forty-five in the morning. I’m sitting in Ryan’s Mustang in the senior lot by myself, almost an hour before school starts since my loving brother gave me zero notice that he needed to come to school early for something ‘Top Secret’ when he woke me up at five fifteen this morning. As if I didn’t notice the giant duffle bag in the back of his car.

  God only knows what they are doing right now.

  The only cars in the parking lot are Ryan’s, Todd’s, and Brian’s. Sid is beyond lucky for having Simon as a ride option. Unfortunately, all of my ride options are already here since Blythe lives across town.

  I’m supposed to sit here and wait for a text from Ryan or Todd, and then meet them outside of the boys’ locker room. Are you kidding me? So here I sit. Alone. Waiting for my phone to buzz as I paint an EHS on my cheek with eyeliner because that’s about as far as I’m going with school spirit.

  I’m in deep concentration on my S when a fist slams on my side window, making me jump. Now there is a giant black line across my cheek. Awesome.

  “Blythe! You scared the crap out of me!” I say, rolling down my window. Being that it’s a classic, there is no such thing as automatic windows.

  “Sorry, Ash. And sorry about your cheek.” She eyes the giant black smudge that is now running across my face with a smile.

  “Yeah, thanks for that. Today is really off to a fantastic start.”

  “I can see that. So they roped you in, too?”

  “Wait, is that why you’re here so early?”

  “Yup. Got a text from Brian.” She gestures to her phone. “Urgent, meet me at school, wait for my text in SL.”

  “What are they up to?”

  “Who knows? But I’m sure it’s not good, knowing them.”

  Unable to deny it, I smile. They have taken everything a little far this week. Of course, kissing Todd is always amazing, even when he’s dressed as a girl. And I know because I did it twice this week, although it was a little strange worrying about his lipstick leaving marks on my skin.

  “Why do you think they need our help?”

  “We shall see.”

  “Wanna come in and wait in here?”

  “Sure.” As she walks around to slide into the driver’s seat, I notice she’s wearing a black dress that’s more like a shirt and gold, glittered cowboy boots.

  “Nice school spirit.”

  “I try. Brian’s been on me this week.” She gives me a quick smile. “So, should we feel honored that we’re in the inner circle?”

  “No. Nothing good is going to come from this, trust me. I’ve known the three of them for way too long. They are using us for something.” I laugh. “How are things with you and Brian? I know he’s got a lot of schools interested in him.” I tread lightly because I know how much I hate talking about colleges, but Blythe is a senior, so she’s leaving, too. Of course, even that thought makes me sad. I can’t believe they are all leaving after this year.

  “You okay, Ash?”

  I guess I’m not very good at hiding my feelings.

  “Not really. I hate that you’re all seniors.”

  She studies me for a second before she says anything. “I know leaving sucks, and I know being the one left sucks, too, but you can’t spend the entire year dreading it, or you’ll miss out on the right now and how great being together is.”

  I hear her words, but I actually feel them more. They seep into me in a way that doesn’t happen when Todd says it. I just can’t see past missing him. With Blythe, it makes sense, though. I have been saying ‘one step at time,’ but I need to actually live it. I feel tears starting to well up.

  “Looks like we’ve got company.”

  I glance in the direction of her gaze to see Gretchen bouncing up to Ryan’s car. How is it possible that she is perky even at six forty-five?

  “Thanks, Blythe.” I quickly wipe my eyes to hide any emotional evidence as I roll down the window.

  “Good morning!” Gretchen almost sings. It’s as if everything she says is a cheer.

  “Is it?” Blythe asks.

  “Oh, come on, it’s exciting, whatever the boys are up to.” Gretchen beams. She is so genuinely enthusiastic it’s a little contagious.

  Within the next five seconds, all three of our phones buzz.

  “Looks like they’re ready.” Gretchen bounces. I swear she is about to break into a cheer.

  The next thing I know, the three of us are standing outside of the boys’ locker room. The halls are mostly empty with only a few teachers straggling in, but they seem oblivious.

  Once Gretch follows directions and texts them, the door slowly opens, and standing there with the biggest grins are all three boys, covered from head to toe in gold glitter body paint. I literally mean covered. Even their hair is gold and full of glitter. They are all wearing their gold spandex football pants, but other than that, every inch of them is covered in golden glitter.

  “Wow,” we all say almost in unison after what feels like hours.

  “You guys have been busy,” Blythe states, thankfully breaking the awkward silence.

  Brian peeks his head out into the hallway and looks both ways, noting it’s empty at the moment.

  “Come with us.” He grabs Blythe’s hand, and the rest of us follow. We’re now standing inside the boys’ locker room, breaking pretty much every rule the school has.

  I look around and take it in, finding it looks like I have always pictured: damp, dingy, and it smells like boys. It’s full of metal lockers; long, wood benches; and towels that were white at one point in their towel lives. This would not be a good place to be a towel. On second thought, it could be a very good place.

  “This is somewhere you’ve never been before.” Todd smiles.

  “Not actually true
for one of them.” Brian grins and pulls Blythe closer, making her giggle.

  “Two of them.” Ryan gives Gretchen a seductive look, and I mentally vomit.

  Todd’s eyes get bigger as he stares at me. “Well, we have a lot of catching up to do, Ash.” He pulls me closer, and Ryan smacks him on the head.

  “What?” Todd says with a laugh.

  “Brother. Standing right here.” Ryan gives him a don’t-even-think-about-it look.

  Todd shrugs. “Sorry.” His golden fingers intertwine with mine as he kisses my neck. “Sorry again.” He gives Ryan his best innocent smile. He knows Ryan hates it, but it never stops him, and he’s definitely not sorry.

  “Okay. Why are we here?” Blythe cuts right to the chase.

  “To paint.” Brian holds up a container of black body paint. “With your hands.” He gives Blythe a wicked smile.

  I start to feel a little uncomfortable and also like this isn’t the first time they have done this.

  “Oh, fun!” Gretchen says two octaves higher than any human ever should.

  “Shh,” the guys say in unison as they glance around to make sure nobody new has joined us.

  “Time?” Brian asks quickly, as if he’s calling a play on the field.

  “Seven twelve,” Ryan answers back just as rapidly.

  “We’ve got eight minutes before Coach W. gets here,” Todd says.

  I know from the guys that Coach W. is like clockwork with everything he does, and apparently, they know his morning schedule down to a T.

  “Okay, we need you to work fast. You paint an E,” Brian says as he hands a jar of paint to Gretch and points to Ryan’s gold glitter covered chest. “You an H,” he instructs as he hands me a jar of black paint, “And you”—he gives Blythe sexy eyes—“an S.”

  Suddenly, I feel like I’m in a dirty football huddle.

  We all promptly get to work since there is no time to spare. I have to say, touching Todd is one of my favorite things in this world, but painting him is even more enjoyable. My fingers glide over his tone, glitter-covered chest, leaving a wet, black trail wherever they touch.