Russell

The Deal

Samantha

Russell held my hand the whole way out of that theater until we got to his bike. I still had tears on my face, and the night was pretty cold, which made me glad he had given me his hoodie. He swung his foot over the other side of the bike, took a handkerchief out of his back pocket, and handed it to me. "Thanks, Russ," I said, sniffling as I hung my head low.

"Hey...cheer up, will you?" he says lifting my chin with the back of his index. I glanced at him and gave him a small smirk. He sighs, taking the handkerchief away, pulling me towards him by my waist, making me gasp. "He's an asshole, Samantha. You shouldn't feel sorry for yourself over him. He doesn't deserve your tears." he says as he wipes my tears delicately away. I couldn't help but stare at him. "I know... I know, I just..." I sighed and tucked a loose strand of my hair to the back of my ear.

"He doesn't deserve you. You need a guy who will treat you with respect, and all the love and attention you deserve." He says, handing me his extra helmet and letting go of my waist. My waist felt cold at the feel of his hand missing around my waist. I glanced at the helmet, took it in my hand, and swung my foot over it.

He immediately started the bike, making me wrap my arms around his waist, and hold on tight as he sped off. I was feeling so crushed and disappointed about tonight, that I laid my head against his back, and tried to focus on the rhythmic sound of his bike's engine as we drove through the silent streets.

"What do you say we watch a movie on our own? I'll make popcorn?" he says as we arrive back at the dorm and he gets off the bike, taking off his helmet and smirking at me. I smile and nod my head. I knew if I left my room to mop around, is just keep crying. He was just trying to be a good friend to me as we had both promised each other.

"Great. Come on, let's get inside, it looks like it might rain." and it was as if he had conjured the rain. As soon as I set my foot off the bike, it started raining. "Shit..my bike," he said making me chuckle. He quickly opened the compartment under the seat, took out the cover, and struggled to unfold it. We both became soaked within seconds as I helped him undo the folds of the cover and placed it around his bike.

We both looked at each other and laughed as we realized we were soaking wet. He took my hand and ran inside with me to our dorm. We laughed and giggled the whole way upstairs. He placed the key inside the keyhole and opened the door, making his way inside and dragging me in with him.

"I can't believe we got soaked. It didn't even look like it was going to rain today." I blurted out between giggles. He chuckled as he took off his jacket, shaking his head to dry off. "I figured it might. It was pretty windy earlier, but then again...that's California for you. So unpredictable." he says making me chuckle. "You are so right," I say as I get a shiver.

"Wait, let me get you a towel," he says walking away towards the restroom and returning with a towel. He swings it over my head and begins wiping away the water from my hair. I can't help but look at him as he moves his hands softly around to wipe away the rainwater. His deep blue eyes glistened from the overhead light.

We both find ourselves looking intensely into our eyes. Averting between our lips and eyes. He slowly leans in, and my heart begins to race. His hand slowly trails around my waist, making me take a small step forward. "You know, I was serious about earlier." He says in a deep husky voice, making me feel dumbfounded. My mind was clouded, and all I could think of was how soft his lips must feel. I wanted to kiss him so bad, and I knew it was wrong. We are just friends- I kept telling myself in my mind.

"Huh?" I ask, making him smirk. "You...deserve someone who will truly love you. Someone who sees the beautiful woman that you are," he adds, making me blush. "And...you..see that?" I ask, making him smile. "Well...you'd have to be blind not to. Which means he's probably blind," he adds making me chuckle. We both stare at each other for a few more seconds. My hands rest on his chest as his hands rest around my waist. It's evident we are both playing with fire here, and the s****l tension begins to rise within us.

He clears his throat and slowly undoes his hands around me. "Should we...pick a movie?" I groaned inwardly, he was teasing me, and he was doing an awfully good job, but two could play at this game. "Uhm, sure..but, would you mind helping me out a bit." he looked at me confused as he grabbed the remote and turned on the tv. "Uh, sure, with what?" he says as he looks towards me. I swing my hair over to a side and turn my back towards him. "I need to change. Can you...unzip me?"

He slowly walks towards me, undoing my zipper slowly. His warm hand slowly grazed my skin, leaving goosebumps. He stops, as he realizes I'm not wearing a bra underneath, holding the zipper, and leaning closer towards me. I could feel his chest close to my back, and his breath begins to tickle my neck as he leans in closer, and I knew that if I didn't leave now, we'd both do something we might regret later on. But was I done, taunting? Nope. Could I possibly, maybe..do something more stupid that might get me in trouble with him? Most likely... Will I regret it? I hope not.

"Thank you, Russ," I say as I turn around, holding my dress, and lean in. I cup his cheek with my right hand and kiss him on the other cheek.

I begin to turn with a mischievous smile on my lips that I have to hide by biting my bottom lip as I start to walk away. "Sam, wait," he says, as he grabs my hand and makes me turn towards him. "What if..." he says as he turns towards me, and rubs the back of his neck. "What if I helped you get back with Craig? Help him see how great you are, and make him change his ways?" I look at him confused and turn towards him. "What? How can you do that?" I ask, a bit curious about his proposition.

"We can...pretend to be going out. He already thinks we are...so, why not act like it around him? Make him jealous. He'll want to know what you see in me, question himself why you're dating me, and perhaps change for the best." I chuckled at his request. It was a preposterous offer. "Russ...why on earth would you want to help me get back with him? You said it yourself, he's no good for me. I mean, come on, it could never work."

"Why not? That's what he thinks. That's why he was so jealous of me when I came to your side at the theater. I mean, didn't you see how bad he was acting, trying to get you jealous with that girl? He still wants you, and it's evident that you do too...so, why not? It could work, you know?" I looked at him, think8ng it over. I wasn't sure if this could work, but it's hard for me to decide, I was becoming so confused.

A part of me had to admit that I did get a little jealous about seeing Craig with another girl, but I was also very attracted to Russell. What if this whole thing backfired on me? and I ended like those dumb Hallmark movies...where the girl ends up in love with the guy helping her? God...this has no written all over it.

"Russ, I don't know, this is a bad idea. What if you meet a girl that you like, and Craig still doesn't change? Or, things get complicated? I don't want you getting in the middle of all this just to end in getting one of us hurt." he chuckles, biting his bottom lip.

"Don't worry about me. I'm a big boy. I can handle it. We're friends, aren't we? It's just a friend helping a friend." he says, confident about himself. I grunted as I thought of all the horrible possibilities of something going wrong. This could either bring me back to Craig or make me realize I was right a few hours ago when I said he was a douchbag.

This could also bring Russ and me closer as friends, yet my attraction for him is fogging my judgment towards him and making me want to get to know him more. But it could also drive us apart, and what if we end up fighting and stop talking? I don't want to lose his friendship. I tilt my head towards heaven and sigh. "Ok. But, promise me one thing..." I say as I glare seriously at him.

"Anything," he responds with a smile.

"Promise me that you and I will remain good friends after this. No matter what happens, you and I will keep being good friends." I say as I reach my hand out, waiting for him to shake it. He grabs it, pulling me towards him, and making me crash against his chest, making me squeal.

"That's not how we seal the deal," he says getting closer to me. "Then...how?" I ask nervously as his eyes turn dark, and his face becomes serious. "If we're going to pretend, then we must practice," he says making me incredibly nervous.

"Kissing," he says, I gulp at the feel of butterflies in my stomach. His hands trail around my waist tightly, by now, I think he forgot my dress was undone and we were both still soaked by the rain. "Kiss?" I say as he leans in and kisses my lips softly. His lips feel so soft, yet firm, sweet, and so perfect.

He bites my bottom lip softly, trailing his tongue across my lips, making an involuntary moan escape. I part my lips, and he quickly invades my mouth, running his tongue softly over mine. God...I knew it. His lips are divine, his kiss is sweet and sensual. I just knew he had to be an amazing kisser.

We part, gasping for air. My eyes hazed and my mind clouded by his kiss. "That's... How you seal a deal," he whispers, trailing his hands away from me, making my body shiver by the sudden absence from his body. He walks away, and leaves to his room, leaving me standing all by myself in the living room. "Wow," I whisper as I run my finger softly across my lips. I can still feel his lips on mine, his tongue still dancing in sync with mine, and the sweet taste of his kiss still lingers in me. This.., might be harder than I thought.

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