Sunflower

Chapter 5

Lucy

Present Day Continued....

"Wow, I was starting to worry," Andrew says when Chris and I join everyone else at the table about twenty minutes later.

Annie looks from Chris to me and raises a brow. But since I can't even make eye contact with her, I quickly look away. I feel so guilty. I know what needs to happen, but I'm not letting it happen. And Chris isn't either. It's like we're too stupid to see all the signs pointing us both in different directions.

"They were just getting it on in the women's bathroom. Why were you worried?" Sam asks.

"Yeah, it's just a normal Friday night," Cole shrugs.

While our friends go on and on about our random disappearances over the years, my phones vibrates to let me know I've received a text. I look down and my heart skips a beat when I see Chris' name.

Chris: We should tell them now, while they least expect it.

I look up at him, furrowing my brows. I know this isn't the right time, but the way we've always so savagely handled our friends is part of why I loved Chris and I together so much. We naturally play off each other and create quite the comedic duo. Catching them off guard is what we do best and this, no doubt, is going to take the cake for the most out of left field thing we've ever dropped on them.

Because on the outside, Chris and I seem perfect. And for a long time, I guess we were. My life was never perfect. I've been through more than most people have to endure in a lifetime in only a few years. But Chris was my stronghold through everything. He never left my side.

Not from the start.

5 years ago, Penn State University

"Miss Sunday," Ms. Stephens says in a disappointed tone as soon as I walk into the library.

Ugh, I've been dreading having to face her ever since she called me at 11:30pm last night and asked me why the lights were still on in the library. I didn't have the nerve to tell her what really happened, so I told her I got spooked and left in a hurry. She bought it for the time being, but I knew a sharp woman like herself would catch onto me eventually.

So I hang my head in shame as I approach her.

"Assuming that you did not know there are cameras in every corner of this room, I'm going to let you slide this time. I know how it feels to be young and in love," she goes on, surprising the hell out of me.

I look up at her in surprise.

She smirks at me. "Next time, make sure your job is done before you run off with prince charming."

"So...you know then..." I say as she walks past me to her desk at the center of the library.

She laughs out loud, obviously mocking me. "Honey, I knew it before it even happened. I see you every day. Of course I notice when something else has your attention."

I smile to myself, even though I'm still quite embarrassed by this whole ordeal. The fact that Ms. Stephenson pays such close attention to me makes me feel like she truly cares. And I could use a little concern from someone, considering my own parents can't be bothered with me. Especially lately.

"I'm so sorry. I promise, I'll never let it happen again," I say, blowing out the nervous breath I've been holding.

"Relax, Lucy," she smiles, taking a seat and getting her things situated. "I'm just glad to see you putting yourself out there. You're such a pretty girl, but you spend so much of your time here when you should be out there enjoying the best years of your life."

"These are the best years of my life?"

She gives me a look I don't quite understand before nodding. "Believe it or not, yes. You're young, you're beautiful, smart, driven, determined. You've got the whole world at your feet. Live a little."

She goes right to work on her lap top, leaving me standing next to her with my mouth hanging open. I just knew she was going to flip out over me leaving all the lights and computers on last night when I locked myself out of the library after only making it halfway through the monthly report.

I mean, I would flip out too.

"Next time you decide to leave work to uh, get nasty," she says, looking up at me with a smirk, "at least grab a key on your way out."

My face heats up in embarrassment, so I quickly nod and hurry away. And since I'm completely mortified, I spend the rest of the day hiding in the rows of books.

When my shift is over, I bolt for the exit while Ms. Stephenson is talking with a couple of students. Thankfully, I make it out unnoticed. I look down at my phone just for a second and nearly crash right into someone. I look up and gasp when I see Chris. And then I blush furiously.

"Hey, I was just coming to the library to look for you," he says.

"It's probably best if you never go back there again," I say, pushing past him.

He follows me through the hallway and outside onto the quad. "No one saw us, right?"

"No, no one saw us."

"So...what happened? You're acting strange," he says, stating the obvious.

"I got into trouble for the first time in three years with my boss!" I snap at him, immediately regretting it though. So I take a deep breath in order to compose myself. "I mean...I've been acting careless. And that's your fault."

"My fault?!" he asks, trying to sound offended, but unable to hold back a smile. "I didn't force you to have dark, dirty alley s*x with me!"

I look around in horror at the hundreds of students walking past us. Thankfully, none of them seem to have heard him. I give him an evil glare, trying to find the right words, but knowing anything I say is just going to come out stupid. Because Chris Myers makes me stupid. We hooked up one night a few weeks ago and I thought I'd never see him again. But I did. A lot. And I'm starting to catch feelings, against my better judgement. I can tell that he has feelings for me too, which complicates this whole thing even more.

But as I stand here looking at him now, I can't even remember all the reasons I couldn't be in a relationship before. Chris and I aren't doing much more than having s*x, but the time we do spend together is fun and I have to admit, a little relaxing as well. I never knew how badly I needed a release until I started getting them regularly.

"You know we're not fooling anyone," he says, stopping in front of me. "Not even ourselves."

"I told you, I don't have time for that."

"You don't have time for a relationship? Because I don't know if you've noticed, but we're doing all the things we would be doing if we were in an actual relationship. We're staying over at each other's place. We're texting or talking on the phone late into the night. We have s*x every day, sometimes multiple times-"

"Okay, okay," I say, giving him a look and holding a hand up to stop him.

He smirks. "Lucy, you already spend all your time with me. I know you like me. At least a little bit, right?"

I smile bashfully, even though I try to seem unphased. "A little bit, I guess."

"Only a little bit?" he asks, smiling adorably and making me return the same kind of smile. "Or...maybe...a lot?"

"Damn you," I whisper as I look into those amazing brown eyes.

"Come on, sunflower. Just admit it. Tell me you can't stop thinking of me," he whispers back, moving in closer and making my heart race.

I hesitate for a second, but only because I need to breathe before I collapse. The tension between us is making me feel like I'm high on some pretty amazing drugs. "I can't stop thinking of you," I finally admit to him.

I expect him to give me that devilish smirk that seems to be permanently attached to his face, but I'm surprised when his eyes seem to sparkle at my confession. "Really?" he asks as if this is surprising news coming from someone who, as he said so himself, spends all her time with him.

"Really."

He smiles and scoops me up in his arms, hugging me tight, right here in front of everyone. "I knew I'd eventually grow on you."

"Just don't make me regret this," I warn him. "And don't tell my friends yet. They'll just give us a hard time."

"But they know we've been seeing each other."

"No, they know we've been...hooking up. And that it wasn't serious," I correct him.

"So you don't want them to know you're secretly in love with me?" he says, finally flashing that devilish smirk of his.

I scoff and playfully roll my eyes. "We can tell them eventually, just...not right now. It's been a while since I've been in a relationship and it's been kind of nice not having Annie and Andrew breathing down my neck about every little detail."

He gives me a look that I don't quite understand, but he nods nonetheless. "Okay."

"You're not upset that we're not telling them right away, are you?" I ask him.

He shakes his head and shrugs. "Why would I be upset that you're ashamed of me?"

"Ashamed?" I laugh. "Is that what you think?"

"I can't think of another reason you wouldn't tell them."

"How about the one I just gave you?"

"They're your best friends, Lucy. Of course they want the details of your spicy love life. They're living vicariously through you. Andrew is single and Annie has....Sam."

"You really don't like him, do you?" I chuckle.

"That guy is the worst. What does Annie see in him? I can't be around him for five minutes without wanting to punch him in the throat."

I belt out the most unattractive laugh ever, followed by a snort, which catches the attention of those closest to us. I look around, covering my mouth with my hand. My cheeks heat up in embarrassment, but Chris just smiles at me like I'm the most adorable thing he's ever seen.

"Your laugh is one of my favorite things about you," he says, slinging an arm over my shoulder.

Even though Chris and I have been a lot closer than this on multiple occasions, it's always hidden from the rest of the world. So this is new for me. And a bit overwhelming.

"Are you okay?" he asks, looking over at me as we walk along.

I look up at him and nod, knowing right away he can see how much he's getting to me. He confirms it when he smiles rather victoriously.

"I can chill out on the PDA if you'd like. I know you hate it when other people do that," he says, making my eyes widen in surprise.

I can't believe he remembered me saying that. It was weeks ago. I've been catching little things here and there- things Chris says that let me know he's paying close attention to me. I have to say, it makes me like him even more.

"And you don't like it when couples eat on the same side of the booth in a restaurant, or give each other pet names, or wear matching couple outfits," he goes on, making me smile. "Oh, and you despise couples who baby talk to each other."

"Oh god. Sam and Annie," I groan, making Chris laugh. "Aren't they the worst?"

"Sam and Annie do all the things you don't like."

"I could never date a guy like Sam. He's way too sensitive for me," I scoff.

"Speaking of," Chris says, nodding in the direction I now see Sam and Annie coming from.

And of course, they're holding hands, looking at each other like they're so in love. Chris and I watch them; me snarling in disgust and Chris mimicking me just to be funny.

"Are you really secretly in love with me?" Chris asks, turning my attention back to him.

At first, I'm caught off guard. Is he joking? Or does he really think that? More importantly, is it true? Am I in love with him?

We've only known each other for a few weeks, but in that time, he's managed to get most of my attention. And while our relationship is mostly s*x, it's turning into more and neither of us can deny it. We're not even in an official relationship though. I can't tell him I think I might be in love with him this soon.

So I blurt out the only thing that comes to mind in this heated, nerve wracking moment.

"I have to go water my cat. I mean...I have to feed my plants..." I freeze up and curse under my breath. "I mean..."

"I love you too," Chris smiles, kissing the tip of my nose.