Forget The First (On Hold For Major Editing And Rewriting)

11. "Wait someone told you?"

"The first time we went to the wooded area together, you grabbed my hand when we crossed the street. Why did you do that?" I can feel Joel kind of stiffen.

"Well, when my sister took her life that's how she did it. She just laid in the street and waited." Joel's voice breaks as he squeezes me closer to him. I had no idea that his sister did that, I'm glad he could tell me.

"Thank you for saving me." my voice is almost a whisper.

"If I didn't I wouldn't be able to do this." Joel cups my cheek in his strong hands. He bends his neck down and kisses me, I'm shocked but I recover quickly and our lips move in perfect synchronicity, sending wonderful electricity throughout me. Joel wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me on to his lap. Everything around me melts away, it's just me and Joel, Joel and I, together. Then I think about City and pull away. Joel looks really confused as I climb off of his lap.

"What's wrong?" Worry plague Joel's gravelly voice.

"It's just I sort of met someone while I was away and I'm really confused right now."

"Why are you confused? If you don't mind me asking?"

"I'm confused because you both make me feel the same way. You both make me feel like I have electricity coursing through me and I don't know what to make of it." I look away from Joel because I'm of how he might look at me. Suddenly he places his finger under my chin and pulls my head up so I can look at him. He searches my eyes and I'm honestly terrified. After a couple seconds he seems to find what he is looking for because he leans in and kisses me. I kiss him back, but as soon as it started it is stopped by the clearing of my brother's throat.

"While I am really glad that you are happy, but just because he is living here doesn't mean that you can make out anytime you want, there will be rules." I awkwardly scoot away from Joel.

"I know it's just I thought Joel would've judged me but now that I know he didn't, I don't know, I couldn't help myself." I don't let Maverick know that Joel initiated the kiss because Joel would be kicked out so fast, don't ask me why my brother is hella weird. Maverick gives me a pointed look and sits down in between Joel and me.

"One, no sneaking into each other's rooms. Two, no closed doors. Three, if you must make out, don't do it in front of me. You're my little sister, I don't need to witness that." Maverick makes a gagging face and noise as he turns on our TV. I awkwardly look at Joel because no one knows about City yet except for him, and actually, Joel doesn't even know her name or even the fact that she is a girl.

"Ooh! Can we watch The Kissing Booth?" Maverick and Joel give me a look that says 'eww no' 

"Sis, you have watched that movie over one thousand times."

"Yeah, and I could watch it over a thousand times more."

"Fine but only because you haven't been able to watch what you have wanted to in a month." 

"Yay! ... One more thing. Can I sit next to Joel?" Maverick looks at me as if he wasn't going to let me, then with a huff he gets up. I scoot back over to Joel and snuggle under his arm, pine and sandalwood invade my senses I don't know what is going to happen with my love life but right now I am content.

None of you are ever alone, there is always someone that is willing to listen. You should never feel pressured into doing something you don't want to.

Help is out there.

Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255

Rape, Abuse and Incest National Hotline: 1-800-656-4673

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233

Youth Crisis Hotline: 1-800-448-4663

United Way Crisis Helpline: 1-800-233-4357

GriefShare: 1-800-395-5755

And there is a bunch more at http://www.pleaselive.org/hotlines    

Who do you ship?

#Citia (City+Maia)

#Joia (Joel+Maia)