CHAPTER 21: More kisses, and partying with the guys

There isn't much to be done, though. Erica basically has approved of everything that I did with the calendar and booklet. Soon enough, she closes her laptop and leaves me to watch the practice. Allen asks me to stay and wait for him before he goes back to practice so we can go home together afterwards and then head to Liam's party.

"That's all for today!" Allen finally announces to his team mates all captain-y. I smile as he approaches me. He takes the water bottle that's sitting on the bench beside me and finishes it in one go. Damn, he even looks good drinking. I mentally slap myself after thinking that. He takes the towel and slings it over his shoulder before saying to me, "I'll take a quick shower then we'll get dinner," He tells me.

"Okay," I smile at him. He smiles back before bending down to kiss my cheek. Just an inch away from my lips. I feel my face burning.

"Wait for me," he whispers in my ear before pulling away and rushing back to the locker room. I lean back on my chair, sighing.

I no longer know what to do. About him. About me, about my feelings that constantly get clearer by the passing seconds. And I don't like it. I hate myself for feeling this way. No, not because he's a guy. But because I am. Moreover, he already has a girlfriend. A great one. I feel like the biggest asshole on the planet when I think about Joy and what we, I, did to her. What I'm still doing. Damn, I feel like crying.

"Levi," There he goes again. Calling my name in such a way that sends shivers down my spine. I snap open my eyes and see him standing in front of me with a worried look on his face. "Are you okay? Tired?" he asks. I smile and shake my head as I get up.

"Hungry," I lie. The thing I do most lately, so it seems.

"Let's go then," He says and we walk outside the hall and out of the campus' gate. We decided to eat at the seafood parlor just outside the campus so we walked instead of taking Allen's car. It's a little after dinner time so the place is not as crowded as it would have been if we came just a little earlier. We take a seat across from each other and place our orders.

Allen's being as attentive as usual, putting food on my plate, wiping my utensils clean and stuff. He's treating me the way he treats Joy and I feel sick. I feel sick because I like it. A lot. I try hiding it as best as I can as I swallow the foods he gave me but I can't manage to stomach the guilt. It's too much.

We finished our dinner just a little before nine and decided to go back to the dorm soon because I want to shower and drop off the gifts Allen bought for my family. We take his car again, of course, and the drive is short and silent though not awkward, for once.

He parks the car in the basement and I get off after he turns off the engine and help me take out all of the shopping bags. I wait for him to close the trunk before turning on my heels and start for the elevator.

"Levi," He calls my name softly before I can take another step. He then grabs my hand, yanking me backwards. The bags fall from my hands as he turns my body around. I grit my teeth when he embraces me. He buries his face on the crook of my neck. I struggle to get away from him as hard as I can. But then, we're kissing again.

The kiss is more urgent than the one at the mall. He's rushing it, desperate. Probably to get another taste of me. My mind is screaming while my body innocently, shamelessly, reacts to his kiss.

We shouldn't be doing this! Especially not here!

"Allen... Stop..." I say breathlessly. I grab a hold of his hair and yank him away from me. Desperation is all I can see in his eyes. He closes his eyes, sighing heavily before taking me into another heartwarming embrace. I bury my face in his chest. Hurting.

"I can't stop kissing you," He confesses. It will be funny if it isn't for this pain that's tugging inside of me.

"You have to," I tell him, my voice shaky. "I have to," I say firmly but still not convincing even to my own ears. I look at him in surprise when he yanks my body away from him. He takes a good look at my face, studying it I assume. I don't know what he saw but his own face is darkening.

He cups both of my cheeks with his palms, brushing it gently before leaning in. I was afraid he's going to kiss my lips again but he darted his lips and landed a kiss on my forehead. His warm lips stay there for a while so does his hands that's still caressing my cheek gently. Almost lovingly if I didn't know better.

After a few moments that feel like a lifetime, Allen finally draws away from me. He flashes me a small smile before picking up the shopping bags that I dropped earlier. "Let's go," He smiles at me. I force to smile back and walk with him to the elevator. When we get to our floor, we go straight to my room. My heart almost fell all the way down to the floor when I open my door and see what's inside.

There are eight guys in my room. Circling the living room table. Only in their briefs or boxers. Each one of them stands hurdled up together, shoulder to shoulder. The room is dead silent. I squint my eyes and peek over a gap. They are playing Jenga. Their concentrations are unwavering. They don't even hear the door closing. Or they don't care. Only one way to find out. Heh heh heh.

I quickly grab Allen's hand before he can make a sound and I put a finger on my lips, telling him to be quiet. He stares at me questioningly. I point my fingers at those douchebags. His mouth makes a silent' Oh' and he nods, smiling slightly. We both then take off our shoes by the door and put down our luggage on the floor trying not to make any kind of sound. It seems that it's Nelson's turn. I can see him crouching in front of the stack on the table. He's crouching on the floor in a very weird and kinda creepy way, exorcist style.

I sneak up to them, slowly reaching up to the circle, close enough to touch Mason and Andy's back. I reach out my arm, inhaling, tap their shoulders at the same time as I scream, "What'cha doin'?!" I laugh my ass off when the eight of them jump and shriek like a friggin' teenage girls.

Someone hits the table as they jump and knock over the stack. I quickly hide behind Allen who chuckles. The other eight people, however, are cursing, screaming at me incoherently. I am still laughing, of course. I laugh so hard until I fall on the floor clutching my stomach. They wail and curse some more towards the fallen stack.

They are about to launch an attack on me when they finally notice a stranger (well, for some of them anyway) standing behind me. I stand up, wiping my tears away and introducing them to each other.

"Gang, meet Allen," I say to my old friends, introducing Allen to them, "Allen, meet the gang. There's Mason, Andy, Carter and Jordan you already knew, also Chuck. Then there's Scooter, Kwangin and Akira," I introduce them to Allen.

"Nice to meet you," Allen says politely.

"Were you in on this?" Kwangin asks him accusingly, pointing at the fallen bricks.

"It's his room," Allen grins, shrugging his shoulders calmly.

"Not cool man," Scooter smacks my head lightly as he pouts.

"Why were you playing so seriously anyway? And what's up with the lack of clothing?" I pout, asking in irritation.

"We're picking the designated driver for tonight," Chuck tells me as he approaches me and helps me take off my jacket and throws it on the couch, ignoring the more important question.

"I'll drive," I tell him. "I won't be drinking much tonight," I still have plenty of alcohol in my system from last night.

"Really?" Scooter asks. I nod. "I love you!!" he exclaims excitedly, throwing his arms to hug me before Chuck yanks his body away from mine.

"Too much," He grins at Scooter who stares at him apologetically.

"Whose car?" I ask them, rolling my eyes at Chuck who has his arm around my shoulders.

"My van," Akira says, grinning hesitantly.

"Whose car?" I ask again, squinting my eyes at him. He fidgets.

"My sister's..." he sighs and winces when I smack his head.

"She'll fucking kill you if she finds out you take his car!" I yell at him. Akira's sister, Akiko, is a very pretty woman with a very bad temper. She hates it when Akira uses her stuff because they usually come back in pieces.

"You'll be driving, so..." Akira grins wider.

I roll my eyes at him. "Whatever," I wave my hands at him. "I'm gonna go take a shower then we can go. Have you guys eaten?" I ask as I walk to the bathroom. I turn around with a questioning face. Their faces turn guilty. I feel cold sweats. "No, you didn't," I hiss through gritted teeth. All eight of them back away nervously. I immediately run to the kitchen and open the fridge. Empty. "My salted eggs! And my spiced trotters!" I wail and snap my head back towards the douchebags. They look petrified now. Except for Chuck, of course, who has this relaxed and 'whatever' expression on his face. And Allen just looks confused.

"We're sorry!" seven of them immediately fall to their knees and lower their heads. "We're hungry and Chuck said to help ourselves to anything we can find!" they coo together, throwing excuses.

My eyes turn to Chuck.

"I already called my mom to send more tomorrow." He tells me calmly.

That's the right answer, but still... I pout nonetheless.

"Go take your shower," He approaches me and smacks my butt lightly. I smack his head, hard, before scoffing and turning to Allen.

"Keep your eyes on them," I tell him, pointing at the assholes crowding my living room. He gives me a weird smile before joining Chuck on the couch. I frown but keep walking to the bathroom, already tired.