Chapter 9

I struggled up the crooked steps with five heavy grocery bags in each hand and tried not to fall from how much they weighed me down. I needed to invest in a shopping cart or maybe pay my landlord a little visit because the elevator was still sitting there out of order and I don't think they cared very much.

"Why are you breathing so hard?" Leah chuckled over the other end of the phone. I groaned and took a seat on the steps.

"These steps are kicking my ass right now. And here I thought I was in good shape."

I heard the exit door slam upstairs and footsteps nearing so I moved my bags to create a space and placed my phone back to my ear, "You still plan on going to Sunny high park today? I can join you when I finish up my project."

"I like to be alone, so that way I can focus on the task at hand instead of being distracted every second and getting nothing done, but thanks for the offer, and thanks again for the camera."

"What the f-" I nearly jumped from my seat and flew down the stairs when I felt someone place their hands on my shoulders, but when I turned around it was only Ryan. He stood over me laughing as if someone had told him the funniest joke in the world and I didn't find this funny at all. My heart was racing and I felt like tripping his ass down the steps.

"Are you ok?" Leah asked with concern evident in her voice.

"I'm fine, but I fear you guys will have to bury Ryan early if he ever scares me like that again." I glared at him.

She gasped and I could just picture her face already. "I promise I didn't invite him, he just showed up, and no nothing is happening so pick your mouth up off the floor," I reassured her.

"And how does he know where you live? You guys are fooling around and you didn't think to tell me!"

I rolled my eyes and climbed to my feet. "I'm gonna go put my food up, I'll talk to you later."

I quickly hang up before she could make any more assumptions and stuck my phone in my pocket. Ryan picked up all of the bags off the steps and we walked to my apartment.

"What are you doing here?" I unlocked the door and led him inside, shutting the door behind us. He placed everything on the kitchen island and I went to pour myself some water before I fainted.

"What, I can't visit my favorite person?"

I cocked a brow with a slight smile on my lips, "Seriously? You're gonna pull that line with me?"

"Fine, I came over 'cause we need to talk about what happened yesterday."

I stared at him over my drink, baffled by his sudden change of tone. At the party? I remembered drinking a lot, but then I went to bed. "Did I throw up on you?"

"I wouldn't be here right now if you did." He stepped around the counter and inched closer to me, so close that I had to take a step back to put some distance between us. He had an amused look on his face as he took another step. "You know I expected you to bring it up last night at dinner, but you don't even seem to remember."

"Is this where I'm supposed to guess? Because I have nothing."

"I dropped off Clair and came upstairs to check on you..." He furrowed his brows and waited to see if anything came to me, but I was just confused. "You kissed me, Violet."

He had to be playing with me right now. There was no way I would kiss anyone even if I was drunk.

"Uh...I think I would've remembered something like that."

"But you don't, so next time you take advantage of me I would love it if you were sober," He walked away from me leaving behind his signature scent that I could never get enough of.

"How do I know I wasn't the one who got taken advantage of?" I walked after him.

"Because I don't need liquid courage to do something. If I want it, I'll take it. With consent of course." He winked and fell back on the couch, kicking up his feet on the coffee table."

Ugh. He's infuriating.

I walked off to my art room and shut the door before letting out a breath of air. I took a seat and started to finish my self-portrait when he knocked before poking his head inside the room.

"I came to hang with you, so I'd much rather stay in here than out there doing nothing." He stepped inside as his eyes wandered around, glancing over all of my artwork hanging on the walls. "I didn't know you were an artist."

"Didn't I tell you that the first time you showed up unannounced?"

He chuckled and closed the door, "Well, to be honest, I thought you meant small things like birds and flowers, shit like that, but I see I'm friends with Violet da Vinci over here."

"Don't hype me up like that, I'm good but nowhere on that level yet." I turned to the canvas and began finishing up my sketch while he walked around the room checking things out. He made me nervous but I tried not to show it.

"Is there any way you can draw me too or am I too complex?"

I nodded my head towards the extra stool, "I can do that, but you'll have to sit still for an hour or two, you think you can do that?"

He walked over to the seat and began pulling his shirt up over his head exposing his tatted chest.

"Woah, do I look like Jack to you? Put your clothes back on."

"He was able to capture all of Rose's curves and angles that way, but I'm fine doing it the boring way if that's what you want."

I switched the canvas to a blank one as he smoothed his shirt down then posed like superman with his chin up to the roof. I snickered as I began painting him.

An hour later my hand was all cramped up, but it was all worth it in the end because I was finished and it turned out great.

"Ok, you can stop that ridiculous pose now, I'm done." I stood up to stretch out my limbs.

He dropped his arms and let out an exasperated groan, "Fuck, that was torture I'm never doing that again."

"You didn't have to stand there the whole time, I could've done it either way." I chuckled.

"Oh, now you tell me after I've wasted my time and completely burned out my legs for you. Now you'll have to carry me home." He grabbed onto my shoulders causing us both to crash down to the floor.

"You're so annoying," I swatted at him as I tried to climb back to my feet, but he held me by my waist.

"Do you want me to hurt you?"

He released me and stood up before helping me. "Don't threaten me with a good time."

I dusted my hands off and turned the canvas to him. "So whatcha think?" I put my hands on my hips and studied his face as he looked it over.

"Well for one you made me hotter than I really am, I mean how talented do you have to be to do something like that."

"So you love it?" I smiled up at him.

"Yeah, do I get to keep it or do you want me hanging up in your room for only you to admire?"

I shrugged and brushed past him. "Take it or leave it, doesn't matter to me." He stayed back in the room while I got a snack from the living room and plopped on the couch. "What time do you plan on leaving?"

He stepped out of the room checking his phone before sliding it back into his pocket. "I did have plans with Zane, but I could stay for a few more minutes, besides we still need to talk."

Not this again.

"Ryan."

"Violet." He grinned and took a seat beside me. His eyes wandered over my face and then they burned into mine. All he had to do was breathe my way and my body reacted. I blame him for being so damn attractive and looking at me the way he does with those beautiful eyes.

He placed his palm on my face, caressing his thumb over my bottom lip. "You know I couldn't stop thinking of these soft lips on mine?" He glimpsed down at my lips and then back at my eyes. "I don't think I ever really got over you, but I know that's a road we can't go down again if we ever plan on having a great friendship like we used to."

I hesitated before leaning in and pressing my lips against his. A small kiss turned sloppy in a matter of seconds and without thinking I straddled his lap wanting him as close as possible. The familiar taste of watermelon filled my mouth and I realized that was the same taste on my lips when I woke up the morning of Leah's birthday and one of the pleasant smells that radiated off of him that I loved.

So I did kiss him. I guess even in a drunk state my body can't resist the pull he has on me. He broke the kiss and started sucking and leaving little love bites on my neck which drove me insane. I started to grind on his lap and he gripped my hips to stop me. "Don't start something you have no intention of finishing, princess."

"And what if I want to?" I fisted his hair and yanked his head back. "What if I just say screw the friendship and I want you to fuck me right here right now?"

He exhaled and picked me up placing me back on the couch. "Kissing is one thing, but fucking is crossing a line that we'll never come back from so as much as I want to, I'll leave before this goes too far." He stood up and planted a kiss on my forehead.

Well, rejection hurt like a bitch.

"I guess I'll see you later then?" I crossed my arms over my body and put on a smile. Anything to keep the hurt from shining through. He nodded and left out the door.

I can try to be friends, but I don't think we could ever just be friends again and maybe that's what I'm afraid of. Falling for him all over again just to be left broken in the end.