~hiya every1! Just a note to say that as this is my Paul fic, I am definitely still keeping going with it, as with all my a1 fics, whether they grace us with their music again in the future or not, lol. Neways, hope u all like this new chap and yes… that’s me done!~

Chapter 12

After watching him go, she slowly managed to get head back on the day’s duties, and go out to get the milk from the shop. She’d given up hope of Steve coming over that afternoon, and to be honest, she was kinda glad she wouldn’t get to see him so soon after her talk with Paul.

The whole afternoon talk had really opened her eyes up about her whole relationship with Steve- and with Paul, too.

She was now feeling more wary of Steve, after what Paul had said about him potentially hurting her. Was he going to treat her badly? But she also thought about them together, and knew that they had something good. Maybe she could be the girl to change him. She really wanted to keep believing what she had before, about them one day having an open, happy relationship. That was her dream.

But things were different now Paul had stepped in. out of nowhere, come to ‘help her’ through this time with Steve. She still couldn’t believe he’d shown up at the house that afternoon. She barely knew him- she couldn’t believe he’d taken time out to do that- to see if she was ok or not. To warn her about Steve. She never would have thought that of him. He was spooky, dark, weird, scary… in manner and in face. But after this afternoon, she was beginning to think there was this whole other side to him. He really was intriguing. He looked every bit the mysterious stranger; with dark hair, dark features, tanned skin, lots of piercings… but then he had this whole contrasting personality. He was really caring. Well, he cared about her, oddly. She was nothing to him, but he cared. And he came out with the strangest comments, “I live with three cats and three dogs’- what was all that about? And his laugh. He had such a normal, cute laugh. And a really attractive smile. And ok, they were bloody scary at times and could be terrifyingly perceptive when needed… but he had a really lovely set of eyes. So deep and rich and… they had so much in them. Everything he’d ever seen, everything he wanted to see, everything he uniquely saw. They were incredible.

But so different, he wasn’t normal like Elisabeth was and that’s why she was still scared by him. She trusted him more now, felt like he would never physically hurt her. But he could do other things to her. Psychological things that she did just not want to even think about.

Becky came back about half past 5, and they settled down for dinner. She didn’t say anything about Paul, or Steve, or anything, and Elisabeth kept quiet. She didn’t see Steve that day and no way he could get in contact with her, either. Phone the house… “Oh hi Becky, can I talk to Elisabeth please?” Erm… no.

Speaking of contact, Paul said he’d call her…

Would he? When? What part does he play in this now? He’s in the plot somewhere; in this love triangle story. He’s the only one who knows about the ‘secret affair’. He seemed to be on her side, too. And she didn’t know whether that was a bonus or not, yet.

My life’s turning into a book! Elisabeth thought, compelled.

Work passed slowly on Thursday, and the weekend inched nearer. A weekend Elisabeth had totally forgotten.

“You’ll be ok this weekend, yeah Liz?” Becky asked Thursday night, as she was flicking through the limited TV channels, and Elisabeth was reading a new book.

Elisabeth looked up at her. ‘Huh?” She asked, confused.

“Hun, you do remember where I’m going this weekend, don’t you?” Becky asked, turning to her.

Elisabeth stared at her blankly, then light began to dawn.

“Anniversary!!” She cried at Becky, suddenly remembering.

Becky laughed. ‘Yeah… that thing you celebrate when you reach a number of years together.” She flicked the TV off. “I’ll be gone from tomorrow night ‘til Sunday night- so you’ll be ok, yeah?”

Elisabteh had completely forgotten she’d be on her own in the house this weekend. It was Becky’s parents 30^th wedding anniversary, and they were having this huge party-thing to celebrate. All the relatives were gonna be there, and Becky couldn’t get out of it.

Becky’s parents were really exclusive- they didn’t really like any ‘outsiders’. They were very protective over Becky and her brother Dan, and whenever they heard they had a boyfriend/girlfriend it was all, oooooh! Get ready for question time!

Elisabeth knew they had no idea what Becky was like. No idea how many guys she got through; probably thought she was still a virgin! They had really made sure Elisabeth was a decent girl to ‘live with’ when she and Becky had moved in together. Checked Elisabeth wasn’t rowdy, or a punk, or a layabout, or a slut, or a goth, or a big-time bitch and probably not a lesbian!! Becky was kinda embarrassed about how protective they were, but found it funny they thought she was such an angel child.

“Think they have the wrong flat mate!” She laughed.

But being held down just made Becky want to break the rules even more. They were sooo different. God knows how they’d become to be best friends!

“Yeah, I’ll be fine,” Elisabeth answered. “I have work, books, TV to keep me occupied.”

Becky just ‘hmmmmed’. She gave Elisabeth a look. “Books and TV, eh? Niiiiice. Hun- want to try going out to a club?”

Elisabeth made a face at her. “Yeh… right. Who will I go with? And besides, I hate clubs. They’re too noisy and full of drug addicts.”

“Oh hunny!” Becky laughed. ‘Oh you do make me laugh! Live a little! Get yourself out mor- oooooooohhh!” Her eyes suddenly glistened and a big smile spread across her face.

Elisabeth immediately drew guard. ‘Whaaaaat?” She asked slowly; suspiciously.

“You obviously have other plans!” Becky grinned, and winked. “A certain small, dark and handsome,” she laughed, “stranger coming around to keep you company?” She giggled in delight.

Paul, Elisabeth thought, sighing. Paul again.

“I’m gonna be on my own, Becky,” Elisabeth said calmly.

“Oh, come on! You need Paul to keep you busy!” She laughed. “You’re gonna get bored.”

“I don’t like Paul,” Elisabeth found herself saying for the millionth time. But maybe he’s okay, she thought…

but I definitely don’t want him keeping me busy! I have enough on my plate with Steve…

she stopped her thoughts suddenly, as a new one burst into her mind.

Steve!

Becky gone!

House to herself for a whole weekend!

New ideas began to form…

“Hun, course you like Paul. Who doesn’t like Paul? He’s sweet and funny- no, very funny- and sooo gorgeous! Hun, you’re definitely in with a chance!”

Elisabeth sighed. “Please leave this thing with Paul. He really isn’t my type, I’m not looking for a boyfriend yet.”

“Hun, you need a boyfriend! How many times have I-“

Becky as interrupted by the doorbell.

“Oooooh!” She said, jumping up and going to the door.

“You expecting someone?” Elisabeth asked her, as she sure wasn’t.

“Nope!” Becky called back, and disappeared.

Elisabeth listened as Becky opened the door and then she heard a little squeal of delight and then a deep voice which only, only belonged to Steve.

A big smile crept across Elisabeth’s face as she thought excitedly about seeing him. She curled up in a little ball on the edge of the sofa and pretended to be wrapped up in her book when she heard Becky and Steve come into the lounge.

“Liz! Look who it is!” Becky cried happily, and Elisabeth casually looked up at them. “Oh- hey Steve,” she replied coolly, and in her head she squealed at how mega, mega cute he was looking and wanted to jump up and go to him!

But Becky was here- be all casual, she warned herself.

“Hey Liz,” Steve replied, smiling at her, a lingering one, which made Elisabeth shiver a bit. He still liked her!

“You alright?” He asked, as Becky dragged him over to the armchair to sit down with her.

“I’m good,” Elisabeth replied. ‘You?”

“Great,” he smiled.

Haha, we’re being so formal with each other! Elisabeth thought. I wonder if he wants to snog me as much as I want to snog him?

“Ohhhhh, I can’t believe you’re here! You never said you were coming!” Becky said to him, looking at him with eyes full of admiration and lov… lust?!

“Missed you- wanted to see you,” he replied, bringing her closer and kissing her head.

Elisabeth looked down at her book again. Missed her, or missed me? She thought.

“Awww- that is so sweet!” Becky cooed, and they suddenly went into ‘couple’ mode, little kisses, cuddling, a lot of talk Elisabeth didn’t understand.

Elisabeth cringed into a little ball even more. She felt really uncomfortable being here, daren’t even look up to see it happening before her eyes.

Talk about mental scars. She couldn’t bare seeing Steve with someone else.

“You have a good day at work?” He asked her.

“Arraggghhh, nope. Boring, boring, howwwwwible,” Becky complained.

“Awww,” he sympathized.

“Ooooh! Actually- I wanted to talk to you!” Becky said, sitting up a bit. “I’m going to be away all weekend.”

That caught Elisabeth’s attention. She looked up from her book to the couple, to engage Steve’s reaction.

“Oh,” he replied. ‘Why?”

“It’s my parents’ 30^th anniversary. So, I have to go away to see them- be there for the whole party thing. You know how it is.”

“Where are they?” He asked.

“Fulham,” Becky replied. “So gotta travel North.”

“And you’re gonna be away all weekend?” He asked her.

Becky nodded sadly. “I’m sorry, babe! We’ll meet up Monday, yeah?”

“Yeah, sure,” he replied. “Liz going?”

“No!” Becky laughed. “God- you really don’t know my parents!”

“What’s the matter with your parents?” Steve asked.

“They don’t like me mixing,” Becky said, making a face. “With anyone.”

“Not even me?” He asked, looking all puppy-eyed.

Becky laughed. “They don’t even know ‘bout you! They think I’m some kind of virgin or something!”

Steve laughed as well. “I’d like to believe that, but er… can’t!” He grinned.

Ohhhkkay, put your head down again now, Elisabeth, she thought to herself awkwardly.

“So Liz is on her own all weekend?” Steve asked.

Elisabeth haltered the lowering her head motion a movement a second.

“Yeah, she iiiiisss…” Becky said, looking over at her and catching Elisabeth’s eye. ‘Well, actually…”

She began to grin.

Elisabeth’s eyes widened and she began shaking her head furiously at Becky.

Don’t tell Steve I fancy Paul!!! She was panicking. ‘Cos I don’t, and Steve will think I’m… arraghhhhh!!!

But Becky wouldn’t be that cruel to her. “Yeah, she’ll be on her own,” she replied, smiling, and Elisabeth breathed a sigh of relief. “On her bill.”

“Awwww,” Steve replied, and he looked directly at Elisabeth.

Elisabeth looked back at him too, and they stared at each other for a few seconds.

“I’ll be alright on my own,” she replied, talking to Becky, but not taking her eyes off Steve. “I’ve managed before.”

She and Steve were talking, as well. Through their eyes. Both were thinking the same thing.

With Becky out of the way for a whole weekend… they had no chance of getting caught.

Naughty she knew, but to Elisabeth it was a Godsend.

They didn’t need to rush! They could sit down and just relax together, and ooooh, oooh- lots of kissing!!

“Might not be on ya own!” Becky said, grinning and Elisabeth shot her an angry look.

Would she quit this thing with Paul already??? Steve would get suspicious!

“Who will be here?” Steve asked Becky, seeing a threat to his and Elisabeth’s secret rendezvous.

Becky just grinned teasingly. “Ohhhh… no-one, doesn’t matter, baby. Kiss?” She offered, changing the subject, and Elisabeth darted her eyes away from the outcome.

She concentrated her eyes on the pages of the book she was reading, and forced them to read the words, although she wanted to scream out loud at her frustration of seeing him with Becky.

Weekend, Elisabeth. Just think about the weekend. You’ll have him then.

The ‘happy’ couple continued to amuse themselves a bit longer whilst Elisabeth sat there feeling somewhat like a sore thumb. But then it broke up abruptly when Becky said,

“be right back, hunny,” to Steve, and jumped off the armchair and disappeared out the room and up the stairs.

Elisabeth sat there hunched up for a minute, waiting as Becky’s footsteps faded away upstairs, and she and Steve were alone.

She wanted to put her book down and rush over to him- but something inside stopped her; why should she always be the one running after him? Seem like the one only one who ever put any effort into their relationship? She didn’t want to look desperate.

No. If he wanted her (which she hoped he did, ‘cos she wanted him so badly), he’d have to come to her.

So she settled herself down again, and very coolly pretended to carry on reading her book- almost ignoring him.

That’s why it was such a delight to her when she felt her book being pushed over to the side, and then his mouth filling hers as he began to kiss her really hungrily. Yes- he did want her! She let go of her book and pulled him closer to her, so she could kiss him back as well. They hadn’t kissed for ages- and wow, this was what she’d been being deprived of.

“God, I missed that,” he said as he pulled away from her and she smiled back at him, not caring that Becky was upstairs.

“You still like me, then?” She asked him shyly. He was sat really close to her, arms around her waist, face inches away from her face. She could look directly into those lovely blue eyes he had.

They looked kinda hurt when she said that, though. “Of course I still like you,” he said, stroking her in appreciation, like a cat. “And we are gonna do so much this weekend!”

“Are we?” She grinned back, thinking, bingo! He was thinking the same!

‘Ohhhhh yeah,” he smiled that cute smile and leaned forward to kiss her again, which she replied enthusiastically to.

She felt so happy doing this. How could something which felt so right be so wrong?

And how is he really going to hurt me? Elisabeth thought, like Paul was warning me? Even him being with Becky isn’t really hurting me… is it?

He pulled away again so he could speak. “I’ll be over straight away tomorrow night,” he informed her. “And I am not leaving.”

She gulped a little at that, but laughed to hide her fear. “Watcha mean?” She asked nervously.

“Staying the night,” he told her, and kisser her. “With you.” He kissed her again. “Same bed,” another kiss, “same body.” And he began kissing her again, a longer one to finisher of all of those shorter ones.

But she shuddered when he said that.

He’s got it into his head that he’s going to sleep with me tomorrow!

That scared her… just thinking about the reality of it… she’d be naked with him. He’d touch and kiss her everywhere, as well as, as well as… she pushed him off her, a little frightened by that image.

She looked at him searchingly whilst he just grinned at her back. “Becky going away could not have been more prefect timing,” he said, stroking her hair back. “I get to be alone with you.”

She smiled weakly back at him. But now her whole excitement for the weekend had changed to nervous apprehension.

Why can’t he just want to do normal… innocent things? Why was sex so important to him?

Sex is important, Elisabeth, she told herself. You don’t know yet, ‘cos this is your first relationship. When you gain more experience and knowledge, you’ll understand why he wants to sleep with you so badly. It was just scary ‘cos losing your virginity was such a big thing, and she just didn’t feel ready yet.

But maybe she should… juts do it. Get it over with- first time hurt loads anyway, didn’t it? And it was always lousy. It got better after the first time. So if she got it out of the way, she could enjoy whatever you did when you had sex with someone… with Steve.

It’d be worth it, Elisabeth!

All those feelings Becky talked about… you’d feel them, too! You and Steve could really become close. It would so benefit you.

Then why was she so scared?

He was kissing her again, and she forced herself to concentrate on that for the minute, but she wished her could push him away, run away to be on her own, and sort out her feelings.

Talk them through with herself, talk them through with… Paul?

Damn! Where was the kind stranger when she needed him?!!

Becky’s bounding footsteps down the stairs suddenly tore them apart, and Steve panickingly jumped away from Elisabeth and crept to the other side of the sofa as Elisabeth distractedly pushed her loose hair behind her ear and grabbed her book back.

Becky came into the room and looked upon the guilty pair with a blind eye, even though Steve had clearly moved place.

“Heya! I’m-“ the phone’s ring suddenly cut her off. She sighed.

“Back in a sec,” she replied, and disappeared again.

Elisabeth let go all the breath she was holding with relief.

That had been… tight.

She looked up at Steve who grinned back at her in relief. “Later” he mouthed as he crept back to the armchair.

Elisabeth felt more relaxed with him away from her, and looked back at her book, thoughts tumbling around as she regained herself.

Steve… kissing her… Steve… wanting to sleep with her tomorrow night!

Ohhhhh… hell.

“Ellllliiiiiiiisabetttthhhhhh!” Becky sang as she entered the lounge again, a huge grin on her face. “Phhhhhhhonnnnnnne!”

Elisabeth looked up at her, surprised. “Who is it?” She asked, not knowing it had been for her, she wasn’t expecting anyone.

“Paaaauuuuuuulllll,” Becky sang back, grin getting wider and wider.

Oh no, Elisabeth thought.