CRAVE

ARABELLA. "Peter. " I moan when he pulls away from the kiss, and slowly opens his eyes to meet mine. They are darkened; desire and lust swimming in them and my heart thunders in my chest because I'm sure mine are the same. "Ara. " He calls my name softly and I can no longer hold back. I grip the front of his shirt and pull his mouth back to mine. A groan leaves his lips as I force them open, and slide my tongue inside; my hands now moving from his shoulders to his chest, trailing down his body and stopping at the hem of his shirt. His hand curls around the back of my head as he slowly lowers me on the bed, and a jolt of excitement runs across my body when my back hits against the soft mattress, warmth pooling in my lower belly. It's happening. It's really happening. We're finally crossing that one line. All thoughts evaporate when Pete removes his mouth from mine to litter kisses across my neck. I bite down on my lips to suppress the loud moan that threatens to break out as I

ARABELLA. "So what happened last night?" Dex asks as we stride down the hallway and I say, "What happened?" He gives me a side-eye. "The party?" "Oh, right. The party. " I mumble, and he tilts his head to my side, "Are you okay? You've been acting weird since I picked you up. " "I'm alright. I didn't stay long at the party though. " I tell him, and just as he opens his mouth to speak again; Peter appears in front of us with a sad expression on his face as he calls my name, "Arabella. " I sigh. "What do you want, Peter?" "Why didn't you respond to any of my texts? And you can't tell me you missed them, Bella. I know you didn't. " He says and I raise my shoulder, "I didn't want to. " "You didn't want to respond to my texts?" He repeats and I hum. "Does that come as a surprise to you?" "Are you still mad at me?" He asks and I let out a small laugh. "Why'd I be? Did you do something for me to be mad?" "Babe. " He drawls and I look away from him. "Can you move? I don't want to be

ARABELLA. "Ara. " I hear Dex whisper behind me, but I don't turn to him, and when he calls my name again; I raise my shoulder slightly and tighten my grip on the brush, focusing on the faint yellow lines across the board. "Arabella!" He calls in a tiny yell this time and I groan, turning to meet his eyes. "What?" I snap and he pushes his head back, looking a bit taken aback. "Damn. Why are so pissed?" He asks and I sigh, "You know how I am when it comes to art class. You aren't exactly helping me focus. " A half-truth, and a half-lie. For the other half, I'd rather keep to myself, and ignore the fact that it truly bothers me. "Are you sure that's all this is about?" Dex asks and I throw him a small smile. "Of course it is. I'm sorry for snapping at you. What do you want?""Nothing. " He replies nonchalantly before a grin takes over his face as he grabs his phone. "I just want to show you this picture. "Before Dex turns his screen to me, I know what awaits me and the surprise does

ARABELLA. "Peter, please. Don't do this. " I plead as his leg rubs between my thighs, his mouth moving over my cleavage, and he's getting closer to my chest when the sound of a beep goes off. Peter pushes back his head, his eyes shifting to the phone I have in my front pocket, and the second he releases his grip and grabs the phone, removing his leg between my thighs; I knee his stomach, and rush to the door. The sound of his groan is the last thing I hear before I run out of the room, not caring that my phone is with him. Tears stream down my cheeks as I keep running with my palm pressed to my mouth, and my sobs breaking through. I gasp and my heart takes a jump when I bump into a body. "Arabella! There you are. I've been looking for—" Dex stops mid-sentence when I raise my head and I watch a muscle tick in his jaw as he grinds out his words, "What did he do?" "Nothing. " I sniff, wiping my tears and he shakes his head. "He did something. Tell me what the fuck he did, Ara and

ARABELLA. I look into his eyes and his gaze is soft as he rests it on me. Alexander proceeds to surprise me by saying, "I'm sorry. " My eyes widen and I watch the bob in his throat shift a bit as he keeps his eyes locked on mine. "What? Why?" I ask and he says, "I thought that'd be the right thing to say. You're in this because of what I did, aren't you?" "No. " I respond to him and when he narrows his eyes, I say, "Maybe a bit, but the fault doesn't entirely rest on you. " "You have eyes all over you because I kissed you. I think the fault pretty much rests on me. " He argues, moving his hand and I shake my head. "It doesn't. People here will find things to talk about, so that isn't a surprise. It's just a matter of time before they find someone else to pick on and I become history. " "What?" I smile when he hums and he says, "Nothing. You just reminded me of something. " "Oh. " I mouth and he nods. "I'm not taking it back, though. " "Taking what back?" "My sorry. " He cl