(RORY’S POV)
“Well that is an interesting turn of events. Shocking but interesting, I can’t lie.” I heard Laurel whisper in glee. There seemed to be a moment of silence, with everyone processing what had just been said. And then all eyes turned on me and Todd. I could feel my cheeks go hot from all the attention. My heart was thumping so loudly that one would think that I had been dared to take off my clothes even though for me, it was almost the same thing. Kiss Todd for three whole minutes? I dared to cast a glance at him and my heart beat picked up when I found that he was watching me. “I’m sorry. This is my fault. I made us play this stupid game.” I whispered to him. A small smile tugged at his lips making me ache in my heart. “It’s not your fault, Candy.” He whispered back. “Oh please! It’s a fucking dare! Just kiss already…or better still, Todd O’Connor go naked for us .” Majorie said with her eyebrows wriggling teasingly. The group cheered and laughed while I winced at the idea. “No! Don’t do that.” I said quickly. Todd chuckled, a beautiful sound that anchored me admist the stormy emotions I was feeling. “I don’t want to. I would much rather I kiss you… if you don’t mind, that is.” He said. His words were dreamy and hot. I wanted to pinch myself to be certain that I was not dreaming. Was he really speaking that way to me? Telling me he would much rather kiss me? Okay, snap out of your head Rory! It’s kiss you or go naked, of course he would rather kiss you ! Now say something instead of looking like some dumb struck moron. “I don’t mind.” I breathed out genuinely. Damn, I did not mind kissing Todd at all. I have dreamed of it, imagined it, I have even practiced it on Rosalie’s mannequins. Todd leaned closer to me and cupped my face gently in his hands. It’s either everyone went silent or I drowned in his sea blue eyes and blocked out their noise. Todd’s eyes glanced at my lips and my heart started beating so fast, I worried it would leap out of my chest. I couldn’t help but gulp as my eyes flickered to his lips too. Then he leaned closer and pressed his lips gently to mine. The warm feel of his lips against mine sent me in to a spiral of exhilarating emotions. My whole body responded immediately and it felt like I was floating in the clouds. His lips moved skillfully over mine and bit me gently but sensually sending a chill down my spine and awakening the nerves in my body. I couldn’t help the sigh of content that escaped my lips as I parted way for his tongue to swirl in my mouth. Hearing him moan gently sent a shot of excitement from my head down to my toes. My hands reached up to rest on his neck gently moving to his hair. He shuddered under my hold and I kissed him back finding that it was the easiest thing to do. Somehow my lips knew what to do and so did my tongue as they welcomed his in unison and massaged gently across one another. I felt my body awaken in ways that I never knew it could as the sensitive area between my legs seemed to jolt awake at the embrace. I was tugging his hair gently and enjoying as his hand moved to my waist when a screech interrupted us. “You bitch! It’s three minutes past!” The screech was accompanied by the shocking feeling of cold liquid on my hair dripping down my face. Leslie had obviously had enough.(RORY’S POV)The night air was cool and soft, a gentle contrast to the humid warmth of the house, now filled with the low hum of conversations winding down. The last of the guests were saying their goodbyes, their voices a symphony of well-wishes and happy memories. My family, now a small, exhausted but content group, were gathered in the living room, the space that had been a battlefield just hours before. The once-pristine decorations were now a little askew, a testament to the joyous chaos of the party. A few stray balloons had made their way to the ceiling, their silver and pink surfaces reflecting the soft glow of the lamps. The scent of cinnamon, sugar, and aged paper still lingered, a comforting, familiar aroma.I sat on the couch, nestled between my dad and my sister, Rosalie. My hand, tucked into Todd’s, felt warm and safe. He was talking to my Aunt Ryan, his voice a low, happy rumble as he recounted a story about my cousin’s impressive dance moves. He had been a natural all
(AMANDA’S POV)The music was a warm, vibrant blanket, a cheerful hum that settled over the party and seeped into every corner of the house. Laughter was a constant, joyous sound, and the air was thick with the scent of good food and celebration. This was Rory’s world, a beautiful, chaotic, and loving place. And in that moment, standing in the middle of her living room, I felt like a ghost.My performance for Nana had been a triumph. The applause, the tears in Nana’s eyes, the way Rory looked at me with such immense pride—it had all been a temporary, beautiful high. It was a glimpse into a life I desperately wanted to be a part of. For a few glorious minutes, I was Amanda, the girl with a beautiful voice, the friend. But now, with the song over and the spotlight off, the reality of my situation settled over me like a cold shroud.Leslie’s words, a low, dangerous growl, echoed in my ears with every beat of the music. "You have until the end of the weekend… If you don't have something on
(RORY’S POV)The scent of cinnamon and sugar that had filled the house all morning had given way to the soft, sweet fragrance of the flowers Todd had brought, mingling with the subtle, clean scent of the just-cleaned living room. The chaos had been scrubbed away, replaced by an air of hushed anticipation. The house, which had been a war zone just an hour ago, was now a wonderland of pink, blue, and silver. Streamers hung in perfect, cascading arcs from the ceiling, and balloons floated in clusters in every corner of the room. A massive cake, a masterpiece of my sister’s, stood on the kitchen counter, its three tiers waiting to be admired.My own transformation was complete. The worn sweats and t-shirt were gone, replaced by a simple but elegant navy-blue dress that my sister had insisted I wear. My hair, which had been a mess of loose strands all morning, was now pulled back in a neat, polished ponytail. I felt like a different person, a more put-together, more confident version of my
RORY’S POV) The sun was barely a rumor on the horizon, a soft, blushing glow seeping through the edges of my bedroom curtains, but the house was already alive with a particular, high-octane energy I knew well. It was Surprise Party Day. I jolted awake not to an alarm, but to the unmistakable clatter of pans in the kitchen, followed by the low murmur of my dad’s voice and the occasional burst of my Aunt Ryan’s booming laughter. A symphony of chaos was already in full swing. My sister, Rosalie, was undoubtedly in the thick of it, a whirlwind of organized fury. I pulled on my softest sweats and a worn T-shirt, and padded down the stairs, following the scent of coffee and something sweet. The living room, usually a haven of quiet comfort, was a war zone. Streamers in various shades of pastel were strewn across the floor like colorful, fallen ribbons. Balloons, some sadly deflated, were everywhere. My sister, Rosalie, was wielding a glue gun with the intense concentration of a surgeon, h
(RORY’S POV)The world outside the car window was a watercolor of deepening twilight, a smear of charcoal-grey clouds and the hazy orange glow of streetlights. But inside the car, everything was rendered in impossible, crystalline detail. The soft purr of the engine was a tangible vibration through the leather seat. The scent of him—clean cotton, faint sweat, and the unique, warm spice that was just Todd—clung to the air, a perfume more intoxicating than any other. It was on my clothes, in my hair, a permanent brand on my senses.My skin hummed with the memory of his touch. The rough pads of his fingers tracing the line of my jaw, the solid warmth of his palms spanning my back, the gentle, almost reverent way he had learned the geography of me. My lips felt swollen, sensitive, and a faint, delicious ache lingered in muscles I hadn’t known I possessed. I was a map he had memorized, a book he had read cover to cover, and I had never felt more known, or more truly myself.He pulled up to
(TODD’S POV)The world had narrowed to the space of my living room, to the feel of Rory’s lips on mine and the soft, trusting weight of her in my arms. The movie’s credits were a silent, scrolling tapestry of light and shadow on the screen, forgotten. The only sound was our breathing, ragged and syncopated, a new and intimate language we were learning together.I pulled back just enough to look at her. Her eyes were still closed, her lips slightly parted and swollen from our kisses. A faint, rosy blush colored her cheeks, and a single tear track glistened in the dim light. She was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.“Rory,” I whispered, my voice rough with an emotion so vast I had no name for it.Her eyes fluttered open. They were dark pools, deep and unguarded, reflecting the same awe and terror and desperate want that was currently setting my blood on fire. There was no fear there, only a question, and a trust that humbled me.“Is this okay?” I asked, my thumb stroking her che