“You're right. But I didn't want to dance with those other girls. You think I give a shit about Dana, or anyone else? Because I don't! I could never care about them because they aren't you! But you are constantly throwing me into the friend pile. I thought you didn't want to be with me! Did I misread something here?” He sounded desperate. Where the heck did he get the idea that I wanted him to be with other girls? Hadn't I been making it very obvious for the past few months that I was crazy about him? Maybe he was more delusional than I thought.
I shook my head, my thoughts were fuzzy and my chest felt tight. This roller coaster we were on needed to stop. I wrenched backwards, away from Clay's grip. Clay looked panicked and tried to reach for me again. I shook my head and he dropped his hands to his side. He looked at me as though I were breaking his heart, which was nuts because I had no idea I even had it. “When you're in a room, Maggie, all I see is you. You make everything better. Clearer. You stop the crazy noise in my head. I can think, hell, I can breathe when we're together What you make me feel is the most unbelievable and scary thing I've ever felt.” My eyes went wide at his confession. I didn't want to say anything, not wanting to break the spell we found ourselves in.
“I never thought I deserved to be happy. With all the shit that went down in Florida, it felt like my life was over. Moving here to Virginia might as well have been a death sentence. But then you literally ran into me.” We both laughed at his choice of words, easing the tension a fraction.
Clay grabbed my hands and placed them over his heart. I could feel the erratic beat beneath my palm. “You ran into my life, this beautiful, amazing girl who changed everything. I finally saw what my world could be. What being normal and happy could look like. You've given me everything I never thought I could have! It scares me to think of life without you. Of not seeing your smile or hearing your voice. So when you didn't stop me from going off with Dana and then went and danced with that asshole, I thought you were telling me loud and clear that I didn't have a chance with you. And all I could see was my life without you in it. And it was a fucking dark and horrible place.”
I closed my eyes, feeling the prick of tears behind my eyelids. How could I stay angry when he was saying everything I had wanted to hear since I had met him? Even in the midst of this whirlwind, he made me feel alive and adored. What girl could resist that combination?
And it was time that I revealed my own truths.
“That is so beyond ridiculous. I'm crazy about you too. I've wanted to be with you since the day I ran into your life; literally. Even when you were being the biggest prick on the planet, I wanted you. But I thought being your friend was all you could handle. You know, with everything else going on.” I looked at my feet, not wanting him to see my own vulnerability.
I heard Clay's sharp intake of breath and then his fingers on my chin. “Mags. I've wanted the same thing. You have no idea how much. But you said over and over that I was your freaking friend.” He said in a desperate sort of way. I shook my head, my hair falling limply around my shoulders. The hairspray and teased styling long gone.
“You're sick, Clay. I didn't want to overly complicate things.” I justified. Clay pulled me into his arms and I didn't fight him. “No, Maggie! No, no, no! I can't stand just being your friend. It's driving me crazy holding back on what I've really wanted to say. I need to be with you! It's the only thing that makes sense in my insane, fucked up life.” He was so impassioned in his appeal.
I stood stiff in his arms, not sure what to do. He buried his face in my hair. “I'm a mess. If I were selfless, I'd make you leave. I know I'm a lot to deal with. I'm no where close to getting a handle on things. But I'm not lying when I say you make me feel like I can do it. If you're with me, I can do anything.” He stopped for a moment and then the seriousness seemed to break and his mouth quirked in a tiny smile.
“So can we try? Even if it lasts an hour?” I snorted. He was quoting Yo La Tengo to me after everything he just put me through? First Japanese poetry, now indie rock. What next? Will he serenade me outside my window to Depeche Mode?
But if there was one thing I had learned about Clayton Reed, is that I was powerless to resist him. He could charm the panties off a nun if he was inclined to do so.
Slowly I brought my arms up until we encircled each other. Even in the hazy glow of contentment, I worried that he would try to replace his need for medication with me. I didn't want to become his crutch. I wanted him to get healthy and do it for himself.
All of those concerns swirled around my head, making a decision difficult. And then he put his mouth to mine. The whisper soft touch of his lips and everything-my worries, my concerns, my doubts about our future, were lost in the amazing feeling of his mouth, his tongue and the light nips of his teeth on my bottom lip.
We kissed for awhile, his hands getting tangled in my hair, my fingers making their way underneath the back of his jacket, clutching his skin. I could barely breathe and I knew I was going under. I was drawn down by the strong undertow. Down into what seemed to be a delicious darkness. And I was happy to lose myself in it.
Chapter Eleven
It's amazing how something that had, in concept, seemed so insignificant to my life could now become my entire world. Three weeks after the Fall Formal I was flying high. If I thought I couldn't get enough of Clay when were just friends, it was nothing compared to the insatiable need I had developed when he became my boyfriend.
Boyfriend.
Who'd a thunk it?
“Ugh! Can you guys get a room already?” Daniel made a gagging noise from across the table during lunch. I smiled as Clay kissed the soft spot below my ear. He nuzzled my neck and I leaned into his touch.