Piece Of Advice

Nicole..

I opened my eyes in the dark, Zach's arm was over me, I was locked in his grip. The events of last night flooded my mind as I tried to keep myself from squirming.

Zach was on a whole different level, every where he had touched me, ignited something I never knew I had in me, it was like every nerve in my body was an electric wire under his fingers that sent shock waves after shock waves.

It was inarguably one of the best night of my life, but I still wasn't sure if things were settled with us.

So much had happened back in school, and I sure as hell didn’t want to make the same mistake again.

Zach was probably every girl’s dream. Perhaps even mine as well. But there was so much about him I knew nothing about, he was so mysterious.

I couldn't let this crazed attraction we felt for each other burn deeper and someday explode, I had to end it.

I tried to push Zach's arm off my chest but it proved to be harder than I thought it would, he had a death grip on me, like he already knew I would run away.

But I had to leave now. I took a deep breath, and waited for his breaths to become steady, before I started slowly pushing myself downwards from under his arm, I was able to push myself through until it got to my neck.

“Crap!” I whisper-yelled as I tried to think of a way to push his arm upward that wouldn't make him tighten his grip.

I took another deep breath and used my elbows to prop my arms, as I raised his arm above my head. After I set myself free, I rolled out of his bed and quietly opened his door before I snuck out of his room and ran to mine.

I had to take a shower and wash his scent away and probably the memory of this night.

Everything had to leave. I quickly stripped myself of my clothes and walked into my bathroom for a hot bath, I scrubbed every part of me he had laid his fingers on, as I tried to wash away his scent that seemed to engulf me further but it was like the more I tried, the more I couldn't get him off me.

It was like he had claimed my body and even I couldn’t control how I wanted to feel about him, no matter how hard I fought.

“This is so messed up!” I sighed in despair.

When I came to stay with Leah, Zach wasn't part of the plan, I couldn’t believe how fast it took me to jump into his bed. I had to get a hold on myself, even if it seemed like the last thing I wanted to do.

I stayed in the bathroom longer than I was supposed to, until I started to feel cold, then I wrapped my towel and walked out.

The day had gotten brighter as the sun rays sneaked past my curtains.

I picked up a pair of shorts and a shirt and tied my hair into a bun, then left my room for the kitchen.

“Hey Leah,” I smiled at the already busy Leah as she stood over a pot of stew in the kitchen, spoon in her mouth as she tasted her food.

“Nicole! You’re up!”

She seemed so excited to see me, but I was too lost in my own dilemma to return the energy, so I simply smiled. “Good morning to you too, Leah,” I said, still smiling.

Her facial expression changed for a few seconds, I could tell she was embarrassed.

“I’m sorry, it’s just that we haven’t really spent time together, I miss you so much, Nicole.”

I chuckled at how hard she was struggling to maintain a straight face while saying that.

Leah had always been the fun one, she was loved to tell jokes, and don’t even get me started on her sarcasm game.

It was nice to see that she was still herself, she wasn’t as lost as I was.

“You’re forgiven, Leah,” I said in a very dramatic way, bowing my head in the process.

“Leah chuckled,” holding the spoon in my direction. “Come, taste this!” She said as she dragged me over and plunged a spoon into my mouth.

“Hmm!” I muttered as I removed the spoon from my mouth “you should give a girl a warning” I smiled. “You really are a spicy girl.”

“So, how is it? I'm trying this new recipe I saw, I'm using beet roots” She sounded ecstatic as she rambled on about her new stew making technique.

“It's definitely a new taste, not so bad. It'll take some getting used to,” I replied.

While we waited for the food to cook, Leah offered me a glass of juice. It was then I realized how thirsty I was.

“I guess you’ve been thirsty a lot these days.” A small voice echoed in my head, but I silenced it immediately. The last thing I wanted to feel at the moment was guilt.

Whatever Zach and I did was something that brought me real joy, for the first time these past week, given the chaos I left behind. I didn’t care what happened next, I would never regret it.

“What's that smell?” Leah asked as she pushed closer to me and sniffed my body.

“Uhm… my shower bath. I know the fragrance is a little harsh, but I do like it. Do you hate the smell? I stayed in a little longer, I’m sorry.” I replied as I hoped that was the actual reason and not that Zach's scent was literally all over me.

Nahh! That would be crazy. Even the strongest perfumes cannot survive my shower bath. Its fragrance was enough to erase the strongest scents. Even Zach’s that I tried so hard to get off me.

“I know the scent of your shower bath, Nicole. And that’s cause it’s the same you used since you turned 14. But this is a different one, it smells like a man’s.”

Her words caught me off guard. If Zach’s scent was still on me, I had a lot of explaining to do to Leah.

But how did she easily pick it up?

“Shower huh? What happened last night Nicole, I think I'm getting more of Zach than shower bath,” Leah immediately blurted out.

I tried my best to stop myself from smiling or blushing or giving off any sign that what she said is true.

“I don't know what you mean, Leah,” I scoffed.

“Well it better be, you shouldn't get wrapped up in him. You have to be careful, or at best, stay away from him.” Leah advised.

“Speaking of being careful, does Zach have a girlfriend?” I asked, genuinely curious as to why she was telling me to stay away from him.

Leah sighed as she turned off the gas and brought down the pot “No, he doesn't have a girlfriend.”

“Then why are you being like this about him? I mean, I'm not crossing any boundaries am I? And it's not like we're a thing, I just don't know why you're acting like this.”

“It’s complicated, Nicole,” she replied, avoiding my gaze. I suspected she was hiding something, but it was too early to grill her for information.

However, I tried to understand why Leah was not actually answering any of my questions but just continually telling me to back off from Zach, what were they hiding? I knew he was mysterious and all but still, it was a little weird.

“Okay.” I let out a nervous laugh.

“It's really complicated, Nicole,” Leah sighed “I can't really explain things yet, I really wish I could, but it's totally above me”

Here she goes, confusing me even more. “You're not even saying anything, Leah,” I sighed “What's so complicated that you can't tell me? I'm your best friend.”

“Okay, I understand your point, Nicole. Just promise me you'll give me a little more time and then I'll take care of everything and it won't be so complicated anymore” Leah said.

“You have to keep true to your word,” I told her.

“I promise” Leah replied “Now, do you want to eat some beet root chicken stew? It tastes wonderful”

“Bribing me with food? Of course I'm going to fall for it.”

Leah and I laughed as she plated both our foods. “I'm going to give you the best tasteful bribe ever,” Leah said as walked to the dining.

I smiled as I watched her taking slow steps “You better” I replied before we started eating.”