Holding Onto Youth

Chapter 17

XAVIER

"Love is a challenging game and there are one too many contestants."

🌴🌴🌴

I peeped through the window once more before glancing around her room. Percy was adjusting the new bed spread he got her while Ander made space for us to sleep. She's been out with Toby for a while and my nerves have been getting the best of me. I haven't heard from her since her Uncle's funeral and I think she's been avoiding confronting what happened that night. That night when we-

"Okay! Everything's all good and I think she'll love this bed set I got her. Do you think she'll like it?" Percy criticized his taste as he nervously bit his finger nails while waiting patiently for our input. Ander nodded, folding his arms.

"Knowing Sierra I think the aesthetic pink is her kind of flavor. Don't worry she'll like it."

"Why are you so nervous?" I ask as he sighs.

"I've never cared enough to buy anyone anything and Sierra's like my first girl friend you know." My eyebrows came together in confusion as Ander's eyes widened.

"Girlfriend?" He teased which caused Percy to panic from the look I was giving him.

"No- no -no I mean like the first girl who is my friend- my best friend." Ander nods slowly before grabbing the desk chair to sit on as he eyed Percy suspiciously.

"Percy do you have a crush on Sierra?" He rolled his eyes as he propped himself against the wall.

"No! She's like a sister to me. We already know who likes her." All eyes are suddenly facing my direction. I glance between them as Ander grins.

"No wonder you caused a scene about her and Toby spending all that time together. Dude you're in for-" Laughter. The kind that made your insides hurt and your chest constrict that you have to cough for air. The kind that children had when they were being tickled. It was coming from her and it wasn't because of me. I gazed out the window, Percy and Ander standing close behind me as we watched Toby and Sierra roll around on the sidewalk. Her laughing and him staring at her as if she was the only thing that mattered. Then he stood up, put his hand out for her and she took it, interlacing their fingers together and that was enough to make me avert my gaze.

"Looks like you have some competition there buddy." Ander chuckled while Percy eyed me. "Aye love birds! This isn't a movie, get your asses inside." I was able to bare witness to Sierra flipping him the finger and maybe it made me smile a little.

I sipped my glass of water while side eyeing Sierra and Toby while they laughed at something in his phone. It was the most annoying thing and I was a bit irritated by how Sierra was treating me. I couldn't get that kiss out my head. Maybe she couldn't remember it because she was such a mess. I'd surely never forget how vulnerable and full she felt in my arms. How she clung to me like a baby, how demanding she was for my taste. It's like my lips held the secret to something impossible. She wanted more of me and I gladly gave it to her. Had I stayed until morning, there would have been a different outcome and that was a fault of mine. 

She finally looked my way, giving me that knowing gaze. I'm not sure when it happened, but there was a moment Sierra didn't feel like a friend because she was more and from the look in her eyes I could tell that she felt the same. The question was, why is there a hint of reluctance in those beautiful brown eyes of her? What was stopping her? Then she smiled at me, Toby threw his arm over her shoulder and just like that he had her attention again. I sighed, an unknown lump in my chest  rising  and I had to get out before I burst. My phone buzzed in my back pocket and I groaned, searching for it.