eric

My world was twisting upside down. Tris! I mourned for a stranger who had become my life. For two weeks and three books i had felt her conflicts and emotions. I had felt her need to rebel and now, much like finnick and harry's parents. She was gone. Dead

I ached for her the way i would ache if i lost someone real, but truth be told she was as real to me as my sister or my mother.

I was never that expressive infact none of my friends knew that i roamed worlds made up of words fifty percent of my day. It was a secret, well kept within my kindle. I didn't look nerdy either, with my black hair that i carefully messed up every morning and normal teenageish clothes. Nope, no glasses only brown boaring eyes. I wished my eyes were sea green, like percy or bright green like clary's or gold like jace's eyes and even edwards. Twilight, don't think or you might puke. I told myself.

I wasn't a pro in math or physics actually i hated both, like every other useless thing school made us learn. The only time i was even a little mentally present in class was during english. Otherwise i was lost at hogwarts, panem,egypt,greek or rome.

I sat up straighter and managed a smile that proved my innocence. English teachers are like detectives, they know what you read, they can see the subtle references and they notice you smiling when they unknowingly make references. My english teacher knew about my obsession and being the only dude in class who read anything other then tweets and mags i was sort of kind of her pet. I had dozed off(again)and she didn't so much give me detention. Only if math came in verses!

I had this thing about english, only some parts were interesting to me, grammer came naturally so i didn't pay attention to the rules much, then sleep came naturally too.

The class got over and i shuffled out along with my noisy classmates. I needed someplace silent to finish the last part of Alligiant. I thought back to the stands, perfect because of the cool weather and no people there too. Good, my brain agreed.

I walked away from my friends after five minutes of random talking, trying my best to hide my impatience. I found a nice shady spot with enough light and opened my kindle to my current read.

I was lost then, in words and sentences and phrases and paragraphs and pages and chapters. In sadness and acceptance and loss of hope. The world i was living in no longer existed, i was no longer eric. I was walking through the streets of chicago and running to catch the train. I was staring at my new home and i was wishing tris were here, i was four and i was tobias and i was lost without tris.

There was nowhere else to be, but where i was.

Cherry

I was walking faster now, my legs finding a rhythm in such runs and walks i had made tons of times. My black leather jacket fought the cold but not well enough, by the time i reached the stands i was cold and irritated. Most of all angry.

It was what five? Six? I didn't know because my phone was sitting at home in my desk along with my math homework. All i knew is i had to wait until two or three more hours until i could reach home. For a second i longed for the warm comfort of my house but it all vanished before i could turn to the parking lot. I was stupid, so so so stupid. I knew it was saturday today, why couldn't i have taken my sweater, coat and my phone even. Atleast i could have texted my friends or something. Now i had eighty minutes to kill and nothing to do.

Right, nothing but cry.

My blurry eyes guided my best to a clean seat where i sat and let my tears go free.

I cried every month or so, when things got too intense. It helped ease me up and feel calmer. Release the tension.

I was almost laid out on the bench, feeling homeless when my not so blurry eyes decided to look at the person sitting two rows from me. He didn't look homeless. He was lost, his face expressionless and eyes glued to the reader in his hands. Every half minute or so he would touch his finger to the device. Other then that his eyes kept moving in horizontal lines, reading. He was here reading.

Either he was so immersed in reading that he hadn't noticed me or he really didn't care. I hoped for the first one because as much as i had cried i didn't need someone to spread this to school. I imagined him taking a picture of me grimacing in tears. No, i hadn't seen a flash or even his phone. I hoped he wasn't going to ruin my bad girl reputation.

His device dinged once, he frowned then put it in his bag, the screen black.

eric

My battery was out. Just after i had finished the last word. I let my kindle slide into my bag with the divergent series. My brain gave me suggestions like a google images display.

The maze runner. Fifty shades of grey. Delirium. Legend.

Under the never sky. Uglies. Panic. Before i fall.

I would have to download legend when i would reach home. My phone told me it was eight o clock and that my home was waiting for me. I stretched a little and turned my head up to look at the sky which was the beautiful blue of the ocean at night. The school was empty and eerie looking. Suddenly i felt as if someone was watching me, either this was the beginning of a really awesome horror movie or i was paranoid. Suddenly i needed to get home.

I looked to the side to make sure no one was there, as if the killer would run away because of my eyes! What i saw was even more startling, a girl- i was not like ohmygod what is this creature that i have laid eyes upon' but more like 'what the hell is she doing here right now?'
She was looking right at me, right into my eyes as if she could see into the depths of my soul through my eyes. Her eyes were red and her expression a frown, she had been crying. Her black hair was messed up and unruly.but despite of her state she looked at me as if challenging me to ask her anything. Her eyes said, 'you wanna fight? I can take you down'
I decided she was a dauntless.

I don't know how long we both stood there, looking at each other into the eyes.
Her eyes were dark blue, a storm. We just stared, unmoving.

Her leather jacket and skinny jeans gave her the looks of a fighter, matching her eyes and her personality. Her hair flew around her face but she did not mover her hands to pull the strands away. She was different from any girl i had seen. She was a challenge, a force of nature, unafraid.

She was different. But what makes you different makes you dangerous.

cherry

He didn't look away. Did Not avert his green-grey eyes. He was looking right into my eyes, not challenging me but just looking. He looked amused. I was waiting for him to move, to look away and show signs of submission as most people did when i stared at them.

Funny thing was, he didn't look scared. He wasn't afraid of me.

So instead of doing the sensible thing he talked to me.

"Uh-are you okay?"

His voice didn't sound like a five year olds. Not too high, not too low. It was...good.

"I'm going" i didn't want anything to do with him.

"Okay"

I started walking and he did too. We both walked to the parking area.

I realised my bike didn't have any fuel left. WOnderful. guess he noticed too.

"Looks like you ran outta fuel" the look i gave him didn't make him run away. He half smiled at me.

"i'm fine" i growled at him. Could he not see my sharp teeth? Would i have to howl at the moon to tell him to stay away?! Ugh. I wished i was a real wolf then so i could have bitten his ass and seen him run away.

He was still staring into my eyes. What was this boy's problem?

On the other hand i didn't want to walk alone in the cold night.

"Dont worry, i only sleep with girls on like the second date. And you can stab me with that knife in your boot" brave and observant. I was waiting for him to sprout wings and fly away.

The metal felt cold and sleek in my boot.

"You try anything i will fuck you up" i tried to add all the warning, steel and sharpness into my voice but he still looked unfazed.

"That would make this a second date" his half smile turned three quarters.

He walked to a black car that looked a little broken down. We took our seats in the car. It smelled like boy sweat but in the good way.

The silence was a little piercing, so he put on a music c.d.

I was expecting hannah montana songs or the barbie theme song but he played linkin park which i loved (but didn't tell him). The air was cool and sweet and i didn't mind it one bit.

"Where do you live" the wind was teasing his hair a little. He kept his eyes on the road, driving fast but carefully.

"Ill give you the turns" i didn't want him to know. Simple.

"Mysterious"

He raised one eyebrow, his half smile making his whole face look different, more happy.

"Not telling you what you dont need to know" my brain did a self high five.

"Right" still smiling. Still unafraid. Still here.

He stopped outside of my house, when i had lead him to the non-rich-spoiled kids sector he didn't look surprised or disappointed. Just amused.

I could tell you, aliens could invade the earth and the only expression on his face would be amusement.

I started to get out but stopped.

"Thanks..." i didn't know his Name.

"Eric" really god? geez.

"And i'm the little mermaid" he laughed and i smiled. Holy shit

"I'm charlina, cherry"

"Hey, thanks" i said and set one foot outside of the car; The one with the knife.
screams fell through my ears. Screams and shattering and throwing and accusations. I saw a man look out of the window, he walked through the front doors to his car;ready to pull me into the fight. He came closer and closer and my mind debated against telling eric to leave without me and telling him to leave with me in the car.

The man, my father came nearer, his face and eyes red. Angry. He staggered from the drinks and almost fell ten feet away from the car.

"Char-" i cut eric off, he didn't do the sensible thing again .he listened to me.

"drive away, please" he didn't need anymore words. He did.

eric

I was confused, scared even. Scared for what would have happened to her if i wouldn't have driven off. The wind was sharp, appropriate for the night. I let her stay in silence for some time, her head was half outside the window, hair shifting around her face. She was not crying, she was quiet.

How many nights had she come home to this? How many times had her jacket and pants stopped the scars from showing? Was this the reason for her wait that late in the school?

Thoughts swirled in my head, burned through my skull and questions crowded my driving. I was speeding the car too much. I slowed down; both my thoughts and the car.

"So...you okay" stupid thing to ask really

"Yeah" her voice was clear And calm. Nope not crying.

"Its fine, i'm fine can you take me to the motel by the next street?" The slut-palace?

"Do you always go there?"

"I don't prefer sleeping in the streets you know, usually mom and dad calm down before night or enough to let me in anyway....saturdays are the worst"

"You dont...have anywhere else to go-i mean like a friend's place or something?" I could not stop myself. She didn't look like she was a slut. Bad girl yes but not a slut. I didn't want her to go to the motel.

"They have a gig...theyre not here" i thought she lied but i had seen the members of 'dead end road' singing and stuff and they did look a bit like her. All leather. I didn't really know she hanged out with them. She was a stranger to me untill now.

"Look, they have bad plumbing-" she was looking at me like 'how the fuck do you know that?'

"I went there once for stuff okay!" I went on "you can crash at my place for tonight, i mean i'm not a rapist or anything so dont worry and my parents arent home"

"You know you are a terrible flirt, i could just sleep with you out of pity."

"heh! So you gonna come? We can sleep in different rooms"

She laughed, all the event of the night forgotten.

"If you try to fuck me i will cut you" her tone was dead serious and i was not sure weather she was kidding or not but i laughed nervously anyway.

I knew she had the knife in her boot and i also knew that people who keep knives (especially butter knives) in their boots and hats know how to use them.

I was just being protective anyway. I didn't want her dad to report me, i had been last seen with her. Nobody would believe the dorky nerd dropped the hot girl to a motel without doing unspeakable things to her.

I drove home and she was a bit surprised her house and mine looked quite similar, except the shattered glass and screaming parents.

I really wanted to joke about her sleeping with me in the house but sensed that she was in a dull mood. She might have cut me. You never know.

She started to get off the car but my door didn't budge, she was pushing harder, trying to break the door. I reached over and pulled the door in, then pushed so the dumb car would let us out. How do i put it...our hands kinda touched. It was just a touch...but she flinched at it. I didnt know weather it was what had happened today or was it just me, maybe i stunk, maybe she heard the little fart i had during her entry into the car.

Maybe she was weirded out by me.

I let her in only after i ensured no random stuff was lying around in the house. She came in and i told her to sit and wait.

I went inside and sprayed deodorant on myself , then messed up my hair and smiled into the mirror. Yes, casanova!

She was sitting on my black leather sofa which she oddly looked similar to. Like she belonged to my sofa. I was having weird thoughts.

"You want something to drink?"

"No, thanks"

"Uh.. You can sleep in my room and ill sleep in my parents room"

"Your parents arent home?"

"My dad works for a t.v show around the world and they divorced like a year ago"

"Oh"

"My rooms up here" she followed me up the stairs and into my room.she took off her jacket and sat on the edge of the bed. Her hair cascaded around her when she looked down. Then she looked back up and into my eyes.

"Thanks..you know for everything"

I smiled and she did too but only halfway.

"your room Is beautiful!" Her tone was sarcastic. She sounded like a five year old cheerleader.

We shot we dribble we rock all right

This girls gonna get me tonight

First my room then my bed

I hope in the morning she wont make me dead!

(Cheers from the crowd)

"See you in the morning?" I asked.

"Yeah" she was still staring into my eyes. As if she didnt want to look away. i didnt want to look away either.

"Foods in the fridge so...you know you can eat..." Way to make it awkward.

"Didn't expect it to be anywhere else" she smiled. And i could only think about all the times she would have smiled after having nights like this.

But she was smiling. She was here, alive not in pieces. She was here.

She was strong.

cherry

It was midnight when i finally decided to get up. I had been tossing and turning in bed for eternity.usually i slept normally in the motel on these nights but today was different. He had seen it all. I couldn't stop thinking about it, or him. Most people would be scared or crazy or pitiful.he looked like he understood. I didn't understand.

I kept looking for pity in his eyes but there was none. Only respect, the kind you give to warriors and armymen. That respect.

As if i was going into battle.

I left his room and hit the fridge for a snack, like a midnight feast. He had after all given me permission to eat. I might as well enjoy it.

I looked around the fridge and found ice cream. Cookie-dough. I bought myself a spoon. Then, in the darkness of the living room. I sat on his couch and pushed spoonfuls of cookie dough ice cream into my mouth. It tasted a little odd but i didn't want to leave it. It didn't really taste like cookie dough actually, it tasted like bitter chocolate or something.

After seven spoonfuls the fridge opened. Phantom spirits.

The fridge door closed and a figure walked out in just pajama bottoms. He looked at me and then at the spoon in my hand, stuck halfway between the icecream container and my mouth.

He laughed a little and sat beside me. He was wearing printed batman pants. I laughed too.

"Midnight snack" i said.

"Hows the ice cream?" What kind of a question was that? Geez.

"Good i guess, wanna share?"

"Yeah" he walked back to the kitchen to get a spoon.

Soon we were passing the tub back and forth and taking spoonfuls of ice cream. The world started to go fuzzy. He had told me something was special about the ice cream but i could not remember it. I was getting a little dizzy and tipsy.

Maybe he was too. The bat men in his pants started to fly away, my head was running wild and crazy.

Maybe his was too. Maybe i decided this was a good excuse.

Our spoons dripped half melting icecream as we tried to eat up the last of it.

The ice cream was done.

"This isn't ice cream, its high scream cause it gives you a high" we both laughed like crazy people. We were sitting close together, close enough so that our bodies touched. I did notice his lack of clothing. I noticed it a lot.

The ice cream suddenly disappeared between us, going where i did not know. I admit it was my mistake for making the first move. Okay whatever. My spoon was still in my hand and it kinda grazed his neck, there was a trail of high-scream there.

I might have gotten greedy over that bit because next thing my high brain knew was my lips on his neck. He froze for a second, then relaxed.

Then suddenly the laws of physics and the laws of teenage love and stranger theory all went into the trash.

I let myself feel good, feel free and happy and in control of everything. I grazed my lips on his neck a second longer then reached up to his mouth. We met in a beautiful saga of music. Violens and electric guitars playing in sync. My lips parted and so did his. We were both turned to each other, entangled in each other. My hands conquered his body, his collarbones and his heartbeat. His tousled hair. I didnt know where his hands were. They were everywhere.

I was burning away, losing my sanity. I lost the voice inside my head. I lost all my thoughts.

All i could think of was one word.

More.

His hands were there again to cup my face, to keep me there. As if i was going to go anywhere.

I let my hands flow through his beautiful hair, letting it stay in my fingers. The sofa turned out to be too small, we fell the the ground. I fell on top of him, the world flew away. Nothing else mattered but us.

Us. Us. Us.

We tilted sideways and he suddenly broke the connection.

"Not right. I cant do this."

"Whaaa" i said, brorken out of my trance.

"Youre drunk, we just met i cant take advantage of you"

I pulled myself off him, pulling my tank top down at the same time. He looked affected. Affected from what we had done? Affected from my talents? He didnt look like he wanted it to stop but he was saying.

I stood up and so did he.

"You are drunk. Not in your senses. I dont want to take advantage of you. Do you get me?"

But I Was taking advantage of him! Not the other way.

"See you in. The morning and , sorry, i didnt mean for you to eat the ice scream"

He walked away to his room for the night and i walked away to his room.

Shit. What. Had. I. Just. Almost. Done.

• authors note: i hope you liked it...please feel free to honestly review the first few chapters of my book. ill update soon. thank you.