back in Eric's room

Once they got back to his room, and he'd tossed the Wal-Mart bag down beside his computer, he pulled his shirt off.

"What are you doing?" She was a little shocked that he'd just undress so casually.

"Practicing." He shrugged.

"Practicing, what?" She squinted. This couldn't be happening, she thought, only she couldn't take her eyes off of him. It was startling, yet it almost took her breath away.

"You know, for the pool and other occasions." He told her, getting his shoes off, down to his briefs. "What are you waiting for?"

"Well," she hesitated. "I don't know." She couldn't help but laugh.

"I show you mine. You show me yours."

Ellie looked at him, blankly.

"Underwear." He laughed. "You know, this way you'll be comfortable when we're out there. When we're in here." He stared at her and she couldn't help but notice he was close to being in nothing at all. The baby blue briefs were nice. It was hard to wipe away her silly grin.

She shivered slightly and had to admit she was glad she wasn't in her ratty panties. She had remembered to put on the pink ones. But the bra was white and ordinary.

She took a deep breath. He was waiting.

She pulled the tank off. Shut her eyes tight. He kissed her lips then. She opened her eyes.

"Sweet." He smiled with a sly wink.

Another deep breath.

Finally she pushed out of the warm Converses and then she unbuttoned her jeans, slowly unzipped them and pushed them to the floor.

"See, now was that so bad?"

He didn't wait for an answer. He kissed her before she had a chance to decide, and she felt his hands on her waist, then the small of her back, then lower. His skin was warm and she felt as if she was wrapped up with more than just his deep kiss. Finally they found the bed, and he pressed against her. She felt his fingers moving forward to a place she didn't know he'd even know existed. Until now.

Finally she broke away and set up. Kyle came to mind. This could be the beginning of the worst. She knew how she'd wanted more. Then. Later. Now. Her heart raced.

"I don't think this is a good idea." She blinked as if she was wide awake now, and it wasn't a dream.

"That I want to be with you?"

"I believe you," Ellie said, knowing the evidence was right there pressing to get out of his briefs. There was nothing fake about that. "Its just-" She didn't want to talk about Rex. She couldn't help but feel the moisture in her eyes as if she'd just popped up from being at the bottom of the ocean. "How can you want to be with me?" Her voice cracked. But the harsh reality was true, even if she never thought it was really true until now. " I'm a slut." Possibly, not even a very good one at that, she thought miserably.

Eric hugged her close again. Brought her right back where she'd been with him on the bed.

"Is that what you think, I think?" Eric said. "You're not. You're not like that. This is us. You were obviously with the wrong guy, who probably goes through girls like fast food."

He brushed her hair away from her face. They laid back then with his arm still around her waist.
"I wanted you from before," he said. "I saw you with Cory. And I just couldn't stop staring. Then I couldn't stop thinking about you. All the time. But I kept telling myself, 'dude, you know how scared you are of girls. you know, how mean they are.' Then you start talking to me. And I'm all 'sure I can handle this'. You have no idea how many cold showers I've gone through after our long discussions. Don't ever doubt you're not beautiful because you are." He leaned in and kissed her. His hand lingered on her hip.

It was quiet for the longest time. Then there was a huge clap of thunder. Ellie thought she might jump out of her skin. Eric's body shook with laughter. "Good thing we didn't make it to the pool after all."