Avoiding Commitment (Avoiding 1)

"Maybe you're right," he whispered bending down even closer to her waiting mouth. His lips were so close to her, when she instinctively licked her own lips, she brushed up against his as well. A groan escaped him with the light, teasing contact and he hesitantly brought his lips down upon hers. The first touch was smooth and gentle as if he was testing the water. His lips were amazingly soft and she could taste the sweetness of peppermint on his breath.

Warning alarms went off in her mind. All she wanted to do was ignore what her mind was telling her and get lost in the here and now. Forget everything that was keeping her stressed out and relish the beautiful moment of a man wanting her. A man that she could currently have.

Her hands moved from their place on the railing and pushed against his hard, muscled chest. As much as she wanted to, she couldn't let this continue. It would just end up hurting everyone, herself included, even more than before.

"I don't know if…" she trailed off again. He didn't let her finish her statement before pressing his body more firmly against her this time. Her mouth popped open in surprise leaving him with the advantage. He leaned his head down and kissed her bottom lip, gently sucking it between his teeth. Her eyes fluttered closed at the amazing sensation. Ramsey's hand moved from her chin and reached up to twine around her hair tugging softly on the strands to tilt her head back up to his face. He pressed his lips firmly against her own. It only took a second for Lexi to react and relax into him.

Just as she was about to move and allow their tongues to get in on the action, there was a loud coughing sound from behind them. Ramsey and Lexi broke apart straightening themselves out as they faced the intruder.

"I figured I'd find you out here," Chyna said cocking her weight to her right hip. She threw both hands up to her hips, leaning the left shoulder forwards, and tilting her head up defiantly.

Lexi ran her fingers through her mussed hair and smiled hesitantly at her best friend. "Well you found me."

"Oh no, I wasn't looking for you," she announced letting her eyes shift to the man standing next to her.

"How can I be of assistance?" Ramsey asked politely stepping away from the railing.

"Apparently there is a birthday going on inside," Chyna commented dryly. "You have something to do with that?"

Ramsey looked a little sheepish as he took on Chyna's confrontation. "Indeed I do."

"Then perhaps you should run inside and check on what's going on," she suggested. "There's some kind of catastrophe happening with the cake. Everyone's looking for you."

Ramsey apologized to Lexi and quickly excused himself. He flashed Chyna a smile as he walked by, but she didn't return the gesture. Lexi let out a breath she hadn't realized she had been holding as soon as Ramsey was out of earshot.

Chyna stalked right up to Lexi standing exactly where Ramsey had been on seconds earlier. "What are you thinking?" she cried leaning back against the railing and pressing her hand to her forehead.

"Not now please," Lexi murmured feeling even more confused than earlier.

"I think we should get out of here," Chyna told her. "You're a mess. I'm not even sure you know what you are doing anymore."

"We can't leave," Lexi said shaking her head. "I can't leave yet."

"I don't know why we should stay. Now I wasn't going to bring this up, but I can't stay silent chica. You're my best friend and I know you're hurting. Jack is here with his girlfriend and despite what just happened, I know how you feel about him, and it has to hurt like hell. Why would you want to go through that? Then…Ramsey?"

"Well I don't know what I was doing with Ramsey, but I do know that I need to stay and see this through. Please…for me Chy," she begged her eyes swelling in size.

Chyna shook her head contemplating the decision before her. As Lexi's best friend, she felt obligated to get her out of this situation. Lexi had been there for her more than anyone else in her entire life. How could she just let her friend walk into the fire pit? She saw no alternative though. Lexi was determined. "Fine, but can you please be careful?" she pleaded.

After the girls agreed, they trudged back into the club where a loud chorus of Happy Birthday was being sung by the guests. Lexi and Chyna joined in with the celebratory tune weaving their way through the crowd to the birthday boy. Just before they broke through, Lexi glanced up at the screen where the slideshow had been circulating pictures of Jack's past. Her heart froze on the last image of the show.

A high resolution photo taken within Ramsey's house only the past weekend was displayed before her eyes. Jack stood next to Bekah with his arm around her waist. Bekah's head was tilted sideways comfortably resting against Jack's shoulder. Ramsey had an arm slung over both Bekah and Lexi's shoulders. Lexi was leaning back against Ramsey's chest. The signs that she was too drunk to stand straight were already evident. All eyes were bright and smiling. Their faces were flushed from dancing.

But what caught her eye was the look on Jack's face. He looked happy, buoyant even, but there was something different about his expression than the rest of the group. His eyes were diverted, cutting across his girlfriend and her brother straight to Lexi. And the look he was pressing towards her was very familiar. His eyes were crystal clear blue with desire. He only had eyes for her, and he wanted her. Even though his girlfriend was in his arms, he still couldn't seem to take his eyes off of Lexi.

She glanced around the room transfixed by the image before her. How could no one else see what she saw in the picture? How could anyone think of including this very recent picture with him looking at her in such a fashion? But no one else seemed to be looking at the picture. At least no one was analyzing it quite like she was. She just couldn't believe it. Was everyone momentarily blind?

"What are you doing?" Chyna hissed latching onto her hand and pulling her through the crowd. Lexi stumbled the few feet forward right into Ramsey. He reached out and slung his arm across her shoulder bringing her closer to the action. She glanced from him to Bekah to Jack. At the center of the table was a large sheet cake with blue frosting announcing Jack's birthday. He had both hands on the table poised to blow out the flickering candles. Everyone was yelling for Jack to make a wish in the background, but all Lexi saw was the way the group was entwined. They were practically set up for the picture again, but this time when Jack's head swiveled to the side, he locked eyes with Bekah before releasing his breath.