Crushing On The Enemy (Crushing on You 1)

“He's the one that damaged the young lady's phone?” the cop asked.

“Yes, sir,” Jake answered looking down at his feet.

“Thank you, for helping us,” the officer said with a smile, “I know it wasn't easy, but it was the right thing to do.”

Jake nodded not trusting himself to speak. Alyssa's hand was now resting easily against his arm and he was trying to focus on anything but how soft her skin felt against his.

“You kids get on home,” the other officer said.

“Yes, sir,” he said.

Alyssa slipped her hand into his and together they walked to the parking lot. Jake's mind raced with questions, but none that he was brave enough to ask. Why was she holding his hand? Oh, yea, she had implied they were dating. Jake bit back a chuckle.

“What?” Alyssa asked.

“Nothing,” he shook his head.

“Okay,” she grinned and pulled away, “We're to my car,”

She glanced over her shoulder and Jake followed her line of sight to the officers that were still watching. Jake felt himself blush as Alyssa touched his cheek and brushed her lips against his before getting into her car.

He stood awkwardly still and watched her drive away. It hadn't been a real kiss, not by what the guys would count anyway, but still it was the first time he had ever kissed a girl.

The sound of the officers laughing urged Jake to move. Once inside of his truck he realized he was holding a small slip of paper. He studied the curvy writing for a moment before he realized it was a phone number. Alyssa had given him her phone number.

Jake didn't remember much of the drive home, but he found himself smiling when he pulled into the driveway. All the lights in the house were off and he crept silently in without waking his dad. Maybe, just maybe, his luck was turning around.

Chapter 7: Alyssa

Alyssa stopped at the all night diner and ate a burger. She was starving and needed some time to get her thoughts straight before she headed home. Jake, the boy who had rescued her pom-poms filled her thoughts. Her heart pounded against her chest when she thought about how bravely she kissed him. It was the first time she had kissed a boy. Most of the other girls on the squad had at least one boyfriend, but she had been holding out for Ryan.

Ryan Matthers. He seemed a world away. She knew that reality would come crashing down on Monday, but for now what Ryan and Katie had done to her didn't matter.

Alyssa tried to tell herself she had only kissed him to keep their alibi, but had they really needed one? She could have told them the truth. She had said they both had sneaked out of their houses anyway. So why had she lied? Alyssa wasn't sure. At least it was behind her now.

Alyssa blinked for a moment and felt like a fool. Caught up in the moment and her emotions, she had given Jake her phone number. Surely, he wouldn't call her, or would he? She remembered how his eyes had lit up when she told him she was single. Alyssa felt her cheeks go pink.

“Stop it,” she told herself silently, “that boy is a Rattlesnake.”

Alyssa drove home through the empty streets trying to figure out how she was going to sneak back into the house without getting caught. Her mother was going to be angry enough to have kittens and Cody would have a field day with 'delinquent' behavior.

“I guess I climb back up the tree,” she sighed as she killed the engine.

Slowly, so not to make a sound, Alyssa hefted herself up the sturdy branches of the tree that stood outside of her window. She pulled herself onto the pane and over the window seat before she collapsed silently panting.

The overhead light came on, startling her.

“No cheering for the rest of the year,” Cody said, looking down at her.

“Screw off,” she panted.

“I mean it, Alyssa, and I'm sure your mother will agree with me,” he added.

“Leave her alone, Cody,” her mother sighed coming into the room.

“I'm not going to continue to tolerate her behavior under my roof,” he said.

Anger twisted Alyssa's belly and she forced herself to her feet.