"That's what you want?" he asked quietly.

"Yeah Clay I do, I don't want to lose you, please let's forget it, be friends" I begged. God that would be so hard, I'm crazy about this boy. I don't know when it happened but I think that the month apart made me realise just how much I needed him in my life.

"Ok Riley bear, let's forget it" he said gripping the steering wheel tighter. I smiled maybe this could work, please please let this work because I can't be without him.

Chapter 8

I avoided Clay all day, it was hard work but I think we needed a few days to get over this little blip. I was so tired, every time I closed my eyes I saw his face, I imagined he was kissing me remembering the feel of his hands on me, the taste of his tongue on mine. I couldn't avoid the ride home with him so I waited by his car for him, he came up looking a bit sheepish and gave me an uncomfortable hug that lasted for a split second before he pulled away.

"Hey Riley bear" he said rubbing his neck.

"Hey Clay you have a good day?" I asked getting in.

"Yeah, good, you?" he asked.

"Yeah Rachel's picking me up for the game tonight so I won't need a ride" I said with a shrug.

"Oh Ok, you still want my number?" he asked quietly looking at little unsure of himself.

"Sure I do, I'm still your number one fan" I said with a grin. He beamed and nodded happily making my heart melt and my body tingle.

I gave him a quick kiss on the cheek as I jumped out of the car as we got home. "Well good luck for the game and I'll see you after ok?" I said waving as I ran through the gap in the fence between our two houses.

"See ya Riley bear" he called watching me leave. Ok that wasn't too bad I thought with a smile, maybe we really could make this work. God I hoped so.

* * *

I was sat in the bleachers cheering along with everyone else, I don't know what I was cheering for but I was doing it anyway. Suddenly an arm snaked around my waist, I looked up to see Blake standing there looking hot as ever, he was smiling at me and looked really happy. My thoughts flashed to Clay but I quickly pushed them away and smiled back. "Hey Jailbait how are you today? You look tired" he said with a cocky grin.

"Wow Blake you really know how to make a girl feel special" I said giving him a smirk and rolling my eyes.

"I missed you" he said with a wink, Oh God he missed me? Now I feel bad I feel a bit like I cheated on him or something, but we're not really together so that's not cheating right?

"I'm growing on you huh?" I said teasingly.

"Maybe a little" he joked tickling me in the ribs making me giggle and squirm away.

He grabbed my hand and we watched the game quietly, he explained some of the plays but gave up after a little while laughing when I still just didn't get it. "You know for a smart girl you can be a bit of a dumbass" he joked slapping my ass playfully.

"Takes one to know one" I said winking. Ok this was easy, he was easy to be with, and he was hot. So he didn't give me the chills when he touched me, so he didn't set my body on fire when he kissed me, but Clay wasn't interested in having a girlfriend so I needed to do something to get him off my mind and Blake is definitely a good guy at heart.

"So what are you doing after the game?" he asked leaning in close to my ear.

"Err I'm going to a party with Clay and Rachel" I said with a shrug, well I would probably spend the night avoiding Clay but that wasn't a total lie.

"Think I could come?" he asked putting his arm around my waist as the game finished.

"Err I'm not sure I guess so" I said uncomfortable, I mean it wasn't my party but I'm sure they wouldn't mind.

"Ok I could drive if you know where it is" he said.

I shook my head, "I have no idea where it is" I said laughing.

Rachel leant over then, "Are you talking about Matt's party?" she asked and I nodded, "You can follow me I know where it is" she said with a smile.

He started chatting to her then, still holding my hand, I looked out across the field and saw Clay take off his shirt spinning it above his head in celebration. I watched as his muscles moved, his chest rise as he breathed, his big grin, I imagined running my fingers through his hair and running my tongue down his abs. Something squeezed my hand jerking me out of my little fantasy, I looked up Blake was looking at me strangely as if waiting for something, oh crap has he been talking to me? "I'm sorry what?" I asked with a grimace.

He chuckled, "I said are you waiting for Clay or do you want to ride with me?" he asked smiling a big smile. Oh God it would be easier if I rode with Blake, but I told Clay already I'd ride with him.

"Err I already told Clay I'd wait and ride with him" I said uncomfortably, he nodded. We chatted some more about random things and after a little while Clay came up the stairs. He was back to scowling at Blake again, all truces drawn last night were forgotten.

"Hey Clay great job" I said as I jumped into his arms, wrapping my arms and legs around him like normal, as soon as I did it I wished I hadn't. Our faces were inches apart and our bodies pressed together in places that I shouldn't really be thinking about touching but I was, I was thinking about last night. My heart stopped and then took off in a sprint, he looked uncomfortable to.

"Thanks Riley bear" he said with a small smile putting me down.

I looked up to see Blake giving Clay a look that may just have been able to kill him on the spot, he looked jealous as hell. He reached out and grabbed my hand and yanked me towards him and away from Clay roughly so that I lost my balance and slammed into his side. Clay glared at him, "What the f**k man, you could have hurt her!" Clay shouted angrily as he stepped forwards.

"Keep your f**king hands off my girlfriend" Blake spat stepping forward as well.

I looked between the two, "Girlfriend? You've been on like two dates" Clay said taking my hand and pulling me back to him gently.

Oh my God, are they going to start fighting? I started to panic, I reached out and put my hand on Clay's chest and pushed him back a couple of steps stepping forwards with him needing to put some space between them. "Chill out both of you! Jeez, what's wrong with you? You're like a couple of kids" I said looking between the two of them. Blake was glaring at my hand on Clays chest, Clay looked like he was gloating a little, wait gloating? What the hell? Then I realised that in separating them I'd moved away from Blake with Clay. Wow way to make a decision Riley.

"Seriously, stop arguing! Clay, Blake's coming to the party tonight at Matt's, Blake your gonna follow Rachel so I'll see you there ok?" I said looking at him with a small smile. He was still staring daggers at Clay, "Blake? I'll see you there, OK?" I said again when he didn't answer.

He shook his head slightly and looked at me, "Yeah ok, see you in a bit Jailbait" he said walking off still angry.

I turned back to Clay, he was watching Blake leave with a smug face. "Clay, please, you promised you would try and let this grudge against him go for me" I said quietly looking at my feet, he pulled me into a hug and kissed the top of my head making me shiver.

"I have let it go but he grabbed you and pulled you for God sake, he could have hurt you" he said angrily, I pulled back to look at his face.

"He didn't hurt me Clay, come on you were glaring at him as you walked up the stairs" I said frowning.

"Riley, I don't like him, he's not good enough for you" he said pleadingly looking me in the eyes.

"He's not good enough? Then who is?" I asked, please say you, please say you.

"No one, no one's good enough for you" he whispered kissing my forehead, and putting his arm around my shoulder. No one? Oh come on!

"No one is good enough for me? So I can't be with anyone?" I asked pushing him away so I could wipe a tear that fell.

Jeez was I really expecting him to say he wanted to be with me? Why the hell am I so disappointed that he didn't? I knew he wouldn't. "Of course you can Riley bear, you could have anyone you want" he said quietly.

"What if I want Blake?" I asked watching his face, he stiffened and grimaced before he rearranged his face into a small smile.

"I'm sorry Riley I promise I wont do it again, but if he hurts you I swear to God I'll kill him" he said sternly.

"And I love you for it Clay I do, but what if he doesn't hurt me?" I asked taking his hand.

"Then I'll be very happy for you if he makes you happy" he said quietly. "Come on let's get to this party" he said tugging me gently towards the car park.

As we arrived at the party I saw Blake standing outside waiting for me, Clay took my hand as we walked to the house and I could see Blake staring at our hands frowning angrily. "Clay I'll see you in a bit, I just want to talk with Blake" I said at the door.

"Ok Riley bear" he said kissing my temple and shooting another smug look at Blake as he walked off. Blake watched him go angrily, his jaw tight.

"Blake, I need to talk to you, wanna walk with me?" I said looking at the garden.

"Sure Jailbait" he said taking my hand.

I walked a few yard away from the house and sat on the grass, he sat next to me quietly. "I've already spoken to Clay so I just wanted to talk to you too, I need to make a few things clear" I said looking at him intently.

"Ok" he said looking a bit unsure.

"Clay's my best friend, I've spoken to him about this problem between the two of you and he's promised to let it go, but I need you to know that Clay is always gonna be there, and I won't choose between you two, you have no need to be jealous of him, but if you do make me choose it won't be you" I said looking at him sternly. I needed him to know this, it's important that he know where he stands I mean I have only been on two dates with him, I hardly knew him. "And I'm not your girlfriend" I added, while I said my little prepared speech he was staring at the floor frowning angrily.

When I finished talking he sighed, "Do you want to be?" he asked looking up and smiling at me sweetly, ok is this boy bipolar?

"Blake, I like you, your really sweet and my God your hot" I said chuckling. He smiled cockily, "But if your gonna be jealous and possessive then no I don't" I said, that wiped the smile of his face.

He frowned, "Look I know that your good friends, I get that, but I won't have my girlfriend wrapping her legs around some other guy, holding his hand and kissing him" he said glaring at me angrily tightening his hands into fists.

"Then the answers no" I said standing up and quickly walking into the house leaving him sitting on the grass. I wouldn't change my relationship with Clay, not for anybody.

* * *

A couple of hours later I was dancing with Rachel, I'd had way too much to drink already, my head was buzzing. An arm went around my waist resting on my stomach pulling me back into a hard body, the other arm came up holding a cup in front of my face. "Vodka jelly?" Clay asked handing me the wobbly green slush. I giggled and took it, it was weird and burnt the back of my throat as I swallowed and it tasted disgusting like lemons or lime.

"Ew! Clay that's gross, was that lime?" I said as I shuddered, I hated lime jelly but it was his favourite.

"Yes" he chuckled in my ear his lips brushing against it as he spoke.

Another song started, he was still holding me close to his body, "I love this song" I cried, the beat took over and I started dancing swaying my hips, he was moving with me so I started sexily grinding into him, I immediately felt him getting hard and it really started to turn me on. I bit my lip as I rubbed against him, I could feel his hot breath blowing down my neck. His other hand moved to the outside of my thigh, I could feel the tingles spreading from his hand shooting all around my body.

I'd had enough drink to give me the confidence to turn around and face him, I intertwined our legs and continued to grind into him. I didn't care if people were watching I couldn't see anyone but him, my body was starting to burn as I looked into his beautiful green eyes. His hand moved to my ass as I wrapped my arms around his neck. God he's a good dancer, and this was sexy as hell. He bent his head and kissed the side of my neck just once then pulled back to look at me, lust was written clear across his face, I wanted him so badly that my whole body was aching for him.

"You wanna go home?" he whispered in my ear, No I want you right here I almost said but stopped myself. But wait, what the hell does he mean? Does he feel the same way as me or does he mean that he's had enough of this party and just wants to go home? Either way dancing like this with my best friend needs to stop. I bit my lip and nodded. He smiled his beautiful smile and took hold of my h*ps turning me around guiding me forwards out of the door walking close behind me, probably trying to hide his erection, I smiled at the thought.

He opened the car door for me and I got in smiling and trying not to blush. We didn't speak all the way home, as he pulled in to my driveway he lent over and kissed me, tracing his tongue along my lip, I opened my mouth feeling his tongue slip in and massage mine making me moan into his mouth. He reached over and took hold of my waist pulling me to his lap. I tangled my hands into his hair pulling him closer deepening the kiss, he opened the car door and climbed out wrapping my legs around his waist.

He gripped under my ass and kicked his door shut carrying me towards the house never breaking the kiss. Oh God Clay hurry up! My body was screaming for him, he pushed me against the front door kissing me deeply. After a minute or so we were still there kissing, he was so hard against me, I was so aroused I whimpered, why are we still outside? "Clay lets go upstairs" I breathed as he kissed down my neck.