Goal:

"Isla?... Isla?... Isla...?"

I heard my name being called and as I reached the door it swung open, revealing Elliot in a towel, hair dripping, the water droplets sliding down his face, his neck, his shoulders, chest, abs, and back into his towel. My mouth dropped open and the clothes I was holding fell to the floor.

"Where did you go?" He asked, his head tilted, bringing my attention back to his face. I snapped out of my trance and quickly bent back down to pick up the clothes that had fallen on the floor. I felt my face heat in embarrassment, and I heard Elliot snicker. I stood back up and glared at him. I shoved the clothes into his arms and glided past him to sit on my bed. He had literally just watched me drop clothes onto the floor because I was too busy staring at him. How embarrassing. "Oh, thank you." He said, looking down at the clothes I had shoved in his hands. He shut the door and headed back into the bathroom to get changed. A few minutes later he walked out rubbing a towel over his hair and around his neck. "Your stuff smells so nice." He complimented and I nodded. I was sat in front of my mirror with my make-up bag and was rummaging through it to find a concealer.

"I know." I said and opened it.

"What are you doing?" He asked and looked down at me, confused.

"Putting some make-up on." I mumbled and before I could swipe some under my eyes Elliot grabbed the applicator from my hand. "What are you doing?" I cried hysterically. "That stuff's expensive! It's Chanel!" I moaned and Elliot simply sighed and rolled his eyes. He gave it back to me and mumbled;

"There's literally no point in putting it on now, surely it's a waste?" He asked and I sighed.

"No, not really."

Because I want to look good for you.

He sighed again and shook his head.

"Don't put it on. Please?" He asked and I looked at myself in the mirror, debating what to do. I didn't see why he had an issue with me putting make-up on, but I suppose he was right in saying that it was kind of a waste. I looked over at myself once more and gulped. If he could stand the sight of me without make-up, then I couldn't look that bad.

"Ok." I mumbled and put my concealer back into my make-up bag. I climbed onto my bed as Elliot towel dried his hair in the mirror and I tried not to stare at the way his muscles bulged from his t-shirt and the water droplets from his hair ran down his neck, coating his tanned skin.

Once he was done, Elliot hovered over my bed and I moved over towards the wall so that he could fit next to me. The bed was a small double, and as he climbed on next to me, I realised it wasn't big enough for the both of us to sit not touching each other. His shoulder brushed mine a few times before he settled, his shoulder against mine. I continued scrolling on my phone and he grabbed his out too. But not before sighing frustratedly. "What?" I asked him and he sighed. He lifted the arm that was against mine and lifted it above his head, bending it so that he could lay on it. His elbow stabbed me, and I shuffled over as much as I could, but it was still touching me. It was my turn to sigh before I moved so that I was also laying on the bed comfortably. I was on my side, Elliot on his back but due to him weighing more than me I rolled into him slightly. "Sorry." I muttered.

"It's fine." He said and looked over at me. "Here, look." He said and gestured for me to sit up for a minute. I did as he asked, and he laid the arm that was behind his head out on my side. He gently pushed me to lay down with his other hand and I complied. "Better?" He asked. My head was resting on his arm, pretty much on his shoulder and due to the small space, I was practically pushed up against his body. It was more comfortable, but my body was tingling wherever his body was touching mine. I looked up at him and he smiled down at me. "Don't look so nervous." He muttered quietly and I swallowed nervously. "Are you nervous?" He asked, his head tilting. I shrugged and looked away. Why did I feel so weird? We were basically cuddling on the bed, but a few weeks ago I hadn't even known the boy. It felt like we were going too fast – but then again, there wasn't a 'we', there was an Elliot and an Isla. He suddenly turned so that he was facing me, both of us on our sides, his arm under my head and fingertips grazed my shoulder. His face was close to mine, the closest it had ever been. His breath fanned over me and his legs touched mine. Our chests were nearly touching and if I leant my head forward our lips would be.

Did I want this?

"I know you're freaking out inside." He whispered, his voice was deep, and it vibrated through me. I felt my body pulsing, craving for him to touch me. The butterflies had disappeared, replaced with a feeling of need. I wanted him. I wanted him to kiss me, to touch me, to talk to me. Anything. I just wanted him.

"Maybe a little." I whispered, my voice hoarse. He smiled, a little crooked smile at the corner of his mouth. His blue eyes were deep and the intense look they held earlier was replaced with a soft, comforting one.

"If you feel uncomfortable, I can leave." He said.

"You have nowhere to go." I said and he shrugged.

"I'll find somewhere."

"No." I said quickly. I looked away from him and rolled onto my back. "You can stay." I said, staring up at the ceiling. I heard him sigh, almost in relief before I saw him nod from the corner of my eye.

"I think I'll do that."

Before I could respond, Elliot's phone rang and he sat up to answer it, he slid his arm out from under my head. I sat up too. I felt hot and flustered by him.

"Hello?" He asked, his voice returning to regular volume. "I'm in houses where are you?"

I heard the person on the other side. It was Theo.

"What floor are we on?" Elliot asked and I answered. "No, I'm with Isla...Yeah...Yeah we're in her room-" There was a pause before Elliot looked over at me and laughed. "He wants to know if we're having sex." Elliot said bluntly and I just shook my head.

"How immature." I muttered.

"She said you're immature." Elliot answered before laughing at whatever Theo had said. "Yeah see you in a minute." He hung up and looked over at me with a guilty look on his face. "They're coming up." He said and I frowned.

"They?"

"Yeah, Theo, Jack and Bridget."

"Bridget?" I questioned.

"Jack's girlfriend."

"Oh." I said in realisation. I remembered Coach telling me he was the only one allowed a relationship, but I had never seen or met the girl.

"Yeah. Hey, we'll talk again later?" Elliot asked and I nodded.

"Sure."

Elliot stood up and opened the door to my bedroom and I followed, standing in the doorway as Elliot walked to the staircase to meet Theo.

"Yo." Theo said and they both hugged.

"Jack, Bridget." Elliot said and nodded at the two people behind Theo. I smiled at the sight before beginning to close my door.

"Oi, Isla! Where do you think you're going babe?" Theo shouted and I opened my door again in confusion.

"What?"

"Why are you shutting your door?" Theo asked and ran up to my room. He shoved his head in and looked around with his eyes narrowed. "There's clothes on the floor you liar!" He shouted and turned back around to Elliot. "You told me you guys didn't get it-"

"Oh my god Theo!" I exclaimed. "Other people live on this floor too you know!"

"She didn't deny it." Theo winked at Jack and Bridget and I sighed frustratedly.

"We didn't-"

"He's winding you up, chill out." Elliot interrupted me and I glared at Theo.

"You are the bain of my life at the minute." I muttered.

"What does that mean?" Theo asked and slung his arm over my shoulder. I noticed Elliot watch the interaction. He didn't show any emotion, but he did narrow his eyes slightly. I shrugged Theo's arm off and took a step away from him.

"That you're annoying." Bridget spoke up. She was a petite girl, skinny and short. Her hair was long, a chocolate colour worn half up and her face was full of freckles, highlighting her striking green eyes. I smiled at her and she smiled back. "I'm Bridgett by the way, you're Isla, right?" She asked and I nodded.

"Yeah, nice to meet you." I smiled and she nodded.

"Same goes." She wasn't common, so to say. Compared to Theo she sounded posh but compared to most people at this school she was what they would class as 'well-spoken', but not high class.

"Bridget what the hell are you wearing?" Elliot asked her and she groaned. She had a black t-shirt on which drowned her and some pink leggings with a pair of rabbit slippers. I noticed that Elliot was a lot more talkative today. I wasn't sure why, perhaps it was how he normally was when he was comfortable with people. But normally he was much quieter. In the few weeks I had known him I noticed that Theo was the talkative one and Elliot was the quiet one on the side.

"I told you I looked ridiculous!" She exclaimed, and Jack sighed.

"Does anyone actually care?" He asked and she huffed and crossed her arms.

"It's not the point." She growled and Jack simply laughed, wrapping his arms over her shoulders and squeezing her. The action made me smile. There weren't many relationships at this college and no one I knew ever acted like they loved each other. The most contact my Mum and Step-Dad had ever was the kiss on the cheek they had at their wedding. The last time I had seen an actual act of love was the day before my Dad died.

I broke myself from my thoughts and focused on the new conversation that was going on.

"So, what are we doing tonight then Lads?" Theo asked, overly excited and flaring his arms around like a child.

"Nothing." Jack said and Theo pointed at him.

"Don't you dare!" He exclaimed and I gave a small smile at the contact.

I couldn't rid the thought of my Dad from my head. He was running around, throwing a ball, brushing my hair, kissing us goodbye before work and then never coming home again.

"I can't be arsed to be honest." Elliot said and I furrowed my eyebrows at him.

"What? You're joking!" Theo asked, looking disappointed and Elliot shrugged.

"Coach asked me to help Isla with some things for her report. We all know she hasn't got a clue, so I've got to teach her the game." Elliot said. He was lying. He was lying out of his arse, but no one seemed to notice. I didn't need help, and Coach hadn't spoken to him. What was he doing? I looked over at him, but he refused to look at me. Bridget was watching me, so I stopped making faces and smiled at her. She just giggled and grinned, giving me a knowing look. But I didn't know anything.

"Oh, fair enough. We'll let you guys go then." Jack said and beckoned Theo over. "C'mon mate, we'll go find some other friends."

Theo shook his head and glared at Elliot and I as he left.

"I can't believe you guys." He muttered as he went back down the stairs, leaving Elliot and I alone once more.

"What are you doing?" I asked him once they were all gone. Elliot shrugged.

"We weren't done talking." He said simply and walked back into my room, leaving me out in the hallway.

"What?" I asked him. "There's nothing to talk about." I lied and he laughed as he sat on my bed.

"You're a shit liar. And something's on your mind. You went quiet when you looked over at Jack and Bridget." He observed and I shut my bedroom door. I gulped. How did he notice that? I furrowed my eyebrows and sat at the end of my bed. Away from him.

"What are you talking about?" I asked. I was trying to play dumb.

"Do you..." Elliot trailed. He shut his eyes for a minute before a pained look spread over his face. Lasting a mere second. "Do you fancy Jack?" He asked.

I wanted to laugh.

"Are you joking?" I asked him and he shook his head. He looked confused at my shocked reaction.

"That's why you felt uncomfortable earlier. It's not me you want, it's Jack." Elliot said. He was muttering it though, almost like he was talking to himself and making sense of it in his head.

"Oh my god you've got to be kidding. I don't fancy Jack. Elliot, I promise." I said and leant forward onto my knees so that I was facing him.

"Why did you go quiet then?" He asked and I gulped. At that point in time, my brain hadn't registered what he had said a few seconds ago. It's not me you want. I was too worried about what I would say next. Elliot sat up higher and I noticed a thin gold chain around his neck.

"What's that?" I asked, trying to change the subject. "Around your neck?"

"Oh, nothing." He muttered and looked away, his hands immediately pulling his t-shirt over the tiny necklace. His face hardened and it was like I could feel the walls build between us. I paused. Should I tell him?

"I'm only asking because it looks like mine." I said, feeling nervous about the questions that were to come. I had never told anyone. No one knew and I had planned to keep it that way. But I didn't want Elliot to think I fancied Jack. Elliot looked over at me with a softer, less hidden look.

"Your what?" He asked and I gently pulled the dainty gold chain out from under my t-shirt.

"Look." I said and crawled forward to him. His legs were open, and I sat in between them, on my knees, so that he could see my necklace. "They're nearly the same." I muttered and an intrigued expression rose on his face.

"Can I?" He asked as his hands hovered near my neck. I nodded and he gently picked the necklace up from my skin and leant his head closer to have a look. "Where did you get this from?" He asked and I swallowed. I was hoping he wouldn't ask. He dropped the necklace and looked at me, confused and intrigued. Nervous and excited.

"Um." I mumbled. "It was my Dad's." I said simply and he nodded. "What about you?" I asked him and he sighed.

"My Grandma gave it to me." He said and played with his necklace. It was insane how similar they were, the only difference being that mine had a dainty pendant on it and his didn't.

"Is she..." I trailed off and he shook his head.

"No. She's alive." He said and looked away. "She gave it to me after..." He trailed off and I put a comforting hand on his knee.

"You don't have to tell me." I said and he nodded.

"Thank you." He said and looked down at his lap. We sat in silence for a minute and I thought that would be the end of the conversation, both of us sitting there playing with our necklaces but he continued. "No one died or anything." He explained and I nodded. The silence began to consume us again and after a few minutes Elliot cleared his throat. "Well, I'll leave you alone now then." He said and stood up from my bed. I frowned up at him.

"Where are you going to go?" I asked him and he shrugged.

"I'll just crash with Theo or something."

"Oh, ok." I muttered. He nodded and went to the door, beginning to open it. "Hey Elliot?" I asked him before he shut the door.

"Yeah?" He asked and looked over at me.

"Why didn't you crash with Theo to begin with?" I asked him and a small smile took over his face.

"Goodnight Isla." He murmured and shut the door behind him. I laid down onto my bed and sighed.

What a night.