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jennaferz

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"Aren't you going to drink that?" he asked, nodding at the beer in her hand.

"I told you, I don't drink," she answered, staring down at the sloshing drink in her hand. “Besides, it doesn’t look appetizing at all.”

He rolled his eyes. “Your choice.”

“I know.” She set it on the counter and turned away from it. “So…this is fun.”

“Told you.”

He hadn’t looked her in the eye since their brief could-you-even-call-it-a-kiss, and she hated the awkwardness between them. Before he had found opportunities to touch her; now he was carefully staying a measured distance away.

She glanced at the beer she had just set on the counter, hoping that Taylor didn’t notice, but he did. “You’re tempted,” he said with a laugh. “Just do it, Den. One beer won’t hurt you any.”

She turned to look at him. “How many times do I have to tell you I don’t drink?”

He shrugged. “You’re going to be tempted until you try it, and you might as well try it around someone you trust to stop you.”

“I’m guessing you mean you.”

“Yeah.” He raised his eyebrows at her. “Why?”

“Because that’s one thing I don’t trust you with,” she said quietly. Before she could see the look on his face, she reached out and took a sip. Instantly she choked.

“That’s disgusting,” she gasped, massaging her throat. “God, how can you drink that so much?”

He shrugged again. “It grows on you.” He was smiling at her, the first time he had done so since their kiss. “Besides, you aren’t tempted to try it anymore, are you?”

“Well, I kind of want to see if it tastes better the second time,” she admitted, and he burst out laughing.

She brought the cup to her mouth once more, and was surprised to find that this time it didn’t taste half bad. She downed it and handed the cup to Taylor for a refill, but he shook his head.

“I have to prove to you that I’m trustworthy,” he said quietly, gazing straight into her eyes. “I think you’ve had enough for now.”

“Taylor, you’ve had three beers already,” she argued.

“I,” he replied, “am an experienced drinker.”

“Is that supposed to be a good thing?” she shot back at him. “I’ve told you, I don’t want to be around a druggie. I don’t want you to drag me into the things you are into--”

“Does it look like I’m trying to do that?” he cut in, raising his voice a bit at the unfairness of her outburst. “I just told you you’d had enough, does it sound like I’m trying to get you drunk? Have I offered you pot or any kind of drug?” She hesitated, and he continued, “No. You’re still judging me, Deni, and I hate it that you let my reputation get in the way of us.”

“You can’t deny that your reputation is real,” she whispered, feeling tears burn her eyes. “And I don’t want to be your second priority in your life after drugs.”

“You wouldn’t be,” he whispered, closing his hand around hers. “God, Deni, I would give up anything for you.” His lips brushed her cheek, and she closed her eyes against the storm of wetness that fought to fall. “I love you.”

Her breath caught, and she opened her eyes. He was staring into hers with such sincerity and earnestness--

“Don’t say that,” she whispered. “Don’t you ever say that.”

Sorry it's so short....MAJOR writer's block and MAJOR homework and stupid school stuff. I'll try to write more fast, but no promises.