twenty-one

She looked up at the building in front of her, "Lander lives here" she said quietly to herself, "Great"

Roxy stood up, brushing herself off and walking into the apartment building. She hesitated, wanting to run but instead knocked on the door.

"He'll think I'm such a loser" she mumbled to himself.

He answered, with a look of shock on his face, "Roxy...are you okay?"

Light tears were streaming down her face and she shook her head, "No...I'm not"

"What happened?"

"I can't do this, I'll just take a cab home, this is stupid" she went to leave but he grabbed her arm.

"You don't have to say anything, just come in"

"Okay..." she followed him in and hugged her arms close to her chest, "You have a nice place"

He just shrugged, "It's home...for now I guess"

"I know what you mean" she replied still looking around, "Lander, she hates me, and it's my own fault"

"Who hates you? Mandy? How could she hate you?"

"I don't trust Taylor...at all, and I may have said some things that--you know, I shouldn't be bothering you after a game, I really should go"

"Stop doing that" he said, "If I didn't want you here, you'd know it"

"Can you do something for me then?"

"What?"

"Hold me...for a minute"

His eyes widened for a moment but eventually nodded, "Uh..okay" he wrapped his arms around her and it was hard not to melt into him.

"You're so warm..." she sighed, squeezing a bit tighter.

"Um, thanks?"

She sighed again and pulled back, "She thinks I'm pathetic for not acting on my feelings for you, while she acts on her feelings for Taylor..."

"Feelings...for me?"

"I want you...but I can't have you"

"Yes you can"

"Behind closed doors maybe.."

"I'm sorry"

She just hugged him again, and he winced. Roxy pulled her hand away to reveal blood, "Lander...you're bleeding!"

"It's nothing, I'm fine" he said pulling away.

She moved closer and pulled up his shirt, revealing a few bruises, "When did this happen!?"

He just pulled his shirt down gently, "It doesn't matter"

"She did this...didn't she?"

"It doesn't matter" he said turning away from her.

"It does matter Lander. Is she hurting you?"

"She gets a little aggressive now and then" he shrugged, "It's no big deal"

"It doesn't make you weak if she's abusing you..there are plenty of--"

"I don't want to talk about it" he snapped.

"Umm...I understand...at least let me take care of that mark on your back?"

"Sure.."

"Okay, where's your bathroom?"

"Uh...down the hall..."

"I'll clean it and bandage it, okay?"

"Alright"

As he watched her disappear into the bathroom, his mind ran a mile a minute. He couldn't believe this girl was being this sweet to him, he didn't think it was possible for anyone to be that nice to him. At this point, he wished Petra didn't even exist, because he'd take her in a heartbeat. Yet, when reality sets in, he realizes it's not that simple.

She came back and sat down next to him, "I'll try to be gentle...okay?"

He just nodded, "Alright"

She pulled up his shirt and shook her head, "When did this happen? Any longer and there'd be an infection"

"A few days ago..."

"What!? Did you have it when we--"

"No" he said quickly.

"Okay" she replied quietly, continuing to fix him up.

His head was spinning. He didn't know how he was supposed to react to her just showing up to his apartment, pouring her heart out, when he could barely admit his own feelings.

"Feel better?" she asked finishing up.

"I do, actually...thanks"

Before she could even react he turned around and kissed her. Her eyes were wide with shock, but it was hard not to give in to him. He pulled back for air, but she grabbed him again, not wasting any time. He just smirked and laid her down, "Slow down, okay?"

As if she was under a spell, she just nodded her head in agreement as he kissed her again. Slowly, but surely, they're close riddled the floor, and she felt like she was in complete bliss. His hands were soft, he was gentle with her, and he trailed his lips all over her body what felt like a million times.

He looked at the girl underneath him, and everything he thought he knew about relationships, about love, about being with someone were shot out the window. He had the most beautiful girl in the world in his grasp, and he was going to treat her like she was the only girl in the world.

"You're beautiful, you know that?" he said quietly.

"I believe it when you say it"

He kissed her again, with all he had in him. She was left breathless for a moment and took a final deep breath, "I need you right now, all of you"

He wasted no time, and gave her what she asked, and so much more.