Put your hands all over me.

I'm Darryl David. 18. Obviously a senior. About Myself | Pictures | Text Messages | iPod Tipton Prep Boarding School

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Eyes of the Beholder | Stephanie & Darryl

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Stephanie smiled up at the older boy, holding his hand tighter. He made her feel so special, probably even more important then she actually was. She moved one hand up to delicately rest on his neck, pulling him in briefly for a soft kiss before looking back at him. She was already imagining the gossip and discussion that would’ve come from Darryl walking into her classroom, let alone if she walked out of it with her hand clasped in his. Steph let her hand fall from his neck and pulled her bag up onto her shoulder more comfortably, the whole time not letting her left hand leave his right one. 

“Let’s go then?” Steph suggested, a knot forming in her stomach of what the next ten seconds would mean to them… or to her. Walking out of here would mean everyone would know that something happened. Everyone would know when she was left by him for someone else. Except for Sierra: she’d be fuming. Stephanie lent against him for a moment, glancing up at Darryl as he started leading her towards the door.

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Darryl’s eyes slowly closed as Stephanie’s lips touches his once more. After she moved away, Darryl smiled knowing that this wasn’t a dream at all, he actually fallen for someone who he have never imagine of getting. Not letting go of Stephanie’s hand, he watch her  get her bag and bend down to the floor for his. “We’ll be okay..” Darryl said in a low tone, nodding his head as he turned to look at Stephanie who was probably more nervous than him. Darryl was nervous too, but having Stephanie beside him as he walk out that door, he find strength in him. He wasn’t going to do what his bestfriend did; hide his girlfriend and find difficulties in hiding the relationship. He’s proud of being with Stephanie and if his sister has a problem with her, she has a problem with him.

Leading Stephanie towards the door, Darryl held onto her hand tightly turning the doorknob slowly and opening the door wide. Stepping out, he could already feel an eye on them, but instead he ignore them and smile.

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Eyes of the Beholder | Stephanie & Darryl

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Stephanie smirked at his words, loving that Darryl was relatively open about what she did to him without even meaning to. After her several angry texts to Sierra, she knew that her possibly-not-best friend would think that whatever was happening with Darryl was Steph’s sick way to try and get back at her. And maybe, in a small way it was. Stephanie probably wouldn’t have bothered with listening to Darryl’s apology if the both of them weren’t wildly confused about what had been happening with their two best friends without them even knowing. She smiled when Darryl’s lips lightly touched hers, looking at his slightly-swollen lips as he pulled back before up into his intense gaze once more. 

She laced his fingers through his when he took her hand, smiling at Darryl’s romantic gestures. A part of her was wondering when his game was going to end; when someone was going to jump out with a camera, having embarrassed her the whole time. But another part of her knew that it wouldn’t happen, not just because that was unrealistic, but because of how Darryl was around her. At his suggestion, though, she stopped. Looking down at their entwined hands and, while loving the warmth that was spreading from their touching palms, looked up at the taller boy, shocked. “Ar-are you sure?” Stephanie asked, wanting to make sure they were on the same page. She was expecting to have to hide this, whatever it was, to slowly introduce Darryl into a relationship being of just two people. She certainly wasn’t expecting him to hold her hand in the hallways. Sierra would find out a lot faster now.

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Darryl wasn’t sure how things were going on between Steph and Sierra; all he knew was Stephanie ruined Sierra’s relationship with Nic and is likely on the bad side of Sierra now. Looking back, Darryl felt stupid for overreacting, punching his best friend across the face which would possibly leave a bruise and ruining Stephanie’s relationship with Sierra without giving a second thought. That’s the trouble with Darryl, whenever his anger’s triggered, he doesn’t give a second thought on what he will be doing wrong; everything’s right when he’s angry.

Darryl looked down at their hands, brushing her hand with his thumb assuring her he was fine with it. It might shock a few people in the hallways, but they’ll get used to it. Stephanie was the most important person to him now; if anyone hurt her, he wouldn’t hesitate in giving them a warning –even if it meant his sister. “I wanna show you off” he joked, chuckling as he winked back at the brunette.

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Eyes of the Beholder | Stephanie & Darryl

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As she sat and felt Darryl move his hands to her legs, Stephanie let her hand release his shirt and find its way down his arm feeling the contours of skin where his muscles dipped and tensed with his weight pressed on them. She kissed him back enthusiastically still, dreading the moment that he’d remember that she was his kid-sister’s best friend and that this was stupid. She knew it was stupid, but why couldn’t she stop? Feeling Darryl’s lips leave hers, Stephanie let out a small whine and pouted slightly, one eyebrow slightly furrowed as she looked him back in the eyes. She could feel his warm breath glancing over her lips, wanting them back on her’s having completely forgot that this was her break before afternoon classes—maybe she could just not go? Stephanie let her eyes break away from his for a moment, looking over Darryl’s shoulder at the door for a second before his voice caught her attention.

“We’re not having sex in a classroom, Darryl.” Stephanie told him, an eyebrow quirked and her cupids bow pushed to her bottom lip. Without disconnecting their noses, Steph let her head tilt up slightly and catch Darryl’s lips chastely. She wrapped her arm around his shoulders and pulled herself closer to him, but didn’t stop when she reached the edge of the table, standing up and breaking away from the kiss. Stephanie pulled herself into his arms and breathed him in once more before settling her check between his subtle pecks. Her hands trailed down and hugged him around the middle, her mind wandering around, trying to decipher what she and Darryl were. Comparing what they had used to be like to each other to what they’d become in just a few short days.

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“I know.” Darryl said in his deep voice. He wouldn’t want to have himself in her and get caught by a teacher; he was afraid of getting carried away since Stephanie’s irresistible to him. “I don’t want to get carried away” Darryl chuckled looking into her eyes and slowly lowered down to her lips giving her a small peck before moving away. The only thing that crossed Darryl’s mind was what now? Are they going to start holding hands, kiss in public and show everyone that Darry is finally sticking to one girl? Darryl brushes her cheek with his thumb once more, looking at Steph’s beautiful face and those hypnotizing eyes.

Darryl reached over for her hand, intertwining his fingers with hers slowly. His eyes slowly lifted up to meet hers as he continued to hold onto her hand lifting up to his lips and kissed her hand. Darryl wasn’t worried about anyone talking about him, but what worried him was what Nic and his sister might think. After that fight with Nic, Sierra would freak out for sure and flip over using his relationship with Stephanie to back hers with Nic. “Want to get out of here?” he asked Stephanie, squeezing her hand tightly.

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Eyes of the Beholder | Stephanie & Darryl

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Stephanie looked at Darryl, shocked at his relatively sudden declaration of his feelings. It was far stranger for someone like Darryl to admit his feelings than someone like Frankie or Seth, and she was starting to see how Sierra could have been drawn in if Nic had done something similar. She kissed his thumb as it touched her lips, wondering how long this idea of not losing her would last before she was replaced by a new girl. A skinnier one, with longer hair, bigger boobs, a prettier face. But Stephanie had been replaced before, she was almost used to it by now. So she gave into everything that she felt and ignored everything that she knew about Darryl.

A smile slowly crept up onto Stephanie’s face when she heard him finally admit what she’d only been able to assume for a while now. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she pulled him into a long kiss, sucking his bottom lip into hers, she scraped her teeth along his lip and tangled her fingers through his hair so that he had no choice but to follow her as she stepped back towards the desk in the front row she was previously sitting on. One of Steph’s hands dropped to Darryl’s shirt and held on as she felt the table hit the back of her legs and instinctively allowed herself to sit on it.

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It was like a heavy weight lifted of his shoulders once he finally blurted those three words out. Although now his mind was filled with thoughts of what Steph might do, Darryl was relieved to finally get off his chest. After days of thinking about her, it felt good to tell him how he finally felt. He looked at her nervously as he waited for a respond; as his heart began to race it slowed down once he felt her arms around his neck once more. Moving forward, he place his left hand on her waist once more, pulling her closer to him, getting sick of the distance they were having. He leaned it; kissing Stephanie at first but then kissing her hungrily but yet gently as time come. He began to suck her upper lip, causing his cheekbones to show and a little and his cheeks sinking in.

Darryl followed Stephanie’s direction, letting her lead him. As she pulled back, Darryl took a step forward and leaned in more. Once she was seated, Darryl touched her legs with both his hands having her legs open as he stood there between them. Hoping noone would interrupt finding them making out, Darryl paused and backed away. He rested his nose on hers and gave her a wide smile as he look into her eyes. “Bear in mind, you have class here everyday” he whispered, breathing onto her lips.

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Eyes of the Beholder | Stephanie & Darryl

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Stephanie could see the nervousness. A part of her wanted him to overcome it, and do so fast. But the slightly more compassionate side of Steph knew that this probably wasn’t possible. Not for someone like Darryl. Not yet. She let her eyes glance down at his own plea briefly, taking time to hide what she was feeling. She felt that way, how could he not know that? How could he not see that from the way she acted around him. It was partially infuriating for someone like Stephanie to go through all of this and for Darryl to need that kind of confirmation. But she knew that Darryl was Darryl. And Steph liked the way that Darryl’s arms felt around her waist, the way that he looked at her and treated her as if she was more special then she actually was.

She didn’t like it when he said something like that though. Her immidiate thought being, he’s ashamed of what happened between us. Steph pulled her body away slightly,  her muscles already starting to tense and get ready to push her back when the nervousness broke through the eldest David loud and clear. She pulled her hand back from his neck, resting it, slightly fisted, in front of her mouth. It was strange to have someone admit they were confused, and Stephanie didn’t know what to say. Not wanting to be the first one to back down and admit how she was feeling, her treacle-coloured hair crashed into Darryl’s chest and the hand that was covering her mouth wound its way into his shirt so he couldn’t pull away. 

Breathing him in, Stephanie enjoyed the subtle hints of cologne and the security she felt by being in his arms. Slowly, she allowed herself out of the small cocoon of protection by looking up at him, her hand finding its own way from around his neck to sitting just on his chest. Steph swallowed audibly, her hazel eyes not showing the nervousness she was now feeling. “You shouldn’t let yourself be ashamed of how you feel, Darryl.” Steph told him softly. She ran her hand up through his hair, fluffing up the top and smiling at her problem: her best friends brother, her “brother’s” best friend… What are you doing, Steph? She asked herself, but didn’t stop. She couldn’t. “I think you know how I feel.” Stephanie murmured to him, her smile turning to a smirk very quickly.

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Accepting his feelings towards Stephanie, Darryl looked at the girl within the distance they have built. Thoughts about their future together began to build; Darryl wondered what it’ll feel like to have his first real girlfriend- he wont be able to flirt anymore, he wont be able to hook up with any random girls in Pulse, he wont be able to check girls out but honestly, Darryl was fine with it. He has Stephanie to look at, to kiss, to hold, he has himself obsessed with her; she was the definition of perfection. He lowered his head as he chuckle to avoid the nervousness around. While Steph began to play with his hair, Darryl lifted his head back up looking into Stephanie’s eyes once more, finally making eye contact.

He touched her cheeks with his left hand, brushing them gently before tucking a strand of hair behind her ears. Darryl opened his mouth just about to speak, but hesitated. “I don’t want to lose you” he said replacing the words he had difficulties to remember. Brushing his thumb on her lips, he looked down on it, back up to her eyes again. Darryl was feeling frustrated every minute, he felt as if those three words were taking over him. “I like you, okay? A lot, actually” Darryl finally blurted.

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Eyes of the Beholder | Stephanie & Darryl

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“I think that its far more cowardly to lose something you want just because you were afraid.” Stephanie said quietly, glad that he was continuing with the analogy but worried about how he was receiving this. What if this was all just some fantasy that she played out in her head… every touch, every kiss, every compliment all exaggerated by some part of her that thought she was special. More special then the probably hundreds of girls Darryl has ever slept with. But Stephanie wasn’t afraid. She’d always probably been too impulsive for her own good, but some day she’d known that she’d get something for it… or she hoped that this was the case. 

Steph stood up to her tiptoes and tighten her arms around his shoulders, pulling their bodies closer. She glanced to the door before moving in and kissing the older boy. Her hand slowly moved around to rest on his neck as she deepened the kiss, running her tongue lightly over his bottom lip as she sucked on it slightly. Steph pushed her body closer to Darryl, not wanting the kiss to end now that she felt him finally give in. Into what, she did not know… nor really care. 

Carefully, the bronze girl broke away from the kiss and brought a finger to Darryl’s ever so slightly swollen lips so that he’d stop. Steph ran a finger over his bottom lip tenderly, watching the way the pink tinge disappeared momentarily as she made her way to the other side. She looked up into Darryl’s eyes once more, connecting them, as she moved so both arms were wrapped around his neck. “Please tell me.” Stephanie whispered, knowing that he would be able to hear her either way. “Don’t be afraid.” Kissing Darryl’s lips chastely she pulled back, smirking slightly and waiting for the older boy’s reply.

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Darryl eyes were still locked into Steph’s but his chin lifted slightly up as Steph began to get higher from tiptoeing. Darryl knew very well how he would react around Steph; he’s completely powerless with her around since he’s wrapped around her finger tightly. Feeling hopeless, Darryl just stood there knowing it wouldn’t be a good idea for him to get into the mess he had already stepped in. But once he felt Steph’s lips touching his, Darryl closed his eyes now letting everything go. It was as if Steph’s lips were magical turning everything negative to positive making him feel as if crushing on someone wasn’t a bad thing. Kissing her back passionately, he pulled her wrapping his arms around her petite waist and smiled against her lips.

After a long kiss, Darryl could feel Stephanie pulling away which allowed him to contain himself. He felt Stephanie’s finger on his numb lips and with his right hand he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear looking into her eyes with a genuine smile. But his smile slowly faded after hearing Steph’s honest plea. She knew- which made Darryl even more nervous. He couldn’t get himself to say those three words, but he knew Stephanie wants to hear them desperately. “Tell me im not the only feeling this way..” Darryl muttered; their faces so close that Darryl needed to shift his eyes to look into Steph’s individually.

“I feel something and I’m not proud of feeling it. It’s not that it’s a bad thing..”Darryl’s voice pacing, starting to feel even more nervous and worried now. “I’m so confused..” he ended with a long sigh.

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Eyes of the Beholder | Stephanie & Darryl

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Steph pushed her novel into her satchel, taking time to watch the other students leave. She loved watching them flock around together, seeking the comfort in what they did with others rather then in themselves. Finally she uncrossed her legs and stood, running her hand through her hair and eager to get out and lay in the sun and eat the orange she had purposefully picked that morning and tucked away carefully in her bag. Stephanie pulled her satchel onto her shoulder, wondering what would happen now. Was Darryl going to walk beside her in the hallways or would they go their separate ways? Were they going to eat lunch together? What would he say about her only eating an orange? Questions rolled through Stephanie’s mind, making her anxious and nervous about how unknown it all was. 

A part of her dreaded the fact that Darryl grabbed her arm and pulled her back, almost thinking she had pulled a swift getaway on the older boy. Stephanie propped herself up on a desk in the front row and watched the taller figure shut the door and turn around again, not knowing whether to slap him or kiss him for reminding her what he said that evening. “Yes, you were wrong. But I also think you’re telling that to the wrong person… don’t you have a best friend and sister that need to know this as well?” She fiddled with the strap of her satchel and looked at him, one eyebrow slightly furrowed as she tried to desipher what he was saying without actually saying it. “Why? We never exactly talked before.” Stephanie pointed out, pulling the satchel back onto her shoulder and pushing herself off the table. She’d known what had changed of course, he kept showing her, kept reminding her, but didn’t actually prove it. 

Stephanie was a girl, she wanted the proof. Walking over towards him carefully, her caramel hair continued moving slightly as she stopped before him, this was stupid and Steph knew it… but she couldn’t stop herself. She moved her hands up to his shoulders and wrapped them around there which pulled their two bodies closer. “I mean, I haven’t read the book, I just watched Skins… but doesn’t Hamlet die because he doesn’t speak his feelings?” Steph asked him quietly, looking into the eyes that reminded her so of the mint creme in her favourite after-dinner chocolates back home. 

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Closing the door, Darryl took a deep breath as he closed his eyes making sure what comes out of his mouth doesn’t come out wrong. Turning around slowly he look at Steph who was propping herself up on the desk in the front row. Darryl opened his mouth but no words came out, he wanted to be honest but was afraid of what he might do to blow off his whole shield he had built. “I just don’t like the idea of Sierra dating someone who is just like me” Darryl blurted out, as he look down at the ground walking slowly towards Stephanie, fidgeting with his hands. There was no doubt that Darryl was nervous now. Being honest would cause him to stutter, it would cause him to blush at times and importantly, it would show how sensitive he really is.

He bit his lips as Steph stated out the truth of how their relationship really is. They hardly talk at all, but Darryl knew a lot about her, all the do is argue, but yet Darryl didn’t dislike her. “I just want to figure us out” Darryl mumbled, not making any eye contact at all. Was he going to confess his feelings for her? No, he’s probably going to hint her but there’s no way he’s going to say those three words, ‘I like you’ at least. He watches the brunette push herself off the table, watching her shadow getting closer to him. Once she was infront of him, Darryl lick his top lip, still avoiding eye contact. Stephanie had become his weakness now; she knew exactly what to do to make him this vulnerable. This is probably why it’s a bad idea to like the same person twice. Once bitten, twice shy.

Feeling Stephanie’s arms around his neck, Darryl turned his head to the door hoping noone was going to come it, considering things are about to get personal. He turned around, looking down at Stephanie’s cute nose and then finally into her eyes. Placing his right arm on her waist he swallowed down before speaking. “What if he did? What if he told everyone how he felt, wont that be stupid? Wont that be a tad careless of him?” he asked back, referring himself as Hamlet. “If everyone knew how he felt, wont that make him weak?”

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Eyes of the Beholder | Stephanie & Darryl

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Watching Darryl’s green eyes come closer, Steph’s stomach jumped. She couldn’t help it, she just wanted Darryl’s lips on hers, like just before she left last time. But she knew that she wouldn’t be leaving this time… and not just because this was a classroom. His rough hand supporting her chin, she let him guide their lips closer. The hand that Steph had resting on Darryl’s back started to move its way to his bicep, resting there as she anticipated the kiss. She didn’t just want it anymore, she needed it. She needed that touch from him, and she was pretty sure she knew what it meant now even though he hadn’t said it. The stubborn part of Stephanie ached for him to spell it out to her, but she knew that if he could he would. 

The teacher’s suggestive voice broke whatever was happening between them, and Stephanie felt Darryl’s body leave her’s completely causing her to glare at the teacher. As if it wasn’t hard enough to get Darryl that far, Stephanie was starting to feel a bit like a therapist. She’d always been interested in psychology… but not English. Trying to come up with something suitable, the teacher gestured for her to stand. Stephanie huffed slightly and rolled her eyes as she pushed herself to her feet, leaning forward on the desk and scratching the back of her ankle with the toe of her charcol military boots.

“I was just checking that Hamlet was the guy that didn’t have the guts to say how he really felt until it was too late.” Stephanie replied, glancing at the few students who had bothered to turn around and watch her, before she stared at Darryl, letting herself fall gracefully into the chair. It was almost cliche having something like that able to be said that related to your life as well, but Steph was sure that Darryl had got the message. She clicked the button on the top of her phone to see it reading 12:23… only seven more minutes until this deathly class would be over.

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Darryl leaned back onto his desk, placing his elbows on the desk and watch Stephanie coming up with an excuse. Feeling a huge relief coming onto him that the teacher didn’t catch them doing something more, Darryl was also feeling upset for not planting his kiss. It’s been exactly two days already, and as bad as Darryl try to distract himself he was craving for Steph terribly. Cuffing his palms together, Darryl turn to look at Stephanie once her lips moved. The words coming out of her mouth moved Darryl, and he knew what she was saying was directly at him. Its true, admitting his feelings was something he wasn’t great at doing and frankly he didn’t know how it felt to like someone. But, Darryl knew what he felt towards Stephanie wasn’t going to be good for him. His feelings for her seem familiar and it was only because he felt it before. He likes Stephanie, but was either afraid of what might happened, losing himself or both.

He snapped his head around looking at Stephanie as she spoke back to the teacher; he could hear random whisper filling up the silent room but before the teacher could answer her the bell rang just on time. Thank goodness, Darryl thought sinking down on his chair. “I guess that’s it for today” the teacher said, putting down his pen. “Remember to do those essays and continue reading to the next chapter” the teacher shouted as the whole class began to dismiss, causing loud noises of chair dragging and books getting packed. Darryl did the same, watching Stephanie at first but puilled his bag up from the floor and slowly packed away his undercover book. Hopefully Stephanie’s classmates leaves before she does, Darryl didn’t want to run after her again, after all he got her right where he wanted her to be.

Darryl waited for the last student to leave, standing up immediately once Steph did. Before she took a step further to the door, Darryl reached over to her arm and dragged her into the class once more, closing the door behind him. “Look. Im sorry about what I said, and can you stop ignoring me. I know i’m wrong” he admitted, pausing once he noticed what he had just done. Another thing that Darryl found hard to do was admitting his fault, but it seems so smoothly around Steph. “I cant stand walking through hallways seeing you and not talking to you.” 

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Eyes of the Beholder | Stephanie & Darryl

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The feel of Darryl’s hand and her own had a completely new kind of feeling for Steph… one that made her feel she’d succeeded in shaping a new kind of her best friend’s brother. Something that she’d completely destroyed by taking her hand away. That had to be the third time at least that she’d rejected him for apparently no reason at all other then she’d remember how he still defined himself. His whisper sounded angry, and Steph whipped her head around, her eyebrows furrowed as he spoke only just realising how close they were together—much like the evening in his room when they’d suddenly been almost pressed against each other, only ten minutes later they actually were. But Stephanie didn’t want to move away from the warm body beside her, even though she didn’t know how to reply.

Out of the corner of her eye, Stephanie watched Darryl reading her note, gauging his reaction: his newly tense body and the way he snatched at his pen and lowered his head as he wrote. More then anything Steph wanted to reach out and hold his hand once more. She didn’t know why but it was something she was starting to get drawn to doing: being near Darryl. She silently moved her chair closer to his, feeling the heat from his body starting to warm her only slightly. They were almost touching now, no way would the teacher think they were actually paying attention to him, but the class would be over soon… the only teachers that hadn’t given up on Steph were her Chemistry and Drawing, anyway. 

Stephanie looked over Darryl’s shoulder, reading his reply. She let a hand rest on his back and run her fingers on the sweater there comfortingly, though it was something she’d never been that good at. He’d honestly taken the news fairly well, considering that when Steph found out, she’d imagined a situation similar to that between Darryl and herself the other night, but apparently that had not been the case. But Darryl had lost not only Nic as a friend, but also the person he thought he was. Stephanie sighed, thinking of how much more simple life would have stayed if she’d just not opened her mouth. “Things always work out in the end, Darryl… at least Nic actually acted on how he felt for once.” Steph whispered, not really knowing how true this was, but considering how Darryl was acting she felt that she was pretty close.

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Usually for Darryl, he didn’t mind getting rejected since for other girls and himself it felt like they were teasing him; as for Stephanie, getting rejected for at least three times now, it didn’t feel like a joke at all, more like a way to say she wasn’t interested. Though Darryl doubted it once he notice her getting closer to him. He could see it from the corner of his eyes, Stephanie moving her seat closer to him and it frankly made Darryl even more confused now. First she touched him, making him feel as if he was needed then she moved her hand away, having him to feel gutted and now she’s sitting closer to him? What was she trying to say? Not like Darryl had any right to know, he probably was doing the same since right now he’s confusing himself. He doesn’t even know how he’s feeling; it’s either lust or love. But it can’t be lust, his games would have worked right now- that is if he started a game, which he didn’t.

Darryl had his back straighten, his elbows on his desk as his hands cuffed together. His head was lifted and as Steph began to stroke his back Darryl nervously swallowed down his saliva, trying his best to contain himself. He arches his back slightly looking at Steph. “What are you doing..” Darryl asked quietly looking at her hopelessly. Now that Stephanie had an effect on him, Darryl was drawn to her desperately. Locking his eyes with Steph’s, Darryl didn’t realize how close she was till now, seeing every detail of her brown eyes, he could even see the gaps between her lashes. Without thinking, and without noticing that anyone could be watching them, Darryl place his hand on her chin, lifting it up as he lean in.

“Stephanie, do you have something to share with the class” Darryl backed away immediately, leaning back into his chair as he sit there looking away from the teacher who had just interrupted another moment for him. Literally swearing at the teacher in his mind, Darryl breathes out deeply hoping Stephanie wasn’t going to get into trouble because of him and was hoping the class would end soon just so he could have a proper talk with Steph.

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Eyes of the Beholder | Stephanie & Darryl

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Steph was comforted by the fact that Darryl didn’t move his hand away, gently moving her thumb across his own. It confused her, a lot, but it made her feel special… how many hands had he held in his time? She was willing to guess that it wasn’t many, and even if it was really her holding to top of his, it wasn’t like the boy beside her had broken the grasp. She smirked as Darryl wrote his reply with his other hand. Steph had always found it strange, watching someone write with the other hand… they almost seemed to write differently but Stephanie still found it captivating to watch for some reason. Something was sitting in her stomach, it was uncomfortably pleasant and Stephanie had the overwhelming instinct to lean onto his shoulder.

But she refrained, remembering that this was Darryl and not Frankie or Seth. They were going through the same confusing emotions, was all. Of course it couldn’t be a mutual attraction… especially after Darryl confirmed that he didn’t fall for girls. The two at the desk had been brought slightly closer by Sierra and Nic, that was all no matter how much Stephanie wished it wasn’t the case. 

She read Darryl’s reply, glad that she didn’t have to move her hand to reply, but did so anyway when she read the last sentence. In that moment, she’d remembered his words and the way that he’d said—or yelled—them. Stephanie rested her hand back on the table, it was still tingling slightly from where her skin had touched Darryl’s but she tried her best to ignore it… no one, least of all Darryl, would be able to have her feel like that. She wanted so badly to reach out and grab it again, or for him to take hers so that she knew that there was something he was feeling. Though the fact that he was still sitting in a lesson about a dead poet’s play that was hardly even in English should have been proof enough for her. Stephanie pushed the note back to Darryl before pulling her iPhone from her bag and opening a lately unused thread to text her best friend.

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Once Stephanie took his note, Darryl couldn’t help but smile and look over at Stephanie’s fingers on his hand. Though he tried to not make it obvious how nervous and happy he was Darryl had his head up high looking directly at the whiteboard trying to contain himself and not show what he possibly felt towards her. But slowly, he moved his fingers too, curling them a little, twitching them before he flip his hand over and intertwined his fingers with Steph. It’s fair to say that Darryl havent held on to anyone’s hands before, other than having sex at the same time, Darryl had never held hands properly with a girl before.

Darryl’s thumb brush against Stephanie’s skin as she read his note; but it surprised him once Steph had suddenly moved her hand. He thought within those minutes they would’ve fixed everything; what he said that day. Darryl’s smile didn’t last long; he turned his hand around moving his arm away from Steph’s so that his hand was that close to hers anymore. He licked his lips as he look down on his empty book, filling up his mind with second thoughts.

Darryl definitely like Stephanie; but for him it felt so wrong. He wasn’t used to feel something for girls, his only intention in girls were to get them into his bed and that’s it. But he started to think about other intentions towards Steph. He liked it when she was happy, he likes to see her smile; he wouldn’t even want to imagine it to see her cry and if anybody would hurt her, he’d make them pay. It wouldn’t make a difference anyway, considering he had always felt this, before Steph had hurt him and gone out with Seth- it wasn’t her fault anyway, Darryl was too stubborn to admit his feelings. But now that he has those familiar feelings coming back, is Darryl going to let this go?

Darryl read Stephanie’s note immediately feeling defensive and wasn’t bothered on writing a note to let her know he was being honest. “I’m not hiding anything!” He whispered, snapping his head at her direction. Exhaling and feeling rather frustrated, Darryl grabbed his pen and lowered his head down writing his explanation.

[stephanie-clarke-blog-blog]

Eyes of the Beholder | Stephanie & Darryl

[stephanie-clarke-blog-blog]

Steph flicked her eyes over Darryl’s reply, getting slowly more defensive of her two friends. Yes, she’d had slightly more time to process that they’d slept together, but this was the first she was hearing about dating. Instead of inquiring further, Stephanie just wrote down exactly how she was feeling, not able to relate to how Darryl was feeling… it was his sister that would be getting hurt, but Stephanie was starting to understand why some people kept secrets until well after they were dead—not so they didn’t hurt those around them, but so they didn’t have to sort through the drama that followed.

She quickly scribbled a reply, coming increasingly more annoyed at her handwriting… she’d been changing around styles for a while and somehow this one had stuck with her for the past few weeks. About to push the note back to Darryl when she saw how tense he looked. His fist was slightly curled, and only now did Steph realise that their arms were just touching, side by side on the desk. Her fingers flicked instinctively, before she gripped them back to the table. She didn’t want Darryl to know that she liked him, that would be stupid. But she also felt the need to comfort the older boy. After all, his life had been stress-free and relatively easy until Stephanie had opened her mouth, however accidental it had been.

So Stephanie allowed her fingers to brush over Darryl’s hand slightly, the only way she’d allow herself to comfort him now. She loved Nic, she loved Sierra. And sometimes you hurt the ones you loved the most because you knew that they’d always forgive you. Carefully, Steph moved her hand onto his and laced her fingers through it, pushing her reply over to Darryl. He needed to think clearly, he needed to read it even if he didn’t want to.

[darryldavid-blog]

Darryl was astonished to see the rapid change of Stephanie’s reaction. The force she had increased and as she started to scribble, Darryl was getting nervous to even her read her note. God knows what made her even angrier now and Darryl didn’t want that considering he had enough thinking for a day. His mind was still stuck with the ‘thing’ that was happening between Sierra and Nicholas, but a whole lot of weight was lifted once he got Stephanie’s reply.

Stephanie’s note did affect Darryl’s thoughts, giving him a second thought whether whatever Nic was feeling towards Sierra was worth trusting. He had never gotten used to seeing Nic falling in love which didn’t give him the right to judge what he accuse Nic on feeling or not feeling. But deep in Darryl’s mind he was still protective over Sierra – even if he denies it 99% of the time. Holding onto Stephanie’s note on he left hand, Darryl was lost in his mind; deciding whether or not just let his two favourite person be. It was right when Stephanie said that it was time for Sierra to learn but if Nic ever hurt her, Darryl won’t hesitate in giving him a bruised eye and a bloody nose, long enough for him to regret what he had done. After all, Darryl chooses his family over bestfriends.

Just before Darryl could write his reply, he felt a finger brushing over his hand. Shifting his eyes over, he found Stephanie’s fingers touching his and instantly brush. He could feel a hot sensation rising from his neck up to his head and immediately felt nervous. Stephanie now has that affect on him which he convinces himself it was a horrible thing. Not moving his hand away, secretly liking the feeling Darryl began to write his reply with his left hand. After all these years, Darryl found at least an advantage on being a left hander. He needed it though; Stephanie’s touch- it soothe him for a minute leaving him to give Nic and Sierra a chance while he gets busy giving his time to Stephanie. A smirk played on his lips as he write his reply, but it soon faded when he was in the middle of the note

[jssula-blog-blog]

[darryldavid-blog]

… sometimes you hurt the ones you loved the most because you knew that they’d always forgive you.

[darryldavid-blog]

"Please believe that when i leave, there's nothing up my sleeve but love for you and a little time to get my head together too"

Drive By - Train

[stephanie-clarke-blog-blog]

Eyes of the Beholder | Stephanie & Darryl

[stephanie-clarke-blog-blog]

Stephanie read the note, confused. She knew why Sierra was angry. The slam of the door and the scream of an insult from her best friends mouth being enough to let her know that Sierra was unimpressed with her… loosely put at least. But Stephanie was angry too… why did her best friend lie to her about Nic? Why did Nic lie to her about Sierra? Why was any of this happening, and why did it have to happen now when she was trying to figure out what was going on between her and Darryl. Everything was unnecessarily complicated for just a few teenagers lives and only because of the close relationships between them. One thing Steph knew, however, was that her best friend wouldn’t just forgive her for this betrayal, however trivial and small it may seem to everyone else. 

Though she probably wouldn’t admit it to anyone, Steph was worried about how Darryl… She wanted to know how he was dealing with finding out about his sister and his bestfriend, especially since it was from someone who wasn’t either of them. It was always hard finding things out that way. Still not really understanding what had happened or was happening between Nic and Sierra since she didn’t hear much of it other then Darryl’s yell. It made her sick to remember that, but she should have known better… not acted like some stupid little girl who thought she could change a man.

Being her usual, contradicting self, Steph wrote her reply to Darryl and pushed it over to the David, surprised that he was still sitting through the teacher’s ramblings about Hamlet… Steph probably wouldn’t even be in her own classes if it wasn’t for the fact she wanted to try and get into an Ivy, even if it was just to see Frankie one more time. It didn’t feel unfinished between them, and she’d always known that it was easier on the both of them for him to just to leave… but that didn’t mean she didn’t sometimes wish that she could have said goodbye, or that she loved him, or that she didn’t blame him for leaving. 

[darryldavid-blog]

Reading Stephanie’s reply, reminded Darryl about the other day. Although he tried to make it seem as if it was none of Stephanie’s fault, he knew Sierra was mad at her for revealing her secret and it was partly his fault too- for freaking out. But frankly, Darryl was on Stephanie’s side. Figuring out that his sister and bestfriend had been hooking up behind him made him loose a lot of trust he had for Sierra, it lost his respect for Nic and it most definitely made him felt as if he was betrayed. Darryl wasn’t exactly sure of his reasons to be angry about. He was worried about his sister, getting hurt by his bestfriend; knowing Nic was exactly like himself, he would hate to see his little sister get fucked and played around- nor did he want to see that happen to Stephanie. Re-reading the note once more, looking at Stephanie’s writing; Darryl was stuck on one sentence. “Things just happen” Somehow, Darryl thought the sentence was directly at him. He felt as if what happened between Stephanie and him wasn’t something casual. It wasn’t something he would do with a girl. All those soft kisses, gently touch, connections by looking into her eyes; his crush for her was back.

Exhaling deeply as he lowered his head, Darryl brushes his hair with his right hand. Darryl knew that Sierra’s honest about her emotions and that she was probably under Nic’s spell; but he cant figure out whether his bestfriend felt the same way? Whether he was playing around. Darryl has his hands on the back of his head, his fingers intertwined and his head lowered as he began to figure out Nic’s body language that day. He seem convincing when he said they were together or the fact that he mention he never felt the way he felt towards Sierra. But let’s face it, even Darryl can play that off if he wants to fuck some hot chick.

Darryl’s temper rose at the thought of Nic once more. He tightens his right fist, hesitating but hit his table gently not to draw any attention. Pulling out a small sheet, he started to write with anger, force pushing through the tip of his pen.

[stephanie-clarke-blog-blog]

Eyes of the Beholder | Stephanie & Darryl

[stephanie-clarke-blog-blog]

Stephanie’s hand shook when she read his reply. Yes, she couldn’t help but follow him… it was on the way out of David at least. She probably shouldn’t have been eavesdropping on what happened in that room either. Steph mentally added one other thing she’d done yesterday evening and shouldn’t have done. The list was getting scarily long, so long that Stephanie felt nervous and sick whenever she thought about any one of those things, because it brought the other few to the front of her mind once more. She’d caused a lot of pain that night, though her narcissistic brain was making it seem like she’d been a larger point of power then she actually had been.

She just couldn’t understand why Darryl hadn’t left. Last night it was made very clear that he wouldn’t get to fuck her around, and even though she was stubborn and tried to push him away right now, he still wouldn’t. Steph found it confusing… but she did remember him moving into the kiss after she’d pulled back, she remembered not letting him catch his lips because she wanted that to be their last kiss. Steph remembered how confused that had made her to see Darryl react like that, but figured it had all just been a game, trying in his last attempt to win. But so many things didn’t match up.

The way he looked into her eyes, the slow speed at which they did progressed, him not forcing it, when he grabbed her wrist and stopped her from leaving, the emotion in that last kis… when he’d called her beautiful. Stephanie knew she felt something for the eldest David, even if it was under all the regret and embarrassment that filled her. After realising she’d left Darryl waiting for a reply for a noticeable time, she thought hard about what to say before writing it down and pushing it back to him, distracting him from class. 

[darryldavid-blog]

Darryl was feeling as bored as ever, having a teacher he would see rarely in the hallways going on about Shakespeare and the worst part was, it wasn’t even Darryl’s class! But that didn’t bother him, he was willing to be there and there was only one reason for it; Stephanie. Too bad for Darryl, Stephanie wasn’t in the same class as him, or he would have work his ass off during classes just to show off a little of how smart he really is by answering difficult questions from his lecturer. Though there would be some disadvantages as well, he probably couldn’t even keep his eyes off her and would be way distracted by passing notes in class- like what’s he doing now. Overall, the disadvantages and advantages of having Stephanie In class balanced out, all it matters was having her there.

Darryl couldn’t figure out why Stephanie wanted him to leave so badly, what he couldn’t figure out more was why he was still here. It made him wonder what he would do for this particular girl, when he convinced himself how she was just like all those other girls. Darryl didn’t know how to respond without making it obvious at how much he enjoyed being in a boring class with Stephanie seated next to him. He thought carefully before writing his respond in permanent ink; something that doesn’t come off and can only be camouflaged by whiteout – which doesn’t really work and would make him look bad as if he regretted about what he was going to say.

Ignoring Stephanie’s question about not leaving her, Darryl jumped to the part where it mentioned his sister’s name. He didn’t mean on ignoring the first part, he just didn’t know what to say and frankly didn’t know why he wouldn’t leave. Having the tip of his pen touching the paper, he began to write, sliding the paper back onto Stephanie’s desk.

[stephanie-clarke-blog-blog]

Eyes of the Beholder | Stephanie & Darryl

[stephanie-clarke-blog-blog]

Reading Darryl’s reply only made Steph feel sick. He didn’t deny it. She knew it was true, but she’d still hoped that she hadn’t made a mistake: that Darryl was actually different then how he portrayed himself. The bile was rising and she was starting to feel the same when she’d heard him yell it at his best friend. The stubborness in Stephanie not letting the boy beside her know it. Only now she had it confirmed that there was a reason for her to be hostile to him… besides, her favourite bra was somewhere in his room… probably in a pile of other girls’, girls who thought Darryl was special, or girls that were proud they’d spent sometime with him. 

Defensively, Stephanie pulled the paper towards her and wrote her reply, annoyed at Darryl for even suggesting that he was important to her. Maybe for that one moment last night when she’d turned around and kissed him he had been. But that was it. That was the end. In that evening she’d probably successfully cut herself off from the David family, and she wasn’t entirely sure how she felt about it. Most of the time she didn’t even remember who they were, so use to having Sierra around that it didn’t matter. But this morning it was definitely more freeing to get out of bed… she almost felt like her own person. She sighed and pushed the note to the only David sibling actually talking to her, pulling out her nailfile and starting to smooth the tips of her thumb.

[darryldavid-blog]

Receiving Steph’s note, Darryl exhaled deeply brushing the side of his head with both his hands. Remembering the day when he got back from his fight with Nic and Sierra; stepping inside his dorm, everything was tidied up. Although he was angry that day, entering his room Darryl felt happy and all he could thought of was Steph. It made him even happier when he found Steph’s bra laying beside his pillow- at least it made him notice, it wasn’t him dreaming at all. It happened.

Darryl frankly no idea what was happening right now. Again, Darryl started to regret what he had said that was used just for Sierra’s safety – that’s what Darryl like to think. If only he knew Stephanie was on the other side of the door, if only he knew that it wouldn’t affect him and Steph so much. Wait; why did it bother Steph so much? Darryl furrowed his eyebrows once more. True, the feelings he feels now might be confusing for him but if Stephanie made it clear that she wanted nothing to do with him, why did she care so much? Clearing his throat, Darryl couldn’t help but feel strange in his tummy, like how girls would say it “butterflies”. Stephanie couldn’t possible like him like that, can she?

No, Darryl. Why do you even care if she likes you? Darryl lowered his head to hide a small smile that was slowly forcing his lips to open wide. Lifting his head back up, pretending he was involved in the class, Darryl’s goofy smile disappeared. Maybe he should get her to admit how she feels about her, that way he could be sure, that he wasn’t the only one starting to feel it too.

[nicolas-vaughn-blog]

Risky Business | Nicolas, Sierra & Darryl

[sierra-david]

As Nicolas did his best to explain the situation to Darryl all Sierra could do was sit there wide eyed, following the conversation back and forth, her eyes darting to each speaker, her brother with gritted teeth and pulsating veins while Nic looked to be doing all he could to prevent being hit. Finally finding her voice, a small plea escaped her, “Darryl, please.” The voice of the usually eccentric, gaze capturing girl was almost inaudible, she seemed as if she were the kid that sat at the back corner of the class room that everyone believed to be mute. The stance of her brother over her boyfriend was threatening but she knew there was nothing she could do, even if she stopped whatever was about to proceed she couldn’t be there in the future when emotions bubbled over and it all came crashing down. Anymore, the worst possible word that could slip from Nicolas’ lips now hung in the air, a small sting hit the girl at the thought of just being another number to Nicolas but she was not that at all. With his back facing her Sierra couldn’t predict Darryl’s reaction as she watched on.  Moving backwards, still sitting on the bed Sierra leant against the wall, pulling her knees up to her chest, knowing she couldn’t leave but didn’t know what to do. She couldn’t say she didn’t expect this reaction from her brother, he had always been a protective figure in her life, in fact it was the only one she had. As Darryl continued to shout Sierra buried her head in her hands, racking her brain in order to find a way to fix the problem at hand. Looking up once again as his voice came to a stop but Darryl’s breathing still echoed Sierra turned her head to look out the bedroom door which was still open since the eldest David barged in, there she saw Stephanie and she knew just how Darryl found out. “That fucking bitch,” She said,  springing off the bed, slamming the door as loud as possible as she completed crossing the doorway. Hoping the noise would stop all the yelling too.

[nicolas-vaughn-blog]

“Maybe I don’t want some fucking girl. I just want her.” Nicolas shouted back, getting angry at Darryl now. It was the same assumption that Nic had made about what happened between them that first night, but now he’d definitely learnt better. No one thought more highly of herself then Sierra did, but it suited her and her lastname. Not that he could see that now, his girlfriend curled up inside herself, protecting herself and all Nic wanted now was to hold her and make any hurt go away. He looked back to Darryl when Sierra finally uncurled herself from the bed, trying to figure out the best way to explain the situation to his best friend, but he wouldn’t understand. Nic doubted the boy before him ever looked at a girl for anything more then his own pleasure. The slam of the door made Nic’s attention snap to Sierra and the room finally fell quiet. “She-we-we’re together.” Nicolas told Darryl, looking up into his best friend’s eyes.

He exhaled at the relief of finally coming clean about their relationship. About it all. He held is hand out to Sierra and tried to coax her back into the fold, feeling the need to just hold her. “Hit me if you want, Darryl. I deserve it. But you can’t not let us be together unless you can truthfully say you’ve never felt this way for a girl before.” Nicolas challenged, sure that his friend would have a heart somewhere that had a crush on one of the many girls he slept with—the pool was wide and deep after all. Nicolas also wanted Darryl to punch him a bit, feeling like the argument wouldn’t be over until the anger that had bubbled through Darryl previously had been exerted.

[darryldavid-blog]

Darryl took a quick look over his shoulder, but look back again and turned his body slightly around after seeing his sister’s figure curling up into a ball. Hearing her plea and seeing her hurt knocked off some layers of anger in Darryl. It was too late; Sierra has already fallen for Nic, and Nic probably was just playing around with her. “That’s bullshit, Nic!” Darryl snapped back, turning his face around furiously looking at Nic, but then look up at Sierra who was now making her way to the door, slamming it shut. There was a long silence, too silent that you could even hear a loud sharp note ringing in your ear. But Darryl’s eyes shifted back to Nic, after he heard a soft voice breaking the silence. “Whatever game you’re playing right now, Vaughn..” He started, reaching for Nic’s collar pulling him up and closer to him so that he could take a good look of Nic’s eyes, making sure he got everything he was going to say. “End it.” He whispered fiercely, releasing his collar and pushing him away from him.

The next statement that came out of Nic’s lips trigger more anger to Darryl. However, it instantly reminded him of Stephanie; what he had done 10 minutes ago, what he had felt when he touched her, when their lips met and the way he felt when he looked at her. He didn’t want to deny it, but what can he do? He wasn’t sure to what he felt towards Stephanie yet, and it wasn’t safe to accept it now. No, he wasn’t going to let his sister get hurt by somebody who is no difference to him. “Well.. I guess you guys cant be together then” He smirked and scoffed. “I’ll say it loud and clear for you Nic..”

“I don’t fall for girls. I just fuck with them and leave them like toys.” Darryl shouted, making sure Nic got every word he said and hopefully leave his sister alone.