19
I did not, in fact, see Knox the next day.
I sat on my usual bench, still waiting for him to show up well after the first bell hand rung. Not a single other person was in sight as I sat there. I waited and waited - even texting Knox twice without receiving a single response. Neither Liam nor Sean had made any appearance either.
I couldn't call Serena to pick me up - I would be too embarrassed to admit that I couldn't walk into school without Knox at my side. I may have been getting better but that felt completely dependent on his presence and there was no way I could admit that to Serena without worrying her even more.
And with Knox not answering my texts, I had no choice other than to walk home.
My legs were stiff and my eyes glistened with tears the entire way home. Not only had he not answered me and not warned me in any way that he wouldn't be at school, but he had told me just yesterday that he would see me today.
He lied.
He still didn't show up Tuesday. Nor did he show up on Wednesday. By the time Thursday morning came, I didn't bother getting ready to even attempt seeing if he would be at school this time.
Serena knew I was coming back home immediately - skipping all my classes.
At first, I was afraid to admit that the reason was because Knox wasn't with me but I couldn't lie to her when she had asked me so directly.
She seemed to understand - or at least tried to.
She honestly didn't say much, her face giving away none of her thoughts but she didn't argue when I continued to stay home.
I was grateful when Wendy had to cancel our normal session on Wednesday.
She had come down with something and didn't want to risk it getting worse nor giving it to any of her patients.
I felt more than relieved to know that I wouldn't have to admit to her that I was struggling with Knox's absence right now.
I spent my time at home fairly unproductively in all honesty. I traveled back and forth between the couch and my bed. I did manage to get all my homework done and I kept up with the assignments my teachers posted online, but I didn't do much else.
I rolled out of bed Friday morning feeling more sluggish than usual.
I had slept well and gone to bed at a reasonable hour, but after this entire week of doing practically nothing, I was starting to feel like a zombie.
I trudged down the stairs, Serena having left already, and went into the kitchen to make myself some chocolate milk.
I had been standing at the counter, sipping on my milk while staring out the kitchen window absentmindedly for not too long when a loud knock on the front door sounded through the house.
I frowned, still clutching my glass of milk as I slowly made my way over.
Peaking out the peep-hole, my eyes widened. My pulse immediately skyrocketed, my palms grew slick, and my stomach churned. I wretched open the door, revealing none other than the boy who I'd been agonizing over all week.
And if I was being honest, Knox did not look himself. He had dark bags under his eyes as if he hadn't slept most of the week. His hair looked like he had been relying on just his fingers to comb through it and his eyes didn't have their usual light.
He looked like a shadow of himself.
"Knox?" I asked, shifting between my feet as I took in his appearance.
I wasn't sure exactly how I was supposed to be feeling in this moment.
All week I had gone between feeling sad and mad, frustrated and confused at his surprise absence and overall radio silence.
As much as I was expecting to still feel that way when seeing him again, even if part of me still is upset, I was also excited that he was finally in front of me again.
But, even then, something seemed to be seriously wrong and for that, I couldn't help feeling truly worried.
"Can I come in?" Knox asked, frowning.
I nodded, stepping to the side to let him pass over the threshold before closing the door behind him. I led him into the kitchen before rinsing out my glass and leaving it in the sink.
Knox leaned down with his elbows on the counter, letting his face fall into his hands.
"Knox..." I called, tentatively, "what's wrong?" I stepped next to him, using every bit of control I had to not reach out and touch him.
Knox dragged his hands down his face before turning to look at me. A sad smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
I furrowed my brows in concern before gently taking his hand and leading him to the couch and plopping down. We sat together in silence for several moments. Knox wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me flush against his side as he sighed.
"I didn't mean to disappear like that." He finally said, frowning before continuing, "I just - I got into a fight with my parents - nothing crazy unusual. It just got a bit ugly." He shrugged, trying to play off the hurt that I could still see lingering in his eyes.
"I'm sorry." I whispered, leaning further into him.
A fight with his parents stressing him out to the point that he looked like this was the last thing I expected. If this was something that was a common occurrence for him too, I couldn't even imagine how hurt he must really feel on the inside.
"No, I'm sorry. I should of texted you. I just went to Liam's and stayed there for a few days but I wasn't someone you would've wanted to be around." Knox said, tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear.
I unconsciously leaned into his touch, relishing in it after his long absence. "What do you mean?" I licked my dry lips, frowning again.
Knox loosed a deep breath, "Just didn't want you to see me like that - that's all, baby. I still should have texted you."
"I was really upset..." I admitted, trailing off as I remembered how much I had cried from the confusion I felt this past week.
"I know, baby. I'm sorry. It won't happen again." Knox promised as he lifted me slightly, pulling me over to straddle his lap. His hands met my hips, the touch warm and gentle.
"I missed you." I whispered, pouting slightly as I started toying with the fabric of his shirt between my fingers.
I could feel the heat of Knox studying my face for several moments before he pulled me flush against his chest.
"Let me make it up to you." He urged quietly, leaving a trail of light kisses down my jaw. Tangling his hand in my hair, he tugged just hard enough to expose more of my neck to his lips as he continued his path.
My lips parted and my hands met his chest to brace myself.
A loud whine escaped my mouth as he bit the skin of my neck, immediately licking and kissing the spot better.
My hands clenched, fisting his shirt between my fingers as he repeated his actions again in a different spot and again somewhere else.
His lips acting as a sweet torture that sent my mind into a frenzy.
Pulling away, he released his hold on my hair before bringing his hand around to loosely grip my neck.
I drew in a sharp breath, his fingers flexing around my throat. His eyes were dark and predatory - his tongue darting out to lick his lips. I gulped, feeling the weight of his hand with the movement.
I could feel arousal pooling between my legs - the gnawing ache becoming almost unbearable. My hips twitched against him, the slight friction creating no relief.
The look in Knox's eyes flared at my movement. I squirmed, my lower half throbbing against the fabric of his jeans. He squeezed my throat in warning when I started to move again. A small whimper passed my lips - desperate and needy.
"Knox...please..." I whined out, begging.
A low groan left his throat as he quickly flipped me to lay on my back atop the couch. His hand landed next to my head, holding him up as he hovered over me. His other hand instantly went to the silk shorts of my pajamas, moving them and my cotton panties aside.
I barely felt the cool air hitting me as circled my heat before plunging two fingers inside me.
I gasped, my body writhing beneath him. I clenched around his fingers as they relentlessly pumped in and out of me.
Knox captured my lips with his own, muffling my moan as he added a third finger.
His thumb met my clit a moment later. The combination of the three inside me and the fourth steadily rubbing against me had me unraveling in a matter of moments.
I laid gasping for air, my body shaking as he pulled away.
His eyes roamed over my panting form as he sat back. His hands undoing the button and zipper of his jeans, his eyes still wild with lust.
I watched with wide eyes as his length sprang out before me - big, hard, and waiting.
I shuddered as I watched Knox start stroking it before me, using my climax that still glistened on his hand as lubricant. His other hand snaked up my stomach, forcing my silk tank top up, revealing my breasts that were heavy and full with desire.
Knox groaned again, his dick twitching in his hand as he stroked it faster. His other hand squeezed one of my breasts, digging his fingers into my flesh.
I squirmed against him, my breathing coming out in soft pants. I could feel the ache coming back and growing even stronger than before.
Knox brushed the tip of his dick against the folds of my opening, coating it with more of my arousal. My eyes rolled to the back of head, my back arching off the couch.
"Fuck...not yet." Knox whispered under his breath, more to himself than to me.
I silently thanked him. Even if it felt so good and I wouldn't stop him if he were to fill me up right now, I knew I wasn't ready for all that yet.
He pulled his length away from me a second later, his thighs tensing and his hand slowing down. His release now coated my bare stomach as he let out one final groan.