Entry 20: Preston LOVES Me

Now, I can barely tolerate my life as is, but with Miranda around, my rage is growing. I can feel myself on edge every single day. She is a lingering thought in the back of my head and when she shows up in person, it's like I'm living out a nightmare.

Like tonight.

As usual, she shows up at The Basement. She's there under the guise of hanging out with her University friends but I never see her hanging around anyone else except the band. More accurately; hanging around anyone else except MY boyfriend.

I can't help but naturally turn sour when she's around. Her never ending presence is annoying and whenever she turns her attention towards me, she's soooo condescending.

"Aww, I remember my first fake ID" 

"Aww, you look so cute trying to look older."

"Aww, you're so sweet, I can't believe you're with Preston."

Now she says comments like this throughout the night and I can usually take it with an unbothered face. That last comment though... I didn't know how to take it so I grilled her.

"What do you mean?" I asked, folding my arms.

"I mean, you're like a total sweetheart and Preston isn't exactly a lover boy. You seem like the type of girl that likes to be told she's pretty constantly and get taken on romantic dates and receive flowers."

"So what if I am?"

"So," she shrugged. "Preston will never do that for you. It just isn't in his blood."

I laughed. Little did she know...

"We have gone on dates. We've been to dinner, the movies, and we've gone to a bunch of parties."

Miranda raised an eyebrow. She actually looked surprised.

"Okay." She said nonchalantly. "But are your dates romantic? Does he bring you flowers? Does he get you gifts? Does he tell you that you look pretty or notice you got your haircut or your nails done."

I touched my hair which I had actually gotten cut a couple days ago. I just freshened up my layers and shortened it a couple inches. Preston didn't notice or say a thing so Miranda making it a point to notice kind of stung. Why didn't my own boyfriend notice?

"Well-"

"-I didn't think so." She interrupted.

I picked my drink up off of the high top table and threw it back. I just wanted to get a little more than tipsy because I hated that Miranda was making me second guess my relationship.

"I just think that a little girl like you would be much better off with someone more... your type."

"Excuse me?" I snapped.

"You know, younger and preppier and...less experienced."

"Less experienced?"

"Yeah, I mean come on. You're totally a virgin. I know for a fact you and Preston haven't fucked yet.

She sighed and looked off like she was reminiscing.

"Preston and I used to have the best sex. I mean, with him being a musician and everything...he has rhythm "

I'd had enough of the bitch so I shoved her.

"Shut up!"

She looked surprised at the fact that I actually put my hands on her. I mean, she could probably kick my ass and she knew it too.

"Or what?" She smirked.

She was happy. She was glad she was getting under my skin. I didn't care and took the bait.

"Or I swear to God, I'll rip those horrible extensions from your head and choke you with them."

"Jesus," Miranda laughed. "Cheerleader Barbie is a bit more morbid than I thought."

I was just about to say something back when Lincoln, the bands lead singer, walked over to us.

"What's up ladies? Fighting over Preston?"

"No!" Miranda and I said at the same time. Although, she said it more relaxed than I did.

Lincoln smirked and shook his head.

"There's no use fighting her, Miranda." He shrugged.

"Preston is totally in love with this one. Maybe even more than he was with you."

Miranda glared at Lincoln. I shot him a beaming grin.

"Really?" I had nearly snapped my neck turning to look at him.

"Yeah," Lincoln nodded and draped his arm over my shoulder. He was clearly drunk and his embrace wasn't just friendly. It was more like he was using me for leverage to keep himself standing. "I looked in his notebook the other day. He's writing a song about you."

"Please," Miranda rolled her eyes, ruining my happy moment. "Preston's written songs about me before."

Lincoln snorted and nodded his head:

"Yeah, about how much he hates you."

Miranda sucked her teeth and was just about to speak up, when Preston approached us.

"Get off of her," Preston took Lincoln's arm and threw it off of me.

He was very harsh about it.

"Don't touch her," he shoved Lincoln back in a menacing way.

"Preston? It's fine..." I stepped away from my boyfriend, confused by his threatening demeanor.

I mean, seriously. He looked like he was 2 seconds away from beating Lincoln up. They weren't the closest two in the band but they were still friends. I didn't understand where the hostility was coming from.

"Chill, P..." Lincoln laughed. "Scared she'll fall for me or something."

This seemed to infuriate him more. A look flickered across his eyes and his hand was in a clenched fist at his side.

"We're leaving."

He didn't miss a beat, taking my hand and dragging me away. I looked back at the band who were all watching us leave. Lincoln was shaking his head with a drunken smirk.

"What was that all about?" I asked as Preston ushered me into the car.

"Nothing."

He slammed my door shut and walked around to the drivers side. Preston got in and started the car in complete silence. Normally, I would sit back and let the silence linger but I was far too curious to leave it alone. I mean, I had never seen Preston so contentious towards one of his friends.

"Preston, I'm not gonna drop it until you tell me what happened."

He sighed, knowing I wasn't lying.

"You know how Miranda and I broke up because she..."

"Yeah," I acknowledged that he didn't want to finish the sentence.

"It was with Lincoln..." he shrugged.

I was aghast at what had just left his mouth. So Miranda cheated on Preston with Lincoln! He was the guy that Miranda left Preston for??

Honestly, I couldn't see it. Lincoln is okay looking. He has very short black hair, he's not very tall but his face is alright. Preston is just so overall sexy, it didn't compute in my head why Miranda would give up Preston for someone like Lincoln. Then I remembered exactly what she said back at the bar.

"...Preston isn't exactly a lover boy."

The only thing I could come up with for her reasoning is that Lincoln must have offered her some affection she felt was lacking between her and Preston. What I still couldn't wrap my mind around was the fact that he and Lincoln were still friends.

"Why the hell are you still friends

"When everything blew up, the band didn't want to pick sides. The ultimatum was that we either all got along or the band breaks up."

I shook my head disapprovingly.

"So what that really means is you had to get over it and be the bigger person or you'd break up the band..."

Preston nodded his head and gave me a look that hurt my heart. His friends really refused to take his side in a conflict that deeply hurt him. They should've ousted Lincoln and made Preston their lead singer.

Some friends...

"I don't even care anymore. He can have her. I'm over that shit."

I didn't think he sounded that convincing until he kept going.

"What I do care about is you."

"Me?"

"If he ever tried anything with you, I would kill him. He can have anyone he wants, I don't care...but not you. He can't have you."

My heart skipped a beat when he said that. Sure, he sounded a little possessive but I didn't mind. He wanted me to himself meaning our feelings were pretty much mutual. I'm not about to share him with anyone either.

As he pulled into my driveway, I moved my hand to his leg and lightly touched his thigh.

"Preston?"

He looked at my hand and then back up to me. He was doing that thing where he scanned my face, analyzing and trying to read what I was thinking.

"Yeah?"

I gripped his leg with anxiety and closed my eyes, afraid of the words on my mind.

"Do.... Do you love me?"

Preston took a large, deep breath in. Before he could say anything, I tried to retract my words.

"You don't have to answer that. Actually, it's probably best if you don't. I'm just gonna go now...Bye!"

I scrambled for the door but before I could make my great escape, Preston reached out and grabbed my arm. He ran his fingers down my forearm until he got to my hand, interlocking his fingers with mine.

He stared at my face.

He didn't say anything.

He just leaned in and closed his eyes as he kissed me. He took his free hand and placed it along the side of my neck and jaw. Preston moved his lips slowly and sensually against mine. I kissed him back, throwing my hand up into his hair. I was afraid he would stop kissing me and decided to deepen our kiss with the intention of never stopping.

I never broke my lips away from his as I climbed over the center console. Preston assisted me as I moved to straddle him in the drivers seat. He ran his hands up both of my thighs until they settled under my dress. Preston pulled me in, closer to him and I obliged.

In that moment, I wanted to melt into his body and become one. We were kissing, nonstop and I wanted to stay exactly like that forever.

Preston disappointed me when he lightly pushed me back, off of him. He ran his fingers through his hair and breathlessly spoke in a deep whisper.

"If we stay like this, I won't be able to stop."

"I don't want to stop kissing you."

He smirked.

"Neither do I. But if we dont stop, I don't know how much longer I'll be able to hold back..."

"Hold back from what?"

Preston peered out the window with a guilty expression and then returned his gaze to me. He caressed my cheek and leaned in to whisper in my ear.

"I want you."

His warm breath sent a chill down my spine. I could feel the goosebumps popping up all over my body.

Preston burried his face in my neck and continued to speak.

"You're making it hard to be patient."

He opened his door and aided me in climbing off of him. I untangled myself from my boyfriend and stood outside the car, watching as he put his seatbelt on.

I closed his car door and he rolled down the window to say goodbye.

"Bye," I said quietly disappointed, wishing we could stay together all night.

"Goodnight, Parker."

Just as I was turning to go inside the house, Preston called after me softly.

"I do, you know..."

"You do what?"

"I love you," he shrugged and avoided making eye contact.

Sure, he was pretty sheepish about it but he said it! He said he loves me!! He didn't deny it or reject me! He said it clear as day. Preston Dunn LOVES me!

My heart did a million backflips in my chest. I think I even audibly gasped when he said it.

"I- I love you too," I said through my huge grin.

Preston smirked and shook his head with a chuckle.

"Cool."

I immediately rolled my eyes. I should've known that would be his response.

I watched, entranced by my boyfriend as he pulled out of the driveway and drove away.

Despite being a total piece of shit, Lincoln was right about one thing.

Preston totally loves me.