Heart Stealer

What happens when Peter Parker falls in love with Gwen Stacy, asks her out and kisses her but Miles Morales also confesses his love for her and kisses her too? I’ll tell you what. CHAOS. Absolute chaos ensues. But not for either Peter Parker or Miles Morales. Gwen’s the one who suffers the inner turmoil of being wanted by two boys. And wanting both of them. But that never happens in the movies. That happens in real life.

It had been a week since I got kissed senseless by Pierce at the costume party and yet my head was still spinning. I felt so guilty and so torn by everything that happened between me and Pierce and I couldn’t see any way out of this yet. Little did I know this was just the beginning of a teenage love affair. This was my guilty secret.

What was that secret? I was equally attracted to two golden boys. And to my shame, my heart wanted to play this dangerous game of love.

“Have at thee, vile creature!” Amber, my little sister shouted, breaking my train of thought by invading the living room where I was sitting on the couch. She jabbed me with a foam sword, a long red cape flapping behind her back.

“Amber! Will you please play somewhere else? And aren’t you a little too old for this sort of tomfoolery?” I asked her with a groan.

“We’re doing King Arthur’s story in lit class! I think it’s better read if I bring the characters to life. I am the dashing Lancelot slaying the dragon!” Amber bellowed. I rolled my eyes. Sometimes I wondered if she was really thirteen or just tall for five. She sure acted like an overgrown five-year-old.

“You know the story of Guinevere and Lancelot is supposed to be a tragic romance, not an action blockbuster where dragons are slayed,” I grumbled.

“Pooh! That’s gross. Fighting dragons are way more fun. Who wants to get tangled in a messy love affair between two guys? Blegh. It only ends in heartbreak,” Amber said, scrunching up her nose in apparent distaste. I gulped suddenly as I realized that was exactly the kind of position I was in. I was the Guinevere of my story, caught in a relationship with two guys! Ironic that Amber had to be doing that story right now.

“Ha, ha, heh, heh, yeah, who wants that?” I laughed nervously. Crap, I sounded too tense—I hope Amber didn’t notice.

“I’m going to build a pillow fort for tonight when Cassie comes over for our sleepover,” Amber said, rushing back upstairs. I sighed in relief. Amber was too sharp and would’ve definitely picked up something wrong in my behavior if she had paid attention. Thankfully, she was too preoccupied with her sleepover and didn’t notice my guilty face.

I leaned back against the couch, closing my eyes. Immediately, two faces popped up. Matteo’s, sweet, charming one with a smile that made me melt. And then I saw Pierce with that fiery roguish glint in his eyes and intoxicating smile that made my legs turn to jelly. My eyes flew open. Oh, for the love of everything, will I ever resolve this wretched dilemma?!

My phone buzzed in my pocket and I pulled it out. I did a double-take when I saw it was a text from Pierce.

Hey, babycakes. Whatcha doin? Oh boy, and his text was right above the mushy ‘goodnight’ text from Matteo yesterday. Despite everything, I felt butterflies when Pierce called me ‘babycakes’ now. How he had changed me…

Nothing. Just thinking about Guinevere and Lancelot, I replied. Let’s see what he says to that. He texted me back with a confused face emoji.

Morbid. Doesn’t that tale end in disaster? I squeezed my eyes. Yes, that tale does end in disaster, just like this love affair is going to end in disaster. But how could I tell him that?

Amber’s studying the novel in lit class. I’m just playing along, I said.

Ah, got it. Hey, let’s meet up. I haven’t had a moment alone with you in days. I need my babycakes pronto. I felt like my lungs froze and I couldn’t breathe. Pierce just flirted with me! Worse, I felt my heart flip because of it!

Pierce, I don’t think we should. I sent my reply biting my lip, nervous about what he would say. He texted back immediately.

Don’t play hard to get with me, babycakes. Besides, do you want me to honk and bring your whole family out? I frowned in confusion at that.

What are you talking about? I asked.

Look out your window. I got up curiously and peeked out the front window. I gave a little gasp when I saw Pierce sitting in his red Jaguar right outside. He smiled and waved jauntily at me.

“Crap!” I squeaked.

“Thea, is everything alright?” Mom called from the kitchen.

“Yeah, Mom! I’m just stepping out for a bit!” I said, hoping I didn’t sound too guilty. I grabbed my jacket and shot out the door. Pierce rolled down his window.

“Hey babycakes,” he greeted me with that lazy smile of his.

“What the heck are you doing on my driveway, Pierce? What if someone saw you? How am I supposed to explain your presence here to my family at six in the evening?!” I hissed in one breath at Pierce through the window.

“You’ll make something up. You’re a smart girl,” he said with a wink. Oooh, if I wasn’t so mad at him, that compliment would actually have elicited a blush from me.

“You free tonight? I wanna take you on a drive,” Pierce continued. His words should’ve been met by a resounding ‘no’ from me but my heart dared to debate my options—because deep down, I think I wanted to go with him. I bit my lip and glanced back at my house.

“I—I don’t know, I should get permission—”

“I’ll wait.” Pierce sounded determined.

“Pierce, I really shouldn’t,” I said with hesitation though my heart wanted to jump out and join him in the car. He reached out and covered my hand with his.

“Come on, Thea. You know you want this. Don’t leave me hangin’,” he wheedled adorably. Darn it, when he turned on the charm, he was just too darn tempting! I sighed and returned inside to ask my Mom if I could go to Jules’ place. She said yes so I returned outside. Oh, the guilt of lying! But I had no other explanation or excuse to cover up my relationship with Pierce.

“I can’t believe you talked me into this!” I said in a high breathless voice as I got into the passenger seat of his car.

“Hey, I had nothing to do with it. You could’ve said no, you know,” Pierce said patronizingly with his perpetual smirk. He knew all too well that I couldn’t say no because I didn’t want to. He had control of my heart. And it infuriated me that he knew my weakness for him. I folded my arms.

“Just drive already,” I said pouting. Pierce grinned and started the car. He drove a good few miles out of the suburbs and into a more woodsy area. We got out on a secluded hill and the fresh scent of pine and maple hit my senses. Even the sky was clearer and a few stars began to pop out in all their twinkling glory.

“Nice view,” I commented.

“Don’t have to tell me twice.” I heard Pierce say. I turned and saw his eyes were on me as he spoke. I blushed furiously.

“I meant the scenery,” I said hastily. His lips tugged up in a half-smile.

“And I meant you,” he said huskily. He wrapped an arm around my waist and yanked me closer, pressing me against his body. I gasped.

“Did you bring me out just so you could do this?” I asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Is that a problem?” He asked mischievously. I saw his ardent eyes flicker to my lips. I placed my palms on his chest trying to gently push him away.

“Pierce… we shouldn’t,” I said in a small voice. He paid no attention to me but instead pressed his lips between mine, plunging into a heavy tongue-tasting kiss. I moaned trying again in vain to push him away.

“Pierce, please! I’m terrified,” I said, worry ringing in my voice. He withdrew but didn’t let go of me, his eyebrows furrowing as he stared at me.

“Why? No one will find us out here. It’s just you and me,” he said, running his fingers across my hip before sliding upfront. He traced tantalizing circles around my navel making me shiver.

“Would you stop that? I’m trying to think!” I protested stepping back. He didn’t seem offended but merely slipped his hands in his pockets, looking carefree.

“And I’m trying to make you lose your mind,” he said smoothly. I clutched my head feeling frustrated.

“We need to talk about this! I don’t know about you, but I have a boyfriend! And I’m terrified of him finding out!”

“Why?”

“What do you mean why?” I asked Pierce incredulously. “Because I have feelings for him too! And I don’t want to hurt him!” I sound almost hysterical. Pierce gave me a long hard stare.

“Him too?” He asked, picking up on the word. I staggered back, leaning against Pierce’s car. I slipped. I didn’t just care for Matteo. I cared for Pierce as well. I hadn’t wanted Pierce to find out that easily though. But I was too late. My breath caught at Pierce’s next words.

“So you do care about me… so don’t tell Matteo. It’ll be our little secret,” he said, stepping towards me. He closed the distance between us and leaned towards me, making me bend backwards against the car.

“You care for me too, don’t you, Thea?” He asked softly. I swallowed as I felt myself falling under his hypnotizing gaze. My heart was simmering despite my brain’s protests. Pierce caught my waist tenderly in his arms and pressed his forehead against mine.

“We could keep this between us,” he breathed on my lips, looking like he was enamored by me. My eyes fell on his chest.

“What are you, crazy?” I asked breathlessly though my voice lacked conviction.

“Yeah, I am. About you. You make me wanna do crazy things with you, Thea,” he replied huskily. I felt like jelly; how am I supposed to tell the guy I love that we can’t be together when I badly wanted to?

“What if Matteo found out?” I asked shakily. “If he ever got wind of us… If you ever told him—”

“You really think I’d do that, Thea?” Pierce asked, sounding hurt. I looked up and saw pain in his eyes, pain that made my heart clench.

“You really think I’d hurt you that way, Thea?” He repeated. “I said I’d make it hard for you, not make you suffer. What happens between us stays between us. But I’d never hurt you like that babycakes, even if it meant getting what I wanted.” I felt a wave of relief wash over me. For the past week, that had been my greatest fear—Pierce telling Matteo about us and ruining my relationship with him. But Pierce just set my mind at ease. And I felt sure I could trust him. I wanted to.

“Pierce, I…”

“Shh.” His hand ran up and down the sides of my body sending heat waves through my flesh. I saw pure desire in his eyes, a kind of insatiable hunger. And I knew it was for me.

“Dammit, I want you so bad, Thea,” he said hoarsely. I inhaled sharply, my heart beating erratically in my chest.

“Pierce…” I whispered. He covered my lips with his fingers.

“As much as I love hearing you say my name…” he paused as he ducked down to kiss my neck, “I don’t want you to make a sound.” I gasped as he sucked hard on a spot on my throat. I dug my fingernails into his arms in elation and heard him groan.

“Mmm…” he trailed wet kisses up my neck and stopped at my jaw. His hands came up to my neck and cupped me.

“Thea…” I saw him waiting for me to give him the go sign. I wrapped my hands around his neck, letting my fingers twiddle with the hair at the nape of his neck. He smiled in satisfaction.

“Thanks,” he breathed before crashing on my lips with a tumultuous wave of desire. He bent me over backward with the strength of his prowess while his lips raked over mine and I was really glad I had the car behind me to support me. Otherwise, I’d have collapsed to the ground, weak as a puddle. And it helped that I had my arms around him. I clung harder to him and I felt him press against me in response.

“God that feels good…” I heard him mumble against my lips. A nervous giggle escaped my throat.

“You’re not making this easy for me,” I mumbled. His tongue flashed out and he rolled it over my bottom lip.

“Believe me, Babycakes, I don’t intend to,” he said before continuing to smother me with kisses. In between, his hands would come up behind me and tug on a lock of my hair, tilting my head back. He’d take advantage of my exposed neck in those moments, soaking my skin with his tongue. I don’t know how long we stood there, wrapped together in a tangle of limbs and fiery hot kisses. But when he finally pulled back, we were both panting, flushed, and tousled-haired.

“I better get you home before I get you in trouble,” Pierce said with a self-satisfied smirk. I gave him a skeptical look.

“Pierce, you are nothing but trouble!” I said, clutching the car for support. I felt ravished and riveted and yet I guiltily wished for more, I didn’t want him to stop. He smirked with hooded eyes at me.

“Then why aren’t you running from me?” He asked. I looked away, knowing he’d see the answer in my eyes.

“Hmm. I know why. Admit it, babycakes, you want this as much as I do. You want me,” he said, uncovering my secret. I lifted guilty eyes to him, feeling conflicted.

“What are we, Pierce?” I asked. He frowned.

“What do you mean?” He asked.

“You know I can’t be with you like this. And I’m not going to hurt Matteo either. What do you want me to do?”

“I want you, Thea. But what you want is up to you. I’m not going to make things easier for you, that I promise. But until you say it’s over between us, I’m not going anywhere. And I really hope you never say that.” He sounded so soft and vulnerable near the end that my heart constricted. Yes, I loved Matteo; but I also loved Pierce. And I didn’t have the strength to break his heart.

“I want you too,” I said in such a low voice that I was sure he didn’t hear. But he did because the next minute he was giving me his familiar lazy smile that made me all mushy inside.

“That’s good enough for me—for now,” he said, wrapping his arms around me for a final kiss.

“You’re really okay with this? Me being with Matteo?” I asked in concern. I saw him deliberating the answer in his eyes.

“I’m not happy sharing you but—until you make a decision, I’m not giving up on you.” He said slowly. “My babycakes is on the line here and I’m not gonna lose her.” He had to warm my heart once more… I sighed. So that’s it. The start of a very complicated relationship with me, Matteo, and Pierce. I didn’t know just how messy this was going to get or how much stress I was going to go through because of it. Because being with Pierce, I emulated his perspective of living in the moment and going with the flow. Because right now, and definitely in the near future, I did not want to make the decision of whom I loved more.

Pierce dropped me off an hour later in front of my house. I got out of the car and turned to see him.

“See you at school tomorrow?” He asked with a dreamy look in his eyes. I couldn’t control the smile that spread on my face.

“Where else would I be on a Monday morning, idiot?” I asked playfully. He grinned.

“I know you love me, babycakes. Night.” He said with a flirty look before blowing a kiss from his palm and driving off. I walked back inside in a daze. Suddenly I remembered something and pulled out my phone. I quickly sent a text to Jules.

J, if anyone asks, I was with you all evening, k? She texted back immediately.

D, what the heck have you been up to? Are you in trouble?

I will be if you don’t give me an out!

Fine, I’ll do you this favor if you tell me why you got your hands dirty.

Who says I got my hands dirty?

I do because my bestie never asks me to cover for her. That’s usually my role.

Please Jules! I can’t explain right now. But maybe later.

Fine, I’ll hold you to that. Lates. Phew. That’s taken care of. At least I could rely on Jules for an alibi. I wiped my sweaty palms against my jeans and went inside. Glancing at the clock, I realized I’d spent three hours with Pierce! Crap, how did the time fly when I was with him? A little part of my heart whispered it was not enough…

My phone dinged again with a message and I opened it on my way to my room. My breath got stuck in my lungs when I saw it was from Matteo.

Hey sweetie, how are you? Oh man, here we go again!

Hey. I’m great. So freaking great. And I was such a great girlfriend, making out with another guy just before texting my boyfriend.

I hope you didn’t find the ‘sweetie’ thing weird. I figured we should have pet names now that we’re a couple, right?

Yeah, totally. I responded trying to ignore the gnawing guilt in my chest.

Do you like it? I could change it if you like.

No no, I don’t mind.

Hmm, but maybe it’s too common. I need something extra special for my special girl. I swallowed. He just called me his ‘special girl’. Boy, did I feel like crap.

Matteo, I’m fine with anything. Really, I’m not that special. In fact, the angel on my shoulder was cussing me for being a cheating player.

Are you kidding?! Of course you’re special! I gotta prove that to you… he stopped texting me abruptly.

Matteo, you there?

Yeah, I was just thinking. I want to surprise you tomorrow.

Surprise me, how?

You’ll see. I’m gonna show you just how special you are to me. You know that feeling when someone shoots an arrow straight into your heart and you fall down to a slow painful death? That’s what the guilt of lying to Matteo felt like to me.

I don’t think you can beat what you did for me at homecoming. That was pretty amazing. I texted back, hoping he wouldn’t go all out again.

Well then, prepare to be blown away. Ttyl, I gotta go prepare for your surprise. Love you. Oooh, the final blow. The L-word.

Love you too Matteo. So much. I know I was saying it for my benefit, not his. I groaned as I flopped onto my bed, feeling like a criminal.

“Hey, Thea. Wherever have you been?” Amber asked me, coming into my her room.

“Nowhere in particular,” I said evasively. She wore a particularly smug look on her face, not unlike the one Pierce sometimes wore.

“Really? Then why did you come back in a smokin’ hot red car? I thought Matteo had a golden car?” She asked slyly. Crap! I was caught! Amber must have seen me out the window!

“Er, Matteo’s got a lot of—different cars,” I said weakly. Amber folded her arms and tapped her foot on the carpet.

“Tch. Gee, Thea, you don’t actually think I’m going to buy that? And you told Mom you were going to Julie’s. That sure as heck wasn’t Julie’s car. You’re a bad liar and you’re keeping secrets from me, Thea. When are you going to tell me what’s really going on?” I sighed despondently.

“Trust me, Amber. When I figure out what’s going on myself, I’ll let you know.”