Keida agreed to help her, and unbeknownst to Haley, she was suddenly one step closer to her downfall - a mountain climber at the top of a precipice, staring down at the oblivion beneath them. Just one<i> wrong</i>step and she'd tumble into the void, so close yet so unaware at the same time. Her lower lip trembled as his own lips pressed against the top of her head, drawing in the scent of peach-scented shampoo as he bathed her in his own false sympathy. She fell for it over and over again.<br/><br/>"I'm a good student, I'm sure I'll be able to learn what you teach me." It was a quick answer to the words he'd said, a hesitant answer laced with the desperation of first-love and naive and trusting innocence. She could be brave if she tried, though the girl did not quite fully comprehend what her childhood friend meant yet when he emphasized<i>knowing</i>and<i>showing</i>things. For as long as she'd know Cain, he'd been a good and respectable boy, helping elders cross streets and volunteering at animal shelters when he wasn't swimming. Radiant, kind Cain who was - at this very moment - being unknowingly betrayed by Keida, the boy he had once called friend.<br/><br/>And then Keida had stepped away, and the warmth of his body so close to hers vanished. In its place was a chill and cold judgement Haley couldn't understand.<br/><br/>"Well?" He'd asked with a lift of his chin, a casual gesture.<br/><br/>Well what? She tried to mask her confusion. She was still reeling from the words he'd whispered in her ear and from their close proximity. What exactly did he mean by showing him what was good? The puzzle pieces fell into place and everything came together when Keida finally told her what he meant. Alarm flashed across her features, and she stared at him, wide-eyed and worried. Haley's face was already burning, hot and bright, red as a tomato.<br/><br/>No. Just say no.<br/><br/>She couldn't, instead sitting tongue tied as her brown eyes scanned his golden ones. He was already sighing, as if he were expecting her to fail. Jumbled throughout ran through her head, the most prominent one, telling her to get out and leave. She probably would have left, if Keida's words hadn't kept her rooted in her place.<br/><br/>And then Cain will<b>hate</b>you.<br/><br/>Defeated, she got off the counter, trembling fingers moving to clutch the hem of her summer dress. If Keida looked close enough, he would notice her fingers were shaking.<i>It's just like wearing a bathing suit. </i>Her fingers continued to tremble. The more she waited, the more hesitant she became. Not wanting to have Keida give up on her, Haley finally held her breath and raised her arms to peel the dress over her form. Once she'd taken it off, she awkwardly placed the discarded piece of clothing on the counter top. It was embarrassing, almost humiliating standing in front of him in her white bra and pink, strawberry panties. They were plain, aside from the lone strawberry print that rested atop the fabric of her underwear. It was almost childish.<br/><br/>Haley was quick to drape one arm over her chest and one across the juncture between her thighs.  She felt like she was melting underneath Keida's gaze. She wanted to go home and hide. Perhaps this had been a mistake. "Don't look," she squeaked. She remained in front of the counter, arms draped over her body, over skin that had never been touched by any boy. She was exposed and afraid and it was painfully obvious. "What... what do you think?" She wished she could joke it off but she wasn't sure she wanted his eyes on her. "Is it good enough for Cain?"