195CHAPTER 6
"She sent me a text."
Huh.
And how was I supposed to respond to that exactly?
"Uh, maybe you should—"
"A goddamn text fuckin' mess—
"Ok then!" There's nothing like a man scorned, eh? "Come in Jason. Please." By the end of my sentence, I was kneeling by his soaked head, his face scrunched up pitifully, while I patiently kept my hand stretched out.
After a moment or two of silence, he finally let his eyes meet mine and I swear they seemed darker than ever before. What in the world could that bit— no, witch— possibly have done in such a short span of time?
Finally coming to a silent agreement, his hand firmly grasped my own extended one and we made it to the living room in one piece. Well, I was pretty good, but I'm sure Jason's heart was in a couple thousand pieces by the way things were looking.
"You wanna tell me what happened?" I asked quietly, almost hesitant to hear the answer.
"She broke our date though a freakin' text message." Realization finally came to me, and I couldn't help but wince at the harshness of it all. Yeah, everyone, that's my sister for you.
He continued after a short pause, running his hands through his wet, messy curls. "Apparently she thinks cheerleading practice is more important than a two year anniversary, but I doubt she even realizes what today is now that I think about it." Scoffing bitterly (not that I could blame him), he reached out towards the bouquet of roses and started plucking each petal off roughly.
"I'm so sick of this shit, Jamie." Meeting my eyes, I saw his emotions had turned to anger. And what could I say? Sure, I'd love to trash talk my sister, but I doubt this was the right time to do it.
"Did you know we haven't been on a date or spent any real time together in 3 months?" Shaking my head in response, I honestly could say that surprised me. "Yeah, she's always at practice. It's always practice this or practice that. It's like she doesn't even want to spend time with me and I'm her boyfriend!"
"Look, I'm sure that's not it at all. You know it's her goal to at least make states this year."
"Yeah well for someone who's sooo busy, she sure has a lot of time for shopping." Tossing the bouquet off the table, he flopped back onto the couch and covered his face with his hands.
Umm, I guess that's my cue the conversation's over.
After making sure Jason had settled down, I got up and moved towards the linen closet down the hall. Picking out the two most masculine towels we had, which just so happened to be pink with frills, I made my way back to the living room only to stop in front of the mirror.
Unfortunately, my poor pigtails hadn't survived the ordeal and I could only pull them out loosely until they hung in wet curls.
Hmm, this look isn't too bad, is it Jamie? Nodding my head in response.. to myself, I dropped the towels onto the floor and turned around until I faced the opposite wall. Quickly throwing a look back towards the mirror, I stumbled backwards at the sight that greeted me.
Ok, NO.
Zoolander much?
Trying a different approach, I moved closer to the mirror and pressed my lips together into a pout and I couldn't help but giggle at the sight. I doubt this was how the 'sexy' look went, but boy, was this entertaining.
"Jamie?" Gasping, I turned my head only to see Jason had leaned over the end of the couch and was currently watching me make a fool of myself. Oh, God, why can't you ever be on my side?
"Yeah, I'm coming." Kneeling down, I picked up the towels and made my way towards the couch, trying desperately to hide my blushing cheeks.
And what better way to do it than to cover his face with the towel? Taking a seat on the table, I gently rubbed his wet head with the towel, making sure to leave enough in the front to hang below his chin. "So, um, what are you going to do now?"
"I don't know yet," he said, his voice muffled. And so we continued like this for the next two minutes until his hands came up to gently still my own. Moving his head back so that he was finally uncovered, he looked slightly disoriented.
He blinked rapidly until his eyes had adjusted again. And while I realized just how close we were sitting to one another, he had finally noticed my frazzled expression.
"What's wrong?" he asked quietly.
Oh man, was it necessary of him to whisper that in his low, husky voice?
At such close proximity?
Licking my lips awkwardly, I froze when his eyes followed my tongue as it slowly swept across both lips.
"Nothing's wrong," I answered, just as lowly as he had spoken just a few moments before. Forcing myself to sit still, I waited for him to continue the conversation, but he just stared at me instead.
And by stare, I mean stare. As if he were seeing me for the first time or something.
"Okay…" he finally mumbled.
And that was the last thing either one of us said before his lips gently covered my own.
He leaned in even closer, and without breaking our soft kiss, he kneeled down beside the coffee table and slowly raveled his arms around my waist tightly. Gasping at our new positioning, he took advantage of my open mouth and lightly ran his tongue along my bottom lip.
All the while his hands were running up and down my back and he gently squeezed my sides when my hands eagerly closed the distance between us and traveled up towards his messy mop.
I couldn't help but lose myself in these new feelings.
Feelings I had never experienced before, which you know, isn't something I like to admit.
But as great as this sudden make out session was, I knew this had to be stopped… sooner or later.
"Jason…?" I finally moaned out a few minutes later.
Instead of stopping, however, he captured my bottom lip between his and sucked gently over and over, moving little by little from me until only his teeth nibbling on my lip was our only contact.
It was only after our eyes had locked that he released my lip, and I just knew that both my lips and my cheeks were a bright, rosy pink.
"What did we just do?" I asked, breaking the tense silence. I reached up to pat my lips and found that they were indeed as swollen as they felt.
Leaning back so that he was no longer touching my knees, he shook his head in bewilderment. "Jesus Christ!" he exclaimed, completely shocked.
Now, let me tell you, I usually don't take offense to silly little remarks, but was it really necessary to sound so damn shocked?
"I'm sorry," he said quickly. Had he read my mind?
"No, I didn't read your mind by the way, but that was incredibly rude of me to say. It's just, god, it's you."
Now that's a mood killer if I ever heard one.
"I need to get to bed. Goodnight." Standing up quickly, I left without another word.
"Jamie, wait!" I didn't dare glance back at him.
I hid in the bathroom with Chubbs for an hour.
I was scared, so sue me.
I mean, what am I supposed to do now? How do I act around him? Do I like, acknowledge it? Not that he would be able to do anything about it since he's still with my sister.
…When did things get so complicated?
I pondered this question as I waited for the perfect time to escape. After another couple of minutes, I finally left my hiding place and quietly crept down the stairs only to find Jason had fallen asleep on the couch. Peering down at his face, I noticed his brows were still furrowed and those little worry lines that usually fade in sleep were still noticeable on his face.
I guess I really hadn't thought of how he might be feeling, had I?
I mean, if I thought I had it bad, just think of how screwy and confused he must be feeling, what with his major relationship issues and making out with said girlfriend's twin sister and all.
Letting out a huge groan at the sudden change in events, I sat at the end of the couch (mindful of his feet, of course) and realized I was too much of a coward to try and make a move on him. No way was I going to announce to the world what we had just done and risk facing the wrath of Jessica Link.
Nope, definitely not.
That's like chopping off your own pinky, knowing fully well it's going to be painful, just to see what would happen.
Well, maybe not, but you get my drift.
Hopefully.
Resigning myself to the fact that Jason needed to be the one to make the first move (which in reality means breaking up with Jessica before he can shack up with me and make passionate love to me for the rest of our lives), I turned off the lights and made my way upstairs.
"Jamie Link, this may be a long wait," I muttered to myself.
Well, there goes my moment of optimism.
The next morning, my semi-peaceful dreams were interrupted by the familiar plushy fur of the ever faithful penguin being softly pushed into the space between my head and neck. My arms automatically came around him and I was tempted to fall back asleep, but I could just tell without looking who was kneeling beside my bed.
And since I knew this conversation was eventually going to have to happen, I reluctantly snapped one eye open after the other, trying to focus them on the guy with obvious bed (Or should it be couch?) hair currently sitting cross-legged on the carpet.
"Hi."
"Hi," I whispered back.
"Good morning."
"Good morning."
He shot me a small, rueful smile and we slipped into the "morning after" awkward silence.
"Listen…" And right there I knew. I just knew where this conversation was going and I already hated every moment of it.
Sitting up, I pulled the blanket over my lap to cover the sight of my anxious hands nervously squeezing Chubbs. "Umm, god, I don't know how to start this," he muttered to himself.
"Last night… last night shouldnot have happened. I don't know what came over me."
Shortness of breath.
"I'm so sorry, Jamie, but I can't just let go of my relationship with Jessica. It's been two years with her, and yeah, we might have some complications right now, but what couple doesn't?"
Heart palpitations.
"And geez, that kiss… wow, that kiss. But that's besides the point. I'm in love with your sister and what we did, no, what I did last night was completely wrong. It's just, you were there and I don't know what happened."
Stomach clenching.
"Do you think maybe we could just forget last night ever happened? I don't want to ruin our friendship over something so silly, you know what I mean?" He finally met my gaze.
You know, those feelings all through his one-sided conversation used to come from seeing him shirtless or something. But right about now, they weren't feeling all that great.
Actually, now that I mention it, was I having a seizure or something?
No, no, Jamie breathe.
Okay back to the important stuff…
And so there I was with one of the biggest decisions staring right back at me. Should I admit my true feelings and beg and plead for him to take me as his own or do I just sit back and watch him make up/out with the evil Link spawn?
"Yeah sure. It's no big deal," I finally mumbled out.
Goddammit, I suck.
He released the breath he was holding and got back up to his feet. Standing right in front of me, his hand came out, but thinking better of his actions, he retracted his arm and let them hang by his side instead.
"You really are a great girl, Jamie…" He turned on his heels and quickly left my room while I finally let my death grip on Chubbs loosen up, not even caring that I had ripped out a patch of fur during that torture.
"Just not a good enough girl for you, huh?" I asked myself bitterly.
"Ok, so I was thinking we should see a movie tonight. And not gonna lie, I'm kinda craving some Italian food. Ooh and we should have ice cream for des— Are you even listening Jamie? What's up with you today?"
Gee, was it that apparent that I honestly don't give a hoot what we do tonight, Rachel?
"Sorry, PMS," I muttered, but Rachel (she always was the smart one) stopped me immediately even though we were in the middle of the hallway. Ignoring the sudden remarks from the drama-ridden teens stuck behind us, she continued. "Okay, you can't use that excuse when we're on the same schedule. So if it's not PMS, what is it?"
"Rach, seriously, it's nothing. I just didn't get that much sleep last night, that's all." Hey, that wasn't a complete lie. I did spend half the night replaying the… events over and over in my head so don't look at me like that. And plus, was it really that odd that I didn't want a murder to happen so early in the morning?
Still not looking convinced, she finally decided to give up after a few moments of her "admit whatever you did or die" glare, which didn't end up breaking through me like usual.
"Fine, you know what, you're going to end up telling me eventually anyway, so why waste the effort now?" Her expression did a complete 180 by the next second, and I couldn't help but forget my own troubles for a moment when she turned her puppy face on full blast.
"What," I asked, almost hesitant to see her normally devious face turn into a pleading one.
"Will you come to the football game with me this Friday? I kind of promised to see someon—"
"Meaning my brother," I said obviously.
"—Yes, your brother that I'd go since we rarely ever go to a game. What do you say?"
Remembering my brother's slightly (or very) eager attempt to hang out with Rachel the night before, I couldn't help but let the romantic side of me run my mouth.
"You owe me one, Rach."
"Thank you thank you thank you!" She squealed loudly. Then, realizing her obvious mistake, she quickly lowered her voice and added, "I mean, it'll be fun. We always do the same stuff anyway."
I agreed, not really in the mood to embarrass her some more.
Hey, at least someone around here will be having some luck in romance.
By the end of the day, not even the sight of Jason and Jessica arguing in one of the alcoves farther down the hallway could brighten my day. I had sunken into such a big slump, I doubt anything could've brightened up my day.
Well, until I opened my locker and a bright red card hit my flip-flop clad feet.
I looked both ways, hoping to somehow catch the culprit and was disappointed to see everyone busy chattering, oblivious to my predicament.
Excitedly tearing through the envelope, my fingers subtly shook as they clenched the sides of the card.
Jamie,
Roses are red
Violets are blue
You may doubt me
But my feelings are true
You seem kind of down
But please don't frown
For your beauty is through your laughter
So for me, will you try to muster
…one small smile to grace your lips?
And that's it.
No name. Nothing.
But that was enough for me.
Unconsciously, my lips curled up into one of the biggest grins in my life.
Damn, this boy (well, hopefully) had a way with words!
Fanning myself with the card, I hurriedly started down the hallway to find Rachel. She'd probably be more excited about this new development than me.
And when I passed by Jason and Jessica happily in each other's arms once again, I swear it was only a small wince… And that, my friends, made all the difference in the world.
AN: Ooh the drama! Hope everyone is having a good summer! And once again, thanks to those that are still reading/reviewing He and Me. I'm off to college on Saturday so I don't know when I'll be able to update, but thank you so much for the ongoing support.
THANK YOU: ., SilveryDarkness, mia5081, mischalovers, .divided-dreams., Emilyne Willowar, not. .brat, euphorictragedy, Bored-Writer, ski bird, selkiewings, xoxluurve, unconnected14, jekodama, not a geek freak, TheGreenPrincess, Fairytale Gurl, Girl Down Under, EmmaRoses, EasilyDamaged, That Shy Chick, Twilight Starr, Singers To The Back, and goodbyemylover!
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