“Your food will be out in a moment’s notice,” the waitress stated kindly.
Jase nodded at her. “Thank you.”
She smiled and walked off.
I gazed over at him then.
He was watching me with a level of darkness mixed with curiosity.
“What?” I said breathlessly, and I cursed at myself for it.
His smile only widened. “You alright?”
“Peachy.”
He chuckled and glanced down at his phone.
I watched as his eyes moved to the steak knife hidden under his napkin.
My bones chilled, and I stared at him.
He watched it curiously, eyes switching color as if he was contemplating something.
I gazed down at the knife then, watching him reflect it easily, and I looked back at him.
His eyes darkened as if he changed his mind about something, a dubious plan to commit chaos.
I immediately shot forward and caught it, making him look up when I pulled it away and set it beside me.
He arched his brows.
I just set my hands in my lap, avoiding eye contact.
“What was that about?” he said then, amusement filling his tone.
“Taking away the temptation,” I responded.
He scanned me for a moment but relaxed in his seat as he leaned his elbows onto the table. “I’m not going to hurt you, Angel.”
I snapped my gaze to him.
Did he just call me…?
He sounded sincere now, too; as if he was done messing with me.
What was happening?
I stared at him nervously, and he just smiled.
It still had darkness in it, and I felt it build inside me, but now… I felt unsure. I felt incredibly unsure. So uneasy, it hurt.
Was he good or bad?
He tipped his head to the side. “What?”
“Nothing,” I responded, picking up his knife and moving it to set beside me, and I did the same with mine.
He just smirked, accepting it now.
“Here are your meals,” the waitress said then, moving to place a plate of pancakes and bacon in front of me, and another with a hamburger in front of him.
“Oh, I see your knives are gone,” she said then, glancing down as I stiffened. “Would you like me to bring more?”
I opened my mouth so say “no”.
“Yes, please,” Jase said then, smiling kindly. “That would be nice.”
“Alright.” And she walked off.
My blood filled with ice, and I started shaking.
He spared me an amused glance, chuckling. “You’re tense. Relax. I just need it to cut my burger. I’m not a snake.”
I stared back down at my plate then, picking up some pancakes and taking a bite.
“Here you are,” the waitress said, handing him two—not one—fresh new knives.
I watched him carefully as she walked off.
He just lightly set my knife in front of me. “It’s there if you want it.”
And he started cutting his burger.
I watched him nervously.
“What?” he said then, gazing up. “You’re not eating.”
I just stared at him.
He smiled then. “You want a drink? All those pancakes must be dry.”
He picked up his own can of soda and held it out to me.
My heart raced at the thought of my lips touching something where his had been. “No, I’m good.”
He took it back and set it down. “I asked if you wanted a drink, you said no.”
“I’m not thirsty.”
He just smiled again. “You can take mine.”
My cheeks heated a little. “I’m good.”
He dropped it then, going back to his own food.
I stared down at my meal again, another Jase-related flutter going through my stomach.
“You’re blushing,” he said suddenly.
I gazed up then, finding his sly smile.
“I’m not,” I argued then, covering my cheeks.
“Then why did you just hide it?”
“I didn’t.”
He chuckled then, taking a bite of a French fry. “You’re a curious creature, aren’t you?”
I shook my head.
“You are.”
“I’m not. I’m a simple Sam.”
He smirked. “Why is your face suddenly growing redder?”
I gazed up at him then, lips parting.
He tipped his head to the side, beckoning for an answer.
“I’m hot… that’s why.”
“Then take off your jacket.”
“No.”
His eyes glowed in amusement. “I thought you said you were hot.”
“I am.”
“Then take it off.”
I gazed up at him hazily, he just smiled wider.
“Unless…” he said then, lashes lowering, “you’re blushing for another reason.”
I swallowed something hard, immediately shuffling off my jacket because I wanted to prove him wrong.
His eyes glowed dangerously when I set it aside and went back to my food.
“You should show yourself more often,” he said then, admiring me but it only made me feel more flustered. “You shouldn’t hide everything so much. You’re perfect.”
I swallowed my food then. “There’s moles and scars all over my shoulders. They’re not perfect.”
“Perfectly imperfect,” he said with a smirk. “I hate the idea of clean skin being perfect. It’s a cruel aspect of beauty. If everything was the same… then what’s the point?”
I never responded.
Why was he suddenly showing this side of him? And was this side of him honest or feigned?
He tipped his head to the side, smile widening.
I lowered my hands then, looking down at my food.
“Are you done eating?” he asked me.
I nodded.
“Alright,” he responded, smirking, “I’ll pay and then take you home.”
Almost ten minutes later, I found myself walking to his car, and he was about a foot behind me.
After making it there, I stopped and glanced back at him.
He smiled over at me.
Despite the cold, my cheeks heated even more, and I stared at him helplessly.
He smirked, tipping his head to the side.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” I said then.
“Admiring you,” he said then. “Because I’m going to have to pay attention to the road soon which isn’t half as interesting.”
My lips parted as I watched him.
His eyes were glistening obsidian in the lamplights, his expression so angular and shadowed like a menacing demon… his lips curled mischievously, but with a hint of desire.
What was he thinking? What was going through his head?
What was he feeling? Happiness? Amusement? Depression?
I suddenly grew more curious of him, and the more I thought about him, the worse it got.
And the more I stared at him, the hotter I felt.
And suddenly… the monstrous thought came into my head again. The dangerous one.
I wanted to kiss him again.
His expression grew dangerous as if he could read the desire from my face, and he stepped toward me.
I gasped when he caught me by the hips and set me on the hood of his car.
He stepped between my legs, so my thighs closed around him, and I felt my face flush as he got closer.
I didn’t care if people were watching, I just shut my lashes as he leaned closer.
I felt a dust of his mint breath…
Before his lips set on mine.
I struggled to keep still when he threaded his fingers through my hair, and I closed my eyes tightly, leaning into him when he caught my hip with his other hand.
He gently nibbled on my lips, and I tried to taste him more… desperate to feel alive again.
Because the last few weeks… I felt like I’d been dying, and I hated it so much.
He chuckled and released me, making my breath shake.
Jase just caught my beanie and pulled it off my head, letting the strands of my hair fall free and whip around us with the wind.
And despite knowing it was crazy and frizzy, he held me closer.
But the bell to the front door rang, and I gasped, parting from him.
He just gazed up at me, lips curling into a smirk.
And the moment settled in, shock bursting through me.
I covered my mouth, eyes widening.
He just watched me.
“I should go home,” I said then.
He set his other hand on beside my other hip, leaning into me. “You already are home. Can’t you spare another couple minutes?”
I gazed down at him, heart pounding hard against my chest.
He kept the smile. “You’re not wearing makeup tonight.”
I blinked hazily. “No, I’m not.”
His grin darkened and he released me, and I stared as he pulled his keys out from his pocket and unlocked his car. “Let’s get you home.”
I slid off the car then, cheeks still burning red when I slid inside the passenger side and closed the door.
Seconds later, we were on the road.
“Your sister out again?” he asked me.
“Yes,” I responded. “She’s the party-twin.”
“Mm…” he said, disconcerted that we were twins, “so you’re the good girl.”
I didn’t like the way he said that. How he sounded as if he’d enjoy corrupting me, and hinted he already started.
“I guess,” was my response.
He glanced over at me. “Ever had alcohol? Drugs?”
I shook my head. “I focus on school mainly.”
“Mm… drugs and alcohol are not really all that good anyway. There are… better things.”
I gazed up. “Like what?”
He glanced at me, smiling. “You.”
“I’m better than drugs and alcohol?” I questioned.
“You’re better than a high,” he responded then. “More interesting than one, too.”
“I taint all your decisions?” I asked him then.
His smile darkened.
I stared back forward. “That’s concerning. I’m not even trying.”
“Your parents still gone?” he asked me.
“Yeah… they couldn’t find a plane until next week.”
He chuckled low as if he found this amusing. “Good for me then. I can have you all too myself.”
“Sounds… interesting,” I responded, glancing at him nervously.
He rolled his car up the driveway then, and parked it, glancing down at me. “Good night.”
“Night,” I said.
His smile darkened even more. “Sweet dreams tonight.”
I glanced back at him suspiciously, finding a hint in his words.
His lashes lowered.
I just cleared my throat. “Uhm… you, too.”
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