Tangled Love

CHAPTER 14

I remain behind after class to catch up on classwork I’ve missed when I hear the door open and shut. I glance up from my papers to see Jake leaning against the door. He simply stood there, his arms folded across his chest as he watches me.

"Are you going to stand there all day and stare at me or actually do something?" My voice trails off with a playful smile on my face.

"I came to tell you to keep the clothes."

My eyebrows shoot up in surprise and I feel slightly taken aback.

"I was going to give them back to you," I tell him quietly. He shakes his head, his lips twitching into a smirk. From across the room I can still make out the sparkle in his cobalt eyes.

"They look better on you." ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

I feel the blush instantly creep up my neck and onto my cheeks as I stare at my papers, too embarrassed to make eye contact with Jake. My stomach flutters from his words and I have to bite down on my lip to stop myself smiling.

I see Jake walk towards me from the corner of my eye and sit a few seats away from me, swinging his legs on top of the table. My eyes widen at his actions but he appears unfazed as he pulls out his phone from his pockets.

This boy is dangerous and here I am, alone with him.

The silly thing is I don't feel scared. It isn't the same fearful feeling when Trevor is in my presence. I nod slowly to myself.

"It's completely different," I mutter as it dawned on me how petrified I am of Trevor. I mean the man terrifies me.

"What's different?"

"Nothing, never mind. I'm thinking out loud." I explain quietly, hiding my face behind my hair so he couldn't see the blush on my cheeks.

"Do you do that often?" Jake responds, humour lining his voice. My blush deepens and I know he's teasing me.

"Only when I'm nervous."

"Why do I make you nervous?"

"You don't." I lied.

"Now you're contradicting yourself Muffin. You told me you only do it when your nervous so why are you nervous?"

"Don't call me Muffin."

"I like Muffin, Muffin suits you."

I scowl, looking up for the first time to show him the effect his pet name has on me.

"I hate it."

"What would you prefer I call you?"

He's looking at me intensely, eyes sparkling in my direction. Moments pass and I feel the air grow thick between us as we silently stare at one another from one end of the classroom to the other.

"Emily?" I finally whisper, clearing my throat. I want my voice to sound confident but it fails miserably.

"Emily is what everyone else calls you."

"It's kind of my name."

"No, I'll stick with Muffin. It's cute, like you."

I shake my head, my lips twitching up into a smile. Jake sits back and grins widely at me, looking like he's won the argument. I look at him from under my lashes and when I do, his eyes narrow and the smile on his face vanishes. My heart begins to pick up pace as I watch his features turn to stone.

He swings his legs off the table and begins to walk slowly towards me, like a predator after it's prey. My heart hammered against my chest as he crouches down, his piercing blue eyes staring straight into mine. His head is tilted slightly and his eyes appear emotionless, miles away from the playful glint in them previously. His alluring scent hit me and I could feel my head spin, throwing me off balance.

I swallow nervously, my gaze flickering back up to his eyes. They are so beautiful. Dark and mysterious, with a story to tell. Swirls of blue mixed in with his eyes and I find myself feeling lost in them, almost as if I'm in a dream induced daze. My breathing hitches as Jake inches a little closer.

"Where did you get that bruise?"

His voice is blunt, snapping me straight out of the daze I'm in. Disappointment settles inside my stomach. Oh right, the bruise.

"Emily, where did you get the bruise?" He repeats, growing impatient. I stare straight back at him and without hesitation, reply in a bored, monotone voice —

"I'm clumsy, I fell down some steps yesterday."

Jake studies me for a second, a deep frown on his face.

"You're lying to me."

I immediately felt a lump lodge itself inside my throat, restricting me from being able to defend myself.

"I'm not lying." I whisper.

A look of hurt flashes through his eyes before he stands up, walking away from me and towards the door. He swings it open but before he leaves, he turns around and stares straight into my eyes.

“Bullshit." Jake calls me out, his voice low. He doesn't wait for me to reply and pulls his hood over his head, disappearing from the doorway. He leaves me alone in the room, my heart hammering against my chest.

That's when his words dawn on me… He’s the first person to know I'm lying.