Her Shadows

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

AMELIA POV

I cannot believe I'm showing him this place!

I stare at the brick walls of my apartment and take a deep breath. I'm fine. I have taken down foreign dignitaries, trained under the command of the best assassins in history and fought my way out of a building of 20+ men before the age of 17. I will NOT be nervous about showing ONE BOY my apartment.

With that pep talk I aggressively pull myself together, school my features into a fierce façade of indifference and walk toward the side alley I had instructed Jayce to meet me.

While I wait, I feel nervousness try to seep into my soul. My heart beats faster, going from a leisurely walk to a jog while I make sure none of my inner feelings are present on my face.

After a few minutes of leaning against the wall and scanning the area for movement, I finally spot the figure of Jayce walk toward the alley. His hands are shoved in his jacket pockets casually as he whistles a joyful tune.

 he spots me his face lights up and he shoots me a devilishly handsome smile. I almost wish he wouldn't look at me like that. Like some kind of joy or friend. Almost.

My heart skips from a jog to a run.

I don't shoot him a smile in return, but rather nudge my head toward the direction of my apartment and begin walking, with him trailing behind no doubt confused.

We walk in silence through the building until we make it to my door. As I insert the key into the lock I feel my heart speed to a full-blown sprint. Its thumps slamming against my chest so vigorously I'm sure he could hear my blood pump.

But it is with steady hands that I swing it open and let Jayce enter first.

Its only when were inside that I realise two things.

1. My place is really not much to look at in terms of style and luxury. It's too bright orange couch, mediocre and minimal furniture and basic, old beige flooring do not paint the picture of elegance.

2. I haven't told Jayce anything, he probably thinks I've brought him here to murder him or something and his questioning brow seems to confirm that thought.

"So, where are we?"

I gesture meekly around the room, "this is my place."

He raises an eyebrow, puzzled, "oh. It's nice?"

I take a step toward him and place my hands in the pockets of my leather jacket. "Look, I just wanted to show you this place, so you have somewhere to go, if you need. Think of it like a safe-house or something. If you ever get in danger, come here."

Jayce looks adorably confused but also seems to be gazing at me with... admiration? Like I'm the cutest thing he's ever seen. Not possible.

"Why would I be in danger?"

I raise an ominous brow, "why wouldn't you be?"

He seems to have no response for that, so he just nods and looks around.

I question, "you want a drink? I have coffee or tea?"

He just nods his head and grins, "yeah coffee would be awesome. Thanks"

I move off toward the kitchen and begin to make our drinks. I don't know how I expected to feel but not like this. I feel kind of out of place? Nervous I guess? I don't know how to react to another person being in my personal space.

But I guess I also feel... excitement? If only the dulled version. That damn feeling has returned, and I almost don't know how to function with its incessant fluttering.

As I pour the cream, I hear Jayce's footsteps scuff on the flooring as he inspects my living room. He yells, "hey! You know, your couch kinda looks like the one from Wizards of Waverly Place."

I turn around with the two cups in my hand and look at him questioningly, "from what?"

"Wizards of Waverly Place? You know, Alex Russo – it was on Disney?"

My brows only crease further, "never heard of it"

His eyes bulge from his head almost comically. "Seriously! How could you not know that show!"

I give a shrug as I place our cups on the coffee table and sit down on said couch, tucking my legs criss-cross apple sauce. "I don't know. I never really watched that many shows."It's as though I'm revealing the secrets to the world's greatest mysteries as he stands, gobsmacked, in front of me.

"What about That's so Raven?"

I shake my head.

"The Suite Life of Zac and Cody?"

I cradle my cup in my hands, "never heard of it."

"Oh my god you're kidding. What about Drake and Josh?"

"Nope"

He's pacing now.

"Hannah Montana?"I

 take a sip to hide my invading smile, "nuh uh"

"Phineas and Ferb!!"

I look at his completely unhinged form and simply reply, "what the heck is a Phineas?"

He pauses from running his hands aggressively through his hair and looks at me like I've just claimed to support Hitler. "There's no possible way. What about Spongebob Square Pants or... or THE SIMPSONS."

It takes a serious amount of effort not to snort coffee out my nose in laughter. What weird sounding shows. He collapses onto the couch and smacks a hand to his forehead as though checking his temperature for illness.

Just to torture him a tad, I pretend to think about it as I daintily sip some more coffee. Watching as he is literally and figuratively holding on to the edge of his seat.

I open my mouth, gesturing for him to move closer. He responds and places his hands right next to my lap and leans so close to my face I can feel his breath on my cheek as I whisper in his ear, "nope."

I lean back, with a satisfied look and watch as this flabbergasted boy flop back onto his side of the couch.

Amused, I try to knock his from his stupor, "now come on, drink your coffee, it's getting cold."

In a trance he reaches for his coffee and takes a sip, still staring into space as though it holds a magical answer for how I could never have heard of his weird shows.

Suddenly he sits up, "ok you have OBVIOUSLY been deprived of a proper and joyous up bringing so I will be beginning your childhood education right now. Lemme get my Disney+ account cause we are WATCHING SOME CLASSICS!."

With that he jumps up, almost spilling coffee over my carpet and speedily begins preparing my TV.

I just sit back and watch, trying to ignore the fact that, in terms of my childhood, he just hit the nail right on the head.

~~~

That night we watch what has to be 6 hours of various random shows. I gotta admit the one with the twin blonde kids and the show with the wizards were actually quite funny.

It isn't until Jayce is leaving me near midnight, a spare key to my apartment in his hands and a joyous grin on his face that I realise I just spent the entire night smiling.

 I didn't think to stop it even once.

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Damn they are cute

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