The Quarterback, Outcast and Me ✔

Chapter Eighteen - Trick or Treat - Part Three

It was now almost half past eleven and the dance was coming to an end. I was feeling the many hours in the aching in my feet from my heels and couldn't wait to get back into my bed and sleep well into the afternoon of tomorrow. 

Jace and I had been dancing to the last few songs of the night, eventually joined by Carrie and Taylor, who looked quite cozy together. Needless to say that her former date, Jonathan, was nowhere to be seen. 

One of the teachers announced from the raised platform stage that the dance was now officially over and thanked us all for a wonderful and drama-free night. 

"I need my bed," I said, at the same time as Jace and we both cracked up laughing. 

"God, someone has been spending too much time together," Carrie joked, winking at me when the others didn't look. But it was true; Jace and I had been spending a lot of time together; mainly because it was hard not to when you lived in the same house, but also because he was fun to be around. He had managed to teach me how to play pool without hurting anyone, and we had spent time playing with Zeus in the backyard. 

Jace casually laid his arm around my shoulder, pulling me towards him a little. 

"It seems like I'm rubbing off on her," he said.

"Yeah right, like I spend anymore time in bed now than I did before," I replied, looking up at him from the corner of my eye. It appeared he hadn't heard me talking about him before, outside with Carrie, which was a huge relief. I didn't want it to change anything between us. It was quite nice getting noticed for a change, not being completely invisible in the hallways of school. But despite all that, I knew he was off limits. And disregarding his previous actions towards me, I had a hard time believing that Jace could really like me like me. I was nowhere his type. 

"We should get going, Chloe," Jace said, steering us both towards the exit. An unexpected shiver spread across my body at the mention of my first name coming from his lips. Usually he just called me by my last name.

Not many students were left now; Keith had come by and said goodnight, a girl in a mermaid costume tugged neatly under his arm. It occurred to me that I hadn't really seen Jace with any girls lately, at least not since that time in the hallway where he was with Stacy and he had caught me looking at him. A teeny tiny part of me hoped that it was because of me, but a bigger part assumed it was for other reasons, though I wasn't able to name any just then. 

As the four of us left the gym and out into the cool night, I imagined the relief it would feel like to take off these shoes the second I got into Jace's truck. The more I thought about how badly my feet hurt, the more it actually did hurt. I was becoming too aware of the pain. 

"You okay?" Jace asked, probably noticing the uncomfortable expression on my face. 

"Yeah, just my feet are really beginning to kill me." Before I could even catch my breath after speaking, the ground suddenly disappeared from under my feet. I squealed and instantly wrapped my arms around Jace's neck, supporting myself as he held me in his arms.

"Jace, what the hell are you doing?" I cried out, but had a hard time trying not to laugh as well. I could hear both Carrie and Taylor hooting and laughing. 

"You said your feet hurt." It was a simple statement, and I was glad for the darkness that hid my blushing face. 

"But now it sucks that we had to park so far away because you weigh like, a ton." My fist connected with his shoulder and he complained out loud. 

"Stop saying lies, Pinocchio."

"Are you indicating that my nose is big? Because I'll drop you right here right now." I giggled, and made sure my grip around his neck was nice and tight, in case he might actually try and let me go. 

"You have a perfectly sized nose," I said, pressing a finger to the tip of his nose, grinning as it bent down from the pressure.

We said our goodbyes to Carrie and Taylor about halfway through the parking lot. I simply waved at them because I didn't feel like having to get back down on the ground to hug my friend, but also because I was feeling quite comfortable in Jace's arms. Something I knew I shouldn't. 

I craned my neck to watch as Carrie and Taylor disappeared off to Taylor's car. I knew Carrie had driven here herself, but I had a suspicion that her car would be stranded here for the night. I smiled at the thought. I wanted her to have the best, and despite Taylor being Jace's best friend and a jock, I thought him and Carrie was a pretty good match. He wasn't a player in the same way that Jace was, at least not that I knew of. 

As their footsteps and voices faded away, I became aware that Jace and I were now alone. I suddenly noticed where exactly his hands were positioned, one around my upper backside and the other alarmingly close to my inner thighs. I could feel his hands against the thin fabric of my dress, pressing into my skin. 

"Did you have fun tonight?" He asked, his voice slightly hoarse. I could see his truck now, down at the end of the line, sitting alone by itself.

"Yeah, it turned out to be an alright night," I said, smiling. I could almost feel him smiling back.  

"Did I ever say you looked beautiful tonight?" Great. Bring on another round of blushing. 

"Yes, you did, but a girl can never hear it too many times." I let out a small nervous laughter at the end, trying to keep the conversation light.

"You're beautiful," he repeated and I laughed again. 

We had reached the car and Jace finally let me down on the ground, taking care that I didn't twist an ankle when my feet connected with the asphalt. He opened my door for me and helped me climp into the cab. I bent over and loosened the straps and tossed the shoes onto the floor, sighing deeply with relief.

"All better?" Jace asked as he settled himself into his seat. 

"I think this is what it must feel like to be in heaven," I moaned, putting on my seatbelt and leaning back into the leather seat. 

The drive home was relatively quiet; Jace turned on the radio and zapped around the stations until he found one that played a decent song. I was beginning to feel tired, my eyelids drooping and suddenly I was awoken by a gentle shake from Jace. He had already parked the car in the driveway and was standing by my open door. 

"Let's get you to bed, sleepyhead," he muttered softly, helping me unbuckling the seatbelt. I was vaguely aware of him lifting me out of the cab, my stilettos in his hand, and my arms quickly wove their way back around his neck as he carried me across the driveway and up to the front door. 

Into the foyer, up the stairs, down the hallway, during this whole trip my eyelids kept shutting and I was barely able to force them open. Jace entered my room and placed me carefully on my bed, pulling the covers over me, tugging me in. I groaned, suddenly feeling cold now that I wasn't pressed against his warm body.

"Sweet dreams, Chloe," he whispered and I felt a pressure on my forehead from something soft. Then I was gone to the world.