You'd Be Home

Unbreakable Heaven

Maybe it was the desperate look in her eyes right before our lips made contact. Or perhaps the way she drew her chin barely downward to meet together with increased force as her nose found its way into my laugh lines. Or it could have been the way she tucked her ankles around my calves as our lips barely parted, trying to find every centimeter of unused space to bring our bodies closer. Maybe it was the brief hum she sighed against me before I felt her tongue trace my bottom lip. Or potentially the way her right thumb slowly found its way inches above the hem of my pants to draw circles against my stomach.

But kissing Jade was irresistible. And as I felt her pulling away, my lips followed after hers in hopes that the tenderness behind her touch would never fade.

"That was to say thank you." She whispered softly before adjusting herself to slip off of the bathroom countertop in Nozu to take me home.

I scoffed in disbelief at the chills still coursing through my veins, "Well then, feel free to say thank you as often as you'd like."

She kissed my cheek as her right hand moved from my shoulder down my forearm before holding my hand, "Unfortunately, I do need to get you home. I'm sure my mom's waiting on me."

I barely pouted, "Not even time for another thank you kiss outside of my house."

Though she grinned at my joke, I could tell that her smile didn't fully connect. It faded too quickly, and her eyes did not light up in the same way they had earlier in the evening. Pulling her phone from her pocket, she pressed the power button to check the time, shaking her head as she read her home screen.

"I wish. But no, I'm out later than I told them I would be. That'll probably cost me."

"Okay..." I grumbled in confusion as she tenderly pulled me through the restaurant and out the front door.

When considering the different aspects of our date, I had pictured Jade to be a vicious driver. Someone who took being cut off as their own personal vendetta. But I was surprised at how relaxed she appeared behind the wheel, as though she had been driving long before legally allowed. And despite noting the contentedness settling in her cheeks, it was still apparent that something was on her mind throughout the ride home. Our eye contact was sparse but sent her into a brief smile every time she snuck a glance.

"Our date went well." I stated, though the uptick in my voice made it sound more like a question as we rounded the corner into my neighborhood.

"I think it did. Would you want to do it again sometime?"

"I'd like that. My treat next week?" I excitedly turned toward Jade while she stopped delicately in front of my house.

She nodded, unbuckling her seatbelt, "Let me walk you to the door. I don't want your mom to think I'm a total hag."

We lackadaisically walked to my front door hand in hand. She sighed, walking up the steps turning to face me. "Back to the real world."

"What's that supposed to mean?" my face cocked to the side, perplexed by the shift in demeanor since the end of our first kiss.

"Don't put too much stock in this, Vega, but tonight has been the best change of pace in my life in quite a while. Everything else is... complicated."

"Okay..." I nodded, attempting to understand as I brushed one of her blue highlights away from her face. "Will you let me know the next time I can help uncomplicate things?"

She shrugged, reaching past me to place a brief knock on the door. "Wanted to give us a limit this time."

"A limit for wha –" I began asking before being captured in another kiss. This one was far more brief but just as thoughtful. As the top lock clicked open, Jade pulled away, smirked, and faced the door.