Princess

Princess chap.8

CHAPTER 8

He pulled me up and tugged me from behind the counter towards the back of the gym. We passed Dean, who met my eyes with a quizzical expression. “You okay?” he mouthed at me and I shrugged, probably the most honest answer I could give. He looked after us in a suspicious fashion until I couldn’t see him anymore behind the rows of equipment. 

I was lugged to the back of the building to the small hallway that separated the boy’s and girl’s locker rooms. Jake turned around to face me, full lips in a mischievous grin. 

“How about we get out of here and have dinner before the bonfire?” he asked, hopeful.

“I can’t just leave work…”

“Ah, I figured… It was worth a shot.” he winked. “You look cute in your work shirt, makes me want to start coming here on your hours.”

He lightly nudged me backwards until I was touching the wall and leaned into me, big hands on either side of my head. His image completely consumed the entirety of my vision due to his close proximity, so I had no choice but to look him in his big brown orbs. Despite the fact I had the feeling he would never intentionally hurt me, just having this ominous male so close to my presence gave me a feeling of uneasiness. He reached up to my face to sweep a piece of hair that came loose from my bun behind my ear and instinctively, I flinched away from him and dissolved the space between myself and the wall behind me, expanding the small gap separating Jake and I.

I hadn’t meant to look so scared, as I normally perceive myself to be tough and confident, but something about him just ignites a small fear in me, like he was dangerous, and I couldn’t figure out why. Maybe it was his reputation, or the mystery of what “business” he’s always taking care of with his weird group of friends. His cocky, almost adoring expression was replaced with a more frustrated look. I realized he was only trying to make an affectionate gesture. He pushed off the wall and backed away.

“Seriously, why are you so goddamn scared of me? I know I can be rude, but it’s like I can’t lay a fucking finger on you without you cringing away! I try to be nice, but it looks like my efforts go unnoticed.” he huffed in an exasperated tone.

I just stared at my old white Nike sneakers that suddenly became interesting to look at. The truth was even though I hadn’t uncontrollably been “Jake’s girl” for very long yet, I was starting to get used to his over-possessive, dominant ways. I was beginning to notice that even when he’s in his I’ll-rip-your-clothes-off-with-my-teeth mode or I’ll-bite-your-fucking-head-off mode, he still managed to look irresistibly cute. Or in school when other girls try to come on to him, and I admit I do observe him from time to time, he just blew them off and always loyally hovered around me. Or when I passed him in the hallways screwing around with his friends, he always managed to give me a genuine grin and say hi, which I‘d respond with a shy smile and wave. These things told me that underneath the overpowering douche, there was something else, something that seemed only I brought out in him and I didn’t know the reasoning.

“Or how you won’t even look at me!” he snapped, his raised voice pulling me from my thoughts. This statement forced my eyes to his. We stood there for a moment, just looking at each other, me searching in his eyes. There must be something else there. I couldn’t imagine him getting this upset with one of his usual girl-pets.

Then the feeling of another presence jerked both our heads to the entrance of the hall. “Is there a problem?” Dean asked. Not really knowing what to do, I inched myself halfway behind him. His hands were in fists at his sides, probably thinking Jake had been trying to do something. 

“I hope not, but maybe you should leave because we were talking.” Jake snarled through clenched teeth.

“Or maybe you should just leave Ange alone.”

I touched his arm to calm him. “Dean, just calm down, he didn’t do anything.”

“I saw him drag you in here, and it looks to me I came in at the right time,” he replied, referring to Jake’s undoubtedly angry stature.

“I’m fine- he’s fine… everything’s fine here,” I stammered like an idiot. Dean looked back at Jake.

“Buddy how ‘bout you just go.” he said to him.

“Whatever,” he huffed and walked away, but turned back before turning the corner. He looked at me with a hard expression. “Be ready later Princess, I’ll pick you up for the bonfire at 10:30.”

 

 

Later I drove home from Planet Fitness. After Jake left, Dean and I awkwardly dispersed. I think he was expecting a thank you for “saving me” but I didn’t give it to him. It’s comforting to know he has my back, but Jake wasn’t doing anything exactly wrong. I was just trying to figure out why he likes me. Me. I haven’t done anything to make myself stick out. I’m not that popular. I can be a sarcastic bitch. I look like a walrus. Like seriously I don’t get it.

I got to my house and walked in the back door. My dad was sitting on the computer, as per usual, and slugging back a bottle of brownish liquid I didn’t know the name of, but by the smells of it, I could tell it was some kind of spirit. Glancing at the clock, I noticed it was quarter after ten, so I hurried upstairs to get ready. “DAD I’M GOING OUT!” I screamed as I ran up the red carpet of my staircase. He just grunted in response.

Entering my disheveled room, I skimmed over all of the clothes on the floor that I probably haven’t even worn yet. I brushed off a pair of skinny jeans and a Victoria’s Secret sweatshirt that I’d stupidly tinted mint green in the washer. Even though it was getting close to summer, the nights tended to get a little cooler in my part of New Jersey, so I chose a pair or Tasman Uggs to wear as well. Pulling my dark hair from its tangled bun, I tousled it around my shoulders and decided it didn’t look so bad that I had to do anything with it. Then the doorbell rang. I grabbed my bag and went downstairs. I opened the door and there stood Jake in jeans and a tight, dark grey hoodie. 

“Hi.” I said.

I guessed all the earlier events of the day were forgotten by the way he was looking at me. He grabbed my hand and smirked. “Let’s go.”