Sorry for all the typos in the last chapter. I went back through it after I published it and was totally shocked at how much I messed up. I'll try to be more careful in this chapter.
Jewel's POV
When Eric said we would see each other on a professional basis only, he meant it. For the past three weeks, it's been the same routine. I come to his office at 8AM, he gives me a list of things to do, he leaves, and I don't see him until the end of the day when he releases me.
He doesn't say much. It's odd to see him not be so how to I put it? Amused? Sinister?
At the moment, I'm spinning in his chair behind his desk. I finished my work about an hour ago and have nothing left do. I'm actually hoping that if I stay, he'll talk to me for a little bit.
The walls are becoming blurred as I go round and round in circles, my body starts to feel numb almost. Just as I spin towards the door, I see the outline of a person. I slam my feet to the ground, trying to stop myself. Laughter comes from the figure behind me.
When the chair finally stops, I turn slowly to see Jake standing in the doorway. Disappointment must be evident on my face because he says, "What? Not happy to see me?"
I sigh and prop my elbow up on the desk and place my chin in my hand. "I'm just tired and I want to go home."
He steps into the room fully, coming up and sitting in the seat I sat in the first time I was ever in here. "Dauntless is having a party tonight. You should come."
"Are you asking me out on a date?" I raise my eyebrows at him.
He shrugs and looks around the room. "I mean, I don't want to go alone and we're friends right? It wouldn't be a crime to go together. Unless you have someone else in mind." As a matter of fact, I do! But I don't need to tell Jake that. I'm already slim on friends as it is.
"What times the party?" I ask, bored. His face lights up with excitement. Glad to see someone is happy.
"It starts at 9 so I'll come by your apartment around 8:50 to get you." He stands and begins walking to the door.
"Wait! Who all is going to be there?" I sound kind of panicky.
With his hand on the door handle, he turns slightly with a glimmer of flirtation in his expression. "Everyone is Dauntless, of course."
I slam my forehead into the desk. Great. I can't wait to see "everyone" Not.
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Just as he said, Jake arrives at my door by 8:50 on the dot. I step out and he gives me a once over, which makes me uncomfortable because this is supposed to be a friends thing. I am wearing a very tight black dress, though. But it's not for his eyes.
"You look nice." He says, as we walk down towards the pit. He places a hand on the small of my back and I immediately flinch under his touch. No. No. No. I don't want to come off as rude and just pull away.
Before we even make it to the pit, I can already hear the loud thumping of the bass coming from the DJ's stand. Looking over the railing and into the pit, there had to be over a 100 people.
Making our way into the crowd, Jake leans in towards my ear. "I'm gonna go get us something to drink!" I hate how his breath hits my neck. It feels wrong and makes me want to go take a shower. But I nod in approval to him and watch as he pushes his way through the crowd.
All the people around me are dancing and singing and yelling. Maybe it's because I'm sober that I feel so out of place. My eyes begin searching the crowd for Four. He would be sober. I could hang out with him. But then again, he wouldn't be at something like this. He's probably in the control room watching all of us act like fools.
I continue looking and then my eyes land on Eric, coming down the steps into the Pit. A girl with long black hair and tan skin walks beside him. She's wearing a dress similar to mine except her's plunges a lot further down in front, showing most of her boobs. Eric has a tight grip on her hip and he's licking his lips like they just got done with a good make out session.
I feel my chest tighten from within and I turn around quickly. He said he didn't want to hurt me but he has. Was I not good enough? Or was it just too much work? Jake returns to my side suddenly and hands me a small glass with dark red liquid in it.
I take it, graciously. Alcohol would do me some good right now. I sip it and it tastes like cranberries. The sweetness of it wakes me up from my momentary depression. I lean into Jake's side and he wraps a loose arm around my waist. Even though, he's not the one I want to be standing next to, it's nice that he's here.
Just when I'm getting comfortable with the warmth of his body next to mine, a finger jabs into my side. I look over and see Four. Jake lets his arm fall away from me. Four's left shoulder lines up to the back of my right and he bends down slightly. "Don't look now but you have a stalker." My back goes rigid. Eric.
I keep my eyes straight. Four says nothing else but starts walking away but he turns around while walking and his eyes shoot up to something behind me.
"What was that all about?" Jake asks, pulling me to him again. I subtly pull away after a few moments and face in the direction that Four's eyes went.
Eric's arm is still wrapped around the girls waist but he glares down at me. I'm no longer sad. If he wants to play games, lets play. I grab Jake's shirt and pull him to me. He's shocked at first when his lips slam into mine but he finds his rhythm and we stand in the middle of the crowd making out like two teenagers with one very ticked off audience member watching.
OOOHHHH!!! Didn't see that one coming did you?! Comment and Vote!
