My L490 - Part 1

Chapter 18 - The Visit (Part 2)

I woke up early the next morning, we had an early night the day before, so I was full of energy, I walked to Liv's room and knocked, she opened the door and smiled "Hey come in" I walked in and closed the door "You coming for a run?" she looked at me once again like I had 3 heads, clearly not then. I shrugged and said "See you later, you know Jason might come running" as I was about to leave she pulled me back in "What can I wear?" She pulled out the clothes she brought along and nothing would have worked, "Right come to my room!" We went over to my room and I loaned her some workout clothes, and made our way downstairs.

There was music coming from the television, I picked up the remote and turned it down, and he came out the kitchen, in his white cut out tank and black shorts, he looked shorter and tanned. The caramel eyes stared straight into me and I stopped "You running?" he asked, I looked at him and said,  "Yes, why?", Liv stood there stunned at this exchange, she knew how much I felt for him, I think she might have been shocked at how calm I was, but if you looked close enough, you would see I was not as calm as the surface portrayed. The tension in the room was so thick and I am sure everyone who walked in would feel it. 

"We can have a double... run" he said and walked back into the kitchen, she looked at me and I shrugged, "Jason is joining us then" she flushed and smiled and stopped, I think she forgot about breathing again, I nudged her and she snapped out of it "Jason? Jogging? Sweating?" she looked at me and I nodded. I smiled and pulled her out onto the patio.

As we got outside I saw Jason out already, stretching and I knew Liv would be shocked into oblivion, "stay here" I said and walked back inside and found him in the kitchen, "You coming?" I asked calmly, he looked at me, walked right up to me, he stopped a few inches from me, our faces so close, he scent enveloping me again, but I stood firm, my hands were sweating and I held them at my sides, I balled them into fists to stop them from trembling, my heart raced, "Why? You want to race me?" he asked, I felt his warm breath on me, I was frozen in the spot, he reached out and moved a stray strand of cotton from my tee, his fingers lightly touched my skin and my heart felt like it was about to beat out of my chest, my breathe caught at his touch and he smirked, "See, I knew you didn't hate me..." as he passed me he mumbled, "yet" and he walked out of the kitchen. What did he mean yet? What was he planning to make me hate him, if that was even possible?

We all met out on the sidewalk and made our way up the hill, Liv and I hung back slightly and chatted about how beautiful it was, he glance every so often fell on Jason and I saw the light in her eyes, she was totally struck by him, when we got to the top Jason took the lead and grabbed Liv's hand much to her surprise "Come here, I want to introduce you to the city" he took her to the boulder, they sat together for a while and chatted, well, Jason chatted and Liv sat and stared at him, completely speechless at the close proximity to him. I knew she was completely mesmerised by the ice blue eyes.

I stood watching the sun rise and I felt his presence next to me, I could smell his cologne mixed with the glistening sweat on his arms, and I savoured it, I couldn't get enough, "So this is your idea of a perfect view? Do you think this is where the stars twinkle?"  And he slowly walked away, I followed him and grabbed his arm, "What did you say?" he looked into my eyes and said, "You heard me" he smirked and shook his arm free and walked up the hill. I looked back, not sure whether to leave Liv, but it seemed Jason was keeping her breathing, I left them to it, and followed him. "Wait, hold up! Why would you say that? I need answers and I need them now! Why did you leave that note about leaving you alone and then the one after about the stars? I know it was you!" I saw his eyes flicker at the mention and I knew it was him. He smiled, "Not now, lets get back, you may find the answers tonight, if you can figure out the answer" he walked passed me back down the hill and I followed him, he was infuriating me once again, I ran after him and managed to catch up with him, "What on earth is your problem!!", he stopped abruptly and grabbed my shoulders, and they immediately felt like they were on fire, he pulled me so close to his face I thought he was about to kiss me, we stayed like that for a few minutes, his hot caramel eyes burning, I saw deep inside them and I saw he let his guard down for a brief second, his soul laid bare for the briefest minute and then, as soon as he dropped the wall it went back up, I felt the fire inside me flare, I was burning to a point where I couldn't breath, "For god sake can't you see I am bad news! Have you NOT seen the news" with that he released his grip and ran back down to the house, I stood there shocked, I had no idea what to do.

A few minutes later, Jason and Liv came down the hill, Jason saw my face and asked "What happened?" he looked really worried, I realised I must have looked like a ghost, Liv stared at me and I gave her a small smile, she knew something had happened but didn't ask in front of Jason. "I... I... nothing...It's ok..." was all I could manage at that moment, we got back down the hill and inside, Jason, Liv and I sat down on the sofa, the three of us sat in silence for a while and Jason broke the silence "What happened?" I finally managed to say "Nothing, I am fine, I just. It's nothing". It replayed in my head, over and over again, but for some reason, I just didn't understand what made him bad news, I had of course seen the stories about him, but there was another side to him, and I knew that. I replayed the note in my mind again "The stars come out at night, but do you? Find me where the stars twinkle in our view. ~ S" but he could have been messing with my head, couldn't he? 

As Jason got up he said "Well, we going to have sort out tonight, all four of us go in the same car?" he looked from me to her, I didn't know what he was talking about, "What do you mean, go where?" I asked, his reply caught me off guard, "The charity ball tonight, all the stars will be out tonight" he laughed, "There should be a box on each of your beds, I had Emily pick out a couple dresses, she will meet us there" he winked at Liv and made his way to the bathroom. We looked at each other, and it all felt a bit surreal, I thought back to what he said, why would say that about the stars, why word it like that? Well, we will have to see what tonight brings.

We both got up and Liv asked me "What happened up there?" she looked worried, I stared at her for a minute and said "I will explain later, right now I need to get ready for work". We went to our rooms and I closed my door, still shaken by this mornings events, I walked to my bed and there was a big black box on it, I smiled, feeling slightly excited, my first real LA gala. I opened the box and on top of the tissue paper was a single red rose and a small white note below it. I picked up the rose and it smelled amazing, I slowly opened the note and read it, my breathing stopped, my heart raced and my whole body was on fire.

"I'm trying not to let it show, that I don't want to let this go. Is there somewhere you can meet me? Because I clutched your arms like stairway railings and you clutched my brain and eased my ailing. See you tonight ~ S"