The World Beyond Us

s i x

I try my best to steer clear of Jace, hoping that that will make his offer less tempting.

Hudson and my two friends are clearly thrilled, but when I'm with them I feel drained.

There's just something about Jace that my friends or my boyfriend don't seem to have.

"So how was your day?" My mother asks while we sit down for dinner.

"It was just." My dad grunts. "Normal."

My mom glances at Keegan. He goes on explaining in great detail every second of his day. Who ever said guys don't like talking never met my brother.

While the attention focuses itself on Keegan, I decide to quietly dismiss myself.

"Where are you going sweetheart?" My mother asks when she see me creeping upstairs.

"I have an exam tomorrow, so I thought I'd go to sleep a bit early." I fib.

"Good luck." She smiles.

"She doesn't need luck, Jennifer, she's a Rose." My dad corrects my mother.

I catch Keegan frowning in my direction. "Is this about Jace?" He mouths.

I shake my head, and that is the truth. I am genuinely exhausted of waking up every morning only to relive yesterday.

What is the point of living if there's nothing new to add to the picture?

I turn around and trudge upstairs. After a long shower I slip into a pair of shorts and a tanktop. I crawl into my bed, expecting to drift right off.

Except I don't.

I listen as my family finishes up dinner. They watch TV afterwords, and quickly set in to go to bed.

I roll over on to my back, and stare up at the cieling.

The scratch and sniff banana sticker that Keegan stuck up there when we were in fifth grade stares back at me. I have no clue how he got it up there.

If I stand on my bed I'm probably tall enough to take it down now. But now that I can, I'd rather just leave it.

I kick the blanket off of my legs and try to fall to sleep. Just as slumber comes to take me away something snaps at my window. I sit up, glaring at the tiny bird that slammed against the glass.

I roll my eyes. Who am I kidding, that bird isn't the reason I can't sleep. I pull my phone from under my pillow.

2:23 am

I go over to my closet and grab my jacket. I shove my feet into a pair sneakers, and tip toe downstairs.

It doesn't occure to me how this is probably a big mistake until I'm walking down his street.

I figure that ringing on the doorbell and waking his whole family is not the best idea, instead I pull my sleeve up and try to make out the fading ink.

It rings once before Jace picks up.

"Come outside." I say then hang up. I impatiently shift my weight from foot to foot.

Jace comes around the side of the house with a smug look on his face. "I knew you'd come around." He glances at his phone. "At 2:36 in the morning."

"I can't sleep." I fold my arms around myself. It's cool outside.

Jace looks at me, then ushers me forward. "Come here."

I let Jace embrace me. The smell of his fabric softener and cologne draft up my nose. I weave my arms around his waist, feeling his body under my arm.