Dana

Chapter Seventeen

I lay in bed, trying to calm my racing heart.

He was already looking for me. Why? Maybe he had to tell me he liked me. No, don't be stupid, Dana.

I could not stop turning his words over and over in my head.

Never in my wildest dreams, would I have thought that Jared would feel the same way about me. I had been denying my feelings for him all this time, but the truth was, he was constantly on my mind, and it was getting harder and harder for me to ignore that fact.

I had been lying to myself.

But he's a criminal.

It didn't matter what he was right? As long as his feelings for me were real.

I felt like jumping and dancing around at the thought. I couldn't stop smiling. I got up and looked at my reflection in the mirror. My hair was a mess, my cheeks flushed and my eyes glazed over.

Sheesh, you look high, Dana.

I touched my lips.

His lips were here, a few minutes ago.

The thought made me shiver.

I was acting immature and I knew it. It was just that no one had ever shown this much interest in me before and I was high off the attention.

I flung my closet open, too excited to rest. Besides, my headache was gone, amazingly.

I rifled through the stacks of clothes, looking for something made of silk. I came across silk tops and trousers but no dress. I wanted to wear a dress. There were a lot of evening dresses each one prettier than the last. I kept looking and finally, at the end of the closet I found a knee length lavender silk wrap dress. It was simple and elegant and I thought, this'll do.

I tore it off the hanger and changed into it. I turned to see myself in the mirror. It looked pretty good, if I did say so myself.

I was humming as I unzipped the dress from the side, when someone knocked on the door, then barged in before I could protest.

"Hey..!"

"Oops, you should really lock the door, you know. If you don't want people to barge in like that."

"You're the only person who does that, Stellar."

She came forward and hugged me.

"How're you doing? I'm sorry I haven't come to see you in a while. Marcus and I went to Boston to visit his parents. He takes the trip once or twice a year, when he's free and I wanted to go with him this time."

"Don't worry about it. I'm doing good." I smiled as I said this, which obviously piqued her curiosity.

"Why are you in such a good mood? And I could've sworn I heard you humming a tune before I came in."

"Why can't I be in a good mood?"

"You usually aren't. And this is the happiest you've been since you know, your mom."

Why did she have to bring her up?

"Tell me what happened," she demamded, punching my arm.

"Ow! Nothing happened."

"Wait. Why are you wearing that dress?"

"Oh, I was just trying it on for tonight's dinner."

"You're going? I didn't think..." Her eyes widened.

"Um, I am. Jared invited me."

"Jared invited you?" Now she was even more shocked.

"I don't understand."