working with jace {jace norman}

Chapter 35

I had come to the conclusion that sitting around and feeling pity for myself wasn't the way to go. But here I was, eyes stinging from the lack of sleep, body stiff from the lack of movement.

It was early, around six when my phones vibrations echo from the bed beside me. At first I don't move, but a light curiosity grows. I open my phone to a text.

'Goodmorning love. Everything's going good here so far. Hope you're doing good. I miss you, I'll call you tonight'

I smile lightly. Turning off my phone I crawl myself out of bed, telling myself not to sulk over him any longer. I put on some clothes, not caring enough to touch my messy hair.

I finish putting myself together on the way out the door, a few dollars clutched between my fingers along with my phone as I put on my jacket.

I get into the family car, adjusting my things before I head out for town. As i reach the main strip of our usual busy town, I pull into the cafés parking lot. I step out, dragging my laptop case by my shoulder,  making my up to the vacancy of people inside the door.

I reach for the handle of the door, but stop as a hand reaches in front of mine. I pause, looking over at the brown haired boy.

"Oh, thanks" I walk through the opened door, making my way to a line of two people. The boy walks in behind me, settling his way next to me as he speaks.

"So what's good here?"

I glance at him, then back at the menu,
"I normally just get tea here."

He nods, keeping silent as I order. I slide down my keys down to the other end of the counter, waiting for my order. I glance at him as he orders, he finishes, meeting my eyes as he walks over by me.

"You new to town?"

"Is it that obvious?" He chuckles, flashing his white teeth, contrasting with his California skin .

"Nobody orders coffee here"

"Its that bad?"

"Terrible" I nod

"I'm from down south"

"Mexico?"

"Northern" he nods.

"Oh" I grab my drink from the lady,
"My boyfriend's from Mexico too"

"Small world" his eyebrows raise at the lady as a thank you for his drink.
"So hey, kind of a weird stranger type of thing, but do you, know where the closest library is?"

"Library?" I laugh lightly, adjusting the strap of my case on my shoulder.

"A guy can't be into reading?"

"Yeah um," my head shakes lightly, "Its on Bakers Street"

He looks at me blankly,
"Which is?"

"I can show you but, I came here to get some work done" I nudge towards my laptop.

"Oh, yeah no problem..."

"But you can, sit with me if you'd like?"

"That'd be great" he nods lightly, following me to a booth in the corner.

I set up my laptop, scrolling through documents, trying to make up busy work that Dan had thrown on us since Jace had left.

"So, where do you work?"

"I'm an actor"

"No shit?"

"Nickelodeon studios"

"A kids show?"

I bite the inside of my cheek raw,
"Yeah, a kids show"

"That's cool" his attitude snaps a different direction then what I had anticipated.
"So you must be busy pretty often then huh?"

"Normally id kill for some down time" I sigh, "but lately that's all I've had. My boyfriend works on the show, but he's in Canada for the next six months, so our shows on hold"

"That bites"

"Yeah" I shut my computer, knowing that any work being done was pointless.
"You ready?"

"Yeah"

°°°

He follows behind me in his car a few blocks down, parking next to me.

I get out, meeting him on the other side of the car.

"You didn't have to come in with me"

"Keeps my mind off of the piles of work to do" I laugh, beginning to walk up to the tall building.

We walk silently for a majority of the parking lot. He turns towards me,
"You know, I never caught your name..."

"Its Emily" I look over at him.

"Tyler" he opens the door for us.

"Thank you, Tyler"

He nods politely, following me into the building.

"Hi Mrs. Dubose"

"Hi hun, I got new books in if you'd like to look at them"

"Oh no thanks," we start to walk past the librarians counter, "we're here for him"

We continue into the isles,
"What are you looking for?"

"What do you recommend?"

I turn towards him, noticing him inspecting me like intriguing artwork. Eyebrow raised and move to the next isle, dragging my finger across the titles until I find the one I had my mind on. I hand it to him.

"Gone With the Wind?" He chuckles, taking it from me.

"You need a little romance in your life"

"Ouch"

I chuckle,
"Just take it"

"Fair enough"

I follow him back to the counter, making small talk with the familiar librarian, Mrs.Dubose. After her demands that we come back at some point, we leave back out into the heated California parking lot.

"You seem to know your way around that library pretty well"

"I'm here every now and then" I look at him, smirking

"I'm gonna need you every week, to pick out my books"

"I think i could manage that" I stand between our cars.
"And let me know how that one goes, it's a classic"

"Well, I'm a fan of the classics so"

I grim lightly as his body comes closer to Me, his green eyes, reflecting from his tan skin, pierce into mine. His dark curly hair dangles a few strands in his face.
"I'm going to take you up on this offer."

"Fair enough, you have my number. Use it"

"I always, follow orders" his minty breath inches towards me.

I feel his lips touch mine, I flinch back. Staring confused at him, I don't say a word. Stumbling, trying to find something to say.

"I-I have a-"

"A boyfriend... I know. I'm- I'm sorry"

"I'm sorry... I have to go. I'll see you later."

I get back into my car, pulling out of the parking lot, leaving him there.

How was I supposed to tell Jace.