The Not So Pageant Girl (On Hold)

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Seventeen

The arms around me suddenly pulled me away from the crowd, into one of the storage rooms of the hotel. I didn’t know if it was actually a storage room, but it didn’t smell very good. It was dark and his arms were around me, hugging me and panting at the same time.

“I told you to be careful!” Jacob yelled his arms still around me. I was too shocked to say anything. I stayed there, motionless, staring emptily at the dark room. “You just never listen, do you? You know what the paparazzi could’ve done to you?”

I continued staring into space.

Did Jacob just, just, save me back there? Was it my eyes playing tricks on me? Or did he really just do that?

Jacob just saved me.

For the second time.

Why?

“Are you even listening? You know what, just stay quiet then. All the better. They won’t know we’re here that way.”

“Um, you can let go now.” I said, and right after I said it, it was as if Jacob was electrocuted. His arms instantly let go of mine, frozen.

“Right.”

A few seconds passed by, and I heard Jacob sigh. “I don’t like hating you, okay?”

I swallowed. Shit, was he secretly confessing to me? Did he like me? Oh my gosh, he likes me, doesn’t he? “Well, I don’t like hating you, uh, either.”

“But sometimes you just really hit my nerves. The way you talk, the way you act, the way you-”

I lifted my arms, wanting him to stop. “I get it.” Hah. So much for confessing. We both stopped talking, and for a second I thought we would leave, but instead Jacob took hold of my arms again and spun me around. “Do you like me?”

I froze. “W-What?” What the hell was he talking about?

“You like me, don’t you?” Jacob said, from nowhere. “I can practically feel the heat coming from your cheeks.”

What the hell was he talking about? Who did he think he was? “Look, just because almost the whole world is in love with you, I don’t like arrogant, rude, and conceited guys!” What was he even saying? Did I show some kind of hatred that made him think that it was love instead? I don’t think I did anything to make him know that I supposedly liked him, that’s for sure!

Even in the dark I could tell Jacob was smirking. “Hamilton, that’s cute and everything in your own little chick flick world, but you don’t have to deny it.”

“I’m not denying anything!” I yelled in frustration.

“Then stop making a big deal out of everything. That just makes me wonder…”

“You’re such an idiot, Jacob.”

“An idiot that you’re in love with.”

“I am not in love with you.”

“Then who?”

I stopped. Shoot, this was bad. He would tell straight off if I’m lying. Why couldn’t I be good at lying? That would not only be good for the Pageant, but times like this! “N-No one.” I said anyway, and mentally wacked myself in the head.

“No one, huh?” Jacob chuckled. “I see.”

“Well even if I do like someone, it’s not you! My expectations are a shit load higher than that!”