infatuated

37

      ☀ VIOLET ☀

  "Y-you...kissed me," I spluttered, completely taken aback.

     "Yeah, I did." he replied, a blank expression on his face. "What about it?"

    "What about it?" I repeated, my eyes widening. "You kissed me, Jackson."

    "Okay, I know. What's your point?" he said, rolling his eyes.

     "You kissed me." I said, shoving him away from me. "You kissed me, Jackson. Me, your best friend. The question is why?"

    "Because," he replied — I didn't miss the fact that his cheeks were turning beet red and that he looked away from my intense stare — "you wouldn't shut up."

     "So you kissed me," I deadpanned.

  "Yeah, pretty much." he said, nodding.

     "Jackson," I said, "can you look at me when I'm talking to you, please?"

      "Why?" he questioned, glancing at me, his blue eyes narrowing.

     "Because I don't like talking to your back," I explained. "I want to know the real reason you kissed me."

     My heart began to race dangerously in my chest as I waited with anticipation for him to explain.

     "The real reason, hmm?"

  "Yes."

     "I told you already, though..." Jackson said hesitantly. "The only reason—?"

     "Yeah, Jacky, I want to know why you kissed me. You seemed like you were enjoying it, too." I said, putting my hands on my hips.

     "Fine," he spat, walking abruptly away from me, "I'll tell you. Are you sure you want to hear this, though?"

    "If I weren't then I wouldn't have said yes," I retorted.

     "Fine." he snapped. "I like you, okay? I like you, a lot, actually."

      My jaw fell open, forming a large O as I stared at him.

     I blinked. Once. Twice.

   "Are you serious?" I asked, staring at him, unblinkingly.

    "Yeah," he nodded. "I told you so, Violet. You don't share the same feelings as I do for you, right?"

  I fell silent, struggling to form a coherent sentence as he stared expectantly at me.

     "See," he said, shaking his head. "I told you, Violet. I was right. You don't share any feelings for me."

     Before I could reply, he turned and walked away.

   Leaving me completely and utterly speechless and wondering:

         I don't like him. I don't. I swear I don't have any feelings for him.

         Right...?