Shut Up and Kiss Me

Chapter 13: Clayton

  I was exhausted. The conversation with Wesley had only dredged up more questions I would probably never get answers to and the thought of Ben putting himself in danger was stressing my nerves to the max. I didn't really blame Jasper. He did give Ben a choice, but I guess i expected him to care more about how this would make me feel. If he really cared about Ben as much as I do, he wouldn't have given him an option in the first place. But that was just my own selfish need to protect him talking.

I shook my head, remembering the reason I was retreating upstairs: the pack of cards in my pocket. I really owed Luis an apology. I made my way to his door and knocked. There was barely a pause before door opened.

Luis frowned.

"What? Not happy to see me?" I asked.

Luis sighed and crossed his arms. "Not particularly, no."

"Well, perhaps these will make up for my previous behavior?" I wondered aloud as I held out the fresh pack of cards. "I know they aren't as nice as the previous ones, but I didn't have a lot of cash on me. I'll go out later and find you a better set."

Luis quirked an eyebrow and shook his head. "They'll do for now. Thanks." A smile played on his lips as he accepted the cards. "You're too good for him, you know."

I smiled half-heartedly.

"I don't mean to be insensitive, but it wasn't hard to overhear your conversation. You have to let Ben learn to grow up. Jasper usually knows what he's doing and he wouldn't let Ben go into a dangerous situation on his own."

"I know."

Luis quirked an eyebrow.

"I know." I insisted. "I'm just stressed. And just because you're right doesn't mean I have to like it."

Luis smirked. "I know. I guess we're both right for once."

"Well, goodnight."

"Goodnight, Marissa."

Luis closed his door. I turned for my room and Clayton had somehow materialized next to me.

I grunted in annoyance. "Don't you ever give up?"

"I'm not trying to be annoying."

"Well, you could have fooled me." I said, skirting around him and keeping my body as far away from his as I could.

"Marissa."

A shiver ran through me when he said my name. I fisted my palms. Stop it, Marissa. You don't want this, remember.

"Look, I really don't need this right now. You're making things much harder than they should be."

"I can't help the way I feel about you."

I glanced at the stairs.

"He left." Clayton answered my unasked question.

"You didn't say anything, did you?" I demanded.

"No. I had no idea who you were." He said the words all accusatory. "I guess it's lucky I didn't even try mentioning you, considering you're dating Jasper."

"You and I are not together and will never be together, so don't take that tone with me. Besides, I didn't even know who you were either up until five minutes ago. How was I supposed to know Jasper's long lost brother would appear and turn out to be my... " I stopped.

Clayton raised his eyebrows. "... Mate?"

I groaned. Why did it have to be him? As if Jasper needed another reason to dislike his brother. And what was that all about? I hadn't even known Jasper had an older brother. Neither Luis nor their mother had mentioned him either. Something had to be wrong with this guy. That idea made me nervous.