Wrong Mate

Chapter 12 - Jordan

• Jordan •

It was finally Friday and by the look on Alexia's face that she'd been giving me all week, I knew she was somewhat excited. That smug smirk never failed to fade away every time she peeked up at me with those captivating blue eyes. I would always return the gesture, but only to be caught by an either giddy Zack or an  "I know you want her" Haylee. I was positive that they both knew of the dinner that was supposed to be going on tonight and they were most likely expecting something that Alexia and I weren't even sure of. I just wanted her around.

I arrived at the seemed to be address that wasn't at all far from mine. It was eight o' clock on the dot as she ran out of the house and closed the door behind her. Time slowed as her silky tendrils flowed in the light Californian breeze. Her black leather jacket decorated with golden rhinestones always made her look so edgy, well at least until she smiled, pretty dimples indenting her cheeks and portraying her as innocent. And I felt like it was taking forever, as if time had frozen.

She was the human epitome of Aphrodite, and it was her son, cupid who shot me. How could I feel such a sudden strike in my chest just by the sight of her? No. They are off, I remind myself, I feel nothing for anyone. The passenger door opened as she slid inside and closed the door, her heavenly fragrance filling my nostrils. Her natural scent was ambrosial, so intoxicating and better smelling than any other perfume Bath and Body Works could make.

"Hey," I greeted and looked over at her. "How do you feel about Olive Garden?" She shrugged and put on her seat belt, completely abstaining my eyes. "You alright?"

"Yeah, fine." She lied as I began driving to the restaurant I made a reservation for.

"Don't lie to me," I took another glance at her under a streetlight and behind a stoplight, both of these elements making her skin glow perfectly. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," she finally looked over at me and grinned. I dropped the topic and soon arrived at the restaurant. I pulled into a parking spot close to the door and unbuckled my seat belt. "I think it's cute how you drive." She was flirting.

"How I drive?" I questioned.

"Yeah, you have one hand on the steering wheel while your other hand just sits there, like it wants to be held or something," she shrugged nonchalantly and exited the car. I escorted her into the Italian eatery. It was strange, being out on a...date, because it had been ten years since I had last taken anyone out. We were assisted to a table for two and handed menus to decide on what we wanted to devour. "Steak!" She almost yelled and I tried not to laugh.

"Steak?"

"I want steak," she clarified as she browsed through the menu. I nodded with a confused grin only to receive a roll of her eyes.

"Steak must be your favorite?"

"I love meat in general," I intended on replying with a flirtatious line but I didn't want to ruin anything or set her off in the wrong way. After a few minutes, our order was taken along with our menus and Alexia and I were left to wait. She observed every couple and family in the restaurant in a silent awe that I could see and feel. "I want love but I don't, does that make any sense?" Her eyes suddenly peeled from what she had observed to be glued back onto mine. She meant what she said and maybe I understood her but maybe I still wanted her to clarify.

"Explain."

"Love, relationships and family. It's all an illusion to me. A show they put on in public to make others envy or adore what they don't actually have." I didn't think I would hear such a young girl speak this way, being the fact I was 100 and something years older than her, she had a lot of wisdom and thought onto the way life worked and how society played their roles. Just those three sentences said a lot about how she saw the world. She was obviously intelligent. And yes, I was very accustomed to the way society was now, it being the 21st century. I was not old school, but I could be and if anything, everyone thought I was from this century. I was good at adapting to new things but the way Alexia's mind worked, made me feel like she was just as close to my age as possible.

"So, you think it's fake?"

"It is fake," She giggled lowly as her eyes trailed to the window. "Love just...doesn't exist Jordan and neither do happy families. It's all a joke." She partially mumbled as our drinks and appetizers arrived. We thanked the waitress but didn't touch anything on the table yet. I was swimming in Alexia's words. I was trying to figure out exactly why she had felt this way. 

"Why do you think that?" I asked warily with knitted eyebrows as she took a bite of her mozzarella stick. She half smiled at me and set it down.

"Well, my parents went through a divorce and it just kind of showed me that nothing lasts forever and it's all just for show. I mean, I really thought they were right for each other. How could she leave my father to come all the way across country? He cared for her and he gave her everything. And now I just see that, well, it doesn't exist."

"Perfection, is what doesn't exist," I corrected her and she shook her head stubbornly as she stared at me.

"I know it doesn't exist, but my point is, why try something if it's all going to go down the toilet?"

"Not everything is bad," I drank my Coke and she crossed her arms over the table, looking at me intimidatingly.

"Jordan."

"Yeah?"

"Do you like me?" She half smiled and I set my cup down, looking at her facial expression to see what exactly she was trying to figure out. And maybe she meant exactly what she asked, but if I answered wrongly, then I would fuck this all up and be stuck chasing after her. "Honestly, it's been two weeks now. We sit together in English and lunch and now we're out on this dinner and I know you said you liked me, but do really really like me?"

"I thought Mikey was..."

"Mikey isn't important right now," she sat up straight. "What I want to know is," her pupils began to dialate as she picked up her half eaten mozarella stick, "Do you like me?"

"I told you that, in the hall."

"I'm...I'm just scared...to like people and get hurt." She played with her food and I watched her. Something about her was seriously different.

"Alexia," I spoke.

"Alexia?" She giggled and kept her eyes on the appetizer. 

"That is your name..."

"No it's not," I wasn't sure if she was being serious or if she was joking, but I had to admit that I was completely thrown off. "Promise you won't hurt me?" She questioned nervously as I took another sip of my drink. 

"I promise," And in that moment, I was punched in the face with opposing thoughts that seemed to have my head spiraling. My emotions were off, I know but every time she either smiled or frowned, I felt this hint of something unfamiliar and it didn't make any sense. Pretty much nothing was understandable at this point because wanting her brought on an inexplainable feeling. It's only been a matter of days since I've known her and here she was, reeling me in.

A/N

So no more editing needed, I've got the whole story under control now. I will remove the stars and the story will now be updated on Tuesdays or randomly bc college classes. No one is reading anyways so why am I talking to myself lols.