Pleasure

Chapter Five

The next two weeks seemed to drag by, uneventfully. Jacob hasn't been at school, which makes me wonder if he's the one avoiding me now. I can't stop thinking about that night. I try to remember more and more but I never can. Natalie insists on finding out why I didn't go home with them, but the excuse I give her is running dry and she knows it's something more. I wish I could tell her about Jacob but honestly, there's not much to tell. I got drunk and he saved my ass from getting arrested at the party. I have the feeling of emptiness. It's like I know I shouldn't, but I want to see him again. I need to. And I'm not quite sure why.

Later that night, I toss and turn in bed. The rain pats hard on my window and the silence that lurks in the air is eerie. The darkness is torturous.

______

What are you doing, sit down.

No I'm hungry.

Come here. He plucked me off the floor and dragged me upstairs. He laid me down on a soft warm bed that felt like an endless cloud. I smiled up at him, as he looked down at me with a strange expression on his face.

What??

Your eyes are sooo pretty, I state, overly drunk. He smirks down at me, not saying a word. He goes down to my feet and slips my shoes off, tossing them into the corner.

Sit up. I do as I'm told and he slides my jacket off my shoulders. He lays me back down and puts the cover over my body, up to my chin. He sighs, looking down at me once more, then turns around and walks away.

Waaaait, I reach my arms out for him. Where are you going?

I'm gonna lay-

Stay here. I squeeze and release my fingers a couple times. Please just stay until I fall asleep.

I don't think that's a good idea, he says coldly. I poke my lip out and pout. He takes a deep inhale and hesitates. He walks over to me and climbs in bed. Okay go to sleep now. I smile and snuggle up close to his body. He's warm which makes me feel invited. I feel myself going in and out of consciousness. I feel his arm slowly slide around me. His thumb rubs my arm and he sighs once more. Go to sleep, Aria.

Okay Jacob.

***********

The next morning I wake up with a pounding headache for some reason. The dream was blurry, or maybe it was just a memory, but it definitely happened. I definitely remember.

When I get to school, I try to avoid human interaction as a whole. Today just seems like an off day and I've got a strange feeling that I can't shake. It's throwing everything out of balance. When I get to gym, I put in as little effort as possible. When I start stretching, I notice Jacob walk in looking angrier than usual. He strides towards the teacher and hands her a slip of paper. He leaves but not long after he comes out, ready to start laps. I want to talk to him, but after remembering what happened that night, I think it's best if I keep my distance. It happened so long ago, I feel as if it doesn't even matter to him anymore.

I start running, going as slowly as possible. I take my sweet time, letting everyone else pass me up. Everyone including Courtney, who's been giving me weird looks since the night of the party. I shake it off, though, because she looks too sweet to harm anyone.

Jacob pulls beside me and slows down to my pace. I look at him and clear my throat. I can't even look at him the same after knowing what I said to him. Knowing that he actually listened. Does that make him a bad guy or a gentleman? Was he wrong or was he noble?

"Aria." He voices my name and it makes my insides practically churn. I look at him and bite my lip, saying nothing. My eyes travel to his biceps once again, and I remember what he looked like shirtless and damp. I look straight, trying to control my breathing.

"You've been gone." I blurt out, in attempt to get my mind off of his body.

"I had some ... family issues I had to deal with. Did you miss me?" He smiles down at me in a flirty manner.

"Don't flatter yourself." I warn, looking down at the floor. He smiles and starts to pick up speed. He turns to me and raises his eyebrow.

"I'm not." He smiles then dashes off.

After school, I go to the library to find a book for my creative writing project. I grab a book and sit at a table to start reading. I look up and notice Jacob a few tables down, buried into a novel. I scrunch my eyebrows. He has that same focused look on the pages as his eyes scan every word. I grab my belongings and make my way to his table. I sit down across from him. He looks from the pages of the book and raises his eyebrow.

"What? This seat was taken?" I ask cockily. He smirks and sets his book down.

"What do you want?" He mocks, just like the night of the party. I smile and pull hair behind my ears.

"I see you're reading," I note, taking a peak at what book it is. It's unfamiliar, but it's big. I didn't picture him as the book-worm type. He doesn't seem like the reading type in general. It seems I don't know a lot about him.

"I'm not illiterate Aria." He says, keeping his eyes on his book. I smile and look down, biting my lip. Then it comes to mind. The dream, or memory, or whatever it was. I've been pushing it to the back of my mind all day but seeing him .. being this close to him, it brings it all back.

"I remember." He looks up at me with a confused expression. "The night of the party. I remember what I said to you."

"God, why are you so caught up on what happened that night? It happened, get over it." I give him a dirty look and start packing my things. He's so rude. He's only nice when he wants to be. I don't have time for that. I thought I could maybe get along with him, but I see now it's not going to work.

I storm out and start fishing around for my car keys. I hear Jacob following after me, calling my name. I don't respond though. The sound of his feet hitting the ground comes closer and closer until I feel him jolt my body around to his.

"What!" I yell, a little louder than I wanted to. I meant to scare him away not catch the attention of anyone around.

He grabs my shoulders and pushes me up against the wall. He lowers his voice as his eyes become dark. "I was honest with you. It's not like you're the only one thinking about it, Aria. I don't want to think about it. So do me a favor and just act like it didn't happen because if you bring it up again, I'll have to admit to all the things I wanted to do to you. Aria that is a long, long list of things you don't want to hear. So shut up about it, alright?"

I find myself shaking under his grip. He's scary. This is the worst I've ever seen him and I don't want to see it again. I slip away and run to my car, slamming the door behind me. I'm at a loss for words and what just happened seemed like it was all a weird dream. I let a single tear roll down my face before driving off.