the criminal // S.M.

24 // gilinsky

Skylars POV

After a few hours of sleep I woke up and couldn't go back to bed. I swear my body is programmed to just not sleep. Years of restless nights and being woken up at various times every night for work will do that to a person.

This room didn't have a clock anywhere, so I had no idea what time it was. I laid there for what felt like ages trying to go to sleep, but I made no progress. Instead my mind grabbed at every single stray idea floating around the room and forced it into my brain. I couldn't keep my heart from racing as my anxiety took complete control over me.

For hours I sat with tears in my eyes and weight in my heart, unable to make it stop. So, I did the only thing I know how. I grabbed a fresh pack and searched for a balcony.

The only problem was that I had no idea where one would be in the massive house, but I knew one had to be somewhere. I found myself in the kitchen, where I saw on the stove that it was 4:37.

I finally found an empty room with a window that opened to the roof, and I figured it would work.

The bedroom door was wide open and was decorated like someone lived in it, perhaps one of the boys, but there wasn't anyone in it. I found it peculiar but nevertheless ignored it.

I opened the window as quietly as I could (and also prayed that an alarm system wouldn't go off) and climbed out, sitting on the flat area just below the exit.

I unwrapped the box and took out a cigarette, lit it, and breathed in the toxic but addictive air. As my throat burned, I could practically feel all of the anxiety fleeing from my bones. I leaned my head back onto the building and zoned out.

+

I was nearly two in when I heard a faint "what the fuck?" and footsteps approaching the window. I panicked and tried to fan away the smoke and hide the carton, but all I heard was a laugh.

"Don't put them away on my account." I looked up at the window and saw a very sweaty Jack Gilinsky, who once again was shirtless. He opened the window farther so he could fit through and sat down next to me.

"I thought some kind of raged fan broke into my house or something." He chuckled, taking my joint and hitting it.

"Fan?" I asked.

"Yeah. Did Shawn not tell you? Jack and I are professional jugglers," he passed back my smoke.

"Oh. That's Um.. interesting." I said, smoking to break the awkwardness.

Suddenly, he bust out laughing.

"Only joking. We do sing though."

I sighed deeply in relief. "That's still interesting. Would I know any other your songs?" I passed it back to him.

"I don't think so. We're kind of unknown," He chuckled, smoking.

"I didn't know you smoked. You look like the type of guy that would be all 'my body is a temple,'" I mocked.

"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?" He chuckled.

"You know exactly what that means," I laughed. "What were you doing up so early anyway?"

"I was playing ball in the gym. It tends to calm me when I can't sleep."

"Jesus Christ y'all have a gym? That ridiculous!" I exclaimed.

"Sí señorita," he smiled. For a moment I got all caught up in his grin, captivated by the sharp jawline and bushy eyebrows. I couldn't help but stare at his lips, and he must have noticed because he started to lean in. My mind immediately flashed to Shawn, but then I realized we weren't anything official and lord knows Shawn doesn't have the balls to ask me out anytime soon, and I don't even think we're aloud to so no harm done right? And besides look at Jack's face. I would be crazy not to kiss back.

So I did.

a/n

JxnsjwjxjNan this chapter is juicy, hope y'all enjoyed