The Atlas Of Love

- thirteen -

"Jane? I need help."

Xander and I both snapped out of 'the moment' and distanced ourselves when birdbrain Jae came yelling inside my room.

"Where are you?" He called out again.

"Out here." I cleared my throat, embarrassed from whatever almost happened.

"Oh! Hey there Xander." He gave him a curt nod.

"Hey Jae." Xander flashed him a tight-lipped smile which I suppose, was short for i-almost-fucked-up-your-sister's-mind-so-thanks-for-interrupting-and-saving-me-from-being-killed.

"You guys never hang out with me these days. It's sad. You should come over more often dude. We could play dota like we used to earlier." Jae frowned.

"Sure. I'll come over sometime." Xander smirked, making me frown this time.

"Why are you here and what do you need?" I pushed Jae, slowly walking back inside.

"It was nice seeing you again man. Goodnight." He looked over his shoulder, waving at Xander while I continued pushing him.

"What do you want?" I asked when we were both inside.

"Open this for me. I can't tear the wrapper." He handed me a piece of candy.

"Jae. I cannot believe you! I want to slap you across the face with a brick! You came to me for this? This?" I yelled at him, snatching the candy from his hand.

"Geez, stop yelling at me." He glared at me.

I rolled my eyes, handing him the candy. His face lit up on seeing the chocolate candy.

"Thank you and no I'm not sharing this with you." He gave me a wide smile and ran out just like that.

"It's too small to be shared anyway." I muttered under my breath.

I didn't dare to look out my window after that. I knew Xander was staring at me the whole time, but I pretended not to see anything, switched off my phone, turned out the lights and pulled the sheets over my head.

My heart was still racing, my knees still felt weak even though I was lying down in my bed and I felt lightheaded.

What just happened out there?

Xander broke up with Madison less than an hour ago and was I really willing to make things right again with him? 

I continued tossing and turning in my bed, thinking of how to deal with everything once the sun rises again.
Was I really willing to let go of what Dean and I had?

I barely got any sleep mentally debating and scolding myself and before I knew it, the sun was up.

Great. Another day with eyebags.

I switched my phone back on and was bombarded with messages from Dean, which made me smile.

Most of them were just him asking 'wyd', 'are u busy lol', 'i kinda miss u know' and 'come back, come back jane'.

After replying his messages, I got up, washed up, got ready and left for college.

There was no way I was even thinking of running into Xander today. I carefully thought of what time he leaves from home, which classes he attends and everything else just to avoid encountering him.

I'm pretty sure he wouldn't be dying to run into me today either.

My day went pretty well, judging on how I didn't even see Xander anywhere in the college and Dean was with me the whole time.

I wanted to come clean to him and just tell him about whatever almost happened last night but I just couldn't risk it. I couldn't risk what we had. I couldn't risk us.

Besides, what he doesn't know wouldn't hurt him right? And I'm doing this to protect us.

We were sitting inside studio 3, where Dean was editing something he filmed a few days back. I stared at how effortlessly he just clicked on stuff and it just beautified the already beautiful video which was being displayed on the monitor.

I took out my phone and secretly took videos of him working on it. How hot.

As I was about to keep it back inside, a message popped up on my screen.

Jane? Can u meet me in college now? I'll be waiting for u at the cafeteria. Please.

My heart hammered inside my chest and I felt uneasy. Why would Madison want to meet me all of a sudden? Does she think that her breaking up with Xan--- no, no. Maybe she just wants to talk about it, pour her heart out and stuff.

I shook it off and sent her a message that I would be there.

"Dean? I have to go finish some work. I'll be back in awhile. Will you be here or?" I hesitantly smiled.

"Sure. Call me when you're done. I'm almost done with this too, or do you want me to come with you?" He stood up.

"No that's okay. You should stay and finish it. I'll be back soon." I insisted.

"Okay then. Come back fast." He smiled, his lips coming into contact with mine for a split second.

"Bye." I waved, walking out of the studio and heading straight to the cafeteria.

I was walking as fast as I could but abruptly stopped on my tracks once I saw Madison. She was sitting alone in the middle of the cafeteria and there was no one to be seen around.

"Holy crap." I muttered.

Her bloodshot eyes and disheveled hair clearly explained how the breakup had been on her.

"Jane? What is wrong with me?" Her voice cracked when her eyes came into contact with mine.

Dear Lord, what have I gotten myself into?