My Protector

chapter six

For the next few days, Jake and I only smiled to each other at school. I thought our friendship had progressed but I guess that was only in my mind. I tried hard to focus on my studies, wishing it could just be the weekend already so I would be free of homework for two days. Lilly has been hanging out with Donald non-stop and I have been talking to Tommy and his group a little, but other than them I feel completely lonely. 

"Hey babe," Jimmy smirked as he began to walk in-step with me on my way out of school Friday. 

"Do you have anything better to do than bug me?" I asked, annoyed that I couldn't just leave school in peace. 

"Yes, but this is much more interesting. Can't you see that with our good looks combined, we could make a power couple? Or even if you really couldn't stand the thought of that, one night could still make all the difference." He grabbed my shoulder stopping me and winked. I shuddered at the thought of being with Jimmy, and tried to break free, succeeding without any hassle. 

"I like it when you're feisty," he whispered into my ear, as i was trying to get into my car. I shoved him away, not hard enough though for him to think I was seriously mad at him. I wasn't mad, just annoyed. 

"Is this asshole bothering you Danielle?" I would know that husky, yet smooth deep voice anywhere. 

"Oh, no- I mean, yes he is bothering me a little," I said sarcastically, looking up at Jimmy with Bambi eyes. 

"Whatever babe I know you want me," Jimmy winked again as he walked away. 

"Was he really bothering you? I could kick his ass again if you want me too," Jake said, all too eager. I laughed at this and smiled. 

"No thanks, he was just being Jimmy." With this Jake looked down and smiled. I smiled and we both gave a small chuckle. His hand was resting on the side of my car door and he was leaned in while talking to me. We both began to say something, then stopped and chuckled again. 

I just now noticed being this close that he had gray mixed with his brown eyes that seemed to go miles deep. His skin looked just shaved and smooth if you were to run your hand over, which I was very tempted to do. His nose was cute and button shaped while his lips were full and a dark pink as he licked them in an attempt to stop laughing. When he looked up, our eyes met faces only inches apart and all the laughter was gone. 

We both sat there staring at each other before he gingerly wrapped his big, warm hand around the back of my neck and leaned in, eyes closing. Before I knew what was happening, our lips met, instantly matching like the last puzzle piece in an unsolvable puzzle.The breath was knocked out of my lungs and then crushed back in, like waves during an ocean storm. He was soft and gentle as we kissed, our lips moving together perfectly. He took a step closer and stood between my legs as I put one hand on his shoulder, the other around his neck. His free arm reached around my lower back and pulled me closer to him, our kissing beginning to grow more intense. His warm lips made my head spin and my thoughts blur and my mind went blank with the thought of just him. 

Jake pulled away first. 

"I'm sorry," he muttered as he took a step away looking at the ground. 

"Why?" I asked, confused why he would be sorry. This was what I had wanted; did he not want the same thing? I hoped that I wasn't the only one out of us loving that kiss...

"I just thought that maybe, because of Stephen, that you- you wouldn't want to-" Jake stammered trying to get the right words out. He  wrapped his hand around the back of his neck and looked out at a loss for words. It was actually really cute. 

"Jake, what happened in the past, is in the past. I can't go through my life not kissing a guy that I like because I'm afraid he would rape me." Jake looked scared when I said this and grabbed my hand as he spoke. 

"Danielle I respect you so much, I could never, I would never, hurt you or do anything that you don't want to do," Jake said, completely serious looking into my eyes. His eyes whispered sincerity, as well as hunger, and not for food. 

"I know," I whispered before I leaned in to kiss him again. It just felt so right when we kissed, like I could do it forever. Jake pulled back again and I groaned inside. 

"Wait, so you like me?" Jake said with a smirk, his eyes sparkling mischievously. My eyes grew wide and I realized too late that he had noticed when I let those menacing words slip out. 

"What? I-I never said that I, well what I meant was," I stammered, feeling my face get hot and red. I was stuck in a corner and there was no way that I could back out of what I said now. If this wasn't what he wanted then I would be stuck with those words as well as the taste of his lips to haunt me. 

"Shh. It's okay. I really like you too." He leaned in to kiss me again and I kissed back. We kissed for a minute or two before a question wouldn't leave my head. I was reluctant to, but this time I was the one to pull away.

"If you like me, then how come you never talk to me during school?" I asked, my curiosity getting the best of me. I didn't want to seem to forward or ruin things but we couldn't like each other and then not talk at school. In a way it seemed unfair. 

"You never talk to me either. Plus I didn't know that you liked me too. I didn't want to bother you," he said, suddenly looking guilty and sad. I knew that I was being a fool for believing in what he said, but it was Jake. I knew that he really was telling the truth, or that was what I was hoping. Besides aren't all lovers fools? Wait who said we would be lovers... My mind spun around my thoughts and I was becoming internally dizzy. 

"You always had girls around you and I didn't want to bother you! But Jake, you're never bothering me, you could never bother me."

Jake smiled and took my hand. He ran his thumb over my palm and brought it up to his mouth to kiss. My lips formed a small "o" and i looked up agian at him. He was looking right at me. Not at a distant point, not at an unrecognizable point, but right into my eyes. 

I smiled and leaned in, this time without any interruptions.