Moonlit

nine

A/N: There's starting to be more explicit language used in my chapters, so read at your own risk!

-

I was fortunate enough to grasp a glimpse of Jake's happiness between my eyelids instead of the usual bitter disease that, for some hidden reason, he only passed to me. He was still outrageously irritating with his flirtatious comments and cheeky remarks, yet he was nothing I had ever encountered before and I was endlessly intrigued by him.

I hadn't a clue what we were: If we were friends, acquaintances or if Jake wanted more than that (as he had been heavily hinting).

Even though he and I had only spent a short hour in each other's presence that evening, we began to bid farewell on a pleasant note.

"Goodnight, silly kitten."

We were an arm's length apart, Jake's fingers tucked away into the tight pockets of his jeans. I was back in my usual attire of a skirt and blouse, rocking on the heels of my sandals.

A light breeze hit my shoulders as we stood in the outdoor hospital car park.

If you were to peer through the dark, you would be able to see my parents waiting patiently inside their car.

With a small smile lingering on Jake's lips, I couldn't help but return it at the sound of my absurd nickname. "Again with the 'kitten'?" I raised an eyebrow.

He smirked, showing off his pearly whites. "Kittens are cute, but they're also feisty; the name suits you."

I folded my arms at his comparison, leaning my weight onto my right leg.

Ryan had rarely called me cute or anything similar to that. It was either 'hot' or 'sexy', which was nice at first, but the meaning soon became lost in the repetition of it.

"And you say you don't like me," I teased.

I expected at least a small chuckle in response, but something glazed over his eyes and they unfocused. His arms stiffened. He frowned as he became lost in his train of thought.

He looked at me, then dropped his eyes to the floor. "I only like you as a friend. And only that."

I was taken aback by his sudden mood change. Somehow, my warm comment had burnt him like fire. I had solely only intended to joke with him, maybe get some answers as to how he felt about me over these past few days but it seemed as though I had triggered something inside him by the mere mention of him wanting more of me.

"I'm sorry, I just-"

"Goodnight, Tahli," he cut me off lowly. He spared me one last sorrowful glance before turning his back to me, walking away briskly from the car park.

-

The screen of my phone lit up for what felt like the hundredth time that night, emitting a glow in the darkened room.

I groped my side table for the warm object, tilting it on an angle so I could read the screen.

Babe, please. I told you I was sorry!

I huffed in annoyance. Once Ryan had sobered up, he had been sending shallow apologies through text all night. The only reason I wasn't asleep already was for the flash from my phone and the curiosity Jake had given me.

I ignored the text like I had done the others and continued to stare at the ceiling. Surely enough, it lit up again soon after.

I know you're there, T.

"Twat," I muttered under my breath. God knows what he was going to manipulate me into if I ever replied, but I knew without doubt that I was never going to forgive him. For me to let something go was extremely, extremely rare and the only people I had ever given a second chance to was those I had truly cared for. Ryan certainly didn't fit in that small category anymore.