The Date Planner

1.18. Stubborn

After Clinton had gone, it was hard to not feel mad at Jason. Every time he joked around me, tried to tease me or even try to touch me, I would just get another notch irritated with his presence.

Even the ice cream tasted bland. And don't even get me started on the stuff Clinton bought. I had a hard time swallowing it down my throat and not bursting into tears. My face had nearly started to ache from passing out fake smiles all day.

All I wanted to do was lash out.

I don't know how but we made it till dinner, having watched movies all day. Jason had ordered some pizza because none of us were in the mood to cook despite having sat on our asses all day.

We were sprawled in front of my couch, on the carpet. Me on one end and Jason on the other with huge packets of this and that lying around us.

We had just finished another movie and I was about to suggest another before Jason switched off the TV.

"Why did you turn it off?", I turn to Jason, still munching on the bag of chips in my hand.

"My eyes will fall off if I watch anymore. Let's just take a break and talk, it's been a while and I've missed you"

He reaches for my hand before he pulls it to his lips and places a soft kiss on it, all the while his eyes on me.

These are the moments I realize why he's so charming.

But my anger is still set in place, if not that small kiss only irritates me further as I withdraw my hand to my lap.

I give him another one of my fake smiles.

"What do you want to talk about?"

He looks at me for a minute from underneath his lashes as if contemplating his words and choosing them wisely.

"You've been awfully quite all day. Not spared me a single glance and not even touched 1/4th of that stuff you made that bloke bring you. You've been passing me fake smiles all day long and you expect me not to talk about it, Jesse?"

He sounds offended.

But he's right, he's my best friend. How was I even thinking of fooling him when he knows me best? It melts my heart for few seconds because well, he noticed when I thought he wouldn't and not just a single thing but everything. Thankfully the feeling subsides, leaving me calm and not raging in its wake.

I frown at him, not shying away this time.

"You were so... rude to Clinton when he was just helping me out. What has he ever done to you? except for the fact that he's your rival in business. I get it, you guys have some history but... I've never seen you so...", I stop short as the word doesn't escape me.

Eyes filling with water because honestly, what I saw today wasn't my Jason. He was someone else, entirely.

" vile? ", he offers for me and I just stare at him with silent plea to not make me speak it.

He sighs as his eyes soften at my sight before he slumps his head back on the couch, looking at the ceiling.

"You're right. We do have history. But that's not why I was so... hostile to him today", he runs a hand through his hair before closing his eyes.

"What... are you saying?", I whisper as my heart thums loudly in my chest.

This time he looks me in the eye with a grave expression on his face.

"I know what he's done. And I can tell you, he's not as good of a man, you think he is. I can't tell you what, but I need you to stay away from him. I know you've this habit of finding the good in people, Jesse. But that man, doesn't deserve anything from you, I assure you of that", he spats, literally.