Better Than The Movies

Chapter Twenty- Seven

In the coming weeks, our relationship shifted. Like the tectonic plates shifting to warn us that an earthquake is coming.

At first, I didn't notice. I didn't think anything of it. The way he'd find little ways to touch me. Like tucking a stray hair behind my ear and his warm hand lingers for a second too long. The way I'd move a little closer on the couch so our legs intertwined when watching a movie. We would smile a little wider and laugh a little more.

Nothing had changed except maybe everything had.

I had been spending weekends at his house, telling my parents I was with a friend. They didn't question me as they were too busy focusing on Brielle's recovery. I've been talking to her more. When I'm home during the week since she's on lockdown, I hang out in her room. She actually tells me things. Girlfriends and boyfriends she's had. Things that would never leave this room

But I never told her about Jace. She suspected it was a boy but I denied it every time and said I was over Destiny's house.

It felt good being around her again. Having that sisterly bond I'd missed so much.

As for Destiny we haven't spoken since the day Jace and I went to the waterfall. She stopped reaching out after week two, but I know that our friends have noticed the tension. Destiny doesn't sit with us anymore instead she spends her lunchtime doing dub-smashes in the bathrooms with the same girls we used to make fun of.

Erika and Dylan were too preoccupied in their budding relationship to care much about our drama. I was happy for them, Erika hasn't had a boyfriend in over a year and they were unbelievably cute together.

Kayden asked me about Destiny at least once a week, his crush on her still going strong. Even though he has Gianna Rogers hanging on to his every word. I told him to get over her but he refused, saying there's something about her.

There's something there alright, a whole lot of stupid. Losing herself in Jasper.

Fucking Jasper. Why does everything have to come back to him? Jace's inner turmoil, my distress, and Destiny's obliviousness all come back to him.

Every time I see him I'm afraid that he's going to blow my cover. He has been radio silent since our talk in the kitchen. But silence is deadly. He's waiting for the perfect time to strike. And I'm not prepared.

"Who's your favorite?" Jace asked, tearing me away from my thoughts.

We were sitting in his bedroom on a Saturday afternoon and he had just finished reading me the last Harry Potter book. I hadn't seen Jasper all day, but I could hear him and Destiny sneaking around the house like sneaky rats.

My head was laying on his chest and my body was curled up on his. He was absentmindedly playing with a piece of my hair. It was soothing to feel his hands on my skin, igniting me. Leaving the places he's touched, cold when he leaves.

"I don't know Jace," I sit up against his headboard. "I feel like I'm dying!" I clutch my stomach, shutting my eyes waiting for the pain to leave.

I could barely focus while he was reading, my cramps were too bad. Mother Nature came last night but Jace promised me desserts if I came over. I wasn't about to give up desserts. He came through by making me a cheesecake (way better than anything I had at the Cheesecake Factory) and buying a tub of cookies and cream ice cream.

He offered to grab me ginger ale but I declined. I thought getting up and walking downstairs would distract from wanting to curl up in a ball and cry on these white floors.

I stepped outside his room, immediately pausing when I heard footsteps coming from the stairs. It was Jasper making out with a very white, very red-headed, very not Destiny looking girl. He was gripping her waist and dominating the kiss, backing her against the wall.