I Don't Smile

"Ugh, you're so frustrating! Who do you think you are, man? You're really starting to piss me off!" I hate this. I hate this. I hate this. What am I doing? I do not like confrontation. Why would I verbally challenge him? I don't know what's come over me, I never lash out like this. Nathaniel Lincoln is bad for me, bad for my mental health, bad for my physical health, and just bad. Period.

"You've been monstrous to me ever since that day when YOU bumped into ME! And now, you want me to come sit next to you? You didn't even ask, you just commanded me. That makes zero sense! I mean seriously, you've never even smiled at me, why the sudden desire to have me next to you?" At this point, I'm out of breath. Good. Maybe now you will shut up before he shuts you up. For eternity. Death, Jas, literal death. This is the first outburst I've ever had. And I mean EVER. I'm always calm. I just can't deal with him today, I'm so stressed and I'm tired and I don't have the will to put up with his torment. Lord knows he only wants me over there to mess with me.

I take a moment to study Nathaniel's face, he still hasn't responded to my little rant. He's just staring at me, his face completely expressionless. I don't think I've ever seen someone with such a placid face.

And then he speaks. And I'm shaken.

"I don't smile," he deadpans, "and I need to send a message. The only way to do that is if you sit next to me. So. Let's go."

And I go. I follow Nathaniel right to his table.

...

Jasmine Montgomery. Quiet, passive, and vehemently against confrontation.

Nathaniel Lincoln. Angry, dark, aggressive, and lives for the times when someone crosses him.

As fate would have it, the polar opposites collide. Literally. He practically runs her over.