by Mansi Negi
"That your brother?" He asked, motioning over to Jack.
"No, my friend." I said, shuffling to the side to move past him.
"I haven't seen you before, you on campus?" He asked, this time he stood while moving his head in closer.
He was coming on to me. I looked over at Jack who sat at the booth smiling back at me. I could tell he was interested in what I would say next.3
"I'll be a freshmen, this year actually, but I should get back to my date." I said moving to the side to walk around the guy again.
"Wait. What's your name?" He stepped in my way again and I glanced up at Jack in annoyance.
He had already stood and was walking toward me, the same knowing smirk painted on his face.
"Hey man, we're on a date..." Jack said to the tall lanky boy. "Lyla." He turned his eyes to me and offered me his hand. I thanked him with my eyes, grabbing onto him and hurling myself forward. The tall guy let out a little huff.2
"See you around." He said in defeat and jogged to the door to catch up with his friends who were on their way out. They patted his back in reward for his effort.
"Thanks." I said again to Jack who had now been the saviour to my damsel in distress twice in the half hour we'd been together.
"Yes, no problem... I would have come over sooner but I'm sure you're used it, guys hitting on you like that?" He said almost inquisitively as he guided me back into the booth, this time squeezing in beside me.
"Not really." I felt like he had wanted a reply.
"Really?" He said looking down at me from much closer now that we were side by side. He was tall, really tall with grey eyes, no hint of blue or green to them, just flat grey. They were unlike anything I'd seen before.
"I mean, look at you Lyla." He said more seriously, his eyes momentarily moving lower than my face and then back quickly so he wouldn't get caught.
"Nope... it doesn't happen all that often." I admitted and felt like I should explain further.
"I've just always had a boyfriend, I mean until recently, so there haven't been a lot of chances I guess." I blushed, wishing I hadn't brought up that I was recently single.
I didn't want him to feel like a rebound, even though that's what he was supposed to be. Wasn't he?
The waitress interrupted our conversation, she walked over with two red baskets, both contained a burger larger than my head and fresh cut fries that piled over the top and poked through the square holes in the sides of their perspective containers.1
"Oh my god." I laughed, eyeing the size of the meal she'd just placed in front of us.
"Condiments are on the counter." She smiled as she directed our interest toward the counter with glass bottles of ketchup, mustard and tubes of malt vinegar lined, single file, across it.
"Everything look alright?" She asked again, turning her eyes seductively to the grey eyed boy sitting beside me, who I hadn't noticed until now, had draped his arm over the back of the booth behind me.
"You good?" He looked down to me, noticing her come hither stare, and letting her know he was with me. I smiled appreciatively at the little wink he gave me, and nodded my head to his question.
"We're fine." He said, dismissively to her, while keeping my eye contact a little longer.
"You must get that a lot." I laughed, nudging him in the ribs playfully. He smiled at my attempt to return his compliment, and used my playful touch as a chance to make his move.
He lowered his arm so that his hand rested on my shoulder. At first, I felt myself tense slightly, but this was nice, it felt nice.
This was how a date should be, and Jonas had dumped me.
He didn't want me. "Take a hint" he had said in his text message, well guess what Jonas Landry... message received.4
I brought my fingers up to graze over Jacks hand momentarily, a flirty sign of acceptance. His hand tightened a bit around me as he ploughed some of the fries from his basket into his mouth.
"I'm getting some ketchup, you want anything?" He asked, looking over at me as I took a bite of one of the thick cut fries. They were delicious.
"Vinegar please." I said, bringing my hand over my mouth to block the food from showing.
"You're so fucking cute, you know that?" He winked as he stood up, removing his arm from my shoulder. I instantly missed the touch when he moved away.
Not his touch personally, but I'd felt so utterly alone the past long weeks since Jonas had left, and it was nice to feel the warmth of an embrace again.
Any embrace would be nice, at least that's what I told myself.
We continued to eat when Jack came back, although I leaned a bit into him, a subtle hint for him to place his arm around me again.
Before I knew it I'd taken down half of the burger. It was so good, and this was the first time I'd actually had an appetite in five weeks.1
"What all is on this burger?" I asked, Pulling us from our mindless chomping. I looked up at Jack who shoved the last bite of food into his mouth.
"Everything..." he laughed. I pulled the bun off of my burger, onion rings, caramelized onions, a sweet barbecue sauce, something that looked like cooked garlic, a white cheese — provolone maybe, it was literally stacked with so many delicious things and the bun was toasted, it made the best sort of crunch whenever I took a bite.2
"I see why this is everyone's favourite place. We have to come back." I said, sliding my basket away from myself so I wouldn't take another bite. I felt like my stomach might explode.
"Do you want to?" He asked.
"Come out with me again?" He specified and smiled down at me as he wiped his napkin across his mouth and wadded it up, tossing it into his empty basket.
"Yes, I really do... I had a great time Jack." I meant it, I really felt good around him. He at least made my heartbreak bearable. I didn't know if anything would ever come of us, but I did know that I enjoyed his company.
We sat in the booth talking and planning our first weeks in the dorms at school. We would be moved in a few weeks before classes started. It was the earliest we could, and both of us couldn't wait for the freedom.
Since we'd have each other on campus it would make it all the better.
I hadn't admitted to anyone that part of me hoped that Jonas would contact me once I had left home.
That maybe me being on my own, away from the protective wing of my parents, would give him the ability to reach out to me.
I hated myself for holding on to things that were unlikely, and for how unhealthy I was in not considering my own well-being when it came to Jonas, but I couldn't stop loving him, no matter how hard I tried.
I probably would have begged him to come back to me one million times by now if it hadn't been for my pride.
Jack was the game changer in my feelings for Jonas. Casey had helped me recognize the un-healthiness, and spending this time with Jack had made me realize I could still have fun with other people.
It was something I hadn't wanted to do, nor had I expected when I set out to meet him today.1
"If you could go anywhere... anywhere in the world, where would it be?" Jack asked as we sat in the booth finishing our drinks, his arm draped over my shoulder holding me against him and at some point I'd braided my fingers into his without even realizing it.
"I don't know, there are so many good places, I don't think I could choose just one." I laughed.
"How about you?" I asked, leaning my head on to his shoulder.
"I travelled with my youth group to Africa when I was 15. We helped build a school that doubled as a church. Everything there was so different, there was one shared well in the village. It changed me and the way I think about things. I would love to do something like that again." He surprised me with the admission.
He was so sweet and thoughtful, completely different than the tattooed bad boy exterior he put on.
"That's amazing Jack." I pulled away to read his eyes, and they looked deep in thought.
"It was amazing... you should come with me next time." He wink
ed my way and I remembered that we were on our first date, our fiat date that wasn't even supposed to be a date and we were talking about going on missions, trips together. How did he make this so easy?
He continued to look down at me and I knew what was coming. His eyes floated to my lips and then back to my eyes. I felt his breath run across my lips as he moved in closer, and my heart picked up pace.
Nope, nope, no... you can't do this. My mind scolded me, his breath was foreign and every nerve ending in my body stood on end at the invasion of my personal space.
I turned my had to the side at the last minute. His lips grazed my cheek and my eyes went wide at the man standing in the doorway —his dark onyx eyes burning into mine.
He stood frozen, terror painting his features. I watched his throat bob at an uncomfortable forced swallow. "Jonas." I whispered in an incredibly quiet tone that no one could hear. I watched his eyes read his name on my lips.5
"I'm sorry Lyla, I shouldn't have done that." Jack whispered at the side of my cheek.
His lips still brushing my skin as the words left his mouth. I stared back at Jonas unable to move, wishing that I could peel Jack away from me.
I removed my hand from his and watched a shutter run from Jonas' shoulders through his body. His eyes narrowed and he began toward us. Fuck!
Her
Jonas' Point of View
My stomach growled as I drove through town, I hadn't eaten in three days, not because I didn't want to, but because I'd had no vehicle, therefore no way to make it to work.
I'd have been no different from the men camped out in my front lot on the street if I hadn't owned the heap of shit, garage.2
Thankfully Theo had finally got the fight ring up and running. It had taken some elbow grease, but the garage would suffice for now and give us the privacy to not get caught.
The first fight was last night. I was so hungry and weak I had drown myself in liquor before jumping in the ring, just to make it through.
I lifted my hand and ran it over the scabbed cut in my lip, cursing at myself for almost letting that douchebag get the best of me.
He would never have even landed a hit on me if I were on my best game.
Which I needed to be regardless of the fighting bull shit, because I had almost broken down and begged Lyla to be with me.
The adrenaline from the fight had only fueled my wanting her to something so unbearable I'd almost let go of everything.
Everything I'd fought against myself for, for the last five weeks would have been in vain. I absolutely love the shit out of that girl and I'd never risk her life again.5
Theo had dropped off the Monte Carlo he'd bet on the fight a few hours ago and I now had wheels again, and money, a shitload of it.
We'd made $8,000 each from our first fight, and we imagined that profit would only increase with each fight as word got out.
I drove through the beat up downtown area looking for the first available food establishment, hoping not to pass out before I found one.
I'd had hunger pangs before, but never like this. Amazing system we have for children, taking them in, bouncing them from home to home, and then throwing them out on their ass because they're now a legal adult.
A legal adult in high school. I didn't even get to finish my senior year.1
Fuck it! I reminded myself, the world is against me. No matter how much I try at happiness there is always something out of my control that blows right the fuck up in my face.
Well no more. I'd always relished control because my life had lacked it for so many years, but now I'm steeping myself in it.
I won't let any outside factors influence me anymore.
It's another reason I can't be with Delilah, she breaks me down.
She makes me feel things I haven't felt in years, bloody hell I don't even know if I've ever felt the things she makes me feel. I don't want any weaknesses, but she is mine.
I gave up everything for her safety, and even now I'd do it all over again. I keep waiting for her hold on me to quit, or to lighten, but it never does.
She's in my fucking head all the time and it's infuriating.
I spied a burger joint up the road and to the left as my stomach groaned at me, reminding me that my body had taken to eating itself in lieu of food.
My foot became lead on the gas and I whipped into the lot. A group of college kids sitting outside on the hood of an old Pontiac Grand Prix glanced over and laughed at my rusty piece of shit car as I turned the key and it backfired.
I recognized them from the fight last night. They had been there.1
I tried to sneak by them. I was Damn hungry, and didn't want any recognition around town, especially on campus, although that's where a majority of the money in my pocket right now had come from.
Thank god for rich parents, private school, and alcohol induced betting.1
"Hey, isn't that the guy from last night's street fight?" The tall guy said to a short redhead.
Fuck, here we go. I turned my head the other direction pretending not to hear and tried to walk past the group as quickly as possible.
"Hey dude! Nice fight! You took down a D1 football player last night easily." One of the guys yelled over to me, loud enough that I couldn't just pretend not to hear it. The last thing I wanted was to piss off someone and end up not getting paid as much next fight.
"Yes, hey, that's me." I said over my shoulder, slowing but not stopping, hoping they'd realize the urgency behind the action. No such luck.
The whole group started my way, like we were old mates. These weren't my chaps... I didn't even know them, they all looked like a bunch of wankers, but if I offended them, they'd likely run back to their wanker friends and tell them what a fucking dick I'd been and I could kiss their money goodbye.
"What's your name?" The tall boy asked, squaring me up, examining my lip wound mostly, then my physique, which made me incredibly uncomfortable.
"I'm Jonas." I said, sticking out my hand to shake his. He had clearly been taught to give a firm handshake because the fucker nearly cut off my circulation as he squeezed my fingers to death.
I was hoping this wouldn't turn into a match up of who had the bigger dick. I just wanted to go in and fill my face with some food, not get into any trouble.
"Jonas, that was an impressive fight last night man, can't wait to see more." I nodded and gave him a fake smile, turning toward the door.1
"You're British?" The girl beside him giggled up at me flirtatiously, stopping me again.
Damn, I need to eat. My stomach reminded me with a hollow gurgling sound. this girl isn't even my type!
"I'm from England." I said, trying to hide the annoyance in my voice, but struggling, because it was growing by the minute.
I was nearly salivating on myself just thinking about getting some food into my mouth and these fuckers wanted to stand outside and make small talk all night.
"Say something in British." The red headed idiot continued to talk.2
"It's English Sally." The tall guy narrowed his eyes at her and corrected.
"Oh, well say something in English." The airhead continued to make herself look like even more of a bimbo.
"Erm, I am speaking in English now..." I couldn't hide the roll of my eyes.3
"No, say something like bloke or something!" She squealed, and I'd had enough. I turned toward the door.
Something about her reminded me of Lorna and I wasn't sticking around to hear any more of her ignorance.
"Oh dude, wait until you see the fine dime piece in there." The tall guy said from behind me as I opened the door and all the smells flooded my nostrils making me momentarily dizzy with the anticipation of sustenance in my belly for the first time in days.
I stepped inside and looked over the menu from the doorway. My fingers fumbling around in my pocket against the bills, trying desperately to separate them.
My stomach grumbling was at an all time high as the aroma of cooked food had my body's digestive response on ov
erdrive. Just as I released a few dollars from the rolled up wad I'd stored in my filthy jean's pocket I heard a familiar giggle.2
Like bells, it rang through my ears, warming my soul and subsiding all other senses.
My eyes frantically roamed the booths of the restaurant for her face.
My girl, my sweet, perfect, angelic, Delilah was here somewhere. My eyes fixed on a back corner booth.
There she was, looking like an angel in white lace. Her blonde hair pulled back from her face.
Her pony tale cascaded down her tan shoulder. She was darker, the sun had kissed her skin perfectly and the white lace of her outfit made her practically glow.
She was the dime piece that douche outside had been talking about. Like he would ever have a chance with a girl like her.
I couldn't stop staring. God I'd forgotten how beautiful she was. Something else was different about her though. She looked thin, much too thin.
Had she not been eating? Had I been the cause of that? A worry line creased my forehead.2
I was certain my mouth had fallen open at some point, but between the hunger and the absolute shock of seeing her here I couldn't feel my face any longer.
My body was on some kind of alternate plane operating outside of the control of my mind.
All of a sudden she turned her head to the side, making me aware of the man sitting beside her. He was close, too fucking close. He leaned his head closer and brought his lips to her cheek.
What the fuck? He was trying to kiss her. Her eyes fixed on mine.
Good girl... I tried to will, my praise to resound within her. My mind automatically told me to storm over and strangle the dude who was whispering something against her face, but she had turned away.
Had she known I was here? She couldn't have.
I noticed her hand braided through his fingers at her shoulder. He was practically hanging on her.
She pulled it away as I looked, and a shudder shook me to my core at how much hatred was filling me for this guy.
Who did he think he was? His arms were covered in tats, like he had done a stent in prison.
Maybe he had, maybe she has been a wreck since I'd ended things with her.