I am begging you guys NOT to kill me!
So sorry for the late update! First few weeks of school are actually impossible to find time to eat let alone write. Please forgive me! Thank you so much for the reviews and just know that I would ready your pleas to me every night and internally cry about how I had no time to write!
Eight: A Nice Ring to It
Jane's POV
I was taking the order of a nice, elderly couple when I saw Seth and his friends sit down at a table across the room. Or rather... I heard them. Seth and his friends were exorbitantly noisy, even in a packed restaurant during the height of the rush.
I knew that it had been a mistake to admit to Seth that I worked at a popular breakfast café right in the center of town almost as soon as I had told him, but something about the way that he looked at me when he asked me questions, like his intentions that were true and humble were actually what was asking me in the first place, it was like the words just spilled out of me. And spilled out of me they had.
The other night, when Seth fall asleep on my couch, he slept for a total of about five hours, and I finished a very lengthy novel that was completely impractical considering I could have taken that time to be studying for the very pertinent and entirely fail-able test that I had coming up. Regardless, I had stayed, resting my head against his chest and listening to the bounding rhythm of his heartbeat, for the entire five hours. Even when my joints began to stiffen and my body urged to readjust, I hadn't; I hadn't wanted to disturb him, or risk waking him up, because lying there with sleeping Seth, I felt like I never, ever wanted that moment to end.
Once he woke up, he stayed all day, just talking. Talking about everything and nothing at the same time. The conversation never got too deep, but it was the little things that cued me into Seth's real personality that I drank in like water. I wanted to know everything about him: what his favorite movie was, what kind of music he liked, what he thought about politics (which we vastly disagreed on, but considering that was the dynamic of my mom and I versus my dad, I forgave him).
Fast-forward a few days, and here I was, on my Saturday morning, pretending like I didn't notice Seth and his friends enter the café that they had never, ever stepped foot in until I coincidentally told Seth that my friend's mom did me a favor by allowing me to work one day a week during the café's peak rush because she knew that I needed the cash.
I finished taking the older couple's order, collected their menus, and then sighed when I looked over at the boy's table. Seth was staring right at me, though as soon as I locked eyes with him he quickly dropped his eyes to his menu and lifted it so that it nearly concealed his face. I stifled a laugh and then dropped off the menus, grabbing some new ones, before making my way over to them.
"What did I do to deserve such an attractive table?" I said bravely as I stopped in front of their table and began handing their menus to them.
"Oo," There were a few collective gasps and then a whistle, most likely from Jared.
"Oh, did ya hear that?" Jared asked as he scanned the menu. "Sethy, I believe your girlfriend just called us hot."
At the mention of "girlfriend," my face heated up like a freaking tomato. Seth and I were not- well- we weren't nothing, but we had definitely not established our relationship yet! And hearing Jared proclaim that so openly in front of everyone and especially Seth himself made me want to die of embarrassment.
"Jane," Seth faked astonishment. "What are you doing here?"
"Seth," I sighed.
"What?" He grinned, obviously having either ignored Jared's comment or not noticed. It made me feel much, much better.
"This is very coincidental," I told him.
"Very," Seth nodded. "We come here all the time. Right guys?"
"Yep," Jacob popped the "p."
"All the time," Embry murmured.
"Every day," Quil agreed.
I rolled my eyes. "That's so interesting, because you know I've worked here for a year and I've never seen you guys in here before until the day after I told you that I worked every Saturday morning."
"Imagine that," Seth shrugged his shoulders.
"Sethy hit puberty late," Jared grinned ecstatically at me. "That's probably why you didn't recognize him."
I giggled, despite myself, as Seth punched Jared in the arm. It looked like with the force he used it should have hurt him, but Jared only laughed.
I covered my mouth with my note-pad to get myself under control and then finally shook my head at the ground. "What can I get you guys?" I took a steady breath.
"A date for Seth here so we don't have to keep hearing about it!" Embry demanded.
My mouth dropped. I swear I stopped breathing mid-breath.
"Would you guys leave her alone?" Jacob laughed. "I'll have coffee, Jane."
"Thank you," I muttered underneath my breath, scribbling down his order and trying to take deep breaths so that my blush would go away faster than I knew it really would.
"Coffee for me too," Quil held up his finger, which made me want to laugh; Quil definitely acted the most "dad-like" out of all of them.
"Me three," Chimed in Embry.
"Hit me girlfriend," Jared agreed. Jesus, my face heated up again, him and that stupid word!
I stopped on Seth, and before he could answer, I cut in, worried that he might do something crazy like try to flirt with me in front of all of his friends and completely ruin my life and what is left of my dignity.
"And no coffee for you," I said quieter than I had intended.
Seth's lips pulled up into a small smile the mirrored my own. "Just a water please, Jane."
I nodded my head and spun around the other way as quickly as possible in hopes that they didn't get another look at my bright red face. "On it."
The morning rush was rather brutal on this particular Saturday, which is why I really wasn't able to talk with Seth and his friends all that much, besides when I brought them their drinks and Jared made another mention as to how Seth's "girlfriend" was extremely domesticated, which got him not one, but three smacks on the back of the head. My embarrassment was only slightly dwindled by my joy of watching them be so obviously disturbed at that sexist comment.
I had to have three other servers help me with their order once it finally came out of the kitchen, and that was because I had never experienced one table that ordered so much food. My God! Each of them ordered two meals, plus "appetizers" as they called them, for the middle of the table. I swear, they seemed genuinely confused when I questioned them as to why, if every single one of them ordered a stack of 10 pancakes, they needed to order three waffles for the table, which left me slightly dumbstruck and entirely amused.
Due to their extra-large order, though, I was slightly behind on my other tables, which meant that I was rushing around quicker than normal, not able to fully appreciate how attractive Seth looked today in his tight, black athletic top and sweats.
I was up at the counter checking on an order when I turned back around, and was suddenly confronted with that sleeveless black shirt.
Seth was standing in front of me, smiling breezily, a little bit too close for the amount of people and staff that were mere inches away.
"Hi," He stated.
My eyes widened. "Hi Seth," I whispered.
Seth reached out and placed a piece of hair that had fallen out of my pony-tale in my haste behind my ear.
I shook my head, loosening that piece, and then blew it out of my face before reaching back to re-tie it all-together.
"What are you doing?" I asked him as I worked on tying back my thick and unmanageable hair.
"I came to say hi," He told me simply.
I fought a smile. "You already did."
"Oh, then, I came to give you this." Seth reached for my waist, and before I knew what was happening, Seth was kissing me. My immediate reaction was to fall into him, and I must admit that for a moment there I really began to lose myself, but it was much too loud in that crowded café to completely forget where I was.
"Seth," I giggled against his lips and tilted my face away from him. "I'm at work."
Seth kissed my cheek and then my jaw and then finally pulled away. "I know," He attempted to kiss me again though I half-heartedly shoved at his chest. "And you look very appealing in a uniform, I gotta say Janesie."
I blushed yet again. Ugh, I felt like I had just gotten rid of the last blush!
"Seth," I giggled. "I'm wearing jeans."
"Precisely," He raised his eyebrows at me.
I rolled my eyes. "You're going to get me in trouble."
"Just real quick," He reached for my hands.
"Seth," I complained, attempting to pull away but only managing one hand before he entwined his fingers with mine on the other.
"How'd you feel about that whole "girlfriend" thing? I thought it had a nice ring to it."
My eyes nearly popped out of my head. "S-Seth!" I stammered. "I am not talking about this right now!"
Seth laughed. "Just think about it, please, Janesie?" He smiled that sweet and gentle smile that made me want to hug him until he burst and I couldn't help but soften.
"Seth," I stated gently. "I'm at work."
"Are you free after this?" He ignored me.
"I'm working at the bookstore," I quickly answered.
"Till when?" Seth's face fell.
"Late."
"How late is late."
"You're going to get me fired."
"Okay, okay!" Seth released my hands but then reached for my waist as I moved past him. "Date after you're done."
"Seth!"
"Say yes and I'll let you go."
"Oh my God," I couldn't help but laugh.
Seth joined in on the laughing now, too. "Say yes and I'll let you go!" He said again.
"Okay fine!" I laughed.
"Really?" Seth spun me towards him and then kissed me once more, and then a second time, and then a third, quick one once I finally pulled away. I was laughing as I pushed him away, a blush on my cheeks but thrill going through my entire body.
"Go!" I laughed and swatted at him.
"Okay bye," Seth reached for my cheeks and kissed me one last time quickly, right on the lips.
Moments later, as I passed by their table, I kid you not, the boys gave me a round of applause. I wanted to die.
Later that night, I hadn't heard from Seth all day when I finally got off of work at 10 o'clock, which was later than I had been expecting. After what happened the first night that I ever met Seth, I had been very careful not to take the night shift... but tonight had been inevitable.
I was so worried about walking home alone that I nearly forgot about Seth and I's date, that is until I locked up, turned around, and then saw his familiar and awesome Jeep sitting idle in the parking lot. For a split second I panicked, not realizing it was him, but then quickly after a surge of excitement, adrenaline, happiness, and relief all surged through my veins at the exact same time.
I bounced over to his car and got in the passenger side.
"I thought you forgot about me," I said slyly, turning towards him with a small smile, expecting one in return. Only, once I saw him, my eyes immediately caught on two, narrowed, furious eyes of his own.
My face fell.
"Please tell me you somehow knew that I was picking you up." Seth's voice was icy calm and smooth. It made me gulp. I didn't answer.
I noticed Seth's Adam's apple bob up and down and then his jaw tighten. "Did you at least think that I might be here?" He tried again, his voice just a tiny bit softer this time.
"No," My voice was very small.
Suddenly, the controlled rage that had encompassed him and the area surrounding him since I stepped into the car exploded.
"You were going to walk home alone?" Seth screamed at me.
I flinched back, tears welling in the corners of my eyes immediately. I hated yelling of any sort; much like when I got angry, when someone else got angry at me, I cried nearly every single time. I had no desire to cry in front of Seth, or have him yell at me for that matter, which is why I opened the passenger door, and stepped out.
While usually I would have missed the safety and warmth of Seth's car, there was nothing warm about what I had just left. My ex and I used to fight... all the time. It got to the point when it seemed like everything we did or talked about ended in a fight, and it was so exhausting, that I swore I never, ever wanted to feel that sinking, aching feeling that always accompanied a fight ever again. Only, now I was feeling it, but ten times stronger... because it was Seth.
The car engine suddenly cut off, and I heard the car door open. Seth let out a loud moan that was honestly more of a growl than anything and rushed after me.
"Jane, " He called, his voice still loud.
"Leave me alone," I tucked my arms tightly around myself and began the familiar stretch home.
"Would you get in the car?" He pushed.
"No."
"You're not walking home alone! Are you crazy? Do you want to get raped or something? Was the first time not a close enough call? You're trying for a round two?"
"Yes," My face was burning now, tears blurring at my vision. I angrily swiped at my eyes, and not for the first time, I hated that I could not get angry or emotional in any way without immediately crying. It made it very difficult to get my point across. "Because that was so much fun."
"Are you crying?" Seth's voice was astonished.
"No!" I sniffled.
"Jane," Seth moaned, though his voice audibly softened after that. "Why are you crying?"
"Because you screamed at me!" I exclaimed, not able to hold the tears in any longer.
"I didn't scream at you, Jane," Seth told me much more calmly. "I screamed at the danger you were about to put yourself in."
"That doesn't even make sense," I cried softly.
"Would you stop walking?" Seth asked gently. "Come back to the car. We can talk about it."
"No. I don't want to talk to you," I replied, my voice filled with the tears that were spilling down my cheeks.
"Jane," Seth stated, but his voice was pleading now. "Come on. I would never, ever purposefully hurt your feelings or yell at you. You've got to understand how crazy dangerous you just were, though. How could you ever think that you could walk home again after getting attacked the last time you did it? Come on, Jane. Your parents never would have forgiven me if I hadn't gone at you for that."
I stopped mid-step. Seth, who had been walking quickly next to me to keep up got a few feet ahead of me before he realized I had stopped and abruptly turned on his heel. It took one second for him to see the look on my face before his face fell.
"Hey, Jane-,"
"Did you seriously just use my dead parents as a way to win a fight?"
Seth winced. "Oh God," He placed his hands overtop of his face. "I'm so sorry Jane. Of course not. I-,"
"Never talk about my parents again," I suddenly yelled at him, surprising even myself.
Seth's hands fell from his face. He looked like he was about to cry. "I swear to God I hadn't meant it like that, Jane. I just mean that you're all alone and... and I want to protect you. I didn't mean to hurt you, Jane; it didn't mean what you think it did."
"The last guy who said that to me was fucking my best friend. Forgive me if I'm not interested."
The curse word burned on my lips as it came out, but I couldn't help myself. I was not only hurt, but I was furious. I was angry at Seth for using my dead parents as a way to manipulate the argument to go in his favor. I was used to manipulative men, but this was a whole other level. I was angry that I couldn't tell him this without sobbing, and I was so, so, so angry that it had been Seth to do this to me.
I brushed past him, and was well expecting him to give up, when he stepped in front of me again.
"But I'm not that guy, Jane," Seth told me sternly. "And it's not fair of you to hold me to that same standard."
"You're trying to manipulate me into thinking you're right by using my dead parents!" I cried. "How is that a higher standard?"
"Manipulate you?" Seth honestly looked mystified. "What are you talking about? I would never manipulate you. I just meant that if I was a dad, even if I wasn't here anymore, I would be up in heaven screaming at my daughter at the top of my lungs if she just pulled what you almost did! That's all I meant by that!"
"You didn't know my dad," I angrily swiped the backs of my hands against my wet cheeks.
"I didn't have to, Jane," Seth's voice was soft. "I can tell just from how you are that he was an incredible father. And any descent dad would freak out at their daughter for that."
I gulped. I understood what he was saying, and it made sense, but I had a seriously hard time with forgiving him and just moving on, because it felt like how my ex's and I's fights always used to end; with him convincing me that he was right, I was an idiot, and that I of course completely overreacted or misinterpreted the situation.
"You're not my dad," I finally whispered.
"Well your dad's not here," Seth nodded firmly. "So I'm taking on some of those roles whether you like it or not."
I narrowed my eyes at him.
"Now," Seth took a deep breath. "I really hate seeing you cry, Jane Mcalaster. Would you please give me a hug and let me take you home?"
My heart softened at the earnest tone behind Seth's voice, and then at the way that he held his arms out for me. I suddenly didn't care about what my brain was screaming at me about my past and about what bad intentions I thought Seth had because I realized that he hadn't had any at all. Seth might have made me cry, but he wasn't happy about it at all.
"Ugh, Jane," Seth wrapped his arms tightly around my back and I was suddenly engulfed in warmth so intense, I swear Seth was the sun. "Don't ever cry like that again. I feel suicidal." He kissed the side of my head and I nodded into his chest.
"It's n-n-not you," I hiccupped. "Whenever I get angry I cry. I can't help it. It's a c-c-curse."
"Really?" Seth sounded a little bit worried. "Well, at least you know who's winning every argument," He murmured.
"What do you mean?" I asked him, pulling away.
Seth's eyes softened and drooped into a sad sort of pull as he brushed his thumbs underneath my eyes to catch the stray liquid. "You think I wouldn't do anything you wanted when you start crying like that? Jesus, Janesie. You crying is the worst thing I've ever seen in my life. You've got these giant, beautiful, brown eyes that just fill up with tears and then your lower lip trembles like a little girl. Are you trying to kill me?"
I giggled through the tears. I had never felt so cared for since my parents died.
"Jesus," Seth repeated. "I might cry."
I laughed. "It's okay, Seth," I sighed. "Like I said, happens every time I get mad. I was more angry than anything."
"I would hate to see you sad then, Janesie," Seth's face fell into a frown.
"I'm sorry I tried to walk home again after what happened the last time," I ignored him.
"I'm sorry I yelled at you," Seth nodded earnestly. "And I'm really sorry I made you cry. But if you had seen what had happened to you like I had, you probably would have yelled at yourself, too! Why would you even think to do that, Jane?"
I gulped, now feeling more stupid than anything. "I don't have a car," I whispered, trying to hide my embarrassment.
"Why didn't you just call me?" Seth looked honestly confused.
I bit the corner of my lip. Honestly, the thought had occurred to me, but then I had immediately decided against it. How much was too much? I already had so many problems, I didn't want to add another burden to my already too difficult life.
"I didn't want to annoy you," I admitted.
"Jane," Seth moaned. "What? You could never, ever annoy me, not even if you tried."
I smiled timidly up at him. "Is that a challenge?"
Seth smiled back down. "Most definitely. Your face is so cute, your annoying would come off as more adorable than anything."
I blushed. "Seth."
He just smiled and wrapped his arm around my shoulders, beginning to walk us back to the car. "God, Janesie," He kissed my head. "Don't do that to me again. I could handle you screaming at me, punching me, throwing things at me, slamming doors on me, but I can't handle you crying."
"Let's just never fight ever again."
Seth chuckled. "I'll try my hardest Janesie. But, you know that, that can't happen, right?" His voice was softer than ever.
I peered up at him. "What?" I frowned.
Seth sighed. "I know that your last relationship wasn't the best, but even the best couples fight, Jane. We're going to fight, but I'm not walking away. And I'm not going to hurt you or say things that manipulate you or hurt your feelings. Trust me, please."
I bit the corner of my lip as the word "couple" swam through my head at warped speed, choosing not to respond to that one.
"So do you hate me now?" Seth asked softly once we reached the car.
I rested my back against the driver's side and looked up at him. "No, Seth," I whispered. "Do you hate me?"
"Jane, that's impossible. I could and will never hate you, no matter what."
I sighed and nodded my head. "The parents are just a touchy subject," I got out as my throat began closing yet again.
Seth nodded, reached for my cheeks and then kissed me deeply. I placed my hand overtop one of his and let him press me tighter to the car.
"So," Seth brushed my hair behind his ears as his breath tickled so close to my face. "Is the date off? Because it's cold, you've been crying, and I'm sure you're hungry. I've got the perfect place for us to go."
My lips pulled up into a bright grin, and for the first time, I think I truly and entirely believed Seth Clearwater when he said that his intentions were pure.
Okay, so yes I suck for the late update, but how did everyone feel about this chapter!? I can't wait to read your reviews!
Good news, already wrote half of the next chapter, so will try to have it up tomorrow, Thursday at the latest!
