She was angry and hurt and confused.
Simon wasn't making sense.
He didn't know why he couldn't talk to her. That was some bull.
Whatever
She'll be glad once she walked home, washed off this ridiculous makeup and changed back into her comfortable clothing.
She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't pay attention to where she was going and smacked right into a hard chest.
The force was strong that it knocked both her and the other person to the ground.
She didn't hear or see Simon catching up to her.
"Will you watch where you're going?" She yelled as she stood up and dusted off her clothes.
"Hey, I wasn't the one…Mira?"
She froze and felt her body go ice-cold.
That voice.
That deep seductive voice.
It couldn't be.
She slowly turned and was relieved to see it wasn't Loren. It was someone else, someone else who she knew from her young life.
It was her childhood best friend, Jason.
Her heart started to pound and her body felt weird.
To say he hadn't changed was an understatement.
His green eyes were darker; they were a striking emerald color that made her feel like she could lose herself in them.
His skin was no longer pale, but tanned.
His teeth were no longer yellow or crooked. They were white and straight. His nose was free of blemishes and pores.
His chin was sharp and his cheekbones were high. His lips were full and plump and she suddenly had the urge to kiss those lips.
He was taller and bigger. He muscles bulged against his cotton shirt.
He was obviously working out.
His dark hair was no longer long. It was short and it gave him a boyish charm.
She suddenly had the urge to grab onto something to steady herself.
"Jason?"
"Yeah, it's me. Remember?" His voice was like chocolate and it enveloped her in a sweet cocoon.
"Yeah. You've changed."
Smooth, real smooth.
He smiled and her heart did somersaults.
"You did too. I almost didn't recognize you. You never were one for dressing up."
She laughed nervously and bit her lip.
"Yeah, my friend felt wanted to dress me up."
Stupid, stupid, stupid!
"It suits you. You look hot!"
She blushed madly and saw Simon out of the corner of her eye. Anger roiled in her body and she purposely ignored him.
Jerk
"Thanks. You look pretty good too."
You look good? That's it?
But she couldn't help shake the feeling that something looked...off about him.
"What happened? Last I saw you, you were moving away." He said
"Yeah, I went away to a...um...camp for an internship but now we're back." She couldn't tell him that she was moved away for a different reason.
"Good, cause I missed you a lot." He whispered as he leaned in close and placed a hand on her arm.
"Are you here alone?" She asked, aware that Simon was glaring at the both of them, his cheeks suspiciously red.
"No, I'm with a friend. She's getting us some drinks."
Samira felt a slight jealousy wash over her.
"Oh," She looked away and felt like going home.
"Hey," he whispered, touching her face gently. "Don't worry about it. After seeing you again, there's no one else but you. Always you."
Something about the way he said this made her feel like Déjà vu.
"Come with me,"
She looked back up at him and felt the urge to follow him. He was smiling flirtatiously and his hand on her wrist wasn't letting her think clearly.
"She can't." It was Simon and she momentarily forgot they were at the carnival or anywhere else for that matter.
She thought she saw a touch of anger pass through Jason's eyes but it was wiped away with a firm smile.
He let go of her and she no longer felt under his control.
"Who are you?" Simon said rudely.
"Simon!" He shouldn't be rude to her friends.
"I'm Jason. I used to be her best friend. We always were when we were little kids. I remember the time where her nanny dressed her up in pigtails and a dress. She ripped that dress right off and tugged out her pigtails."
Both Jason and Samira laughed at the memories.
Simon just stiffened and glared.
"Come on, Mira. Let's go." Simon said, grabbing her wrist a little too tight.
"What?"
Now she was confused. How dare he take her away from her friend?
He had no right.
"Hey, you guys can hang out with us. What do you say, Mira?"
"Um…"
"No. We have to go"
She was fed up with Simon's jealousy and rudeness.
She yanked her hand away from his.
"What is up with you?" She didn't bother trying to hide her annoyance and anger.
She saw Jason stifling a laugh but she shot him a look and he shut up.
"Well, I guess I should be going. It looks like you two need to talk." Jason said as he turned and waved.
Samira felt longing and didn't want him to leave so early.
How was she going to see him again?
"Hey Mira, it was really nice talking to you. I'll find you again. Keep up the hotness. See ya!" He winked and disappeared into the crowd.
"Good Riddance." Simon muttered as he crossed his arms.
"What is up with you?" She yelled.
"What?" He stared at her, showing no emotion at all.
"First, you don't even want to talk to me much less look at me and now you're being rude to my friends and yanking me away."
He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"It's just…"
"Just what Simon? Were you jealous, upset, angry?" She felt punching something and she saw the darkness circling her and she shook her head to keep her cool down.
"Mira, calm down. Okay, yes I was jealous. But I don't like him. He looks at you like you're something to control and the way you looked at him..."
"What?"
"You looked at him the same way you look at me."
She blushed.
"That's because I didn't recognize him and I haven't seen him in a long ass time."
"Listen, I just don't trust him. Something isn't right."
"What isn't right is the way you acted towards him!"
"I know and I'm sorry but I didn't like the way he was touching you and flirting with you."
"It's not like we're a couple or anything."
She saw the hurt cross his face and forced herself not to be moved.
"No, but I want us to be. Jason wasn't lying when he said you looked hot." He was staring at her with so much intensity, she couldn't look at him directly.
"I didn't talk to you because I was afraid something stupid was going to come out of my mouth. I didn't touch you because if I did, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to control myself around you. What you did wasn't your fault. You stole my heart and love. And today, seeing you so painfully beautiful, it made me realize that you're the one I want. I want you, Mira."
Her heart was pounding. She didn't know if she was ready to love someone.
"I...I…I…"
Great, she couldn't even speak.
Simon smiled lovingly at her and walked up to her until their faces were inches apart.
"Mira, I know you're scared and after what happened, I can understand why you don't want to be in another relationship."
"But…"
"Shh," he placed his warm hand against her cool cheek and used his other hand to place it on her hip and pull her closer.
She couldn't help it. It was always like this. No matter how angry or upset she was, Simon knew how to calm her down.
She was attracted to him. His body and warmth called to her. She was like a moth and Simon was the light.
She sighed as she hugged him around his waist and snuggled into his chest, wanting to gather his warmth.
He held her tightly and whispered in her ear.
"I'm sorry I was a jerk and I'm sorry I got jealous."
There's always something forgivable when a guy admits he's a jerk.
"I know you are." And she really did and something inside awoke from her from that day forward and it gave her warmth.
For the first time, she raised her head to stare into his eyes and she rose on her toes.
He looked surprised but she quickly closed the gap by placing her lips on his. She let instinct take over and kissed him.
He closed his eyes and lifted her up as he kissed her with his love and warmth.