Chapter 18.
The silence in the room after the door had closed was deafening. Jay and Evie remained there, with Evie sitting all tense, almost rigid, on Carlos's bed and Jay standing uneasily in the middle of the room. The dissolved awkwardness between them resurfaced and was even stronger now. They both knew they had to resolve this but neither of them knew how to do it or dared to make the first step. Evie cursed Mal in her head, she wasn't stupid and it didn't take a genious either to figure out who had set this up, especially when you knew Mal as well as Evie did. The bluenette fidgeted in her spot, unsure what to do, as she repressed the fleeting thought that Jay was the only preson she cared about strongly enough to let him make her this uncomfortable.
In the meantime, Jay was eyeing the open window, pondering whether it would hurt a lot if he jumped out of it. The bushes outside could break his fall… Then again, it was two stories down and they were rose bushes after all, so they were pretty thorny… Damn. He finally turned around, gathering all his courage, and faced Evie, whose expression was unreadable, to the untrained eye at least. Jay's eye, however, was particularly trained (it was necessary in his, uhm, business of trade), especially when it came down to Evie. He read her discomfort immediately and he didn't know why but it made him kind of mad. This whole situation was her fault! Well, hers and Chad's, Jay thought, his lips twisting into something between a sneer and an angry scowl, which, unfortunately, Evie saw and considered directed at her.
She knew he was still mad at her! She shouldn't have let Mal talk her into this, she shouldn't have come, she knew it! A sharp pang went through Evie's chest and she immediately got up with every intention to leave, hurt flashing momentarily through her face. Jay was about to retort something when he saw her make a step forward, but then something caught his eye and made him freeze in his spot, the words dying on his lips. It only took a moment for a huge wave of blinding rage to overtake his entire being and make him see red.
„Evie?" Jay whispered, his darkened gaze flashing dangerously with a murderous streak, as his voice shook with anger. He spoke lowly, fearing that if he raised his voice even a little he would lose control and bust something. „Who did that?" His whole frame began vibrating with rage as his eyes rested upon the dark purple irritated spots on Evie's wrists. Like he didn't know. He almost growled. The bluenette traced his gaze until her own met the fading bruises and she hurried to place her palm over her marked skin, shielding it from his sight.
„What do you care?" She questioned, her own anger quickly flaring. She knew it was childish and unreasonable, but she was still mad at him for how he had acted towards her. He had made her cry her eyes out, he had ignored her for days and now suddenly he was concerned about her? (Of course, deep down she knew this was completely normal, for Jay to worry and care for her, but you know anger clouds judgement.) „I'm not yours to protect anyway!" Evie exclaimed, trying not to let it slip in her voice just how much she wanted to be his and only his.
Her statement hit Jay square in the chest and he felt his knees almost give out underneath him. He took a step forward, towards Evie, to cover up the slight stagger that would've sent him plummetting down to the floor otherwise.
„Bullshit, Evie!" He yelled, outrage and disbelief written all over his face. „You've always been mine to protect and you know it!" Jay roared and Evie's anger faltered as she let out a stunned breath and blinked, trying to process his words. The room fell silent.
Jay's own features softened as he realised he had just let his feelings be known, more or less, and he decided there was no going back now. I mean, yeah, he still had the chance to turn things around and assure her that he was just looking out for her as her best friend, as a big brother figure, but as he even considered the option, Jay realised he didn't want to do it. He had always been an open person, it was time he was honest with Evie now, even if it meant facing rejection. The only thing he was desperately hoping for was that this didn't ruin their friendship because he just knew he wouldn't be able to handle losing Evie not just as a lover but as a friend too.
„Listen, Eve," Jay began hesitantly, but there was a firmness to his tone, signifying his seriousness. No turning back, Jay, suck it up. He trailed off, suddenly feeling extremely shy and vulnerable, and his eyes strayed away to the carpet on the other side of the room, not daring to look up and into hers. In all honesty, he would've punched himself in the face if he could, he was being a sissy.
Evie's own brown orbs, on the contrary, searched his dark ones and a slight smile appeared on her face at his obvious discomfort, as she tried to incline her head in a position where she could meet his gaze, which failed, seeing as Jay was avoiding her eyes like the plague. She couldn't help but laugh mirthfully at this completely out-of-character Jay. She had, of course, witnessed this side of him before and she had the feeling she was probably the only person to have had that privilege, but it was by no means a common occurance.
The ring of her laughter made Jay's heart stutter. He literally forgot all about his unease, as his eyes snapped up and became fixed on Evie's face. Man, he had missed the sound of it! How long had it been since he had heard it last, a decade? His usual grin found its way to his lips and Evie's heart hammered against her ribcage, as it briefly dawned on her that it always seemed to beat faster when he was around. She also realised his smile had been the first thing to draw her in. After all, she hadn't meant to fall in love, not at all, but at some point he had smiled and, holy shit, she'd blown it.
„What?" Evie asked, her own smile blooming on her face, traces of laughter still evident in her voice. It was the most gorgeous thing Jay had ever heard. He took one more step forward and found himself looming over her with his head slightly bent so he could look at her in the eyes. They were mere inches apart and Evie suddenly felt like her lungs were collapsing. She had to force herself to breathe, oblivious to the fact that Jay's situation was no different. Was this really happening?
„I've sort of had feelings for you." Jay finally murmured, his voice warm and sending shivers up and down her spine. His hand seemed to take a life of its own and before he could do anything about it his fingers hesitantly ran up her arm before tenderly ghosting over her collarbone. Evie was sure he could see the blood pumping erratically underneath her pale skin. Much too soon though his hand dropped heavily back to his side and he let out a sad and dejected sigh, continuing. „And I know I can't force you to feel something for me if you don't, so, please, just don't be mad…" Jay begged, his eyes pleading, as Evie looked at him with affection, which, unfortunately, he didn't realise was meant for him. „'Cause I really don't want to lose you." The boy added so softly that it was almost a whisper and Evie had to take a moment to make sure she trusted her voice enough to speak.
„You could never lose me, Jay." She breathed and for the first time in his life Jay loved the way his name sounded. „Why would you think that?" The bluenette asked softly. She would never leave him unless he wished it so, he had to know that by now, right?
„Because, I know what I am and what I'm not." Jay replied sincerely. He might be just a common guy but he had never pretended to be something he was not. „I'm no prince, Evie." He stated, regret lacing his voice, as if he were apologising for it, and Evie had to fight the strong urge to hit him over the head at how utterly ridiculous he was being. „I'm a thief. And you deserve someone worthy of you." Jay finished firmly and bowed his head looking down in sadness and frustration, as he believed his words completely. Evie simply shook her head in disbelief, as a genuine laugh bubbled out from her lips at his silliness, causing Jay's head to snap up in surprise, as his eyebrows furrowed slightly. What was she, making fun of him?
„If that's what you're worried about, then listen carefully." Evie ordered, as she swiftly took a small step forward, almost fully closing the space between them, her smile widening at the startled look on his face. She continued, her voice completely calm and unwavering, conviction shining through her every word. „I don't want the richest, noblest, most handsome prince in the entire world." Evie told him firmly, pointedly speaking very slowly and stressing her words, so that there was no doubt left in Jay's mind that what she was telling him was the absolute truth. „Because he won't be you." She said, her hand reaching out and lightly resting reassuringly on his forearm as Jay stared at her like she was from another world (or more like she was the best thing in his world). „He will never be you. And I want you." Evie finally confessed, feeling like the whole world had been lifted off her shoulders. So many sleepless nights, so many hopes and dreams and diary entries, and she had finally confessed to Jay how she felt. Finally.
Jay on the other hand simply couldn't believe his ears. He was totally stunned into silence and he felt like his heart dropped to his heels and then climbed back up to get itself lodged in his throat.
„And you know what else?" Evie continued, her soft smile widening and turning playful. „You may not be a prince, but you have always made me feel like a princess." She said and Jay just couldn't take it anymore as he roughly pulled Evie to him by the waist and crashed his lips against hers. The bluenette let out a gasp at the abruptness of his actions, allowing him to slip his tongue in her mouth and then sighed contently as her body molded against his. Her hands slid up Jay's chest and behind his neck, as he kept an iron yet gentle grip on her frame with one of his muscular arms, as his other hand came up to rest on the side of her face right below her jawline, lovingly tilting her head up so that she could fit into him better.
It felt like the most natural thing in the world, as easy as breathing if not easier, and Jay fleetingly wondered how they had never thought to do this before. How he hadn't noticed sooner that Evie had always been right in front of his eyes was beyond him, he must've been blind. At that moment the bluenette in his arms nibbled on his lower lip and Jay let out a groan, tilting his head backwards, as he felt her lips slip from his own and onto his jaw, curling against his skin in a wicked grin. He pulled away just a hair, only enough to look at her in the eyes without having to deprive himself of the feel of the sweet air she breathed out which mingled with his own, they were that close.
„Hiya, Trouble." Jay murmured affectionatelly with a small grin, his brown orbs shining with joy and mischief as he gazed upon the girl in his arms.
„Hi yourself." Evie mumbled back before the corners of her mouth also pulled up into a smile, as she tugged Jay back down to press her lips gently against his own in a tender kiss.
A/N: So there you have it. I hope you're happy, I think this is the chapter you have all been waiting for, right? ^.~ As I said before, I didn't want to rush it because I wanted to write it just right, so I hope I didn't make you wait too long or get mad at me for all those cliffies :D Your support's essential to me, thank you!