Guess who's back with a brand new chap(ter)?

Playing With Fire

The pair had left shortly after Jake's declaration, air surrounding them heavy with awkwardness, a shadow all around them could feel. Rebekah kept her eyes cast down, struggling with herself over the revelations. Why can't I talk to him? I've had centuries of experience with men declaring their love for me, why is this different? Well, he didn't use those exact words but... Urgh, if Sarah was here, she'd say I was tongue-tied, or something equally stupid. This is hopeless, he's hopeless – just because he took me out on a date doesn't mean I've forgotten all about him rejecting me the first time! He can't reject me one day, and ask me out the next!

Jake too was caught up with his own internal monologue. Was this a good idea? I mean, I went on this date with her, a bloodthirsty vampire, to prove a point... right? No, no, that's right; I do not like her like that. Rebekah is a vampire, an Original, someone who has been around for eons, I can't fall for her. And I haven't. I most definitely haven't. Think about what Dad would say... No, I'll just take her home. Hey, why isn't she talking?

Jake peeked at her, feeling something strange inside, but brushed it off. Rebekah refused to look at him. If she's gonna be like that, then so am I, he thought decidedly, unlocking his car. The pair glared away from each other, silence harsh and loud around them. Not even the jazz from the stereo could plug it, instead only accentuating it. Jake kept his eyes on the road, Rebekah on the blurry greenery out of the window, despite the fact both wanted to look at each other.

Soon enough, a familiar looking mansion rose from the ground. Jake stopped the car, resting his hands on the wheel, but the blonde cheerleader didn't get out immediately. A quick scan of the grounds told Rebekah that Nik wasn't in. Probably stalking the Forbes wench, she thought snarkily. Right, I'll confront him, break him, and he'll know not to mess with my feelings again... Wait, feelings?

Rebekah spun sharply in her seat to glare at the teen boy. "What is your problem?" She demanded, and Jake's eyes widened. Not the reaction I was expecting after a date... He floundered under the Original's icy gaze. "Seriously, I cannot understand you! First, you reject me. Me! Of all people, me, like you're better than me. And it doesn't stop there." Jake's hands tightened on the steering wheel. I've just pissed off an Original... Congrats, I've signed my own death wish. Mom always said I'd die inside my car... Holy Crap.

"A few days later, you ask me out. After acting all arrogant and cold and rude, you ask me on a date?! Are you crazy? Who does that? I mean, Sarah sometimes mentions how I'm bipolar, but you take it to another level! Then, yeah, then, you have the gall to take me on this date that's... that's..." She was losing steam, her rant changing from strong to weak in a few words. "And you, you said those things, and it makes me feel..." Rebekah, he's winning, step it up. What happened to the plan?

"I mean, what's your problem? First you hate me, then you like me, I'm not some toy you can pick up and play with until you get bored." But that's what we'll do to him, right? That's what we're meant to do She brushed that out her mind. This was her time to be angry with him. "What the hell do you want with me Jake Martin?" She spat viciously, and the teen stared at her impassively. They were all good questions that had first made his blood boil, but he quelled it. Even if she was a Vampire, she could still feel emotions... right? Well, she's just proven she can.

What do I feel for her? He wondered, staring at the girl in front of him, tuning out the rest of her rant. He didn't know how she could keep going, but he could understand where she was coming from, the emotions raw in the depths of the Original. He couldn't get involved with a Vampire, Alex would never allow it, and he had tried to push her away. And still, the vampire had somehow crawled into his life anyway, no matter how hard he shoved her back. So, Jake did something incredibly stupid from his point of view – he asked her on a date.

Well, sort of.

He wanted to go on this date, and he'd told Rebekah the truth. He wanted to ask her out, even if he shouldn't, oh he definitely shouldn't. But he did anyway. And sooner or later, he was going to pay for it, especially if his Uncle got wind of it. God, don't even joke about Alex finding out... Jake sighed, not realising he did it out loud. Rebekah stopped speaking, staring, well actually, glaring up at him. He gulped, and stared back. What did he want?

The blonde watched him. This was a big mistake. Jake Martin might pick good date places, but he was not a good catch. Obviously. She deserved better. Far better than him. But that stirred up an unwelcome thought, so why do I actually like him? She glared at the cause of her problems. No, I don't like him, he's just... a lingering thought. He had nice eyes, and that was it. Nothing more.

"My problem?" Jake murmured quietly, "My problem is you, quite honestly." Rebekah's eyes flashed, and her lips curled into a snarl. The teen held up a hand irritably. "Let me finish." Should I tell her I know what she is? Who she is? No, she'd just rip my throat out immediately. "You are my problem because you have this... effect on me. And I don't know how to feel about that... effect." Jake said slowly. The snarl had softened slightly and the vampire was frowning at her. Geez, you're not making this any easier Rebekah, he thought sourly, and tried to begin again. How about less Twilight, poetry crap this time. Stop calling it 'an effect' you moron. "I shouldn't feel this way about you," her eyebrow raised again, warning lights going off in his head and he fought to backtrack.

"Because you're you, a cheerleader and I'm... well, me, and... well... Look, I like you and I thought today went alright but if you don't want to see me again, I get it." He sighed, giving up, leaning back in his seat, closing his eyes. Was I always this much of a pansy? Just get out the car Rebekah, and let me be swallowed up by the ground.

Something warm touched his cheek. He stiffened, eyes flying open, flickering to the very close vampire. Rebekah pulled away slowly, eyes opening; a little proud of the faint pink lipstick mark on the teen's cheek now, though it was hard to see around the blush he was now sporting. Uhhh... Jake cursed himself. Seriously Jake? A kiss on the cheek does this much damage to you now? Speak for God's sake!

While her face might've been a smooth, innocent schoolgirl mask, Rebekah was panicking inside. Did I actually just kiss him? After everything he's done to me? Just because he likes me doesn't mean I should kiss him... Just because he smells nice close up as well doesn't win him bonus points. No it does not. Jake's green eyes inspected hers intensely, and Rebekah forgot all about her internal monologue. All she could focus on was him.

Jake Martin, who had been running circles around her, and who she couldn't get off her mind. He, who had taken her on a date, basically told her he liked her, but didn't want her. He, who was handsome, kind and listened to jazz. He, who was within her reach, but somehow still unobtainable. He, who was so mysterious and yet, so simple. Him. Jake Martin.

He shouldn't be special, just plain and ordinary. He wasn't the first to catch her fancy, she couldn't even remember the first, but he shouldn't stand out. And for some reason he did, and Rebekah couldn't understand why. The cheerleader's eyes flashed to his lips then back up to his eyes. Jake was still staring at her, shocked, and she fought the urge to roll her eyes. Boys... Can never take a hint, in this century or the last.

Rebekah leant over the seats hesitantly, re-entering his personal space, or personal bubble as Sarah referred to it as. Jake's eyebrows rose, eyes widening, pupils dilating. The vampire could smell the adrenaline in his blood, mouth watering, fangs sharpening. She held that back – no need to ruin a kiss like that. Or at least until afterwards, then she could feed if she wanted.

Carefully, her lips brushed against his, and Rebekah was so glad when he didn't freeze up. That was never good. Despite herself, she smiled against his lips, but thankfully, Jake did the same, a large hand winding into her hair, stroking gently the skin at the top of her neck. Rebekah gripped his arms tightly, but not inhumanely, pressing into him. Jake pressed back harder. He's not that bad, the blonde praised, but broke away, the teens both breathing deeply.

Jake realised that a fist pump wouldn't be appropriate. Especially with the girl still in the car. So that's what centuries of practice feels like, Jake thought, strangely proud. He grinned, that was going to show no matter what. Think I can convince her to do it again? Rebekah's heaving slowed, and she raised an eyebrow at his smug smile. For the second time in a few minutes, she rolled her eyes at him. Boys...

This time, Jake was the one to lean in, his lips less than an inch from hers. Her eyes fluttered shut happily. Then, it happened.

Rebekah felt her phone vibrate against her leg, the ring tone chirping jollily, and Jake froze unfortunately. Their eyes both snapped open, staring at each other shakily. Damn, a thought that ran through both their minds. Jake relaxed back into the driver's seat, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly, while the blonde fished her phone out of her jeans impatiently. A familiar face stared up at her from the screen, one that she usually didn't mind, but at the moment, was the worst face imaginable.

She pressed the little red button, but unknowingly, Sarah had already done the damage. Rebekah chewed on the inside of her lip. "I... I should go," She said uncomfortably, and Jake nodded along quickly. Self-consciously, Rebekah ran a hand through her hair, smoothing it down as she slid out of the car tensely. Thanks a lot Sarah. Quickly, the teen pulled away down the drive, and Rebekah couldn't bring herself to wave him off, choosing to watch him go blankly. As she strolled back into her house, she flicked through her contacts, settling on her pesky friend.

It rang out as she flung herself on one of her sofas, and began speaking the moment she heard it connect. "You owe me big time." She growled out, listening to Sarah panic on the other end of the line.