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Playing with Fire

Jake was pacing around his bedroom, much to his Uncle's annoyance, but he didn't care about him. He cared about Rebekah. Not that he would admit it, well, apart from in front of her, where he would just blurt it uncontrollably. It was complicated, that much he would really admit.

God, she's good at complicating things, he thought sourly, flopping onto his bed. From the bedside table, his Dad grinned at him, not knowing any of the problems his son now faced. He didn't see his teenage son, pining for a vampire, an Original no less. His dad would've shouted at him if he had found out, Alex on the other hand would probably just kill him. My lifespan seems to be decreasing every hour, he thought. Either it's gonna be Alex or Rebekah who does the deed... or one of Rebekah's brothers. Crap. His phone vibrated annoyingly against the wooden furniture.

Jake glared at it but rolled over for it anyway. Oh, go away T-mobile, I don't care, he grumbled inside his head, seeing the name flash on his screen. He wouldn't say he was hoping it was Rebekah. That would be sad. Even if he was wishing the blonde would text him. She was a distraction, a giant, annoying... smoking hot distraction, and right now, he really wanted her to text him.

Or do I text her first? No, it's only been a few hours since our date; you don't want to look desperate do you Jake? Jake glanced at his door, eyes narrowing. Was it just him, or was it too quiet in his house? That was never a good sign, especially when Alex was meant to be home. Stealthily, Jake poked his head out of his room, looking both ways down the corridor, not noticing the dark, man-shaped shadow lurking next to his door. Until it coughed.

The ginger jumped, staring up at his uncle wide-eyed. He laughed nervously – Alex didn't laugh with him. "What are you doing there?" Jake asked, looking at his uncle carefully. He didn't look like he was in a good mood, and that never ended well for him.

"Testing your senses." Alex answered shortly. "If I was a vampire, you'd be dead already." Jake gulped almost imperceptibly. Please don't know, please don't know, please don't know, he prayed fervently. "What's with all the racket?" He questioned, and the teenager straightened.

"What do you mean?"

Alex's eyes widened menacingly, and Jake licked his lips nervously. "I meant, what's with all the walking around, kid?" He stepped back into the safety of his room, but his Uncle followed him. "Why are you so on edge, Jakey?" Jake glared at him. Don't call me that...

A lined, but safe face popped around the door. "Jake," his mother called, and he straightened, shoulders sinking happily, "can you come give me a hand in the kitchen?" She asked, never looking in Alex's direction. The teen couldn't nod fast enough, scurrying around Alex and downstairs, smiling victoriously only when he knew his Uncle couldn't see it.

Alex had left soon after, leaving Jake to sigh with relief, itching his forehead with his wrist awkwardly, trying to keep his sudsy hands over the sink. He glanced over at his phone again, the dark screen taunting him. He dried his hands, and decided to try his luck.

Hey, he texted. It had been almost six hours, he could text her if he wanted to. His shoulders slumped, and he sighed when she didn't text back immediately. After he'd finished his chores, the pacing began again in the living room, falling down onto the sofa, flicking on the TV as his knee bounced, his phone whispering to him by his side. Should I text her again? Or would that look needy? I mean, I am but she doesn't need to know that. Jake stumbled onto a good question. Why am I so needy? I've had a girlfriend before Rebekah, I've been kissed before – why the hell am I acting like this? Just do it Jake.

Hoped you had a good time today, he tried not to think of how pervy that sounded but couldn't think of another way to put it, I'll see you at school on Monday, yeah? He wanted to throw himself at a brick wall. "Am I really that cliché?" He moaned aloud, glad his Mom was upstairs and couldn't hear his groaning.

The blonde ate her lunch calmly, though her eyes were constantly fluttering down to her phone, ignoring the girl staring at her worriedly across from her. For almost an entire weekend, she had been watching her phone, ever since it had first buzzed JAKE MARTIN after their date. Rebekah had bitten her lip, glancing at the text before hurling her phone at the wall, incredibly surprised when it didn't smash into a thousand pieces. What are you doing to me? She had thought, surprised at how happy she had felt when he had texted. I am an Original Vampire, for Christ's sake, why do I continue to act so pathetically because of one snivelling little human boy? The answer was clear to her even if she didn't like it. It was Jake Martin. It didn't mean her own attitude didn't bug her immensely.

She would've preferred if he hadn't texted her, it would've meant she could mindlessly hate him, but instead he took the time to text her, twice. A date, a kiss and a text, seemed to be all it took with her now. Boy am I screwed. Now, in school, the first twinges of regret were tugging at her heartstrings. I should've texted. Or called. Heck, smoke signals would've at least been acceptable.

Sarah was still staring at her from across the table, and the blonde held up her hand. "I don't want to talk about it," she said firmly, and for a second, she swore Sarah pouted. Jeez, you're having your own love problems with my brother, stop butting in on mine! The Original knew it wasn't kind, but Sarah's sudden interest in her love life was a hassle she didn't want.

Speaking of things she didn't want, the Original could feel someone behind her. That someone being Jake Martin. He stood behind her, and she turned in her seat swiftly, catching both him and Sarah off guard. She eyed him, waiting for the damage to be done. Jake shifted on his feet, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "Can we talk?" He asked, uncharacteristically quietly. Rebekah shrugged, crossing her legs, shuffling over to make room.

"Privately?" Rebekah stopped her shuffles and glanced at Sarah, who jerked her shoulders, staring down at her lunch. Guilt built inside her stomach at leaving her (only) friend, but Rebekah slid smoothly out of her chair, following after the boy, not looking back at her friend sat sadly all on her own in a busy canteen.

Jake led her outside, pulling his coat tighter, Rebekah trailing behind him suspiciously. The boy was acting odd, shifty, and it was putting her on edge, every instinct, human and predator shouting at her. It's not like he can kill me, she thought brashly.

The teen stopped suddenly under a bare tree, leaning against it heavily. The weather was turning bitter, almost every student inside, leaving the pair alone. Rebekah watched him closely. Jake opened his eyes, and took a step closer to her. She frowned at him, watching as he leaned in to press a feather-soft kiss to her lips, not stopping him. I thought he was going to argue with me... It's all we seem to do, the vampire thought but didn't mind the turn of events, happily returning it.

When Jake pulled back, he ran a hand through his hair, letting out a few sparse chuckles. "Sorry about that... I just wanted to kiss you again before you killed me." Rebekah didn't verbally start at his words, though her mind kicked into overtime.

"I haven't... been completely honest with you," he paused, heart thumping erratically. Was he really going to do this? No, he had to. Now was not the time to back out. Backing out would only make it worse. "At first, I didn't want to date you, or even have anything to do with you, knowing just how bad it would be for me." He chuckled weakly, "And still you managed to draw me in."

He moved away from the tree, further from Rebekah who had stayed in the same spot, almost motionless, as her hackles rose imperceptibly. Where is he going with this? What is he talking about? Rebekah wondered, knowing it wasn't good.

He tugged nervously on his sleeves, seemingly unaware of the tense vampire to his right. "How did you do that? I mean, I'm pretty sure you didn't use compulsion, but I guess I can't be too sure..." She was frozen. Did he just say...? He said compulsion? But he... Her stomach dropped. He knows! She didn't know why, but like with Sarah, she liked that he didn't know.

Rebekah was still rooted to the spot, staring at his sad smile. "Yeah, I know. You're a vampire, an Original, one of the first of your kind. And Sarah, and I? We're too close to a vampire, and it's only going to end badly. It always does – I just wish that Elena Gilbert would figure it out sooner."

His mouth was going without his brain's permission, the true word vomit. His heart was racing in his chest, and he smiled at the frozen vampire. "That's what I have always been told, ever since I was a child." He stared at her, was it just him, or did Rebekah look kind of shaky? "Vampires were the bad guys, and I should never get involved." He gulped. Moment of Truth.

"But I couldn't not get involved with you."

Rebekah watched him impassively. I'm mad, I should be mad. This wasn't the first time that a human had guessed their identities, but he certainly lived longer than most. Others were attention seekers, ones that only wanted immortality. He was not one of them. What am I waiting for, I know the drill. Kill them, turn them or compel them. Only three options – which one will he come under?

She honestly couldn't pick one. I... Don't want to do any of them. She sucked in her bottom lip. This isn't good Rebekah.

He shrugged his shoulders, knowing the true cheesiness and rom-com feel to his revelations, something that truly sickened him, but he couldn't stop himself. Cautiously, Jake came closer. The vampire kept staring at him. He stood in front of her, chests almost touching, eyes unreadable. He began to lean down, pausing a hair's breadth away. Then, Rebekah smiled wryly.

"You're incredibly close to a very deadly vampire." Jake laughed, warm breath washing over her cold face.

"Yeah, guess I am," he murmured, his nose skimming across her cheek. A door banged, giggles and squawking from whichever freshmen had been pushed face-first into the winter chill. The pair's eyes flew open, blue eyes whirling around at the mood-breaker, gritting her teeth as she went. Gently, his arms snaked around waist, pulling her back around, cradling her.

At first, she stood still, frowning into his hair, as he buried his face into hers. "I can feel you frowning." He murmured from just below her ear, and the frown shattered into a smile. "Shush," he whispered, holding her tighter, and Rebekah's smile widened, pressed into the warm roughness of his coat.