Complications with Getting Sexiled

In the elevator, two bodies are tangled together, their lips moving hastily against one another. The fiery kisses leave both parties breathless and wanting more. As soon as they reach the designated floor, they stumble out blindly into the corridor, mouths still attached, neither one of them willing to yield. How can they? The girl combs her slender fingers through his short blonde locks, causing him to moan softly under her touch while his rough and calloused hands explore her entire body.

The low and throaty groans he emits get swallowed by her as she reciprocates his actions. She has always managed to make him weak at the knees but it's not necessarily a bad thing. He couldn't even tell you the last time someone had made him feel like this. Whatever this is. Because, frankly speaking, he hasn't a single clue on what's going on between them. All he knows is he likes it, a lot too in fact.

Jack can hear the keys jingling on the other side of the door and continues scribbling down all of his notes, eyes trained on the PowerPoint in front of him and nothing else. His brother must be home. Took him long enough. It's almost one in the morning! Life must be easy not having a curfew or someone to answer to. What he wouldn't give for his mother to allow him to return home whenever he wanted without her blowing things out of proportion as her imagination ran free and wild, like the folks on Black Friday do.

Finally Paul gets the door to open after what feels like an eternity, but he is quickly removed from the state of euphoria once he hears the woman shriek, her luscious, addictive lips no longer sitting on his own. Her voice pulls Jack's attention away from the laptop and he glances up at the duo, his head cocked at a slight angle. By her disheveled hair, the lipstick smeared all over his brother's face, along with the annoyed expression he is sporting, Jack can easily tell what is going on. Well isn't this an awkward situation they're in.

"I'm sorry." Paul flushes. "That's my little brother. You can go to my room first. He's leaving."

His guest nods and curls a strand of hair behind her ear as she clears her throat. "Hi. It's nice to meet you," she sputters before she rushes by, her gaze settled on the wooden floorboards.

"You too, I guess?" Jack says, the door slamming and drowning out his voice. He would have preferred a more proper introduction but it looks like she's too flustered to exchange names with him and he doesn't blame her. Perhaps next time. If there is even a next time that is.

"Dude, you couldn't have texted me before you showed up?" Paul hisses as he kicks the door shut and runs a palm over his face. Everything had been going perfectly until his brother had to ruin everything. Couldn't a guy catch a break in his own apartment?

"I did," replies Jack, not feeling even a speck of remorse for interrupting the mood. What? He's done nothing wrong. If anyone's at blame here, it would inarguably be Paul. "You're the one who obviously doesn't remember." For someone who's only twenty-five, Paul sure had a terrible memory. This isn't the first time he's forgotten something and Jack can guarantee it won't be the last time either. He must have gotten one too many concussions during his high school days as a wide receiver.

With nostrils flared, Paul unlocks his phone in order to disprove his claim. However, he discovers the message his brother had been referring to, which Paul had indeed replied to, and his eyes widened. He tucked the device away and flashed Jack a sheepish smile. "Oh, so you did. My bad. I was caught up in the moment. It must've slipped my mind." 

Go figure. "Is it serious?" Jack questions as he resumes studying.

"What?" Paul blinks, unsure of what he's getting at.

"Whatever it is you two have," he clarifies curtly yet in the most indifferent manner ever.

Paul and Jack have always been close growing up, almost like two peas in a pod some might even say. Their unbreakable bond, you see, is a result from being born from the same womb. This also means that they're the only people in the entire world who can truly relate to each other, especially when it comes down to how ridiculous their mother can be. Yes, not all siblings see eye to eye but thankfully these two brothers do. At least, for the most part anyways.

They're usually straightforward and open with each other. If either one of them is in need of advice or a pair of listening ears, they know they can always rely on one another. They're more than brothers, they're lifelong friends. Therefore, it is no surprise that Paul and Jack do not shy away from even the most intimate and personal topics, like the conversation they are having at the moment. It's been awhile since Jack has seen his brother so embarrassed in front of a girl as well so how could his curiosity not be aroused upon noticing the thick layer of blush blanketing Paul's cheeks when his... friend realized they weren't alone?

"It's just casual for now," his older brother supplies, adding a shrug.

If only he would have said that they were considering marriage instead. What a shame. For a second there, Jack had actually thought that this girl, whoever she is, was going to be different. Sure, he was graced by her presence for less than thirty seconds but the stutter in her voice and the way she practically bolted towards Paul's room, as though she was being hunted by a demon of some sort, told Jack all he needed to know about her. Paul may not view her as anything more than a casual sex partner, or so he insists, but she still is very different from those other girls he brought home. It's her personality which sets her apart of the rest of the lot. It's not conformed or similar to any of the girls his brother had been involved with in the past. In simpler terms, she isn't Paul's type at all.

"Don't let mom catch wind of it or else you'll never hear the end of it," he sighs.

"I know, I'm not you, Jack." Paul laughs as he reaches down and tousles his brother's hair. "Just a fair warning though, it's going to get loud. So if you don't want to feel uncomfortable, you should probably put some headphones on."

Jack immediately scowls and shuts his laptop. He doesn't need to be told twice. God, he doesn't even want to think about how many times he's heard Paul shagging someone while they were living under the same roof. Unfortunately for him, their rooms were right next to each other. You would think by now Jack would have grown accustomed to it but he hasn't, nor will he ever. Unlike him, Paul never really had an issue with using his tall stature, ruggedly handsome looks and built physique to persuade the ladies to spend a night with him. Don't let his blinding mega-watt smile and saccharine words fool you as they've done to dozens of girls prior though because Paul McKiernan is anything but a gentleman.

Suddenly, Jack feels guilty. Should he warn the girl and spare her from having her heart shattered? No. It's none of his business. Besides, who knows, she could end up being the girl who manages to steal Paul's heart away. He'll just have to wait and see how everything pans out. "How about I just go to the diner nearby for an hour," he grumbles, climbing up to his feet and zipping up his backpack.

"Make it two hours." His brother winks.

Jack shudders and shakes his head. "Okay, too much information. I got it. I'll be back later then."

Since the diner is only a few blocks away from the complex, Jack opts out on driving his car and decides to walk there to save gas. It has definitely gotten colder seeing as it is December and he has to slip into a pair of gloves to keep his fingers from going numb. The streets are barren, looking deserted, and Jack continues moving forward, his eyes staring straight ahead. Every breath he releases is marked by a white puff of air which would swirl around in front of him before disappearing completely from his line of sight. In ten minutes Jack arrives at his destination and is enveloped by the warmth of the diner. He receives a wide smile from the only waitress in the place and returns the gesture.

Sliding into a booth, Jack informs the girl he would like a cup of black tea and she leaves to fetch his drink. Once he gets settled in, his phone buzzes and he checks to see who would be messaging him at this ungodly hour. It's Claudius. They're asking if he's free to video-chat and the corners of Jack's lips hike upwards as he waits for his laptop to load. Thanks to technology, he has been able to stay in touch with them and he's glad that their friendship is as strong as ever. He could use a quick break. The waitress returns, placing the cup down carefully beside his belongings. She tells him to call for her if he needs anything to which Jack nods absentmindedly to. Digging into his bag, he finds his headphones and plugs it in as he waits for his friends to pick up his call.

"McKiernan! You're still alive!" Claudius smiles, voice filled to the brim with joy.

"Of course." He snorts, biting back a laugh. "College isn't that bad."

"Finals already start?" Simon wonders.

"You bet they have," Jack groans. "Why else would I be up this late?"

Simon shrugs, lips pursed out and creases wedged into his forehead. "I don't know. Maybe you were getting laid. Ain't that what people do in college?"

"Not everyone is looking to get lucky like you, Simon," Claudius snickers. His jab silences the boy and Jack grins broadly. God, has he missed these two knuckleheads!

"Nah, that would be my brother," he answers, inhaling deeply. "I've been sexiled from his apartment until three."

"It's a good thing you have us here to help you pass the time then," Claudius guffaws. "But onto another topic. Have you met any beautiful girls over yonder who have managed to melt that cold, iron heart of yours yet? You must have with your mom playing matchmaker for you and everything."

The inquiry catches Jack off guard and instead of denying it right off the bat, like he'd done dozen of times before, his mind automatically wanders to a particular girl whose eyes are an enchanting shade of hazel. Jack will be lying if he says he doesn't find Sage beautiful, because he does. Her photo, at least the one he's come across, doesn't do her justice. But just because he finds her appealing to the eyes does not mean she has thawed his heart, nor his views on relationships. "No," he manages at last, the word sounding a bit forced on his end.

Simon balks incredulously, pointing a finger at him through the screen. "You hesitated!"

Jack's heart rate picks up in an instant, his fingers scratching against his thigh as he swallows the lump forming in his throat. "No I didn't," he retorts. He attempts to appear confident by sitting ram-rod straight but his friends do not fall victim to his deception so easily. They'd be fools if they had.

"You totally did," Simon argues, turning to his witness for support. "Didn't he, Claudius?"

"Sorry, man, but you did," the third party confirms with a cheeky grin. "Spill it. Who is she? Does your old lady know about her?"

At least he gave it a shot. It's his fault for befriending such observant people. Now he's got to live with it. Jack doesn't see why he should keep them in the dark about Sage. It's not like they'd tell a soul anyhow. "Yes and no," Jack mumbles, confused and bewildered himself. "It's complicated..." That's the only way he knows how to describe it.

"You mean she's complicated?" Simon muses.

He doesn't even need to contemplate on his reply. "Yeah, that too."

"Tell us about her," urges Claudius.

"There's not really much to tell," he confesses, voice low and timid, as he rubs the nape of his neck and avoids meeting their eyes. "I've only talked to her, like, twice."

Three, two, one.

"What? Are you serious? You can't be serious! Say it ain't so!" When Simon receives nothing but silence, his jaw drops to the floor. He can't believe what he's hearing! "Well I'll be damned," he states, astonishment and disbelief etched into his features. "She must be out of this world or somethin' if she's got the Jackson McKiernan wrapped around her finger without even, well, liftin' a finger."

Suddenly, it feels like he's sitting in a sauna instead of a diner and Jack clears his throat. Heat rushes to his cheeks and ears due to his friend's outrageous accusation and he mentally curses his body for reacting on its own without his consent. Leave it to Simon to exaggerate and blow everything out of proportion. He sounds a lot like his mother and Jack is dumbfounded that he hadn't picked up on the similarity between them sooner. "She does not have me wrapped around her finger," he rebuts, the color of his skin fading back to its original hue a minute later. How can she when he hardly knows the girl? Talk about the impossible.

"But she's got to have something on you considering your reluctance and the fact that you've only talked to her two times," concludes Claudius, a thoughtful countenance plastered over his face. Jack can't argue with that.

Ever since he bumped into the real Sage Chan out in the pouring rain, this unexplainable, indecipherable, alienated sensation has managed to consume him whenever his thoughts would stray and find their way over to her. Honestly, he didn't think about the girl much during these last few weeks since he had finals to worry about. However, there were these spontaneous, sporadic moments where Sage would suddenly waltz in, unannounced, certainly taking him by surprise. Yet, Jack was never once bothered by the intrusion. She was the only woman, with the exception of Sharon and Charlie, who'd cross his mind, even if her visits were rather brief, and that alone was saying a lot. Even Jack was aware of that fact but he still hasn't been able to figure out what it means. What she means.

"I don't know what's going on with me either," Jack admits as he slouches back into the cushiony booth. Nothing seems to make sense after he met her and he's not sure if that's a good thing or not.

"Why don't you start at the beginning and take it one step at a time," Claudius says patiently. "We've got all day for this."

From where shall he begin their story?

As he is narrating to Simon and Claudius the unique entanglement he's in with Sage, starting from the fiasco first date, where she had sent a temperamental substitute in her stead, to the part where she accused him of being a stalker in the school's library, Jack omits very few details. Once he is done, his friends are gawping at him, resembling fishes floundering around without any kind of water to help them breathe properly and Jack has to wait for them to gather their thoughts, which are probably all in a whirlwind. 

Claudius is the first to snap out of his stupor. "You weren't kidding when you said it was complicated."

"Told you," Jack answers.

"No way." Simon shakes his head, a dazed look in his eyes. "She had the audacity to blow you off? Is she blind? She must be! Just look at you!"

"I don't think she knew what I looked like." He laughs. "It's called a blind date for a reason, Simon."

"Must be the case," his redheaded friend huffs. "If she did, she wouldn't have stood you up like that. Hell, she probably would have thrown herself at you and all of your glory."

For some peculiar reason, Jack takes offense to Simon's words, his eyebrows furrowing as he jumps to Sage's defense. She doesn't seem like the superficial type and allowing his friend to badmouth her makes Jack feel uneasy. "I know I said I barely knew her," he says carefully, "but I have a feeling she doesn't care much about how somebody looks. Even when she ran into me, she didn't really have a dazzled, star-struck reaction. I mean, she called me handsome but that was about it." He would have added that her compliment affected him more than it did her but why would he supply Simon with more ammunition to make fun of him with later?

"She's gotta be one cautious gal if she refused a ride from you, McKiernan," Claudius points out. He can always count on the Haitian native to remain mature and open-minded. Thank god for that. Then, Claudius's lips mold into a mischievous smirk. "You're as harmless as a fly."

Looks like he spoke too soon. Realizing that he's being teased, Jack grunts and glares at them through the camera while they are howling in laughter. "You guys are not helping," he grumbles.

"What do you want us to do?" Simon snorts. "Tell you that you're already hopelessly smitten with the little lady?"

"What?" Jack chokes. They've got to be pulling his leg! How did they arrive at that conclusion?

Simon shrugs offhandedly, his way of telling Jack he's serious. "That's what it sounds like."

"But." Jack is at a loss for words. Finally, he regains his senses as he sputters out, "That doesn't even make sense! Do you hear yourself, Simon? How can I be smitten with her when I've only talked to her twice?"

This time Claudius winks at him. "How about you ask yourself that. It was nice catching up with you, McKiernan. Make sure to tell us if you make any progress with Ms Herb." And before Jack could chastise them for poking fun at him yet again, they hang up on him. Utterly speechless, he tilts his head back and stares at the fan above him. There's no way he's smitten with Sage Chan...

Right?

- - -

Author's Notes: Did you guys like this update? I hope soooo. More into Jack's life and his relationships with Paul, Simon and Claudius. What do you think? Is our Jack already smitten with Sage? His friends seem to think so! Please vote and comment if you'd like <3