"Oh God."Was the first thing Casey said when she realised who the heck was sitting across her, a big flattering grin on his face.

"Well, it's pretty nice to see you too, cat-lover. If I knew that my night was going to turn out like this, I would have probably showed up five hours early. "Jack mock-laughed in Casey's depressed face.

Casey facepalmed.

In contrast to her outward facial expression, she was secretly pleased to see Chadwick again, and her heart was beating a little too fast, a feeling that was both exhilarating and scary as hell.

But her much brighter inner voice told her not to show any kind of weakness that would make her susceptible in Jack's eyes.

But this was Jack we were talking about, and he could practically see through anyone like an open book.

"I see you missed me. "He teased, choosing to keep his arrogant grin.

Casey rolled her eyes.

Egocentric maniac.

"Ignore it, Casey, maybe it'll go away. "She mused, her main purpose being to offset Jack.

"What, "Jack scoffed, "the feeling of utter humiliation and mortification when you realised that what I just said is totally and completely right? "

Casey froze for a moment, burying her face so deep in the menu she could practically taste the food.

How could he possibly know that?

"What, now you won't face me like a woman? "Jack pressed.

That was it.

"Leave me alone, Jack!"She slammed the menu on the table, making a few faces turn.

"What crawled up your-"

"I said-"

"Yeah, I heard. Leave you alone, blah, blah, blah. How come you're extra feisty today? And how come you're alone? No girlfriend-I don't know, Mia-to keep you company? "

Casey gritted her teeth.

"She's a little busy, if you must know. "

"Doing what? "Jack probed.

"It's none of your damn business. "

"Well... "

"What? "

"Nothing, nothing. I was gonna tell you she's with Jace right now, but am sure you are already aware. "

Casey could have hit the table with her head from frustration-or relief-she wasn't quite sure which surpassed the other.

"And how do you know that? "She wondered.

"Question is, how do you not? "

She finally cracked.

"Okay, you are not better than me, Chadwick. Stop trying to prove it already. "

Jack whistled.

He smirked, then leaned in, so that they were face to face.

"Really? "He asked.

The hot waiter, no longer patient enough, cleared his throat.

"Am not sure am getting paid enough for this. "He said nonchalantly.

"Quiet! "Casey snapped, making him sink back.

Before she knew it, her competitive psycho alter-ego kicked in, making her come up with the most ridiculous of plans.

"It's a face off you want, Jack?"She smirked.

Jack swallowed.

The expression on her face was seriously oozing dangerous vibes.

Casey turned to the waiter with a sweet smile, "I would like three plates of jalapeno peppers please.Yellow, green and red. "

Jack furrowed his eyebrows.

The waiter shrugged and left, mumbling something about her being already hot enough.

She shrugged happily, watching Jack's face develop into one of horror in realization.

"Let the games begin. "

*******************************************

"Dammit Shane. I thought you asked for one workout. How did I turn out to be your working out buddy? "Mandi complained, shooting daggers at Shane, who was busy lifting weights.

"Stop complaining. You know you like it. "Shane jeered.

"Like it?! Yesterday you asked me to yoga! "

Shane laughed at her bitter expression.

"Fine, fine. You got me. I'm honestly just trying to fish around in your head, you know, see if you've uncovered something else on Mia." Shane shrugged casually.

Mandi wanted to explode, especially at the reminder that Mia was one tight, closed and buried book.

"I haven't. "She said between her teeth, exhaling deeply to relax herself.

Suddenly the desire to workout to utter exhaustion engulfed her, and she readily jumped on the treadmill, ready to take it away.

"Wow. "Shane chuckled, "Mia really does get under your nerves."

Mandi cranked up speed, much to Shane's amusement.

"Her name is so sweet, I swear I could say it all day. "Shane sighed dramatically.

Mandi chose to remain zen-if so could be said-and ignore him.

"Mia, Mia, M-"

Mandi banged her fist on the treadmill.

"Dang it, Shane, stop saying her name!"

Shane laughed in Mandi's bitter face.

"Laugh all you can, Shane, but I doubt you and your precious little Mia will have anything to hide soon. I'll have you know I have a pretty strong lead. "

Shane waved her off.

"Yeah, right. That's what you said the last fifty times. "

Mandi smiled mischievously.

Oh, how she couldn't wait to prove him wrong.

*******************************************

By the time Casey and Jack were upon the red peppers, the whole restaurant was just about ready to stone them to death.

Between the squeaking, squealing, screaming and cursing, Casey wasn't sure what annoyed them more, but one thing was for sure, she was never ever doing this again.

Under any other circumstances, the red eyes, puffy lips, red ears and tears that Jack was rocking would have been hilarious, but Casey was more worried about herself, especially her fire-breathing ears.

"This, "She said trough a glass of ice-cold milk, "was a bad idea. "

"You think? "Jack shot her a death glare. "Man, why do you have to be so competitive? "

Casey snorted.

"I'm competitive? Dude, have you met yourself? "

"Okay, so we're both maybe a tiny Lil bit competitive, but Casey, jalapenos? "

Casey shrugged.

"I can take the heat. "She grinned annoyingly.

"Mm-hmm."Jack narrowed his bloodshot eyes at her, feeling so well-played.

His entire reason for hounding her tonight was to get the information he so much needed from her, information like why she and her knee-weakening goddess of a friend were so suspicious -I mean, they did appear flawless and for lack of a better word, typical, but there was something a little off, and as Jace's best friend, it was his solely obligation to make sure he didn't end up head over heels in love with an axe murderer.

But his mission had failed with a Big Bang, especially since he had winded up respecting and falling into awe with the said axe murderer's BFF.

Bummer.

Now as he sat there, he knew the only salvation he was gonna be looking at is his own, since as the world knew it, he was a bad girl's biggest fan, Rihanna aside, and this girl, whatever burning hell she had dropped out of, was the worst.

And in a messed up kind of way, worst to him meant incredible, and incredible meant malicious, and malicious turned out stunningly lovely.

"So, you wanna do this again sometime? "He found himself asking out of nowhere.

Even Casey seemed a little thrown off, but then laughed out ridiculously in his face.

"Wow, Chadwick. The heat is really taking a toll on your brain. "

"There's a game next Saturday. "He just couldn't stop. "Ravern's Court. Seven PM. You should come."

"Nope. Can't. Busy. "

Casey didn't even look up.

"I'll make you a deal. "

"Not interested. "

"If we win, am taking you to an all you can eat BBQ buffet-"

"Deal. "Casey smiled naughtily, knowing that was like a sure bet-Chadwick's team losing was a phrase unheard of, it didn't exist.

About what she was going to tell Mia....

Oh well, she would come up with an excuse, she needed to be there.

Besides, isn't necessity the mother of invention?

Not sure that applied, but anyway, she would come up with something, she always did when she was determined enough.

That was her essence.

But then again, was it just the BBQ, or was something else drawing her towards that place? She knew she didn't stand a chance with Jack, besides, she wouldn't even dream of it.

Sure, Mia was wary of him, and so was she, and he was a big flattering player, but part of her knew that if she ever sought to pursue the crackling sparkle of physical attraction between them, things would end up badly.

It was like she could feel in her bones.

She looked up to realise that the whole time she had been drinking ice cold milk and battling her thoughts, Jack had been staring deep into the pool of her wildest emotions, thoughts and body language, and it was terrifying how he looked like he knew exactly what she was thinking.

Just as she was about to make up something about needing to leave, her phone shrieked, a welcome excuse for the night-her personal saviour.

"I have to take this. "She smiled apologetically to Jack, turning away to pick the call.

"I need you Casey."Mia's voice was raspy and tired, and she immediately knew what had happened without a second thought.

*******************************************
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