"She's so hot. "Jace sighed.

"I know. "Jack breathed.

"I've never wanted something so bad in my entire life. "Jace mused.

"Right? "Jack responded.

Both boys were quiet for a while, both lost in a matrix of their own feelings. Both thought, felt, reminisced but the air had a dead cold air silence.

"If I may say something-"

Lyra was cut off  by angry groans.

"Why is your computer so freaky!? "Jack whined like a baby, making Jace laugh.

"She does that all the time,"He ran a hand through his hair in frustration, "What the hell do you wanna say? "

Lyra presumably cleared her throat.

"I was going to point out that you two may not be speaking of the same thing, even if you think you are. "

Jace eyed Jack skeptically, as so did he.

"What were you talking about? "Jack asked.

"My girlfriend. What were you talking about? "Jace asked.

Jack scratched his neck all awkward like a deer caught in the headlights. Damn it, he couldn't let him know.

"No one. "

"What do you mean no one? "This wasn't typical loud-mouthed slightly offensive Jack, Jace was suspicious.

Before he could say anything else, Jack recapped.

"What do you mean your girlfriend? "

"Oh, "Jace looked at him smugly, "I mean my girlfriend. "

Jack was quiet for a moment before he turned dramatically and yelled in his face.

"What!? "

Jace smirked.

"Dude."He said like didn't believe it.

"What? "Jace asked a little arrogantly.

"What do you mean what? I mean, I know you were falling for that one and all, but just to have the audacity to approach her.. "He shrugged dramatically.

Jace's jaw dropped.

"So you're basically saying you don't think I have the guts to tell a girl how I feel? "

"Me? Noo! "

"You're such a jerk, Jack. "

Jack laughed.

"Congratulations though. "

"Yeah yeah, get out. She's coming over later and I don't want her to find any negativity around. "

"Oooooh, does that mean you're finally gonna do it? "Jack teased with his high school meanie voice.

"Get out, Jack. "Jace insisted.

"Wait, did you just say I'm the negativity? "Jack asked as he stood up.

It was Jace's turn to laugh.

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

As Robbie Williams "Angels" played at a painstakingly low key in the background, Mia was looking around her in a somewhat victorious yet insatiable smile printed on her face.

Finally, things were going in the pace she wanted, exactly how she wanted. Now all she had to do was be patient.

"Thanks. "She smiled at Jace as he handed her a drink, sitting next to her on his couch.

They were currently 'hanging out', a pointless yet somehow important action in a relationship.

Ugh.

As Mia sipped her drink in a slow but completely menacing way and her eyes desperately tried to stay glued to the TV screen where a jungle movie was playing, Jace stared at her dreamily from the side with a lopsided smile on his face as he noted how she was trying so hard to not pay attention to him.

"Well, if you were a secret assassin send to cut my neck with that drink in your hand,  I'd say now would be the time. " Jace said with a laugh, making Mia look at him incredulously.

"What is that supposed to mean? "She furrowed her eyebrows.

Jace scooted closer-like he wasn't already close enough.

"It means that sometimes, like I've said before, you actually do terrify me,  even if you're doing a simple task like drinking that juice. "

Mia tried to smile as cutely as she could.

"Oh, you. "She poked his shoulder playfully, dying from self-disgrace from the inside.

Jace smiled some more as he caught her hand and carefully massaged it, lifting it up to his lips to place soft, structured kisses that spiraled up Mia's veins in waves of heat.

"Am serious though. " Jace said, her hand still close to his mouth, and she could definitely feel the heat off his words onto her cool skin.

She laughed a little, mostly out of nervousness.

So she terrified him. Good. How does he think it felt to watch her dad bleed onto the floor?  Was it a picnic full of roses and sunshine? Nope.

But just so she could have fun torturing his brain, she pulled her hand away and started running it through his hair, massaging his scalp, then tugging away gently.

"Do I scare you now? "She asked quietly, her face dead serious, but her eyes lustily glued on his lips for some reason.

Her tongue even did the unthinkable, like licking her teeth was gonna do anything to help.

Jace was a very deep shade of red, and Jack's words were haunting him so menacingly it was crazy up in his head.

"I.. Uh..yes? "His words were an incoherent mess, and his eyes, also for some unknown, okay maybe slightly known reason, we're glued to her lips.

It's just..they looked so soft, and warm, and inviting-

"I think you might want to see a specialist about your balding head. "Mia cut through the moment like a knife through butter. "

Ha.

"What!? "Jace was shook. He touched his head insecurely.

Anything but that!

"If I was given the choice to either be tied upside down to a red ant nest or look like my father with his bald spot, I'd gladly choose the ants. Anything but baldness, honestly. "Jace sounded so scared Mia laughed.

"So... there is a bald gene in your family? "

"Well.. Depends on whether or not you're talking about a future in my family. "

Awkward.

"I mean, "Jace tried to salvage himself, "my dad's bald spot is barely visible and I do pride myself in having not inherited any of his looks, so there's a chance it might skip a generation..? "

Mia shook her head sadly.

"It doesn't work like that. "

Jace shrugged and smiled.

"Can't be too hopeful. "

Mia wondered then if it was just her, cause she definitely had thought he looked like his father the first time she saw him. But now, on closer inspection...

"Anyway, I was just kidding. "She shook it off.

Jace scrunched his eyebrows in amusement, "Really, you're capable of that? "

Okay, what is that supposed to mean?

"What, will it shock you too if I tell you that I'm actually human?" She deadpanned.

Jace feigned surprise.

"Oh, you are? "He touched his chest, presumably where his heart is supposed to be.

"Stop it. "Mia hit his arm again playfully, laughing.

Jace was just at awe this time, just seeing her laugh genuinely, be happy and make jokes...?
This was a lifetime opportunity, no kidding, and a beautiful one at that.

She was so beautiful.

He reached out to tuck her hair behind her ear, and their eyes locked. For the first time since they met, he could see her. She was, for a while, scared and hopeful, until she became tense and void all over again.

She pulled away and stood up, picking her bag.

"I.. I have to go, I forgot that I have this late night call I have to make, you know, time zones and stuff. I'll see you. "

Before Jace could say anything, she was out.

Her head had sparked new ideas, it was time to move forward before she got caught in it all.

****
Hi, well, Uhm,  *coughs awkwardly.*
Don't forget to vote, share and comment!
🖤