Chapter's song: Something I need from Ben Haenow :)

How could you asses a relationship as serious or not? I mean, in my book, a relationship was when you chose to be with someone, exclusively. It was a given. A non-spoken rule.

So what on earth was a non-serious relationship? And why would anyone want to have that, whatever the hell that was, with Jason?

Good looks apart, the guy seemed really sweet. And protective. And loyal. I mean, he seemed like quite a catch. Then, why?

“Are you ok?” Sol’s brown eyes blinked in front of me. Completely invading my personal space.

“I’m fine!” I pulled apart as her brows furrowed.

She passed me a water bottle, “Pablo said that you didn’t seem too drunk,” she rolled her eyes, “which could be code for she was puking her guts out, in Pablo’s world…”

Thankful, I took the bottle in my hands and uncapped it. “Gracias. I didn’t get that drunk…” I took most of the bottle in one go, “I’m just too damn thirsty…”

“So, what were you babbling about now?” She crossed her arms and leaned on the front desk’s counter.

My eyes widened, “I was not!”

Sol rolled her eyes, “Please…”

Frowning, I played with my bottle’s cap before closing the bottle. “What could be considered as a not-serious relationship? Because for me, either you’re exclusive or you’re just not dating…”

Her chocolate eyes sparkled mischievously as a sly smile formed on her lips, “nothing happened, huh?” Glaring at her, I shook my head. She wiped her hands on her shirt, as if they were dirty to begin with, “well, it means that when you see that person you’re all over her, but when you don’t, you’re free to do whatever…” she raised an eyebrow, “or should I say whoever?”

Well…that sucks…I wouldn’t want to be with someone with so low relationship standards.

Not that I wanted to be with someone, to begin with.

“Te gusta!” (You like him!)

“Who? Pablo?” I feigned innocence.

She rolled her eyes and shoved me playfully. “You do know he likes you too, don’t you?”

He does? Sadly, a small ray of hope ignited within me. However, I kept my poker face on, “How would you know that?”

She looked at me like I’d asked the most obvious question in the world. Which I hadn’t. “Because of the way he looks at you!” I raised an eyebrow wondering what the hell she meant by that. “You’re so lost, Marianne…” she shook her head, “he’s like always looking at you…you know?” she gestured her hands, “in a protective way. I think it’s too cute…” she trailed dreamily.

My heart sank. It’s his bloody job. “That’s just his personality,” I sulked.

“No it’s not! It’s like whenever you’re around, he’s paying attention to everything you do!”

I frowned. This was going nowhere. I was pretty sure it was just part of the job.

And I shouldn’t freaking care about it, to begin with!

“This is pointless, Sol. I’m not even interested in the guy.”

“Well,” she looked at me with straight eyes as she rolled her shoulders, “if you are so sure about it, then you won’t blush or stutter when looking at him, right?”

I shrugged, “Obviously.”

She smiled widely, “good.” She crossed her arms with a suspicious smirk on her face. Narrowing my eyes, I tried to figure out why she was acting out like such a know-it-all.

“Are you ready?” Jason’s dark voice sounded behind, startling me.

“W-what?” Damn it! I pursed my lips as I glanced at Sol who had started chuckling.

Jason’s grey eyes looked at me for a moment, “we’re going to town. We need to make some errands.”

“O-ok,” I cleared my throat. With a stronger, bolder voice, I nodded, “sure thing.” He blinked at me. I was pretty sure he was thinking what the hell was wrong with me.

You and me both, dude.

“O.K.” He looked at Sol, “do you need anything?”

She had a hand clasping her mouth. Probably trying to control her laughter. “I’m fine,” her voice sounded muffled. I rolled my eyes.

“We’ll see you in a bit, then!” Jason glanced at me one more time before walking out the front doors.

Sol burst out laughing, “have fun, you two!” Blushing, I gave her a fake smile and followed Jason outside. He was already waiting for me inside my Aunt’s car.

“What errands are we going to do?” I asked as soon as I buckled up.

He passed me a sheet of paper. “A guest needs some medicines and your Aunt told me that we needed to get you a phone as soon as we could.” I smiled at that. Mom was probably pestering my Aunt to no end. “While we’re on it, an ice-cream sounds nice, doesn’t it?” My eyes snapped to him as the car roared to life.

My heart fluttered for a moment. Bloody hell…that was sweet…

And he was just being nice. That was it.

“How are you feeling, by the way?” he asked looking at the road.

Leaving the folded paper on my lap, I looked outside, “I’m fine…”

“You snore.”

“What?” I turned to him.

Shaking his head slightly, he smiled. “You sounded like an old truck. You were snoring so hard that I could hear you all the way to my room!”

“I did not!”

He laughed, “Yes you did! My ears hurt from hearing you snore all night long!”

I rolled my eyes as a blush crept upon my cheeks. “I’m sorry to burst your little bubble but I don’t snore!”

“And don’t let me start on the other noises I heard! Let’s just say that I was glad to be across the hall from you!”

Oh my God! “That’s bullshit!” He was laughing really hard by now. He looked at me from the corner of his eyes as I crossed my arms completely embarrassed.

“It was just awful…” his voice broke as he added, “stay away from the beans tonight!”

Blushing like crazy, I shoved him hard. “Stop making up things about me!”

He snorted, “I’m not making anything, prankster.”

I shifted in my seat totally embarrassed. My face felt hot and I was sure that I looked like a tomato. The worst part? I had totally ate half the bean’s bowl last night at dinner. And I had slept heavily so I couldn’t remember anything, so there was a chance that he was actually telling the truth…

Oh dear God, no…

We’d reached the colorful town by now. “You’re messing with me, right?” I whispered flustered, not really looking at him.

“Am I?” he’d managed to compose by now. His voice tone was dark.

Sighing, I shifted on my seat to look at him. “I’m a princess…and princesses…don’t…” I swallowed hard, “fart.”

His grey eyes were as piercing as usual. As soon as the words came out of my mouth, he burst out laughing again. “So, now you’re a princess?”

Please Earth just swallow me…

Flushed, I stepped out of the car while he kept snickering. “You have no manners, do you? Even if it was true, a gentleman would have kept that to himself.”

His eyes glinted amused as he shrugged, “I’m no gentleman, Marianne. Besides, we’re not in England anymore, so that princess card,” he pointed at me with the folded piece of paper, “won’t work here.” Glowering, I faked a smile and showed him my middle finger. Chuckling, he snorted, “That’s not very princessly, is it?”

“Good thing you’ve pointed out that we’re not in England!”

We walked in silence. Well, more like I stomped away as he caught up with me a moment later. “Are you actually mad at me?” I gave him a dirty look. He raised the palm of his hands in mock surrender, “Just remember I’m buying ice-cream!”

I rolled my eyes. “As a matter of fact, I’m buying my bloody ice-cream! With my share of the tips!”

“Actually, I can-“

Glowering, I gestured him to stop, “You do not want to make me mad, mister!”

Slowly, his lips tugged up on that boyish crookedly smile, “You look beautiful when you’re angry…” His grey eyes transfixed mine for a moment. My mouth went dry and I swallowed hard as he leaned closer and whispered by my ear, “I just can’t help myself. Your reactions are so worth it.” He crossed the street towards the cell phone’s store leaving me bewildered on the middle of the sidewalk.

We got one of the simplest phones. Yet, it felt like gold in my hands. Excited, I stared at the small device. I could at least text Valerie and Ashley. And Mom, of course.

After all these days, I had completely forgotten the addicting feeling you get when holding a phone. Grinning, I thanked the clerk and walked out of the store feeling a million times better already.

“Ice-cream?” Jason asked with a small smile on his lips.

I bit my lip and placed the said device on the back pocket of my jeans. If I’d waited almost a week to talk to them, I could surely wait a couple of hours, “Sure.”

The town’s main plaza was really pretty. A large fountain adorned the center of the plaza, it was encased by beautifully arranged gardens. Cast ironed benches finished the whole look. An old couple sat on one of them eating an ice-cream, while their grandchildren tried to feed a squirrel. An old man selling some kind of candies stood on the other side; he had something that resembled to meringues in different colors neatly arranged in a wooden tray covered with clear plastic. On the other side of the street, stood a woman with four orange barrels. They all had a huge neon paper sign with the ice-cream’s flavor written in black marker.

Giddy, I read the signs out loud as the woman watched us expectantly. “¿Qué tiene el beso de ángel, señora?” (what’s in the “angel’s kiss” flavor?)

“What’s that?” Jason asked inquisitive looking at the barrels.

“It’s the ice-cream’s name, angel’s kiss. I’m asking her what’s in it.”

“Angel’s kiss?” his grey eyes turned to me. “That sounds enticing,” Raising a hand, he addressed to the lady, “Uno, por favor!” He glanced at me frowning, “do you want one, too?”

I chuckled, “but you don’t know what’s in it!”

He shrugged, “who cares? The name says it all!”

Dazed, I tilted my head to properly look at him. This whole day was showing me a completely different side of him…an unexpected yet alluring side of him. Damn.

“Dos por favor!” I said to the lady still looking at him. His eyes casted to my lips for a moment making butterflies flutter like crazy in my stomach.

The lady passed each one our ice-cream. It was pink with cherries and nuts. As Jason paid her, I saw a middle-aged woman sat on the floor with a small white mantelpiece displaying shiny things. Curious, I approached her as a little girl sat on her Momma’s lap. She didn’t look older than four. Both their clothes were somewhat scrappy and dirty. I glanced at the beaded bracelets the woman sold while the girl stared at my still untouched ice-cream.

Something tugged at my heart. I couldn’t possibly eat that ice-cream knowing that the little girl wanted it. Frowning, I offered it to her, “¿lo quieres?” (do you want it?) I glanced at the mother, “No lo he probado, ¿se lo podría reglar a su hija?” (It’s untouched, could I give it to your daughter?) The woman nodded while smiling. She offered me something on her cloth but I shook my head. The little girl’s eyes sparkled excitedly as she took the ice-cream on her hands. I smiled at them and turned around to see a completely astonished Jason in front of me.

“You gave away your ice-cream.”

I shrugged, “yeah…” His eyes were soft as he offered me his ice-cream. I shook my head, “no, please, go-“someone touched my hand.

Looking down, I found the little girl all smeared up with ice-cream with a huge smile on her face and a bright bracelet on her hands. “Gracias,” she said in the sweetest voice.

I grabbed the bracelet and she ran back to her mother. Shyly, I nodded at the lady who smiled at me. A teary smile formed on my face as I put on the bracelet. “This is better than ice-cream,” I glanced at Jason who was looking at me in something that resembled like awe.

But that was just probably in my mind…

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I love this song...anyway...what do you think?? like the new playful Jason????? I wanna read more comments, people!!! :)

Gabs

PS: I dedicated this to you, wildcats042, because your comment made me laugh and feel bad for taking forever to update!!

And thank you nataliepe for your help with the cast!! You're the best!!!