♡ Jessica Woods ♡

After almost ten minutes of walking in the water-covered pathway holding Jace's hand in silence, I stopped walking when Jace stood infront of an unoccupied restaurant and released his hand out of mine which made me whine internally.

The swollen raindrops splattered against the roof awning and I noticed 'Hams & Eggs' engraved on the name board. Jace furled the umbrella while I was shivering in the cold the minute Jace left my hand but sooner he placed his hand on my back loosely and looked down at me. "Let's go."

I nodded at him without asking any questions as he pushed open the glass door, dragging me inside along with him. I glanced around the restaurant and it was empty and looked like an abandoned place though the wooden dining tables and chairs were arranged neatly and the white walls looked newly-painted.

Jace moved to the corner and I followed him behind and sat across him, glancing at the window which were fogged up and hiding the outside view, but for some reason the place had a soothing effect.

Is it a date?

Suddenly his knees touched mine underneath the table, snapping me out of my thoughts and I let out a gasp in surprise while he was looking at the menu card like nothing had happened. I looked down at the table sneakily and noticed our knees were touching each other's due to the small width of our table.

"The tables are narrow." he said looking up from the menu card and I smiled awkwardly.

"Oh." I responded and looked down at my jacket that has soaked by the sudden downpour and the water droplets that were dripping down from it. "I'm wet.."

I mentally facepalmed myself at the choice of my words as Jace chuckled. "That's what she said."

I shot him a fake-glare and he raised his hands a little in surrender and glanced at the counter. "Noah! Wake up! A new customer has arrived!" he shouted like he owned the place and I glanced at the counter where none of the people were working, in confusion.

Out of nowhere, we heard a masculine voice "Coming!" and when I gave a questioning look at Jace, he shrugged nonchalantly. I again glanced back at the counter and saw a good-looking guy approaching us.

"Mornin' lazy bones!" Jace teased at the guy, waving his hand and I noticed his clean-shaven face was frowning at Jace as it was almost time for the dinner.

"Why the hell ar-" he paused and his lazy green eyes slightly widened when his gaze met mine and reluctantly I averted my gaze to Jace who was rolling his eyes at him.

"Focus Noah, focus."

"Woah man, when did you get some balls to get a girl for yourself?" the waiter guy, Noah, smirked and sat on the chair beside Jace and nudged his shoulder.

Weird restaurant and its waiters!

"Huh?" Jace frowned but Noah ignored him as he looked at me with a huge grin on his face, extending his hand towards me.

"I'm Noah, Jace's big brother and his partner in crime." he said and I glanced at Jace wide-eyed as I didn't know he had a big brother but I nodded in acknowledgement when Jace's mouthed at me. "He was my neighbour."

I smiled, shaking my hand with him. "Nice to meet you. I'm Jessica. Jac-"

"Jessica? Oh wow! You know what, I have a huge crush on Jessica Rothe.. Oh sweet Jesus.. I've to watch forever my girl again now." he sighed dreamily, withdrawing my hand and Jace shook his head in disbelief.

"Noah, yo-" Jace was about to say something but Noah punched him on his the shoulder and said. "You proved me wrong man, you have some good taste actually."

"So what do you guys wanna eat?" he asked, opening the menu card and looking through it. "There are so many delicious stuffs to eat in my restaurant."

Jace rolled his eyes and shoved him playfully. "This is not the way how you have to get our orders."

"Okay mom." Noah said mockingly and stood up, glancing at us back and forth. "Would you like to place your orders, Potato head and Mrs.Potato head?" he asked in a fake strong accent and I giggled at the nickname while Jace was pretending to look at the menu card, ignoring his oh-so-big-brother Noah.

"Uh, two creamy baked mac and cheese and two salted caramel hot chocolates, is that okay Jessica?" Jace asked me and as he knew more than me about this restaurant, I nodded.

"Whipped." Noah coughed and Jace shot him a glare which made him clear his throat. "I mean, you want whipped cream in the hot chocolates?" he asked but without getting any reply from us, he left our place to bring our foods and Jace sighed in relief dramatically which made me laugh.

"He's the only one who could annoy me with his lame jokes." Jace remarked and I chuckled.

"Well.. why does this restaurant seemed to be empty?" I asked Jace a bit curiously and he stared at the ceiling thoughtfully for a moment and replied.

"Because his cooking sucks."

"Hey man, I heard that." Noah yelled from the doorway and when I turned to look at him, he was pointing his index finger at our direction in accusation. "Don't you dare say that. My cooking rocks okay!"

"Whatever you say." Jace chuckled, raising his hands in surrender and Noah turned his attention back to the door and started to flip the door tag. I rolled my eyes at him and looked back at Jace.

"He's an uni student and he was my neighbour few years back but now he's staying here in upstairs with Jeremy, his cousin. Actually Jeremy's father owns this restaurant and these two guys are working here just for the timepass." he told me almost whispering like Noah could hear us and I nodded slowly, listening to him carefully then he looked at the counter and yelled.

"Hey man! Where's Jeremy?" when he didn't get any reply, he looked at me and said in an amused tone. "Probably working hard on the thing we ordered."

I nodded, smiling and for a couple of seconds we didn't utter anything and when I met his blue piercing gaze I realized that it was the time he'd be asking the typical questions so I decided to be the first one to speak.

"Err.. Jace, I'm sorry." I almost whispered, fidgeting with my hands and he cocked an eyebrow at me.

"For what?"

"For everything.. Because of me, you've lost your head prefect post. You've lost your best friend. You've lost your reputation. You shouldn't have done that-"

"I shouldn't have done that." he nodded slowly in agreement and I looked at him with my lips parted slightly. "But I wanted to. Because it's a part of our pinky promise, remember?" he tilted his head to one side and I gave him a puzzled look as I didn't recall anything like we made some promise that he had to be my knight in shining armour on my hard times.

"I promised you that I would never do anything that makes you cry."

"B-But you didn't make me cry." I stated and he frowned.

"But do you think I would sit by and do nothing when someone breaks your heart? Especially when it's Sam?" he questioned at me like I was the craziest person in the world. "Look Jessica, you can't blame yourself for everything. Let's look at the bright side. Yeah, I've lost my Head Prefect post. But it's only for a week and you know what, Oliver's long-standing wish was to be the Head Prefect of our school and look, now I've fulfilled his wish too." he smiled excitedly like he wasn't a bit sad about the temporary removal of his post.

"And to be honest, Tash is my bestfriend; and Sam, Ryan, Tash and I are the typical clique and Sam is a part of that group which made us teammates to best mates, so I wouldn't be sad as I still have Natasha." he smiled down at the menu card like he could see Natasha in that. Pfft.

"And what's the last thing you said.." he scrunched his eyes a little thoughtfully.

"Reputation?" I offered and he nodded.

"Yeah, yeah, reputation. Like seriously?" he chuckled lightly and I bet he must be in a very good mood today. "Do you think I'd give a damn about it?"

"Certainly not. Because you don't have a reputation at all." Noah snorted, placing our foods on the table and Jace glared at him.

"You're eavesdropping?"

"No, no. Your voice is echoing the whole place." he retorted and placed down the food tray on our table and sat beside Jace.

Jace pretended to ignore him as he grabbed my plate and hot chocolate from the tray and set them on my side and I looked up at him, smiling a little but caught him glaring at Noah who was smiling at him sheepishly as he was sipping his hot chocolate.

I stifled my laughter as I glanced at the window, resting my chin on my palm and wondered how happy I was right now.

"What made you wet, girl? Rain or Jace?" Noah scoffed, interrupting my thoughts and I choked on my spit as I looked at him wide-eyed.

"Wh-What?"

"God, Noah.. can you leave us-"

"Well, well." Noah cut him off, placing down the mug on the table. "I was about to ask if you wanna change your clothes because you definitely can as I have a spare cloth of chick's" he said and Jace raised his eye brow.

"Really?"

"Yeah. A lingerie." Noah gave him a mischievous smirk.

"Excuse me?" my eyebrows shot up in surprise and now Jace has buried his face in his hands, muttering something.

"Why is Jace being a dramatic ass? Because isn't it obvious that you both came here to make out? So the lingerie would be more helpful, wouldn't it?" Noah asked in a serious tone and I looked at him as my jaw hit the floor.

Is he serious?

"I swear to God Noah, I would kill you and your stupid imaginative thoughts." Jace grunted, glaring at him but Noah just rolled his eyes.

"Oh yeah? Then why did you bring her here? Look, I know you more than I know about myself. You're not like the Sam guy. You aren't the type of use-girls-and-say-bye. Unless she's your girlfriend, you wouldn't have brought her here to bang her." Noah rambled and I didn't think it'd be appropriate if I replied eventhough they were talking about me.

Hold on, if he refers me as Jace's girlfriend doesn't he know about Natasha?

But he said he knows Jace too well.. okay, I'm confused now.

"She is not my GIRLFRIEND, you idiot." Jace stood up and I sighed, looking down at the inviting creamy baked mac and cheese as it'd be awkward if I ate it.

Oh boys, the food is getting cold. I looked up at them hoping I was good at telepathy and Noah suddenly met my gaze and I smiled at him, nodding and his eyes narrowed to slits as he turned to Jace.

"She's not your girlfriend? Then why did you bring her here?" Noah asked and I sighed as I realized I sucked at telepathy.

"Can't I bring her here to have some meals?" Jace almost whined as if he couldn't win over the waiter guy.

"Here?" Noah frowned. "This is your hideaway for God's sake and even Georgia doesn't know about this place. And you haven't brought any of your friends here too but now you're saying you brought this girl to have a date with you? Oh God! I'm confused here. Someone enlighten me. Jeremy! I need you right now." Noah rambled and walked towards the counter.

Weirdo.

But then everything Noah said registered in my mind slowly.

"I'm sorry. He's a complete nutcase." Jace sat down, sighing and when he noticed I was staring at him he smiled a little and motioned for me to eat. But when I kept looking at him continuously, he furrowed his brows.

"Jes-"

"You haven't brought any of your friends here?" I questioned in a low voice and he glanced all over my face and set his gaze on my eyes and opened his mouth and closed it a multiple times as he didn't know what to reply and finally shook his head slightly. "No."

"Even Natasha?"

He chewed his bottom lip and shook his head again and a little smile appeared on my face as I nodded back pretending to be normal as I averted my gaze to the food. "Oh, okay."

Why am I suddenly feeling special?

Then we started to eat our foods in silence and if truth be told, despite the weird behaviour of Noah, he was a very good cook as I already finished the half of my plate. Suddenly Jace's leg bumped with mine and he smiled at me apologetically and I shook my head slightly, returning his smile.

After a minute or two, Jace broke the silence gulping his hot chocolate.

"Jessica?"

"Hmm?" I glanced up at him, chewing the pasta.

"Mrs.White gave us lots of notes today so if you want.. um.. you can borrow my book." he offered and I smiled at him.

"Means a lot." I said, placing down my fork.

"So.. will you come tomorrow.. to school?" he asked cautiously and I swallowed the food audibly.

"I.. uhm.." I stammered not knowing what to reply and when I looked up at his face I sighed in defeat. "I will."

his lips curled upwards and he glanced at the window, sipping his hot chocolate somehow triumphantly and I realized just being with Jace Parker, was the therapy I needed.

When we finished eating, Jace dug his hand inside his pant pocket and took out some money and slammed it on the table, shouting. "Noah! C'mon! Get your reward for your hard work man!"

I was a little embarrassed as he was the one who was paying the money for the whole stuff we ate and I nagged myself mentally for not bringing my wallet.

"Jace, I'm sorry.. I will bring the money tom-"

"Are you serious? Do you think I'm some kind of a stingy person?" he frowned and I shook my head instantly.

"No, no, no. I didn't mean that. I just don't want you to pay the whole bill alone." I said and he rolled his eyes.

"I'm sorry. But I do have to pay the whole bill alone because if I give someone a treat I wouldn't take money from that someone." he explained to me like I was a five-year-old kid.

"You mean date?" I heard my mouth say and I facepalmed myself mentally.

Surprisingly he burst into laughter, shaking his head. "No, I mean treat. T-r-e-a-t." he pronounced slowly in a mocking way and I scrunched up my nose at him.

"Okay. But for what?" I asked and he leaned forward, staring at me intently and now our faces were terribly close which made my heart racing.

"For being the strongest girl in the world. You've no idea how much I'm proud of you now. God gives pain to the ones who can bear and overcome it and you, Jessica Woods, are the example that pretty girls have problems too." he whispered and I was staring at him teary-eyed and gulped the lump in my throat.

He's so best in emotional talks.

He knows how to make people smile and cry at the same time. I hate him.

Who am I kidding? ..I like him. I like him so much.

The million-dollar smile of his was still presented on his face and I slowly brought my hand towards his face and stroked under his left eye where he had a purplish lined mark. He slightly leaned his face on my palm and I stared at his occean blue eyes and then at his thin rosy lips.

Should I kiss him? At a restaurant? What if Noah interrupted us?

Can I kiss him even he's a boyfriend of another person?

Shoving my thoughts aside, I slowly moved my face till my lips reach his and felt his hands gripping my arms gently, pulling me closer to him and when our lips were about to meet each other, the typical ringtone of his  android phone boomed the whole place.

I startled, backing up a little and Jace blinked, backing a little as well and tucked his hand inside his pocket and took out the phone.

"Tash." he mumbled, looking up at me and I bit my lip, feeling a little guilty.

"Shall I.." he trailed and I nodded.

"Yeah, yeah. Go ahead." I cleared my throat and he gestured me 'one minute' with his forefinger as he stood up from his seat and moved to the other corner of the room placing his phone on his ear.

What was I about to do? Oh Dear God.

In less than no time, Jace returned back to our table and said. "Tash said she's picking us up. C'mon." he motioned to me to stand up and I did, pressing my lips together.

She's such a clingy girlfriend.

"What about the money?" I asked and Jace glanced back at the counter and then at me, nodding reassuringly.

"He'd get it." Jace said and I nodded back, making my way outside as he grabbed the umbrella from the umbrella holder and guided me the way.

I noticed the heavy rain has stopped and now the rain was falling down lightly as we both stood under the roof awning preventing us from the rainshower.

I was glancing left and right whether there was a car coming towards our way but I found none and slowly recalled the moment what I was about to.. No.. what we were about to do.. because in my defense, he too gripped my arms pulling me closer to him so he wanted to kiss me too. Right?

"Hey, I wanted to give you something." Jace brought me back to reality and I looked up at him with a quizzical look on my face while he was digging his hand in his jacket pocket.

"I already got it." I smiled, recalling the branded dark chocolate Louise gave me and he stopped rummaging and glanced at me furrowing his brows.

"Got what?"

"Dark chocolate." I told and his ears turned to a pinkish colour as he took his hand out of his pocket, closing his fist tightly and he opened his mouth and closed it several times as he didn't know what to say.

"Jace?"

"Uh, yeah.." he cleared his throat. "Actually.. I.." he trailed, extending his closed fist to me and I looked down at his hand and he slowly opened his palm, revealing a.. neon-orange coloured nail polish.

I covered my mouth with my hands and looked up at him wide-eyed. He chuckled at my reaction and motioned me to take it.

"This.. This.." I stammered, taking it as this was the nail polish I've fallen in love at first sight and searched everywhere since I've seen it in the Louise's party.

"You want this, don't you?" he asked as I twirled it like it was a rare diamond ring.

"I'm so craved for this. But the main point is.. how do you know I love this one so much?" I questioned as it was the very same colour I didn't have in my collection.

"After you were over-drunken at that Ryan's party, you almost tried to steal the nail polish which was given by Leah for my dare." he told and I raised my eyebrows.

"So you stole it?"

"No." he denied instantly. "I bought a new one."

"For me?" I asked quitely and he glanced everywhere but me, nodding slightly.

Okay. He's an amazing human-being!

Right now I wanted to hug him tightly and squeezed the live out of him like I would do to my teddy bear when I was a kid, but I restrained myself and sighed dreamily at the nail polish.

He bought a nail polish for me. Oh sweet Jesus..

Get a grip on yourself Jessica.

Hold on, if he bought this means.. Has he gone to some cosmetic stores?

"Where did you buy it?"

"Uh, sorry. I can't tell you that." he shrugged and before I could make him spill the beans, a loud shriek interrupted us.

"What the hell!?" we snapped our head towards the owner of the voice's side and saw Natasha was approaching us with a frown on her face. When she stood a metre away from me, she glanced at me and then at the nail polish furiously.

"You wanted me to buy this to give it to her huh?" Natasha asked at Jace, gritting her teeth. "And lied to me that Georgia wants this."

What?

Jace sighed, scratching the back of his neck as if he caught red-handed