The Only Exception

Chapter Three - The Beginning of an Adventure

Jasper's P. O.V.

The taxi pulled up to a rather posh hotel around ten minutes later. It was called "The White Court Hotel". I've never been to a fancy place like this before.

The stairs leading into the lobby were white and grey marble with a spinning door at the top. As you entered the lobby there were strips of gold decorating the walls and outline of the reception desk. We casually walked over to an middle-aged lady with hair straight from the sixties, who was sitting behind the reception desk.

She was looking straight at me, and bit her bottom lip, I was so creeped out. She kept winking at me as well. Was she seriously a lesbian? I looked down at her hands and saw wedding and engagement rings. She was married but she was staring at me suggestively. What the hell is wrong with her? As I looked back up again, she was still staring in the same direction.

That's when I realised she was gawking at the gorgeous man behind me. Jealousy rushed through me and I knew that I shouldn't be feeling like this. It was wrong. I don't even know the first thing about him. We had only just met for Christ's sake. I couldn't control him.

I turned around to see if I was in the middle of something creepy between Jackson and the receptionist called Brenda, and face planted into the hard, muscly chest of Jackson. His hands went to my hips to stop me from falling backwards, as he steadied me. I looked up at the 6ft wall in front of me, slightly embarrassed, just as he looked down. We locked eyes for what seemed like ages and I could have sworn that he was looking at my lips at some points as well. Maybe he was thinking of kissing me and maybe I wanted him too as well. There was chemistry between us, I could tell and it felt like he could feel it too.

It was weird to think I wanted to kiss Jackson because I was attracted to him. Duh, obviously! But I felt like I have known him for ages. I can't describe it.

I can't take just staring anymore. I wanted this to become more than just staring. More than just kissing. More than just a few days before we separate. My Dad always used to say "If you want something just ask. You'll never know the answer if you don't ask. I needed him to kiss me, so I initiated it by slowly leaning into him. He got the hint and began getting closer as well. His breath started fanning my face, I closed my eyes and waited for his lips to crash against mine...

But we were interrupted by Brenda

"How can I help you?" She said in what was probably supposed to be her sexiest tone, directing her gaze Jackson's way. For moments she just sat swinging her little spinny chair left and right, just staring at Jackson. She looked at me once, but that was only for the daggers she was mentally throwing at me. Fine then, two can play at this game!

"Hi, um yes. Me and my fiancé were hoping you had a spare room that we could share for two nights?" I asked in the poshest accent going, putting emphasis on 'fiancé' and 'share'. I looked towards Jackson and gave him an innocent grin, whilst interlocking my fingers with his. His expression was so funny. It was priceless. I elbowed him, hoping that he would get the hint to play along.

The woman looked between us for a split second before replying.  "There is one on the third floor. Number 46."

A dissappointed look appeared on her face before vanishing completely. She gave us the room key and welcome pack, before giving Jackson a cheeky wink. What a whore?!

I followed Jackson up the stairs and along the corridor before stopping outside room 46. Our room. As soon as Jackson had unlocked the door, I dumped my bags on the floor and ran in and jumped on the huge, king sized bed. I just laid there for what seemed like hours. I tend to daydream a lot sometimes. It's as though I am dead to the world. If he was calling me then I wouldn't hear. I only snap out of it when Maggie or Elliott shout at me or even jump on top of me.

Jackson's P. O.V.

I looked at her as she lay diagonally across the bed, deep in thought. I ran over what almost happened down in the reception area in my head. She wanted me to kiss her and I wanted to kiss her. I want to kiss her so bad. To see how many sparks fly when we are doing more than just holding hands. I don't know what she has done to me, but she has me scared about what to do next. I always want to impress her. She's different and there's just an element of mystery to her.

"Jasper?" I called out. She's still deep in her thoughts.

"Jasper." I said again. This time she blinked a few times before staring at me with her perfect, electric blue eyes.

"Let's play twenty questions." I suggested, "Get to know each other better."

"Ok."

"Alright, I'll go first," I told her. "Why are you here in America?"

"Straight to the point on that one. Not going to ask my favourite colour?" She joked but turned serious with her answer. "I'm here to  sort out things with an apartment and internship I applied for a while back. Then I will be moving back over here to live. What about you? Why are you in America?"

"I live here, but my sister's wedding is coming up soon so I have will have to fly back here fast." I replied. Oh I just remembered that I needed a date for the wedding. Maybe Jasper will go with me?

"Aww that's cute," she said with a cute smile that showed just enough teeth and created dimples in the side of her cheeks. It was beautiful. "Your turn."

"Hmm, ok. What's your favourite food?"

"Oooo, that's a good question. Well it has to be either a good old barbeque or birthday cake. Ahhh I bought an amazing birthday cake for Maggie for her last birthday. It had a cute little pink castle on it. It. Was. Delicious!" I could tell she loved it because of the fact that she was drooling at the mouth.

That's the second time that I've heard the name Maggie. From the sound of it she has to be quite young. To still have pink castle cakes on her birthday, helped me make the assumption. I would ask who she is but I want to get to know Jasper better first.

"How old are you?" She asked, breaking me out from my thoughts.

"24." I replied.

About ten questions later, I found found out that she used to have a dog called Pippa, her favourite colour is purple, she lives in an apartment west of Sydney and unfortunately her dad died when she was ten.

"Why do you want to move to America?" I asked quietly.

She stayed silent for a while before sighing and telling me "A fresh start."

"Why?" I was very intrigued now. I've never met anyone who wanted to move halfway across the globe for a fresh start. Whatever is back in Sydney must be bad.

"Woah there," she chuckled, "one question at a time. Now it's my turn, ummm, why are you going back to Sydney?"

"Mum called me yesterday and uh, said that my dad had a heart attack."

"Oh Jackson, I'm sorry." She shifted herself from her side of the bed to where I was and wrapped her arms around me. We stayed like that for what seemed like ages, until Jasper tried to lighten the depressing atmosphere that enclosed us.

"At least he's not dead, right?" She was thinking about her dad. I could tell by the way she started sniffling, but tried to cover it up with soft chuckles that faded into the air.

A few minutes passed and we were still hugging on the bed. I broke the silence,

"Well, the pity party is officially over. Time for our adventure then, up we get!" I said lifting her up with me as I stood.