“I didn’t want to do it like this,” Skylar said, perched on the opposite side of desk I found myself leaning on for support. The sudden intensity gaze made my stomach tie up into knots.
I paled a little at his words, worried where this could be leading. “Do what?” I asked, my voice hesitant.
"Rein, have you ever considered taking our relationship to the next level?"
His question caught me so off guard I froze in surprise. I stared up into his emerald eyes, mesmerized by the intensity they held. He can’t be serious. “What?” I finally managed to force out, aware of his eyes never leaving me.
Skylar smiled, rising from the desk he’d been perched on. “Like I said, this wasn’t how I wanted to do this,” he said smoothly, taking a step closer.
I’d sought him out to put an end to the disaster we’d created. Holding hand had been the stupidest idea I’d gone along with so far. “I thought we agreed this morning it wasn’t going past holding hands?” I asked, straightening myself out. “I’m not going to advance an imaginary relationship Skylar, it’s just not going to happen.”
He leaned against the desk that separated us, his eyes shining as he looked at me. “It doesn’t have to be imaginary,” he said slowly, his accent seeming to become stronger. “Date me,” he said, his words catching me off guard. A smirk crept onto his face as he read my floored expression.
The Skylar is asking me out? “But this morning-“ I stammered, trying to make sense of it. I’d only held his hand to annoy people. It had been a stupid, childish thing to do.
In a single graceful step he closed the distance between us, one of his hands finding a rogue strand of my hair. He ran his fingers over it, staring into my eyes with one of the most charming smiles I’d ever seen him wear. It looked right at home on his handsome face, and I was mystified by the entire situation. “You’d said no fake kisses,” he breathed, eyes glittering as he stared down at me, “but what about a real one?”
At his words I shook my head, staring at him in disbelief. “Look,” I paused, trying to clear my head as I took a step away from him slowly. When I’d first moved here I’d thought him talking to me was some sort of cruel prank he was so amazingly attractive. The more I got to know him I’d seen he wasn’t just the player everyone made him out to be. He was sweet, he was funny, he was thoughtful and caring but. . . He’s not for me. “Skylar, I can’t do that,” I finally managed to get out, the decision already made. I’d never considered dating him because I’d never felt like he was anything more than a friend.
“Is it because of Jakeson?” he asked without hesitation. I’d barely managed to shake my head when he asked, “Kale?”
“No, it’s not them. I just don’t-“ I paused, trying to find the right way to word it. I’d never had to turn someone down before. “You’re my friend,” I said lamely, not sure how else to put it. I’d come into this conversation with Skylar intent on putting things right. I hadn’t so much as considered it’d take such a drastic turn.
He cocked a brow, gazing at me with one of his winning smiles. “You don’t find me attractive?” Skylar asked, the question sounding crazy coming from him.
I think you’re droolworthy, but that doesn’t mean anything. “Relationships have more to them than being attracted to someone,” I pointed out, not wanting to lie but not wanting to come out and tell him the truth. Sure, he was perfect in the way only Skylar could be, but I didn’t want him. I had enough on my hands as it were.
“We don’t have fun together?”
I took a step back from the desk, running one of my hands through my long hair. “We do; as friends,” I tried stressing the last word.
It seemed to register as the smile dropped from his face. It seemed he hadn’t expected this response for he took a seat on the desk once more. “Usually girls are the ones who are trying to date me,” he said slowly, as though working something out in his mind.
“Usually?” I asked, trying at a smile when he looked at me. “Don’t you mean always?”
Skylar’s eyes scanned over my face as he took me in. “You know my reputation,” he said slowly, “so you have to realize I’m serious about this.”
“I appreciate that Skylar,” I matched his soft tone, trying to keep the conversation from getting emotional. I didn’t see him as the type to throw a fit, but I’d misjudged enough people not to jump to conclusions. Putting a little more distance between us I grabbed my backpack from the floor. “I just don’t want a relationship.”
“Why not?” he asked, following my movements with his emerald green eyes.
“I-“ I faltered, looking away. I’m not over Kale. It’s the first thing I thought and yet I couldn’t let the words out.
Skylar seemed to have realized I was struggling for he got to his feet, a charming smile in place as he closed the gap between us. “We’re good together,” he said, stopping a few feet away. It was as if he was aware of how on edge I was, for he didn’t come any closer, just stared until I had to meet his eyes. When I did it was to see he was still smiling. “Don’t you think so?”
“As friends,” I got out quickly, looking away once more only to find my eyes drawn back to his.
He took a small step closer, sliding his hands into his pockets casually. “You don’t feel any sort of a spark with me?”
I felt like disappearing under his intense gaze. Oh god, what have I done? I couldn’t help but wonder as I stared into his expecting eyes. Part of me had always known that Skylar was at least somewhat interested in me. The fact he continued to see other girls had convinced me I had nothing to worry about. “You don’t date,” I said bluntly, ignoring his question.
“I would for you,” he flashed that charming smile once more, staring me down.
I wanted to groan. “Look, Skylar,” I hesitated, making sure not to back down as I took a step towards him, “I just don’t see you that way.”
“But you like spending time with me-“
“As a friend,” I repeated firmly, feeling a little bad as I saw the sparkle in his eye dim. “I do like being with you; that is true. But I just don’t,” I hesitated, searching for the words to say, “-I just don’t see you that way. The only thing I want from you is friendship.”
As he took in my words I could see the disgruntled expression settle on to his face. “Is this what they call being put in the friend zone?” he asked, his accent sounding adorable as he made air quotes around the last two words.
I couldn’t help but grin, forgetting that we were having a serious conversation. “You’ve been there for a while,” I pointed out, encouraged by the smile that had come to his face when I’d grinned. “Is it really that bad?”
Skylar took a second to take in what I said before he nodded his head. “I guess I have been, haven’t I?” he asked, an almost shy smile taking over his handsome face.
I nodded, surprised he seemed to be taking it so well. “Sorry to be the one to break it to you.”
For a few moments he was quiet. He just stood there, staring at me with those eyes of his. I couldn’t make heads nor tails of what he was thinking. “So,” he breathed, finally giving me a little smile, “who else is in this friend zone?”
Nervously I played with the hem of my shirt, smoothing it down as I avoided his eyes. What am I supposed to say to that? I gave a little shrug, not knowing how to answer such a question. It wasn’t like I had drawn out a list of who had a chance with me and who didn’t. “I don’t know.”
It only took Skylar a second to catch on that I wasn’t about to start listing off names. So instead, he started to on his own. “Well, what about Frankie?” he asked.
“What about him?” I muttered, meeting his eyes. Oh god, I didn’t want to do this right now. Not ever.
“You went to a party with him,” he pointed out, his voice almost a purr as he held out his hand for my backpack.
“As a friend,” I pointed out, handing over the backpack without a fight.
He nodded, giving a little reassuring smile. “Well then there’s one,” he teased, motioning towards the open door to the classroom with his free arm. I took the hint, following out beside him and into the hall. The moment we fell into step beside each other he gave me a sideways glance. “How about Spencer,” he asked, “you two seem pretty close.”
“He’s a good friend,” I acknowledged, meeting his eyes. “Look, Skylar-“
He cut me off before I could finish, pretending he hadn’t heard the last bit. “What about the lawn mower you eat lunch with?” he asked, and there was that charming smile again, his eyes boring into mine.
“His name is Jared,” I said sharply, my tone surprisingly harsh. I realized the moment it left my lips that I’d gotten annoyed by how everyone seemed to act like he wasn’t a person just because he had to work for a living.
Skylar gave me an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry, Jared,” he corrected himself. “I didn’t mean to be insulting. I know he’s special to you.”
Something about the way he worded that rubbed me the wrong way, and I shook my head in frustration. Skylar had this persistent way about him that I hadn’t seemed to pick up on until recently. Maybe now that he understands I don’t want to date him he sees no reason to use a suave approach? “He was my first friend in California,” I explained. “So yes, he is special to me.”
“But in the friend zone?” he urged.
I stopped walking giving him a flat look. “I don’t feel comfortable talking about this.”
He stopped as well, only instead of staying still he stepped closer to me, causing me to step away in surprise. “What about Jakeson?” he demanded, ignoring the words I’d just spoken to him completely. “What about Kale?”
“What about them?” I asked, my heart beat picking up at the sudden intensity of his eyes.
Skylar smoothly crept closer, not stopping until I’d backed myself against a row of lockers in my current stunned state. He lowered his emerald eyes to mine, leaving a good two feet between us even as he made me feel utterly trapped. “What moved them out of the friend category?”
I had no idea how to answer that. And even if I did, I wouldn’t have answered. It’s none of your business. “I don’t know,” I said dryly, my eyes unable to leave his. He hadn’t closed the distance between us, yet I felt like any sudden movements and I might find that changing.
His eyes danced over me for a second, before he straightened himself out once more, no longer peering into my eyes. In a second there was that charming smile on his face once more. “It’s because they wouldn’t take no for an answer,” he said smugly, as though he’d just figured it all out.
“Excuse me?” I choked out.
“It took them actively pursing you for you to warm up to them,” he paused then, taking in my floored expression. “Is that what you want?”
“Skylar-“
I’d barely managed to get the words out of my mouth before he was on me, his body pressed against mine, his hands on the locker on either side of my head. “Rein,” he breathed, his lips lowering towards mine.
In an instant my hand was up, covering his mouth even as I moved my head away. “I only want to be friends,” I said firmly, standing my ground.
Skylar pulled his head away from my hand, peering down at me as I met his confused gaze. “I’m serious about this Rein,” he said, his accent washing over me as he practically purred.
But I wouldn’t let him get to me. I had enough on my plate, and giving Skylar false hope would only add to that. “I am too,” I informed him, staring straight into his eyes, “and right now you are making it very hard to want to be your friend.”
At my words he pulled away, looking like I’d just slapped him. “I apologize,” he said, looking away from me. In a smooth movement he adjusted his shirt. “That wasn’t the reaction I’d expected.”
“Me neither,” I muttered feeling increasingly awkward.
“I’ve never been rejected,” he said as if realizing that was what had just occurred. His emerald eyes met mine, one of his hands running over his short hair.
I fixed my hair, stepping away from the locker to try and regain some of my composure. I did not see that coming! “I never thought I’d have to,” I admitted, more to myself than to him.
This seemed to surprise him even more than the rejection. “You weren’t aware how I felt about you?” he asked, sounding genuinely mystified.
“I thought we were good friends,” I forced out. This wasn’t the type of conversation I wanted to be having with him. With Jakeson and Kale to worry about I’d never even considered Skylar’s feelings for me. After all, he’d acted exactly the same whether I was dating someone or not.
“So you never considered it?” he asked, taking a little step forward. “Dating me?”
“No Skylar,” I shot him down, making sure to be direct about it this time. I may be oblivious but I’m no tease. I thought bitterly, remembering Kale’s words.
He gave a brisk nod, “I see.”
I need to talk to Jakeson. The thought hit me as I looked around at the lockers we stood by. “Can I have my backpack?”
Skylar didn’t ask why, he just slipped it off his shoulder and handed it towards me. “I didn’t mean to upset you,” he said softly.
“You just surprised me,” I dismissed the apology, feeling a little guilty myself. I shouldn’t have held his hand in the first place.
“Let me take you home,” he said, his voice soft one more as he watched me slip on my bookbag. “Everyone else will already be gone.”
I knew what he was saying was true after one glance down the halls. I’d intended to get a ride home from Matthew only to bump into Skylar and have my priorities rearranged. First step; handle Skylar. Check. Second step; put out the fire before it spreads. “Well,” I paused, pulling out my phone, “not everyone.” I flicked through the lock, smiling at my slowly growing skills at handling this crazy touch phone, and pulled up the last message from Jakeson.
“No, people who start fights are still in detention for another fifteen minutes,” he said, as though reading my mind.
My eyes turned up to his, a scowl already on my face. I don’t know how he’d managed it, but I’d almost forgotten how he had egged on Jakeson during lunch. “Well then I guess I have fifteen minutes to get my things together,” I smarted back, starting down the empty hall.
Skylar didn’t hesitate to follow after me, falling into step as I turned a corner. “He told an entire class that you belong to him-“
“So you’ve already said,” I groaned, cutting him off.
I stopped as Skylar’s arm darted out in front of me, his eyes already locked on mine. Before I could open my mouth to ask what the hell he was doing he flashed me a dry smile. “At least let me show you where detention is held,” he said smoothly, motioning down the hall with his free arm.
“Fine,” I agreed, eyeing him suspiciously as we started down a different hallway. It was a part of the large school building I wasn’t remotely familiar with. One glance over at Skylar and I felt my nerves act up. “How do you know where detention is?” I asked, trying to make some small talk. “Do you have a bad streak I don’t know about?”
He chuckled, flashing one of his classic charming smiles over at me. “My father’s the headmaster,” he reminded me, “I know where everything is.”
“Right,” I nodded, feeling silly for forgetting that once again. When he came to a stop I followed his lead, looking at the closed classroom doors we’d stopped just short of. “Is this my stop?” I asked playfully, raising an eyebrow as I realized the door was indeed marked Detention.
“I’ll keep you company while you wait.”
“Oh no, I’ll be fine,” I tried to brush him off.
Nothing was ever that easy. Instead, he looked almost upset by my words, his mouth forming a little tight line. “I wouldn’t feel comfortable doing that.”
“Why not?”
With a step he approached me, one of his hands reaching out. His fingers brushed my cheek as he smiled down at me. “I’m just worried about you Rein.”
I shied away from his hand, giving him a worried look. The weird pitter patter of my heart had picked up all on its own, and I didn’t know why it chose now of all times to act up. For some weird reason my body seemed attracted to Skylar… but only when he was being his usual friendly self. Now that I was reading into every little action of his I found myself going crazy. “Why would you be worried?” I asked, eyeing him as nonchalantly as I could. Has he always touched me so casually?
“I know you don’t want to believe your friend would ever hurt you-“
The implication in his words hit me before he’d even finished his sentence. “This is Jakeson we’re talking about,” I snapped, suddenly angry, “he’s not just some random friend.” What right does he have to talk about Jakeson? He barely even knows him!
“You’re perfectly correct; he isn’t just a friend,” Skylar responded, his tone cool and his face a calm mask. “He’s your ex-boyfriend.”
“What does that have to do with anything?"
He sighed, shaking his head as he looked down at me with those sparkling eyes. “I attempted to tell you earlier. He’s tried to mark you as his territory Rein. It’s clear that he is not willing to move on.”
Though I knew that in a way he was right- Jakeson still wasn’t over me – his words only made me feel angry. “Regardless of whether he wants me or not he’d never do anything to hurt me,” I said sternly, staring him dead in the eye, “ever.”
Skylar’s usually sunny demeanor turned cold, his eyes locking on to mine with purpose. “It’s that blind faith in him that makes you so vulnerable,” he scolded me, his accent lingering in the air as he let the words sink in. “He’ll use that as an opening to-“
“To what?” I demanded, crossing my arms over my chest as I glared at him. When Skylar opened his mouth to reply I quickly stopped him dead. “Jakeson has my trust because he’s earned it. He’s done nothing but help me. In fact, I don’t know where I’d be right now if it weren’t for him.”
My praise of Jakeson only seemed to rub Skylar the wrong way for he scowled. “Rein-“
“No,” I shook my head, “I don’t want to hear it.”
“Rein?” This time the voice came from behind me and I spun around to see Jakeson standing. He was half out of the door, his eyes locked on darting from me to Skylar. They took in my agitated state, well accustomed to reading my emotions, and his expression hardened immediately. “What did you do to her?” he demanded, taking a threatening step from the room.
“Nothing you wouldn’t have done yourself,” Skylar shot back.
As a few more people left the detention room I realized the situation was quickly spiraling out of control. “Let’s just go,” I hissed, shooting Skylar a silencing look over my shoulder as I marched off, grabbing onto Jakeson’s hand in the process. I pulled him through the people without any effort as he allowed me to lead him off.
I was surprised he’d obeyed, and couldn’t help but glance over at him as we turned a corner. He’s not Kale, I had to remind myself as I tried to calm down. Skylar’s accusations filled me with anger. First Brendon and now him? What is with everyone these days? Once more I looked up at him, and after meeting his worried gaze I realized how confused he must be. I stopped dead, dropping his hand as looked around, realizing I had absolutely no idea where we were going.
“I’m sorry-“ I started to apologize for dragging him off like that but the words didn’t make it out.
“Is it true?” Jakeson asked, his perfect blue eyes like laser beams as they focused in on mine. “Are you and Skylar...” he trailed off, unable to bring himself to say the word. There was no mistaking the hurt in his eyes and I immediately felt guilty. I’m a terrible person!
I shook my head, marveling in the fact that even with how upset he clearly was he still had the respect to ask me directly. “No it’s not,” at just these words it seemed like a weight was lifted off of his shoulders. He didn’t even question it; he just looked relieved. That only made me feel all the more guilty and I felt the need to explain myself. “I held his hand to make some girls jealous and then it all spiraled out of control. It was stupid of me and-“
In an instant he was on me. His arms wrapped around me, pulling me close up against his muscular frame. He buried his cheek against my hair, holding me close in an unexpected hug. “I don’t care why you did it,” he said, his voice tinged with the relief I’d seen in his face just moments ago. “I’m just glad it wasn’t true.”
I didn’t know what I was supposed to say to that. I pulled my head away from his warm chest, trying to look up at him. When I did it was only to see a pained expression on his face once more. “Jakeson what’s wrong?”
He looked down at me for a second before closing his eyes and resting his forehead against mine. “Just let me hold you a little longer,” he whispered.
Bewildered I obliged him, wrapping my own arms around him as I returned his impromptu hug. I’d never seen Jakeson look so troubled before, and if he thought that this would help then it was the least I could do. In fact, the second my hands landed on the warm wall of muscle that was his back I found I was the one cuddling into him instead of it being the other way around. I nuzzled my head against his sturdy warm chest, enjoying the heat radiating off of him. It had been a while since I’d been wrapped up in the safety of his arms.
“You know, don’t you?”
The wary tone to his voice made me pull back to look at him, and the moment I did he released me, taking a quick step away. “What is it Jakeson?” I asked, confused at his sudden look of dread.
He sighed, backing up against a row of lockers. “About my fight with Kale,” he said slowly, his eyes scanning me slowly.
“I don’t know the details,” I responded, feeling a little nervous under his gaze. There was no playful cocky Jakeson before me. No, he just looked like he was contemplating something.
For a few seconds he let his clear blue eyes flicker over me. “Skylar didn’t tell you?” he asked after a moment of contemplating something.
“Well, he told me what he thought about it,” I admitted, not wanting to lie. With a little shrug I ran my fingers through my golden blonde hair.
Jakeson gave a little nod, still leaning up against the lockers as he looked away from me. “I don’t think you’ll like what I have to say."
It was my turn to flicker over him, taking every little detail I could get. There was the gorgeous boy I’d met all those months ago standing right before me, but I felt like he was somehow different. His shirt was still unbuttoned, his tight white wifebeater showing off his muscular chest. There was a little stubble on his chiseled jaw, just like there always was the day after he’d shaved. But the confident sheen in his eyes as they looked at me was nowhere to be found. “If you don’t want to tell me-“
“I lost it today,” he cut me off, meeting my eyes. “First there was the Skylar thing and then Kale…” he shook his head, gritting his teeth. “He just doesn’t know when to keep his fucking mouth shut,” Jakeson forced out, pushing off of the lockers. “He pushed and he pushed until I just snapped.”
Its all my fault. I swallowed, feeling even more guilt at his words than I’d felt all day. I don’t think before I do anything! I couldn’t bring myself to meet his eyes and I looked away, wishing I could disappear. “So you guys did fight then,” I managed to get out weakly.
“Yeah, we did,” he agreed briskly. “I gave him what he’d had coming to him.”
“What did he say?” I asked, dreading the answer. It was about me cheating on Jakeson with him, I knew the answer already and felt like bashing my head into a wall.
His eyes pierced into mine, his jaw tensing. “What he said doesn’t really matter Rein. What matters is he was running his mouth off about you and I’d had enough,” the second his words left his lips he stepped up towards me. “I told him to back off but he just wouldn’t let it go.
I looked away, wishing that I could go back in time and change things. I’d set things straight with Kale. I’d never had held Skylar’s hand. I would have- Jakeson stopped a few inches from me, his eyes boring down at me even as I looked away. I couldn’t bear to face him.
“I’m sorry,” he breathed, surprising my eyes up towards his. This time he was the one looking away.
“What do you have to be sorry about?” I asked, bewildered by the anger his gaze held.
When his eyes met mine they pulsed in bright blue, holding mine captive in the frustration that laced them. “I beat up Kale.”
It took a second before his words sunk in. “I don’t care about that!” I almost laughed with how relieved I was. He thinks I’ll be upset that he hurt Kale?
Instead of looking relieved he only looked all the more stressed. “Then it’s because of what I said.”
“What did you say?” I asked hesitantly. I already knew the answer. It was what Skylar had tried to tell me time and time again.
Jakeson seemed to read it in my eyes for he didn’t pause before answering with, “I told him not to talk about you, not to even think about you.” He waited a second before taking a deep breath, “I also told them all to back off; that you were mine.”
Even prepared for his words they still hit me like a tidal wave. I let them wash over me, accompanied by the burning in his gaze. “Well,” I breathed, piecing together just how I was going to respond to it even as the words were leaving my mouth, “I bet that shut everyone up.”
He looked taken aback for a moment, blinking down into my gaze. “You’re not mad?”
“Why would I be mad that you stuck up for me?” I asked, stepping away from him with a small smile. It was my fault he got mad enough to say it in the first place. Though I tried to comfort myself with that thought I knew it was the only reason behind my reaction. I didn’t want to either encourage or discourage the claim he’d made. In fact; I didn’t know how I felt about it at all.
~-+-~-+-~
Meanwhile-
Frankie grimaced, going over the day in his head. It'd been one disaster after another. What Rein had been thinking when she'd held Skylar's hand he had no clue, but it had sure started a fire that was taking some time to put out. Kale was still in a rage from Jakeson pummeling him, and that was the only thought that caused a little smile to creep onto his face. "Serves him right," he muttered, going back to the weights he'd been lifting. Yet even as he tried to work himself into exhaustion he still couldn't help but wonder why Jakeson had chosen to look at him when he'd declared that Rein was his. Did he think he was some sort of threat? The very thought made him smirk.
~-+-~-+-~