Jed's POV
The best thing I heard today
Spoken by: Fiona
Quoting: "My dancing skills would give Patrick Swayze a run for his money."
***
"Why?"
I raise my chin from where it was resting against the top of Ada's head and glanced down at her.
"Why what?" I ask.
"Why are you doing this?" Ada lifts her chin to meet my gaze. I hold it, getting lost for a moment in those golden orbs.
"I ain't doin' nothin'." I respond jokingly. Ada acts exasperated but I saw that little twitch of a muscle in the corner of her mouth.
"You know what I mean."
Of course I do. I just can never resist the chance to mess with her.
"Why do you always need to have a reason for having fun?" I respond with a question for a question.
She thinks for a moment.
"I don't need a reason for having fun." She finally answers. "I need a reason for why you are so determined to give me this fun."
A strange, warm feeling took up its residence in my gut. She was so clueless. So naive. So... distrustful. I wonder if she ever will be able to let go of her fear to confide in people.
Ada has already run away with her gaze, so I lift a hand and place two fingers beneath her chin. Applying gentle pressure, I force her to look into my eyes once more. I wait for a second more to make sure I have her full attention before speaking.
"I like you, Ada." I say the words slowly and clearly, putting much emphasis behind them. For some reason, making this grumpy, red-haired girl in front of me believe them has become my number one priority. "I like seeing you happy. I like being the reason behind why you're happy. Is that so hard to understand?"
The terrified look crossing her face tells me it is. Ada tries to lower her head, but I hold her chin firmly, refusing to let her escape. She's been running for too long, and now it's the highest time to show her what I've been trying to get in her stubborn, red head - there is nothing to be afraid of. This girl is a living flame - can be a living flame, but for some reason, she refuses to burn, remaining just a mere ember buried amongst the ashes. I don't like it.
I want to see her catch on fire. I want to see her burn a living flame, as bright as her beautiful hair. I want to be the spark that ignites her.
Just like she has grown to be mine.
My hold prevents Ada from escaping. If she did, I know she wouldn't stop until she was out of my house, or even this city. One of the things I love about her is the unpredictability she carries inside herself - how every next move is always a mystery with her. Unfortunately, sometimes it can be as harmful as it is fascinating. For example now, when it's already dark outside and all the nighttime adventure seekers are out for the hunt. I doubt Ada's brother would appreciate it if the night ended with his little sister found by the police in some gutter. I sure as hell wouldn't like it - hate it, even. The mere thought of something happening to Ada has my skin crawling and my ricocheting heartbeat pump adrenaline into my whole body. Therefore, I will not let her out of my embrace soon. Not when I'm as glad as I am finally having her there.
Because no one has even fit there like she does.
Swaying us softly to the slow beat of the song playing, I try to ease the tension out of Ada. Bowing my head, I position my lips close to her ear and start humming to the music. After a while, her whole body relaxes and she leans int me, most probably unconsciously. She is still dressed in her sweatpants and a baggy sweatshirt, but right now, she could be wearing a bathing robe and I wouldn't care less. If I close my eyes, I can almost imagine we're in the school's gym, swaying on the polished parquet, me in an elegant tuxedo and Ada in a long, silky dress. A red one. She couldn't possibly be wearing another color. Not in my fantasy.
We stay like this for a moment, basking in silence, swaying softly from side to side. I can't really dance and I suppose that neither does Ada, but somehow, we make it work. I think it's yet another prove of how well we fit together. Two people who can't dance on regular basis and suddenly develop the skills while dancing together is not something that happens every day. It hasn't happened to me yet, at least. And I have held quite a few girls in the short eighteen years of my life.
Neither ever came close to the one I am holding right now.
Ada shifts and her silky hair slides down my arm. She has it pulled back in a high ponytail, preventing it from spilling down her back freely, but for some reason, I like it. With a rubber band holding the rebellious waves, she has nowhere to hide when she gets scared or embarrassed. Ada likes making a curtain out of her hair and retreating into it like a tortoise into its shell way too much. I can't wait to see the day when she finally stops doubting herself. Because there is nothing to doubt. And I plan on spending most of my energy opening her eyes and making her realize that.
It isn't until she lifts her chin that I realize she had said something.
"Mhhm?" I murmur, glancing down at her.
"Where is your mom?" She repeats her question.
I blinked, a little taken aback by it. Honestly, this was one of the last things I expected her to ask, just before why ladybugs have spots.
"She's at Daylen's - my brother's. She'll stay the night there."
A single brow arches, letting me know just how far into the gutter Ada's mind had wondered. "The night?"
I don't think she realizes how dirty her mind is, also. "Just so that he wouldn't have to drive her back here later." I reply. "Mom's an early sleeper. She usually passes out around eight, so waking her up and making her switch places wouldn't be what a loving son should do."
I don't mention her troubles with sleeping, or the fact she sometimes needs to hover on the line of overdosing the sleeping pills and painkillers before she can finally close her eyes in peace. With a little stab of guilt, I push all the everyday problems out of my mind. I love my Mom, but right now, thinking about all the things that went wrong in life will get me nowhere. She would have told me so herself.
"I swear it had nothing to do with whatever impure accusations you're sending my way." I go on, smiling slightly.
Ada tries to look suspicious, but she'd make as good an actress as she'd make a comedian, which is not good at all. "I'm not sending anything your way." She protests.
"Of course you're not." My grin widens. "The little army of pheromones comes from the cat living next door. I always knew she liked me way more than she was supposed to."
The crimson color instantly rushes into Ada's face, betraying her embarrassment - or maybe anger. I can never tell. "That would probably be it." She replies curtly.
I chuckle quietly and guide her head back to my chest, tucking the top of her head under my chin. This is yet another way in which we fit like two puzzles - I don't have to bend at the knees to do this, but her height is not enough to make it impossible. I'm not an asshole enough to judge a girl by how many inches you can count measuring from the top of her head to her toes, but when everything's just like it should be, it is an additional bonus. A much-appreciated one, too.
The songs begin and finish, one changing smoothly into another. I honestly can't tell how much time has passed since we started dancing. It seems like it was just a minute ago, the time right now flies so quickly. I briefly wonder what time it is, then remember I have nothing to worry about. I made a deal with Everett - he has them convinced that Ada is out at Makena's right now. I don't know the details of what he told them, just that he had promised me that I have nothing to worry about tonight. I doubt it he'll appreciate it if his little sister spent the night at my house, but at least I know she can stay here until late.
Come to think of it, I also don't know what Ada's brother had come up with to bring her here. He's been a big part of this venture, taking care of making all the lies he needed to get - and keep - Ada here. I haven't known him long, but if there's one thing I can tell for certain is that all Deargs are unpredictable - and stubborn as hell. I can only imagine what the fight about coming here must have looked like between the two of them. I just hope he didn't need to do anything reckless - but who am I trying to delude here, though. Ada wouldn't get out of her house in the evening if she didn't want to and had no idea where she was going. Of course Everett had to do something reckless to get her out.
I will have to remember to explain this all to Ada and make sure Everett fixes all the possible damage he's done. The last thing I need is Ada coming home tonight and hating both of us after remembering the little trap she had been led into.
I have again gotten lost in my thoughts so much Ada needs to nudge my head with hers to get my attention. I lift my chin and let her meet my gaze herself. She studies me for a moment, her golden eyes darting between my own in what seems like deep concentration. I can almost see the wheels in her head turning as she thinks about something intensely. Finally, when I sense she's about to back down, I decide to help her out a little.
"What?" I ask gently, lifting my hand to softly trace a line down her cheek with my finger.
Ada remains silent for a moment more, her eyes never leaving mine. Somehow, she's made them impassive, impossible to read, so that I don't know what's going on behind them. Just when I think she had changed her mind and was going to knock me out and run, Ada finally speaks.
"And I like you." She says, her voice a quiet whisper.
I stare. I can't help it. It seems like the only thing I'm capable of in this very moment, because this - this isn't what I was expecting. Everything - everything - but this.
The reaction of my mind and body is too powerful for what has just happened. A girl just told me she liked me. Kids in kindergarten do that and get less excited about it. But it is more than the words - more than what has been given air and voiced out loud. What matters is what lays beneath it. What she is silently telling me without the need to form a sentence.
It is a try. A try to accept... me. Somehow, this one night has managed to change everything.
Or maybe it isn't just this night. Maybe it has been building inside her for some time now, and now she has finally - finally - let herself dive head in. Finally let herself ignite. And this is more than I expected tonight.
I can sense she starts regretting the words the second she speaks them. Not able to see her doubts, I do the only thing that comes to my mind in this very moment. The only thing I can think about. The only thing that makes sense right now.
I lean down and kiss her.
And this may be just the best decision I have made in a very long time.
***
L/N: Finally an update. Yaaaay! I have to tell you guys, it's one in the morning here, and I have to be up and ready to start the day in five hours, but hell, it was worth it. I almost cried three times when I was writing this. I mean, look at it. My little babies are growing up. This is just so adorable <3
I know the chapter feels like I've been writing it both high and drunk, but hey. A girl has to have her moments, too, even a tomboy like me. So you better remember this chapter, cause from now on, everything is going to be different between Ada and Jed.
Stay tuned! Love ye :*
P.S. Sorry for any typos or grammar mistakes, I've tried checking it for errors but things don't always work at one a.m, so please don't hate me. I'll mistake-check it the first chance I get (probably in the morning, eating cereal).