James came from the doorway and stood over me, handkerchief in hand. He frowned at me angrily. "Why the hell did she just do that?"
"It's my fault," I mumbled, grabbing the handkerchief. I wiped my face and then stood up. "I told her that your text was from Jimmy...They're dating," I said, frowning.
"And why do you seem upset about that?" he asked, his face suddenly serious.
"I'm not," I said, grabbing my purse and pushing past him. "I have to go to the bathroom." I walked past him and to the hallway, entering the women's bathroom with a sigh. Was I really that selfish? Even though I didn't like Jimmy like that, I still felt jealous that he was dating Denise.
I turned as the door slammed open and James stormed into the bathroom. I looked around frantically. "What the hell are you doing in the women's bathroom?" I whispered harshly. The door was already sliding open.
James grabbed my arm and pulled me into a stall just as a waitress stepped in. He glared down at me as we waited for the lady to leave. When she did, he pulled me out of the stall and then out of the bathroom. "Let go of me!" I whispered angrily.
He didn't, but only dragged me out of the cafe and out onto the sidewalk, where he opened the passenger door to his Hybrid. "Get in," he said angrily.
I grudgingly got in and he shut the door behind me, going around to the side and getting in himself. We were silent for a while, me staring at my now red wrist and James pulling stubborn pieces of ice and caramel out of my hair. Suddenly, he put his hand down and placed it, gently, on my wrist. "Sorry," he said quietly.
I looked up and smiled. "It's okay."
"Mirage," he said, making my heart flutter. "Mirage, are you still seing this Jimmy guy?"
"No, of course not!" I said, putting my hand in his. "And I think you would know that...I mean we were together last night, remember?"
He nodded and stared down at the wheel. "Why...are you angry that he's...dating?"
"I'm not," I said, feeling suddenly assured of myself. "I'm really not...I was angry...I was jealous that Denise and Jimmy could be so...open about their relationship."
James looked over to me, his amber eyes reflecting anger. "I told you, after-"
"I know, after the pregnancy test. I just...I was...I don't know," I said, looking out the window.
"All I'm asking for is two weeks," he said. I was surprised to hear...desperation in his voice. "I just need you to trust me. I don't want to hurt your mother any more than I already need to," he said with a sigh.
I ran my thumb against his strong jawline. "I know," I said quietly.
We were quiet for another long while before James spoke again. "What are you gonna wear for the masquerade ball?"
"I don't know," I admitted. "I was thinking something like Medusa with like a-Why do you care?" I asked with a frown. "You probably want me to go as something slutty, don't you?"
He laughed. "You can only be slutty for me." I rolled my eyes. "I was actually thinking you could go with something innocent...But then I remembered last night," he said, snickering to himself.
"Wow," I said, looking down at my fingernails. "Thanks." I felt a little hurt that he would think that way of me. "I'm really glad you have such a great opinion of me."
He reached over and gently took a hold of my chin, forcing me to look up at him. He examined me for a while and then said slowly, "I'm glad I was your first."
I was quiet. "I probably wasn't yours," I said, giving him a challenging look.
"I wish you were," he said, grabbing both sides of my face with his hands. He leaned foreward and kissed me on the forehead gently. "I love you."
I felt my heart soar. I never thought him saying it would feel as good as the first time. I was wrong...It felt much better.
"So what did we need to talk about?" I asked, refusing to give him the satisfaction of knowing I loved him more than anyone in the world.
Suddenly he was angry again. "What's wrong?" I asked, looking beyond his anger and seeing something I hadn't noticed before...fear. "Is everything alright?"
"I...I got a message just after you left the apartment. It's got a picture attached," he said, folding his arms and frowning deeply.
"So?" I asked, still not getting why he was so angry.
"It's of us...In bed," he said, pulling out his phone. He pulled up the message and showed me the attachment.
It was of us asleep together, with my head on his shoulder. "Eww, I'm drooling," I said with a laugh.
"Mirage! This is serious! Did you even look at the message?" James asked, frowning at me angrily.
I went back to the text and saw the message: Look's like mommy doesn't know what her little girl's been doing.
I felt my heart skip a beat as I realized what James was worried about. Someone was black-mailing him. "Let's just tell mom now before they do. Then we won't have anything to worry about," I said quickly. I pulled on my sunglasses and pulled my wet hair into a bun. I stuffed my fedora hat on and sank lower into the seat, feeling the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
James laughed bitterly. "This isn't about your mom. Someone's trying to accuse me of statutory rape. Too bad those rules don't apply to anyone who's 17 or older."
"Then what's the problem?" I asked, looking over at him.
"I know that whoever the hell is doing this can't get anything on us...but...I don't feel comfortable knowing that someone is watching you. It-I don't want you to get involved in any of this ugly business," he said, looking out the window.
"I'll be fine, James. I'm a big girl. But...I think it would make more sense to tell mom earlier. Better the devil she knows than the one she doesn't, right?" I asked, pulling my hat over my eyes slightly.
"But when?" James asked with a sigh. "I wanted to make sure we knew we weren't pregnant before-" I laughed. James looked over to me like I was crazy. "Did one of those ice cubes hit you too hard?"
"You just said 'we'," I said with a goofy smile.
"You're too cute," he said sarcastically. I could tell he was embarassed. "Getting back to the point-"
"We'll tell her at the masquerade ball. Now shut up and kiss me," I said with a smile.
James leaned over. Before his lips met mine, I stopped him with a light slap on the chest. "I love you, you douche."
He smiled and pressed his lips against mine.
_------------------------_
For the next week, James and I kept clear of each other. As the night of the ball, October 30th, approached, I was beginning to miss being around him. Denise still wasn't talking to me and Jimmy was mad that I was confusing him about his feelings. The only person I was able to be around was mom. Even though I didn't feel guilt about our relationship anymore, I still couldn't look her directly in the eyes.
I tended to keep to my room and text James about my outfit. I was going as Codex from the online series The Guild. She wasn't as well-known as maybe some other heroines, but I decided she was my favorite. I had already ordered my red wig, her white and red strapped bodice dress. I was going to rock some black gladiator heels and turn an old broom into a bad-ass staff.
Mom was going as Tinkerbell, to which I restrained from asking about the age-approapriateness of her outfit. It was a short, sleeveless green dress and she had already dyed her hair to fit the part.
Just as I was trying on my outfit, I heard a knock on the door. "Come in, Mom," I said, pulling the strap up on my right shoulder. I turned to see James instead. He was looking particularly fine as Bruce Wayne. "Wow, I said with a smile. You just had to dress up as the lamest character. You could at least been the batman." I turned my back to him. "Can you lace me up?"
James said nothing as he walked towards me, putting his hands on the small of my back. He let his fingers smooth over my back and over my stomach. I smiled as his warmth rushed over my body. I grabbed his hands, though, and pushed them back up towards the laces. "There's only one more night left. I know we can both make it that long."
"Your mom's at the store," James protested.
"And we should be all ready when she comes back," I said, smiling to myself. "Now lace me up."
Jame grunted and tugged on the laces tightly. "Um oww. Temper, tempa," I said in a Scar's voice.
He laughed and loosened the straps a little before tying them into a bow. "There. Now can I please see your beautiful face."
"Not yet," I said, reaching for my wig. I was going to pull it on before James reached over and undid my bun.
"Don't. I love your hair the way it is," he said, pulling out a pair of glasses from his suit. He put them on and looked at me.
Just as I was about to lean over and kiss him, the door opened slightly. "Are we all ready?" Mom asked sheepishly.
"Yeah, mom. If only this ass would stop telling me how great you look," I said, walking out of the room. As I walked out, James gave my butt a squeeze. I would have jumped had not Mom been four feet away with her back turned to us.
I walked out .of the room and pulled on my gold bracelets, arm rings and a pair of red high socks. I pulled on a red necklace and grabbed my red coat and white staff before stepping out of the door. I had to clear my head before I dropped the bomb on Mom. And being with James wouldn't help.
I took a deep breath as the three of us entered the elevator, wishing that I could fast forward to the moment when James and I could finally be a real couple. It didn't seem real. But as my phone vibrated, I checked to see that James had sent me a message. "I can't wait to make you mine."
I smiled at my phone and replied, "Two hours."
Two hours...Why did it feel like an eternity?
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Hope you liked it!!!! Uploading the masquerade ball chapter on October 31st at midnight! Hope you enjoy!!!! :)
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