Make sure to cheak out my other book, Bad blood; a darker twist of teen drama.
Millie
The cold Atlantic breeze ruffles through the thin material of my dress, sending my body into slight shivers. However, the euphoric sensation felt like coming up for breath after drowning from the noise of Caleb Mclaughlin's chaotic party.
"Come on, I'll show you somewhere." Jacob gestures to a small, very dim lit narrow lane, the only illumination coming from the dull street lamps.
I hesitate. My surroundings begin to look a lot like the beginning of a horror movie, like Jeepers Creepers when the stupid teenagers and their stupid curiosity decide to check out somewhere that clearly screams do not enter.
Jacob notices my questioning looks and chuckles in response. "I'm Jacob Sartorius. I couldn't harm a fly." a hint of amusement in his tone.
It wasn't so much that I was afraid of Jacob but rather my perfectly rational fear of the dark.
I quickly scurry along to his side. "It's not you," I reassure, "I'm just not a big fan of the dark."
My gaze turns to the row of tall, lifeless trees Jacob and I walk between and the stormy sky that almost seems to stare at me with a glare. Yep, definitely horror like.
Jacob clearly notices my unease. "Don't worry . . I'll protect you if there's any Creepers around."
My mood slightly lightens at the reference. "You've seen Jeepers Creepers!" I exclaim.
Jacob chuckles lowly in response. "I wouldn't be a normal member of society if I didn't."
"It's my favourite movie!"
Jacob glances at me momentarily with a faint smile on his lips. "I'll note that."
I smile back widely, feeling my nerves simmer at his comforting presence. We walk for a few more minutes in silence, taking in our surroundings—as creepy as they may be.
"Why are we here?"
"I used to love coming here when I was younger." Jacob reveals.
I raise a brow. "Seriously?— I would've taken you for a more . . LA style."
Jacob chuckles. "No I'm from Virgina, I just live in LA." he explains.
"Ah."
"What about you?" Jacob asks.
"Well i'm British—"
"Really?" Jacob cuts in sarcastically, and I send him a side eye that he laughs at.
"Is it that obvious?" I ask quietly.
Jacob nods in amusement. "Don't worry— I find it cute."
"My accent?" I ask curiously.
"That, and you in general."
I feel my cheeks heat at the compliment, and I avert my gaze to the ground as to conceal my blushing face.
"But I live in New York." I reveal after a moment.
I feel Jacob watch me carefully, but I don't meet his eye. "How long are you in Atlanta for?"
"A few more months."
Jacob nods and he leads us through a corner. My eyes widen in surprise as I take in our new surroundings. Oh my god— it's beautiful.
Laying before us is a flowing stream illuminated by the silver moonlight, two fallen trees crossing over it making it almost into a kind of bridge. It felt like something out of a fairytale book, and beautiful dots of orange scatter our surroundings that I soon realise are fireflies.
The view alone felt like that one scene from my favourite Disney movie- the princess and the frog. I glance over at Jacob, to meet his gaze already focused onto me, and grin widely.
"This is something out of a fairytale book!" I exclaim.
Jacob smiles, his hazel brown eyes glistening under the moonlight with glee. He extends his hand and I take it instantly as he leads us across the stream, the faint sound of nighttime crickets getting deeper.
The sound of the flowing water beneath our feet is harmonious and the light buzz of the fireflies, magical. Jacob takes a seat on the oak log, and I hesitate.
"You sure it won't snap?" I ask with peering eyes as I stare at the water beneath us.
"Do you trust me?" Jacob asks with a smirk.
"No." I quickly reply with my own smirk. "I just met you."
A low, husky chuckle escapes from Jacob in response before meeting my gaze. "Take a seat, Brown." Jacob gestures to the empty space beside him.
I reluctantly sit down, and my worries vanish into the cold night by the feel of the sturdy wood balancing us. We sit in comfortable silence for a while, both hypnotised by the rushing water beneath us and the lit up forest of fireflies.
Jacob turns to me, and we talk about anything— everything. I found out that his nineteenth birthday is soon, and he raises a brow when I reveal I'm still only seventeen. After a few minor jokes about our age gap, we get into the real stuff and I find myself listening to his story so intently before revealing things to him that no one else knows, like my parents not being in the city when everyone else thinks they are.
"They left their seventeen year old daughter by herself?— in a place like Atlanta?" Jacob asks with furrowed brows.
"I'm not a baby Jacob—"
"I never said you were," he corrects me quickly. "But you're still a minor."
I nod and explain the relationship between my parents and I, and how sometimes it felt like they were strictly my managers rather than loving parents. I catch the quick pitiful expression washing over the dark features of Jacob's face and so I quickly change the topic into something more positive.
Jacob and I talk for hours, and I feel myself getting more comfortable with him by every passing moment. By the end of our conversation filled with laughter, jokes and a lot of personal stories, Jacob Sartorius and I are no longer strangers. I begin to get lost into our conversation and away from present day reality when Jacob's phone buzzes from his jean pocket and grabs our attention.
"What's up?" Jacob says as he brings the phone to his ear.
A moment passes, and a dark look shadows his face as he glances at me momentarily before nodding.
"I'll be there soon." Is all Jacob says before he taps on the screen and shoves it back into his pocket.
"Sorry princess, we have to cut our little moment short." Jacob tells.
A little pang of hurt strikes my chest, but I brush it off and reluctantly smile at him.
"Yeah— no of course, we've been here for a while now and I should probably go back—" I trail off as I pat my jacket pockets down, not feeling the familiar outlining of my phone.
"Shit—" I curse as I come to the realisation.
"What's wrong?"
"I think I left my phone in the party." I groan with a sigh.
A small chuckle escapes from Jacob. "You're only realising that now?"
I sigh again, and put my hands on my head. "You kinda forget about the real world when you're so caught up in a conversation."
Jacob nods before rising to his feet. "I know what you mean." he extends a hand out for me to take and helps me to my feet.
"Don't worry, the party is probably still going. I'll ask a friend if he's still there and he can look for it."
"No, I should probably go back and find it myself." I sigh, already feeling the nauseous sensation of the toxic atmosphere of Caleb's party.
Jacob must have noticed my worried look because he shakes his head in response.
"I'd feel safer walking you back to your hotel. My friends will find it— don't worry, princess."
My face lifts up slightly at the nickname.
"Is that going to be my new name?" I ask.
Jacob shrugs as we step off the wooden log, and make our way back through the forest.
"Maybe." Jacob says with a smile.
•
I arrive back to my hotel lobby with Jacob, who gives me a quick hug as a farewell before reassuring me that he would find my phone. At that moment I realise I do like Jacob, a lot. Aside for his obvious attractive looks and his drool worthy smile, he wasn't at all shallow as I expected him to be and I couldn't help but feel a little special by his decision to walk me back.
I make my way to the elevator, and the receptionist behind the desk sends me a quick side eye that I notice. In a little confusion, I come to the conclusion that she probably just recognises me from somewhere. I make my way to my master suite, removing my heels as they begin to ache my feet.
I hold my shoes in between my dainty fingers and step into the suite, only to find a figure leaning against the window with a dark look shadowing his expression, and my phone in his grip.
"You left something at the party." Finn Wolfhard reveals with a piercing stare.
•