Let's get familiar

Jace wants me to familiarise my surroundings before the college starts. He himself offered to take me around the neighborhood in the mornings in the form of jogging.

He always made sure, that we run till my college and then turn back again. After two days, he took me inside the college for a tour. Apparently Jace donates huge sum of money every year for the past 3 years. So he can come and go like he pleases. This

Fourth day he showed me the classrooms and the building where professors offices will be located and the principal's office etc.

He is making sure that i know where I have to go when I need anything.

On 10 th day I know my university like the back of my hand. It really help ease my nerves a bit. Jace made sure that he maintains a few feet between us. As he takes me early in the morning there are hardly any people.

If at all any person comes across us, he makes sure to keep himself between me and the stranger. His thoughtful gestures are like balm to my bruised self.

Beth arrives after 10days. Her mother cries and hugs her before going back home.

Jace comes home that evening and greets us.

"Let us go have dinner" he commands smoothly. He didn't give me time to think and panic about the upcoming dinner.

He simply ordered us to come with what ever we were wearing.

I am wearing a sports bra and shorts. Beth looks better in her cutoff shorts and a t shirt.

He guides me with his palm on my lower back, carefully avoiding my exposed skin, with Beth behind us.

He opens the passenger side door for me and closes it after I sit. Beth takes the back seat. I can see Beth jumping with joy inside her head, as she is a fan of Jace. But she seems to maintain her composure just fine.

He takes us to a burger joint near our campus. He gets down and opens the car door for me.

"Wear this" he pushes the jacket he was wearing towards me.

I obidiently wear it, thanking him inside my head, because I was feeling naked with my sports bra and shorts.

I struggle to zip it up. He simply pushes my hand away and help me with the zipper.

He is 6.2 , and I am merely 5.6. I barely reach his chest. His jacket covers my shorts and for the people who look at me, they think I am only wearing a jacket unless they observe closely.

Beth winks at me from behind Jace.

"Come" he leads us inside and choose a booth at the back.

"Get in" he says to me and points out to Beth to sit in the opposite seat.

He slides in beside me. He looks at his watch as if waiting for someone.

Just then a girl with red hair comes towards us.

"Hello" she says cheerfully and slides beside Beth.

"She is Natalie. She will be going to the same University as you guys. She is a freshman too" he explains.

Natalie greets us enthusiastically. Beth and Natalie bonds over quickly over some of the popular action flicks. As usual I sit there calmly very aware of Jace taking note of my every moment.

"Here is your order Jace" a waitress delivers our order.

I furrow my eyebrows in confusion, we didn't order anything yet.

"Thank you Jessica" Jace thanks her.

"Here is your chicken cheese burger with cheese fries and lemonade" he places all my favourite foods in front of me.

"Here, these hamburgers and diet cokes are for you both" he places everyone's order in front of them.

Beth and Natalie stares at him with Awww.

"What" Jace notices their stares and raise his eyebrows in question.

"How do you know what we like? I mean, I know you care about Chloe and Its nice of you to remember her likes and dislikes. But, how do you know about what we like" she asks with a start stuck gaze.

"Chloe used to order this combination alot back home. The card she uses is under my name. If I know what she likes, then the other order should belong to you, as you both are close. Natalie's taste seems to match with yours, so I repeated your order for her too. If guys want anything else or if you don't like what I order for you, then you can order what ever you like" he says smoothly and steals a fry from my plate.

"Where is your order" Natalie asks him suspeciously.

"Chloe won't be able to finish her order, not even half. I will share with her" he eats another fry.

"How do you know, she won't be able to finish" now it's Beth who asks him Suspeciously.

"Because I find left overs of her order in fridge often" he explains.

"Now if you guys are satisfied, then please proceed to eat" he says annoyed.

That shuts them up effectively. They start eating talking and teasing my cheese addiction.

I try to finish at least half of what Jace ordered, but this burger is bigger than the one I used to order back home.

Jace smiles a little at my struggle and I give up embarrassed. I push my burger towards him. Till now he finished his portion of fries and sipped his coffee.

He finishes my burger in 3 bites. Then he leans back and look at the people around us.

Once we finish our dinner, he pays our bill and we leave the place. He drops Natalie in the campus near dorms.

Apparently she lives in the campus. When we reach our appartment,

"Chloe" Jace calls me .

Beth goes ahead in to our appartment leaving me and Jace alone. If it's any other male, she wouldn't have left me alone as she knows about my phobia, apparently he is an exception.

"Tomorrow come to the penthouse in the morning. We will start self defence classes for you in the weekends. I will teach you" he orders. He never gives me options, that doesn't mean he pushes me beyond my limits either. He just stops on the edge.

"Go inside and lock the door" he says softly.

I nod my head obidiently and do as he says.