Chapter 10

Jace:

I fixed the long and deep v-neck of my black blazer and tucked my tie lightly around my neck. I was sweating profusely.

This was basically our thirtieth date and my hands were trembling as I stood outside Selene's house's main door.

Oh God. I had to make this perfect.

I looked down at my body and sighed at the blue and lightly loose jeans, my white button up shirt, thin black tie and my expensive blazer.

I ran a hand through my hair, flipping out, thinking if she would like my appearance. Taking a huge chunk of the cold air, I knocked and then shaking my head, I rang the door bell.

The door flipped open, revealing a delicious scent of home baked goods. Literally, I could tell.

A smiling and bright Mrs. Arly confronted me with fingers on her lips and joy in her eyes.

"Well you look so charming!" She chimed, and smiled at the gifts in my hands. I was holding a huge bouquet of exactly thirty red roses, and a small velvet box that held something cheesy but precious for her.

"This is so sweet, Jace." She placed her hand on my forearm and pulled me into the house.

The house was still yellow and bright on the inside. The stairs that faced the opposite way, led all the way up to the second floor, which I knew because I had been to Selene's room before.

And no! Not for that.

Not yet.

She dragged us to my right, into the cozied up lounge. The chandelier that was hung up, on the ceiling, illuminated the first floor and the ground floor due to the balcony designed corridor upstairs. The floral patterned railing was the only partition between the upper floor and outside.

From the closed kitchen door, that was to our left as we sat in the lounge, came out Allan and Mr. Arly. Allan smirked before taking a seat next to me while Mr. Arly stared at me with hands in his sweats' pockets. I stood up and walked over to shake hands with him.

"How are you, Mr. Arly?" He took my hand and gave me a look that was unreadable but approving somehow.

"Good, how are you?" He asked and I saw a little pout on his face as his eyes turned from me to Mrs. Arly, who was behind me.

"Good, good." I smirked and we walked off to the seats.

"Mom?" I heard a familiar voice and when I looked up, I found Selene's sister, Sydney, bending down on the railing of the first floor lightly.

She smiled at me and pursed her lips as her gaze turned from me to her mother.

"Yeah?" Mrs. Arly, replied.

"She's saying, the dress is too girly." Sydney whined and Mrs. Arly stood up to go upstairs. I shook my head in my lap, and smirked.

That's my Selene.

God, I remembered that one time we went to the mall because her mother had insisted on me taking her to shopping because she was an anti-shopper. When we got there, Selene bought nothing from the ten stores we went to.

Just when we were in our last round, we stood between two outlets. Victoria's Secret with Pink and Urban Planet. Guess where she went?

Thats right. Urban Planet.

She bought herself a red Beanie, two plaid, over sized shirts (blue and red) and a black t-shirt with the logo of something unknown on it.

For myself, she bought a grey button up shirt, a white t-shirt with a Polo logo on it and a pair of blue jeans.

The jeans I was wearing currently.

The light rips on the shin of the right leg and the thigh of the left, made me smile. It wasn't like those punk pants, the rips were just light and exposed no skin. I hated those jeans.

She knew that.

"Alright." I heard Mr. Arly look at me as I was lost in my thoughts, "Jace, where are you two going?"

"Um, sir, it's a surprise for Selene." I lowered my voice, "I'm cooking her dinner at my mom's cabin, near the outskirts of town. I can give you the address." I pulled out the piece of paper, where I had written the address of the place and the landline number as there was no cell reception up there.

He took the paper and looked at it. Then back up, at me.

I gulped.

"Is she going to be back before midnight?" He questioned and I looked at the apple watch on my wrist, instinctively. It was seven thirty. No, I wanted Selene for the entire night.

No, not for sex.

But for our talks, our kisses, movie time and her crazy stories of childhood.

"Um-"

"Here, she's ready!" I heard Mrs. Arly announce from behind us and a couple of footsteps followed the sound.

I felt my body stiffen. God, I didn't want to drop to my jaw, but when I turned, I was about to.

She wore a sweet heart necklined, turquoise, uneven dress that reached her shins from the back and her knees, from front. There was a brown belt that held her tiny waist and on top of the dress she wore a denim blue jacket that reached the belt on her waist.

Her legs were bare as she wore a pair of brown, lightly heeled boots. She had slung a leather brown bag on her shoulder which was small enough to carry her wallet and phone. Her hair were sprawled on her shoulders in light waves and her face, God, breathtaking as always.

Light lip gloss covered her lips, a bit of mascara was evident on her lashes and her blue eyes sparkled with a little tint of blush and foundation on her face.

I held my breath.

"Jace." She bit her lip.

"I can't... erm, wow... Selene." I felt my cheeks heat up.

"Me neither." She gasped, raking her eyes over my body.

She wasn't wearing her nasal tube, that bugged me a little. There was nothing to be ashamed of it and I was certainly not bothered by the presence of it.

"I love you." I confessed, not caring that I was being stared at by five pairs of eyes, including Selene.

"I love you, too." She stated sweetly while forming light traces of tears in her eyes.

"Oh..." Our moment was cancelled by a gasp and light cry. We looked at, what was my left and Selene's right, and found Mrs. Arly, shedding gentle tears.

Her fists were on her lips and she was crying.

"Mom?" Selene chuckled, rolling her eyes.

"Nothing, nothing." She sniffed, waving her off.

"Are you okay?" She questioned.

"Yeah, I just-" she turned to Selene and cupped her face in her palms, "-I'm so happy for you." She kissed Selene's forehead and I felt in awe.

"When will you guys be back?" Mr. Arly broke in and I turned to him.

"Oh, they will be back tomorrow morning." Mrs. Arly cut in and I hid my smile.

Mrs. Arly knew my plan. I told her before.

She told me that it was perfect and gave me a couple of Selene's favourite dishes that Selene felt too conservative about.

Well, I was her boyfriend and I wanted her to feel utterly comfortable with me.

"What? No." Mr. Arly's eyes widened and he glared at Mrs. Arly.

"Oh whatever Brian. We can argue later." She waved him off and I heard kids laughing, realizing it was their own kids.

I, well, was getting a stomachache due to the amount of joy I was hiding in that moment.

"Um. Sir?" I called his attention. He, then, gave me a death stare.

"Sir, I love Selene. Please trust me.." I walked closer to him, lowering my voice, "I don't know what it feels like to be a father to such a beautiful daughter, but I bet it's scary. I can understand that. Which is why, I won't ever do anything to hurt her." I felt my throat tighten and my confidence hitting the high skies. I was so sure of what I was saying, "You are a cop and you know what it is to fight on the brink of your life for other people, well, I ain't no cop sir, but I am willing to be the barrier between the bad and-" I turned to look at Selene, who had wiped her cheek, while looking at her mother and then her feet, "- her."

She looked up at me with parted lips and astonishment on her face.

She was my one and only.

I didn't believe in first love.

Now...

She made me.

I turned to look at Mr. Arly and his expression was the same.

"Call me Brian." He raised his hand and I took it with a firm shake.

"Told you, I love her." I winked and his face hardened again. Bad time for jokes.

"Sorry." I mumbled and he chuckled, shaking his head and moving away from me.

I smiled myself and turned to Mrs. Arly and Selene.

Then, I remembered.

I turned on my heels and walked to the lounge. I released a sigh and then held my breath, before bending down and picking up the bouquet and the box.

I hid the box in my blazer sneakily and pulled up the bouquet to my chest.

When I turned, I saw Selene's palm on her chest and a grin on her lips.

I felt proud.

I had this affect on her.

"These are..." I looked around and found all staring at me, "... you." I pushed the flowers forwards and she took them.

"This is beautiful." Mrs. Arly chimed and I laughed.

"Alright, off you kids go." She waved her hand as she kissed Selene's forehead.

Selene turned around to her sister and I took the opportunity.

I snuck to Mrs. Arly, and took the black bag hidden behind her back. She nodded thankfully and I felt pain.

No, nothing was wrong with Selene. I just, was taking precautions. I couldn't let anything harm her.

I walked out of the main door, not waiting for Selene, as I had to stand outside in a position that Selene couldn't focus on the bag in my hand.

She looked at me as she came to the door, covered in her black, puffed up jacket. I forwarded my free hand and hid the occupied one, behind my back.

She took my hand and we walked on the icy floor, like the most beautiful couple ever existed.

I felt amazing with her existence. I felt powered up, with her hold on me.

When we finally reached my black Lamborghini, that I had borrowed from dad, I helped her in the front seat, with her bouquet, still in her hold. I threw the bag in the back seat and ran around to take my driver's seat.

I looked up from the car, before getting in, and found Mrs. Arly, Sydney and Mr. Arly, looking at me.

The women had delights designed on their faces but it was the light, almost invisible smirk on Mr. Arly's face that approved me of this date and this honor.

Selene:

I was so freaking out. My forehead... God, I could feel it sweating. The tension was killing me and I was feeling breathless for a brief period, after every couple of seconds.

When Sydney and mom, pushed me into the attire, I looked at myself head to toe, covered it the dress and denim jacket.

God, I was so thin. So ugly.

I felt like crying at my own sight but held it in as mom and Sydney were admiring it.

I knew they were doing it to make me feel better.

But...

I just knew I wasn't existing for long.

As tears clogged my heart, my mother's voice broke my trance.

"Jace's waiting." She smiled through the mirror at me, holding my shoulders in her palm and standing beside me.

"Mhm." I nodded and we headed down.

When we headed down, my breath was choking me at the sight of my beautiful boy. He was wearing the pair of jeans, I bought him. His hair were perfect in every sense and his body...

Why was he with me again?

When he practically proved to my dad that he was perfect, I felt my heart swell and I finally gave in to my tears.

But, I quickly cleaned the pain away. I didn't want to show it.

He saw me wipe a tear away and gave me his most charming smile. It fluttered my heart and pushed me further in love with him.

I knew he noticed me not wearing my nasal tube, I didn't want to wear it. I just didn't.

I could survive with out it. I did, before.

When he turned around with most exquisitely huge bouquet of fresh red roses, I felt weak in the knees and if his gaze hadn't held me, I was going to dissolve in the wood beneath me.

I started counting the roses as I held the bouquet and to be honest, I was so close to crying in his arms for loving me so.

Thirty fresh red roses, for thirty perfect dates, with Jace.

When he headed out, my mother helped me with my jacket and I held my bag close, scared that I might lose it.

I had something for Jace.

A gift.

It was in the bag and nobody knew I bought it, or even had it.

I know the code of a date of how a guy makes a girl feel so special that she holds his arm as her only hold for the night.

Despite this, I wanted to be his hold for the night.

I had two things for him.

A small velvet box and a white paper envelope.

I gulped as I walked to the door frame of the main door and found Jace standing there. He moved his one hand towards me and the other was behind his back. I knew he was holding my emergency bag and frankly, I couldn't judge my mother or Jace for that.

They were being cautious and that was okay.

When we walked down the concrete walk way to his car that was parked at our curb on the road, I blushed as he opened the door for me and helped me settle in.

I held the roses close and kept myself enveloped in the intoxicating scent. The aroma of the flowers covered me his strength and love. It brought me life, even if it was mere.

"Ready?" Jace groaned as he sat in the car.

I nodded, still looking at the flowers and feeling my bag on my lap as he started driving.

I saw, how his hand was on the console as he drove. I didn't want to cry but I looked up and found the guy driving with hand on the steering wheel.

Oh, God.

I found him stretching his fingers on the console and I knew how he wanted to hold me. To touch me.

Being bold and totally not me, I moved my hand to his on the console and wrapped my hand around his palm. He looked briefly at me and I saw him visibly hold his breath.

I picked up his large hand and moved to it my lap, until it rested, almost under the roses, on my bare thigh.

Yeah, I moved my dress for him. I felt hot!

He looked at me with a little wide eyes and I nodded, feeling a burning sensation in my core. His thumb starred caressing my cold thigh and his palm's heat, radiated calm in me.

I couldn't breathe... again.

"Wh-Where are we going?" I gulped in all my heavy voice, after I asked the question. He chuckled.

"Somewhere special." He stated huskily.

I gulped again.

He messaging my thigh gently, a little up, a light down, a little sideways and just a little bit of fiery heat in every corner. That was delicious.

I was high on Jace and there was no low.

"Selene?" He called as I was lost in his touch.

"Yeah?" I breathed.

"You okay?"

"I-I-" I wanted to tell him that I couldn't breathe, that I wanted him to make me straddle him, that I wanted jump on him, "-I'm fine." I opened my eyes and looked at him. He was staring at me with amusement.

He drove silently for a while, occasionally stealing glances at me. The content feeling that spread like a warm blanket through me, eased every nerve in my body. I just stared at him, until my eyes shut and a fresh scent of happiness blossomed around.

"Selene?" I heard a distance call, as if someone was calling me. I stopped and looked at Jace's face. It was marred with worry.

"Selene?" He called again.

I woke up with a start, as my heart beat raced the pulsating feeling in my brain.

I was still in the car, with Jace sitting on the driver's seat and I was on the passenger. The luscious roses were still in my lap and released a sigh.

"You okay?" Jace cupped my face and swiftly turned my face in his direction.

His eyes were wide.

"I-I'm okay." I straightened and looked around which made me land my eyes on the beautifully illuminated brown wood cabin before us.

The house was a typical pentagonal shaped house, with a roof top of a triangle and a rectangular bottom. The same chocolate coloured wood was used to build the beautiful structure, with two windows on the top and two at the bottom, with beautiful main door in the middle.

I gasped.

"Where are we?"

"My mom's cabin." He answered and i realized that he was still staring.

"Its beautiful." I looked at him and he had curious eyes.

I bent to him and chastely kissed his lips.

He smiled.

"I'm okay. Really."

He nodded and turned to open his door. I knew his move, so I waited. He shut his door and ran around the car, to my door.

Slowly, opening the door, he leaned in and kissed my forehead. He raised his hand and laid his palm for me.

"Shall we?" He offered and I bit my lip.

"'Kay." I chuckled and took his hand.

When he pulled me out, the fresh and cold chill of the world, hit my face and I succumbed in my jacket. He wrapped his arm around my shoulders and brought both my palms on the bound stems of the roses. The stems were covered in a crunchy transparent paper and then a red net.

"Ready?" He asked, sighing. I knew he was asking himself that question.

I felt the feeling of giving everything to this boy. He was so beautiful, so perfect.

Only mine.

Even if that was...

Just for another couple of days.