Withered (Westwood High Book 1), page 32
We walk in, and my nostrils smell the familiar aroma of freshly brewed coffee. The bell above us jingles, drawing some attention. As he enters, unaffected by the attention, girls swoon over him. On the other side, I get some strange looks. Girls are envious, while boys are watching. Sometimes I wish I had half his confidence.
Jake throws a deathly glare at the nearest guy and laces his fingers through mine. I smile at his jealousy. He won’t agree, but I know he’s jealous.
We approach the counter, and he asks me, “What would you like?”
“Americano,” I reply quickly. It’s been days since I’ve had it.
I open my wallet, but Jake beats me to it. “It’s on me.”
We enjoy our drinks while walking around the neighborhood. Everything feels like a dream. If someone had told me I’d be dating Jake or any other guy in general, I’d have laughed right away. This is surreal. It feels like, with Jake by my side, nothing can go wrong.
It’s fundraiser day. I should be happy, probably dancing around in my bedroom, but I’m frustrated and upset; mostly, I’m hurt.
I should be getting ready by now, but instead, I’m frowning and pacing in my room. I toss my phone on the bed and sit on the edge, massaging my temples.
I grab my phone again and call the only person I know who can help me right now. He picks up after several rings. “Hey, Rose.”
“Tyler, give the phone to Jake. I know he’s there,” I ask him about my energy-draining
“Jake isn’t here,” Tyler says.
When I returned to my room after breakfast, Jake texted me that he wouldn’t be able to make it today. He’s ditching me tonight. I went to his house, and Esme said he might have gone to Tyler’s. I thought Jake was joking, but his phone is now turned off.
“I’m begging you, Tyler. Please tell me, where is he?” I plead.
“No. I have no idea.” Tyler says, and I abruptly end the call. I don’t want to hear it anymore.
Next, I dial Kristy, squinting through my tears. “What’s up, Rosie?” Kristy’s cheerful voice greets me.
“Can you please come over?” I respond, my voice faltering at the end and tears streaming down my cheeks.
“I’ll be there.” Kristy hangs up the phone, and I am thankful to have her in my life.
Everything was going smoothly until he texted me today. The school was fine, and the guys won their game. Sure, we have our banter all the time, but why did he have to leave me just hours before the event? What could he possibly be up to?
An annual fundraiser is an important event. And he just walked away from me.
Kristy walks into my room, dumps her bag, and takes me in her arms.
“It’s okay,” Kristy says, rocking me sideways. “Tyler told me.”
I break away, sniffling. “What do I do? I don’t have a date.”
“Don’t worry. Tyler went out to find him. He’ll meet us directly at the venue.” Kristy comforts me.
“What if he can’t find him?” I ask her, wiping my cheeks with the back of my hand.
“He will bring him.” Kristy gives me a tight smile.
I groan and plop down on my bed. “I don’t want to go. Tell Mom I’ve got an upset stomach; just make some excuse.”
Kristy stands on my bed, her legs on either side of my body. She grabs my hand and pulls me up into a sitting position. “Get your lazy butt off the bed. Start getting ready.”
She shoves me into the bathroom and says, “Take a shower.”
After a quick shower, I change into my pants and remove my bra. Because the dress is off-the-shoulder, I won’t need it. I put on my bathrobe and enter my room, where Kristy is all set with cosmetics and hair styling gear. Her hair is already straightened, and she says, “Come sit down.”
I leave myself in Kristy’s hands. She performs her usual magic—not too much or too little, just the right amount. I straighten my hair, part it in two from the center, and pin a little at the back of my head while she finishes her makeup.
Kristy changes first in her red one-shoulder sequin chiffon dress.
“Woah, Kristy. You look amazing.”
“Thanks, Rose.” She bows and laughs. “Go change quickly.”
I put on my off-shoulder powder pink dress, which looks dull compared to Kristy’s. Hers is all sparkle, while mine is plain.
Kristy’s jaw drops as I walk into my room. “Is it too dull?”
She shrieks, her gaze fixed on my dress. “Rose. You look like a doll.”
Before I could reply, she tipped her head to the corner of my room. “Where did you get those from?”
I look in the direction of the heels. “Jake brought them for me,” I say.
Mom shouts my name from downstairs, cutting her off. I stand near my door and say, “Yeah?”
“We’re leaving. Make sure you arrive on time,” she shouts back.
“Yes, Mom,” I say as I listen to the front door open and close.
Instead of earrings, I opt for ear cuffs and finish the look with crystal-laced pumps.
My mind is constantly thinking of different ways to avoid this event. Maybe I’ll go there, show my face to everyone, and then leave. Everyone will be too busy to even notice that I’ve left.
I get into Kristy’s car, and we drive to the venue. This time, they are hosting it at a beachfront hotel.
The hotel is illuminated with dazzling white lights. We pull over and wait for a few moments. Kristy calls Tyler on the way here, and he agrees to meet us.
Tyler appears as a brilliant light flashes in the dark parking lot. He’s wearing a velvet blue suit, a white shirt underneath, and a bow.
“You two are stunning,” Tyler says, his gaze fixated on Kristy.
His gaze shifts to me. “Let’s go in.”
I cut him off. “Where’s Jake? Is he going to be late? Is he okay?” I throw questions one after the other.
Tyler holds Kristy’s hand in one and mine in the other. Kristy smiles as I look over at her. Tyler is a terrific friend, but I have no feelings for him. I’m solely interested in Jake. “He made a promise to me. He’ll be there. Now, let’s go.”
We enter the building and walk the stairs to the main hall, where the event is held. I see my parents chatting with Mr. Jones, Kristy’s father, and we go there.
“Hello, Mr. Jones,” I say as I hug him. To me, he’s like a second parent. He’s an excellent person, even though he’s not around much.
“You look lovely,” he compliments.
“Thank you. You look fantastic,” I speak. Tyler shakes hands with Kristy’s dad and my dad.
My mom cuts in, “Where is Jake?”
“He’ll be here,” I assure her, but I’m assuring myself.
“Who is Jake?” wonders Mr. Jones.
My dad answers for me, “Rose’s boyfriend.” I sigh. I think he’s more excited than I am.
“I’m missing so much here.” Mr. Jones replies.
We make our way to the back lawn after some small talk. One side of the lawn is furnished with white-clothed seats and round tables. An orchestra is situated on the corner of the other, which is more like a dance floor. Some couples are already dancing to a slow song on the floor.
A beautiful view of the beach may be seen from the far end, behind the tables. The faint sound of waves traveling through the air. We find a vacant seat and take it.
“Jake finally realized what a prude you are. That’s why he ditched you, didn’t he?” A voice speaks, and our eyes meet Olivia’s. I almost forgot she would be here too.
“Go away, Olivia,” I say, my gaze fixed on nothing in particular.
“Don’t you have anything better to do? Fuck off.” Tyler is the one to chime in.
Kristy gets up from her seat, and I stare at her, telling her not to do anything. She smugly smiles at Olivia, squaring her shoulders and folding her arms. “I can’t find your date anywhere. Did you forget about him?” Kristy peers over Olivia’s shoulder. “Or you don’t have one?”
Instead of replying, Olivia glares at her, Tyler, and, lastly, me. She stomps her foot and walks away.
“That’s my girl,” Tyler says as she takes a seat next to him.
“I feel like a third-wheeler,” I say, as their gazes go to something behind me. When I turn around, believing it’s Jake, my smile fades as I see Professor Caleb standing there.
“Professor Caleb, I didn’t know you’d be here too.” I’m surprised.
“At the very least, call me Caleb here.” He chuckles, and when I look across to Tyler and Kristy, they are as confused.
We can’t chat because the music starts playing on the lawn. Kristy’s face breaks into a wide smile, and I swear my own does as well. Tyler stares between us, puzzled. She stands abruptly, and we walk to the center of the lawn.
We laugh and dance to our favorite tune. Other girls join us too. The song completes the event for us—Barbie in the 12 Dancing Princess’ theme. It’s silly, but it’s true. Brings back memories. We turn to face our parents, who are shaking their heads. They are at the door that connects the lawn to the hall.
We return to the table as the song concludes and another song begins. I immediately recognize the tune. Walk the Moon’s “Shut up and Dance.”
Everyone rushes to the floor, with Tyler dragging Kristy back onto the floor. I walk up to the table to call Jake again, but Caleb stops me and extends his hand.
“Shall we?” He asks.
Tyler and Kristy are both staring at me. Kristy gives me a nod, while Tyler looks unhappy. I take a deep breath and smile at him before taking his hand in mine.
I’m not going to lie; Professor Caleb looks great in a tux, but no one compares to Jake. Even when he isn’t around, my mind envisions him in a tux. Maybe I should call him. I am angry at Jake, but I’m also worried. What if he got into a fight with someone?
Caleb is not just attractive; he is also a skilled dancer. He's merely holding my hand because it’s a fast-paced sound. We’re only a few minutes into the song, and he’s already made me feel at ease. I’m chuckling after a few twirls.
My laughter is short-lived because Caleb is forced away from me.
“What the hell?” I exclaim, looking over to see Jake clad in a tuxedo.
Something about him looks different, though. I don’t have time to think about it because he grabs my arm and drags me out of there.
He walks and stops until we are out of earshot, standing at the railing and facing the shore.
“Why the hell were you dancing with him?” Jake barks; his eyes are cold, and his voice is even colder.
“If you were here with me, he wouldn’t be with me in the first place. You left me with no choice.”
“Why him?” Jake growls.
I clench my hands at my sides. “Fine. I’m going to go around and dance with random strangers. Maybe you’ll notice me then.”
“Even without them,” Jake sighs, “it would be impossible not to notice you.”
My pent-up anger has taken over every fiber in my body. “Where did you go?” Jake remains silent, his gaze fixed on my face, so I add, “Huh?”
Jake rakes his fingers through his hair. “I was out taking care of something. I knew I’d make it on time, but still, I said I wouldn’t so you wouldn’t get hurt.”
I grit my teeth. “What is this thing you’re taking care of? Either way, I was hurt. Do one thing, keep taking care of that something, and forget about me.”
I try to flee, but he grabs my wrist and drags me back, caging me against the railing. “Forget you? Never going to happen, forget that.”
I roll my eyes. Jake pinches my arm and I yelp in pain. “Don’t roll your eyes at me. It’s fucking true.”
“Your words don’t match your actions,” I say.
He keeps staring at me, smirking for god knows what reason. “You look gorgeous.”
“Don’t distract me.” I hiss at him. Despite my anger at him, his compliment warms my heart. “Where were you? Tell me.”
He leans closer, his breath fanning my face and his masculine woodsy aroma filling my nostrils, making my head dizzy. He is clouding my judgment.
I stare into his green eyes, which are looking down at me passionately.
“Look into my pocket, you’ll find your answer,” he whispers in my ear.
He leaves my wrist and I put my hand in his tuxedo pocket. I find something and dig it out. A little box almost half the size of my palm greets me.
“Open it,” he whispers, too close for my liking.
I open it to find a lovely necklace. “It’s beautiful,” I mumble, taking the piece out.
“Thank you,” I mutter, looking up at him.
He pulls it from the box, spins me around, and clasps it around my neck. I turn, “I’m so angry right now, I don’t know if I want to kiss you or throw you off this railing.”
“If you’re angry at me, shouldn’t I be the one to choose?” Jake smirks at me, leaning again.
His lips brush mine in a matter of seconds, and I let him. This is becoming a tiresome cycle for us. We fight and then make out instead of makeup. His lips are gentle at first, but he quickly becomes ravenous. His hand wraps around my waist, drawing me closer and closing the gap between us. My lips part because I want him just as much as he wants me. His tongue snakes inside, exploring every inch, and even though I’m upset at him and arguing with him, this part feels perfect.
We part ways, and Jake rests his forehead on mine. “Did I mention you look stunning?”
“Yeah,” I say quietly, my eyes still closed. “When you messaged me earlier, I was both irritated and concerned. It’s difficult to be angry now that I see you.”
“Does that mean that I’m forgiven?” His eyes twinkled.
“No,” I laugh.
He steps back a little, and I take my time staring at him. I notice he has used hair gel, yet his hair is all tangled up and he has his style. He’s also sporting a watch. Posh.
“You clean up well, Henderson,” I say, my gaze fixed on the model in front of me.
Jake winks as he puts his hand inside his pockets. “Of course. You’d know it better than anyone else.”
I still haven’t forgiven Jake. He’s right in front of me, but I can’t ignore the nagging anxiety in the back of my mind. I know something is wrong. I have a feeling that he is hiding something from me, but I choose to remain silent. Everyone is in a good mood, and I don’t want to ruin this for them, for me, or for anyone in particular.
I'm so caught up in my thoughts that I didn’t notice we’d been standing here silently for a few minutes. Jake is staring at the shore with a blank expression, and I’m not sure what he’s thinking.
It’s difficult to take my gaze away from him in a tuxedo. The black tux complements his dark hair and draws attention to the intriguing look in his forest-green eyes. As if sensing my presence, he turns his head and smiles at me. It’s not the most beautiful smile that reaches your ears, but it’s a good one that warms my insides.
Autumn air mixed with the ocean breeze flies past us, dancing its way through Jake’s soft strands of hair and resting as goosebumps on my skin.
I curse myself for not bringing a jacket. My dress is off-shoulder, which exposes my bare arms and a hell of a lot of skin.
Jake chuckles, and before I can blink or stop him, he slips out of his jacket and drapes it over my shoulder.
“Don’t you need it?” I ask as he tightens the jacket around my shoulder blades, as it was about to fall away.
Jake gives me his infamous smirk. “I won’t deny that I look dapper in it. But, even without it, I’m attractive like a magnet. This,” he points to his face, “is what God spent his time on.”
I laugh. “You are so full of yourself.”
I pause for a moment to take in the scenery in front of me. He’s right; even without the jacket, he stands out in his white button-down shirt tucked into his black trousers.
I grab his hand in mine and thread my fingers through his. “Let’s go inside. Everyone was asking about you.”
I pull him along, and we make our way through the tables to the lawn. The majority of the guests have returned to their seats, but Tyler and Kristy are still dancing at a slow pace.
We draw some attention, most of which is directed at Jake. I had my moment when I arrived here. My parents are sitting at the far end with Mr. Jones, and they are all smiling at us.
I glance at Jake and notice his first two buttons undone and his sleeves folded up, revealing his cute tiger tattoo. When did he even roll his sleeves up?
If I said he looked good in a tux, then scratch that. He looks just as good, if not better, in a basic white button-down shirt. Is that even possible?
I get close to him and whisper, “Everyone’s staring at you.”
He leans back, his eyes focused on everyone. “You should start wearing those cute glasses. It’s been a while; maybe you’ve gotten glasses.”
Is he mocking me? “Why?” He recalls me wearing glasses. I’m touched.
Jake tips his head forward. “They’re looking at you, not me.” His eyes met mine. “They’ve been looking at you for the past half hour.”
Confused, I ask, “Why me? And how do you know? You just got here.”
Jake shrugs, his lips curling into a smirk. “I mean, one, you’re with me.” Contrary to the smile on my face, I roll my eyes at him.
He leans in, his lips grazing my ear, his breath fanning my neck. “And two, you look stunning. Drop-dead gorgeous.”
I’m damned if it doesn’t make my heart race. I have a thousand butterflies in my stomach.
He moves back. “As for your second question, how do I know? I’ve been here since you started dancing to that ridiculous tune. I spotted you the moment I walked in; it’s impossible not to notice you.”
I elbow him at that tuneful remark. “It may be childish, but it’s a tradition for us.”
Jake ignores me. “I was standing here the entire time. Every single girl was eyeing you as if they wanted to kill you.”
I interrupt him, saying, “Oh, they will murder me now that you’re here.”
He continues, “It’s not just the girls; every single guy has his eyes on you, which makes me want to fucking snap their necks. And when that dickhead approached you, I lost it.”
