Page 10

W e all gathered to spend time together in the basement later that evening.

While El and Nolan played games on the couch Tristan, Camden, JAMIE and I competed in foosball Hazel opted to paint Kylie's nails and Felix spent his time on his phone.

We had reached our final point during the game when JAMIE struck the ball, and I failed to make my shot. After the ball went in, everyone cheered briefly because it made a loud bounce.

"This game's rigged." Tristan shook his head and walked away.

"You're just mad you lost," JAMIE boasted. He turned to me and said, "Hah."

I surrender with a shrug and say "Whatever." I said, rolling my eyes.

I returned to the couch and sat down while yawning. The time was deep into the night when my pasta dinner threatened to send me into a deep sleep. Elijah and

Nolan concluded their game session and decided to stop playing.

After Hazel completed painting Kylie's nails they joined us on the couch.

While we gathered Felix presented his idea to us. "Movie?"

"Yeah." We all nodded.

"I'll get the popcorn. Does everyone want?" I ask, standing up.

I observed their unanimous head movements before ascending to the main floor. I arrived at the kitchen after making several turns and encountered the most unbelievable sight.

The sight of Jaxon with a whisk around his neck made me burst out laughing.

As I moved towards the pantry, I told him that I didn't know he was present.

He gave me a response even though I couldn't tell if he looked at me. "I just got here."

After picking three popcorn packets, I placed one inside the microwave before facing him.

So, you handled all the tasks? I asked, hiding a laugh. Before setting down the whisk on the countertop he spun it multiple times.

He shot me a glare then spun to face me and rested against the counter. "What?" I raise my eyebrows at him. My words came out in a sarcastic tone as I said, "I'm just asking."

"What does it look like?" he asks, referring to his neck. While I nod and smile my head bobs to the microwave's beep. I take a step towards the cabinet before grabbing a few bowls.

I put additional packet inside the microwave and wait for it to heat. I faced him to ask my question.

"Hmm?" he looks up from his phone.

"Why do you hide them—the uh–hickeys?" I ask. He stuffs his phone into his pocket before straightening his posture. "That's what you want to know?"

I shrug. Being the self-centered person you are I thought that you'd want everyone to see what you're up to. The microwave signaled completion, and I inserted the final popcorn bag.

When I reached the island, he stood before me, so I climbed onto the counter next to him. "But you always cover them up. And I mean always." I add.

He rotates his body to face me before placing his elbows on the marble surface. "I don't know. I guess I prefer keeping them hidden.

"Okay...but why?" I pressed him.

"Personal preference," he says nonchalantly.

I nodded. My opinion might not matter to you, but I believe you're wasting your time with them.

"I waste my time?" he repeats.

I shrug. When you really think about it you get nothing from them except for fast sex and the hickeys you need to erase.

He stands up from the counter while saying he's unsure. He boasts about being a lady's man who can't stop himself.

I scowl in response. Ew.

"Whore." I mutter.

Jaxon's glaring look and eye roll revealed to me how loud my voice really was. I acknowledged Jaxon heard me, so I pushed forward.

"You know it's true." I blurt.

"I know I'm charming." he compliments himself.

"Charming my ass." I cross my arms. Their ability to believe in your foolish schemes baffles me. "Maybe it's my sex appeal." The smile on his face reveals small indentations along his cheekbones.

Wait.

Why am I noticing that now?

"Not your sex appeal." I laugh.

"Wanna bet?" he challenges.

"No need. I've already met someone who possesses greater sex appeal than you do. I roll my eyes.

"Who?" His interest grows as his eye spark transforms.

Without much thought, I blurt, "Me."

Oh God, Em. Way to flaunt your self-confidence. His smirk indicated he expected my exact response. So, in that moment, I did the only thing I could think of: I smiled back at him—sarcastically.

"Your stupid tricks won't work on me and your so-Called charm doesn't impress me," I announce while stepping down from the counter. "So that's a bonus."

What reason do you have to believe I can't turn you into a swooning fool? He challenges.

I finish pouring the last bowl of popcorn and toss the empty bag in the trash. "Because you swoon over imbeciles. I'm far from that."

"You think I can't do it?" he asks.

"Positive," I answer. Your efforts to make me fall for you won't work because you're Rowan. My laughter fills the room as I deliver a popcorn bowl to him while I grab the remaining two.

What level of confidence do you have in your response?

He asks me a question while we approach the basement door. I respond with "Very" while he opens the door.

"Yeah, we'll see about that." I hear him mutter under his breath.

I answer with "We'll see about nothing" as we move down the steps. A supernatural event would have to happen before I'd consider you anything other than an asshole. You cannot be anything but an asshole because you are an asshole.

He states confidently that he understands he stands as my top choice in assholes.

The two bowls in my Hazelds find a spot on the coffee table as my eyes roll in response. Felix lowers the lights before moving back to his seat.

I glanced upwards to see that only two spots remain available at the couch's end.

Torture seems to be my inevitable fate.

I sighed before walking forward to take a seat while placing my elbow on the armrest. Jaxon approaching me did not make me excited because his smile was already irritating me.

He takes a seat beside me while resting his Hazeld on my shoulder. I appreciate your permission to demonstrate that you were mistaken. I scoff. "You haven't proven anything." "I haven't yet. You have my word because I will achieve this.

I look at him and notice his stupid smile which he shows to every girl in school. He's ridiculous.

I quietly tell him his smile won't be effective because I don't want to disturb the film.

"It always works" he declares with an unaffected and bold certainty as if he is certain about his success.