Chapter seven: your normal everyday party.
" I wanna take the guy. You can take Tessa." I immediately said without even thinking about it. Tessa looked cool and all and usually she was my kind of people but there was something about Jackson that intrigued me. Not in a I-wanna-get-in-your-pants kind of way( although I really wouldn't mind it) but in I-actually-think-I-could-enjoy-your-company way.
Elias studdied me for what seemed like minutes until I started squirming then finally graced me with his answer " that depends."
I was a bit taken aback by his response. "on what?"
" on if you are taking him because you want him to take you. "
It took a moment for me to actually understand what he said and I punched his shoulder the moment I did causing him to laugh aloud. " what is wrong with you?" I shrieked taken by surprise. I was friends with Zoe I should have been used to these remarks but I wasn't used to them actually being true. Sue me, he was hot. So when Elias raised his eyebrows with amusement clear on his face, I couldn't help but relent " Okay, maybe a little bit."
If it was possible he looked even more amused and his smile widened even farther." knew it. My male intuition never lies." I gave him a look " well, that and you were practicaly eye raping him."
" hey, I was not 'eye raping' him. I was just simply appreciating his beauty." Eye raping him just seemed too disgusting of an expression.
Elias snorted. " yeah, while practicing the art of drooling. "
I would like to take a moment and thank my wonderful self restrain for not punching him straight in the nose. I took a deep breath instead and gave him a smile." remind me again who are we doing this for? "
Yes, that wiped the smile of his face." Alright, got it. " he paused " just out of curiosity though, aren't you in love with loner boy?"
I gasped. It was one thing to feel the damn thing and another to have it said out loud were you can't escape it or shake your head to get rid of the thought. It felt like the moment he said it was the exact same moment I realized that I'm so screwed." Nope. We're not talking about how I feel for Austin. Ever. And please don't call him a loner."
He fell silent eyeing me with that intense stare he usually gave people when he was analyzing the hell out of them. His face held an expression that looked too close to.. Respect? Okay, yeah, I suck at reading people's faces. Especially Elias's. " you got it. No more talking about him."
I nodded in agreement. "Okay. I'm leaving. " I said. My feet, however didn't seem to get the memo and I found myself still standing there despite how much I really didn't want to be in his company right now.
He gave me a smile. " I'm gonna stand here until you actually do." then he titled his head to the side. " unless there is something you want to hear?"
Maybe.
" Nope. I'm gonna go. Right now. See you after I talk to Jackson."
He nodded still smiling " take your time."
then I was off towards Jackson who was still sitting ( quite dangerously) on the railing. He had one foot on the other side and the other was tucked in near his chest. He had his elbow rested on his knee and he drew it back every once in a while to drew a breath out of his cigerrate.
Normally, cigarettes disgust me. Tried once, not really a fan. But I really couldnt' deny the fact that boys smoking them always looked atleast half more handsome than they usually did. Jackson was not an exception.
I made my way past the people and to the railing where less crowd lingered and I was actually able to see the view. Turns out the building over saw a football field in a sports center. where a bunch of teens were playing what seemed to be a very intense match of soccer.
For a moment I forgot what I came here for and I rested both hands on the railing leaning a bit and watched the match.
Everything seemed small from up here and I had a hard time following the ball but they played very well. Which is more than I can say for our soccer team at school. It was a good change and I found myself taking sides and cheering the team with the red shirts.
Just as I made the decision, number 23 made it past the other team's defense and kicked the ball right Into the net causing me to jump up and cheer so loudly, clapping my hands until it hurt.
" feels good to be cheering the winning team, huh?"
I gasped in fright not noticing how I had attracted Jackson's attention who was now looking at me with a small smile dangling his other leg so he was facing the court completely.
And holy shit his voice was hot. It was a bit gruff from the cigerrate but that only added to it's appeal. His features were more sharp and chiseled from up close and I was almost left speechless at his attractiveness.
" huh?" kinda wish I had stayed speechless though.
" you go to Lo wood, right?" oh right, he went to Lo wood too. Which meant he's pretty familiar with how much our soccer team really sucks.
" oh, yeah. But actually I know the feeling of cheering the winning team."
His interest was peeked and he turned farther to face me fully." so did they get better this year?"
" oh, no! I just always cheer the other team."
At that he laughed. It was throaty and low and I never fell any harder for a laugh. Goddamn, perfect man alert.
" so how did you know I still went there?" Lo wood wasn't really that big of a school, but he was a year older and we never really ran in the same clicks. It was a pretty high chance he would remember me, let alone know that I'm a year younger.
" you're the girl who went in the guy's changing lockers and punched a guy twice your size, right? "
Instantly my face matched the color of my crop top and I was instantly glad it was dark.
I remember that day. It was not my brightest moment but the guy had fucked Zoe while she was almost passed out from alcohol, didn't stick around to make sure she was atleast safe in a stranger house, and left a stupid Note that I knew while she played it cool really hurt her. I regret not waiting until after school but hell no I would punch him again in a heartbeat.
" yeah" I replied sheepishly. " my knuckles hurt the whole week." and my finger actually broke but I decided to keep it cool.
He chuckled " he was an asshole, I'm pretty sure he had it coming."
" I like you!" I exclaimed and he once again laughed " he did very much, thank you." then I climbed on the railing and sat beside him but with both feet inside, I didn't feel like falling down a five stories building today. Thank you very much.
We settled in silence for a minute until he put out his cigerrate and extended a hand toward me," I'm Jackson, by the way."
I smiled, perhaps a little too wide. " I'm Erielle. It's nice to meet you." I said shaking his hand, careful not to lean too much backwards.
" so what brings you to a college party?"
I took my time thinking about how to answer that question and how am I supposed to bring leah up. " Zoe Richardson is my friend. You might know her. Ridiculously long blonde curly hair?" it was sort of her thing. I never saw any hair like hers and i'm pretty sure she has earned every passing girl's envy.
" with a very outspoken mind and too much inappropriate sex talk? "
I laughed." yes, exactly. How do you know her? "
" we both majored in psychology. so she's sort of everywhere." even as he said it he had a fond smile on his face and I knew how he felt. She was a special person. And Once she's interested in you, it's pretty hard to get rid of her. Which kind of reminded me of someone.
" so you study psychology? How's that like?" I asked partly because I wanted to know and partly because I had no idea how to bring up Leah so I was just flowing with the conversation.
" It's actually pretty interesting. I now get to analyze people while having a good excuse. Practicing my future profession. "
He gave me a cute boyish smile to which I instantly reciprocated. " so is that why you're setting all alone at the party? Are you people watching? " just as I said that, I accidentally leaned back a little too much which resulted in me almost slipping off to my ultimate death if it weren't for Jackson quickly gripping the end of my jacket and bringing me back to my setting position.
" Jesus! " I placed a hand on my heart almost feeling it coming out of my chest.
" are you okay?" Jackson asked worriedly breathing just as heavily as I was. Shit, I really did almost fell down a five story building. I nodded still not able to speak " you should probably place you legs on different sides. It helps with the balance." I did as he said swinging my left leg over the railing so I was straddling it. I remained quiet, though. " or we can just get off and go talk in a safe distance away from the ledge. Are you sure you're okay?"
I cleared my throat." yeah. Almost died, no biggie."I grimaced shifting on the ledge and making sure I had a strong grip on it." and it's okay. I like it here. More quiet and less vomiting. " and peeing.
He smiled when he realized I'm fine enough to make jokes." yeah, that's actually why I'm here. Far from the crowd and besides if any unwanted person came my way to make an unwelcome conversation, I could just jump off and hope it would only be a broken leg."
" that's both clever and deeply unsettling."
He smiled. "So what really brings you here?"
His question took me by surprise and my jaw fell open, not really knowing what to say. " I just told you. Zoe's my friend, she brought me."
" yeah I got that part, but you're here for something else."
My face heated and I ruffled my bangs in embarrassment shuffling on the ledge because it was getting really uncomfortable. " what gave me away? "
" nothing. You just did. " then he laughed again but I was busy stupid shaming myself to fawn over it this time.
" okay, you're good." I mentally winced. How an I suppose to bring the subject now?
Hey, you know your ex girlfriend? The one that ran away with no farewell, no goodbye and with no regard to any one's feeling? Can you give me any thing that will hint at her place right now?
Yeah, I don't think so.
"thank you." he said " So, what is it you wanna tell me?"
" Now you're just scaring me." I said shifting again.
" you're actually pretty easy to figure out. You keep ruffling your bangs every time you're about to say something, and your face crunches up as if figuring out if you could bring the subject or not. It's cute. "
For what seemed like the thousand time this evening, I blushed. Partly because he called me cute ( to which no one had previously pointed out before.) and Partly because I never knew I was that much of an open book.
"Alright. I actually wanted to ask you something, but just so you know, it's completely optional. You can tell me to shove it if you don't want to answer."
He smiled. " I doubt it would come to that. You can ask."
His smile some what assured me and I took a deep breath." you see, I actually came here with Elias Dunbirk. "
His eyebrows rose and he swung his right leg over the ledge so he was face to face with me, and I needed to say no more." He's searching for her, Isn't he?"
Boy, is he smart.
" yes, actually. He's over there talking to her ex best friend. " I gestured to the crowds in general because I had a hard time finding him.
" Bad move. Tessa hates her guts."
" she does?"
" Not really, but she think she does. She's really hurt though so She's been lashing out. "
Now I was worried, about Elias of all people.
" should I go warn him?" I made a move to get down but he stopped me placing a hand on my arm.
" no, I think he'll be fine. " he nodded his head in a direction and I followed it. Elias was there alright. He wasn't alone though and he had a red head, ex-best friend of a run away attached to his lips. They seemed like they had been going at it for a while. His hand reached down to squeeze her butt and I instantly looked away in disgust.
" unbelievable." I muttered looking away to the soccer field again hoping to erase the image from my mind.
Jackson seemed amused " I must say, he has a creative way in looking for answers. I'm sure it's somewhere down there."
" God, I can't believe i'm helping him. "
" If you don't mind me asking. Why are you helping him?" he looked curious as he asked.
" Because I know what it's like to long for a whole family. " I answered honestly, thinking about my reasons for the first time." and he brought me muffins. "
He chuckles eyeing me with an expression I couldn't read. " sounds pretty reasonable."
" Yeah. "
There was a moment of silent after that where neither of us spoke and just gazed down at the field enjoying the silence combined with the slow music playing in the background.
Then he broke it. " look, about Leah. I don't really know anything about her whereabouts. No one knows. Heck, I don't even think she herself knew she would be running away for long."
" So do you think it's a dead end?"
" No, he is her bother, if any one has a shot at finding her it would be him. He was actually the only person she cared about. And I think it's a great thing you're helping him. "
I smiled, truly appreciating the complement." thank you, Jackson. "
" No worries." he gave a smile." but you should know something. "
" what? "
" two months before she left she had been seeing another guy. "
My eyes widened" really? "
" Yeah. I don't know his name and I think she preferred it that way. She was really secretive about him, but we all knew she was seeing someone. "
" this is something. Do you think he'll know where she is? "
" that is if he wasn't already with her. "
I considered this for a while wondering if Tessa did know who that guy was, or if anyone knew for that matter. I went over the ways in which we could figure that mystery guy out but I was left with the same thing we started with. Her room.
I opened my mouth to say something when shouts and screams suddenly rose in the air. I instantly looked at the direction were a crowd seemed to have gathered right in the spot where Elias was making out with Tessa earlier.
My heart beat picked up and I was on the ground in a matter of seconds making my way hurridly to the crowds while Jackson followed right behind me.
When I got there I had to shove my way between college students to see what was actually happening and when I did, I stopped in my track, shocked to see what was happening in front of me.
Elias was on the ground and some guy with Taylor chucks was punching the shit out of him. The guy's face was red and veins was popping out and for a minute I was actually worried about Elias. He didn't make any move to block the punches. For a matter of fact he did nothing, just laid there taking it all. " you punch like my grandmother." and that's what he chose to say when he was getting beaten by an older guy.
The next punch came with a crack and the huge rush of fear I felt for him was unexpected. Before I realized what I was doing I rushed to the both of them, shoving the guy off of Elias with my boots and hurried to Elias's side. The guy fell to the side not expecting the shove but then his eyes met mine and they were so full of rage to the point were it was not normal. He was either high or really drunk and I was in so much trouble.
He made his way back up and took a step towards me when Jackson stepped up in his way. " whoa, whoa, dude. Let's calm down, okay?"
Whatever they said next, I did not catch. Several other guys stepped in to talk him down but I couldn't care less. My attention was on Bringing Elias in a setting position.
" oh god, your face is so ruined." I told him after I finally managed to make him sit.
He gave a small laugh wincing when it hurt his jaw. " I don't know what I would do with out your encouraging words."
I ignored him placing a hand on his swollen jaw, He hissed grabbing my hands almost immediately." I think it's broken, we need to go to the hospital." I said fetching my phone to text dad that I May have to break my curfew today.
" it's not broken. I can speak." he said, wiping the blood coming out of his nose with the back of his sleeve.
" Elias your face is looking like a crime scene. " I demonstrated my point by poking his forehead, making him swat my hand once again. " we're going to the hospital, Get up. " I offered him my hands and he took it, pushing himself up. He didn't seem to have any trouble walking so I let go of his hands and walked beside him.
Just when we reached the door, Jackson came jogging our way. " hey, is he okay? "
Elias raised both his eyebrows at Jackson giving me a weird look, but said nothing.
" his face has seen better days. Do you happen to know where the closest hospital is?" I asked Jackson, hoping he would know because even though I've lived in San Diego for 17 years, I was so bad with directions.
" yeah, I do. I can give you guys a ride if you want. "
" No, it's okay. "
" that would be amazing!"
Me and Elias spoke in the same time then looked at each other. I gave him a pointed look.
" look Stevens, there's alcohol in my system. I'm only eighteen. You do the math. " he said. I didn't even know he drank.
I sighed giving his face a look. His lips were split, his forehead was bruised and his jaw looked twice it's size and damn him, he was right. I don't think going to a hospital is the best option.
" Alright. " I said. worry was just another thing I had to deal with. I then looked at Jackson who was still standing there. " thank you Jackson, for every thing." I really meant it. Talking to him was actually fun, and he was nice about my prying, which was really so much more than I had expected.
He gave me one of his boyish smile. " No worries. I really enjoyed talking to you."
" me too. I'm sorry if I had intruded earlier. "
" you didn't. " then he addressed both of us " I hope you find her, guys."
Elias gave me a sharp look when he said that and I shuffled uncomfortably, avoiding his eyes." well, yeah, we need to go. Guess i'll see you later. " I said.
Jackson smiled. " hopefully. Maybe you can give me your number? "
" sure. Give me your phone." I May have said this casually but inside I was doing a very intense, very long and very stupid happy dance.
After we exchanged numbers he gave me a small hug that surprised me a bit then walked away Into the crowds once more.
" so you hit it off with My sister's ex boyfriend." Elias said drawing my attention back to him. Whatever giddiness I was feeling for the exchange between me and Jackson changed Into worry the moment I looked at his face. It was getting worse by the seconds and i'm pretty sure he's gonna have A black eye in a few minutes.
" Not as much as you hit it off with your sister's ex best friend." doesn't mean i'll let his snarky comment pass though. " you need to put ice on your face, and we can sit in my car until you sober up and I'm dropping you off at the hospital." my tone was final and he was smart enough not to argue.
I told him to stay put then made my way Into the crowd and to the bar asking Justin if he had ice bags. He did, and with a quick thanks I was out of there.
Elias was setting by the roof door from outside near the staircase, he had his eyes closed and heads resting on the wall behind him. He looked so peaceful I didn't want to disturb him. He seemed to have some how wiped the blood of his face and it didn't look as bad as before. The corner of his lips were turned down in a frown though and I guessed it was due to the pain, something which I wasn't gloating about despite the fact I had envisioned myself inflecting pain on him in a thousand different way, each more creative than the other. Turns out, I actually did _some where way deep deep deep down_ care.
" you're staring, Stevens." his voice was quite, gruff and it held no teasing. He was just stating a fact.
He opened his eyes and I handed him the ice bag silently then slid beside him against the wall. The five minutes scene of him getting beaten kept flashing in my mind and there was something about how he had just sat there taking it all in, that bothered me.
So I looked at him and asked, " why didn't you hit him back, Or at least defend yourself?" my tone came out more accusing than I meant it to be, but I knew for a fact that Elias was more than capable of defending himself.
He shrugged. " when I fight, I don't know how to stop. It was safer that way. " his voice was tense and so were his shoulders and I so badly wanted to ask many question, but I know when to drop a subject. So we sat in silence hearing an old Kate berry song in the back ground until he broke the silence." I couldn't get a single thing out of her. She got so emotional. then angry. then she cried. I knew how she felt, so I hugged her... "
" and then she kissed you." it wasn't so much of a question as a statement. It wasn't that hard to guess. Elias was handsome and he was caring when he wanted to be. She was hurt and she needed someone to understand. Simple math, really.
" yeah, it was okay though, until her boy friend bounced on me and you know the rest."
I nodded wincing at the Horrible situation. Then I remembered my conversation with Jackson and question popped out in my mine. " hey, do you think i'm an open book?"
He gave a surprised laugh and turned to look at me for the first time since we started the conversation. " that's random. Where did that come from?"
I shrugged, " Jackson told me, and by the way he figured the whole you searching for your sister thing, I never told him."
He was the one to shrug this time, " doesn't matter any way."
I titled my head to the side and squinted at him," doesn't it? Because you gave me a pretty tense look. "
He smiled my way, but it wasn't his normal amused smile. There was something that tainted it and I couldn't figure this expression." look at you being so perceptive all of a sudden."
All of a sudden?
" hey, what's that suppose to mean?"
His smile was genuine this time." Nothing. But Jackson was right, though. You are an open book."
I gasped hitting his shoulders lightly. " am not!"
He laughed loudly " So are. Your whole face form together to express whatever you're feeling, and it's quite endearing actually."
I gasped again, my face heating even though it was completely and utterly unnecessary. "I don't wanna talk about that anymore."
He quietly chuckled. " 'course you don't."
I avoided looking at him after that, but then I couldn't keep his words out of my head and I sighed. " you know, I was somehow kind of worried about you."
He looked at me, face serious and nodded." I know. "
I was going to say something when his phone vibrated and he grabbed it, checking his NEW message. He then sent a quick reply and got to his feet.
I immediately stood up too." where are you going?! "
" settle down, Ellie, my bother is here to pick me up, I send him a text when you went to get the ice bag."
He has a brother?
I was suddenly struck with how little I actually knew about him and I bristled. It was an information so basic and yet, somehow I never knew it.
When Elias made it to the stairs and turned around with a smile." thank for the ice, sweetheart."
I was too deep in thought to give him a hard time for the neck name but I did actually remember something.
" wait, so are you going to a hospital?
He didn't turn around and with laughter so clear in his voice, said," Later, Stevens. "
I shook my head at him, awed at the fact that I was actually still worried about him.
Somewhere between the favor he asked for yesterday and the conversation we just had, I was somewhat ready to stretch a toe and test this whole weird friendship we might have waiting in store.