Heartless

Sunday seemed to be dragging. Jace, while getting over his hangover, was apparently not in a talking mood and chose to sit in the living room, staring up at the ceiling or out a window. And, of course, Mom was at work. And I didn't even have Homework to finish.

Finally I got tired of the silence, glaring slightly at Jace and sighing. “Don't you have to go home soon?”

He glanced over and raised an eyebrow. “I'd like to postpone seeing my mother for as long as possible. You know she's gonna kill me between getting drunk, going to a party, and not coming home.” he replied. I rolled my eyes, falling into a chair across from him and observing the walls of the living room.

“Aw, are you bored?” Jace asked. I looked at him again to find him smiling innocently. That smile made me think of last night, after he had gone to sleep. I was still thinking about it when I realized Jace was still staring at me, though now it was more confused. “Dude. We've talked about spacing out on me like that.” he said. I shrugged. “Sorry. Some of us actually use our ability to think.”

“Hey! I think! I just think about different things.”

I smiled this time, watching as Jace stood up and clapped his hands together. “Go get dressed!” he said happily. I raised an eyebrow at the sudden mood change. “Why?”

“Don't question me. Just go get dressed before I steal your glasses.”

“Touch my glasses and I will bite you.”

“Oh, really? Where would you like to bite me, mister cannibal?”

Several responses went through my mind at once, almost causing me to blush before settling for a glare as I stood up, brushing past Jace to go get dressed. “Thank you dear!” he called behind me. I raised my hand and flipped him off before shutting my bedroom door behind me.

Coming back out in black jeans and a dark blue turtle neck, I saw Jace by the door, getting his shoes on. He glanced up when he heard me, looking me over before smirking. “You look so small.” he commented. “Well Jace, not all of us can be as freakishly tall as you are.” I sighed back. He snorted, shaking his head and standing to full height. “I am not 'freakishly' tall, I'm just tall. You, on the other hand, are 'freakishly' short.”

“Actually, I'm average woman height.”

“... And you're a guy.”

“But the point is that I'm average height for something.”

Jace's smile grew and he chuckled, nodding finally. “Alright, fine Will. You're of average height.” he mumbled and opened the door. I stepped out behind him, following him to the car after locking the door behind me. “Thank you. And stop calling me that.”

He glanced up from unlocking the door, holding a hand over his heart. “You'll always be my Will.” he smiled.

I felt as though I should've been annoyed at that, but honestly, it made my heart feel rather warm, and fluttery... It could also be palpitations, but I choose to be optimistic.

Jace wouldn't tell me where he was taking me, so I had settled down and just stared out the window for half the car ride. I jumped when I felt something come into contact with my leg, making me look down to notice Jace's hand there. I subtly glanced over, but he was concentrating completely on driving, occasionally tapping his finger on my knee when there was a red light. Must be some weird subconscious thing, I figured. I leaned back in the seat, yawning quietly and jumping again when I heard Jace chuckle. “How are you tired? You haven't even done anything today.” he smiled.

“Probably because I haven't done anything.” I replied quietly. He shook his head, pulling the car into a parking lot and quickly finding a space before turning the engine off and turning to me. I glanced out the window and sighed, turning back to Jace. “Olive Garden? You're taking me to Olive Garden?” I asked incredulously. He nodded before clearing his throat. “Yes, Willow, I am taking you to Olive Garden as a thank you for putting up with me, taking me home, letting me sleep with you-not like that, don't give me that look- And also as an apology for dragging you to Bailey's and making you put up with us and for throwing up and getting drunk and in general being a jackass.” he explained, patting my leg during each reason, for emphasis I suppose.

I stared back before raising an eyebrow and sighing. “I guess.” I mumbled. He smiled for a minute, lightly squeezing my leg before letting go and getting out of the car. I slowly followed, standing behind Jace in line as we waited for a table. The waitress was an elderly woman, who looked like the type of person who yelled at kids for playing on her lawn. “Two?” she asked hoarsely. Jace nodded after a second and she grabbed two menus, motioning for us to follow her toward a booth near the back, for which I was grateful. As she left, Jace frowned, digging around in his pocket until he pulled out a small card.

“And you don't carry money like a normal teenager because?” I asked. He shrugged. “What my mother doesn't know won't hurt her. Besides, Chris pays for it anyway.” he commented. Chris, or Christian, was Jace's older brother who barely came around on account of his job and being married. However, Jace and Chris were closer than the rest of the siblings, so Chris would do things for him he wouldn't normally do for the rest of the family.

Jace put the card back in his pocket so he knew where it was before picking up the menu and glancing over it. “Know what you want?” he asked. I frowned. “I haven't even looked yet.”

“Then start looking.”

I slowly picked up the menu, opening it and leaning back in my seat, crossing my legs as I began to see what they had. My reading was paused when I noticed that m leg felt really warm, from my knee down to my ankle. I subtly looked under the table behind my menu, noticing Jace's leg pressed against mine and smiling widely. I heard Jace clear his throat suddenly, making me pop my head back up to see the Waitress standing there, observing me with an eyebrow raised. “Drink?” she asked irritably. “Oh, uhm... Coke...” I squeaked, then squeezed my eyes shut as she wrote it down and walked away.

The rest of the meal went rather downhill after that. Jace had gotten a call from him mom, forcing us to eat quickly, and there were quite a few people staring. As soon as we got back in the car, Jace sighed. “Well. That could've gone better.” he mumbled. I shrugged back. “I enjoyed it.”

He looked over at me with an eyebrow raised. “What? Okay, so maybe the waitress was a bitch, and some staring, but... The food was nice?” I winced, looking down at my lap and sighing as well. Jace shook his head, starting the car. “I don't understand why I can't go out to eat at an actual restaurant with my best friend without something going wrong.” he murmured.

Possibly because I'm gay, or because I stare at you all the time, or because we actually touch each other unlike normal guys, maybe because your best friends an Albino...

Every reason going through my head made me shrink down lower into my seat, frowning slightly as we got closer to my house. Jace pulled up into the driveway, glancing down at me with a confused expression. “Any reason you're shorter than you should be?” he asked. I shrugged as much as possible in my position before sighing and sitting back up correctly. “Not really. Just tired.” I lied, unbuckling myself and starting to open the door when I felt Jace's hand grab my shoulder, turning me back around. “You're sure?” he asked. I nodded again, watching as he stared back for a minute before releasing me. “Alright. I'll see you tomorrow then.”

I opened the door, stepping out of the car and slamming it behind me before Jace started pulling away and driving down the road.

Monday morning was good. No throwing up, no spinning rooms, and no palpitations. The afternoon however, was the problem. Jace was my ride home, since we both decided to forgo the bus that day. As I walked out to the parking lot toward his car, I couldn't help but notice my seat (the passenger seat) was occupied. By a female, of course. As I got closer I also noticed what Jace was doing with said female.

He was avidly making out with her. I felt myself gape as I also realized the girl was Leah. There was a lot of realization and noticing that afternoon.

I sighed, rolling my eyes and going back to lean against the side of the school until Jace was finished with his little 'meeting'. I was waiting for a good thirty minutes when I heard the car start, making me look over and assuming Leah was gone, when she was still in the car and Jace was talking to her before he started to pull out of the parking lot. I stared after the car for a minute until I realized what exactly had just happened.

My best friend was making out with Leah.

The girl who said she didn't want a boyfriend.

My best friend went home with said Leah.

My best friend forgot about me.

I shook my head subtly, pulling out my cell phone. “Son of mother fucking bitch...”