text messages {#1} | ?

I sat there in my car, watching the rain pour down. It had started raining just after I left the house and it hasn't stopped since.

I was in the parking lot of the local park in the next neighborhood, since being in the park at my own neighborhood would make it easier to track me down.

I wasn't planning on staying out for too long. Actually, I had thought about going home an hour and a half ago, but somehow I just ended up sitting there, not making any attempt on driving back home.

Probably because if I did, I would have to face them. Face him.

I grabbed the McDonald's paper bag filled with french fries and a cheeseburger, because food is my way of releasing stress, while simultaneously gaining weight, but who cares? French fries rule. And it just so happened that I was passing by the fast food restaurant so I figured, why not?

Also, I can't just sulk with an empty stomach. Being hungry only makes me more grumpy and sour.

I popped a few french fries into my mouth and chewed slowly before swallowing. Then I reached for the cold drink and sipped on the straw.

I sighed, this isn't exactly helping much. I'm still mad. And confused. And everything in between.

Max knew. My own brother knew. Chad probably knew as well. Oh forget it, they all knew. This was just some kind of bet or game or something.

I feel played, used. Maybe a little bit disappointed that he was only showing interest in me because of some dumb game.

My phone kept ringing with texts and phone calls that I don't bother answering. So far, I only answered Alec's texts. The blond dude. The real Alec. And Jace. The Jace. They switched names, huh.

The hoodie, the name, the weird gestures, crap talk, and mixed signals.
I should have known. Why am I so gullible and dumb?

I shoved another handful of french fries into my mouth and washed it down with the soda.

Finally, I decided to check my phone. There were about three more missed calls from Max, two from Chad, a couple texts from Alec and a text from Jace.

Out of instinct, and probably just because I was so used to opening his messages first, which I have got to stop at some point, I opened his text.

-1 new text message-
1/13/2016
From: Jace
Subject: -

6:00pm
Jace: found you

I looked out of the window of my car, left and right, I saw no one. Then I looked up front, and there he was, under the rain. The tree he was standing under did nothing to shield him from the hard pour of the rain. His hoodie was up, but not all the way so it would cover his eyes.

Even under the hard patter of the rain, I could still see a small smirk on his lips, but his eyes looked a bit.. sad.

He was alone. Which meant they split up to look for me. And guess who found me first.

I sighed. I guess I have to face him no matter what. Maybe I should slap him for dramatic effect.

I got out of the car, not caring about getting wet from the rain.
I think I'm handling this a bit too well.

I walked towards him until I was standing right in front of him. Neither of us said anything. By now, the rain had soaked both of us through. Jace's eyes were trained on mine. I looked away then. I just couldn't focus looking at his eyes. I might not be able to look away if I do.

"May," he whispered seconds later. He rested his palm on my cheek, making me look at him.

His voice sounded foreign yet familiar at the same time. Like an old lover you haven't heard from in a long time.

I internally cringed at the use of the word "lover", because he's not. He's a stranger I met at a restaurant and texted with without knowing he was standing right in front of me.

I gently pushed his hand from my cheek. His eyes searched mine but I looked away.

"Look, I can ex-"
"I don't want to hear your explanation. I know what this is all about now, okay? I know you guys probably made some bet to text me and shit. I may be gullible but I'm not stupid. I figured it out," I said, almost in one breath.

He stared at me and I stared right back. Then he took a step back away from me and scoffed.

"You're right."

My mouth opened and closed, finding no words to say. I scanned his face. His hazelnut eyes seemed faded and his lips were formed into a slight frown.

"You're right," he said again. "It was a bet. The texting, the flirting.. everything. It was all just a simple bet I made with your brother during some party," he said.

I opened my mouth to speak but he cut me off before I could even say anything.

"I never thought about meeting you. I never even knew I was texting with the pretty girl I met at that restaurant. Not until I went to Max's house and saw you. That was when I realized what I was getting myself into. And it just so happened that I was wearing my hoodie up and you couldn't see my face," he continued.

"I didn't want to reveal myself to you, because I know you knew what I looked like and what my name was. Maybe I should have been like you, not giving out any sort of information to some stranger."

I stared straight at him, my eyebrows furrowing slightly as I processed his words.

"But the thing is, love," he hesitated while my stomach fluttered at his choice of words.

"I don't care anymore. About all of this. I like you, May. I don't know how, but I do. It's like I've liked you even before I ever saw you," he shakes his head, smiling a bitter smile.

"Maybe that was the true reason as to why I didn't want to reveal myself to you. Maybe it was just because I was too caught up in trying to figure out my feelings.. for you."

"Jace, I-"
"I know we don't even know each other that well yet and we've only been interacting through texts, but.. I don't know. My head keeps spinning just saying your name."

His confession blew me away. I had no idea what to say. I was still mad but I was mostly just confused about everything. So he likes me?

He sighed when I took too long to reply. "I don't deserve your apology. It's okay if you can't forgive me, because honestly? I wouldn't forgive myself either," he smiles sadly.

I took a step forward and wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him into a hug. I heard his breath hitch before he slowly began to wrap his arms around my waist, hugging me tightly.

It was as if we were never going to see each other again and this were our last hug.

I pulled away after what felt like forever. His eyes searched mine.

I shook my head.
"I can't, Jace. I'm sorry."

He smiled, but it was a sad smile. He nodded understandingly.

-
THE END

I'm just messin'.
*insert evil laugh*