Where There's Light | ?

23. Flaws

"What are you so happy about?" I asked suspiciously. Looking in the direction the talkative blonde went I added, "Does it have to do with Gia?"

"She's throwing a party on Saturday," Bee said, practically glowing. "And guess who's the guest of honor?"

I folded my arms over my chest, narrowing my eyes at her. "Bee, you can't let her throw you a party? You complain about how annoying she is all the time."

"Only when she talks," she defended. After a pause she added, "Which is always..."

"Karma is going to have fun with you."

"Karma can suck it! I deserve to have my birth celebrated with underage drinking and slutty angel costumes." There was a determined look in her green eyes. She wasn't backing out of whatever plan she and Gia concocted.

"But, just to get karma off my back, I'll pay it forward," she declared. "We'll take it old school. Seven minutes in heaven." My brows raised, not following along. "You, Nolan, locked in a closet for seven unadulterated minutes."

My jaw dropped, face burning at the very inappropriate images that played out in my head. I shook my head, shaking away the thoughts as well.

"Bee, you're missing the point." I groaned, banging my head against the locker. "I can't have feelings for him. Not when there's an expiration date. I can't deal with having someone else walk out of my life."

The smile on her face faltered, here wide eyes sympathetic. "In that case, do what I do with Gia. Fixate on his flaws." she suggested. "Like how he always picks his nails during lunch or the fact that he desperately needs a haircut."

"No he doesn't!" I snapped. The back of my neck burned as a few straggling students gave me looks.

The most discerning glance came from Bee. "Wow. You got it bad."

"That's what I've been trying to tell you." I buried my face in my hands. "How do I make it stop?"

"Sorry, J. But the heart wants what it wants."

As I walked to the parking lot to meet up with Nolan my mind was going a mile a minute. I tried to think of flaws. Two months ago I would've had a full list. Now, what should've been turn offs were more like bonuses.

Sure, his pouting when told to do something even remotely couple-like was annoying at first, now it's kinda cute. His sarcasm made me laugh and his eye rolls were adorable. Even his death trap of a motorcycle grew on me.

Bee was right. I had it bad. As if knowing that wasn't enough, my heart had to prove it by skipping a beat when he came into view.

The way he leaned against the sleek black motorcycle, his golden hair falling over his shoulder. I wanted to run my fingers along the sharp edges of his jaw.

"Jade!"

I started out of my daydream at the sound of Nick's voice. He jogged over to me, a familiar yellow bunny in his hand.

"You left this in my car," he said. "Well, I guess Taylor left it."

He had been giving me rides all week. Taylor particularly loved the car rides because he had an iPad that she could use to listen to those annoying kid song over and over.

"Thanks." I smiled, taking the bunny from him and stuffing it in my bag. "I thought she'd lost it at daycare."

"It was under the seat," he told me. He lingered a bit, as if he wanted to say something else. Thinking better of it, he said, "Anyways, I will see you at work."

"Yeah," I agreed.

When I reached Nolan he handed me a helmet, his already placed firmly on his head shielding his face. We did the usual routine of going to his house for the minivan then going to Mrs. Coleman's to pick up Taylor. After we dropped off Taylor he took me to the market. Before I could climb out of the car he stopped me.

"You need me to pick you up after work?"

He hadn't offered before. I never asked because I was trying to keep our time together minimal. That was still a good idea considering everything.

"No, that's fine."

"It's no problem," he insisted. "I'm not doing anything."

Except driving me completely insane.

"No, really. I'm good."

He stared at me, long and hard for a moment, his jaw clenched. "Don't want to miss your rides with Nick Grice?"

The accusation in his voice took me off guard. A part of me wanted to believe he was jealous. I knew better. His hatred towards Nick had nothing to do with me.

"He's talking with you to get to me," he said. The way his eyes darkened scared me.

"It's just a ride."

"It's more than that." He turned his body towards me, his eyes boring into mine. "Trust me." His words sounded so desperate I almost gave in.

Then I remembered what Bee said about flaws. The one flaw of Nolan's I didn't find attractive was his secrets. The way he managed to get around letting me into his world. He still hadn't even invited me into his house, forcing me to wait in the garage while he changed or peed or whatever he did.

If I was going to give Nick the cold shoulder I at least wanted to know why. So I asked.

"It doesn't matter." Was his response.

"If it doesn't matter why can't I talk to him?"

He ran a hand over his face, groaning with irritation. "Jade, just trust me on this. Please?"

"Unless you can give me a valid reason not to, I'll be taking my rides from Nick."

"Why are you being so damn stubborn?"

I scoffed. "I'm stubborn? You won't even answer a simple question." His mouth clamped shut, clearly not willing to give up any information.

A heavy, tension filled silence fell among the car. After a moment Nolan broke it.

"Why did he give you that toy in the parking lot?"

My brow creased. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"Think about. He could've given that to you at any time during the day or waited until your shift started," he pointed out. "But he waited until you were in the parking lot, where I could see. I don't know what his game is, but he's definitely playing one. And I don't want you caught in the middle of it."

I asked for a reason and he gave me one. It was valid, too. Nick and I had two classes together. He had plenty of chances to give me Taylor's toy, yet he waited. 

"Fine," I said, opening the car door. "My shift ends at seven."