Bad Boy's Secret: Enemies with Benefits Book One (9 page)

Paige's POV

I wipe away tears, as I run through my
dorm. I need to shower and get ready. I've got only fifteen minutes to go
ready. I stay in the shower rubbing my face hoping to rid my face of evidence
from tears. I don't have time to wash my hair, I'm just going to have to braid
it back. Once I'm out and dry, and throw on a paired of jeans, and a Harry
Potter t-shirt. Then I slip on my Roxy's, and grab my school things I head out
the door with my hands phone, and make my way to the school. I come in, and I
see I'm not late. Mrs. Oliver isn't here yet, that's perfect. I sit down next
to Robbie, who is looking down at his play book.

"I was starting to think you weren't
comin, what happened?" He asks right away. He holds out a brownie and I
smile, I didn't get breakfast and this would do, besides I might not get
anymore with the whole pan being in his room.

"Oh.. I just over slept." I say
quietly, scanning the room for Jake. He isn't here either. I let out a breath,
I can't believe I just walked out on him like that. He was desperate for me,
why I don't know, but the longing and sadness his voice had. It got to me. It's
hard for me to believe he is faking it. Last night at my car too, he begged me
to stay. He didn't pull anything either, I even ended up in his bed! That was
my fault though. Which reminds me I didn't ask why his brother was calling so
early.

"Paige Easton over slept!?"
Robbie gasps, and it pulls me back to the present. I let out a fake smile, trying
to laugh at his joke. I never over sleep so I'm just going to let him make his
jokes.  "Ahhh it's alright happens to the best of us." He kludges
me lightly. I nod, and I try to sort all my things out. I realize I left my
phone in my dorm... or did I? I don't think I had it at my place. Maybe it's in
my car, I had it with me when I was leaving Jake's dorm. No I didn't. It's on
his nightstand! I lay my face in the palms of my hand. God, I'm going to have
to go back there for it! "You okay?" Robbie asks.

"Alright, darlings! Let's get
started!" Mrs. Oliver strolls in, and Jake is right behind her. I look
ahead and eat my brownie trying to play off that I'm fine.  "Let's
start at the beginning, and I want the songs included this time!" She
says, and everyone scurries to get in place. We all go back behind the stage, I
take a peek at Jake, who is talking to Mrs. Oliver. He looks fine, I think. I
can't tell from this far away.  I take a seat on the ground, as I watch
and run lines with Robbie while the five gospel goddesses sing their beginning
song. He has the lines for the first act remembered along with his song Go the
Distance, which I haven't heard yet, but will today. Jake comes through the
curtain walking right past us without even a glance, and he heads towards the
backroom. Wonder what he is going to do back there?

"Wish me luck!" Robbie whispers,
and then he also slips through the curtain. I look back towards the direction
Jake went, and there he stands. In front of the door to the backroom, holding
my phone. All the air in my lungs leaves, and I blink not understanding. When I
finally do get to my feet, I take a deep breath every other step. I walk past
him and into the room, I hear the door close and the tension is back fully
charged between us.

"Can I just have it back." I
speak, not wanting to fight. Not wanting to get into a serious conversation.
"Then you won't have to talk to me again... I'll tell Mr. Parker you want
a new tutor. Whatever, but I don't want problems." I say hoping this is
what he wants to hear. He sets my phone down on a table and walks towards me.
He looks miserable. Just like I do I'm guessing. He isn't tired but his eyes
aren't bright like normal, they're dull and out. I don't move standing my
ground, I can't keep breaking.

"After I'm done." he whispers,
and in a flash he lifts me and my back is against a wall. His mouth covering
mine, and hunger is seeping through his touch. My stomach erupts into
butterflies, and the tension between us explodes showering lust over the two of
us. I'm craving his touch, and wanting more and more of him even though I
shouldn't. I wrap my legs around his hips, and I grip the hair on the back of
his head in both hands with my elbows on his shoulders. No holding back now, I
kiss him full blast. People can't feel these sorts of attractions can they?
It's odd, it feels fairy tale like, almost like soul mates. A shiver runs
through me, and I gasp. He takes his change sliding his tongue in. Although my
gasp was because the shiver, soul mates. No way. That stuff is only in fairy
tales. Taking a couple seconds to evaluate what's happening, I know what he
wants. No! Not here, not like this! Tugging on his hair, I pull his head back,
but I don't pull to hard to make it hurt.

"Why are you doing this?" I ask,
looking him in the eyes. They already look better! He is breathing heavy,
looking at me with thirst behind his eyes.

"You said goodbye earlier." He
whispers distraughtly, and confused. He is trying to understand this himself.
"You can't. You have to stay." he begs, and his head ducks kissing my
neck. "I yearn for you, craving your touch, wanting all of your attention.
I can't explain it, I've never felt like this before." He says in a
whispers disoriented. His hold me is keeping me in place, and I haven't moved
myself yet either.  He feels like I do! Unexplainably attracted to me! Is
it just lust? Or is this more? Jake doesn't do more though.

"What are you trying to say?" I
whisper, moving my hands and rubbing my thumbs under his eyes. They open wide,
and the golden specks flicker. His breath coming out rigidly.

"I... I don't..know." He mumbles
as if losing all his energy. Closing his eyes he lays his forehead to mine.

"Jake this really isn't like you. Why
try so hard for one person." I mumble, unwrapping my legs, and standing
up. His grips on my waist tightens he isn't letting me go. He isn't lying. I
can see what happening to him right now. I have an effect on him. He has an
effect on me. He probably doesn't know how to explain it. I don't even!

"I don't want to lose you, that's why
I'm trying so hard. I felt lost this morning after you left. Like part of me disappeared."
he says hoarsely, "I don't want to feel like that again."

"Me neither." I agree,
remembering all my tears and the pain in my chest. Can two people, especially
teenagers really have these kinds of feelings?  Why are they all so sudden
too? I've always disliked him, but now all of a sudden I like him. I know why.
It's because I've seen the real Jake, and I  know the real Jake. Not the
cocky popular jerk jock. I know him, the funny, kind, semi bashful Jake, who
has a hard time explaining his feelings.

"Don't leave then. Stay with me."
He says. My heart is pounding, as I try to make sense of all this. Is he asking
me to stay in this room with him? Cause, I don't want to do that. Or is he
wanting to be a couple? That's ridiculous, I can't expect so much from him.

"What are you asking me to do, Jake?
What kind of relationship are you asking for?" I say, trying to understand
if he just wants my touch and body. Or if it's me, and my personality.

"Be with me." He whispers,
lifting his forehead from mine. Locking our eyes, I take a deep breath. There
are multiple ways that response goes.

"We barely know each other." I
comment, and he furrows his brow. Getting to know a girl isn't something he
does. But it's true, we barely know each other!

"Where is your dance recital at
tonight?" He asks, totally changing the subject. What does that have to do
with anything? It takes me a minute to think of the place, I totally forgot
about it until now! I guess I'm not free tonight.

"Dance on the Beach Dance academy...
why?" I say, remembering the building that has two huge performing stages,
and over thirty practice rooms. This place teaches all kinds of dance, and the
one I chose was ballet. It hits me like a wrecking ball, and I regret telling
him when I realize what his plans are. "No, Jake. Don't go, why would you
go?" I say and he smirks, a little of his cocky side showing.

"It's your last performance. I'm going
to go." He says, and by the look on his face I can there is no changing
his mind. Great, well he will be there. My family will be there. Robbie will be
there. That won't play over well if they all meet. Especially Robbie and Jake.
Oh god, if Jake and I were ever a couple what would my family think? Robbie?
Carmen? I still don't even know for sure what he wants! Closing my eyes I think
about what I should do now, at this moment. Probably leave the room for one.
Tension is bubbling, and soon it will boil over again. Turning and looking at
my phone down on the table I take quick breath. "Paige..." He
grumbles, pulling me in again. Grabbing my chin and turning my face so I'm
facing him, our lips collide. I let things happen for a minute, liking the more
forceful version of him. Everything is going to blow soon, and I'm not ready.
And I'm especially not doing it in a back room!

"Jake, not here." I say, breaking
free. He lets out a breath with a small nod. He backs away from me, and we're
both breathing and trying to catch our breath. After a minute passes, I decide
it's time we leave, we've been here for too long already. "We should
go." I say, grabbing my phone I put it in my back pocket.

"Yeah." He  agrees, and he
goes to the door. Opening it I slip out, as does he. "By the way I put my
number in your phone. I also have your number too!" He smirks. I role my
eyes with a smile. I wouldn't give him my phone number before scared he might
stalk me, or call asking for sex. Of course he can still do both of those especially
the latter. God, I hope this isn't just him playing a game. I'm falling head
first for it if it is.  "You should smile more often around me!"
He whispers, and I feel heat come to my face. I look towards the curtains, so
he can't see, and that's when I notice the piano playing. It's a song ending,
the vocals are done already. It's Go the Distance. Oh, shit it's Robbie's song!
He comes through the curtains, ending the first Act. He peeks for me, but I'm
not where he left me. I'm huddled in the back corner by Jake.  Oh god
what's he going to think.

"We can't be seen together." I
whisper in my moment of realization.

"What?" Jake panics, looking down
at me.

"It's going to ruin your reputation.
You being seen with me. You even talking to me in the hall!" I say.

"Wyatt..." he sighs, scratching
the back of his head.

"You have your friends and I have
mine. We don't fit." Now I'm panicking, we aren't even together. What was
I expecting? To come out as a couple? Well, no we didn't, and beside Jake
doesn't do the whole couple thing.  "This won't work." I
whisper.

"No! No goodbyes." He whispers,
moving in closer to me. Protectively looking at me and around to see if people
are watching. No one is, Robbie hasn't even spotted us yet. He reaches to touch
me, and I back away. I can't and won't be the girl who ruined him. He needs to
be who he is. And that's the cocky jerk who sleeps with way to many
people.  "Paige.. don't.." He whispers. I shake my head stepping
away, I don't want to hurt him. But I need to. If I stay with him, I could ruin
his reputation. He might lose his friends, and his popularity. I won't do that
to him.

"I'm sorry, but it's for the
best." I breath out, slowly. I'm shaking so bad. I turn, and walk away.
Me, Paige Easton, walk away from Jake Lincoln. I'm an idiot. No, I'm saving him
from the embarrassment. He will thank me in the future, even if it hurts both
of us now. It will pan out in the long run.

Paige's POV

Once the bell signalling first period rings,
I zoom out of the auditorium. I'm happy they ended up just going over the first
act the whole time so I didn't have to go on at all. I stayed up front with
Mrs. Oliver, while I have no idea where Jake went. I got to see Robbie's solo,
and it was pretty amazing. The first act is complete, and now we have to move
on to the second. Which is where I get brought into the whole mix.

Rushing to my locker, I grab my French book
and scurry to French. No way do I want to meet Jake at our lockers. I slide
into my seat, laying my head down. Gosh I'm getting nauseous! Get over it, it
was just lust! Once class begins, and my mind drifts further away from Jake, I
feel better and better. By the time I'm in seventh period study hall all is
forgotten. I'm doing my homework, and listening to music. Then my head phones
get pulled out and Carmen comes into the picture.

"Ahhh Wyatt and I had the best night
ever!" Carmen gushes, crossing her legs and taking a sip of her girly
coffee drink. I let out a breath. I'm glad she had a nice night, better then
mine. My stomach clenches. My night with Jake wasn't bad at all actually. It's
just what happened this morning!  "After the party, we wen-"

"I don't care!" I blow up. All
eyes turn to me, and Mr. Feldmen, shushes me. "Sorry." I whisper.
Carmen is glaring at me, and I role my eyes. Gathering my things, I go and sign
out to Mr. Parkers room. He is eating lunch right now, so he won't be there. No
one will be there. I knock, on the door when I see he is sitting there. Grading
papers. He gestures for me to come in, and I do. Setting my stuff down at my
desk, and pull a chair across from his desk.  "Can I help?" I
offer. "You should eat.."

"I have cookies to snack on." He
says, "No worries mother!"  he snickers, and I spit my tongue
out at him. Holding out a stack of papers. I take them, and grab the other red
pen laying on his desk. "Oreos, the vanilla kind!" He says, licking
his lips.  I smile, at least he has something to eat.  Time flies,
and the bell rings for eighth period to start. "Oh.. shit." he sighs,
"The chess club is gone again." He rubs his face, closing his
computer. I finish the last paper, and the couple other people in the this
class slide into the room. Pulling the chair back to where I got it, I take my
seat. Mr. Parker gives me a couple Oreo's and tell the other complaining class
mates that I help him with stuff so I earned them.

"No that makes no sense!" I say,
we're a little off topic, and now we are talking about monkeys throwing poop.
"I've never seen a monkey throw anything, let alone their own poop."

"Oh come on you've seen a YouTube
video or something!" Mr. Parker says, and everyone else nods in agreement.

"No. Never." I says, smiling.
This is a great history lesson. "Now.. why don't we get back to
slavery?" I offer. I get a couple pieces of crumpled paper thrown at me,
and even Mr. Parker frowns. The rest of history goes like this, all of us
debating topics like how they get cheese inside cheese hot dogs, and why only
the queen bee has babies.  Once the bell rings, I let out a breath. My
dance recital!

"Hey come here!" Mr. Parker says
before I walk past him. I come around to the other side of the desk, and I see
he has YouTube up.

"Oh come on!" I laugh, and he
grabs my arm.

"Nope. You're watching. You gotta watch
it or I'm gonna fail you." He threatens jokingly. I kneel down, with a
breath of agreement. He presses play, and the door to his room swing open in a
blur. "Ahhh, Jake what can I help you with?" Mr. Parkers asks,
pausing the video. I close my eyes looking at the floor. Great. I'm guessing he
is here to get a new tutor.

"I need to talk to her." His
voice speaks, and he sounds tired. He wants to talk to me? What? Why?

"Are you feeling okay? You look like,
you're coming down with something.." Mr. Parker asks, as I stand up.

"Never better." Jake replies
bitterly, "Now, I just need to talk to her." He sighs, I shake my
head.

"I'm gonna be late." I mumble.
"I watch is later."  I wave to Mr. Parker. "Not now
Jake."  I say then I leave the room. I walk as slowly and normal
looking as I can, to my locker, put everything away since I don't have any home
work.  I close my locker, and Jake is right there. I let out a breath of
surprise, and I shake it off walking away without a word. "We're not
talking about this." I say, as we leave the building. I look for other
kids, there aren't many. Oh god, what if he pulls something out here in the
open? With people around? He wouldn't. He knows what's at stake.

"We are going to talk about
this." I hear him, but I don't turn and look. I can't. I've pushed
everything away and seeing him will just bring it back. God it's only been one
day, it's only going to get worse from here. Tomorrow is Wednesday too, I'll
have to tutor him! I sit in my car, mumble swear words to myself. After a
minute of that, I drive to my dorm, and wait for my parents to come and get me.
They want to drive me there and take me out to eat after, since it's some big
celebration. I personally don't think it is, but I won't complain. Going to my
room, I grab my slippers and my water. There is two performances tonight, one
with the new kids, and mine. The new kids are doing princess and the pauper,
and there story takes about an hour it's self, then mine will be just a quick
twenty minute dance. Then my teach will tell everyone it's my last dance, and
that I'm 'retiring' from ballet.

Answering my phone an hour later,  I
grab my bag and head down to my parents vehicle. I slide into the back, and I
see my father in the driver's seat, mother in the passenger seat, Patrick in
the window seat behind my mother, Robbie in the middle seat between the
passenger in the driver in the back, and me right behind the driver. I wave
greeting everyone, I get a bunch of we missed you'd and oh it's such a sad
happy night. I giggle quietly, and Robbie winks at me. I sigh looking out the
window as we leave school grounds. I didn't realize we were giving Robbie a
ride, but I'm okay with it. It will give me something other than school and my
future to talk about at  dinner tonight. I tell everyone how school is
going, and get all of the that stuff out of the way, then the questions about
boyfriends comes up.

I look out the window. No, I don't have a
boyfriend, but it's still weird. Robbie doesn't take any of it seriously, in fact
he tells my parents about who he thinks I'm crushing on. He is always at the
top of list as a slight joke. Then when they all see I have no comment about
the whole boy situation they move on. Robbie kludges me, giving me a
questioning look. I give him back just a brief smile, hoping I just seem like
I'm nervous. He makes a funny face, and I giggle knudging him back. He knows
how to cheer me up, but it's not enough to get Jake off of my mind. He has said
so many things that should make me want to cry. Stuff about me never leaving,
and him wanting me and feeling things for me he has never felt before. He has
even begged me, and I've heard the desperation in his voice. It's not
important. He is just trying to get in my pants right?

"Paige hunny we're here." My mom
says pulling me away from Jake and the feelings we have for each other. I nod,
hoping out of the car. I go inside telling them I'll them after the show. I
make my way to my practice room greeting my crying teacher. I smile as she says
"Tears of joy darling, tears of joy!" She shoves me into a dressing
room tossing over multiple costumes for me to try. I go through four, until
finally I end up in a black swan remake, without the makeup and crown. She does
do my make up next, and it's funny getting all the stage make-up put on since I
don't really wear makeup normally. Then She gets my hair up into one her tight
perfect prima ballerina buns, and she shoves me off into the practice room to
go over my dance with me one more time. The little kids started about twenty
minutes ago, so once I finish my practice, I'll have to get all of my things
lined up. I go through it once perfectly, and then I scurry down the hall
getting my music set up and talking with the sound guy, along with checking in
with the light people.  Then the crowd claps and whistles, and I know it's
show time.

The curtain is closed, and I go take my
place, out in stage right. Laying down in my little ball I have to start in, I
hold up a thumb to my teacher, she wipes away a tear again, and que's the
curtains, music, and lights. I take one last deep breath, and then begin.

I take my bow breathing heavy, as the crowd
erupts. I smile, tears coming to my eyes now. My last performance, it was
perfect. I didn't screw up anywhere I made all of my jumps, and I landed
everything perfectly. Roses fall at my feet, and I do cry. Happy tears! Mrs.
Heyings, comes out next to me, and she smiles. I figure she must've told
everyone, at least the parents of the younger kids that it was my last
performance.  I hug Mrs. Heyings, waving goodbye to the crowd, as the
curtains pull closed.

"Beautiful, beautiful
Paige."  She says letting go and rubbing my shoulders. "You have
boyfriend waiting for you in dressing room. " She pushes me off stage,
smiling. Boyfriend? Robbie? "Very nice looking boy he is, why haven't you
introduced us before?" She scolds, and then I'm shoved into my dressing
room, and the door behind me closed. Looking back trying to ask her what she is
talking about, I let out a humph of air. Okay then. I go to my bag, in which I
have my clothes. I pull out everything and grab my bra and underwear. I reach
back to unzip my costume, but someone beats me to it. I gasp moving away.

"Jake!?" I blink, how did he get
back here? Why is he back here? Boyfriend. He told Mrs. Heyings he was my
boyfriend?! "What in the hell is wrong with you!" I say harshly,
grabbing my clothes and going behind the blind stand so he can't see me change.
Gosh, and to think I was just about naked in front of him! God, he is here. He
actually came! My heart is pounding now, and I'm sure I look like I stuck my
face in red paint. Why did he go through all the trouble of getting back here?
I can't believe I told him about my dancing, that was my mistake.

"I told you I was going to come."
He sighs. "Do you need help unzipping that?" He asks, I role my eyes.
He can't even see me, but apparently he knows I'm struggling. I do need help
yes... but I don't want it from him. Besides I don't and can't be that close to
him again. "I'll only unzip it I swear. I haven't lied to you
before." He sighs, and I come out keeping my head down.  I move my
hair for him, and he pulls the zipper down. His hand lingers for a second, but
he does as he promised. Changing behind the blind, it's quiet. Once I come back
out dressed in my clothes for dinner now, he looks me up and down.

"Why are you here, Jake." I ask losing
my brave face. I stay as far from him as I can, and busy myself with brushing
my hair and  braiding it. "Earlier I sa-"

"I don't give a fuck what you said
earlier." He interrupts. "You're driving me nuts! In both good and
bad ways!" He begins, but seems to not know what to say next.

"I don't know what you want from
me." I say calmly. Well, I know one thing and that isn't happening. No
matter how much he begs and pleads. Even if he got down on his knees, I would
still say no.

"I don't either!" He expresses,
sitting down on the couch in the room. "I just know, you have to be in my
life. Not as a tutor, not as someone I see in the hall every once in a
while." Our eyes lock, and now tension and lust sparks between us. Why do
I feel like this? Why is it that I've never really cared for him until now?
It's because I know the real him. I've seen him his good and his bad.

"Then as what?" I say trying to
sound mad, but I just sound confused and tired, which I am. I'm not gonna be a
one night stand. Never ever, will I be another one of his girls.  I look
towards the door, gosh my parents will be back here soon! What if they walk in
and see him? Looking back to the couch, I see he isn't there but directly in
front of me. Oh shit. "I'm not a one night thing. You're not couple
material. It's simple math... we don't fit."  I bring in school
topics. Even though he apparently has an A in every class but  history.

"We will then somehow!" He
whispers, reaching up to touch my face. I flinch away. "Paige, I'm not
going to hurt you." He whispers, his eyes trembling. " I would never
hurt you... not on purpose." He leans in touching our foreheads.

"You're hurting me." I whisper.
"We're bad for each other. I'm hurting you and you're hurting me. Don't
you see?" What can I say that will make him understand. No matter what we
feel, this won't work out.

" I see you keep running away, and
yeah it's killing me and you." He says grabbing my hands. He holds them
tightly, intwining our fingers.

"Don't you get it? If we are ever
anything more then you won't be able to sleep with girls. You're friends might
not like you having a girlfriend. And I like the real you, not the cocky jerk
you are at school. I don't know what your friends think of the real you... if
they've even seen it.

"Then I won't be him. I'll be me! You
help me be me! I can't be me with you, Paige." He whispers, "Don't
say goodbye again, we'll figure something else out I know we will. Even if we
have to keep it a secret at first." he says, and I open my eyes. He is
offering a relationship! A secret one, but still a relationship. Jake Lincoln
is offering me, a chance to go out on dates and fall in love. But Jake Lincoln
falling in love... I don't know about that.