Jace smirked, standing up with a little effort. The kitchen swayed around him. "I think it'd be safe for me to go to bed too," he said. "But I think I'll go check on Erin for a minute." He turned around, and started slowly towards the stairs. "Night Ella."

He trotted up the staircase slowly, trying not to trip or fall over, like he usually would. Sweat prickled the back of his neck, and he was feeling a little flushed too. But he wasn't sure whether that was from nerves or the alcohol.

He shrugged it off, hovering outside her door for a minute before swallowing. He rapped lightly in her door with his knuckles, blinking a couple times to clear his wavering vision.

( Aww. Babies = <3 )

Derek nodded. "Whatever you say." He smiled sheepishly.

Jace forced a weak smile. "Nothing, really. I just wanted to check on you before I went to bed. Ella's sleeping now." He added in a lighter, more cautious tone, "You seemed... distracted earlier. Like you were thinking about something else."

Even though he thought he knew better to, he added in a low voice, "Or someone else." He blinked, looking at his feet with a stiffled sigh. His stomach was tying itself in knots, making him feel dizzy and nausious. He was ready to go to bed.

"And Ella wanted to know if you wanted to go to the amusement park sometime." He looked her in the eyes, basically begging for her to say yes. He didn't want to be left alone with Ella. It'd be too awkward for his liking. "Apparently her Uncle owns it and can get us in for free or something."

Jace's own smile faltered. He'd never been to an amusement park either; he'd always been too busy studying or hanging out alone at home. He'd never had the motivational drive, or need, to go to one. It seemed silly, like going to a prom alone, when you most clearly weren't going to get to dance with anyone.

He bobbed his head mechanically, mind still wandering somewhere else despite his throbbing headache. He was a little disturbed by Erin's 'just thinking about a friend'. Was it the guy who had dropped off the letter? Probably.

A delicate shudder wormed it's way up Jace's back. For some reason, that scarlet pawprint made him nervous and edgy, like a knight about to face a dragon. To him, it symbolized an enemy, a threat. 

But to Erin, apparently it meant a friend. A lover, even. He tried not to sound rude as he muttered, "Right. Good to hear. I'm going to bed. Bye." Jace spun around, and marched to his room without another glance backwards. Jealousy and dislike prickled in his stomach.

If I ever see that card again, he thought bitterly, I'll rip it up.

He closed the door behind him, trying not to slam it, and started to get dressed into a pair of light pajama bottoms, and a white t-shirt. His ears were ringing as he laid in his bed and stared at the ceiling. He was fuming.

Jace swore fluently to himself, throwing on a jacket. He pulled on a pair of sneakers quickly, a little agitated with himself. I should have explained why I was upset to her, he thought dizzily. I should have told her; now she's got the wrong idea and she's all pissed off...

He walked out of his room, and started down the stairs. "Going for a walk!" he called loudly to Ella, hurrying his pace only slightly. When he got out the front door, he slowed his pace, and paused for a moment. Would she be mad he's following her? She'd better not be.

He walked after her, just far enough that he could see her, but she couldn't see him. His stomach was twisting anxiously. I should probably apologize...

________

Josh pulled off his shirt, revealing a smooth marbled chest. He was muscular, yes, but not like those guys who spent all their time at the gym and looked like total freaks. He was just right. Running a hand through his messy black hair, he sucked in a lungful of air, and jumped into the water.

The water was freezing at first, and as he broke the surface, he could see his breath spiral in front of him. But eventually his body started to get numb, and the cold didn't bother him as much. "Nothing better than swimming at night," he muttered to himself, smirking. 

He ducked under the water just as Erin approached the dock.

Jace swore quietly to himself, too low for her to hear, and turned and walked back into the shadows without answering her question. He veered right, and found a tall tree. He climbed up it, smiling a little to himself. He was just far enough so he could kind-of see her. Which made him positive she couldn't see him this time. But ice sat in his stomach like a stone weighing him down.

I wonder if she's waiting for that guy...

________

Josh was stunned as something rubbed against him. His mind flashed to fish, and giant squids, but he shoved it off, and broke the surface. He sucked in a deep breath, facing opposite from Erin. He was a good fifteen feet away from her. 

Strands of hair stuck to the side of his face, soaking wet, like glue. He flicked his head to the side, getting it out of his eyes, nearly having a heart attack when somebody said something behind him. 

He turned around, slowly, eyes wide as he faced Erin. Automatically he felt his stomach clench and a headache form. He muttered something unprintable under his breath, and forced a smile on his face.

The moonlight made his eyes stand out against his tanned skin almost scarily.

__________

Jace nearly fell out of his tree. As soon as he saw Josh pop out of the water, he felt his heart twist painfully. He bit his lip, drawing blood. "So she did come out to see him..." he muttered faintly, stumbling out of the tree with blurry eyes. "So be it."

He hobbled back to his house, feeling numb and weak. He dragged his feet, keeping his eyes down. "Why'd I waste my time on her?" he asked himself bitterly. "Why am I so stupid?" He walked into his house, leaving the door open for a moment.

He stuck a note to the outside of it, and then closed the door, going back up to his room to sulk. He almost felt like talking to Ella. Almost.

The note read:

Dear Erin,

Don't bother coming inside. I get it. I saw you with that guy; the guy who gave you the flowers. It's obvious you were just using me for a place to stay and something to drink. Come back in the morning; I'll have your things packed and ready on the front lawn. Door's locked. Don't bother to try it.

From, Jason Willowspring (Jace)

PS - I wasn't mad at you because you were coming with Ella and I. I actually wanted you to come. I was just jealous because of the note you got from that guy. But you can forget that now; I'm over it.