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[ CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN ]

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-No, I've always sucked with girls.

The two days in London have passed so fast, Jace was a little bit tired after the second meeting with The 100's fans. But now, in that restaurant with her friend Richard, she was totally relaxed.

-How is that possible? You're always so chill.

He laughed and sighed at the same time.

-Well... You're right I'm pretty chill in my everyday life. But that thing you call feelings, they are so wild, I don't know how to tame them. I'm bad at showing what I feel.

Jace suddenly stopped smiling because he did too. The girl frowned and left her glass of champagne on the table.

-I don't understand. Richard, you've always been there for me. I mean, every time I was in trouble or felt bad for random reasons, you were there. How can you say that? Even Lindsey wasn't as good as you to comfort me.

-Really?

-I just think you don't realize how a good person you are, she said quietly while looking him in the eyes.

He licked his lips for a moment, a little bit lost. He was so touched by Jace's words, he didn't know what to answer.

-Wow, thank you Jacy.

-That's okay Rich. Maybe you're just thinking too much about your feelings. Let it go, your reactions with people just have to be natural. Live the moment, don't think about anything else. Champagne?

Richard was lost in Jace's eyes while she was talking. When she asked him if he wanted another glass of champagne, he chuckled and agreed. It could just give him a little bit more confidence.

-But wait, ladies first.

The boy took the bottle on the table and served his friend first. When both of the glasses were full, they cheered and smiled at each other.

The waiter came after ten minutes. He gave them the menu and immediately, Jace choked on her drink.

-What are all those things? Is that food?

-Yes Jace, food is usually what they serve in a restaurant.

She gave him a glare before reading the title of the plates again.

-This is so complicated. I can't tell by the title if this one is meat or fish or... Vegetarian food.

Richard frowned and looked at the cart too. He scoffed when he read it.

-I'm sorry, I laughed at you but you're so damn right. What the hell are those things?

-Jason seriously booked in a gastronomic restaurant... He should know us better than that, she said with a laugh.

-I know right? What a pity, there is no pizza in the menu.

A light suddenly illuminated the girl's eyes. She looked around her and Richard gave her a friendly kick with his foot under the table.

-What are you thinking about?

She looked at him with a significant smile on her face.

-What you're obviously thinking about right now.

-What? You're thinking about how soft a horse's nose is?

She covered her face with her hands to hide her giggling. Her laugh made Richard smile. He knew what she was thinking about.

-Wanna get some pizza, right?

-Finally. Who knows, the names here are so weird, maybe they will serve you a horse's nose with mushrooms cream.

-Let's get out of here, he whispered as he stood up.

The two friends tried to stay normal and not to laugh when they discreetly passed in front of the restaurant reception. No one saw them because the waiters were really busy. Richard looked at his phone to find the nearest pizzeria.

When they finally arrived after fifteen minutes of walk, both of them were really hungry.

-Takeaway or on-site dining? asked the waiter with weariness.

Jace saw that the pizzeria was empty and the personal really tired.

-Takeaway please. Can we have a bottle of your best wine? she asked.

Richard smirked. That was his Jacy.

-Sure.

Once they were outside with the pizzas and the wine, they decided to go back to the hotel. It was not so far from where they were and the weather was really mild.

***

-You pretend to be stronger than me Reese? said Richard as he laughed.

Jace was just fighting with the bottle of wine because she couldn't open it. Finally, Richard did it and she crossed her arms on her chest.

-I am. I truly am. Look at your skinny arms.

-Hey! Yours are skinnier than mines.

-If you were sure about it, you shouldn't be justifying.

Richard pulls his tongue and drank on his glass.

-And I'm the one childish, she said.

-Yeah. Jace, this bottle is so big, we will get drunk.

-That could be funny.

-That won't be tomorrow at the airport when Jason will call use and yell at us because we haven't eat in that restaurant.

-What about living the moment Scott?

She finished her glass in one sip under his astonished eyes. When she gave him her usual significant look, he did the same and coughed.

-What kind of wine is that? he said, always coughing.

-Not a wine for your kind of guy.

-Hey!

-You know I'm laughing. You can handle it like a man, can't you? She said as she climbed on his bed to sit by his side.

But the boy mumbled something incomprehensible that made her laugh. Jace took some rest of tomato sauce on her finger and put it on his nose. He uttered a not manly cry. Richard squinted on his nose to try to see.

-How cute are you like that! she said.

The wine they were drinking was just giving them more confidence. Both of them were laughing for everything but were totally conscious of what they were doing.

Suddenly, Jace's phone vibrated. When she looked at it, her face broke down.

-What? quietly asked Richard.

She shook her head and drop her phone on the floor.

-Hm, nothing.

-Jace...

-Well, Miles sent me a message.

Richard growled but contained himself.

-Hm, about...?

-About us.

The boy literally chocked when Jace said that. She bite her lips and avoided his eyes.

-That's okay. I-I think he's jealous because we get on well.

-There is a but, said Richard as he held her hand.

She looked at both of their tied hands with her heart beating fast inside her chest.

-But he wants me to answer. I think he always wants me.

-Don't listen to him Jacy. You know what he did to you and that kind of guy doesn't change in one night.

She nodded and tightened his hand a little bit more.

-Yes, I know. I can't help but feel bad when I'm thinking about it. Did I do something wrong?

-Jacy, you know that you didn't do anything wrong. He was and still an asshole. I just think... I just think that if he did that to you that's because he didn't know how special you are.

Jace stared into his eyes as he spoke. She could have got lost into his deep blue eyes with his long brown lashes. Immediately, she understood how good she felt when they were together and how much his words touched her. That was the kind of words any guy has never told her so sincerely. Jace just let her eyes slide on his lips and suddenly wish she could kiss him.

That's exactly what she did. Their lips met. Richard couldn't move, couldn't breathe. He was paralyzed.

Jace suddenly realized what she was doing and pulled back right away.

-I-I'm sorry... I didn't mean to... I- she panicked when Richard stared into her eyes with an indescribable expression.

But he cuted her with his lips crashing into hers for the second time. Jace was shoked, for sure, but immediately kissed back and snapped out of it. She pull him closer to her as she surrounded his neck with her arms. She felt his hands on her hips, his fingers rubbing gently. His lips were so soft and in perfect harmony with hers. Suddenly, their tongues met. She felt the butterflies in her stomach like she has never felt that before.

Richard was the happiest man alive on earth. He was just on a cloud, floating in the room. Nothing existed anymore around them, there was just him, kissing the girl he was in love with. Their tongues danced together for a moment and he felt Jace's finger running trough his hair. It felt so good.

The pizza pack fell on the floor when he laid her on the bed. Then the kiss stopped when Jace pulled away. Both of them were trying to catch their breath.

-I don't think you have to apologize for that, he said, his eyes not open yet.

She chuckled and their eyes finally met again. He laid by her side on the bed. Their faces were now so close. He took her hand in his with a totally different feeling than before.

-What does it mean? she whispered not to break the comfortable silence.

-It means what it means, doesn't it?

-Richard, she laughed. I guess it had to happen, Jace said after a few seconds.

-Really? You mean, you felt the same way as I did?

-It depends how you felt.

He laughed again and rubbed his thumb on the top of her hand.

-I'm in love with you Jace, he whispered, his heart beating fast on his chest as he tried to make a strong eye contact. For a long time now.

She bite her lips and nodded.

-You were right, she said, cuddling into his side, I felt and I still feel the same way.

Richard surrounded her with his arms and and pulled her for another soft and amazing kiss.

Note: can you hear me screaming???