A/N

Hey guys.

So a couple of you have encouraged me to partake in some contests but the stories I have started writing are not planned out enough for me to develop them into a whole book yet. Plus, I didn't want to use Black Widow because I figured, since I have not created Jade's character, it would be kind of unfair for me to submit it as an entry.

However, since I did create the story, I thought... What if I told Jesse's side of Black Widow? He's an interesting character and you never really know what he is thinking, which is why Jade has so much internal conflict when it comes to him. So I started writing a little bit about it to see how it would turn out.

What you're about to read is the little segment I can share with you guys without spoiling the plot of Black Widow. I would love to know, does this have enough potential to be considered as a valid entry for a contest?

Thanks for all your support, by the way.

Lau :)

***
Brief description:

Jesse Saunders was a troubled, awkward kid with a rocky past that had never really known the true feeling of fun.

Until he met her.

Who would've thought that all it took for him to realize what he was missing out on was getting slapped across the face?

Oh, I'm sorry. Are you lost?

Let's start from the beginning...

***
This is a segment of chapter 2:

Jesse's POV

How stupid is that? Did they get so bored of the classic party games that they had to come up with another one? Whatever happened to truth or dare? Although the fact that drunk teens came up with something like this didn't strike me at all, it could be even worse.

Who cares, anyway? I was never in a million years going to partake on such a dumb thing.

"Jade," I faintly heard the redhead say, still submerged in my own thoughts.

Like, who would put their name in there? Do people enjoy anxiety rushes? Are you a masochist, Jade?

I mean, of course Tyler would. He'll take any risk to get to kiss that girl, even if it means there is a 50% chance he'd walk out of there with a red cheek and no kiss at all. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if he had entered his name 10 times.

"Jesse!"

I froze on the spot.

Releasing a sigh of relief I thought, Jesse is not that weird a name and I didn't put my name in the bowl.

Unless...

Tyler's voice resounded from amongst the crowd. "Dude, are you going or not?"

Air got trapped in my cheeks as I held back so many inappropriate words. I felt the vein in my neck about to burst and words came out on their own, like a piercing knife, "You put my name in there?"

Tyler was bold enough to grin at me. "Wait until you see her, you'll thank me later."

My glare burnt through his face for a couple more seconds before I raised a hand up in defeat and came forth so I could let people know it was me.

I was Jesse.

***

I forced myself to look towards the door so I wasn't tempted to stare at this girl. I went so far so as to start making a beat with my mouth to try and divert my mind from taking in the awkwardness of the situation.

However, my body took on a life of its own the second I noticed her glance my way and I couldn't help myself from laying my eyes on her. Just her mere presence was heavily intimidating, I had never seen anything quite like it.

Straight, black hair hugged her sharp jawline and fell perfectly past her bare shoulders. She was wearing a simple strapless, tight black dress which wrapped around her slender physique and caused her crimson red lips to stand out.

Still, even though you'd probably stop to admire her bright lips first, as soon as she caught my attention, my stare went straight to her piercing eyes. Shaped like an almond, it literally looked as if though someone had drawn them in flawlessly into her face, especially when I noticed those long lashes and how she batted them around seamlessly.

But the thing about them that really drew me in them was those light hazel irises, offering a sharp contrast with the charcoal strands of hair that she so effortlesly brushed behind her ear. They gave her features a feline look, almost that of a predator.

My instinct was screaming for me to look away, but I felt mildly hypnotized by the emptiness they held. I couldn't help but wonder if they had ever portrayed happiness, fear, hurt, because right now, those emotions looked nothing more than a distant ilusion.

When I noticed my body start to tense, I panicked and had to go out and open my mouth, much to my dismay.

"Sooo..."

So, what, Jesse?!

That simple word had rolled off of my lips without permission and I was left to quickly come up with a follow-up before she thought I was an idiot. Which I was, but I didn't want her to find out right off the bat.

My eyes wondered frantically around the room and as soon as they landed on the open door that led outside, I didn't think, I just talked.

"It's like a really nice temperature out here tonight."

I was instantly struck by regret before those words even came out and a suppressed urge to repeatedly hit myself with a brick took over my whole existence.

My heart stopped when Jade turned her head to look at me, then dropped when I saw her disbelieving scowl.

That's not good.

She raised an eyebrow. "You are really going to open up with temperature."

Not sure what to reply to that, I just decided to stay quiet. "Okaay..." I mumbled instead, then chuckled to try and relieve the tension that was shrouding the air surrounding me.

We both shifted out attention to the door again for what seemed like forever.

I had to make this right, or at least try to lighten up the mood, so I resorted to my wide variety of dumb openers once again.

"You ever slapped anyone before?"

Jade gazed at me with an almost undetectable glimpse of a smirk on her lips and proceeded to size me up. My guess is she was gathering up the strength she needed not to slap me right there and then.

"Not really, no," she answered.

I snapped my head towards the door as I felt my knees grow weak from the intensity of her stare. I needed to keep my cool even if it was the last thing I did.

I desperately took sip of my beer to hide the blush that was threatening to creep up to my face. "God, not another unexperienced slapper."

Well, that's just awesome. I really am the next comedic rising star.

Her slightly contained laugh echoed in my ears, which unconsciously made me eager to want to take in everything about her facial expression.

I couldn't help but grin wide at the mild upwards twitch of her lip, it was the most captivating thing I had ever experienced.

And I had seen nothing yet.

Something about her made me stop thinking, apparently the only thing I was capable of doing was acting. No matter how stupid I looked in her eyes.

"Well, for what it's worth," I said. "I'm kind of honoured to be either kissed or slapped by someone as attractive as you."

Jesus, forward much, Jesse?

That statement made her arch her eyebrows up high and whip her head towards me. She looked kind of startled, but that only lasted half a second before she bit her bottom lip and an enchanting smile veiled her expression.

I held my breath uncosnciously when I notice her open her mouth to speak and released it as the door swung open and cut her off, signalling it was time for the game to start.

Boy, am I screwed.

***