***

"I'm sorry, what?"

That was literally the last thing I expected.

This girl analyzed me closely. "You are, aren't you?" she insisted. "You know, the Queen of all Players from New York."

I sighed internally.

It's no use denying it now.

All the emotion fell from my face at once. "My friends call me Jade."

"I knew it," she affirmed with pride.

"So, Jade," the girl began, stressing my name. "That stunt you pulled against Leon Stone was genius. I didn't think you had it in you."

My lips twitched into a stolid smile. "Of course you didn't." I furrowed my brows in a brooding manner. "Although, I don't remember saying you were my friend."

I looked up to think. "Maybe I wasn't paying attention."

While the girl processed what I'd just said, I glanced over at Jesse to see what his reaction to the news had been. He was puzzled, probably trying to take everything in nice and slow.

"Did you hear anything?" I asked him.

Jesse's eyebrows went up as he hesitated to answer. "Uh..."

I cut him off before turning back to the girl. "Didn't think so."

She shot me a fake smile. "Well it was nice meeting you in person, anyway."

This almost feels sketched.

My blank stare returned. I stood my ground firmly, not uttering a word.

The girl took the hint and cleverly opted for walking away, but not before cruising over to Jesse and whispering in his ear, "Watch out, you're probably her next target."

The second she was gone, Jesse stormed off.

Lovely.

I pinched the bridge of my nose and sighed quietly. Honestly, I couldn't even understand how the word got all the way to Rhode Island.

Liz paced up to me. "What the hell just happened there?"

"Karma coming back to bite me in the ass is what happened."

She winced in sympathy. "That sucks," she acknowledged. "Good luck getting him to talk to you again." Liz took a sip of her drink. "Much less fall for your games."

I scouted the place and finally found Jesse sitting on a rock by the lake, where there were no drunk idiots about to bother him. "I was wasting my time anyway, he was making it way too easy for me."

My gaze locked onto the back of his head while I heard the faint sound of Liz's voice, who was supposedly talking to me.

"See? Karma was actually doing you a favour."

"Mhm," I replied, still not paying attention.

Liz tried to reassure me. "Now you can move on to something better."

"I should probably go apologize to him," I blurted out.

"Exactl- Wait, what?" she pulled her brows together in confusion. "Why?"

I didn't bother to explain, instead I marched up to Jesse and came to a stop right behind him.

"I'm pretty sure chilling with rocks isn't really considered making college friends," I quipped.

He remained with his back to me. "I'm not really in the mood right now, Jade."

I strolled around to face him. "Are you really mad at me?" My smile lingered on, but my brows were slightly crinkled.

"What do you think?" He did sound pretty pissed.

The amusement evaporated from my face. "I don't see how me being recognized by some random girls has anything to do with you."

"Are you being serious?" He looked at me properly this time, his eyebrows knitted in confusion. "Black Widow? What even is that?" he clamoured.

I stayed silent.

"I mean, you heard the girl." Jesse scoffed. "Watch out, I'm sure you're her next victim."

"Tell me, Jade. What the hell am I supposed to think?" he asked in despair.

I sighed and took a seat on rock next to him. "Look, Jesse. I'm sorry if anything she said made you feel uncomfortable, but it was never really a secret to begin with." I gave him a half smile. "It's not like I'm a serial killer."

Jesse's perpetual frown wasn't going anywhere, though.

"Plus, a guy and a girl can be friends without everyone assuming they're into each other, right?" I added.

"Yeah..." he nodded. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

My eyebrows suddenly shot up. "Wait, you weren't actually starting to like me, were you?"

"No." Jesse was particularly quick to reply. "No, of course not."

"Good." I shot him a cheeky smile.

"Besides if I were trying to play anyone, it wouldn't be you." I looked around and pretended to cover my mouth. "You're not exactly my type," I whispered, then bit my lower lip.

Jesse glared at me. "That makes me feel so much better, thank you."

I like him.

"Oh, don't take it the wrong way, you are attractive," I told him, resting a hand on his shoulder. "In an awkward, I'm-your-best-friend's-little-brother, kind of way."

Jesse blinked once and stared at me incredulously before drifting his gaze back down to his feet.

"But I'm afraid that's not what I'm into, so you're safe." I made a pause for dramatic effect and smirked.

"For now."

His head snapped up in my direction.

"Kidding."

That earned me an eye-roll on Jesse's part.

That was probably more words coming out of my mouth in a day than I'd spoken in a whole decade. I don't know what came over me, I usually don't talk that much, not to mention joke around. But it was kind of fun getting him all riled up like that.

Seeing as I'm someone who doesn't show much emotion, people like Jesse, who couldn't hide their own even if their lives depended on it, were truly intriguing to me.

Plus, it'll give me some entertainment.

***

I twirled a strand of black hair around my finger.

"You really are something aren't you?" The guy stood there in front of me, leaning against one of the walls of the library.

If only I had a dollar for every time I've heard that.

"So I've been told," I answered, a glint of boredom in my tone.

The librarian's angry hiss echoed around the room. The guy mouthed "sorry" to her and awkwardly cleared his throat.

He turned his focus back on me. "So, can I have your number?"

That's literally the last thing I want right now. I was about to break down the bad news to him, when I came up with something better.

On second thought... I figured.

I raised an eyebrow, repressing a sneer. "Can I borrow a pen and paper?"

His face brightened up as he fumbled to take a notebook out from his bag and ripped out a page, then gave it to me alongside a pen.

I scribbled the words 'I don't think so' on it and handed it to him with a fake smile.

"Call me when you're done boring me to death."

The guy's eyes went from the piece of paper back to me. A confused frown fell upon his face as he uttered a "Wait, what?" Which I reiterated with a goodbye wave.

I sighed.

Is there really nothing interesting to do around here?

Suddenly I spotted Jesse at one of the tables, awkwardly watching as a girl breezed away from him.

Maybe this day didn't have to be so lame.

My eyes lit up when I saw my chance to annoy him, that had become one of my favourite pastimes. I ambled up to him and leaned into one of the bookshelves.

"Well, that was ugly," I vocalized.

Jesse's eyes scouted the room, trying to devise where those words were coming from, then rolled his eyes as soon as his gaze came to a stop upon my slender figure.

"Gee, thanks."

I crept up to his table and sat across from him.

"You don't have much luck with girls, do you?" I teased.

Jesse looked away sheepishly. "I wouldn't say it like that."

"Really? When is the last time your -" I motioned his way. "- 'flirting' got you anywhere?"

"Hey!" he protested. "Uh... well there was this- or maybe- "

When something finally came to mind, Jesse grinned triumphantly. "What about the lake party?" He pointed his finger in my direction, just like a little kid trying to prove a point.

"It's cute that you call that flirting, Jesse, but I was doing all the heavy lifting," I said. "You were just watching."

Jesse coyly leaned on the table and murmured, "Then why did it look like you were into it?"

Both my eyebrows shot up, not in shock, but in more of a suggestive manner.

That made him retaliate into his seat as realization struck him. "Never mind."

"You're too... feely." I cringed. "You can literally sense your fear from here."

Jesse stifled a mocking laugh. "Of course you would say that, hiding yours is like your hobby."

The amusement in my face was replaced by a vacant frown.

Jesse's eyes forced shut as he regretted his last words. "I'm sorry I didn't mean it like that.

And just like that, my arrogant smirk was back. "I'm just messing with you." I shoved his shoulder playfully.

"C'mon Jess, just relax and have a little fun, don't be intimidated."

"Here -" I offered. "Try something with me."

Jesse's eyes snapped open. "What, you want me to flirt with you?"

"According to you, you've already done it once before," I wiggled my eyebrows. "Go on, give it a go."

An ironic grin entrenched itself in his boyish features. "Funny."

I stayed put, my gaze like a thunder cloud.

"Fine." He finally gave in. "So it's like a nice day outside, don't you think? For like doing- stuff."

Not again... Where the hell did he get that from, anyway?

My brow puckered in irritation, covering my face with an exasperated glower.

He raised his hands up in the air. "What?"

I couldn't help but groan. "Jesus, what's with you and weather talk? Are you flirting or encouraging people to go camping?"

Jesse grimaced. "So, no camping talk then?"

"Oh my god you're useless."

"I'm kidding," he said before liberating a sigh. "I can't flirt if you put me on the spot like this. It's too much pressure."

"Ok fine, I'll start." I looked around, trying to find a sensible topic to discuss with this idiot. "So what's your major?" I ended up asking.

Jesse stuttered a few times. "So, I'm majoring in law."

"Oh?" My eyes quickly glanced at what was written on his open notebook. "The foundations of- forensics in legislation are really interesting."

Placing my palms on the table, I leaned over towards him, my hazel eyes burning through his black ones, making him freeze.

Getting even closer to him, I tilted my head ever so slightly, a captivating smirk slithering its way up to the corner of my lips.

Jesse parted his mouth open for air. "R- really?"

Right when I was about to close the distance I stood up abruptly and rolled my eyes.

"No." I scoffed and let my smirk fully show. "God, you're easy."

He scrunched his brow and projected a stern glare.

Ignoring his tantrum, I said, "You know, you kinda' had me fooled at one point." I tilted my head and slightly scruched up my nose. "Guess I was wrong."

Jesse rolled his eyes hard at my comment before I gaited off towards the hallway.

With my back still turned to him, I motioned my hand into a military salute. "See you at lunch, heartthrob."

Jesse raised his voice to make sure I heard him flipping me off. "Screw you, Jade."

That made the librarian shush him aggressively  from across the room.

When I was out of his sight I jerked out a snort at his flushed cheeks, filled with embarrassment. I guess he's not used to being reprimanded.

A sharp tinkle made me stop in my tracks and slide my phone out of my pocket. Unlocking it, I checked my messages with a blank look that soon became an aggravated scowl.

Unknown: It's rude not to reply.

Was ignoring him not a clear enough answer for him?

Me: Wrong number.

Unknown: You mean to tell me this isn't Jade Cross?

Me: That depends on who's asking

Unknown: What fun would it be telling you who I am right away?

He can't be serious.

Me: I don't have time for idiots.

Unknown: Ignore me at your own risk...

Watch me shake. 

***

A/N

Jade and Jesse's conversations fuel my soul, simple as that.

Honestly, I have nothing to say other than it only gets better from here, lol. I don't want to sound arrogant, I just loosened up and started having more fun as the book went on, so it kind of shows, lol. Anyway, what do you think will happen in the next chapter?

And who the hell is texting Jade? Is it an internet troll? Or should she take their threats a little more seriously?

"It's probably just some creep with too much spare time in their hands."

*The author rolls her eyes* "I was wondering when you'd show up. It was almost too peaceful around here."

*Jade frowns in confusion* "Around where?"

"Oh, you know - here. Like - bookland?" *The author shakes her head violently* "I don't know, just let me be, okay? Quarantine is starting to affect me"

*Jade crosses her arms* "Do you want me to take care of this Quarantine guy? And did his parents hate the poor kid?"

"Quarantine is not -" *The author facepalms* "You know what, Jade? Sure, do whatever you want."

Anyway, guys stay safe and I'll see you in the next one.

"So what's this Quarantine guy's address?"

"What did I do to deserve this?" *The author disappears into the darkness* "I'm through with this shit, peace out."

***