The strong aroma of hot coffee filled my nose as I fluttered my eyes shut, enjoying the peace and quiet of the coffee house.

I filled the cup silently, snapping a lid on top and handling it to the young girl who waited for it. She flashed me a smile and walked off. I turned to greet the next customer.

"Hey." He greeted, light blue eyes becoming hard to stare into mine as he spoke. His nervousness showed in his shaking smile.

"Hello," I smiled warmly. "What can I get for you?"

The boy with a mop of dark brown curls was a regular, and I found myself intimidating by him and his shy remarks.

"Hm.. I'll try the vanilla bean." He smiled, fixing his reading glasses before smiling back up at me. He had a really nice smile, perfectly aligned rows of teeth would be presented as he did so.

With most of the regulars, I was able o figure out their usual order. For example, the old man with the New York Yankees baseball cap always took his black coffee; and the business women with the sharp haircut never had anything besides the famous New York style caramel mocha.

This boy however, always chose something different. It bothered me in a way, because I knew he did it purposefully.

After finishing his cup, I handed it to him. In exchange for a few dollar bills.

"Thanks." He shyly smiled, a deep dimple popping on his right cheek as he turned away and sat on a table.

He stayed there for a while, running a pen across his notebook in which he always bought with him. I could never tell if he was writing or sketching, but I found myself in a trance as I stared at him.

Well, he was better than that Jack guy that's for sure.

I still had that horrendous love bite from the other night. It's crazy, it's like when I tried to forget it happened, the thought of him just pops back up. The way he held me; touched me even. It was all a crazy new experience. One to which I do not plan on exploring any further. Alex said so herself, the guy has danger written all over him.

It's guys like mysteriously quiet, dorky sketchbook guy I should find.

His warms eyes remained focus on the journal as he tenderly bit his lip in concentration. Occasionally, he would lick his soft pink lips with his tongue. His dark colored curls tumbled across his forehead, which he had continuously pushed out of his eyes.

Today I noticed something I hadn't before; as he lost himself in whatever it was he was doing, he was turning the journal on different angles. It was almost as if he was trying to get the right picture.

Before I had the chance to avert my eyes, I made eye contact with his blue ones and was rewarded with a soft smile. This time exposing his other dimple.

I looked away without returning recognition and went back making some more coffee in the coffee machine, hoping he'd eventually leave.

"I'm back!" A familiar voice called as I heard the ring of the door opening.

"Hey James." I replied, not bothering to look up at him.

"That's all I get?" I felt his presence getting closer to the counter. An unstoppable smile kept getting wider as he didn't stop his childish ways. "Hey James?"

"You were just gone out with the chicken pocks." I stated smartly while I finished another cup, popping another lid on the top. This one was for me.

"And I'm fine now, thanks for asking." He smirked.

"You live right besides me; I kept up." I smiled turning back over to prepare another cup. This time it would be one for him.

"Such a little baby. You couldn't even come by personally. What a friend." He jumped over the counter, walking up besides me to take the cup I was preparing in his hands.

"I didn't want to catch your disease." I arched a brow, keeping my distance from him as he prepared his special mix of coffee. The special part is he adds chocolate and mint to his vanilla cream coffee. I honestly don't see the specialty in it but he enjoys it and enjoys telling everyone he has his own drink only it's not in the menu because it's disgusting!

"It's not a disease." James chuckled, dropping a dark Hersey's drop in his drink. "I'm actually surprised you haven't had them yet. You know, they say everyone gets chicken pocks at least once in their lifetime."

"Yet here I am." I looked up at him. "Chicken pocks free for twenty years."

James looked back down at me, stopping what he was doing to have a devious smirk grow upon his face. He always has a comment to add, none to which bother me. I've known him for way too long now.

"You know, I really hope you get the chicken pocks when you're eighty years old and don't have the strength to scratch yourself." He pinned his eyes in a joking matter.

"Yeah, okay." I just rolled my eyes, deciding not to complain with him anymore about such a gruesome subject.

My body surpassed behind his, patting his back as I moved to grab a small black stirring straw from the cupboard.

James looked back at me as I did so and from the corner of my eye I saw his vision flick over to the clock above my head.

"Hey it's time for your break." He smiled.

I looked back over to the clock and recalled the time in my head. 12:45 p.m.

Not only is James my annoying neighbor for as long as I could remember but he's also my coworker and we also happen to share the same break time.

"Let's go somewhere new to eat." He smiled. "We'll take a walk just down the street to Panera or something. You like that, right?"

"Anything that'll get me away from the smell of coffee will be fine by me." I widened my eyes, joking back with him.

James did a scoring gesture with his hands. Being the child he is stuck in a newly turned 21 year old's body he added the excited sound effects. Usually we just eat right here in the cafe, but two years of eating the same boring things indulged in caffeine and fat gets tiring.

We finished preparing our drinks. James took hold of mine as I went on back to get my stuff ready.

I walked around to the opening of the counter, slipping past as I pulled the band out of my hair, letting my short hair fall loose above my shoulders.

I reached behind my back and fumbled with the knot I had tied on my apron, struggling to undo it.

"James could you--"

"I got it." A different voice spoke deeply. My breath hitched in my throat as a large, yet strangely familiar, hand brushed my hair over my shoulder. His fingers gently running along my neck.

I tensed as his fingers began working on the knot of the apron. His breath ticking my neck as I felt the warm-yet cold sensation of his minty breath.

"There you go." He said softly again as he finished untying it. I quickly pulled it off my body. Praying it wasn't who I thought it was I swiftly turned around.

A tall, dreamy figure stood in front of me. He wore a black jacket over a plain gray t shirt. The same black pants hung below his waist and black shoes added the final touch. His hair was up, had a lot of volume and texture to it than I last remembered. Big brown eyes seemed to shine bright in the light.

It was Jack.

"You.." I breathed out.

He only smirked, shrugging his shoulders as if this was all just a game to him. "The one and only." He bit his lower lip seductively. "How've you been, Beautiful?"

Not saying another word I turned back to look at James. He seemed to get the message that this wasn't something he should be eavesdropping on so he just turned, taking care of another customer instead. Even though he wasn't working today, he still acts as if he does.

I looked back over at Jack. A playful smirk was still clearly visible in his face as he noticed my nervous growing features.

"What are you doing here?" I hissed.

"What does it look like?" He looked around. I pictured him saying he came for the coffee but strangely he didn't. "I came to see you." He smiled, hand coming up to my cheek. It became difficult to tell if his hand was what was warm or my cheeks. I was really heated right now. PDA in a public place, in my own job where my boss could walk in at anytime, and even in front of one of my best friends is something too extreme for me. Of course, Jack seemed like the guy who could care less about where he is.

"How did you find me?" I asked moving away from his touch. Giving his hand a dirty look before giving it back to him. He seemed pretty surprised with my behavior. Honestly, so was I. But I had to get like this to show him enough is enough. The party was one thing, but this, this is my life.

"Wasn't so difficult." He bit his lower lip. Eyes looking down at me. "If I want something, I tend to get it." He arched a brow at me.

Chills began to multiply over my body. This guy had a way with words. Words I've never even been exposed to.

I took a deep breath, releasing all the nervous screams I held inside me and looked up at him.

"What do you want?" I asked him.

His smirk grew wider. Eyes burning specifically on me. The word he whispered wasn't so easy to take in.

"You." He softly spoke.

I stood up straight, nervous arms crossing over my even more nervous body. The café was fairly busy this morning so no one intended on looking at us. Thank God because or else I wouldn't know what to do.

This guy screams danger. The story Alex told us the other night was still fresh in my mind. And now he wants me..? This can't be good.

"I-I have to go." I nervously spoke, swiftly urging to turn and walk back over to James so we can get out of here. At least with James I feel safer.

A large hand gripped my arm. Releasing a long sigh and closing my eyes, I prayed he'd leave me alone.

"Hold up." He chuckled. "Leaving me so soon?"

"I really have to get going, Jack." I begged he'd just understand for once.

Jack opened his mouth to speak again but something else caught his attention before he did.

My nervous eyes followed his finger that came up to move some strands of hair away from my shoulder. Then he slowly pushed the collar on my black polo shirt to reveal the prominent purple spotting he had imprinted on me. For some strange reason, the lovebite made him smile.

Now I was really scared.

"Trying to hide that you're mine?" He released the collar and brought his hand back down to the front pockets of his pants.

"I'm not yours." I shook my head in denial. Hand coming back up to hug my collar closer to my neck. I didn't want anyone to see this, that's why I wore a polo. It's slutty and not me at all.

"I guess I'm gonna have to give you another one so I can refresh your memory." He grinned.

My cautiousness heightened as he finished his words. Both my heart and soul told me to get out of there as fast as possible, create a commotion and just get him out. But my brain told me to be smart about this, stay calm. My boss could come in, I'd lose my job and he'll probably still be hunting me down. The only thing physically possible is to stay calm.

"Hey, Liz!" Another voice called from behind me. This time I was thankful it was James. "We have to go." He pointed down at his wrist watch after the customer he was attending walked away with their coffee and little brown bag.

I nodded my head, turning back to Jack as if this conversation was over. "I have to go." I began to turn around but he caught me again.

When I looked back up at his face he was furious. I guess people who stomp on his parade get him mad because that's what he was. His jaw tensed, eyes pinning over my shoulder to a person I knew was James. Great, now I'm going to get one of my best friends in this mess.

I opened my mouth to defend him. Tell him to leave James out of this, that he's just a friend. But he stopped me before I could.

"I wanna take you out." He spoke up, eyes looking back down at me more serious than ever.

"What?" I furrowed my eyebrows. "No."

"Yes." He corrected.

"I don't know you, Jack." I looked back up at him. "And I sure as Hell don't want to either."

Keep your cool, Elizabeth. He could lose his mind around you.

I began turning back around towards the cash register, praying that he'll take a hint but he didn't. His hand gripped my waist now and he spun me around to pull me closer to his body. My hands swung out in front of me to prevent me from crashing into him. Last time I remembered being this close to him, he took advantage of me, giving me a lovebite in which I didn't intend on getting.

He scared me.. Jack. I never knew what could come out of him, what he's able to do. He said so himself, when he wants something he intends on getting it. And in this case, it's me.

"Be ready by 9 tomorrow night." His eyes glanced from my lips to my eyes. Nothing this guy did was predictable. You would think he'd leave me alone by now but he hasn't.

"And what if I'm not?" I asked him with a questioning look in my eyes.

His smirk grew wider. Small dimples appearing as his perfectly aligned white teeth came to view. His grip on me got stronger, eyes making contact with mine as he began to speak. "Then I'll just have to come in and get you."

Oh no, I have a bad feeling about this.

He'll come up and get me?

Does he know where I live or something?

Whatever it is he meant by that, I know it's not good. He's not good.

I wasn't sure how to feel anymore.

"See you later, Beautiful." His voice got quieter, whispering such seductive words into my ear before drawing apart.

I stood still in place as I watched him turn around. He made his way towards the door, pushing it open and stepping out letting a cool autumn breeze roll through momentarily.

I sighed in relief when he was finally gone. I know James and he'd want to get right on with what the Hell was that about. Honestly, I wouldn't know how to explain it to him. He's very protective and I'm sure he'd overreact towards this.

I didn't have time to turn around. James walked right up in front me while I still stood frozen in front of the door Jack walked out of.

His presence brought me back to reality, head turning back over to the door and then back at me.

"Wha- Who- Uhm- Liz!" He exclaimed after stuttering for a while.

I closed my eyes, not really wanting to have this conversation with him as I turned around back towards the counter.

"Don't walk away from me." He followed me, keeping up with my hastily pace. "What was that?" He asked.

"Nothing." I replied, grabbing my bag and brown leather jacket from the back.

"Do you have any idea who that guy even is?" He asked leaning closer over the counter.

I put on my jacket, pushing my hair back over my shoulder.

"Liz.."

"Yes, James." I widened my eyes back at him. "I know who he is."

James was a bit surprised with my sudden reaction. But who could blame me? I'm beyond scared straight right now. The last thing I need is for him to bring back the reality.

"Wh- If you know who he is then why are you around him?" He asked in a hushed tone, furrowing his eyebrows.

I remained silent, collecting my stuff instead.

"Elizabeth." He tilted his head.

"We met at a party the other night." I turned, spilling the truth so he can just drop the subject. "Nothing happened or ever will, he just happened to walk in here."

"Here?" James restated. "Out of all the coffee houses in the city, he chose this one?"

I shrugged my shoulders, agreeing with him since that was the only thing possible now.

"The one you work at?" He kept asking.

"James it's called coincidence." I tried to hide the fact that he meant to walk in here.

"Still.." He spoke with himself. "That seems pretty freaky."

"He is freaky." I strapped my bag over my shoulder, laughing a little to assure him I was fine even though I wasn't.

James eyes watched me as I walked back out of the countertop. I was focused on walking out of here already but his eyes on me were becoming questionable.

"You sure nothing's going on?" He asked furrowing his eyebrows.

All I could do was smile back at him. Shoulders falling heavy as I looked up his long figure.

"Why would I want to get involved with a guy like Jack?" I arched a brow.

Somehow this made James smile. Good, I can't have him worrying about me. I appreciate the protection he has towards me but he has to know I can take care of myself. I have to know I can take care of myself.

"Okay." James nodded, a small smile appearing in his lips after.

He reached over to grab our cups again. Handing mine over to me, he then granted me his arm to take.

Smiling up at him, I wrapped my arm around his. Hugging him tightly we started walking out of the coffee shop.

This experience has turned into something far more worse than just a guy at a party. He's following me now.

This can't be good.

* * *

I quickly got out of James car after he parked in his home's drive-in. He returned my wave as I crossed lawns over to my house. Legs carried me to the front steps of my porch. Glancing back over to James house I flashed him another smile as I caught him watching me enter my house.

He practically interrogated me about what had happened with Jack. I was still a little shook up by the whole thing. But in the end, it was all just laughs and jokes with James so he definitely made my mood better.

I opened my door, closing it locked behind me to then kick off my shoes. I was cautious enough to be quiet and not wake up anyone in the house. Everyone must be asleep by now. James made my day go longer than its suppose to be.

Once inside my room I peeled off my clothes and threw them in the washing basket. I quickly brushed through my dark hair before wandering over to the chest of drawers. The gray t shirt was pulled over my head, hopping over to the bathroom while yanking up my bottoms. I sleepily turned on the light, getting my toothbrush from the holder and squirting toothpaste onto the bristles. I opened my mouth and started to clean. Pushing my hair off my shoulder I tilted my head to the side. The toothbrush nearly fell from my mouth, holding it in place between my parted lips. I was shocked when I saw the sore purple patch of skin, which held tints of green and red. I brushed my fingertips over my neck, wincing slightly. I shuddered at the thought, trying to shake off the feeling of his lips pressed to my skin and how his tongue soothed over the bite. Yes, the feeling was still fresh in my mind. His words "You're mine now" echoed through my mind. I tried to push Jack from my thoughts, quickly going back to cleaning my teeth.

I finished off getting ready for bed before sinking back into my covers.

A ringing noise came soon after.

My head rolled to the side and I patted the duvet in order to find the source of the buzzing. I held my phone up in front of my face. The text was from a number I still haven't had saved in my contacts. I usually don't get messages or calls from numbers other than the ones I have saved. That's why I found it somewhat odd that'd it happen and this late at night.

My heart sped up a little as I forced myself to open the message.

Unknown:

You know, you should probably close your curtains before stripping off. Thanks for the show.

I jolted up out of bed and over to the window. I peered out, my eyes landing on a large black vehicle on the opposite side of the road.

Fear struck through me.

Jack was leaning against the car, arms folded across his strong chest. Even in the dark I could tell he had an arrogant smirk plastered across his face.

He pushed himself from the vehicle, walking around the front and climbing in the driver's seat on the other side. Before I knew it the car had accelerated down the road and out of sight.

What have I gotten myself into?