Note: Short chapter cause I am traveling; I am literally in the mall right now lol. x

JANE

"Hi, Hope."

His voice raspy, fresh and different; it also had a mixture of throatiness. Ashton's face was ignited with the light. It was sprinkled on his face by the glistening sun as he smiled at me. Together, the perfect build of his body and the dark gaze from his eyes were falling over me as if he was the only protection I was aching for.

The memory of Ashton's arms wrapped around my vulnerable body, playing around with the flames in my mind, vigorously fresh as the honey dripping from a beehive; it was sweet yet intoxicating like the aggressive stinging of the bees.

I am hopeless, I don't have any hope within my soul. Why does he keep calling me that? He has made me a confused wreck.

"Stop calling me Hope or whatever," I said, rolling my eyes in vexation and wiping my hands with a wet tissue.

"Well, I am sorry, but can you suggest me some other name?" He asked in a sarcastic manner, shining his green eyes right into my soul.

"Nope, call me Jane," I tried to look away from him, but I failed. It seemed almost as if my eyes were made of a metal and he was the magnet.

"That is not even an option, you will always be Hope for me," the soothing words which came out of his pillowed lips caused a tingling feeling in my spine.

"I mean, I would have called you Jane but you did not tell me your name when I asked you. Blame it on yourself," he added.

With that, he dropped his keys on the table, pulled out a chair and settled himself on the chair. In the meantime, I elapsed into silence and gazed absently at his perfection; everything about him so breathtaking.

Even though he was sitting on the opposite side, I was still able to breathe in his scent. His body odor overpowering me with a sensual touch and the smell of his perfume reminded me of my weaknesses and strengths; it was the first time ever, I had vulnerably cried in someone's arms but still felt a fervent power erupting inside me. It was embarrassing yet comforting at the same time.

"You might not get it right now and you might think that you are dark and dangerous, but I think there is a light inside the essence of your spirit," his voice flowing over me in an alluring rhythm

I have never been attracted to any guy, at least not like this. Is he bad news? I do not want to change myself. No, wait, scratch that. I am never changing myself. And how does he know everything? Thank God he doesn't I find him quite attractive.

I arched my eyebrows, scratched my right arm and simultaneously wondered about the changes which were taking place in my life; the thoughts surrounding inside my head were bewildering and perplexing.

"So now you think you know me? Huh? Cut the crap, Ashton." I snapped at him. Regardless of his euphonious way of approaching me, I still disliked the idea of being transparent in front of him.

"I think you don't know yourself, " he said,playing with his keys. The jangling sound of the keys kept distracting me again and again while his springing green gaze kept falling on me like he was my sun. Sun? Seriously what the fuck is wrong with me?

"Okay, whatever. Stop trying to sound so cheesy, this is getting awkward. Come to the point. Why did you call me here?"

He chuckled a bit, his cheeks flushing. He threw his head back and finally the emerald glimpse drifted away from my sight. After a few seconds, his facial expressions changed from being cheeky to bleak, it seemed almost as if something was troubling him.

"I wanted to talk about my mom," he said, slightly licking his lower lip.

"Yeah, you have just five minutes. Wrap it up Ashton," I said in a teasing way, my hands acting out on my words.

"Just five minutes?" He asked in a frustrated tone and I noticed his shoulders tightening with tension. My teasing words caused Ashton's eyes to widen out, he was slack-jawed which caused his heavenly dimple to disappear. I was disappointed in myself; I enjoyed the sight of the beautiful curve on his face, but at the same time, I wanted to test his patience; teasing him had become more like my new hobby.

At least I am having fun, right?

"Four minutes now," I said, trying to hide my roguish smirk.

"What?" His manly pitch got higher and his eyes scowled right into mine.

"Three point five, three-"

"Okay, so-"

"Two mins now,"

"Stop it, Jane. I can't concentrate, and that voice of yours is so- " he said in a manly way, resting his face between his strong hands. He looked quite defeated and a I felt as if something on the inside was softening.

"Your time is up." I picked up my coat and stood up.

Ashton looked up at me, his face goofy yet hypnotizing at the same time. His alluring eyes contained a sense of sorrow.

"Christ." He shoved both hands through his hair.

Why can I see the brooding darkness in his eyes so vividly when he has not even expressed it so openly?

I pulled out my seat again and sat on it. Ashton glanced at me in a sheepish way, it was nothing so extraordinary yet I felt like my cheeks were charging up with a mixture of red and pink.

"Okay, I was just joking, Ashton," I paused and waited to see his reaction but his expressions were vacant.

"Now continue, but seriously, I don't have much time. I need to get some sleep and work on an assignment for my research program," I said, moving my hand towards my mouth to hide my yawn.

"Yeah, well, my mom likes you a lot," He added very quickly, his words caught me off guard. So? Is he inviting me to some family dinner sorta shit?

"Um, I really like your mom, she is a sweetheart but I don't get why you are tel-"

"That is exactly what she said about you; she told me you showed her the type of compassion nobody here has ever shown, they all treat her like some sick patient, sympathyzing over her sickness, but you seemed different to her. You reminded mom of this friend of hers. Didn't get the chance to ask her who and it wouldn't even concern you so," he said, cutting out my words.

So what if I reminded her of a friend? How was I special? I can never be special. I was a worthless piece..

Silence lashed onto us and with the humidity surrounding in the environment, Ashton drilled into to the wall of our silence, clearing his throat to remove the awkwardness.

"I wanted to know about her cond-"

"She will be fine," I replied abruptly.

"I hope so, and one more thing, how did you manage to impress her? I mean, all you do is scold people and give them an icy look as if you would pinch them with your thorny blue eyes."

"Thorny blue eyes?" I chuckled and bit my lip, the unconscious move caused a slight taste of blood to slip on my tongue.

"Woah, did I just make miss mean queen smile?" he whispered in a seductive accent.

"Stop it. I am not smiling and mean queen, seriously?" I tittered and accidentally touched his hand which was resting on the table, the warm feeling of his hand reminded me of coffee; it was either because of the strong smell all over the cafeteria or it was just his soothing touch. It was undeniable that his skin against mine made me quiver but there was no anxiety, I was calm.

"You are giving me that look again," he teased in a sardonic tone, the color of his eyes changed from emerald to pale green.

"Which look?" I asked, confused.

"The I am going to pluck your eyes out look. You are doing it again," he said in a teasing husky voice; the kind of thickness which sounded like music to my ear.

Why does he have this effect on me?

"Are you trying to be funny now? I really have to rush." My voice had a taste of repulsive irritation along with fascination. Never in my life had I imagined doing something like this, but, the temptation of spending time with Ashton kept building inside me even though I was afraid of getting too friendly with him. Am I bonding because of his mom? Bonding? Never.

"It is fine, I have to drop Emily off to my uncle's house and go back to the hotel-," he smiled sweetly at me in a wolfish way, got up from his seat and ran his fingers through his smooth hair.

"Yeah," I said, wishing he would stop me from leaving. Sigh, what is wrong with me?

"Hey, Jane, I can drop you to the hotel. I mean we are going to the same place,"

"No, I am fine. We are done talking anyway,"

"C'mon, we can get ice cream on the way?"

"Nope, I-"

Before I was able to complete my sentence, I got interrupted by a sweet girly voice; it was Emily.

"Hi." She said, tucking her hair; she had a sun-kissed skin and her eyes were brown, unlike her brother's eyes. Emily turned towards Ashton.

"Aunt called, she is waiting for me; I need to go shopping with her," she tugged on Ashton's shirt.

"Yeah, we were just coming to find you," Ashton squatted down next to her.

"We?" Emily and I spoke together.

"You two go, I am fine," I protested with a blank expression.

"Please? I have a lot to talk to you about, right, Ashton?" Emily asked, her face had mischief written all over it while Ashton pouted at her.

She turned to face me and showed me her puppy dog face, her pleading eyes looking directly into mine due to which I was unable to disagree.

"Okay, okay, I will go with you guys," I squinted at Emily, lacing my fingers to straighten my shirt.

Why is this family so convincing?

My eyes met Ashton's perfect face, smirking and for some reason, he made me feel uncomfortable.

So did you guys see how Jane's personality is so contradicting?

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