Los Angeles

Spoiler

yeah. XD

Rayah

"Like a*s," I reply, hesitating to stand. Jackie watches me and I stand, balancing myself on the wall and running a hand though my hair.

Jace

I stand when Rayah does and keep close. Without offering help, I prepare to if needed and almost shadow her movements completely. She's up. That's a good sign. Maybe this is all over then.

"A*s is better than dead, though," I mutter.

I check my phone, though I don't know why. No new messages or calls. Just like always.

Rayah

I cough a small cough and try walking around, sighing and closing my eyes.

Jace

I watch her carefully, but don't follow. The last thing a girl like her wants to see if someone clinging to her, thinking she needs help when she doesn't. She needs to walk on thin ice on her own before realizing she's going to fall through. Almost like a child. But we're all children here, anyway.

"Maybe you should sit," I suggest. "It's not completely out of your system yet. Rest is the best thing right now."

Rayah

I nod and sit down on the couch, pulling him with me.

Jace

I allow her to pull me with her and keep my distance at first. Letting her be the judge gives her the control, which I sense she is used to. What do I have to lose, anyway? When have I ever been in complete and utter control?

At least she listens.

"Lie down," I say. "You don't have to sleep, just close your eyes."

Rayah

I lie down with my head on his lap and play with his hand, blinking slowly but not speaking.

Jace

I use my other hand to smooth her hair back again, watching her play with my other hand. Part of me begins to wonder exactly what Jackie had been wondering and feels guilty for showing off something that isn't completely tangible for someone who deserves it most. The other part begins to boast, in bliss. After everything I've been through, why shouldn't I deserve this more than Nic?

But then I remember the fire, I remember the night backstage, and I remember the last thing my father said to me; and I suppress the guilt for a later date, when I am completely and utterly alone. Only then will I let myself feel.

Rayah

I look up at him for a second before slowly allowing myself to look back down at his hand, running my thumb over the skin and taking a deep breath.

Jace

I lightly smile at Rayah before letting it fade as she looks away, letting her do whatever. In the back of my mind, I remind myself that Jackie is watching and that she's not stupid; so I take a lesson from Nic and cover my tracks. These people don't know me, even if they feel they do. They won't know the difference between my actions, my emotions, unless I show it.

Maybe that's why Nic took masking himself so well. He became obsessed with the thought of getting away with every secret, pretending that you are an open book, when in fact you're getting away with nothing and you are closed. I guess I'm more like him than I thought.

Rayah

Jackie walks upstairs, sighing, and I watch her before looking back down, stopping with his hand and glancing around.

Jace

A few minutes pass in stillness and silence, and it begins to bother me. Normally, I'm one for both; it makes it easier to think, and thinking makes it easier to decipher what's real and what's a dream. But this silence is different. I don't want to think.

"So, this is kind of a bore," I say.

Rayah

I nod, "You just seem like you don't like me," I whisper, my fever burning, "So I'm not doing anything."

Jace

I send her a confused look, not understanding. Seem like I don't like her?

"Rayah, I've held you while you've nearly died," I remind her. "If that doesn't prove that I like and care for you..."

I shake my head and release a sigh.

"I do," I tell her. "I just want to be careful. You're still sick."

Rayah

I study him and bite my lip, "Im not contagious though because your just a demigod."

I remove some hair from covering one of my eyes and glance back up at him.