Isabelle smiled slyly. “I dare you to be silent for one hour.”
Maia’s face pulled into a scowl, as Jace grinned brilliantly.
“That’s the dumbest dare ever,” Maia told her with a pout.
Isabelle leant in close to her. “Guess you’re getting naked then.”
Maia’s eyes widened for a moment as she took Isabelle in, silent as she watched her intently, but after a few tense moments Maia smiled softly.
“Touché,” she said with a salute. “Start the clock then.”
As Matt set a timer on his phone and the turn moved onto Ben, Jace leaned in closer.
“You might possibly be my favourite person,” he whispered in her ear.
“Only possibly?” she asked, with a flirtatious smile.
“I’ll never tell.”
Isabelle felt warm all over as she leaned back against Tate, accepting his arm around her waist, although she kept flicking her gaze back to Jace and smiling to herself.
“You need to be more careful,” Tate murmured into her ear. “I think you’ve had enough to drink for tonight.”
Isabelle rolled her eyes. “I already have a Father, Tate.”
“I’m just trying to stop you from getting hurt.”
“I’m not going to get hurt.”
“I’m just saying you should be careful around him. Don’t get mad, I’m just trying to help you stay safe.”
“I don’t need your help,” Isabelle retorted angrily, the alcohol in her system amplifying her emotions. “Mind your own business.”
“Really?” he whispered back furiously, grabbing her arm. “Because if you’d listened to me the first time - maybe you could have saved yourself some self-loathing and bruises!”
Isabelle snapped back like he’d smacked her and regret immediately flew across his face.
“Belle, I’m so sorry; I’ve been drinking, I didn’t mean-”
Tate’s frantic apology and remorseful face did nothing to soothe her anger, and once again drawing everyone’s attention with her drama had her yanking her arm away from him and swiftly stalking out of the party.
She really had to stop making it a habit of storming off at parties if she was going to keep any friends in this town, but Tate had gone too far. He wasn’t wrong insinuating that what had happened was her fault, she had ignored everyone’s warnings, her best friends’ pleas and her own damn gut, but how dare he bring Jason up in front of everyone.
And she wasn’t repeating the same mistakes with Jace. She had thought in her inexperience that Jason was as perfect and beautiful as you could get, but in these short weeks with Jace she had learnt that it was the flaws that made someone beautiful; that if someone appeared to be perfect they were hiding something.
She stopped walking aimlessly when she realised she had absolutely no idea where she was, and her head was starting to spin.
Whoa.
Weaving on her feet a little she saw a swing out of the corner of her eye.
A swing? Was she in a park?
She looked around to try and get her bearings.
It was the fanciest looking park she had ever seen. There was a clear see-saw with bright crystals inside, a swing set with a sturdy wooden seat and silver chain holding it up, the same crystal encrusted slide and hammocks strewn about, giving it a really tranquil feeling.
Isabelle hung her head as she stumbled over and collapsed into a hammock. She was so lost.
She didn’t even have any idea what time it was because, as usual, she had left her phone behind - because clearly she was an i***t.
As tears filled her eyes she was reminded why she didn’t drink very often. Turned out she was one of those annoying drunk criers who everybody hated.
She swiped at her tears, impatiently forcing breaths in and out in preparation for the panic attack she could feel coming.
Breathe Isabelle, let your heart slow down.
She could hear Jace’s voice in her head and, funnily enough, it did help her drag in an exaggerated breath and slowly get her heart rate back down to normal.
Her mind was such a mess of thoughts and emotions but she was in the wrong state to try and figure anything out. She was honestly too exhausted to even try, so instead she resigned herself to the fact that she was going nowhere until she sobered up.
She tilted her heavy head up to notice that the clouds were concealing all the stars and it was pitch darkness above her. The absence of the glittering lights pulled at her heart in such a ridiculously deep way that Isabelle closed her eyes so she wouldn’t burst into tears.
“You OK down there?”
Isabelle clenched her eyes shut even further. Just great! Of course he would be the one to find her.
“You do know that just because you’re refusing to look at me doesn’t mean I can’t see you?” Amusement filled Jace’s tone.
Tears began to stream down Isabelle’s face so she threw her arms up to cover herself from his view.
Jace said nothing but a moment later she felt his weight join hers on the hammock.
“Do you want to talk about it?” he asked gently.
Isabelle swallowed a sob and shook her head.
“Do you want me to punch Tate for you?”
Isabelle shook her head more firmly, horrified at the thought.
“Do you want me to take my shirt off?”
Isabelle smiled before she could stop herself and lowered her arms just enough to see his beautiful face grinning down at her.
“Oh, you want me to get naked?” Jace asked tickling her stomach lightly.
Isabelle giggled and pulled one arm away allowing him to see her smile but still covering her eyes.
Jace leant down and pulled her other arm away from her face, taking both of her hands in his and caressing them gently.
“You’re beautiful,” she blurted out, pulling one of her hands away to tap him on the nose.
Jace pinched his face up in mock disgust. “Men can’t be beautiful, Isabelle. We can be handsome, good looking. I would even accept, insanely hot… but definitely not beautiful.”
She traced his face with her finger this time, committing all the lines into her memory and savoring being this close while she still had the courage.
“You are though,” she continued, fingers stopping to trace his full lips. “Sometimes I get so distracted thinking about your lips.”
Shut up. That reasonable voice inside her head hissed. Shut the hell up before you make it worse.
Jace watched her with a strange look for only half a moment before a big grin covered his face.
“You’re pretty drunk, huh?”
“No!”
Jace ruffled her hair affectionately and then pulled them both off the hammock and onto their feet.
“Everyone’s worried about you,” he told her, serious this time. “Tate is just about ready to call the police.”
“Tate is an idiot.”
Jace smiled. “Can’t disagree with you there, but to his credit, he’s an i***t who loves you.”
Isabelle sighed deeply. She wished Tate could see just how special Jace was, or just even give him a chance.
“You ready to head back?” Jace asked gently.
“No,” she said softly.
“How about you come back so everyone can see you’re alive and then I’ll take you home?”
“Straight home?”
“Scout’s honour.”
Isabelle nodded and took a step forward, only to lose her balance. She toppled towards the ground, bracing for a fall but landed in soft arms instead.
“Whoa there, you all right?” he asked, brushing hair out of her eyes.
“I want to go home now,” Isabelle replied, tears filling her eyes again.
Leaning down he swept his arms behind her knees and then lifted her up so she was cradled in his arms.
Isabelle looked up at the sky feeling incredibly light and free. She spread her arms wide, a grin lighting her whole face.
“I’m flying!” she crowed, and although it was completely stupid, when she closed her eyes it really felt like she was.
Even though her eyes were still shut, Isabelle could feel Jace beaming down at her.
“Well, makes sense,” he mused. “Angels do fly.”
Isabelle blew a raspberry at him and then tuned out his laughter and all other sounds as she settled her arms around his neck and snuggled into the safety and warmth of his chest.