Beauty and the Beasts

Nice to Meet You Again

The rest of the classes passed by in a kind of blur for Jasmine, as she kept up looking to Zane. Sometimes, their eyes met, and maybe it was just her imagination, but it felt like in those little instances, her body felt a lot warmer.

She swallowed, shaking the idea out of her head. It was absurd.

"Jasmine?"

She slowly turned. She had forgotten all about Andrew, and she swallowed. "Oh, Andrew."

"You sound like you forgot about me."

She immediately shook her head. "No, its just..."

"Distracted?" He brought his hand to move her hair away, and her breath hitched at the slightest contact.

Weirdly, she moved her eyes a little, and Zane was looking through some papers, not noticing them.

They three were the only ones left in class, and Zane didn't seem to have any intention of leaving soon.

"What are you doing?"

Andrew smiled, then dropped his hand. "Nothing. I wanted to ask you something."

Jasmine nodded slowly. "Yeah?"

"Well...there is going to be a function of my parents. It's all the classy ball type of parties, and I want to take a date with me. It's next week friday evening, and I just wanted to make sure with you."

Jasmine's brows furrowed a little. "You want me to be your date there?"

Andrew nodded. "Why not?"

She laughed a little. "I don't think I am presentable enough for those kinds of events, Andrew. And I wouldn't have anything to wear and..."

"And? We can go shopping together, and have you seem yourself? You are beautiful."

Jasmine said nothing, as a bit of heat flushed across her cheeks. She caught herself looking up to Zane again. This time, he seemed to be packing up and she gave a low sigh.

"I will think about it."

Andrew nodded. "We are going together, right?"

Jasmine shrugged, then slowly stood up, her eyes fixed on Zane. He stood up too, and lifted his eyes to her. They met in one electrifying gaze, and she felt it again.

She slight fluidness of her feet. The calmness that washed over her. Like she was looking at someone that was made for her. She unconsciously raised a hand to feel the steady beating of her heart, and he smiled a little, his eyes crinkling with the humor.

She immediately dropped her hand and cleared her throat, but watched him as he walked out of the class, paying no attention to Andrew at all.

"You seem quite distracted by the new teacher," Andrew suddenly remarked, and she snapped her head to him, then shook her head.

"No, I just spaced out."

"Next time, space out on me, Jasmine. Look at me that way."

Jasmine said nothing, and she lowered her eyes, the air in the room becoming tense.

"Just so the teacher doesn't think you have a crush on him or anything. I am much safer, you know."

She nodded, then started to walk in front of him, efficiently missing the slight anger that passed his eyes.

Jasmine took a short shower once she was back home. She had to look for another part time job to make some income from. The other one had slipped right out of her fingers because of that stupid p*****t.

She let out a small sigh of exasperation, and she dried her hair slowly and walked out of the bathroom, with a towel wrapped firmly around her body.

The house right next to hers, a house that seemed a little too posh to be in a suburban neighborhood like hers, seemed to be getting a new owner.

She always watched the house, empty, yet regal. She sometimes slept off, wishing she could be in there, wishing she could own it. But it was all just a dream, and the next day she would be up working again.

She watched from the window as the movers arranged the large boxes. The owner was definitely rich from the sheer amount of things he had to move.

She gave a small sigh and turned away, then got dressed in an oversized hoodie. It was the most comfortable thing she could find, and she plopped down on the couch.

Zane stood back as the men arranged everything into place, his hands crossed in front of him.

His thoughts slowly moved back to Jasmine and immediately, Andrew too. He saw how they were, and how close they seemed to be. And the way Andrew had leaned over her desk...

He took in a deep breath. He needed to wait till she was eighteen. Just until then.

By late evening, the house was ready, and he slowly peeled off the buttons of the shirt he had worn to school. He pushed it off him, then made his way to the large bathroom.

He took a slow shower, his body relaxing with the water, while he tensed with every thought of Jasmine that crossed his mind.

He couldn't wait to have her, as his mate, as his luna and he hated having to wait.

He walked out of the bathroom, then slowly dried off and wore only a pair black pajama pants.

Slowly, he went to the window, and opened it, watching as the sun set steadily. It reminded him a little of his pack, and he gave a small sigh.

Jasmine leaned slowly on the window, and opened it up, her head slightly raised. She could see the faint streaks of the sunset, but it was mostly facing the other side, so she could only see the remnant of colours.

Zane's eyes lowered and came to a slow focus on the redhead in the house next to his, his brows immediately furrowing.

"Jasmine?" He said, catching her attention. She raised her head, and her lips parted as she caught sight of him.

His hair was damp, and fell teasingly on his shoulders, his body, the body she had fantasized about seeing all of, was now gloriously in front of her.

His toned stomach that delved and dipped into six beautiful packs, then became smaller at his waist. The tattoo that extended to his shoulder blade.

She swallowed as she guided her eyes back to him, her heart beating like someone who had run a race.

"You are..the person who lives there now?" Jasmine asked, her voice low, yet loud enough for him to hear her.

Zane nodded slowly. "Pleased to meet you again, I guess. This time, as a neighbour."

She forced a small smile as she withdrew. "Thank you. Same."

She immediately turned away, closing the window behind her, her hand immediately going to her chest.

"What is this?" She muttered under her breath, her eyes closing. She did not find the answer, and when she turned to the window, opening it just a little so she could peek out, even Zane was gone too.