Gotcha

All night, I couldn't seem to keep my distance from Jade. I haven't felt this content in a long time. Maybe even, happy. Being away from home, the stress of having to see or deal with my ex, and just being in Jade's presence makes me feel alive again. I've tried to keep the feelings I have for her under wraps and suppressed but I'm bursting at the seams. I'm beginning to leak. I find myself touching her, needing to feel her soft warm skin against mine. The fact that she's allowing me to, I feel intoxicated.

She makes me feel alive, special, and important. She's here with me, my friends, and family at an event of something I enjoy but she also seems to be enjoying herself. I don't want this night to end. I don't want to return home knowing that my past can and will still affect us. Jade is fully capable of handling herself but I don't want her to have to. I don't want my actions to effect her life, more than they already have. I have an inkling that it may only get worse once we return.

I shake those thoughts away, wanting to be in the moment of here and now. We play games, ride the rides and simply enjoy ourselves. The laughter was continuous.

It was getting late, the cars were slimming out, food trucks were packing up and we knew it was time to leave. None of us wanted to go back to the hotel so we all agreed to head down to the pier that was open for another two hours. At this point, I'd do anything to keep the night going.

We come across a glow in the dark center that offers all kinds of games. Bowling, mini golf, and laser tag. Ten minutes later we're all geared up for a round of laser tag with a few other people. The employee explains the rules, then tells us the teams are chosen at random. He hits a button on the wall that causes our vests to flash the colors until we're each divided up into teams. Jade is blue and I'm red. She points her gun at me, "You're going down!"

My head goes straight to the gutter and I can't help the instant response I have to it. "For you? Gladly."

It takes her a second to comprehend my true meaning but I can see when it clicks, her eyes widen and a second after a wicked smile takes over her face. It makes my knees weak. I don't think there's any turning back now. It's out there.

Hollering around us breaks my attention then I'm being jostled by Vance, the movement breaks my eye contact with Jade. I glance over to him, his vest is light up red meaning we're teammates. Vance points to Jade, "Watch your back sweetheart."

"Oohh." Jade taunts, "Nothing sweet here." she winks at him and it makes me smile. Her fiery, sassy, playfulness is such a turn on. Vance laughs loudly and grips my shoulder, "God I love her."

The door to the dark arena opens, the man gestures for us to continue on into the neon lit room. Our vests flash as we enter but then they seem to power up and we're in the open. Besides the vests, neon objects and any poor soul wearing white it's incredibly dark. Everyone dispurses into the dark but Vance is still nearby. He smacks my arm, "Up top." and runs up the ramp towards the balcony. I follow behind him and we take cover in an alcove, we have a perfect look overtop the whole arena. It's been so long since I've played video games but those skills come flooding back. My brother and I shoot like we're rambo, hitting people's vests as they run like mice in a maze.

People seem to become aware of our hideout but by the time they reach us they're already hit and down for a few seconds. It's almost unfair honestly but it's hilarious. We have a shoot out with a few others that are not a part of our group. Our alcove hides us too well, they seem to give up and run off.

My eyesight has adjusted to the dark by this point and I can easily see who's running by. V runs past, I sneak out and hit her in the back. She swirls around and yells out. Her vest is flashing and soon powers back up, she charges our hiding spot and Vance decides to jump out, his laser gun raised up and strikes her vest. Her vest flashes again and when it powers up she tries to hide her vest with her hands. "That's cheating!" Vance yells out but manages to get her in an exposed spot on the shoulder.

"You guys are cheating, hiding up here in a hole."

"It's called strategy sis."

"Vic and Vance are hiding up here guys!" she yells out, calling us out.

"You're a little shit." Vance tells her and runs off, V follows him trying to get a hit in. Meanwhile I'm still in the alcove, seeming to be forgotten about so I hunker down and wait for my next unsuspecting hit. There seems to be quite a few feet clambering up here and I know I'm going to be ganged up now. I leave my alcove and rush across to a more open spot but a wall to hide. My vest vibrates and flashes, indicating I've been hit. A victory shout is heard from behind me, I turn around to see the shooter, Jade. Her teeth are glowing and it makes me laugh. She pulls the gun up towards her mouth and blows, "Gotcha."

I can't even be mad. In fact, I'm quite the opposite. Before I even think twice, I'm stalking towards her, she's protesting as she retreats right into the alcove I just left. We're encased in dark, nothing but our vests alighting our face. She's back into the corner for the alcove with nowhere to go, I've trapped her. I step into our space until our vests clunk together.

"What are you doing?" she whispers, her eyes are wide with surprise.

I honestly don't have a clue what I'm doing, my thoughts are turned off and I'm simply going off need. Need to kiss her, need to feel her lips on mine, to claim her mouth. Her breaths are coming out in small puffs.

"Looks like I got you." I respond and move in to kiss her, slowly, until we're inches apart. I'm looking for signs of protest or panic. There's none, she watches me, waiting for our lips to touch. A loud bang on the wall startles us apart, I whip around to see a man standing at the entrance of the alcove, "Keep it moving!"

He moves out of the way but gestures for us to come out. I feel like a child caught with my hand in the cookie jar and I can't help but chuckle. I move out but quickly turn around and shoot Jade in the chest.

"Hey! That's not fair!" she yells at me, I shrug and hold my laser gun, blowing at the tip like she did and take off. The game goes for another twenty minutes or so. Jade tries to hit me but doesn't manage to get another shot in. I'm just that good.

The vests vibrate and flash, indicating our time is up and everyone moves towards the door we entered. We're all in the room removing our vests and placing them back onto the holders. There's TV screens with our scores posted, they're broken up into teams with the highest score at the top. "Whoo!" Vaughn hoots, he got the highest score of everyone. He gloats to everyone nearby, "Oh yeah. Who's the best? This guy!"

Vance pushes him in the shoulder, "That's because all you do is play Call of Duty and jerk off."

The whole room laughs. Vance isn't wrong.

We leave and I check my watch, it's nearing one in the morning. As much as I don't want to leave, we still have to drive home. Some shops are starting to close up anyways. I lean into Jade, "Are you ready to head home?"

She pouts, "No, but I know we probably should."

"Yeah." I agree.

The group's chatting about grabbing some pizza at a joint that's open late. "Hey guys, we're gonna get going?"

"What! No way!" Vance protests.

"We have an hour drive!"

V moves forward to envelope me into a hug. "I'm so glad you came." She smiles up at me.

"Same peanut, same."

"You need to keep her." she whispers and I squeeze her tightly. She's not telling me something I already know but we have a long way to go yet. This trip was a break from our reality.

V moves to hug Jade while I say bye to the rest of the gang. "See ya bro."

We're a decent walk away from the parking lot where my car is parked, Jade groans to my left. "Oh my lanta, my feet are hurtin." She's a little behind me, looking like it's taking a lot out of her to keep walking. I halt and move in front of her and kneel down, "Hop on."

"What? No way, you're crazy."

"Maybe but c'mon, I'll give you a ride."

"I'm way too heavy for that."

"I promise, you're not but I'm a big guy if it makes you feel any better."

"I don't know." she says apprehensive.

"Your feet are bothering you and we've got a bit of a walk still."

"Okay fine, I just don't have it in me to argue or walk."

I laugh as she crawls onto my back, her arms wrap around my neck followed by her legs hugging my side, "Okay, ready?"

"Giddy up." she murmurs, her head already resting against my back. I laugh and wrap my arm around her calves before standing up with ease. Too heavy, my ass. She's crazy.

"You good?"

"Uh huh." she sighs, "Thank you."

I simply squeeze her left calf with my hand, acknowledging that I heard her. At this point I don't think there's anything I wouldn't do for her. We're quiet the remainder of the way and I'm left to my thoughts. The scene of our almost kiss replaying in my mind, had the employee not broken us up, I would have kissed her. The most telling part about that is she didn't try to stop me.

Lost in thought, I realize I'm approaching my car. Jade's breathing is heavy but even, she's fallen asleep but remains clung to me. I gently squeeze her, "Jade." she hums but doesn't seem to fully waken. "Honey." I rub her calf, "Wake up, we're at the car."

She stirs, "Are we home?"

I laugh, "No, we're at the car."

"Oh."

I chuckle, "I'm gonna put you down now okay?" I kneel so she can climb off my back, she's slow to do so, her movements a bit wobbly. I remove the keys from my pocket to unlock the car and open the passenger door then guide Jade into the seat. As soon as she's seated, she turns onto her side and curls into herself. She's fast asleep. I close the door and make my way behind the steering wheel.

The drive is much different at this late hour and goes much quicker due to the lack of traffic. Even though Jade slept soundly the whole way, and I had nothing but the company of the radio, I felt content in her presence. I hate that we have to part ways tonight, if I didn't give two shits, I'd drive right past Slider's and take her back to my house.

But alas, the bright sign for the bar is approaching and I'm pulling into the parking lot. There's a few remaining cars parked but that's not unusual. Many catch Uber's home or even sleep off their alcohol in their car. I maneuver my car towards the back of the building and park in front of the back entrance door, then grab Jade's bag from the trunk before going to her side.

I lean and gently shake her shoulder, she hums but doesn't move. I try again but it gets me nowhere. Removing her keys from the pocket of her bag, I place them in my front pocket before bending beside her and slipping my hands underneath her. I gently pick her up and remove her from the car, then kick the door closed with my food.

Lights flash across the lot, blinding me, forcing me to turn away. "Fuck." The car then speeds away. I move towards the back door and pull Jade's keys from my hands to let us into the stairway then up and into her apartment. I'm sweating by this point, Jade isn't heavy but dead weight definitely makes it difficult. Emmy greets us from the couch with a quiet meow. I move towards her bedroom and lay her atop her bed. She snuggles into her pillow with a sigh.

I place her bag down by her bed then remove her shoes. There's a throw blanket at the end of her bed, most likely for decoration but I pull it up to cover her body. She looks so incredibly peaceful and that makes me happy. I lean over her and whisper goodnight before placing a kiss on her forehead. Leaving her to dream, hopefully of me.

oohhhhhhhhhhhhh snap.

The heat was turnt up. This chapter went in a way I did not plan or expect but it's their story...and I'm just here for it. lol

I hope you guys enjoy this..working on the next chapter. I've been writing every day this week and I'm just so ecstatic...after monthssssss of being dormant. They're coming alive. I just wish I had more time and could sit in front of my computer for hours but unfortunately my full time job gets in the way.

With all that said, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. As always, please leave me some reactions. I absolutely LIVE for your *kind* comments.

xoxo