Chapter 24

A/N,

Check out the picture above^-^

Anyways, here's a huge shout out to... Every one of you!!!

There are many more readers out there who have voted too...it's just that there were so many that I might've missed them. I'm sorry about that. And thanks to all of you for voting on my story.

And, you guessed it. It's an early update for all my girl next door readers...enjoy:---

"Can you please stop laughing now?" I asked Cole, who seemed as if he didn't hear me. But I knew that he did.

He didn't. He kept laughing as if there was no tomorrow.

Well, it's your fault.

My fault? How?

Who told you to wear your hello kitty PJs?

That's right. I shouldn't have worn my hello kitty PJs. I look like a complete idiot now.

Cole was wearing tight black jeans, a v neck white t-shirt, and his black leather jacket. He did look quite great in them.

But who wears a leather jacket while sleeping, or at midnight?

A bad boy of course.

"Take a picture, it'll last longer. " I was dragged back to reality because of Cole's Cocky voice.

I rolled my eyes.

"What do you want?" I asked irritated.

"Nothing." He said, shrugging his shoulders.

Nothing. Just nothing.

"Okay, so you're telling me that, you were throwing pebbles at my window, in the middle of the night, and not to mention that you almost killed me by throwing pebbles at me not once but twice, and now that I've come out of my house, you started laughing at me because you think I'm too big to wear a hello kitty PJs, and when I finally asked you that why were you disturbing me, you say nothing. Just nothing." I said, all at once.

Anyone normal person would detect that I'm annoyed, but people, I said normal, and the Cole Parker isn't normal.

He's a thick-headed, ungrateful, stupid, annoying monkey.

"Geez, you could've asked properly. I would've answered you straight." He said, at this point, I glared at him. And if looks could kill, Cole would have been dead twice by now.

"I wanted to take you out somewhere." He added, as soon as he noticed my glare.

Me? Somewhere? At this time?

"But, don't you think we're a bit early to go out somewhere?" I asked, sarcastically.

"Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit," Cole said, shaking his head.

"But the most intelligent form of humor." I completed for him.

I smirked. He rolled his eyes.

Xandra: 1, Cole: 0

"Look, it's already 12.30. Are you coming, or do I need to pick you up?" Cole asked, getting serious.

"But you didn't tell me, where?" I argued, raising my eyebrows.

"Somewhere." He replied Nonchalantly.

"Look, what's the guarantee that you won't kill me there?" I asked, fed up of his short answers.

"What? No, of course not. But I promise you'll enjoy." Cole said sincerely.

Before I could protest, he grabbed my wrist, and pulled me along with him, to the passenger's seat. And after getting me seated, he went to the other side of the car and sat at the driving seat.

He started driving God knows where.

Now, that I've come to think of it, I left my phone in my bedroom. My mom would get worried. And let's not talk about dad.

But, life is a one time offer, use it well.

Maybe, just maybe, Cole might help me forget about James, Antony, Jasmin, and Tyler.

Maybe, I could actually have fun.

Maybe, maybe not.

Speaking of fun, there was once a time, when I used to feel so happy whenever I was with Tyler and Jasmin.

I remember that one time, when Tyler and I pulled a prank on Jasmin, telling her that we wanted to play on the backyard of Tyler's house. She told us that we were too old to play hide and seek, but we insisted. I was told to do the counting, while the other two hid somewhere.

I quickly found Tyler but had difficulty searching for Jasmin. So, Tyler suggested that we should leave Jasmin hiding and get inside, it was a very hot day. Tyler and I went inside his house and watched a movie, whose name I don't remember.

Both of us forgot that Jasmin was still hiding.

After what seemed like 2 hours, Jasmin angrily stomped towards us. She was so angry, in fact, she was so angry that she stormed out of the house, not even telling us that where was she going.

And do you know what happened next? Tyler and I found out that, she was admitted to the hospital. You ask why? Because she slipped on the street and fractured her leg. Like wow.

Jasmin had the tendency to get caught in the middle of an awkward situation like that.

"What are you thinking about?" Cole's voice broke me out of my trance.

"Uh, nothing," I said, looking out of the window. I noticed that we were at the outskirts of the town, far from my house.

"It sure didn't look like nothing. The way you were smiling...it looked as if you were thinking about something special, or someone special." Cole said, glancing at me before fixing his gaze back on the road.

I smiled. Indeed, Jasmin had a special place in my heart.

"You're right. Someone special." I said, smiling a little.

"Who exactly? Is it that James guy you told me about earlier?" Cole said I could detect that he was Jealous.

When the hell did I tell Cole about James?

Hearing James' name, kind of made my heart drop. Out of all the people to get jealous of, Cole chooses him.

"Who James? I don't know a guy with that name. Besides, I was thinking about my best friend." I said, only now noticing that we were out of town.

I really hope Cole doesn't take me to an abandoned place, and try to kill me there.

"Oh, that Tyler guy?" Cole asked I could still detect that he was a little bit jealous.

I smirked.

"Why do you think it's him?" I asked.

"I don't know since you're so friendly with boys and all." He said, keeping his gaze on the road.

"Friendly?" I asked, looking at him.

He didn't say anything.

"When exactly was I friendly to any guy?" I asked him.

"Remember that blonde whose face you were sucking at the party?" He asked, still not looking at me.

I smirked. Is he talking about Connor?

"Oh, that handsome boy? His name is Connor by the way." I said, observing Cole's every move.

I noticed that his grip on the starring wheel tightened.

Was he getting angry?

"But you don't have to get jealous of him Cole. You have a special place in my heart." I said, smiling at him.

He glanced at me, his green eyes lit up, upon hearing my words.

"Really?" He asked.

"Yeah, after all, you're the only monkey I know, and I don't want to lose you," I said, smirking at him.

He rolled his eyes.

Xandra: 2, Cole: 0

I love irritating him.

$$$$

"Woah." Escaped from my mouth, as my eyes took in everything in front of me.

Do you know the place where the ocean meets the sky? This was exactly like that, except that it was a lake.

And the starry sky was just adding up to the beauty of this place.

This place would give you inner peace.

I felt Cole's hand on my small back, as though motioning me to move forward.

He led me to the bench near the lake. And got me seated there.

I couldn't get my eyes off the view.

I felt Cole sit next to me, but I couldn't care less.

"This place is beautiful." I breathed out, looking at Cole.

"I'm glad you liked it. This is the place where I come, whenever I want to feel alone, you know?" He said,  looking at the beautiful sight in front of him.

"Oh," I said, not knowing what to say.

We fell into silence. Not the awkward kind,  but a peaceful one.

"Let's play twenty questions, shall we?" Cole asked.

"Again?" I asked, almost immediately.

"Yeah. I'll ask first." He said, quickly.

I rolled my eyes at him.

"Ask away anything," I said, looking at the lake.

"If you ever got a chance, then would you rather, see the future or change the past?" He asked me.

This was indeed a deep question.

"I think I would like to change the past," I said, glancing at him, only to find him already staring at me.

"What exactly would you do?" He asked.

I felt his hand getting wrapped around my comparatively small hand. His hands were cold but soothing.

"I would save Jasmin." I blurted out. Without even thinking.

Now, Cole would ask me who is Jasmin.

He opened his mouth to ask something, but I spoke first.

"You asked me who was I thinking about, in the car, right? I was thinking about her." I said, smiling slightly.

"But you said, someone special? And what exactly do you mean that you'd save her? Is she..." He trailed off.

"She was someone special to me and yes, she is dead. Now my turn, you've  asked so many questions." I said, staring ahead.

"Go on." He said I could feel his eyes on me.

"Ever been in love?" I asked, not knowing what to ask.

"Umm...no." He said, quietly.

I didn't want to invade his privacy, so I didn't question him any further. So unlike him.

" You're the deepest secret?" He asked.

"It wouldn't be a secret if I tell you," I said, smirking slightly.

"Ok then. This question should be left for another time." He said.

Another time?

"You ask now." He added.

"Do you have any confession to make?" I asked him, randomly.

"No. Nothing." He said, looking unsure of himself.

"Nothing?" I asked again.

"Nothing." He replied, but he looked unsure.

This surely wasn't just nothing.

"Fuck this." I heard him mutter before he grabbed my shoulders and made me look at him.

"Since the day I've met you, Xandra, you've been in my head all the damn time. And trust me when I say I'll do anything to get you out off it." He said, and to be honest I had no idea where he was going.

What...where...

My eyes widened when I felt his minty breath on my left cheek.

When did he get so near?

He cupped my face gently, his thumb caressing my cheek.

Wait a minute.

Everything made sense now. The bet Antony was talking about.

I felt my heart break into a million pieces, as I thought about the idea of Cole using me. How could he?

I felt Cole press his lips against mine. His lips were oddly soft but cold. His kiss was soft too as if he was trying not to rush things up.

Stop. DON'T fall for him, Xandra. Or else he might use you like how James used Jasmin.

No, I am not a pathetic girl, who would cry over a stupid boy, I won't let him use me. I won't. I can't. I will not.

I firmly placed both my hands on Cole's chest and pushed him away.

The next thing I knew, was my right palm stinging and I swear, even in the darkness, I could see the redness from Cole's cheek.

A/N,

See you next time!