"You look shit!! What's the matter?!" asked Devon in alarm when I ventured outside the farmhouse . "It's that quarterback. I know it's that scum," he spat in rage when I didn't respond. "It's high time I change the shape of him."

"You're not doing that!" I said, holding him back firmly by the arm as he was about to march indoors in a state of wild fury.

"I don't fucking understand why are you stuck with that spineless pig!" Devon chided, his orbs dark with frustration. "That asshole hurts you so fucking much. I'm sure you were upset because of him that day in school as well!"

Devon thought that was because of Luke, but it was Kelly. And he needn't know the truth.

"I don't want to discuss Luke," I said quietly.

"That line should receive a Grammy. Say that again. It beats the music industry," said Devon, sounding impressed.

I rolled my eyes.

"I've my car to take us back home, " he spoke huskily.

"You can't drive, you're drunk," I drawled.

"I didn't see myself touch alcohol. Did you?"

"Um, no..."

"Then why are you standing here wasting time when we could have got out of this hideous place by now." Devon made his way to the parking space.

And I didn't even know why I followed him.

"I hate such parties," muttered Devon as we sat at the front of his car which smelled of mint. "I hate crowded places. I hate loud music. I hate the noise."

"You're saying this just because you know I despise such parties," I said quietly.

"I don't remember us sitting down and having an amicable chat anytime. So I don't know what you like and what you don't. I was speaking for myself," he said with a drawl.

I narrowed my eyes at him and spoke in the same manner, "If you weren't so unabashed, if you weren't so annoying, if you weren't so disrespectful. And as you can see, there are way too many 'If's. So yeah, if you weren't any of those then guess what, we could have been friends and could have had a friendly chat."

"Friends?" Devon scoffed. "You got to be kidding me. Don't I make it very obvious to you that I don't wanna be friendzoned? I'd accept your hate rather than your 'just friends' tag."

I rolled my eyes and turned the other side to look out of the window. The serene night streets whizzed past as Devon drove on swiftly.

"By the way, you read really well, " spoke Devon after a brief silence. "Jackson is learning the right intonation from you."

"Thanks!" I smiled. "Turns out you know how to be polite after all."

"Nothing like that. Mistakes happen. It's a part of being human," he said casually.

I giggled. "Jackson is really fond of you. The kid loves to talk about you at any given opportunity!"

"I love Jackson. Unfortunately he's born out of that woman's disgusting womb," said Devon with deadpanned expressions.

I flinched slightly at that. "You're talking about Cheryl, right? She's your step-mother I believe," I spoke cautiously.

"You forgot to add 'and one horrible bitch'."

I didn't know about that one but I knew for a fact she was a careless mom to Jackson. I still remember the way she used to leave him alone just like that in the sports club to go for swimming.

"Tell me something about your Ma."

"She left me and this world five years ago," he shrugged plainly.

I could actually see the complex layers of anguish beneath his passive facade. I could relate to that pain...

"I'm---"

"You needn't say sorry," he interrupted me matter-of-factly. "You asked me to tell you something about my mother. I could have told you nice bits about her but I chose to tell you just her last bit instead. So it's okay."

I looked at the front grimly.

"What about you? Haven't seen your Mum and Dad around."

That caught me completely off guard. "Dad--Dad has gone for a business trip to Europe....and Mum went with him...she didn't want to go leaving me behind but I persuaded her into joining my father."

"Oh," he uttered. After a silent pause, he added, "Your parents love you a lot, don't they?"

"They do. Lots. I'm very lucky to have them in my life."

I felt an ugly knot grow at the pit of my stomach. I tried to not think of what I said. But when I tried to distract my mind into thinking something else, all I could think about is what I heard Luke say about me which was just as crippling...

"What did that quarterback arse do at the party?" Devon asked, his voice bearing a grudge.

"Can you please stop bothering me with that question?" The mention of Luke irked me. "You don't have to be so worried about it," I added quietly

"If you didn't notice, I like you a lot," drawled Devon. "Caring for a person is a byproduct of liking that person."

I didn't respond, only looked out of the window again. We had just rounded a corner when the car came to a sudden unexpected halt. Before I could ask him anything, Devon unfastened his seat belt and jumped out of the car.

Bewildered, I too got down from my side of the car and walked over to the front of the car where he was stood.

"We haven't reached Crawford Lane yet. Why did you stop driving?! " I asked incredulously.
"Because I don't want to drive. Simple."

That shocked me. "What do you mean by I don't want to drive?! Of course you'll have to drive! You cannot say you don't want to after getting us right in the middle of nowhere! Why the hell don't you want to drive? Did we run out of gas?!"

"No. Because I am pretty much distracted. By you."

"We could locate the nearest gas sta----" I stopped midway, realizing what he had said.

I saw his dark irises searing with an untamed desire as his gazes pierced mine. I knew what he wanted. He was even staring down at my lips which made my heart miss a beat.

"Devon, please," I said quietly, looking away from him.

"There are a lots of things messing around with my head. I can't drive like this," said Devon, sounding aroused.

I looked at him fiercely. "Fine! Then you stand here the whole night while I go find a cab for myself."

I marched back to the door of the passenger seat to get my purse out of the car. I was just about to pull open the door but his hand reached the handle first.

"Devon, move your hand away," I said sharply.

But instead, his other hand went around my waist and he pulled me to his chest making me gasp in shock. My one hand automatically rested on the top of his left shoulder while the other gripped his right arm. Before I knew it, our faces were really close and his fiery intense gazes drilled into my vision.

"What are you doing?!" I asked pointedly, trying to keep my breaths steady.

"Why don't you want to see how much I like you dammit!!" His heated breaths burned the skin of my face. "I've never felt this way for anyone. It's getting me mad! And the fact that you're not reciprocating is turning it much worse. No guy can be as crazy for you as me, Eleanor. But you know what, that's not even the point! The point is that you like me too."

"It's nothing like that!" I countered defensively.

"It is like that!"

My breaths hitched as his lips inched dangerously close to mine. "Devon, no...." I said breathlessly, as he alluringly stroked my nose with his. He was making me weak. And I couldn't think of anything except him. I wanted him.

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