C10

JADEN

My fingers twitched from side to side as I watched Isabella examine every inch of my house.As much as I loved watching her expression of awe.I felt nervous.The initial high of having someone over had worn off.it'd been a long time since I let someone over apart from Robert but even longer since I had a woman over.I didn't know why I was so nervous,she seems perfectly at ease shouldn't she be the one feeling anxious?especially after the incident of my brother's room?I'd left the door unlocked so it was really my fault,but my rash actions didn't seem to have bothered her at all.

The woman in question pressed her face against the glass wall that overlook the lake and I wanted to tell her not to smudge it but Instead I managed to keep my mouth shut.she moved into the kitchen,trailing a hand across the marble countertops and stopping by the spice rack to inspect the content,I stayed rooted at the spot whether or not to go after her.It kind of annoyed me that i felt anxious and uncomfortable in my own house but I had expected it when I let her over.No one had been here in a very long time.I wasn't even sure why I'd thought of letting her over.Yes it was the easiest way to trick my Dad into thinking we were serious but there were other ways too.

"Wow,you have one of those refrigerator that dispense crushed ice" she commented in excitement.

I lowered by eyebrow,out of everything in my place she was most impressed by that? "You don't have one of those?"

she shook her head and moved on,leaving the kitchen area and returning back to the main part of the living room.This time I stood above her on the elevated portion.

"Are you really going to cook me dinner?" she asked her eyes fixed on me looking so expecting.

Her sudden stare suprised me a little and i felt tensed that i could feel chills running down my spine. "Do you want me to?"

"Don't you have cooks for that?"

I frowned "there are some things I do for myself,you know."

"Hmmmmn I wouldn't have guessed," she responded,there was a teasing smile on her face so I knew not to be offended.

"In my free time I like to cook,I find it more relaxing" I told her but i didn't know why I was trying to explain myself.

"You must have a lot of free time I mean you have been stealing all my free time this whole week pretty much,Aren't you the CEO. of your hotel? Don't you have to work?"

I'd been stealing her free time?

What did she mean by that? wasn't I paying her for this? And that aside did she dislike spending time with me that badly?" I'm not the CEO yet" I muttered and didn't like how meek my voice sounded.

"You are not? is it your Dad that's the CEO?"

"You are just full of questions today," I said shoving my hand into my jeans pockets.

She shrugged and pushed her long hair behind her ears.I liked the way it framed her face like that, "You said we should be friends,right? so we should start with the basics like family,."

"What about your family I countered?"

"Ah..."she trailed off,suddenly looking anywhere but me."my family is kind of messed up.I'm not sure you will like to hear it."

The corner of my lips twitched for her to be living alone so young,I figured something was amiss, "Hmm that's funny because i was about to say the same thing."

She looked back up and raised an eyebrow. "Oh Yeah should we bet on who's family is more wacked?"

"Bet" I repeated Did she want to make a game of it.

A hand shot to cover the laughter that spilled from her lips "I'm just kidding don't look so taken aback"

I cleared my throat feeling slightly embarrassed. "of course."

"I do have a kind of personal question,so if i can ask you it you can ask me one," she continued walking a little closer to me.

My eyes focused on a rip in her jeans just above her knee.Had she bought them like that?or were they just old?

you could see a bit of the skin on her thigh and ––.

"Um, Jaden?"

I shot my gaze back to her face and realized she was only about a foot away now, "Yes," I said automatically.

"Okay. why don't you let people into your house?" what do you mean it was your own place left? I can tell you are uncomfortable right now.If it makes you that uncomfortable for me to be here,I can leave,I don't want to be interfering.She said and shifted on her feet a little.

I held in the line that jumped to the tip of my tongue.It was an automatic response––lie and move on.You shouldn't let anyone know too much.They could use it against you that's how I usually felt.But I didn't want to lie to Isabella.I was wrong when I thought she was at ease.She was just better at hiding it than me. "Isabella,I'm really sorry for my earlier actions," I started "It's not that you're making me uncomfortable".I'm just not use to anyone being here.My home and life very personal

that's why I don't let people in here.when you are in a certain position like I am,it's better to keep your life private.If people find out the wrong thing,they can use it against you."

She nodded as I spoke,I felt awkward explaining to her.It seems like such a foolish reason.

I took a slow breath. "And the room you entered is another reason I don't want people over,that's actually my ﹉".

"Ah,you don't have to tell me that," she interrupted,holding up her hands "I mean I am really curious about it but that's your business," she turned a little pink and her eyes darted back to upstairs.

I had a gross feeling about her thoughts and snapped my finger to get her attention."It's not something from fifty shades of grey you pervert."

She turned a little darker and laughted a little. "ha ha I wasn't thinking of that."

"You kind of fit the role."

"Are you purposely insulting me?" I accused.

She bit her lips to keep it from grinning widely and I found myself focusing on it much more than I'd like to admit.I hadn't noticed how perfectly her lips suited her face.She was so small and very cute also.

"If it's not something like that could it be you are actually a mass murderer and ...."

"No," I snapped cutting her off."It's my older brother room."

She snapped her mouth shut,her eyes widening.Oh I forgot you had a brother.

I pressed my lips together,grimacing inwardly.I didn't want to talk about this but I have been cut off guard and had let it slip."I don't like to talk about him." I said tensely.

"We don't have to talk about him,I feel the same way about my brother," she replied immediately and easily.

I stayed quiet because no one let the subject of my brother go without me snapping.However a few moments of silence passed away and Isabella stayed quiet.Then something clicked "You have a brother?"

"Is that the one personal question you are asking me?"

I hesitated and then nodded,I was a bit curious about her family life,but I'd be a hypocrite if I wanted to pry too deeply.

"Yes I do.He is older than me but i act more matured than him,he acts really dumb but he's actually really smart," she said touching her forehead. "Thinking about it now he is actually kind of annoying."

"He doesn't live with you?"

"Usually he does"

"Why doesn't he now?"

"Why doesn't you brother live with you?" she countered.

I paused and smiled briefly.

"If I tell you,don't give me any pitying looks or any words of sympathy." She warned me giving me what appeared to be a stink eye,but it kind of look like something was wrong with her eye and she was trying to get it out.I kept the comment to myself.

"I won't," I promised her because I knew that feeling all too well myself.

"He's been in jail," she said in a tone of someone might comment about the weather in.

I stared at her wondering if i did misheard her words.Her brother was in jail? He was a criminal? wasn't that to intense to say so casually? why didn't she seem more upset?"Don't tell me your brother is a mass murderer."

"No" she cried.

"So you have been living alone because your brother went to jail?" I asked jokes aside.

She nodded.

"What for?"

"It's nothing horrible,he will be out soon."

She didn't want to tell me why he was in jail,I intrigued but i knew well not to push. "Can I ask about your parents?"

"Eh,you might know well as what you are getting into if we're going to be friends," she sighed. "Long story short,My mother died of cancer coupl e years back and my father left us after that so I also consider him dead."

Her mother was dead and her father abandoned her? no wonder she had it so rough.How long have she been living on her own income? And her mother had cancer? Did she have to pay her mother left over bills?Is that why she hadn't gone to college straight from high school? there was no way she could save any money if she was handling everything alone.

She didn't have any family to turn to,no one to rely on.

"Jaden,you are thinking to much about this things I told you" she interrupts "I see that look on your face."

"How can you say all this casually?" I managed to get out,my thoughts spinning in my head.

"It happen a while ago so I have figured or got a hint that life was not on my side,so what can you do?" she responded with a soft but dry laughter. "It's honestly not that bad so don't overthink it."

I had to look away fast from her,afraid the sympathy I am feeling for her might show on my face.I'd know something had to be going on,no one would willingly live in the apartment she rented but it was worst than I'd imagined.Her only family left and her only surviving sibling was in jail.

My family was distorted but we had money.Even if my father die and everyone left me I will still live comfortably.Yet no one to support her just herself.And as far as I was aware you wouldn't make too much money working her type of jobs.

And yet I criticized were she live and the car she drove and the clothing she wore and how she styled her hair.I immediately felt the world slow as the realization crashed down on me.Just how badly have I treated Isabella? I had really thought I'd understood,but I really hadn't until now.

My brother last words to me suddenly echoed in my head.you will never understand how hard life can be Jaden.

"Um sorry maybe I shouldn't have told you that.You have to watch who you probably interact with"Isabella began again,sounding self-conscious "I totally understand if you want to find someone else to help you out though."

"I don't want that,"I said immediately without thinking,I turned back to her catching her gaze.

She blinked at me with her mouth open &"Oh...o..okay."

My body suddenly felt hot and I pulled my collar trying to get some air.What was she insinuating?

That I will think she is repulsive after telling me? Did I come off like that to her?Was it because of all the rude remarks I have been making?It had to be.How could I have been so cruel? How could I have not realized? "Isabella please can you tell me how shallow do you think I am?"

"I don't really think you are."

"It doesn't matter to me where you live,or your family background is." I said clenching and unclenching my fists again, "please don't think what you just told me now will affect how I think about you.It makes me feel bad.I understand why you could think that,though.I've been rubbing such a lavish life in your face.I didn't even realize it."

She shrunk back a little,her breathing increasing. "It's okay Jaden."

I brought my hand up to my forehead

"You have been doing a favor for me and I've been treating you like a rich man would treat a poor woman.I owe you so much more respect than that."

"Jaden I didn't tell you that to get anything from you" she said and i could see her hands were shaking a little.

Was I scaring her that's not what I wanted.I felt so guilty.I moved forward towards her,which must've

startled her because she jolted backwards.A small gasp escape her mouth as she lost her footing,forgeting that the living area sat higher than the rest of the floor.I reached out immediately,managing to snag her by the arm and pull her back into me so she wouldn't fall.

"Thanks, " She breathed and I could feel her heart stuttering in her chest.She tried to pull away,but I held her firm. "Jaden?"

"I'm sorry,I'm disgusted with myself right now "

Isabella breathed out a slow hot breath and after a moment I felt her tiny arm wrapped around my shoulders. "Don't worry about it Jaden."

"I've been awful to you."

"It's fine,so stop.You are making me feel bad for telling you,Didn't I say not to pity me?" she argued.

I pulled away from her a bit. "I'm not,I just truely feel bad the way I've been treating you."

"As long as you know what you have done wrong,it's fine".Don't beat yourself up about it.I am a tough girl and I can handle it." she gave me

a tiny smirk.

My heart then skipped a beat and I pushed her away from me,suddenly wary of how fast and hard my heart was going.Had she felt it? what was I. doing? I needed to calm down.Isabella shouldn't be the one soothing me in this situation.It was supposed to be the other way around.I had to make this less awkward.

"I'll help you with dinner so let's get started"she insisted breaking out of my arms and stealing my plan away from me."You said you find it relaxing so let's do it,I think we both need to relax."

"Let's do that"I agreed quickly.

"Um,thank you Jaden"

"For what actually?

She poked her head into my field of vision and gave me a bright smile.The first smile from her I truely believed."For caring."

I knew it was coming,I couldn't stop it,I couldn't hide it.All I could do was stand there stock still as a hot,red blush spread across my cheeks.