Page 41 of Behind the Bars

“You are, you know. One hundred percent, youare.”

After the cruise was over, we went to Frenchmen Street and sat on top of the dumpster to listen to more music behind thebars.

“This is the best day of my life,” Jasmine said as her feet swayed back and forth, and she stared up at thestars.

“Yeah. Samehere.”

“Elliott?”

“Yes?”

“Are you going to kiss metonight?”

“No.”

“Whynot?”

“Because I like you too much to dothat.”

I wasn’t sure if she knew what I meant, but it was true. I couldn’t kiss Jasmine—not yet. She’d had a lot of guys use her in ways that weren’t good, and I didn’t want to be one of those guys. I wanted to prove to her that I wanted her for more than her body. Just being close to her was enough forme.

“Oh,” she replied, with a hint ofdisappointment.

I took her hand into mine. “I like you a lot, Jazz…more thanmusic.”

She nervously laughed. “Don’tlie.”

“I’mnot.”

“But youreallylikemusic.”

“Yeah, and Ireallylikeyou.”

She smiled and combed her hair behind her ears. It was always cute when she blushed. “I really like you too,Elliott.”

“You wanna perform with me every Saturday?” I asked without a second thought as I looked at thestars.

“What?” She gaped atme.

“Do you wanna perform with me regularly?” I askedagain.

“Yes.” She leaned in and placed her forehead against mine. “Ido.”

When it came time to meet Ray, we walked down Frenchmen Street, stopping whenever random music caught our attention. We took it all in, and the way Jasmine smiled made me feel like a million bucks. She was having a great time, and she was having a great time withme.

I hadn’t known a girl like her could have a great time with a boy likeme.

Chapter Ten

Jasmine

“Ihad a great time tonight,”I told Elliott through the car window after Ray dropped him off at his house. I tried to get out of the car, but Ray locked me inside to keep me from huggingElliott.

“I did too,” Elliott said, shifting around on the sidewalk with his hands stuffed in his pants. “Th-thanks, Ray, for drivingus.”

“Elliott, no need to be so informal—go ahead and call me Mr. Gable,” Ray joked, making me roll my eyes. “Say good night, SnowWhite.”

“Night, Eli. I’ll see you at school onMonday.”

---