Page 145 of Withered

“Dragonfly?” Jake is amused. It’s a dainty silver chain with a dragonfly in the center.

“Yup. That’s how I see you,” I tell him as his thumb strokes the dragonfly.

He chuckles. “You see me as a dragonfly?”

A giggle escapes my lips. “I mean no. This dragonfly shows the image of you in my mind. Dragonflies are known for change and goodness. It’s also a sign of good luck.”

He watches me as I continue, “Whenever you feel you’re not good enough, just look at this, and it will remind you of me. The image that I have of you is the complete opposite of how you see yourself. I saw it in the mall yesterday when I went for my dress fitting, which reminds me that you have your tux fitting on Sunday.”

He looks at me with an unknown emotion. I sigh and put my hand in front of him. “Fine. Give it back; I know you don’t like it.”

He looks like he is trying not to laugh. “And who said that? I’m keeping it with me.”

“You like it?” I ask, getting excited myself.

He grabs me once more and hugs me. His arms go around my waist. I’m shocked at first, but then I wrap my arms around him, resting my head on his chest, where I could hear his heart thump.

“Thank you,” he states. As I said, he is an arrogant, cocky jerk, but I love moments like these where he shows his other side.

I break away and tell him to put it on. He hands me the box as he tries to fasten the chain. He curses loudly when he fails on the first try.

I start laughing and spin him around. On my tiptoes, I help him with the chain. The dragonfly rests on his black shirt, and the metal shines. “Suits you.”

“Remember, we have to go to the mall on Sunday,” I tell him again. He rolls his eyes but nods nonetheless.

I turn around to leave and walk a few steps before stopping, an unsettling feeling creeping up on me.

“Jake?” I call him.

“Yeah?”

“You said I could be in danger because of you. You’re not involved in anything dangerous, right?” I ask him, worried.

He shakes his head. “I’ve got you. Don’t worry.”

He gave me an answer, but was it an answer?

Jake is what matters. He is here, beside me. Back home.

After slipping into some warm clothes and thick socks, I get into the covers, sit against the headboard, and read one of my books. Since it’s fall, the sun sets earlier.

“What are you doing?” I hear a voice.

I turn my head and see Jake standing at his window, only in his jeans, his body on full display.How did I get lucky with him as my neighbor?

Instead of thinking about his body, I wave the book in front of him. His lips move, but I can't hear what he says.

“Boring. I’m coming over,” he says this before jumping into my room, this time with a white shirt on and the dragonfly dangling from his neck.

“What do you want to do? Don’t you have any schoolwork to catch up on?”

“The one who is lagging should do that. But I’m not thatone.” He smirks and waves his brows at me.

I’m so envious of him right now. How can he do that so smoothly?

“So, what now?” I put the book down.

“I’ve got some ideas.” He moves closer to me.

---