Thorns with fragrance

02

"Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future" - Oscar Wilde

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“Hey” Kenneth said smiling awkwardly as he pulled a chair opposite Jane in the corner of the cafeteria and sat down

Jane gave him a small smile and looked down to her half-eaten cheese sandwich

“How are you doing?” He asked in a soft, low voice making Jane look up at him properly

She saw him in his oversized cream hoodie that reflected onto his piercing, deep green eyes.

Her eyes trailed down his honey coloured, angular face down to his sharp nose and slightly parted plump lips as she saw him leaned over onto the table looking intently at her with concern, making Jane’s stomach flip and fill with butterflies as she felt her protective walls cracking and vulnerably she thought back to the day she had yesterday.

Kenneth sat with the same concern and understanding reflecting in his eyes as Jane stared at him and started breaking down.

Her eyes blotching into red spots and tears streaming down her face , making her face flush pink and swell up.

When Jane started to calm down,she wiped the tears from behind her large round black rimmed glasses and after what felt like forever, Kenneth moved his hand ,reaching out for her wrist as he gently held onto it, stood up and started dragging her out of the cafeteria that had people quietly staring at them.

Jane looked down as she allowed herself to follow Kenneth , rushing to get out of the campus.

“Move” He heard Kenneth grumble in a loud deep voice , startling her and making her look up at the cause of his annoyance, Ben.

Jane tried to pull her arm away from Kenneth but instead of letting go , he slid his fingers between hers.

Jane blinked down at their intertwined fingers as she was , once again, dragged away, this time, away from her ex-boyfriend.

As they walked away , Jane allowed a small smile to crawl onto her face as she felt a feeling of triumph.

“I’m sorry if I came off a little creepy back there” Kenneth said , scratching the back of his head with a playful grin when they finally walked out of the gates of the university.

“Thank you” Jane said , returning his smile with her own “How did you know?...” Jane asked him in a small voice

“I kind of found out” He replied awkwardly, “I hope you don’t mind that I tried to find out, in class yesterday you seemed so upset I couldn’t resist...” he said as they walked further and further away from the university.

“Why” Jane whispered to herself but Kenneth heard the trace of her voice in the lonely street they were walking through and replied “Because I want to protect you”

This made Jane stop in her track.

As the wind blew onto their faces, the leaves on the trees rustled and everything in Jane’s system was in a chaos “No one’s ever told me that” she said as she felt her heart pound.

“I mean every word of it Jane” Kenneth said in his deep, throaty voice, making Jane turn red as she blushed furiously

“My name” she started out in a small voice and stopped shaking her head

Kenneth tilted his head to the side , questioningly as one of his curls fell onto his face making him lift his hand up to his face to move it away.

Jane looked up as he lifted his hand and stared into his eyes from behind her glasses as she continued in her soft , sweet voice “I like when you say it” she said louder this time

Startled, Kenneth watched as Jane went from being flustered to flustering him “I like saying it...Jane” He said as he composed himself , more attracted to Jane each passing second.

“Can I hold you?” He asks as the overwhelming urge to protect her rises in his chest as he looked at her in her oversized sweat shirt as strands of her brown hair messily adorned her face and her round glasses perfectly balanced on her button nose and flushed cheeks.

The hair at the back of Jane’s neck stand as she closes the distance between them with a stride.

Kenneth grinned widely as he opened his arms as Jane walked into his arms , they stood holding each other in the sidewalk as people walked around them , the wind continued blowing over and past them and emotions filled their bodies and minds.

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-Later at Jane's apartment-

“So are you guys dating now?” Bailey asked Jane excitedly

“Dating? Girl I bareeellyy know him. I don’t hate the idea of it but...” Jane trailed off

“Oh come on , you live once, might as well make it freaky” Jane heard Bailey say and Jane could imagine her wiggling her eyebrows suggestively

“Bailey- Don’t even” Jane said chuckling at her sister

“But we do...live once huh...” She whispered to herself as her eyes teared up and her mind raced

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-Monday-

“Hey Ken” Jane said shyly as she sat next to him in class

Kenneth’s head snapped up to look at Jane and dropped his pen from his had and onto the floor "Are you alright? I didn’t see you around this morning” he asked her in a frantic, low voice

Jane cringed at his tone and looked around at the others staring at them while Kenneth apologetically looked at her and spoke again whispering this time

“Are you okay?” He asked again

She lowered her voice and whispered back at him “I’m alright , had some things to think about” she explained and smiled at him

‘He was worried’ Jane thought to herself with as her smile widened and her heart went mush.

Kenneth, somewhat convinced , nodded his head and smiled back at Jane.

“I’m glad” he said making Jane tilt her head , confused “that you’re okay” he explained softly

Jane was overwhelmed with emotions as she replied “I am glad too” she said sincerely

They sat staring at each other until a moment later when the professor walked in , making them snap out and look away , embarrassed.

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-Later-

“Hey Jane!!” Kenneth shouted from across the gate as he ran towards her while Jane calmed herself down so she didn't seem too eager as she slowly turned around to look at Kenneth.

“Hey” Jane said softly as Ken caught up to her and bent over resting his hands on his knees as he steadied his breath.

“I didn’t think I would catch up ” he said grinning as he stood up and balanced his bag on his shoulder as Jane smiled shyly.

“You weren’t … waiting for me right?” Ken asked hopefully

Jane gulped and hurriedly shook her head no “ I-I was vounteering at the...library today!” she let out

“Oh... I see” Ken said with a hint of disappointment

“Yeah...” Jane said, feeling a ping of guilt build in the pit of her stomach for lying.

They walked in comfortable silence as they took in the nature, taking their time to stroll down the street

“I can get used to this” Kenneth commented , breaking the silence

Jane nodded with a comfortable small smile spread across her face

Kenneth stared at her as they continued walking, Jane felt his eyes on her and after a moment of trying to contain her blush she looked to her side at him

He didn't look away but instead stared more intently into her eyes

“What’s wrong..?” Jane asked biting her lip , flustered

“Nothing...am I making you uncomfortable?” He asked her gently

Jane aggressively shook her head no.

Kenneth smirked and finally looked away from her and said “You are truly something” he said and then whispered endearingly “So precious”

A wave of chills ran down Jane’s body and her face felt hot as she spoke quickly , moving the conversation away from, her.

“Why do you walk home?” She asked with an awkward smile

“I’m broke” he said simply

Jane nodded and replied, calmer now “Same” she said as they chuckled together.

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