My First Kiss

Chapter 7 - A Night of Jealousy

Thomas let go of her. “Hello Jake,” he replied, a little bit surprised.

“I finally remember him,” Amelia said.

“Oh, that’s nice,” Jake replied.  He seemed sincere.

“Excuse me, I’ll leave you to be.” Thomas excused herself. “It was nice to officially meet you, Ms. Wilson,” Thomas turned to her.

“Call me Amelia.  It was nice to finally meet you too Thomas.” Amelia replied.

“You look nice,” Jake said when Amelia turned to her.

She gave him a little spin to see how her dress looks,” Really?”

She was giddy. Amelia was so happy to finally meet the boy who was there during the lowest moments in her life.

“Are you ready,” Jake asked, who seemed to be starting to get impatient.

“I’ll just grab my jacket” she turned away to grab her jacket and bag.

She was getting a lot of attention at the elevator. They came from the top floor and all of the men and women who took the elevator down with them looked at her with adoration, some with lust, but she didn’t notice because she was not paying attention. Her mind was someone else.

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He was thinking about Thomas. Now that she knew that he was that boy, she finally remembered a few redeeming qualities that reminded him of Thomas. He always sat straight but his hoodie was so big that it hid most of the features of his face. 

His skin was kind of pale and his hands were a little bit shaky. Nonetheless, he had great manners while eating, compared to the rest of the rowdy crowd back in school.

She remembered one time at the canteen. She was eating her lunch, with Thomas at the opposite side of the table eating his sandwich silently. Three girls passed by and one was the girl who she saw Jake was kissing under the Cedar Tree. She heard them whispering to each other.

“He dropped her like a hot potato,” Amelia heard the blonde girl whisper to Cedar girl.

“What do you expect?” Cedar girl answered. “She is not even Jake’s type.

Thomas suddenly punched the table, loud enough for the whole canteen to look in their direction. The three girls hurriedly ran in the opposite direction. Still whispering.

She was startled. It was the very first time she saw Thomas in a different light. She was scared for a bit, but realized that maybe he didn’t want to hear what the other girls were saying. She decided to ignore it and continue enjoying her lunch.

Just like clockwork, the moment Amelia started fixing her bag, ready to bring her empty tray back to the counter, Thomas would leave, even with an unfinished sandwich still in his hand.

She wondered if he knew back then that by next semester she will be not attending that school anymore. Maybe he did, maybe not. But she felt sorry for not being able to thank him for his company, or for having the courage to start a conversation with him. She felt ashamed right now. Amelia failed to remember Thomas. Well, his face was covered most of the time so how could she know?

Thomas is a good looking guy. Whatever sickness he had when he was younger was far from the Thomas he met tonight. He has a nice smile, with a dimple on the right cheek showing every time he does. He looks more like a manager than one of the attendants in the hotel.

“Is Thomas working here every day?” Amelia asked Jake while they were getting out of the elevator to the parking area.

“Mostly yes, why?” There was a sarcasm in Jake’s voice but Amelia failed to notice.

“Nothing.” She replied. “I was just asking.”

Four men were approaching the elevator from the parking lot and were giving Amelia a rather quick look. However, their nasty smiles changed abruptly the moment they realized that he was walking with Jake. Jake immediately took her hand and tugged her closer to him.

“Could you wear your jacket,” Jake said, with a hint of irritation.

“But it's hot in here.” She replied.

Well, Jake was feeling a little bit more than hot.

“Just wear your jacket, it will be colder when we get inside my car.” He commanded.

Amelia just followed ignoring Jake’s indifference. It was her last night with him. She just has to go through with it and focus on her business meeting starting tomorrow.

Jake felt furious. He was ready to punch those guys in the parking lot. He wanted to punch every guy who gave Amelia the look when they were descending the building.

But he wanted to punch Thomas the most. 

He felt a bucket of cold water thrown into his face when he opened the door of his suite. He immediately saw Amelia, with her back mostly exposed, enclosed in Thomas’s embrace. He wanted to rush and pull them apart, punch Thomas, and hurt him badly.

“Ow,” he heard Amelia complain. “Do you have plans of crushing my hand?”

“Sorry, I was thinking of something else.” He apologized. Here is my car, get in.

It was the same car that brought her to her first hotel. This time, it was just the two of them. 

Amelia felt a little bit better when they entered the car. It was indeed colder inside compared to the rather dark and damp parking lot. They were barely talking because her mind was preoccupied with that happy thought earlier. She took the courage to advise Jake to add more lights and air conditioning in their parking area. He nodded and said that he would consider it.

She didn’t find it necessary to explain the embrace that she shared with Thomas. She owes no explanation to Jake. They mostly talked about the places to see in the area, but she could sense that something was off with Jake. She did not dare ask and she didn’t want to get too involved either.

They went to Pattina, one of the fine dining restaurants in the area. It featured a very refined atmosphere with French-American cuisine to enjoy. The atmosphere was quite swanky but private and kind of romantic in a unique way. It was located inside the Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Jake asked her what she wanted. "Surprise me," she replied with a smile. She was taking in the beauty of the place. She was analyzing the smell. Amelia loved fragrances, if she is proud of one skill she has, it was her capability to enjoy the smell and recreate these aromas through her skill inside her lab.

It took her three years to create a name for herself and establish her business. It was a great achievement mostly for someone her age and for someone who did not have unlimited financial resources. 

Her memories of the past were interrupted when she noticed a tall blonde woman approaching them, well approaching Jake.

"Well hello, darlin'?" The woman said while giving Jake a peck on the neck and then entwining both of her hands on his neck to give him an embrace.

Jake was caught by surprise. He didn't expect that peck from Samantha.

He looked at Amelia who seemed to be as surprised as he is. He immediately stood up and removed Samantha's embrace.

"Hi Sammy, I didn't know you were here." He said. By the way, this is Amelia..."

"You would know if you were not avoiding my calls," Samantha interrupted, not paying attention to Amelia."When did you come back to Los Angeles?" She added.

"Could you excuse us for a while?" Jake turned to Amelia and began to almost drag Samantha away from their table.

Amelia pretended not to care but she was flushed and felt humiliated. Jake invited her out and here he is, allowing women to pecking him on the neck. Such indecency it is.

She was trying to pay attention to the place instead when she heard a familiar voice.

It was from Scott. Her friend from Beverly Hills. She got up and gave him a tight embrace. Scott kissed her on both cheeks and embraced him again.

“Why are you here?”  Scott asked.

Scott is her best friend from college. He was her roommate too. A lot of people thought they were a couple but she knew better. Scott was gay but he preferred to be assumed as a man because his father was in the military. He knew that he would break his father’s heart if he came out.

Scott was very handsome. His jaw was chiseled, he was lean and muscular. No one would even think that he was gay. It was advantageous for both of them back in college. Amelia used Scott to get rid of the boys back in college. Scott did the same too. It was a convenience and friendship that she will cherish for a lifetime. Scott was the brother that she never had or rather sister.

“Am I seeing what I am seeing?” Scott teased her.

“Yup, that’s him.” She confirmed.

“And the skanky girl?” Scott whispered, close to her ear.

Jake’s face turned red when he saw that tall guy whispered close to Amelia’s ear. Samantha was pulling him, telling him something he could not comprehend because of the scene in front of him.

Jake could not control himself and walk back to their table. Samantha tagged along. He squared the man beside Amelia. He was two inches taller than Jake, more muscular. He looked like one of those bodyguards in romantic movies.

Before Jake could even speak, Amelia introduced Scott when he reached their table.

“Oh, there you are, Jake this is Scott, my very best friend, Scott this is Jake.” She said.

“Nice meeting you,” Scott offered a hand which Jake took, firmly. “And this pretty lady is, “ Scott inquired.

“Samantha,” Samantha replied, offering her hand for a kiss but Scott shook it instead. “So I guess I have to leave you two?” Scott turned to them. He reached out for Amelia’s forehead and planted a kiss. “I’ll call you ok?” He said before looking at Samantha. “Care to accompany me for dinner someplace else? Scott charmingly said as he guided Samatha away from Amelia and Jake.

The two were walking away but Scott looked back giving Amelia a wink. She responded with a flying kiss - all while Jake was looking intently at her.