Teaching River

Confusion and cupcakes

MYSTIQUE

Did I just hear him right? Did River just admit that he hated the way Jay treated me as a possession? My mouth was agape and I stared into those eyes of his. I was completely stunned and very confused.

"Would you stop staring at me like that? Look I'm just looking out for you because I actually consider you to be my f-f... Ffffff," he attempted a few more "ffff's" until I cut him off.

"-Friend?"

He stopped and nodded with a small smirk.

"Well thanks for the heads up friend, but that's just how Jay acts okay? There's no need to be all bodyguard Skyscraper." I said giving him a light punch on the shoulder. He chuckled and for a second our eyes met and I was surprisingly caught off guard at how beautiful and lively they seemed. Had they always been this way?

"Foggy?" It was then that I snapped out of my thoughts and shook my head.

"Sorry I um... Was just thinking." I said. He shook his head and told me that I shouldn't think so much. It would, and I quote, "short-circuit my brain." Guess he understood something from physics.

"So is your bodyguard done with your briefing on boy safety?" Jay asked once I'd gotten back to him. He was standing away from Chris, Damen and everyone else that surrounded the popular group.

"That obvious huh?" I asked. He nodded slowly.

"It's strange though..." He continued as he looked at River who was now laughing with Chris and Lacy, "River has never really been protective or close to any girl, except his sister. But he doesn't even look out for his own girlfriend like he looks out for you."

I too turned to look at River who then met my eyes. At first it felt as though he was pulling me in with those multi coloured orbs of his. Drawing my soul into his, and then he smiled and stuck out his tongue at me childishly. Trust him to do something so imature.

"I guess I'm the only real girl not related to him that isn't attracted to him in such a way that it's the only thing I see when I look at him. My mom always used to say that beneath the surface of any person is an unending infinity of mysteries waiting to be discovered."

"Deep. When can I meet her?" I turned to him as my heart throbbed and the blood I'm my veins rushed as I processed the weight of that statement.

He seemed to notice and blushed slightly, "I mean... Um well, that was forward of me."

"N-no, it's okay I guess. You can meet her whenever you'd like." I said with a smile. He smiled back and for a second our eyes locked on each other. He stared intently at me and then his eyes flickered from my eyes to my lips and then back again and stayed there. He then began to slowly lean in and I did too, his warm minty breath fanning against my face and his eyes slowly closing as our lips moved closer towards each other. All was going as planned until...

"Can you two to five seconds without being all disgusting and lovey dovey!"

Skyscraper

Jay and I moved as far away from each other as possible and made no eye contact. This was so awkward. I looked up and glared daggers at Skyscraper. In my mind I was stabbing him profusely. It was like those times when you're so angry you imagine yourself grabbing the person that angered you, by the throat and shaking them like a bobblehead doll.

For a moment I wondered whether prison food was nice, because after I was done with River I'd need to be locked up tightly.

"What is it now Skyscraper." I said sighing and placing two of my fingers on the temples of my skull.

He smirked, sensing my irritation.

"Oh, I just wanted to ask you if you were hungry?" He asked looking all innocent.

I didn't even get a chance to respond before Skyscraper grabbed me away. I turned back towards Jay who looked unimpressed. He caught my eye and then gave a small embarrassed smirk. Which I returned. What if we actually did kiss. Those soft lips against mine... Get a grip Mystique!!

"I brought you here to hang out with my friends, not to make out with Jay!" River whispered. I shook my head.

"Thanks to you, no making out actually happened. Thanks for that... No, really thanks. Now would you please chose the method you prefer regarding your brutal murder by my hand?"

River gave a fake smile and handed me a plate as we neared the snack table. By now I'd already known the contents on the table by heart. Cocktail sausages, chips, sandwiches, cupcakes and... alcohol.

I stared at a cider longingly and Skyscraper handed it to me along with a cupcake.

"If you're drinking that, you might want to eat that cupcake to get rid of the smell. Also, cupcakes taste better than alcohol in a kiss," he winked and then motioned towards Jay.

Maybe I'd misunderstood River. Maybe he was looking out for me. Maybe he did not need to be brutally murdered... yet.

And so I smiled taking the cupcake and leaving the cider. I got his hint loud and clear. River then gave me a wink, another cupcake and pushed me towards Jay.

I made it back to Jay and handed him one of the chocolate cupcakes which he took with a smile. 

"Has River finished his task of stealing the beautiful lady away from her desperately nervous companion?" He asked with a chuckle. I gave a laugh at his words and nodded.

Jay and I ate our cupcakes in silence and then he turned to me and chuckled as he stared at my lips.

"What?" I asked confused. Was there something on my face? Gosh why was i so embarrassing. I was about to get into full on panic mode when he reached out and gently placed his thumb on my lip as he removed whatever was on it. I blushed as I stared up into his gorgeous blue eyes which were fixated on my lips.

"I'd kiss you right now but... I'd prefer to do it in a more private atmosphere." He whispered lowly. He then leaned down and placed a soft kiss on my cheek. Which released the millions of butterflies trapped in my stomach. I was shocked I wasn't in a puddle on the floor yet.