Chapter 32: What happened to the jerk?

Laura's POV:

“Hi..” I greeted Jaxon, who stood in the doorway staring at me, with his mouth hanging half open.

“Erm. Hi.” He stuttered then abruptly withdrew his gaze. “You're here for the rehearsals?”

He asked a dumb question, what did he think I was here for, holding a guitar in my hands?

Did he think I was visiting?

But I didn't say anything, I needed to get his attention and not dissatisfaction. I nodded. “Yeah, Thanks to you. We couldn't do anything last time.”

He cocked his head sideways, arching an eyebrow while flashing me his shitty-grin. “I hope you will this time.”

I met his gaze, unblinking. “That's if someone wouldn't stuff his nose, where it doesn't belong as usual.”

He chuckled softly. “I see. You never forget to bring your tongue along.”

I flashed him a rather cold smile and replied in the same sarcastic tone, he used. “And you also didn't forget to look your cockiest self today.”

“Talking about looks.” He said and paused, his eyes did a casual look-me-up flip over my body. Which made me feel embarrassed and exposed.

I glared at him. What the fuck was going on in his sick mind?

He stopped his evaluation, and his face broke into a smile as it rose to meet mine. “You look dropped dead gorgeous?”

What?

I stiffened, my face paled— my stomach felt fluttery and light.

What did I just hear?

Jaxon Fallon, complimenting me?

The shadow of a blush slowly crept to my cheek, burning both sides of it. And I stood there frozen, because I fucking blushed because Jaxon Fallon told me I was beautiful.

What the fuck is wrong with me.

Didn't I come here to hate him.

Why was I blushing?

Why is my heart thumping so loudly?

I gripped the hilt of the guitar, so tightly. While trying to regain my composure. I didn't want him to know what was going on with me. But his eyes seemed to have seen through me.

What the fuck!

Laura say something. Say anything! Just fucking say something!

I swallowed hard. “Please can you get out of the way.” I blurted out, pulling all the ounce of strength in me to manage a frown, a feeble attempt to mask my reddening cheek.

But I was doing a fucking terrible job. And Jaxon could tell. He folded his hands across his chest and reclined back on the door, wearing his favorite smirk.

“You don't have to try so hard to hide a blush, you know?” He tsked, brushing his thumb along his lower lip. His eyes staring at me hungrily.

My legs weakened beneath me. What was this guy doing to me.

“Please can you kindly, get out of the way.” I said inspite of myself.

“Sure.” He smiled chidingly and shifted to one side of the doorway, creating enough space for me and my band to walk through.

I eased a sigh of relief. “Thank you.”

“Is that for the compliment?” He asked, in a flirty tone.

“No, it's not!” I snapped, my eyes rolled so hard, they almost hopped to another dimension.

Without waiting for his retort, I brisk through the door. My shoulders brushed along his chest. I stiffened, a kill switch clicked in my brain. I hated this guy so much, that almost gave in to the temptation of ramming his face with the guitar I was holding.

I pulled myself together and walked along, waltzing through the hall to the patio, with my band members shadowing behind me.

I swallowed hard as I reached the patio door. If I was going to succeed in Ruining Jaxon Fallon. I had to mask my emotions and play along.

Things were about to change, and this time? There was nothing to take the edge.

Ryan helped set up the controls and we started rehearsing immediately. I was quietly waiting for Jaxon to show up.

Where was he?

I shot my fifteenth or so glance at the door, halfway through rehearsals, while my hands tugged nimbly at the strings of the guitar.

Where the fuck did he go to, today. When I needed to warm my way up to him. When I slowly wanted to get his attention, his heart and everything and then ruin him for good. Break him into several unrecognizable pieces.

fuck!

I sucked my teeth, and tore my eyes from the door, travelling it through the entire studio and meeting the eyes of all my band members staring at me.

Huh? Why were they staring at me?

Then another thought struck me. Wait! How long have I been staring at the door?

Ten? Fifteen or twenty minutes?

What a fool!

I jutted my attention back to guitar in my lap and cleared my throat noisily. “Uhm..can we get back to rehearsals?”

“Sure.” That was Ryan. “Glad you asked.”

My cheek turned crimson. Another blush. Damn!

I resumes strumming the guitar and begin mouthing Love Trade fair.

Ryan jabbed at something on the mixer and the instrumentals I'd prepared filled the entire room.

I took a deep breath and opened my vocal cords to sing, forcefully shoving whatever thoughts and hatred I had of Jaxon Fallon out of my mind. I began to sing:

Everyday is another morning,

To think of you, my darlin'

I'm drownin' and you know this—

Can't figure how, you did this(you did this!)

You high me like dopamine

Send me to cloud nine.

Now, I can't climb down.

All I wish, is that we can trade our love(trade our love)

You hold my hands(hold my hands)

Put my life back together.

Wanna be with you, forever.

Oh, yeah!

I heaved the patio door open and stepped out— smiling and chatting with Ryan.

I just finished the best rehearsal, I had had in months and I was still reeling in the high of the blues.

“We could make Love Trade fair, a prelude to the album.” Ryan was saying.

I nodded, that wasn't a bad idea all together. “We can actually. You talk with the producers.”

“Sure, thing.” He replied as we reached the middle of Jaxon's living room.

Thinking about Jaxon. Where was he? He hadn't shown up all through the rehearsals more to my relief and disappointment at the same time.

We were almost inches from the door, when a deep masculine baritone called from above us. “You guys done already?”

We all turned around, to see Jaxon cladded in a white roundneck T-shirt and wearing a pair of jeans, staring down at us.

He clambered down the stairway making for us.

“Yeah, we are.” I said, straightening up. “We're also about leaving.”

“Hmmm.” He grunted and grabbed something from a table in his living room. A car key. He straightened up, just inches from me.

“Good,” His face broke into a smile. “How about I drive you home, what do you say?”

“What?” I gasped. Was the world going insane all of a sudden?

Why was Jaxon Fallon of all people acting nice today?

It was unbelievable, so unbelievable. But the smile that spread all over his face was real. Too real.

He asked again. “Can I drive you home?”

Shit!