Chapter 28

Christin smiled awkwardly at Jamie as he opened the door of his car for her to enter and she did so while trying hard to not look much into his weel mannered action, which she appreciated yet she ended up observing him as he closed her door and went round to enter on the driver's seat.

"Put on your seat belt and we're off," Jamie reminded her and Christin immediately turned to do so as inwardly she scolded herself for not having done so already. Her hurried attempt however appeared to become a difficult task as no matter how much she pulled on it, the belt did not seem to roll.

"What's up?"

"It's stuck." She replied to him while her embarrassment started growing inside her, finding it stupid the fact that she couldn't do something so simple. She took in a deep breath in order to contain her momentary anger, as she pulled a bit more at it, yet nothing happened.

Jamie left a smirk to appear on his lips as he observed her cute struggle and her puffed cheeks that made her look like a squirrel, then he proceeded to lean towards her and give her a helping hand.

His sudden approach caught her unprepared however and made Christin stand motionless for he had brought his face and his body very close to hers and practically had his jawline on full display in front of her face.

"Ah! Look, it finally came off." He rejoiced as soon as the seatbelt got unstuck then he pulled away, ending up to mistakingly brush his cheek at Christin's lips. An action that had his eyes grow wide and look at her with a quite shocked expression, as it felt as if she had kissed him.

"Oh my, No, I- I am so sorry. I did not... It was an accident." Christin tried to justify the occurrence while Jamie continued to look at her speechless, still doubting her for to him it felt as if she had just seized the opportunity. However even if it was what he was thinking, he sure didn't mind much.

"We're cool, it doesn't matter, it was just on the cheek anyway." He replied with a wide smile on his lips while in his mind he continued his sentence.

I kissed you on the lips while in the bathroom the other day and I did not even apologize, so I guess we got even.

His own thought made his smile to keep dancing softly on his lips and as the memory of the event came to his mind, and Jamie couldn't help but throw a glance at Christin again who had fallen quiet and was just looking ahead, trying her best to hide her embarrassment and shame that had taken over her.

Jamie unconsciously licked his lips as the taste of her lips came to his mind upon observing her then he tore his eyes away and brought the vehicle to life, returning his attention on the streets and leaving his playful thoughts for later.

--- Time skip ---

Lisa stepped out of Joel's room after some minutes that she was in there and as soon as Nailor glanced her way, he immediately came to realize that something was off with her, for her face had lost its colour and she had on a scared expression as if she had seen a ghost or something.

"Lisa, are you okay? Did something happen?" He questioned her anxiously as he approached her, in order to take a closer look and meet eyes with her.

"Eh?! No, It's nothing. It's just the tiredness I spoke of earlier. I'm a corpse so I'd better go home and rest." She lied to him as at that moment she just wanted to run somewhere, wherever she was as long as she was to be away from everyone and everything.

"But I can not let you go in such a condition. Let me drive you home, at least." Nailor suggested and turned around and took hold of his keys that rested on a small table in a corner of the room.

Lisa just nodded her head in agreement, not having the courage to speak at the moment, and simply followed Nailor out the door after putting her bag on her shoulder. She remained quiet all their way till his apartment's parking lot as she was lost in her thoughts and the heavy feeling that had taken over her chest.

"Where is your car at?" Lisa asked him as soon as the elevator opened its doors and let the free on the parking lot, wanting to know which way to go.

"Oh, Well...actually, I lent the car to a friend for today but we can get my motorbike. I don't think you would have a problem riding it, do you?" He raised an eyebrow at her as he wondered if Lisa liked motorbikes or not.

"Are you serious, I love motorbikes!! Dude, this is so awesome! Come on, you'll take me for rides everywhere." She took hold of his forearm as she jumped a bit excitedly and smiled, taking this pleasant surprise as her safety boat to get herself away from the pit of sadness she was about to fall. A sadness which she could not avoid forever but she felt the need to distract herself so badly momentarily.

"Eh?! But before you said that you were tired, now how come you want rides around the city?" He questioned her with a playful smirk dancing on his full lips as he found the bravery to tease her a little, in a friendly way, but the look she turned around and gave him, made him gulp his own saliva quite harshly.

"Just do what I am telling you and become my saviour for now." Her teary eyes that she was trying so hard to hide made him freeze for a moment, for he was reassured that indeed something was going on with her but it was not his place to ask her nor comfort her in any way.

So instead, Nailor just did as she asked of him. They walked to his black motorbike and got on without further ado and as soon as she got behind him and ran her arms tightly around his waist to hold on, he pushed forward letting the speed increase and the silence be filled with the noises of the street and air that was hitting them.

Lisa had hidden her head on his back where she left a few tears to flow down her cheeks as once again in her life, she was in a situation that she caused unintentionally and because of that, she felt somehow responsible.

'Joel, if you had told me earlier you would not have had to go through all the pressure alone.'

'Whatever happens, I promise to find a way to help you.'

'I will collect the remaining money and I will save you even if I have to steal a bank to collect it.'

Her thoughts were many but of course, she had a decision to make and she had to concluded to help her friend no matter what. For Joel was in this tight spot right now because of her, or at least in some way, it was her fault. It was the aftermath of her actions that brought the cause.

After an hour of riding around the city with Nailor, she finally instructed him to drive her home and after a good ten minutes, he pulled in front of the building that Lisa told him and she got off the motorbike and thanked him with a smile on her face, once again hiding her true feelings.

"You are welcome, as long as you feel better, that's all that matter. Take care, good night." He smiled at her, although he understood that her smile was fake but he thought that he should not comment anything on it for everyone has their moments and he decided to respect hers and not pressure her with any useless words.

Lisa waved at Nailor as he drove away- feeling thankful for how considerate and nice he had been with her- and once he disappeared on the horizon, Lisa turned around and walked towards the entrance of the building, thinking only about her room where she wanted to close herself into and pass the rest of her night in her misery, yet her thoughts got disturbed as near the entrance she spotted a body lying at the side of the building.

"Jay?!"

'What is he doing over there like that?'

She wondered as her feet changed direction and started to approach him slowly, feeling a little more anxious at every step she was making for his motionless body was giving her frightening thoughts.

"Don't tell me he is dead?"

She murmured to herself right before she halted her feet before him and proceeded to shake that terrible thought out of her head.

'He might be sleeping...why do I have to dramatize everything.'

'I'm just going to shake him and find out.'

Lisa concluded in her mind then took a deep breath and squad down at his level, hesitantly bringing her hand to touch his shoulder as a question cautiously left her lips.

"Jay, are you okay?"

---- To be continued ...