8 Love Is A Strong Word

"Life ain't about finding yourself.

Life is about creating yourself."

- George Bernard Shaw

• • •

Today was a staying in day. Oh how I love these days, I mean I would much like to spend it with my brother, but that doesn't seem like an option.

So I'll stick to staying in bed, in my comfy clothes all the while watching 'The Vampire Diaries', and ordering some food in.

Isabella wasn't currently here, she left early in the morning texting me she would be spending her entire day with Travis. Her boyfriend.

That girl seems to be head over heels for that boy even though she's just met him a couple of days before.

I really don't understand people now days. Their thoughts are all over the place.

Either way, i really don't care, it was actually pretty great. Having the room all to myself. The silence enveloping me in a comfortable moment.

But that all ended when I heard a knock at the door. Sighing, I ran my hands across my face in irritation, I picked up a pillow to add to my dramatics before hitting myself with it.

My torture stopped as soon as two more knocks followed.

"I'm going!" I shouted, unwrapping myself from the comfort of my bed, feeling the mornings cool air hit my bare legs, "going!"

Opening the door, with a roll of my eyes, I sent daggers to the person who stood in front of me. "May I help you?" I gritted out.

"Someone isn't happy to see me," there was a sarcastic tone in his voice as he spoke, his blue eyes glinting with amusement as he stared at me.

"What gave it away," I remarked, giving him a deadpan look, "was it the fact that I didn't invite you or the fact that you just ruined my TVD binge watching."

"I'm not sure," he raised a hand to his chin as to think it through, "it's really hard to decide."

Rolling my eyes, I asked, "What is it that you want, Anderson?"

"Who said anything about me wanting something?"

"Well you're here for a reason," I shrugged, crossing my arms over one another as I raised an eyebrow at him.

His eyes raked over my body, and I barely remembered how undressed I currently was.

In just a t-shirt that I had stolen from Elijah back at home, reaching my mid thigh. I wasn't even wearing a bra and you could visibly see my nipples standing out making me unconsciously cover them.

His blue orbs followed my every movement until they landed on one specific place. Snapping my fingers in front of his face I said, "My eyes are up here you know."

Shaking his head he brought his attention back to my face, "Sorry, uhm," coughing to recover from his stutter he proceeded, "I may or may actually want something."

"And?" I pushed, "what do I have to do with it?"

"That's what she said," he blurted out as if it was his way of functioning which I would understand after all he does have a dirty mind, a smile threatened to escape, but I bit down on my lip to stop myself from doing so,

"Anyway, can we maybe talk inside?"

He was trying okay. He was really trying to get me to invite him in. Which actually sounded good after all it would mean I would get to go into my probably already cold covers, just so I could get them warm again.

Frowning at the thought of my covers being cold with my absence, I nodded at an eager Jayden.

Opening the door wider as I moved against the door to let him walk by, his uncovered arm made contact with my own arm, sending tingles to run where he grazed.

"Sit wherever you like," I told him as I closed the door.

I was excited alright, I was going back to the comfort of my bed. And I loved the thought of it after standing there for what felt like hours.

As I looked to where my bed used to be empty I saw how Jayden sat at the edge of it, waiting patiently for me to follow,

"Hurry I don't have your time," well not exactly patiently.

Huffing I stomped over to my bed, before sitting criss cross apple sauce against the headboard while tangling myself into my blankets again.

A smirk covered his pink lips as he watched me, "What I'm cold," I told him.

I was sure I looked like a caterpillar right about now, but I couldn't give two flying fucks.

"Any who, are you going to tell me what is it that you want or do you want me to kick you out?"

Snorting he gave me an easy going smile, "As if you're going to kick me out, admit it, you love my company."

"Love is a strong word."

"You didn't disagree with liking my company though," he pointed out.

"Don't get too full of yourself, I would kick you out, but I'm currently too comfortable," snuggling deeper into the blankets I barely realized that the blue eyed boy probably was cold too.

I mean if the goosebumps on his arms didn't give it away, then maybe the way his body shook did. But why in the world didn't he bring a jacket?

The thing is that giving him a blanket would mean I would have to get out of my very comfortable position.

Ugh. This guy will be the death of me.

Unwrapping myself from the many blankets piled on me, Jayden raised a confused eyebrow as if asking what I was doing. I did tell him I was comfortable.

Moving to the side, I patted the spot where I sat couple seconds ago, "Take your shoes off though," I demanded.

Surprise flashed through his blue irises as he stared into the empty spot, but it quickly vanished as his signature smirk make an appearance,

"If you wanted to take me to your bed, you should have just asked."

"Hurry up before I change my mind," I grumbled.

In a quick movement, he took off both shoes and then got himself comfortable on the bed, leaning himself against the headboard.

"Comfy?" I sarcastically asked.

"Very," he smiled, pulling the blankets closer to him. I myself, sunk deeper into the bed while I brought my MacBook to my lap,

"So as I was saying," he continued whatever it was he wanted to say before, "it's not something I want, it's more like a deal."

"What do you mean by a deal?"

"Well, you see if you think about it, it will actually pay off for the both of us," he told me as if trying to convince me beforehand.

"And what would the deal be about?" I questioned not taking my eyes off of the lit screen in front of me.

Typing in my password, I watched as the screen changed and I soon saw the icons on the bottom and clicked on Netflix.

"I would be helping you with your fear and," cutting him off mid sentence I said, "uhm, yeah, no. I'm good. If that was all you came to offer than you know where the door is, have a nice day."

"Blair," his voice came out pleading, the same tone I had used on my brother yesterday and just the sound of it made my eyes soften,

"Come on, you didn't even let me finish."

Closing my eyes a long sigh left my parted lips, smacking my laptop close I turned to face the brown haired boy, "Look Jayden, I really appreciate you trying to help me, but I really don't need it. I truthfully gave up on any chances of getting over my fear long time ago."

"Blair, I'm sure it isn't that bad."

"But it is. Trust me, there has been many times people have tried to fix me, but they just don't seem to be able to."

"I'm not trying to fix you, I'm trying to help you get over that fear of yours."

"And what exactly would you be getting out this?" I inquired. He seemed to contemplate telling me, but then decided to get over it.

"I need you to help me with my photography class."

"You might not know this but I'm not really the right person to ask for help," I said slowly, as if he didn't understand me and talking this way would get him to comprehend.

"Actually all I need you to do is model for me," he replied, just as slowly.

"Couldn't you have asked someone else?" I questioned, quite confused as to why I was the chosen one out of all the girls who would be willing to do anything to be close to the Greek God before me.

"No, I chose you and I won't be changing my mind anytime soon," he huffed while crossing his arms childishly with a pout.

"I think you should look for someone who has some expertise in this career," I tried to convince him into changing the same mind that thought it would be a great idea for me to model in front of a camera.

"Come on Blair, do this for me. I really need to pass that class if I want to graduate."

I could see the desperation in his eyes, he really needed this and I couldn't just let him down when he most needed my help.

Exhaling I rubbed my eyes with my fingers, "Look, I'll help you with your photography, but don't expect me to agree on the other end of the deal."

"Then it wouldn't be a deal," he disagreed.

"Doesn't matter."

"Blair, it wouldn't be fair. I mean I came with a mindset of getting you to agree with my deal and I won't be leaving until you agree," he argued.

"Then I guess you'll be staying here for quite a while," with that I opened the laptop back up and commenced the TV series.

Just as I thought the conversation was over, a finger touched the space button making the show stop and suddenly the laptop was taking from my lap.

I was beyond shocked. Of course I was, he literally interrupted me from watching Damon, then he made me invite him into my dorm room, is insisting on making me agree to his stupid deal with his stupid persistence. And then when I thought he had finally understood that I didn't want to talk about the deal, he takes my computer, taking my view from Damon away, again.

This stupid blue eye fuck should stop getting on my nerves if he wants to keep his face intact.

"Give it back," I grounded out, reaching over to take a hold of the electronic in his hands.

Moving his hand higher up away from me he shook his head, "No, not until you say the special word."

Still trying to reach for the laptop, I hadn't even noticed I had moved from the warmth of my blankets, "Give. It. Back!"

"Nuh uh."

"You want to hear the special word?" I asked, nodding his head I then said, "Please."

Giving me a deadpan look he said, "Not that special word and you know it."

Grunting in response, I pondered over my reply until I caved in, "Ah, fine."

"Yes!" The blue eyed boy exclaimed in victory. Seeing he had put his guard down, I climbed up and snatched what's mine away from him and I could see the stunned look on his face as I smirked down at him.

But what I found strongly strange was the fact that he didn't look shocked from what had just happened in fact he was looking straight into my eyes.

I had just now noticed that I was straddling his body. A flush of pink covered his tanned skin as he had a perfect view of my legs as the shirt raised up, but he kept his eyes trained on my own.

Rushing away from him, I rolled over to where I had sat, and covered my legs with the soft material.

Clearing my throat I turned over to him saying, "Well then, since you got me to agree I would say your job is done."

A grin widened on his face, "Actually I was thinking I could maybe stay here and spend the day with you."

I hummed, "And who the hell invited you because I sure as hell didn't agree for you to stay."

"Princess, you were the one to invite me in your room and in bed, I think that's enough invite."

Glaring at him he sighed, "Can I just stay here please. I really don't feel like scarring my virgin eyes."

"What are you talking about?"

"My roommate is using the room for things I would much rather not see," he looked ahead and I watched as he scrunched his nose in disgust just at the thought.

Laughing at the weird faces he was making, I said, "Alright, but just so you know you're going to be stuck watching TVD with me."

"Better than going back to the dorm," he shrugged, shaking his head with a shudder as he tried to erase the image of his roommate and some girl.

From there on we just laid next to each other, watching the screen before us intently. From time to time, Jayden would make me stop the show just so he could ask me questions to understand it better.

Jayden was currently laying horizontally on the bed after we had eaten pizza, his head was on my lap as he stared at the computer. My hands subconsciously played with his soft brown hair.

Looking down at his side profile I could see the corner of his lips tugging up slowly, his eyes closing little by little.

Just as his eyes were about to close completely a knock was heard. His head shot up in alert as he looked around the room sleepily. When his eyes landed on me, his eyes seemed to calm as well as his demeanor.

But I felt just as he had felt at first and it wouldn't leave.

"Blair! Open the damn door!" the ginger on the other side of the dark oak screamed, "I forgot my key!"

"Shit," I muttered, looking down at Jayden who was still on my lap I whispered, "Hide under the covers."

Confusion clouded his vision as he stared up at me, "What?"

"Get under there," I pointed under the covers.

As if finally waking up, he nodded his head and planted himself under the covers. After making sure it wasn't obvious a guy was under my blankets I moved for the door.

"Finally!" Isabella exclaimed in exasperation, throwing her hands up to add effect, "I was starting to think you were dead."

Pushing past me, she looks around the room before looking through the closet for something, "I swear I heard another voice."

"Oh, it must've been the laptop," I lied easily, "I was actually seeing TVD."

"Ah, explains the voices," she nodded to herself before standing to her full height with clothes on her hands, "Well, I just came to get some clothes," she wiggled the material up in the air.

Nodding my head, I went over to my bed, sliding into the covers when I remembered who was under them.

Quickly getting off, Isabella looked at me weirdly with a raised eyebrow, "They're too cold," I told her.

"That's why you have to warm them up yourself with your body," she spoke as if she were talking to a five year old who needed help with understanding.

"Right."

Cautiously sliding right back into the covers, I could already picture the smirk covering the blue eyed boy's face.

As soon as my legs were all the way in, I was met with warm skin. A shudder crept up my legs as Jayden's hot breath washed over them.

Can he even breath?

"Are you okay Blair?" the ginger questioned in concern as she looked at me skeptically.

"Yeah, as I said it's just cold," I responded, shrugging nonchalantly, trying my hardest to make small talk so she could just go back to her boyfriend.

Jayden placed a finger on my bare thigh and started tracing little shapes on my skin, his touch leaving a hot trail.

"Okay then, I'm leaving now," she informed me heading towards the door, "don't do anything that I wouldn't do while I'm gone," she sternly stated, giving me the look a mom would give their child.

"Yes mom," I saluted her making her laugh, closing the door behind her. Jayden immediately shot up from the bunch of blankets on top of him, gasping for air.

"Thought she was never leaving!"

Chuckling at his words, I grinned his way, "That went better than expected."

"I still don't understand why I needed to hide," he said.

"Because it's Isabella," I replied, Jayden gave me a look that said that didn't explain anything, "And Isabella is obsessed with boys, she wouldn't have left me alone if she were to see you here."

He nodded in understanding before his blue eyes fleeted towards the clock that stood next to my night stand, I bought it yesterday.

"I best get going dimples, it's getting late," he started, looking directly into my eyes, "See you around."

"Dimples?" Stopping in his tracks he turned to me, walking back to me.

"Well yeah, that's going to be my nickname for you from now on, after all you do have some cute dimples," he raised his hand up to my face to poke at my cheek where I'm guessing one of my dimples popped.

"Cute huh?" I teased, the corner of my mouth tilting up into a smirk.

Bringing his hands to his sides, he shook his head letting out a small chuckle, "Now, now, don't get cocky on me Kingston."

"It's not being cocky, it's being confident about myself," I retorted, pointing my nose up to the air.

"I like that," he smiled charmingly at me.

"Good," I spat.

Planting a small kiss onto my cheek, he made his way back the way he came. "Don't dream too much about me. See you."

And with that, he swiftly opens the door and slips out of the room and into the hallway, "Goodnight."

Closing the door behind him I didn't get the chance to reply, but yet I still muttered a, "Goodnight."