Feelings that never disappear

_

Harper's POV

I sighed for the umpteenth time in the bathroom. "Could today be any worse?"

First it was my phone, now my clothes. If this continues, I won't have anything to wear soon.

I pulled off my stained top and tried to rinse it, but it was useless.

I stared down at my jeans and grunted.

I really love the trousers.

Taking a deep inhale, I went into the bathroom to wash the juice stain off my body, leaving my stained clothes and Quinn's cheerleading dress outside at the locker space.

I had barely finished when I heard someone come into the space.

"Quinn?" I called out.

There was no response.

I grabbed the towel and wrapped it around my body and got out of the bathroom. I heard the locker room door close with a slam and rushed to the sink.

Oh no! I cried in my head. My clothes were gone.

I rushed to the door to chase after whoever had just stolen my clothes.

I was startled by Reagan and her minions who were waiting for me outside with their phones held out.

"Say cheese," they chorused, smirking.

I stared in horror and quickly covered my face. I tried to escape back into the room but another girl was blocking the door.

With no other choice, I ran.

I found the nearest room and rushed in immediately without thinking. I moved in, trying to find a place to hide.

Just as I neared the locker space, I heard someone and tried to turn back to leave.

I was about to grab the door open but it opened instead and Jace walked in.

My eyes widened as my heart panicked.

"What are you doing here?" I threw accusingly.

He didn't answer but grabbed me instead and pulled me fast into one of the boys' bathrooms.

My back slammed against the cold tiles and I gasped slowly.

He pulled the curtain closed.

I lifted my head and found him too close to me. His face was just an inch away.

I pressed my lips together, my breath seized for a moment.

Before I could say something to him, I heard the girls walk in.

My words stuck in my throat and my heart beat faster in panic.

"Declan?" I heard Reagan's voice.

Her heels made noise as she approached.

My whole body seized and I shut my eyes, praying that she would never find me.

"Reagan?"

Declan's voice came.

"Where is Harper?" she asked impatiently.

"Who is that?" Declan replied.

I didn't hear Reagan's voice or see the expression on her face but I heard her footsteps instead as she tried to find me.

She stopped in front of the bathroom where I was and my heart almost stopped.

"That's Jace's bathroom," I heard Declan say.

There was silence for a short moment.

I looked up at Jace who seemed awfully calm for someone who was about to be caught with me in a towel.

I opened my mouth to speak but he placed his palm over my lips quickly to shut me up.

"Jump on me," he let out in a bare whisper.

I didn't think for a second before jumping on him, my legs wrapped firmly around his body. I gripped hard onto him, afraid he might let go.

"Jace?" I heard Reagan's voice again, softer this time.

"Are you in there?"

He didn't answer straight away.

I saw Reagan's hand move outside the curtain and clutched tighter to Jace, my eyes wide in horror.

"Can you leave? I'm trying to take a shower," he finally said, his voice laced with annoyance.

I wasn't sure if it was because someone like me was clinging to him or because he was really annoyed by Reagan's presence.

Reagan's hand moved away slowly.

I heard her walk out, the others' heels following, clicking noisily against the floor.

It was only after the door closed that I finally let out the breath I was holding.

My eyes met Jace's as he stared at me and I realized my legs were still clutched around him.

I panicked and jumped down quickly, pushing him away as soon as my feet met the floor.

In that moment, my foot slipped on the tiles and I yelped as I staggered backward.

Jace's hands gripped my waist, his other hand placed at the back of my head quickly to stop me from hitting it against the wall.

His breath hit me as my back slammed against it again.

We were even closer now, our lips barely an inch from each other.

I tried not to breathe, my hands holding his shirt and my lips parting slowly.

My heart started a dangerous hammering as his eyes held mine.

He moved his gaze down to my lips and I watched him run his tongue across his lips.

My face flushed.

In that moment… I thought… I wished...

"Are you really so in love with Declan that you came in a towel to find him?"

His voice broke the tension.

My brows lifted with irritation instead.

"What?"

I pushed him away again. I was so naive, thinking such a stupid thing as kissing would happen between us.

I pulled the curtain open angrily and stepped out, too angry to be close to him.

"Are you going out in that?" he yelled from behind.

I halted in my steps and stared down at what I had on.

I shut my eyes and let out a frustrated, helpless exhale.

Before I could turn to him, he walked to me and handed me his jacket.

"What? No," I refused.

"Are you dumb? Reagan and her friends are probably still waiting outside to get pictures of you," he said.

I crossed my arms, tilting back a bit.

"And you think coming out with your jacket would help?" I asked, gesturing at the cloth.

He considered my words and moved again. He opened his locker and rummaged for a moment before bringing out a bag and throwing it at me.

I caught it and stared at him.

"You don't need to return it. I bought it for Reagan as a gift before I found out she was cheating on me," he said.

I looked into the bag and pulled out a nice dress. Obviously not my kind of clothing.

Jace walked past me and out of the room, leaving me to sort myself out.

I inhaled as I moved to one of the bathrooms to change.

_

Jace's POV

I tried to steady my heart and body as I walked out of the locker room.

My hands clenched inside my pockets where I kept them to stay calm.

The feel of her breath down my neck still clouded my senses and I could not shake it off.

I could feel myself trembling back there, almost losing control.

I was a moment away from grabbing her lips and locking them in mine.

The effect she had on me after all these years seemed to have never disappeared.

I just kept it buried while pretending to hate her, and I hated myself for that.

Worse still, I hated her… for making me this way.