Chapter 5

Jolene 

I hurried after him, trying not to look too desperate while Jessica and the others walked ahead of us. Most of the boys congratulate her.

My heart was beating so loudly I was convinced he could hear it.

Goddess.

Why does he make me this nervous?

Seth shoved his hands into the pocket of his hoodie as we walked through the parking lot. His scent hit me stronger now, cedarwood, rain and something distinctly wolfish.

It made my stomach flutter embarrassingly hard.

"You can ride with me and Jessica but if you are not comfortable, you can ride  with Carl. Also congratulations on making it to the team,"he says 

I blinked, looking up at him.

"Uh… yeah. And I'll ride with you"

I think my face is hotter than coal with the rare I'm blushing.

"Alright"

" Oh I saw your try out video. Really good flip skills "

My eyes widened.

“You did?”

He nods once. " Your flips were good." 

Good?

GOOD?

Oh my good. He thinks it good. Well good isn't the best but  coming from Seth, it somehow still felt like the greatest compliment on earth.

" Thanks," I say shyly 

He glances at me briefly before looking ahead again. 

" Jess said you did gymnastics. Didn't know it was true" 

" Since I was five." 

" That explains it." 

And just like that, silence falls again.

But this time it was different. It was comfortable.

This is the most he has spoken to me 

He’s never been much of a talker unless he’s with his friends. Around me, especially, conversations usually lasted less than thirty seconds.

Still, I liked being near him.

Even if I barely spoke. Even if I act weird sometimes.

We reached the parking lot where his black benz was parked. Chase immediately climbed into the passenger seat . Jessica joined and Seth waited for me for to enter. He closed the door and walked around to the driver's seat.

Carl and Cal got into Carl's Chevrolet.

Then I realized want in the passenger seat, Infront.

Beside Seth.

My soul left my body.

Jessica smirked from the backseat like she knew exactly what she was doing.

"Oh my goddess," I mouthed at her.

She only grinned wider.

Seth starts the car while music played softly through the speakers. One hand rested lazily on the steering wheel and I had to physically stop myself from staring.

This is pathetic, Jolene.

Completely pathetic.

"You okay there?" Jessica asks from the back suddenly.

I jumped. "What?"

"You’ve been staring at Seth for like two minutes."

The entire car exploded into laughter. 

Oh I'm going to kill that girl.

"Oh my god" I muttered, wanting the earth to swallow me whole.

Jessica cackled beside Chase while Chase smacked Seth’s shoulder.

"Damn, future alpha. Got the freshman losing oxygen"

"Shut up," Seth mutters without heat.

But I noticed the slight twitch at the corner of his lips.

Which somehow made it worse.

..........

The restaurant downtown was nicer than I expected.

It overlooked the lake near the edge of town, sunlight reflecting magically across the water. We took over almost an entire booth because apparently Seth’s friend group traveled like a small army.

Most of the conversation happened around me.

The boys teased each other nonstop while Jessica argued with Cal over fries.

I mostly sat quietly, listening and laughing when needed.

Occasionally I  would glance at Seth.

And sometimes our eyes will meet. 

Not long enough like usual.

The butterflies in my stomach are much worse today.

I focused on my fries and my phone while I smiled at my brother's arguing with my father over soccer.

At one point, Vera showed up.

Of course she did. She is like a walk-in gps.

She walked into the restaurant wearing heels to a casual diner because apparently normal teenage behavior was illegal for her.

Her eyes immediately landed on Seth.

Then me.

And her smile faltered slightly. I get this feeling she doesn't like me for some odd reason.

"Well," she says sweetly while sliding beside Seth. "Nobody told me this was a group thing."

Jessica visibly rolled her eyes.

Seth does react,his eyes are still on his phone. "You said you were busy."

"I changed my mind."

I suddenly became very interested in my milkshake.

Vera’s gaze drifted toward me again.

"You're Jolene, right? Jessica's little friend. Heard you made the team. Congratulations"

Little friend. Really 

Ouch.

"Yeah," I answered 

"Thanks. Means a lot coming from you" Jessica cuts in immediately, defensive and sarcastically.

Vera's expression stiffened for half a second before she smiled again because she can't touch Jess,Seth is here.

"That’s cute."

Okay.

Definitely an insult.

Cal snorted into his drink.

Seth glanced at Vera briefly, his expression still unreadable and rolled his eyes.

Then he looked at me.

"Do you need more drink. Jolene"

My heart skips another beat.

The table went quiet for a second.

Heat rushed to my face instantly.

"No... thank you," I whispered.

Vera’s smile looked painful after that.

.......

By evening, we ended up near the lake behind the restaurant.

The boys skipped rocks while Jessica recorded Carl almost falling into the water.

I sat on the hood of Seth's cat, laughing harder than I had in a long time forgetting my surroundings.

For once, I didn’t feel like the awkward freshman in love with Seth. 

Being a teenager is weird.

I actually felt included and part of something.

The sun was beginning to set when my phone buzzed.

Dad.

"Your parents?"  Jessica asks.

I nodded before answering. "Hello?"

"Hey princess," Dad says. "Your mother and I are nearby. We’ll come get you." 

"Okay." 

" We’ll be there in ten."

After hanging up, I hopped off the car hood.

"My parents are coming."

Jessica pouted  "Already?"

"It’s getting late." Seth says looking at his watch.

"Unfortunately," Cal says. "Some of us have responsible parents." 

"Couldn't be me," Chase mutters.

A few minutes later, Dad's BMW pulled into the parking lot with Mom in the passenger seat.

I smiled instantly.

Mom rolled down the window. "There's my baby."

"Mom, please" I groaned

Dad stepped out , greeting everyone while Mom eyed me carefully.

"You had fun," she says knowingly.

"A little. And I got on the team"

"A little?" Jessica scoffs loudly. "She's been smiling for like six hours." 

My eyes widened in horror.

"Jessica!" 

Everyone burst out laughing.

Even Seth.

The sound caught me completely off guard.

The butterflies are back

My stomach flipped again.

Mom noticed immediately.

Oh no.

The tiny smirk on her face told me she noticed everything.

Absolutely terrible. This is a disaster.

"Well,"Dad says, opening the car door for me. " Time to go before your mother starts interrogating people." 

"She likes to interrogate," Jessica says casually.

Mom gasped dramatically. " Jessica King! I am deeply offended."

"You questioned me for forty minutes the first time I entered your house" Seth says,"and I was just picking up my sister" he adds

"That was parental concern."

"That was psychological warfare."

I laughed so hard I nearly tripped getting into the car. 

Mom is always making people feel scared.

As Dad drove away, I looked back one last time.

Seth stood beside his car with his hands in his pockets, watching us leave.

And for the first time ever he didn’t look away first.