The Tracker Hive Academy Year One - Avery Song Page 0,60
you, Jade Storm."
"There's a lot of layers of me, Zeke. Do you really want to attempt to peel each one?"
I was weird, that was obvious, but did he or the others want to dive into knowing me? The true me under the layers of protection built from a single year of devastation?
Would they really be okay with that? And was I okay with letting them in?
"I'd be more than happy to peel back every single layer and learn all the shades of our Junior Tracker," he whispered against my lips before sealing them completely.
I made a mental note to return to the ‘Junior’ mention, but I allowed myself to let go and revel in this sweet and gradual kiss. I wasn't worried about people seeing us, or the fact we were kissing in public for anyone to see.
All I wanted was to enjoy Zeke's lips and allow myself to accept how serious his statement was.
He wants me. Would the others be down for all of this?
The thought made a bubble of emotions boil inside me; my elements felt just as thrilled at the idea. Their reaction to my feelings was only making this into something I wanted to happen.
Zeke smirked against my lips, prompting me to open my eyes.
"What?"
"Slowing kissing with you makes me feel really calm," he admitted.
"And not-so-slow kissing?"
"Makes me want to pin you against the wall and do a lot more than kissing. My energy spikes up to the 'let's not think' level."
"Fun." I licked my lips. “And I’ll be a regular Tracker before you know it.”
“I never doubted that." He chuckled. "And you're clearly down for either.”
"If it means more kissing, yes," I replied.
"Do you want me to answer more questions?" he asked. I grinned and gently wrapped my arms around his waist, giving him a soft hug.
"No," I whispered, resting my head against his chest. I listened to his swift heart rate, the sound only making my grin widen.
"When would our first date be?"
"Tonight," he suggested.
"Since you missed what little Sallie Walker said before your arrival," I teased, using the song lyric to add to the amusement, "I wasn't originally invited. Only Shadow Jade."
"Why?" Zeke asked, his hand possessively wrapping around my waist as he returned the hug, the two of us staying in that embrace while we continued our conversation.
"She's cooler than me, I think? Who knows."
"Silly," Zeke mumbled. "Come with me tonight."
"What about my supposed date with Zeus?" I teased, knowing that was merely a cover.
"That isn't valid when you're not regular Jade." He leaned back to look down at me, giving me a playful smirk. "You'll be Shadow Jade at the party."
"I'll do my best to act the part," I assured.
"That means you're going?"
"I do like a good party. As long as they have sweet alcohol."
"Do you drink?"
"Not often. I like whatever Bianca hides in my dad's fridge in his office."
"You sneak in there and drink some, huh?"
"Guilty as charged."
"What are you going to wear tonight?"
"I'm not sure," I confessed. "Whatever I wear won't matter since the girls call me a slut anyway."
"Which you aren't," Zeke grumbled. "You get a new locker?"
"Not yet. Zeus won't let me use my old one until it's changed. Now that you mention it, I wonder where I put my tie?"
I didn't have it around my neck, and I didn't remember the last time I had it aside from this morning.
"You lose stuff a lot?"
"I lose my tie at the same rate as hair ties. It just falls in the category of lost and never found until you don't need it." I rested my chin on his chest, continuing to look up at him. "I'll get a new one from Alaric."
"I'll give you one of mine," he concluded.
"Possessive," I replied. "Pretty smooth move."
He looked beyond happy with me catching onto his flirting ways. I, too, was really pleased about all of this. My conversations with each of the Maxwell brothers were simply refreshing.
I didn't need to think or worry about what I had to say around them, making the whole idea of being around them more eventful and relaxing.