The sky stretched above. With streetlights flickering, casting long, wavering shadows across the pavement.
Nora stood there, staring at Jaytee's retreating figure, her chest tightening with something she couldn't quite name.
"Jaytee," she called but he didn't stop.
Her fists clenched at her sides. "Jaytee, wait!"
This time, he paused, just slightly, before exhaling sharply. Without turning around, he muttered, "Go inside, Nora."
But she was already stepping closer.
"I just… I just wanted to say thank you." Her voice was softer now, careful as if speaking too loudly would shatter the fragile moment between them.
Jaytee finally turned, his dark eyes that were unreadable in the dim light. "For what?"
Nora hesitated. For staying with me. For looking out for me. For making me feel safe, even when you act like you don't care. But instead, she just said, "For walking me home."
Jaytee huffed a quiet, humorless laugh, shaking his head. "Right."
"I mean it," she pressed, stepping closer. "You pretend like you don't care, but you do. And that… that means something to me."
Jaytee's gaze flickered, something flashing behind his eyes, something vulnerable. But then, just as quickly, he masked it, his expression smoothing into indifference.
"You shouldn't look too much into it," he muttered.
Nora tilted her head, studying him. "Why do you do that?"
"Do what?" he questioned.
"Make yourself seem so…" She paused, searching for the right word. "Unimportant."
Jaytee's jaw tightened. "Because I am."
Nora's heart clenched at the way he said it, flat, as if it was an undeniable fact as if he had spent years convincing himself of it.
"No," she said firmly. "You're more than what you think of yourself."
Something shifted in Jaytee's eyes then, something deep and unreadable.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence between them was thick. The air was charged, the tension humming between them like an electric current.
Nora swallowed, suddenly hyper-aware of how close he was, how the space between them seemed to shrink with every breath.
Jaytee didn't move. He didn't step back, didn't break the moment like he usually did. Instead, he just looked at her, his gaze was intense, burning into her like he was memorizing every detail of her face.
Nora's breath hitched. She wasn't sure who moved first. Maybe it was him. Maybe it was her.
All she knew was that suddenly, she was even closer, close enough to feel the heat radiating off him, close enough to see the subtle rise and fall of his chest.
Jaytee's hand lifted slightly, hesitated, then brushed against her cheek. Just barely. Just enough to send shivers down her spine.
Nora sucked in a shaky breath. His touch was light, feather-soft, almost hesitant. Like he wasn't sure if he had the right to touch her, but couldn't stop himself. Her pulse pounded in her ears. So loud Jaytee could hear it.
Jaytee's fingers curled slightly against her skin, his thumb grazing just below her cheekbone. It was barely anything. And yet it was everything.
Nora felt like she couldn't move, couldn't breathe.
His gaze dropped, just for a second, to her lips.
And her heart nearly stopped. The space between them was almost non-existent now, their breaths mingling, their bodies close enough that she could feel the warmth rolling off him in waves.
Jaytee leaned in. Just a fraction. Just enough to make her heart lurch.
Nora's lips parted slightly, her breath catching.
He was so close. So close that if either of them moved even a little, they would…. But then, Jaytee pulled away.
Abruptly, his fingers left her skin as if it had burned him, and he took a sharp step back, his expression twisting into something like frustration.
Nora's breath came in shallow gasps. "Jaytee…"
"You shouldn't be around me," he muttered.
But this time, his voice wasn't cold. It wasn't distant.
It was pained. Nora swallowed hard. "Then why do you keep looking out for me?"
Jaytee clenched his fists at his sides. "Because I can't help it."
Her heart squeezed. She took a step forward and he took a step back.
"Jaytee…"
"Don't."
His voice cracked slightly, and that was what stopped her.
He turned, his shoulders stiff, his posture tense. He looked like he wanted to say something more. Something important. But instead, he just shook his head.
And just then, he walked away.
Nora stood there, rooted to the spot, watching his figure disappear into the night.
Her skin still tingled where he had touched her.
Her heart still raced from what almost happened.
The space between them had never felt so vast.
She had never felt more drawn to him.
As if something invisible was pulling them together, no matter how hard Jaytee tried to resist it. Nora clenched her fists with frustration bubbling in her chest.
In the distance, Jaytee walked with his hands shoved deep into his pockets, his jaw clenched so tightly it ached.
He shouldn't have gotten that close. Should've never let himself touch her. Should've never let himself want her. But it happened and he did.
And that was the problem.
His fingers still burned from where they had touched her cheek.
His heart was still racing but with a smile on his face at least, his body still thrumming with the need to turn around, to go back to her.
Jaytee let out a sharp breath, forcing himself to keep walking.
Somehow, it had to stop. He had to stay away from her. Because if he didn't…
He wasn't sure what would happen.
And that terrified him more than anything.
Nora exhaled, staring into the empty street.
Jaytee had pulled away. Again. But this time, she had seen it.
The hesitation. The conflict. The way his fingers had curled against her cheek was like he didn't want to let go.
He wanted her. He just didn't want to admit it.
Nora bit her lip, determination settling in her chest. If Jaytee thought he could keep pushing her away, he was wrong.
Because she wasn't giving up. Not on him. Not on whatever this was between them.
And certainly not after what had almost happened.