Resistance

by Cordelia Scott

"Hi," he said, as they moved closer to each other once more. His parents were on the other side of the room, both frowning at a large piece which held the vague outline of a woman in a field. "That was... not good."

  "Yeah, not good indeed."

  "You okay?"

  "I'm fine."

  "You don't look fine."

  She lifted one shoulder. "I'm okay, really. It's not your problem to deal with."

  He opened his mouth to argue, but no words came out. Jasmine walked away, because that was easier, pretending to be fascinated by a statue in the corner.

  She'd get over him eventually. By the time she was going to college, she’d be ready to move on and forget this stupid little romance that never should have happened.

  Fifteen

  Jasmine

  Evie's bags hung off Brad whilst they browsed more and more shops. All of their feet were starting to ache by now, but Evie never showed them any mercy when they went shopping.

  "We'll stop and get dinner soon, I promise, but there are just a couple more shops that I need to go in."

  They entered into a smaller shop that only stocked women's clothes, and Brad grimaced. Jasmine still wasn't sure why he agreed to come shopping with them.

  She walked around the store and stopped still when she spotted a baby blue dress hung up. It was a simple style: high neckline and no sleeves, cinched at the waist and then flowing to just above her knees. Lace decorated the top, making it see through just until the top of her cleavage.

  It would be perfect for a wedding.

  She dithered, and then looked at the price tag. It was too much, really. Especially for something that she'd probably only wear once.

  She didn't pick it off the hanger and instead went to take a seat next to Brad on a couch at the front of the store. They obviously got men being dragged around shopping often.

  "You've been looking at a lot of smart dresses," Evie said, coming to stand opposite them, and throwing a glance over her shoulder at the blue dress. "Got something planned?"

  "Ah, I'm going to a wedding." There was no point in hiding it, she supposed. It would get to that weekend eventually and she didn't want to lie any more than she had to.

  "Whose?"

  "Well. My fake boyfriend's dad got a few more months added to his diagnosis, so Sebastian asked me to come to his sister's wedding with him."

  Brad and Evie exchanged a look together. "You're going to a wedding with him," Brad echoed Jasmine’s words, looking at her as though she had two heads. "And you didn't think to tell us?"

  "You're even more of a gossip than Evie," she rolled her eyes. "Yes. I'm going to a wedding and I didn’t want to tell you because you'll be all speculating."

  Evie leaned forward, grin wide. "Is he paying you?"

  Jasmine's cheeks flamed and it gave everything away. "He's going to buy my dress instead," she lied. She had to give them something to stop them thinking it was really a date.

  "And you still maintain that you're not interested in having a relationship with this guy?" Evie pushed. "Because he's sure as hell interested in you."

  "I'm not interested in him, and I’m not interesting to him. I lied to him." And they were both feeling the consequences of that now. "It's not going to happen. I'm just doing him a favor because I like his family, and I want to see his dad off properly."

  Brad and Evie both shook their heads. "You should just take the risk. Just tell him you like him when it's all over, and if he can't get past the lie, then that's nothing lost."

  "I suppose so." She could just tell them that she'd asked him, and he'd been horrified that she'd be only eighteen. That wouldn't be so hard.

  "So, this wedding, where is it? Is it just a day thing?" Brad asked, grateful to keep her talking so that they wouldn't be forced up and into the next shop.

  Jasmine couldn't meet their eyes. "It's a weekend thing. Somewhere outside the city, some rural escape style thing. I didn't exactly ask the details."

  "That's so romantic," Evie gushed. "Anyway, come on, let's go get some dinner. I'm finally finished."

  The weight was back on Jasmine's shoulders as they walked. Whenever she thought about Sebastian it pulled her down, and it was true, a weekend away, that was the perfect romantic scenario. They'd be sharing a room, no doubt.

  How was she going to reconcile being there, with him, and not being able to touch him? To come back down after that weekend away and pretend that everything was all right for the rest of the year.

  "Have you spoken to your parents again about your college applications?" Brad asked.

  "I don't think there's much point. I've told them a thousand times, and they're still convinced that a music degree is pointless." That was another problem, too. She'd been working for two years now and living as frugally as possible, but it wasn't enough, not really. If her parents refused to sign the FAFSA forms, then she was being hung out to dry in terms of tuition fees. "I guess I'll have to speak to them again. Speak to them or some kind of financial advisor. See if there's anything I can do to get around it when they're technically good parents otherwise."

  "I mean, you see them maybe an hour a week. I wouldn't say they're falling into the stellar parents category, to be honest," Evie said.

  "I know." The weight on her shoulders increased again. "So come on, what are you guys doing with your lives? I hate talking about mine, it's depressing."

  "Not a lot, to be honest," Brad admitted. "Just school. Are you planning on going on that trip to Copper Mountain over Christmas?"

  "I'm not sure I want to spend the money," Jasmine said.

  "Surely your parents would pay for that. It's not music related."

  "Oh, yeah, I guess so. I'll have to ask them."

  "Do, because Evie and I are definitely going. It'll be fun."

  Only she was loathed to ask her parents for anything. She didn't want to have to lean on them for this, even if it would be a good experience with her best friends. Maybe Sebastian would even be chaperoning.

  There was the weight again, like a black mass constantly pressing on her thoughts, reminding her that she couldn't just think things about the guy she was crushing on, hard, without the reminder that he would never, ever be hers.

  Sixteen

  Sebastian

  Sebastian had missed her.

  Two solid weeks without any kind of extra-curricular activity with Jasmine, and he was craving her like never before.

  When she slid into his passenger seat, he couldn't contain his grin, no matter how hard he was trying. "Hey," he said.

  Her grin was wide, too. "Hi."

  It was just the two of them traveling down to Lauren's wedding together, and he'd never looked forward to something as much as this. As soon as he'd accepted that they were going to be doing this, that she was coming to this wedding with him, he accepted everything else that went with it. The dancing at the wedding, sleeping in the same bed, fucking.

  It was all going to happen, and he couldn't have given a shit anymore about the consequences. He needed this weekend.

  He was unwilling to consider the fact that he'd need this weekend again in another month and it wouldn't be an option.

  "Definitely got everything?" he checked before they set off.

  "Yup." She'd brought a cabin-sized suitcase with her, and it was stowed safely in his trunk. "Ah, shit," she muttered, as a car pulled up behind them and two bodies stepped out. "Just drive."

  Only it was too late, an older woman with a striking resemblance was already knocking on her window, forcing her to put it down.

  "Hi, mom."

  "I'm glad I got to see you before you go." Jasmine's mom wasn't very subtle as she peered into the car to get a better look at him, and he hoped she wouldn't remember his face when it came to parent-teacher conferences. He was sure Jasmine wouldn't need one anyway: she got top grades. "Nice to meet you, I'm Lisa."

  He would have shaken her hand, but it was too awkward through the window of the passenger door. "You too. I'm Se
bastian."

  He couldn't read her mom's expression, but from the way Jasmine was shifting in her seat, he doubted it was good. "Make sure you look after my little girl this weekend."

  Jasmine groaned. "Please, mom. We have to go or we'll be late."

  Lisa sighed but nodded. "Have fun, and I'll see you on Sunday evening."

  Jasmine rolled up the window, and murmured a "doubt it," under her breath. She still waved as they pulled away from the curb. "Sorry about that, they're not normally that early. I wasn't expecting them."

  He raised an eyebrow. "It's six thirty."

  "Yeah, they average getting in around nine thirty."

  "Ouch. When did that start?"

  "When I could stay home alone, so thirteen."

  Maybe at eighteen having her parents out of the house all the time might seem like a blessing, but Sebastian couldn't even imagine getting home from school at only thirteen to an empty house. "So, you made your own dinner and stuff?"

  Jasmine's lip quirked. "And theirs. For about a month I ate nothing but instant ramen and pizza, but then I decided I may as well try and learn how to cook. I'm still not great, but I make meals and then they eat the leftovers. It's been an effective system. They put money in my bank for food and let me go and do the grocery shopping so I can buy what I feel like."

  "That's horrid," he said before holding it back. It wasn't his place to judge, but it sounded like blatant child neglect. "I can't believe they'd do that."

  "They're workaholics. At least I got used to it, and I've definitely got life skills now."

  "There's a difference between teaching your children how to be an adult and forcing it on them when they're still a child."

  "I know." Her face dropped, and he regretted ever bringing it up. He was so bad at holding his tongue about things that made him angry. "And then they still have the nerve to try and force me to do a different degree to the one I want. It is bullshit, I know, but I don't know what I could have ever done about it. It's just the way it is." She leaned her head back against the car seat as they drove out of the city. "Were your parents always there for you?"

  Now he felt guilty admitting that they were. "My mom was a stay at home mom, and my dad didn't have unreasonable hours. I had it lucky."

  "Your parents are really great," she admitted. "It's been nice getting to know them. I made friends with Evie and Brad during high school, so by then, I was too old to be doing all the family stuff with their family, like being taken on trips and that. Most of the time we come to my house, too, since it's always empty."

  "I'm glad you got to meet my family, too. They really do like you." It was a sad smile on her face, and his reflected it. "I'm glad you'll get to meet Lauren, as well. We were always close growing up."

  He wasn't sure why he was tormenting them both like this. Talking about being glad she was meeting his sister when they were just a fake couple. He wasn't supposed to care about her, to want his family's approval even though they'd never really be together.

  "I've never been to a wedding."

  His eyebrows shot up. "Really?"

  "Yeah. My mom and dad are both only children, so there's never really been any to go to. I'm pretty excited."

  "I have endless second cousins, and aunts and uncles, so I've been to tons. It's always funny when my family meets up, though. This weekend should be a lot of fun. It won't be massively cramped, either. There's the wedding on the Sunday, but the Saturday is basically free time."

  Both their minds were filled with bad ways to fill that free time.

  "Oh, yeah," he remembered. "How much was your dress? I'll give you the money for it."

  "You don't have to do that. I picked a too-expensive dress anyway because it was pretty, so I'll feel guilty if you give me money for it."

  "At least let me pay half." It was finally his time to ask and get away with it, so he pried further into her life. He needed to learn these intimate things about her, even if they'd only serve to hurt him more in the long run. "How come you're saving so much money, anyway?"

  "My parents aren't going to agree to sign my FAFSA papers if I decide to do a classical music degree, so I need to be able to pay my way through college."

  "They can't do that," he argued immediately. "You need to report them. They neglected you, for God's sake, there's no way in hell they're getting away with stopping you going to college. I'll help your appeal, as your teacher I have an authoritative voice."

  "Really?"

  "Sure. We can look into it more when we get back after this weekend."

  It was getting dark now, and Sebastian could barely see Jasmine when he looked over to her seat, but he was sure her eyes were glistening slightly. "Thank you."

  "I mean this, if you ever need help with anything, you should ask me."

  "Thank you." Her voice was definitely swimming with unshed tears this time, and he found himself with a lump in his throat, too.

  This weekend was going to be the death of him.

  Seventeen

  Jasmine

  The room was immaculate. A big, four-poster bed with silk sheets and endless pillows. An ensuite with a shower more than big enough for two people. A window that looked out at the rolling Wisconsin countryside.

  "This is beautiful," Jasmine breathed, her raggedy old case looking very out of place in the royal room. It was decorated in a deep crimson and cream. "Your sister must be paying a fortune for this."

  "Her fiancé is a high-powered banker. I suspect that he's the one paying for it," Sebastian teased, setting down his own case and picking up the room service menu. "I don't think this is included, though, unfortunately."

  "I'm sure we can afford to splurge on something just once," she teased, launching herself onto the bed and snuggling into the pillows. "Oh my God, this is heaven."

  There was a knock on the door, and Sebastian got up to answer it. He was engulfed in a hug the second the person on the other side saw him.

  "It's been so long!" a feminine voice said.

  "Too long," he said fondly, opening the door wider to let the woman in. The family resemblance hit Jasmine immediately. It must be Lauren. "This is my girlfriend, Jasmine."

  She scrambled to get out of the bed and was glad she hadn't been wearing a dress and flashing her underwear to the bride. Jasmine went to shake Lauren’s hand, but she enveloped her in a hug. "It's really nice to meet you," Jasmine said. "This place is amazing."

  "It is, isn't it? I'm beyond excited to be here. I picked this venue out when I was about five, I can't believe it's finally happening. Oh, anyway, the reason I'm here, other than to say hello, is because we're having a games night tonight, just our immediate family, I thought you guys would be interested."

  Jasmine's ears perked up. She'd once gone to Evie's on New Year's Eve and they'd spent the entire night sitting with her family playing board games. It was one of the best memories she had. "That sounds really fun."

  Sebastian nodded his agreement. "Count us in. What time are you thinking?"

  She checked her watch. "Well, it's nearly eight already, so probably nine. Have you guys eaten yet? I think they've stopped serving the buffet, but you should be able to get food from the restaurant."

  "We went through the drive-through on the way here, so we're good. Where are we playing?"

  "They have a function room they said we could use. I've got the entire place, so basically nowhere is off limits," she chuckled, clearly pleased with herself. "I'll see you down there in a bit, then."

  Jasmine laid back down on the bed, body stretched taut, and looked up to Sebastian. He was trailing his gaze down her body, eyes dark, and she knew she hadn't been wrong in her suspicions of what would happen this weekend.

  "Come here," she said, voice raspy. Heat had already flooded her body, and she wanted to be pushed down into the comfy bed, to have his hands on her.

  He didn't even hesitate before complying, crawling on top of her and doing exactly what she wanted. Their lips met, and their hand
s rushed to get each other naked. Nearly a month of tension exploded as she finally got to run her hands over his bare chest again, feeling the hard muscle he worked out for.

  His hands were just as eager, pulling her shirt off her head and dragging a finger up her side, brushing against her breast and making her arch into him.

  "Fuck," she murmured into their kiss, hips rolling against his, grinding against the tent in her pants and earning her a groan.

  They separated for a moment to get rid of their own jeans, both getting fully naked and then wrapping around each other once more. Jasmine's hands were flat against the hard plane of his back, pulling him as close as possible. Her core was on fire with need, but she loved this too: just them, kissing, feeling each other, their legs entangled, as close as it was physically possible to get.

  "Shit, I need to get a condom," he groaned, forcing himself to get off her.

  Jasmine propped herself up on her elbows, cold from the sudden lack of contact, but content to watch Sebastian's lithe body as he hurried to get into his suitcase and grab a condom.

  It was obvious neither of them had even attempted to convince themselves this weekend would be innocent.

  They joined back together, lips meeting in a frenzy, and the heat returning in an instant. Everything was blocked out when they were like this: just burning in each other's presence, none of the baggage entered into it.

  Sebastian pushed her down onto the bed and just admired her for a moment. "Fuck, you're perfect," he said, voice hoarse as his fingers tested her entrance, finding her wet and ready for him.

  Instead of letting him push into her, Jasmine sat up, pressing her hands against his shoulders until he was on his back, looking up at her.

  Straddling his waist, she took his length in her hands, pumping him a few times before sitting on his cock. They both moaned as she began to ride him, slowly, teasing him just slightly as her hips rocked up and down.

  His hands circled her thighs, thumbs digging in almost to the point of bruising, and she threw her head back, hips picking up their pace.