by craziebabe45
To say that Chamber was dead this Saturday night would have been an understatement. Sure they had gone out a little earlier than usual, but still it seemed that everyone in the city had gone home for Thanksgiving break. Lexi passed the empty dance floor marveling at how hollow the room appeared without bodies swarming the inside. Music filtered through the speakers at a surprisingly reasonable volume for a Saturday night. The only constant in the place was the voluptuous woman behind the bar.
"What do you want girl?" Chasity asked sidling around the corner to give Lexi a hug.
"Whatever you want to make me," she asked easily.
"Vodka, Red Bull, grenadine…the works," she mumbled to herself. "Liv you want one too?"
"I'm driving," Olivia pouted.
"You volunteered," Lexi said pushing her lightly.
Chasity shrugged her shoulders. "I guess that means you'll stick to beer tonight then?" she questioned thrusting an open Bud Light at her.
"You know me so well," Olivia said cheerfully.
"Oh dear, look at who just walked into my bar," Chasity said fanning herself.
Lexi's head swiveled to find out who she was making a fuss about, but she really shouldn't have bothered. Jack was a damn good sight for anyone's eyes, but with Seth and Luke flanking him they were a sexy set. Jack was medium height with his shaggy black brown hair and steely blue eyes. Seth towered over the other two and had a very boy next door look about him that made him appear to be safe. Well, at least until he opened his mouth. Luke had tousled blonde hair and light brown eyes, and was extremely clean cut. Though Lexi knew that Chasity was whistling at the trio, her eyes were solely focused on one boy. His easy smile upon seeing her sitting at the bar sent unexpected butterflies in her stomach. She couldn't tear her eyes away. She didn't even have the excuse of not seeing him often. She just wanted to drink in his every feature. The way he looked right then and there in his worn jeans, tight fit t-shirt, and navy jacket.
"Hey," he said nodding his head at the bunch. "Woah, your hair." He immediately went to Lexi's side and fiddled with a strand of the straightened hair.
She smiled up at him goosebumps kissing her skin at his gentle touch. "Do you like it?" she asked hesitantly.
"You look great," he said before he could filter his enthusiastic response.
"See I told you!" Olivia cried. Lexi's smile widened.
"So, let's start the night off right. Shots all around and give me a hug," he demanded of no one in particular.
Olivia giggled and nudged Lexi forward as if he had been talking to her all along. She didn't need much coaxing as she nestled into his arms. He squeezed her tightly around the middle before releasing her.
"Good to see you," he noted winking at her. "Chasity shots? Hug? What are you good for?"
Jack scooted around the bar as Chasity poured the clear liquid into six shot glasses. He wrapped himself around her from behind and whispered something in her ear that Lexi couldn't discern. Chasity laughed boisterously and shoved him away. "Whore," she murmured at his turned back.
"I'm not the only one," he quipped eyeing her black crop top and tiny black and white plaid skirt.
"I'm workin' here. Cut me a break."
"I would if you could count," he said sitting in the chair next to Lexi and leaning across the bar.
"What are you talking about?" Chasity questioned glaring at him.
"Seven," he said gesturing to the group.
Chasity's eyes scanned the set in attendance and then frowned. She quickly shrugged her shoulders and poured another shot. "Not my fault you were hiding the little brunette mouse. Who is she anyway?"
Lexi jerked around to find out what they were talking about. "Sandy," she squealed enthusiastically. Despite the girl having zero common sense, she was beginning to grow on her. Apparently, she was extremely intelligent when it came to grades. She just wasn't capable of showing that to anyone. Once you finally got her to open up, she was a real riot.
"Lexi! I didn't know that you were going to be out."
"I didn't even know you were still hanging out with Seth," Lexi said raising her eyebrows up and down suggestively.
"Oh you know," Sandy said blushing furiously, "here and there. Whenever he's not with some other girl I'll give him a chance."
"I don't know how you do it. I would die if I had to share." A distinct chuckle emanated from behind her. She glanced warily at Jack and the smirk on his face grew.
"It's not the sharing that I mind, because I like to sleep with whoever I want. It's just you know how Seth is and how he treats girls. Sometimes he forgets that we're whatever…not trying to be exclusive. Then the lying starts and ugh," she told her shuddering, "I just can't even get into it."
"Bottoms up ladies," Chasity said pushing shots, several limes, and a salt shaker towards them.
"Tequila?" Lexi asked anxiously turning from her conversation with Sandy. "Are you trying to kill me?"
"Nah. Just loosen you up a little. You've been way too uptight lately," Chasity declared licking the crease between her thumb and first finger and pouring a generous amount of salt onto the space.
"Yeah, let's loosen you up," Jack said nudging her playfully.
Lexi glanced up at him and licked her lips provocatively. "I thought you didn't mind me being a little tight," she whispered just loud enough for him to hear her.
His eyebrows shot up and he groaned a little at the mental image she was leaving him with. "Don't tease me, Lex."
"Who's teasing?" she asked raising her glass to meet the rest of the group.
"To gettin' fucked up," Chasity yelled as they clinked their glasses together.
Much to Lexi's surprise Chamber did end up filling up considerably compared to the meager amount of people who arrived early enough to get personal attention from their sexy bartender. The townies were coming out of the woodworks knowing that much of the college population would be away for the holiday break. Suffice it to say it was quite a sight witnessing an entire group of over 40s dancing to things such as Imma Be, Get Low, and I Can Transform Ya.
As much as Lexi wanted to relax into their evenings, something continued to nag at her. She just couldn't figure out what it was. Ever since that fateful night back in May, Lexi had been very careful in situations around Jack. She tried to keep her distance so that Clark wouldn't see straight through her. And though he had never specifically stated that he thought something was up between them, he still commented on her behavior. He complained of her being distant and closed off among other things...of a more sexual nature. Yet, that wasn't what was bothering her. Every time she would begin to stop thinking about Clark all together it was like she could feel eyes on her. The idea was ludicrous. Chamber wasn't full by any means, but there were enough people in the place that no one specifically would be staring at her. She was recognizable from gymnastics meets, but she wasn't the star. There was no real reason for anyone to be watching her. Olivia had left early on complaining that she wasn't feeling well. She requested that Jack take Lexi home all the while smirking devilishly. Jack had of course obliged her appeal. Seth and Sandy had not so discreetly located a corner to make out in leaving Luke as a third wheel. Not too long afterwards, Luke was closely dancing with a large-chested blonde. Even with all of their friends occupied Lexi still couldn't get over the feeling that someone was watching her.
"Jack," she began taking a strand of her straight hair and pushing it behind her ear.
"How can you be nervous right now?" he asked taking her hands away from her and placing them around his neck pulling her in close to him.
"What?"
"You're messing with your hair. It's a dead give-away," he said letting his bright blue eyes bore into her.
"Right sorry. I just…I dunno…I feel like someone is watching me."
"Who would be watching us Lex?" he asked incredulously.
"I said I don't know, but I just feel like eyes are being drilled into the back of my head," she informed him. Even as she s
aid the words out loud she realized how paranoid and slightly delusional she must sound, but still she couldn't shake the feeling.
Jack pulled his gaze away from her and let his eyes slowly roam the dark, crowded room. He paused briefly as if examining the individuals in that particular location then shifted to circle the entire room. "If someone is looking at you, then they aren't right now. I can barely make out anyone ten feet away from me. I don't see how anyone could be secretive about looking at you even if they were watching. Seeing as no one is blatantly staring from where I can see, I really don't think you have anything to worry about."
"You're probably right," she said wrapping her arms around his neck tighter. She felt his lips gently settle into the soft spot behind her earlobe causing her to shiver.
"If you really feel like that, we can get you out of here," he muttered huskily in her ear. "Actually, I think I should get you home. It's late." He didn't even check his watch.
"I'm glad you are so concerned for my well-being," she stated mockingly.
"Oh, I'm very concerned for your well-being. I want to make sure that you get home at a reasonable hour, tuck you in, and all that."
"Tuck me in?" she asked raising an eyebrow.
"Something like that," he muttered his lips only inches from her mouth at this point.
She giggled and pushed him backwards. "Chill out. None of that," she said half-heartedly.
"Fine," he said sticking out his bottom lip. "I'm going to close my tab, and then we'll leave.
A short while later, Lexi found herself in a very familiar bedroom wrapped in navy blue sheets. She stretched languidly on the bed and then perched on the edge waiting for Jack to join her. He exited the bathroom flipping the light off as he appeared before her. She couldn't keep her mouth from dropping open at the sight of him. He entered the room in only a flimsy pair of green boxers. He had been doing some serious workouts lately since he was out of school, and the effort was really paying off. His already well-defined six-pack was toned to perfection. His arms and chest had grown in direct proportion making the full package look positively delectable. His tousled brown hair hung just above his crystal clear blue eyes looking at Lexi as if he were about to devour her.
She smiled coyly and patted the bed. He snuck under the covers and pulled her towards him. "You're so little," he said into collarbone as he kissed a line across it.
"Um...thank you," she said squirming under his light kisses.
"And you should maybe always wear my t-shirts," he said pulling back to examine the grey band shirt she had picked out from one of his drawers.
"You don't like my clothes?" she asked pouting.
"Oh I definitely love your skimpy little things, but you're so…raw," he said pushing her brush away bangs off her forehead and really looking at her deeply. "So utterly beautiful, my dear."
A slow sweet smile played across her mouth as he stared at her lovingly for another minute. "Thank you."
"No," he said letting his fingertips trail across her jaw line. "Thank you." He covered her body with his and pressed his lips firmly against her own. The tenderness and affection he portrayed in that one kiss Lexi thought could last a lifetime. Tears welled up in her eyes as their tongues briefly touched then broke apart. "You're crying," he said concerned.
"I'm sorry. It's dumb," she said swiping at her eyes.
"Is something wrong?"
"It's just…I don't know Jack. That was amazing. I know you can say it was just a kiss, but…"
He cut her off. "No, I felt it too," he said knowing that she didn't have to explain what had just happened between them.
"You…you did?" she asked in disbelief.
He leaned in once more and placed a chaste kiss on her lips. "Yea I did. Maybe we should just get some sleep," he suggested.
Lexi nodded as she lay down on his shoulder and snuggled into his muscular chest. She had no idea where to pinpoint that feeling. It was something she had never experienced. It was wonderful, painful, euphoric, and disarming all at the same time. She felt like her heart was ripping out of her chest, and like she had just had the most amazing adrenaline boost of a lifetime. The scariest part was that she had no idea how such a small thing like a simple kiss could make her feel like this. Those were her last thoughts before she drifted to sleep securely placed in Jack's arms.
"Lex…Lex wake up." She heard her name being called, but all she wanted to do was snuggle up further in the covers. "Come on Lexi. You need to wake up."
Lexi rolled over onto her back and stared up into her favorite pair of baby blues. "G'morning," she mummbled.
"Your phone has been ringing off the hook all morning. You should probably go figure out what's going on," Jack told her.
Immediately she felt a jolt of adrenaline hit her body, and she bolted out of bed terrified to find out why her phone was blowing up. She had three missed calls from Clark and four from Olivia. Lexi thumbed through the texts most of which were from Olivia checking to see if she had gotten in alright last night. Then as Lexi progressed through the messages, she noticed they began to get more frantic.
"Where are you?"
"What are you doing?"
"You didn't come home. I'm freaking out."
"Have you spoken with Clark, because he keeps calling me."
"LEXI, what do I tell him?"
"What if he shows up at the apartment? Can't you just get back here?"
Lexi sighed heavily when she reached the end of the messages a hard knot forming in her stomach. This couldn't be good. Clark would never call Olivia unless it was important. Maybe something had happened while he was home. She wasn't sure, but she figured she should get home sooner rather than later.
"I've got to get going. Something's going on with Clark. I'm not sure what, but I have to head out," Lexi told Jack as she changed out of his t-shirt.
"Alright well let me know what you find out," he said kissing her briefly on the forehead before she darted out of the house.
Olivia was pacing the living room absently strumming her guitar when Lexi walked throught the door. She looked like she hadn't gotten much sleep the night before. As if she actually had been sick when she left Chamber the night before.
"Where the fuck have you been?" Olivia squealed before Lexi could say a word. She placed her guitar in its stand and stared at Lexi angrily. "Clark kept calling and texting saying that you weren't answering your phone, and that you weren't responding to any of his messages. What did you expect me to tell him?"
"I'm sorry. I didn't expect this to happen. I had a few too many drinks last night and ended up sleeping at Jack's place," she told her. Most of what she had said was true.
"I figured as much, but I wasn't about to tell him that. He would have come back and barged into Jack's apartment without notice."
"He could have. It's not like we were doing anything," Lexi lied biting her lip at Olivia's frustration.
Olivia snorted. "Suuuure. In either case, I finally picked up and told him that you were fine and just passed out in your room from drinking last night. I'm surprised he isn't over here yet. You should definitely call him."
"I'm not sure why you are so frantic," Lexi commented.
"Because I'm lying for you. I don't mind, but you can at least confide in me," Olivia cried. "I'm your best friend and you can't even tell me the truth. You're a different person than you were when we first knew each other. I think some of that has to do with Jack, and I'd really like to be clued in."
"For the last time, there is nothing going on between me and Jack," Lexi said storming into her room and leaving Olivia hovering at her door.
"If that's the case, then why didn't he just bring you home last night? Huh?"
"Because he'd been drinking too and he lives closer to downtown," she said the lie coming out easier this time. She couldn't even count how many she had made by now. They all seemed to be running together.
Olivia seemed to just let it go from there. There was no point in trying
to argue with Lexi when she was in this state.
She pulled out her phone again and texted a message to Clark, "Sorry. I passed out last night from drinking. Hope you're not worried."
Then typed out one to Jack. "Made it safe. No need to worry."
After several hours of silence from Clark, Lexi was beginning to get worried. If he had been so frantic earlier, why wasn't he returning her message now? It was very strange indeed. Just when she was about to send him another message, a knock on the door sounded from the living room. When Lexi got up, Olivia was standing there with the door open talking to Clark.
"Hey, I was just wondering about you," Lexi said smiling brightly.
"We need to talk," Clark said walking into her bedroom without another word.
Olivia looked at her anxiously as Lexi followed him into her room her smile dropping fom her face. "I got all your messages."
"Then you know what this is about?" he asked in a very serious tone.
Lexi's stomach knotted together and she could hear her blood pounding away in her ears. This wasn't about something that had happened when he had been home. No. Judging by the way he was looking at her, she could tell. He knew. She had no idea how he knew, but he did. He hadn't touched her. He had barely looked at her. And those lone looks had been ones of disgust. Not the loving tender looks she normally received from her boyfriend.
"I'm not sure," she answered tentatively.
"Don't do that Lexi."
"Do what?"
"Lie to me anymore. Just don't lie. Okay? Can we just go through this one goddamn conversation without you lying to me?" he asked running his hand through his shaggy black hair a couple times before resting his green eyes back on her.
"Uh yeah sure."
"So just tell me what happened with you and Jack."
She stared at him anxiously holding her hands in place so she wouldn't be tempted to mess with her hair. Everyone kept pointing out that little habit to her, and this would be the worst time for it. "What about me and Jack?" she asked gulping hard.
"Lexi please!" he said his breathe quickening. "Just don't lie to me."
