“Why me?”

“Because.”

“Because why?” Jace flushes when I snap yet another picture of him making the collection come up to over a dozen. I grin and stare down at the shot, finding that the lighting is just perfect. He is annoyingly attractive. I should be proud but probably won't feel that way until I've at least gotten a kiss.

“I wanted to take some portraits today and you’re here so why not? Now stop complaining!” I hiss, grabbing Jace to drag him to another location in the park that I have deemed photo worthy.

He is a little hesitant to do as I ask. He stands awkwardly, sits awkwardly and smiles awkwardly, which has me laughing. I continuously have to remind him that it’s all in good fun and that he looks really good, insanely good, so much so that I want to punch him for it. At the same time, I’m a little proud. I need to work harder so I can get in his pants.

“Don’t you have other people to model for you?” Jace groans after I ask him to try striking a pose other than the tense one he’s been giving me.

“Nope.”

“You probably haven’t even asked anyone!”

“I don’t need to when I have you.” I hop on over to fix Jace’s hair since the wind is blowing it all around. His eyes shut while I ruffle the locks atop his head until I get them to, kind of, do as I wish.

Grinning, I realize this is another good time to test him. “Why don’t we take a few shots of you with your shirt off?”

Jace’s eyes grow wide.

“I need some new masturbation material.”

Jace playfully pushes me back. “No way.”

“Fine, I can make do with these.” I wave my camera through the air causing Jace to once again bury his face in his hands. It’s pretty damn cute and I hate myself for admitting it. “When we’re alone then, I’ll gets some of those nude photos.”

“Never! What if they get leaked on the internet?”

“Like I would let that happen. I’m the jealous type, remember?” I send Jace a wink while he looks ready to drop dead from embarrassment. Yet he still laughs and continues my make shift photo shoot.

I don’t know how long we’re out taking photos, long enough for the sun to start to set. It's fun. After a while, Jace gets used to it and looks a little more comfortable but he still has trouble looking at the camera. I guess it is harder to be the one in the photo rather than the one taking it. I should know, I hate having my picture taken yet I love taking them.

Jace’s phone goes off again, this time he takes it while it front of me, happily chirping, “Abuela!”

And Grandma is all I get out of their conversation because I don’t understand the rest. Once they’re off the phone Jace tells me he needs to head on home. Dinner is about done and part of me expects him to ask me to tag along but he doesn’t. Maybe that hurt a bit but at the same time I doubt he wants to introduce “his boyfriend” to his grandparents.

“I’ve got work tomorrow but I’ll text you, ok?” Jace says, waving goodbye while heading off in the direction of his home. I give a half-assed wave back before returning to my own car, sitting in the driver’s side with a feeling of confusion.

Am I still bothered by Jace possibly messing with me? I guess, in a way, sort of? I suppose it’s my distaste of not having the upper hand. I don’t like being left in the dark or something like that. But so much time has passed that there's no way this is a joke, if it is, then Jace is hella determined. Maybe I'm over thinking things again...probably.

Sighing, I head home while contemplating what my next move should be. It seems Olivia is having an affect because I’m starting to think I need to bring it up. Just be honest with Jace, it won’t be hard considering my honesty often comes out even during times when it shouldn’t. Next time we hang out I’ll ask him why he agreed to date and if he’s taking this seriously. If I don’t like his answer, we’ll end it, never see each other again and go our separate ways, problem solved. It will be quick and easy.

Upon arriving home I find my dad in the living room passed out on the couch. His mouth is wide open emitting snores that echo through the apartment. Shaking my head, I walk over and turn off the TV before grabbing an extra blanket off the back of the arm chair. After tossing it over my dad, I silently go to my room. There I end up watching some movies while texting Olivia into the later hours of the evening when Jace finally messages me.

What are you doing?

I grin before texting back without second thought, Jerking off to those pictures I took of you earlier.

I half expect to either be ignored or told to fuck off but I end up snorting at his response, I’m your boyfriend, it should only be my pictures you jerk off to. Before I can reply he sends a second text, But seriously I’m not sending you nudes.

M: You’re no fun.

J: No, I’m paranoid, there’s a difference.

I’m a bit surprised at his quick responses.

M: Why are you still texting me? I’m kind of busy.

J: Thought it might help. Should I call instead?

This bitch thinks I won’t call him while jerking off? I feel like he’s challenging me. Maybe I really should...but my dad is home and that shit makes me anxious. Ok, I’ll just go with messing with him.

Snickering, I end up hitting the call button, grinning mischievously when it rings four times before Jace answers with a very hesitant tone, “Are you seriously jerking off right now?”

“I don’t know, what do you think?”

“You’re pulling my leg.”

“I could pull something else if you’d like.”

Jace laughs, the sound warming my cheeks enough to tell me that I’m probably blushing. Good thing no one is around or I would have to come up with an excuse.

“You’re one of a kind, Mylo.”

“Believe me, baby, I know.”

Jace falls silent for a moment making me wonder if using “baby” made him uncomfortable. We were just talking about masturbating a second ago so that certainly couldn’t have bothered him, could it? If it did then he’s weirder than me!

“Do you need to leave?” I ask in hopes to break the silence between us. “It’s getting late, you have to work tomorrow.”

“Not until noon so I’m ok. Why? Are you actually busy?”

“Nah, I’m seriously not doing anything.” I lean back into the pillows I have propped against the headboard. The TV is on but I’ve already turned it down in order to hear Jace.

While I’m picking at the stray string hanging from my shirt I get the sudden urge to interrogate Jace. There’s no use beating around the bush anymore, right? This game of his has gone on too long so, with that thought in mind, I ask, “Why are we going out?”

“Perdón?”

“Like, do you even have a thing for me? Last I checked you were straight.” Of course he could be in the closet but I’m just trying to get some information here. “And we weren’t exactly chummy before all this. I thought you were messing with me-”

“Ouch.”

“-but by now I figured if you were, something would have happened. I don’t know, asked for a dick pic and spread it around the school, not that I would have been ashamed but still.”

Jace seems to be stuck somewhere between concerned and amused. “Your ego kills me.”

“I’m simply curious if this whole dating thing is serious or if you’re pulling me off because, if you are, then it best be in the literal sense at some point or I’m gonna get pissed off.”

Jace snorts, probably at my inability to take the situation seriously although I brought it up. Hey, I'm known for that. Serious isn't exactly my go to.

I’m not sure what kind of response I expect but it’s not this.

“Why did you want to date me?” Jace asks without hesitation. I thought maybe I cornered him but it seems Jace either has no ulterior motives or is a really good actor. “Like you said, we weren’t chummy before. I also know that you have dated but never seemed to take it seriously.”

Accurate, can’t deny that.

“A lot of people, actually, most people date without even really knowing each other because the point is to hopefully find romantic feelings that have always been there or will eventually be there. When you asked, I figured you just wanted in my pants-”

“You know me too well already.”

Jace doesn’t seem bothered by my humor, chuckling once before continuing, “There was no reason to say no. I never dated a guy but it’s not like I haven’t been interested and, honestly, I’ve enjoyed myself the last two weeks. What about you?”

So I am the possible experimental boyfriend? I suppose I had one of those too then realized, yeah, guys are all I go for. It's not as if it bothers me, it is more relieving than I want to admit actually.

I rip the stray string off my shirt, scowling at how the threading is messed up now because of me. Twisting the string around my finger, I reply, “I suppose it hasn’t been awful.”

“You’re so hard to please.”

“I’m really not, just send me nudes.”

Jace sighs and I can envision him rubbing his temple. Grinning, I listen to his voice that so easily shows that he does find amusement in my jokes, “Lets hang out Wednesday, we can do whatever you want.”

“Sex-”

“Other than that.”

Well, I tried.

“Fine, I’ll tell you whatever I feel like doing on Wednesday.”

“Ok, buenas noches.”

“Goodnight.” I smile, hanging up the phone afterwards while feeling sort of better. It seems Jace isn’t messing with me, which is great but at the same time I feel that there’s more to this.

I think about what Cierra told me the night at the bowling alley. She thinks Jace is already in love with someone but the question is who? And why the hell aren’t they dating?

Jace is one fine piece of ass so whoever they are, they’re fucking crazy. Once I get in his pants I’m never letting him leave the bedroom...unless we plan on getting freaky together some place else in which I will have to consider it. No public places because I’m not ok with someone catching a glimpse.

I snicker at my own ridiculous thoughts, reaching for the remote to turn the volume back up. Just as I do there’s a knock at the door. Down the volume goes once again after I shout for my dad to come on in. When he peeks his head in I offer him up a smile that he returns.

“Hey, I’ve got another trip coming up in about a week.”

Not surprising although normally they at least give him a month between them.

“If you need anything before then let me know. If not, you know you can use my card.”

“I’m fine, dad.”

I can handle myself, always have and always will.

With that, dad wishes me a goodnight, which I return, then exits my room. Once gone, I turn the volume back up, grumbling a bit to myself about his constant absence. He could stick around for at least a month. Maybe we could go see a movie or something but I never bother to bring thoughts like that up. He’s pretty busy and when he is home he’s normally just resting. I don’t want to bother him so, whatever, it’s fine. I don’t care about it.

Sighing, I return to watching TV, falling asleep shortly after with no idea what I plan to do with Jace on Wednesday.