Authors note: Only 1 Review?! Oh well, I won't cry over it. The next couple of chapters will be fairly short and more like fillers. I’m trying to build up to the main event without making it too confusing. I hope this story isn’t too predictable. It’s just your normal cliché.

This is mostly fluff, but I needed to post this chapter because it explains a lot about how Ebony is feeling. As always, thanks for reading and I'm sorry about the wait!

Wednesday.

The word rolled and twirled off my tongue leaving my heart thumping and my stomach clenching each time it was spoken into the air. The day, though, I soon grew to hate but live for it at the same time. The lines that casually stroked out the days as they passed on my flowered calendar seemed to be dawdling; creeping by on their tip-toes. Yet, when Wednesday approached, I found myself wishing it would just pick itself up and float away.

Each morning on Wednesday, I sat at my kitchen table, daring myself to make quick, hopefully unnoticed glances out the window towards the spot on the menacing driveway my truck would soon be occupying, or at the blackened window where I hoped to see a face. His face.

I did this quite often and I knew it wasn’t helping my nerves at all, but my mind and body did it automatically nowadays; there was no stopping it now.

When Thina caught me doing just that; standing on an angle from the window so as my body was turned away from it, but my head was still able to swivel and take quick peaks without looking too suspicious, she thought I was crazy.

“What are you doing?” She had on her usual sharp black pencil skirt and jacket with a silk, creamy coloured shirt hidden underneath, her keys dangling from one finger.

I stuffed my blueberry muffin into my mouth and then chugged my milk to chase after it before speaking, “Nuffn’, whaf does if loophm like I’mn dfooing?”

She glared at me, “Don’t speak with your mouth full. It’s rude and very unappealing.”

I rolled my eyes and moved away from the window slowly, drinking the rest of my milk.

I watched as Thina adjusted her hair that had been pulled back at the nape of her neck into a complicated twist in hazy reflection on the microwave door. She reached down and adjusted her black stilettos so they sat more comfortably on her heels and then turned to face me, a knowing smile on her face.

“You don’t need to worry so much, Ebony. After all, he is your boyfriend.”

I stood in shock as she continued to smile at me, moving close to peck me on the check and wave her long fingers at me. “I’ll be home late tonight,” her voice was bright. I could only guess she was meeting up with Matt later on. “There are some leftovers in the fridge. Have a good day and be confident. Smile, alright?” She gave my face one last squeeze before heading towards the door, her heels clicking merrily on the tile floor.

I stared at her retreating form in wonder. How did that woman know so much about me? It was because we were twins, I decided, we had a connection that most siblings didn’t have.

When I got to the office, my mind went into high gear as I made sure everything was just right. I checked everything twice; the lawn mower and weed whacker were filled to the brim with gasoline, the handles were slickly oiled, as were the gears. I placed an extra barrel of gasoline and a container of oil on the trailer beside the machines just in case.

After making sure everything was loaded carefully and securely onto the trailer I checked to see if the chains and bungee cords were grasping tightly to the machines and made sure nothing would be able to fall off.

After Sarah double checked and deemed I was “ready, set, go,” I pulled my body into the truck and started it, clenching the wheel with white fingers.

Before I pulled out of the large parking lot situated in front of the main building and warehouses I took a chance to breathe.

I unclenched my white and stiff fingers from the wheel and leaned my head back against the seat, breathing deeply through my nose. The rearview mirror opted for what I thought as a perfect mirror, for quick fixes Thina had missed in the morning. I’m sure Thina would have disagreed.

It was also there, sitting in the small cab of the truck that I really took a chance to analyze everything.

I was nervous. Fuck, nervous as hell! Thina had told me, when I voiced this too her, that if Jace always made me feel this way, I should end the relationship. If I was always feeling self conscious and unsure of myself around him, what would be the point to continue it? I would feel horrible and uncomfortable around myself and I would never really take a chance to relax and enjoy the moment.

I disagreed with her. On some terms. I agreed that if I felt nervous and unsure around him I should end the relationship, but it wasn’t Jace that made me nervous. Well, it was partly him, but it was mostly myself. I was constantly thinking about how I looked, if Jace would like what I was wearing, how sweaty I would be after cutting his lawn, if he would be watching me.

That was before I had even said good morning to him! I got myself so wound up and only thinking about the negative that it made me feel sick to my stomach. Once I was with him, though, everything was different.

Seeing him smile made me feel at ease. His voice soothed me like a lullaby would. His eyes, I didn’t feel self conscious under his gaze but instead appreciated. All in all I was happy. In love.

These were the things I needed to be focused on, not the negative that made me shudder and me wince every time I thought about possible embarrassing situations I might place myself in.

I knew that another reason for these feelings was because I was new at it. I was new at relationships and being close to someone. Ever since my mother had died I distanced myself from others. Yet, when I was around Jace I constantly wanted to feel his arms around me, his lips on mine. I was new to these feelings that frequently flooded my mind and my stomach with butterflies.

I needed to get over it, I told myself. I needed to burst out of my shell and be the person who I truly was. I kept repeating that and slowly, my mind set began to change as I took in the flowers and trees that grew lavishly on the side of the road.

-

-

I parked the car on the side of the road parallel to the driveway so it would be easier for me to navigate the lawn mower off of the trailer.

I counted the steps I took as I made my way to the door (a nervous habit) and knocked twice. Although it was work related I still had to be friendly! Plus, like Thina said, he was my boyfriend after all.

I moved back and forth on the balls of my feet, waiting impatiently, until the door was ripped open harshly, the wind it created making my bangs flutter over my forehead.

“Hey there, Ebony! You’re here just in time!” A suddenly cool voice called out to me and I snapped to see who it was. There in all of his glory stood Marvin.

But, was it Marvin?! I was sure my eyes were betraying me because there he was dressed in a suit (a very tailored one, I must say), his tie hanging loosely on his vast chest and his shoes clashing horribly with his black pants.

‘Marvin, is that you?” I had to cough back surprise when he suddenly pulled me into a hug, his meaty arms holding me tightly to his chest. I was too shocked to move.

“Yep!” He said happily. “It’s me!”

“Um, why are you all, erm, dressed up?” He smiled and opened his arms widely, indicating to his outfit.

“I’ve got an interview. Now, how do I look?” He spun around once and I tried mercifully to hold back a giggle. I looked his outfit up and down. His shoes definitely needed to go and he needed a different coloured tie.

“Well…” I pursed my lips, hoping I wouldn’t offend him. “Do you have any black shoes? And maybe a green or beige tie, instead of that brown one?”

He imitated my actions, pursing his lips as he thought, except when he did it, it looked as though he had just eaten something sour.

“I have black shoes, I think. Maybe Jace has a tie I could borrow.” Before I could object, or say anything at all he had waddled into the kitchen and disappeared around the corner.

I chuckled as I slowly began to recover from my shock. What had ever happened to that rude gangster Marvin I had known? Some stranger had replaced him with a happy, working, hugging, Marvin.

I unlaced my work boots and pulled them off. I then moved in the same direction Marvin had, towards the kitchen.

“Jace?” I called uncertainly. The table was covered in papers and coffee cups, and donut containers ( I assumed those to be Marvins). I glanced towards the stairs as the thumping of feet could be heard. Jace’s jean clad legs appeared and quickly followed his lean, shirtless torso and face. His hair was wet so I assumed he had just gotten out of the shower.

I was practically drooling as he made his way over to me, on his face his usual crooked smile. In his hand he clutched a white shirt. I had the urge to rip it out of his hands and hide it. No one should have to cover up such a beautiful chest.

“Hey,” he said casually, but energetic at the same time. I only smiled with my eyes, seeing as the bottom part of my mouth was still plastered uselessly on the floor. He moved even closer and I began to hyperventilate. My mind automatically wandered to what it would feel like running my hands up and down his sculpted chest and then pressing myself up against him as he kissed me passionately. I quickly shook those thoughts out of my head as he grabbed my hand. It seemed like it was going to be my lucky day, and come true.

His hands moved up and down my arms slowly as he stared at me, still smiling. “How are you?”

I placed my hands on his chest faintly, feeling his muscles that rippled along his chest beneath my fingers. I tried to breathe properly. “Pretty good, just reporting for duty.” I tried to use a teasing tone, but it came out strangled and quiet. He laughed anyways.

“Your visits are always welcome here.” He kissed my forehead gently, his words caressing my skin tantalizingly.

I smiled and relaxed against him as familiarity set in. I tried to open my mind and let myself experience the emotions and feelings I was experiencing. To not pull away and allow myself to feel loved.

“Good.” I sighed. My eyes fluttered shut as he dragged his lips down towards my own. I let my hands dance softly along his chest, feeling each contour and muscle. I tilted my head so our lips could meet and—

“Jesus, Jace! Get a shirt on!” I jumped slightly at Marvin’s voice, my cheeks heating up in a pink blush. Jace just sighed closing his eyes for a moment keeping his face still inches from mine. He opened them again and looked down at me with an apologetic expression in his eyes.

He pressed his lips gently to my own quickly before turning around to face our intruder. I then noticed the t-shirt Jace had been holding discarded on the floor. Before I could pick it up myself, Jace was slipping it over his head, much to my disappointment.

“Why is it that you don’t even have to wear a shirt but here I am trapped in this Tux, man?”

Jace turned to me and rolled his eyes slightly. “Because I already have a job, so I don’t need to dress up for an interview.”

That answer seemed to satisfy Marvin for he just shrugged and headed towards the fridge. “Cutting the grass again Ebony?”

I swallowed hard. Oh, yeah. “Yep. I just thought I’d say good morning.”

Marvin mumbled something under his breath (it sounded a lot like “probably thought you’d get a little bit more than a good morning,”) but I shrugged it off, ignoring Marvin as he began to stuff some cookies in his mouth. Jace chuckled and reached for the package of cookies in Marvin’s hand.

“Slow down there. You don’t want to have to change again, do you?” Marvin grumbled again, but complied, shoving the last cookie his hand in his hand into his mouth. After chewing nosily and swallowing he saluted Jace and I energetically and headed out the door.

As soon as I heard the door slam I began to laugh, leaning against the counter for support. Jace chuckled along with me as he grabbed to cups from the cupboard and then poured us both a steaming cup of coffee.

“This has been a very interesting morning.” He commented handing me my cup and following me to the table. He pulled out a chair for me before sitting down beside me. We sipped our coffee in silence. I gazed out the window that faced the back yard. The yard was menacing as I stared at the grass, the tips browning slightly in the hot sun. I knew it was about time to get out there and finish my job that I was dreading.

I felt Jace's gaze fall lightly onto the side of my face and I turned to look at him. His eyes were soft and tender as they gazed into my own, knocking the breath from my lungs. We stayed like that, just staring at one another for an irmeasurable moment before he smiled, it's glow lighting his entire face, and setting down his coffee mug on the table lightly.

I sighed. I knew somehow this was my cue. I drained the rest of my coffee and then stretched. "I should get out there and get started then." I commented.

Jace nodded and finished his coffee as well. He stood and brought both cups to the sink. I followed his back into the foyer were my shoes were. I sat down on the ground, feeling like a one legged person hopping around when I tried to lace my shoes up standing. I glanced up at Jace and grinned sheepishly. He watched me with an amused expression that linger on his face as he spoke.

"Would you like me to help you with those?"

I laughed and offered him my other foot. He sat down in front of me and took my thankfully clean work boot ( I had cleaned them the night before, thank god!) into his lap and slipped it onto my foot.

I finished tying my left foot before he had finished my right so I sat back and waited, feeling quite comfortable. I let my eyes slide shut as I remembered our first real date when he had tied up my rollerblades for me. I replayed everything and when I got to the part where I had fallen and took him down with me I laughed out loud. Jace glanced up at me and I could see his lips starting to curl up in his usual crooked smile. I found myself unable to stop smiling as well because of the feeling his smile brought to my stomach, knowing that I had caused him to be and feel happy.

"What's so funny?" He asked playfully.

I cocked my head to one side and debated whether or not I should tell him or not. "I'm just remembering things."

"Ah. Care to share?" He mimicked me by tilting his head to one side as well. I pursed my lips and pretended to decide even though I had already made up my mind. I wanted to see his playful side.

"No." I giggled nervously and tried to stand but his hands rested on my knees, preventing that from happening. His face suddenly grew serious and I was afraid I had offended him. He moved closer on all fours, his face coming closer to my own. I automatically moved back from him and I found myself pressed up against the door. I glanced at his eyes and only there was my fear quenched, for they were filled with mischeif and playfullness.

"Why?" He whispered, his breath fanning sweetly over my face. Jace stared at me so intently I found it hard to breathe. He noticed this and moved his face even closer, our noses bumping together lightly. My eyes trembled shut on their own accord and stayed that way when his lips brushed gently over them, the corners of my eyes, my temples. My hands grasped at his shoulders, my fingers stroking lightly through his t-shirt. He was going to force it out of me!

"Tell me?" It wasn't a demand but a question. I stood my ground, and I knew he was faultering too, even though he, at the moment, held all power over me. I slipped my hands into his hair, grasping lightly at the tendrels of bronze coloured hair. He kissed the corner of my mouth with extreme slowness. I sighed but kept my mouth shut.

"Nuh uh." I said breathlessly, not wanting this game to end. He laughed and nuzzled my neck, his nose gliding slowly, treacherously under my jaw. It was only when he began to place light butterfly kisses under my chin and up to the sensitive hollow behind my ear did I give in.

My breath that I did not realized I had been holding came out in a whoosh and I spoke, feeling desperate for his lips to be moving with my own. "I was thinking about when we went rollerblading. I was laughing about how I fell and you fell with me."

His mouth continued its trail along my jaw to the corner of my mouth once more. I was gasping. "When you were tying my shoe the memory came back to me."

Jace pulled away slightly to look at me. A smile curved his face as he stared at me. My own gaze flickered from his eyes to his mouth. He took that, and when I laced my hands tighter in his hair, as a clue and kissed me hard. If I had been standing I would have surely lost my footing.

After a long moment, I surfaced for air, my lips swollen and my breathing ragged. Jace rested his forehead against my own and I kept my eyes shut, letting the butterflies in my stomach slowly begin to calm down as the lullaby of my heart that was slowly slowing down began to soothe them. Jace's breathing was also ragged and each breath he exhaled caused shivers to run down my spine.

Jace began to laugh and I opened my eyes. "I'm going to get you fired, if we keep this up."

I smiled and was about to object, saying that at the moment it didn't really matter, but Jace had grasped my hands and pulled me gently to my feet. I kissed him once more and took a step back towards the now open door.

I smiled at him and said thanks for the coffee. It had been a good morning, refering to everything, including the kiss that had left me still breathing heavily.

"Don't watch!" I said smiling, as he slowly shut the door. He gave me the thumbs up sign and then waved from the window.

I turned to face to sun, it's shine nothing compared to the glow I was sure that was radiating off of me.

Special thanks to Isabella22 and Little Miss Whatsherface who have followed me throughout my entire story and are my loyal readers.
PLEASE check out their stories!

-Justine