The Many Faces of Tully

A minute later Jace walks in, rubbing his eyes. His brown hair is standing up in odd places, like he’s been running his hands through it a lot recently. His glasses are on top of his head and his eyes are bloodshot. He yawns hugely.

“Good morning,” I say to him, smiling at his appearance. He’s wearing the same dark blue T-shirt as he was yesterday and the same faded blue jeans. He stretches his arms up above his head and his shirt lifts up. I see the hem of his boxers again and an inch of his stomach. My stomach flutters.

“Is it morning?” he asks. “Well, it must be if you’re up, unless you’re getting a late night snack. What time is it?” He sits down across from me. Before I answer he grabs my wrist and looks at my watch. He blinks a few times and then opens his eyes wide, as if he can’t see the watch clearly.

“Its 6:20 already?” he asks me, dropping my wrist. He yawns again.

“Have you been up all night?” I yawn too. “Don’t yawn. They’re contagious,” I tell him.

“I can’t help it. And yes, I have been,” he says, stretching his arms above his head again.

I’m about to ask him why but the door swings open. Nash walks in then and he smiles at us hugely.

“Good morning you two. I never see you guys in here this late in the morning,” he teases us. “You’re either studying or watching videos by now. Having a late start this morning?” He raises his eyebrows at us.

“Nope. I’ve been up all night.” Jace smiles at him sleepily.

“And I haven’t been sleeping well these last two nights.” I make a face at him.

“I’d say. You look like hell,” Nash teases me.

“Hey, if that’s what hell looks like, then I wouldn’t mind going there,” Jace says. I blush. I’m pretty sure that was a compliment, and a really cute one.

“Wait a second,” Nash says. A goofy grin is spreading across his face. “I think I know what’s going on here!”

Jace and I look at each other. Both of us are confused. We look at Nash then.

“Oh c’mon. I’m not stupid. You’ve been up all night,” he says to Jace. “And you didn’t get much sleep last night.” He looks at me and winks.

My jaw drops. I see Jace raise his eyebrows at him from the corner of my eye. Nash starts laughing at our expressions.

“I knew it.” He smiles wider.

“No,” I finally choke out. My cheeks are burning. “No, that’s not what. No,” I say again.

Jace starts laughing. “Is that all you ever think about Nash? You’re such a kid. Tully and I, on the other hand, are adults, and we can be friends without it being sexual. I was up all night training, and I’m assuming when Tully says she wasn’t sleeping well, she actually means it,” he says to Nash, sounding like his normal self. “I’m sorry you didn’t sleep well last night, by the way.” he says to me. He’s still smiling.

“Yeah, sure, whatever. You can’t tell me that it hasn’t crossed your mind,” Nash challenges Jace. This can’t be happening right now.

“Of course I can’t. I am a guy. It’s crossed everyone’s mind. You saw how she looked a month or so ago.” Jace stares at him, not looking at me, which is good because my facial expression isn’t very attractive right now. It’s a mixture of embarrassment, shock, and flattery.

“It would be kind of cool to be with her,” Nash says then, with a sort of reverence. He seems to have forgotten me.

“What makes you say that?” Jace cocks his head.

“It would be like, doing it with a bunch of different girls!” His gooney smile returns.

A strangled sound escapes my throat. They both look at me. “I am right here you know.”

Jace and Nash look at each other and start laughing. I stare at Jace in shock. I have never seen this side of him. I don’t know if it’s because he’s sleep deprived or if it’s because the subject had never come up.

“Do you not like the idea of being attractive?” Jace raises an eyebrow at me.

“Of course not!” He, of all people, should understand. He keeps staring at me, waiting for an explanation. Was he doing this on purpose or did he really not know? “Being pretty attracts attention. Attention generally leads to close proximity. Close proximity to me means, BAM! You’re dead.”

“Except for me. Like I said Tuls, you’re destined to be with me,” Nash says, throwing an arm around me. I sigh internally and decide to roll with their mood. Guys will be guys.

“Well remember when you asked me if I was a siren succubus thing?” I ask Nash, turning towards him. His face is half a foot from mine. His eyes widen and he nods. I lean in closer to him and stare him straight in the eyes. “Well I am,” I say as seriously as I can.

“Is that so?” he says to me, raising his eyebrow. I can see a sliver of fear in his eyes.

“Oh yeah.” I bite my lip attractively. “No one I’ve been with has survived. What makes you think you’re any different?” I cock my head slightly.

“I’m indestructible,” he mumbles slightly.

I chuckle darkly and shake my head slowly. “Not if I suck the life out of you.” His eyes widen. “All I have to do is kiss you, and then your life, is mine.” My eye’s flash.

“You can’t do that.” His voice shakes ever so slightly.

“Ask Jace. He barely survived his kiss. It’s a good thing he can heal himself.” I go out on a limb. I hope Jace plays along.

Nash looks at Jace then. “Is that true?” he asks him. I hear desperation in his voice.

Jace laughs slightly. “It was the hardest thing I had to heal from. And I’m actually kind of curious if you can survive it or not.” I smile when I hear Nash gulp.

“So, do you want to try it? Since you’re so convinced we’re meant to be?” I bat my eyelashes and start to lean in closer. He unwinds his arm from my shoulders quickly and leans away.

“Uh, as tempting as that is, I have to pass. I can’t tell if you’re serious or not, so better not risk it.” He stands up then. “She’s all yours Jace. I have to go now.” He leaves the room quickly.

Jace and I both start laughing as soon as he’s gone. I reach over without looking at him and hold out my hand. He slaps it and I clench my hand into a fist. He bumps it with his. I turn and face him, smiling.

“Thanks for playing along,” I say to him.

“Of course. He deserved it. He doesn’t know if he’s the only one who can handle you.” He raises his eyebrows at me again.

“So far he is.” I frown slightly. What is he implying?

“That’s what I was practicing all night,” he says nonchalantly.

Coffee spews from my mouth. “What?” I choke.

“Jeeze, what did you do that for?” He gets up to clean the mess and ignores my question.

“Jace, sit down.” His chair turns and thrusts itself into the back of his knees. He lands heavily in it and the chair spins him around and slams him into the table.

“Ouch, Tully!” he complains.

“Sorry,” I say brusquely. “But what the hell do you mean that’s what you were practicing last night?” Was he trying to see if he can handle my explosion? He will never know.

He sighs. “Tully, can I clean up this mess please?” He avoids the question again. I wave my hand over the table and the mess disappears. He stares at me with wide eyes. “How did you do that?”

“I don’t know, now stop avoiding the question,” I order him.

He sighs again. “It’ll be better if I just show you…”

“Fine.” I stand up, but he doesn’t follow. “Aren’t you going to show me?”

“Can I at least shower first?” he begs me.

“Ugh!” I groan. “Fine, I guess I need one too.” His eyebrows shoot up. “Not together!” I gasp. “Stop being such a guy.” He just smiles.

“Meet me in the lab after we shower, separately.” He sighs the last word in mock disappointment. I glare at him and make his chair tip backwards. He groans painfully when he hits the floor. I smile.

“I should have never helped you with that.” His voice comes from the floor.

“I’m kind of enjoying it,” I say. I make the chair sit up then. His chest hits the table again and he groans again.

“Jesus, Tully! You’re going to kill me one day.” He’s rubbing his chest.

The smile slides from my face. I won’t kill him. I refuse to. He can’t make me. I don’t want to. Why can’t he be the only guy I like that I don’t murder accidently. Jace finally looks up at me and see’s the expression on my face. I must look like I’m in pain.

“Oh, Tully, no. I didn’t mean that. I’m sorry. Wrong choice of words. I’m sorry.” He pushes back his chair and stands up.

I shake my head and force a smile on my face. “No, I know. It’s fine.” The smile must look painful too because he frowns.

“Tully,” he says sympathetically.

“I’m fine. I’m going to go shower now. Got a video to watch apparently.” I turn quickly and hurry out of the kitchen.