A Little Less than Famous by Sara E. Santana

okay.”
     
    I nodded. “Yeah, its okay.”
     
    A corner of Jake’s mouth turned up. “Thanks, McKinley.” I nodded, smiling. “How was your date?”
     
    I sighed. “Jake…”
     
    “What? I can’t ask a question?” he asked, a hint of amusement in his face.
     
    I shook my head. “Lets just say there won’t be any more dates with Gabriel.” There was a long pause and I looked up to see Jake barely concealing a smile on his face. “God, Jake, you are a terrible actor.”
     
    He laughed. “That’s good to know, considering what I do for a living.”
     
    I rolled my eyes. “Have you ever heard of playing hard to get?”
     
    “I thought that was for girls.”
     
    “It works for boys too.”
     
    “Well, I usually don’t have to play any games. Girls usually just…well, come.”
     
    “Lovely choice of word, Jake, and it must be nice.” I wrapped my arms a little tighter around me. The weather had seemed to get the memo that it was fall and there was a slight bite in the air.
     
    “Are you cold?” Jake asked, taking his hands out of his pockets, looking concerned.
     
    “No, I’m okay,” I said, eyeing him warily.
     
    Jake smirked and reached out for me and pulled me into his arms.
     
    I scowled, even though admittedly, I was warmer. “I could’ve just gone inside and gotten a blanket,” I grumbled.
     
    “Yeah, but a blanket doesn’t hug you like this,” Jake pointed out. He pulled me tighter against him and his cheek was resting on my head. My heart was banging hard in my chest. We stayed like that for a while; Jake seemed content to staying silent. Then suddenly, he pulled away.
     
    “I really like you, McKinley,” he said, sounding so sure of himself .
     
    “Jake,” I said, hesitating. I wasn’t sure what to say to him. I did like him; he was someone new and he was exciting. But getting involved with him was different than getting involved with boys like Gabriel. It was an unknown territory and I didn’t like it. I liked being in control. I liked being able to see the end because, inevitably, there was always an end. “Jake, I just don’t think…”
     
    I didn’t get a chance to finish. Jake grabb ed me and started kissing me. T his time, I was responding and enthusiastically. How could I keep myself playing the game when I was being kissed like this? I was grabbing at him, pulling him closer. H e pulled back and looked at me, his hands lost in my hair.
     
    “God, don’t stop,” I said, pushing him in the shoulder impatiently and then dragging his face to mine.
     
    “Jesus,” Jake breathed, in between kisses. He lifted me off the ground and set me on the trunk. I started to protest-I should not be sitting on the 290,000 dollar car-but he just silenced me with more kisses. His hands were fumbling at the zipper on my jacket and his was alread y on the ground. In less than five minutes, I’ d gotten more turned on than the six months I spent with Gabriel. I could not wait to tell Amanda.
     
    Shit. Amanda. I yanked myself back though I didn’t go far, his grip on me was so strong. “Wait, wait a second.”
     
    Jake looked down at me, breathing hard. He was standing between my legs and his hands were on my waist. “What? Too much?”
     
    I bit my lip and then smiled. “Okay, I like the direction this is going in. I’m not going to lie. But I’m not sure how I feel about this.”                            
     
    Jake brushed a strand of hair away from my face with a finger and I flinched away from him. This was too affectionate for me. “What do you mean, this?”
     
    “Jake,” I said. I paused, trying to think of a way to explain it to him. “Look, you don’t want to get involved with me.”
     
    “But I do want to get involved with you. I like you. You’re great.”
     
    I winced. “I’m not. I’m really not.”
     
    “Look, McKinley, I’m not trying to sound like a dick but my every movement is followed, especially my