Chapter One
Four years ago (continued)
Three days went by and Jade was restless as ever. So, when Jaden called her from his college dormitory in Austin to go to Dustin's restaurant and pay for the party expenses, she was ecstatic. She had to take the money from their dad and hand it over to his granny at his restaurant.
"Please don't give a cheque, Dustin's at Dallas on work and his grandma needs the money immediately, " said Jaden and Jade's face fell. So she wouldn't get to meet him? She felt like her heart would break.
"Ok," she said, quietly.
Jaden disconnected the call, relieved that the money would reach when Dustin's grandma needed it the most.
He called Dustin and informed him that Jade would go to his restaurant and hand it over to his grandma on her way back from school. Dustin thanked him and disconnected the call.
He had to go back to Travis Springs and see Jade. He would come back later for his work. He drove his Ford F-150 as fast as possible. He had to reach his restaurant by lunchtime.
Excited beyond words at the prospect of meeting Jade, he reached his restaurant in record time, to see her car parked in front of his restaurant. Her chauffeur was sitting inside, waiting patiently for her.
The truth was ever since he saw her at Jaden's party, he was obsessed with her. He wanted to see her innocent angelic face again and again. He knew she was very young, and he shouldn't corrupt her but he was helpless. He just couldn't keep his eyes off her.
He rushed inside to see her hug his granny. Oh, what he would do to get a hug from her. He stood transfixed at the door, watching her talking to his granny. She handed his granny the envelope containing the money that her dad sent.
His granny looked at him with a surprised expression. "Weren't you in Dallas? How did you come so early?" She asked suspiciously.
"I had something important to do," he said, lowering his eyes lest his granny saw through him. She was shrewd and could read him like an open book. How? He had no idea.
His granny smiled knowingly and looked at Jade who was looking at her grandson shyly. "You must be hungry, sweetheart. Come, I have just the thing for you," she said leading her towards the back of the restaurant to Dustin's room. Dustin followed them inside too unsure what his granny was upto.
"This is Dustin's room. Sit here. I'll get you something to eat," she said leaving the room. Jade looked around the neatly arranged, clean room. It wasn't big but it was comfortable. A double bed with a dresser and a nightstand on either side of it occupied one side of the room. On the other side, there was a wardrobe and chest of drawers and a small desk.
He sat on his bed and patted the place beside him, "Sit please," he said. She sat down awkwardly, a little further away from the place where he indicated.
"Weren't you away in Dallas?" She asked him.
"Yeah, I came home to see you," he said, staring at her.
Her heart started hammering in her chest, fast. She looked up at him, stunned by his words. "Why?" She asked, hesitantly.
"Didn't you want to see me?" He asked, leaning down to her level to get a good look into her eyes.
She lowered her eyes. Oh God, what would she answer? "I I don't know," she lied, trying to avoid his questioning look.
His forefinger went under her chin and uplifted her face to his level. "Tell me that you didn't want to see me. Tell me that your heart isn't beating as fast as mine. Tell me Jade, why am I going crazy for you?" He asked, his face showing how tortured he was feeling.
"Yes, I wanted to see you," she said, searching his eyes.
Dustin simply stared at her upturned face. No, he shouldn't kiss her. She was just sixteen. She was innocent. She was untouched. She wasn't an adult yet. It would be wrong. He controlled himself as much as he could.
"Lunch is served," his granny's call aroused him from his trance.
"Come let's eat," he said, getting up and leading the way to a room where there was a modular kitchen in one corner with a four seater dining table. There was a TV and sofas on the other side. It looked clean, cosy and very comfortable.
They sat at the table and her granny brought two plates of spaghetti with Italian Meatballs dunked in sauce. A heavenly aroma wafted into her nostrils.
They hungrily attacked the delicious food. "Mmmmm, this is heavenly," Jade said as Dustin stared at her mouth.
"Granny won't you eat with us?" She asked granny who was cleaning up.
"Not now sweetheart. I had a late breakfast," she said.
"You sit down granny. I'll clean up," said Jade.
"Oh no no. You're a real darling. Enjoy your food. It's my daily job, it's nothing I can't manage," said his granny with a chuckle.
Jade finished her plate and took it to the sink. She washed the few utensils that were there. Dustin sat watching her, mesmerised by her, laughing with his granny and doing the dishes. It seemed as if she belonged here, to his little world. Granny discreetly noticed his hypnotized state many times and chuckled inwardly. It was obvious that he was whipped with the young girl.
"I need to get going granny. I have homework to do," she said and granny hugged her.
"Ok sweetheart but do come down sometimes to see your old granny," she said kissing her cheek.
"Yes granny, I will, " Jade promised, kissing granny's cheek too.
Dustin watched them longingly and when Jade turned to leave, he jumped up and led her outside.
"When can I see you again?" He asked her and she smiled shyly.
"Will you come tomorrow again?" He asked tentatively.
"Not tomorrow, I have extra classes till 4 o'clock in the afternoon," she said.
"Oh, aren't you in Travis High?" he asked.
"Yeah. Even you and Jaden studied there," she said.
He nodded. "So when will I get to see you again?" He asked.
"I'll come down during the weekend, Saturday afternoon?" she promised.
"I'll wait for you, " he said and she nodded with a blush.
"Bye," she said.
"Bye," he sighed. She climbed into her car and left. Dustin drove to Dallas to get his work done.
Next day, Dustin fidgeted around all morning. He just couldn't get any work done. He wanted to see Jade. He wanted to talk to her, to see her face, her smile. So by 3 o'clock he drove to Travis High and waited opposite the main gate patiently.
Just one look at her wouldn't do any harm. At 4 o'clock Jade came out with a scowl. It was not in her nature to scowl. Something was wrong, he was sure.
He saw that a bunch of rowdy guys were following her passing rude remarks at her. He was furious. Getting down from his truck, he strode towards them, with his hands clenched into his fists.
"Leave Jade alone, " he growled and the boys stared at him.
Jade walked up to him and stood beside him, thankful for his intervention.
"Do you want to be suspended for bullying a girl? I could report all of you to the authorities," he said and the boys looked scared.
"Sorry sir. It won't happen again," one of them said. The others also agreed and apologised.
Dustin led Jade outside. "Do you have your car?" He asked her and she shook her head.
"No, dad's gone out in it. I'll take the bus," she said.
"Come, I'll drop you," said Dustin and Jade climbed in.
Dustin stopped in front of her house. "Thank you for saving me from those rowdy boys," she said.
Dustin grinned. "That won't do, you have to thank me nicely," he said and Jade stared at him in confusion.
"Nicely?" She asked.
"Yes, kiss me," he said, tapping on his cheek. She blushed crimson.
"That's not a good idea, " she said.
"It is a very good idea," he coaxed her.
Jade went forward and kissed his cheek. "Thank you, " she said and opening the door of his truck, jumped out and hurried home with her face burning with embarrassment.
Dustin sat as if in a daze. That innocent kiss turned him into a puppet in her hands. He knew it was wrong of him to ask for a kiss but he just lost his senses when around her.
