Behind The Mask ~Jacob~

[Jacob Cullen]

As Kadie got up and began to run away from him, her angry outburst lingered in Jacob's head, and he got angry himself. He got up, and chased after her. He caught up with her easily, and grabbed her arm, whipping her around to face him. "Why the hell are you getting so defensive? Is it because you are starting to feel something for me as well? What the hell are you so afraid of? Yes I am 14, and I may be young in age, but I am not young in heart, or mind. I have gone through some f*cked up $h!t in my life, and I know how to deal with loss and pain. You can't linger on the past, you can't let one bad experience turn you into something that your not, and you can't go through life wearing that mask of yours because one day someone is going to break through that mask, and then what are you going to do? Your not even going to know yourself. Let me give you some advice in turn hun: Take off the mask, stop trying to act like this tough b*tch, and stop worrying about what is going to happen. Life is too short to worry, just let whatever happens happen, and enjoy every step of the way." Jacob smiled, and tilted his head again. "Besides, maybe I like girls with baggage. They make life more interesting."

[Kadie Taylor]

As he whipped her around to face him, her eyes flashed dangerously. She listened to his words, and hated herself when those butterflies once again erupted at his smile.

"Don't even pretend like you know me. You don't know what you're talking about," she snapped, though her eyes did not meet his when she said this because she knew that he had a point.

"And don't go trying to say you have feelings for me when we just met tonight. I have no desire to be Cassie's replacement. You're clearly on the rebound. And if you so badly want to be on the rebound then go find someone else who is willing to be that girl. As I said before, I'm the Snow Queen, and this icy heart of mine can't be melted. So do not even try. Guys have tried to go there before and failed miserably," she added. But her eyes clearly showed that she was scared. So she tried hard not to look at him.

"Just let go alright? Before you become another guy on the list that I've hexed," she said angrily. Her anger was clearly just a cover-up from how scared she felt.

[Jacob Cullen]

Jacob's eyes flashed dangerously as well. He didn't let anyone, anyone threaten him. "If your gonna curse me, then curse me, but I am not going to go anywhere. I do know you. Don't think that I am an immature idiot. Your all the same. Some guy abused you, some guy left you, whatever it is, all you do is use it as an excuse to not feel again. You just bundle up in this blanket of pain until it coats over your heart, and your allowed to go around acting like a b*tch, so you don't have to let anyone else in. Your just scared, scared that it is going to happen again. You can't live your life in fear though because sooner or later the right guy is going to come along, and your gonna miss him. You think that I am on the rebound? I was never even in the game, how can I be rebounding? I will tell you this though. It is about time that you got off the bench, and take a chance before the best years of your life are gone, and you are just left alone." Jacob reached out and turned Kadie's face towards his. "Once again, please don't do that. Eyes that beautiful deserve to be seen."

[Kadie Taylor]

She hated how much his words made complete sense. But she hated how much he saw right through her mask. Nobody had been able to do that and she wanted to hate him so bad for it. She hated how he reached out and turned his face towards his again.

"You don't know me at all. I'm not like the other girls who had their hearts broken. I went through hell. You have no idea what I've gone through," the emotion was finally in her eyes. She never cried, but tears were threatening to escape, and she hated that. Because she saw crying as some sort of weakness. At least in herself.

"I lost everything because I was stupid. I lost my brother, and I have no idea who I am anymore. So just let me be the Snow Queen in peace because it's a lot easier to be the Snow Queen then feel anything," she admitted. She finally pulled away, and turned away as a few tears trickled down. Okay, he'd seen way too far past the mask, and she was sure that she never wanted to see him again because of that fact. But why was her heart telling her different?

"Just go," she whispered softly not turning around to look at him. Her fierce temper was now gone, and in it's place a sadness that she didn't want to feel, and she was cursing Jacob for making her feel again.

[Jacob Cullen]

Jacob hated what he was doing to Kadie, but could also see the progress that he was making with her, and how much she needed him right now. As she turned away from him, trying to hide her tears, Jacob's true and honest compassionate nature sprang up, and he walked up behind her, hugging her close. "It's okay now. I am here for you. What do you think your brother would say if he were here right now? Do you really think he would want you to completely shut down, to become the Snow Queen because he was gone, or do you think he would want you to go on with your life, to be as sweet and compassionate as I know you are, and live a doubley great life for the both of you?" Jacob turned Kadie around, and wiped the tears from her eyes. Even in sadness she was beautiful, and it broke Jacob's heart.

[Kadie Taylor]

"No you're right. He wouldn't want me to be this way," she admitted as he turned her around to face him again. He really wouldn't. Kevin had always been one of those larger then life people, and he'd always understood her more then anyone. Why did it seem that Jacob understood her when they'd just met?

And why all of a sudden did she feel alive? She had felt so dead since Kevin's death, and in fact, had wanted to die herself. A huge part of her didn't want to feel alive, cause she had to feel all the guilt and the pain that came along with it. But it wasn't like she hadn't been feeling it before. She'd just been numbing herself to the fact that those emotions were there. But numbing herself to those emotions didn't make them go away.

"We should go inside. It's getting late," she said softly, not really wanting to, and that scared her. She was still very weary against her growing feelings towards the 4th year. She didn't want to examine her feelings and had every intention of avoiding him after tonight. Even though a huge part of her didn't want to.

[Jacob Cullen]

Jacob could see the turmoil in Kadie's eyes as her words lingered in the air. He was glad that his hard work was slowly paying off though, and the mask that Kadie has clung to was slowly disappearing. Jacob chuckled a little, and in a brave mood took Kadie's hand. "I don't mind staying out here as long as it's with you." Jacob was scared to leave. Scared that Kadie would go back to the way she had been, and ignore him completely from this day forth. He rubbed her hand in his, and smiled at her, wondering if his brave move was going to cost him.

[Kadie Taylor]

She actually gave him a soft smile as he took her hand.

"I'm telling you, that you've got the wrong girl," she said softly.

"But, I don't mind being your friend. I can't............I can't do a relationship. I'm not ready and we just met tonight and it's just not a good idea............." she was babbling. She always babbled when she was nervous. As she said it though she kept telling herself to yank her hand away, and yet, she wasn't. She couldn't seem to bring herself too. She was pretty much frozen.

[Jacob Cullen]

Jacob smiled. "And I am telling you, that I think the right girl for me is right in front of me. Nobody has ever, ever brought out this side of me. It is extremely exciting. You are right though, we only did meet tonight, you can't tell me that even in this short time though that you don't feel something because I know I do. This doesn't have to go any farther tonight. I am a patient man, and I can wait. I would love to see you again another night.......if that is okay with you?" Jacob smiled his nervous little smile, and waited for the oncoming rejection. He knew that it was coming. He could see the fear in Kadie's eyes. He could see the uncertainty, and he was sure that she would never be able to get past that.

[Kadie Taylor]

As he said that he'd like to see her another night, she bit her lip a bit. She was fighting with herself. A major part of her wanted to see him again while the other part of her was screaming at her to stay away. She blew out her breath in frustration. She was so confused as to how this guy was making her feel all these many different emotions. While she liked it, she wasn't so sure that it was a good idea.

"We'll see," she finally said, and then surprised herself when she leaned forward and gave him a soft kiss on the cheek.

She gently took her hand from his and then with a smile, she turned and walked away.

[Jacob Cullen]

Jacob felt a thrill when Kadie kissed his cheek, and made a sort of promise to him. Even though he was sure that she would never voluntarily see him again. Jacob smiled, and watched as Kadie walked away, determined to continue this new found relationship. He sighed, and walked the other way, his mind filled with confusing thoughts.