Less than Perfect, S. J. Evans [classic literature books txt] 📗

voice and she kept her eyes closed. She knew the voice but she wasn’t in reality enough to fully place it.
“Skye, you should get up, I want to talk to you. Stool girl, are you okay?” Jules whispered caringly. He was knelt down beside the bed and had one hand on the bed, while the other hand was on her shoulder shaking it carefully.
Skye woke up and opened her eyes to find Jules’ radiant emeralds burrowing into her. He grinned when he saw her but Skye only flinched back—they were so close to each other. “Jules, what are you

doing here?” she asked groggily, a yawn escaping from her lips.
“I came over to see what was up since you weren’t answering your phone and your mom told me what happened. Well, she told me the best she knew, at least.”
“What do you mean? Whatever she told you what happened, is

what happened; she doesn’t lie.”
He blinked and drew his head back a little. “No, no, Skye, I didn’t mean that. I just meant that I think there’s more to what happened that she doesn’t even know about.”
Skye stared at him questionably. “What do you mean?”
“I don’t think that you

did this to yourself. Skye, you couldn’t possibly do harm to yourself. I may not know you all that well, but you wouldn’t do that unless someone pushed you into it. That much I do know.” He said sweetly, his eyes filled with sincerity and care. He believes in her, really believes in her.
Skye couldn’t believe it, she couldn’t believe that Jules was doing it again; he was building her up in even one of the hardest times. She wanted to tell him the truth, but she knew that he could get into something with Bryan and she didn’t want to see that happen again. The only thing she believed that she could do was lie. “I did all of this to myself, Jules. I don’t like who I am, and I don’t care about how things have become anymore, so I’ll betray myself anytime.”
Jules touched her arm and gently rubbed his thumb over a scar. “You didn’t do any of this to yourself, but if you don’t want to tell me, I’ll leave it all alone. I’m not going to pressure you into telling me, and I won’t go searching for answers; but I do hope that you eventually tell me, because, Skye, I’m here to listen.”
Despite the anger she had towards him for figuring her out, she couldn’t help but smile. He understood her, he somehow could tell something that her own mother couldn’t even seem to grasp, yet he knew what it was and he didn’t pressure her about it, he didn’t want to cause any trouble or upset. Jules really does care about her enough to not want to hurt her. He’s far from being near Bryan’s settlement. “Thank you, Jules. I’m glad that you’re here.” She whispered, sleep calling back for her. She closed her eyes and smiled, feeling the warmth of Jules’ hand close by her. She felt warm and secure again, he changed every thought in her mind clear of Bryan, he brought her away from the past and into the present—nothing else mattered.
Jules smiled warmly and leaned in to kiss her forehead. “No problem, Trouble.” He whispered around the kiss.
Skye’s smile became a little bigger as she thought about the new name she had from him. “Now I’m ‘trouble?” she murmured.
Jules chuckled and stayed leaning down towards her. “Yeah, it seems to fit you perfectly. You’re trouble for me, I just can’t stay away.”
Skye blinked her eyes open and looked at his gorgeous face, the face that in her mind was so perfect in was angelic. “You’re a dork.” She teased.
Jules pondered that for a moment and nodded. “Sure I am. But that just makes me ten times more irresistible.”
Skye rolled her eyes closed and chuckled. “I never would have guessed that.”
“That’s because you’re not a dork, remember? You’re trouble—my favorite kind of trouble.” He sighed and pulled himself upright, examining her from the short distance. She looked peaceful, he thought. Little did he know that she always felt peaceful

around him, no matter how uneasy she could feel because of the simplicity of his presence. It was always that good uneasy though, and she never disliked it. “Sleep well, Trouble.” Jules was satisfied just looking at her, but he knew that she needed her sleep.
She mumbled something inaudible and reached out for his shirt, grabbing it and pulling him down towards her. Jules clumsily fell to her bed as she opened her eyes. Jules was leaning over the bed and their faces were only inches apart. They smiled at each other and looked from eye to eye, finding themselves lost in each other’s souls. “Jules there’s something I never told you,” Skye explained, her hand reaching up and tracing his chin.
Jules resituated himself a little bit better and grinned. “And what’s that?” he inquired.
Skye breathed in his scent and traced her finger over his lips, the soft lips that she desired and longed to kiss. “I’ve never made a habit of falling off of stools, but if I had to go back and change that moment that night, I wouldn’t do it.” She purred. Her voice was soft but crisp.
Jules brushed his hands through her hair and filled another inch of space. “To be honest, I’ve never been good at staying away from trouble.”
Skye grinned and put both of her hands around his neck. “Good,” the word trailed off as she filled another inch of space, “I can live with that.” Come on, Jules, you only get so many chances in life.

She thought about their lips brushing against each other and she sighed. Skye slowly started to close her eyes. Take a chance and unravel this mystery.

Things happen in a moment’s time and feelings can bloom before they’re even found.

Complicated Nightmares

One week later

The morning sky was blinding, a bright yellow glory traced by beauty. Skye sat on the window ledge, thinking about the beauty that she finally felt in her heart. For one week, Skye had been free from Bryan’s rage, free from living with the fear of having him hurt her. For an entire week, Johnny hadn’t touched her—he was gone on a “business trip”. For an entire week, she and Jules had been around each other a lot, free from Bryan’s threats. She finally felt that life was getting better, that Jules really was changing things.
She breathed in the fresh summer air, air that was clear of the past humidity. Closing her eyes, she felt the warmth envelope her, taking her over, and, somehow, refreshing her. The sky was painted with those bright colors, fluffy white clouds drifting slowly across the smeared beauty that had been created. She could feel the beauty and tranquility in the air, a rich melody of peace. “Beautiful,” she sighed, fluttering her eyes open.
“Yes, you are.” Jules said as he stepped into her bedroom. His voice was harmonious, breathtaking really.
She practically fell off of the ledge at the sound of his voice, smiling to herself with glee. He came for her again, just as he had promised. Once she gained her concentration, she turned her head towards him. He was leaning against the door frame, hands hooked in his pockets, and a grin was plastered on his face. She could hardly help but stare at him, there was just something about him that set her off into a whole other world, a world free and all too unreal. “Look who decided to show up,” she said, circling her feet over the edge.
“Who, me?” He said playfully, raising his eyebrows curiously.
She laughed and leapt off of the ledge. “No, I was talking about my imaginary friend Jimmy.” She scoffed playfully.
“You’ve been holding out on me, Trouble? Is he your new boyfriend? Wait, he’s not any more irresistible then I am, is he? No, that’s right, he couldn’t be.” He winked and unhitched himself from the frame.
She laughed and felt her face burn. “No, of course not, nobody could be.” She purred, stepping closer to him. Jules walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her, their bodies cuddled together.
“Exactly,” he whispered as he bent his head down to kiss hers. “I missed you, trouble.”
She smiled and pulled herself away from him so that she was looking straight into his eyes. “It has only been one day, Jules.”
“Really? Oh, that was one long day.” He brought his hand up to her face and stroked her hair behind her ear. “Every day without you seems a little bit too long,” he whispered, his deep green eyes bold and glistening.
“How charming,” said Skye as she pulled his hand into hers and fit her fingers between his. “You’re an original Romeo.”
“Actually, I thought I would rather portray the knight in shining armor,” he chuckled. “But I guess that doesn’t really fit with this scenario, does it?”
Skye smiled casually and dropped his hand, staring into the eyes of someone she has always felt something with. “It doesn’t, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t be that for me. I think that you easily could be.”
“Maybe someday,” said Jules, as he pulled Skye up by her hips and bent down to kiss her. “I’m willing to wait for miracles.” He whispered into Skye’s ear.
Skye closed her eyes and waited for their lips to meet, but then suddenly everything felt very wrong. She gasped and scrambled away from him, pushing on his hands. “Wait, Jules, this isn’t right.” She backed away breathlessly, practically scared at how Jules would react.
Jules looked utterly confused and helpless, like a lost puppy. “Skye, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to—” He cut himself off, afraid that his words weren’t enough.