"Jake you are cutting off my circulation." I say slowly in the elevator.

Jake is so focused on the number flashing 68 to 67 that he doesn't listen to me at first.

"Jake." I nudge him slightly.

He breaks out of his reverie and then looks at me slightly confused and then notices that he has a death grip on my hand and lets go.

Almost immediately the electric spark vanishes and I am left feeling quite numb.

I wish he hadn't left my hand.

"Sorry." He mumbles and shuffles.

The elevator opens and once again I am faced with the sight of a busy office.

This time everyone didn't blatantly stare at us but they sneaked glances. I turn to look at Jake who doesn't say anything and walks ahead keeping his eyes trained on the floor.

His usual presence of arrogance has dimmed and he walks ahead of me slowly like he is waiting for me to catch up.I speed up and resist the urge to stick out my tongue at all the female population in the office who are blatantly staring at Jake.

Yeah bitches I'm the one dating him not you.

Fake dating, my conscience corrects.

It doesn't feel fake.

I finally catch up with him and he holds my hand, lightly this time and leads me to the elevator. He doesn't look up even once and keeps his eyes trained at either the ground or straight ahead.But for now I am preoccupied with the tingles in my hand but Looking at him scares me. He looks completely tired and exhausted and can barely look up.

Because of his father.

Jake slowly presses the button and never once removes his eyes from the changing numbers.

I am serious about her.

Was it true? Did Jake really mean it?

The elevator doors open and I get in with Jake who presses 0 without hesitation and shuts the door on the prying eyes of the people in the office.

After a few moments standing in awkward silence I realise that his breathing has gotten heavier as if every single breath is painful for him.I let go of his hand and stand in front of him who is still looking down at his feet.

"Are you all right?" I say slowly and he nods still not looking at me.

"Jake." I say softly moving slightly closer,"It's okay."

He doesn't look up at me and I gently put my hands on his cheeks and look at him,"Please look at me."

He looks up and meets his eyes with mine. It breaks my heart and then mends it.

His eyes are brilliant green glassy and clear. But broken. The wall around him is shattered and I realise the key difference between his father and him.

His dad's eyes are cold and hard but Jake's eyes are the only way through the false armour he puts up.

He looks pale like he did when he was sick and for some reason it completely throws me off.

I can't think straight when Jake lets his armour down and lets me see his vulnerable side. It makes me scared and I want to slap him and ask him to get his annoying rude hot and cold attitude back.

Because without it I have no reason to run away from my feelings.

Oh Jake what have you done to me?

"Jake." I say this time louder and in a sharper tone,"What's wrong with you."

He breathes in and says,"I get claustrophobic in elevators."

I suddenly realise this is probably a clue for me to back off since I am so close to him. My cheeks turn red and I step back trying to put as much distance between us but he grabs my wrist and pulls me towards him so we are much closer.

He puts my hands on his cheeks again and sighs.

"This helps." He says and I find myself blushing happily like a moron.

"You really shouldn't let your father psych you out like that." I say as his breathing finally slows down.

He looks down again and I mentally slap myself for going too far.

"Can we please not talk about this?" He says and the elevator opens and lets some people inside.

I pull back feeling slightly embarrassed but Jake circles his arms around my waist and says,"Stay."

And that's that, even if his hands weren't there I wouldn't have moved.

When the door finally opened at the ground floor I reluctantly got out of my position and shuffled out of the elevator with Jake behind me.

I briefly wonder about Alec's whereabouts but the minute I step out in the cold I have other problems.

Like the cold and the fact that I have forgotten my coat upstairs and all I am left with is my small tiny sling bag and a bright yellow dress that does not help me keep warm.

"Jake." I say shivering slightly as he walks ahead,"Where are we going?"

Jake looks back at me and I am suddenly surprised by how normal he looks. His eyes have gotten back it's hard sarcastic glint and he looks much more at ease. It was as if being in the same building as his father gave him a three sixty degree turn.

Let's not forget the fact that he was claustrophobic in elevators. How had I not noticed that before?

Maybe because I was never went in an elevator with him back home.

I break out of my trance when Jake's black coat is stuffed into my hands.

"No way in hell." I say shoving it back in his hands.

"What?" He says staring at the black coat as if I had just handed him an alien baby.

"The last time you tried to be nice to me you ended up sick and were stuck at home for days." I say.

"And you didn't."He deadpans,

"Yes but if you hadn't given it to me you wouldn't have gotten sick." I say.

"Clara do you ever listen to yourself?" He asks me.

"I try not to." I reply back with a smile on my face.

"Just take the jacket Clara." He says sighing.

"But you will get sick." I say.

"Right now neither of us are wearing it so both of us will anyway get sick." He says clearly getting frustrated.

"So wear it." I say enjoying the fact that I was getting on his nerves and he was back to his usual self.

"Clara you are going to get sick." He says.

"Jake you are going to get sick for the second time." I reply.

"Clara wear it." He says this time his tone sterner.

"I am not letting you get sick." I say.

"Well, you will get sick if you don't wear it." He comments.

We stare at each other for a few minutes I finally sigh and take the jacket,"But if you get sick I promise to leave you out butt naked in the cold."

"While you peek at me through the window."

I try my best to hide my smile and roll my eyes,"No thank you."

As I put on the jacket I smelt his familiar scent I let a smile on my lips because even I knew I was lying.

__________________________________________________

"The Empire State building." I state looking up at the beautiful building in front of me,"It's amazing."

"Whats even better is the view from the top." He states.

"We don't have to go to the top." I say.

"Why?" He asks baffled.

"Well,. I thought you get claustrophobic in elevat-" I am interrupted by Jake who starts laughing.

"That is the stupidest reason to not go to the top of the Empire State Building." He says and grabs my hand and leads me inside the lobby.

He quickly leads me in and pays for the ticket and once again for gods knows what time a day do I find myself in an elevator.

Seriously I spent more time in elevators today then anything else.

This elevator was crowded though. It was only about four in the afternoon but the sun was already dimming which explained why there were so many people. Most of them had come to watch the sun set. I was crushed against Jake but I really didn't mind. I mean it was a choice between him and an extremely stinky guy in front of me.

"Do you know that this building was designed by designed by William F. Lamb who was part of the architectural firm Shreve, Lamb and Harmon?"I say trying my best to distract Jake who had again closed his eyes," The building was first opened in-"

"May 1, 1931, by President Herbert Hoover." Jake completes,"I do not sleep in Miss Tate's history classes you know."

"Well, ninety percent of the girls do, the boys just keep awake because she is hot." I reply laughing.

"Well, you don't sleep in her class." He states.

"Yeah, I am a total history buff." I say,"I actually go online and research before cl-"

I break off realising just how pathetic and friendless I sound.

Well, I am pretty pathetic and friendless and before Jake's dynamic arrival my idea of socialising was either stalking Alec on Facebook or accompanying Rebecca to go shopping.

Pathetic indeed.

"Well, I like history too." Jake says and surprises me,"Especially the American Civil War. I mean it's fascinating... Yup I officially sound like a nerd."

I laugh out loud and say,"Now you know how I feel every time I open my mouth."

He laughs and we are pushed even closer together.

"Who knew, Jake Henderson the big history buff." I say.

"Well, it was Miss Tates ass that got me interested in the first place." He says and I make a gaging face.

"Eww" I say shaking my head," I did not want to know about your fantasies, Jake. Trust me there is nothing more horrifying than finding out why you take cold shower."

"Because of you." He winks at me and I roll my eyes.

"I swear to god the minute this elevator door opens I am going to jump off the side of this building." I say and as if on cue the door opens with a ping.

"Be my guest." He says smirking and I get out of the elevator on the crowded 86th floor.

"Woah." I say

You can see majority of the New York skyline and there is a 360 degree panoramic view. The view from here as compared to Mr Henderson's office is much better. You could see all of New York from here including the glittering river at a distance.

"Which river is that?" I ask Jake who is standing right next to me.

"That is the East River." He says and then grabs my hand and takes me to the other side,"And that is the Hudson River."

I stand in silence absorbing it all in.

"Its beautiful and the sun is going to set soon." I say my eyes never leaving the glittering view.

"Shit it's almost sunset." He says and drags me back to the elevator.

"What. Are. You . Doing." I state as he impatiently presses the elevator button.

"Just wait." He says excitement ringing clear in his tone,"Oh god, we are going to miss it."

"Henderson, what are you doing?" I say as he drags me in and hands our ticket to the main inside,"If I miss the sunset, I will personally throw you down the building."

"Oh just wait for it." He says looking like a kid who got a free ticket to castle made of candy.

"Okay, try not to pee in your pants." I say sarcastically.

"You just want me to take my pants off," he says.

"For the hundredth time, I do not want to see you naked." I say out loud and everyone in the elevator turns to look at me.

Oops.

"Thats a shame." A girl in her twenties says.

Clearly eying Jake up who meets her gaze with a smirk.

"I know." He replies back.

I hit him hard in the chest with the back of my hand.

"Sorry." He says looking at the girl,"Over protective girlfriend."

"Not really." I say trying to keep the ice out of my tone ,"He can sleep with you any time he likes."

The elevator door opens and I push through the few people in the lift especially making sure that I push the girl slightly harder.

"We don't have much time." He says grabbing my hand pulling me.

"For what?" I say,"Till the both of you-"

"Oh god Clara get over yourself, you know I was kidding." He says.

"Whatever." I murmur.

"Anyway." He says handing me the bottle he had with him since we had lunch before coming here,"You see that security guard over there? Distract him and do it quickly."

He gives me a slight push towards the guard standing in front of a door a few metres away from us.

"How am I supposed to distract him?" I say,"By drinking water?"

"Its soda, so spill it on him." He says, "Flirt with him I don't know, but hurry up or we will miss the sunset."

"The sunset is right here." I deadpann pointing at the wide windows.

"Just do it and get him away from the door."

I slowly walk towards the guard unsure of what to do.

I mean what was Jake up to anyway? And what do I do?

But somehow in the process I was getting excited. I mean distracting the guard must mean we were going to do something that wasn't very legal.

I open the bottle cap and walk ahead and purposely trip so I drop most of the soda on the guard.

"Oh my god! I am so sorry." I say pulling him away from the door while furiously trying to wipe it of his jacket,"I am so clumsy-"

"It's okay." He cuts me off rather gruffly and is about to turn around but I quickly divert his attention again so that Jake who was sneaking behind the guard towards the door.

"I mean I am really sorry." I say giving him my best apologetic face that is a cross between a pout ,"You must have such a bad day already with all these annoying tourists taking pictures and annoying you and then I came and spilt my soda."

I give him my best innocent face and slowly blink my eyes.

This is so stupid.

But for some reason it worked.

"Naah thats okay," he says smiling,"It will get off."

"But I have to get it dry cleaned for you." I say.

I quickly dig out a tissue paper and hunt for a pen.

"Ahah." I say taking out a pen and handing both the tissue and the pen,"Here write your number."

He nods and takes both the pen and the paper and I look back at Jake who has managed to open the door and is gesturing me to hurry up and come. I slowly back away from the guard who is busy with the pen and paper I rush over to Jake who grabs my hand and pulls me inside the door which has a large stairs leading up. He shuts the door right on time before the guard notices and takes the bottle from my hand and jams in between the handle and the door.

He climbs up two stairs and I am just standing there dumbstruck at what we are done.

"Come on! We will miss it." He says extending his hand,"Come on Clara."

I smile and let out a squeal as I jump up and take his as the door starts violently shaking and the shouting begins. We both race up the stairs with Jake leading ahead and pulling me up the stairs, But it felt amazing doing something wrong it was exhilarating and terrifying.

Jake opens the door that is at the end of the stairs and we both burst out into the cold air. There is a thin ledge and apart from that there is a small rail and a platform.

"Come on." Jake says tugging on my hand and gently leading me to a ladder.

I stop on my tracks,"I cant go up their, Ill fall."

Im shivering and not because of the cold but the sheer height makes me scared out of my wits.

"I cant do it Jake, I can't." I say turning around but he stops me.

He cups my face in his hands and slowly pushes away the wind swept hair on my face.

"I promise I wont let you fall." He says looking at me with his eyes and for the tenth time in today alone I find myself wondering just how deep those mesmerising eyes can be,"Trust me."

Too late.

I find myself nodding and slowly grabbing the ladder. I climb slowly for the first few but then with the wind whipping my hair on my face and the fact that I am climbing up a ladder on the 103rd floor of the Empire State Building spire just gets to me and I just yell"I cannot believe I am doing this."

I can hear jake's laughter above the wind as I speed up enjoying every second of my climb. I finally reach the deck I grab the railing and I feel Jake behind me. Who circles his arms around my waist. The large spire is behind him and the wind is threatening to blow us like a dry leaves.

But it's absolutely flipping exhilarating.

The adrenaline rush is exhilarating and amazing and for the first time in my entire life I feel absolutely free like a bird and the only thing rooting me to the ground were the rails I clutched and Jake's solid hands that circled around me reassuringly.

"Wohooo." I yelled at the top of my voice.

The sky was a mix of yellows, reds and orange that sparkled over the glistening water and reflected on the tall glass buildings.

"Im the king of the world." Jake yells out one of the most famous lines from the Titanic and I laugh.

The sun is slowly tipping down and although Im cold as hell and probably completely numb I have never felt alive. The sky darkened in a matter of seconds and lights flickered on both in the sky as well is in the buildings.

"This is amazing." I yell out again.

"Well, good girl being good isn't that great is it?" Jake says loudly in my ear.

"Being good is overrated." I yell,"These things are the things that we should do more often."

"Meaning trespassing?" Jake says and I can feel his smile.

"Who the hell cares?" I yell closing my eyes and feeling the wind against the my face.

And it was true for once I genuinely didn't care of the consequences and neither did I overthink something wondering what would happen.

I was genuinely free.

And all I cared about was the fact that I was on the top of the world with Jake's arms around me.

_________________________________________________