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by CJ Adler


  “Yeah but I figured that if I can't get you to stay, maybe one of them can,” he reluctantly offers a reply, a sheepish grin on his face.

  I internally smile at his answer, saying nothing more on the subject. I sigh and lean back on the table before answering Max. “I'm not running away. I'll be back in a month's time. I'm sure you'll all survive without me.”

  “Don't you mean, thrive?” Max jokes.

  I don't have it within me to come up with a comeback seeing as Jay has captured my sole attention again. He's staring at me with that questioning look in his eyes that he always seems to get whenever he's unsure. Still, the expression is accompanied by a faint smile adorned on his lips.

  “You still there?” Max questions just as Jay breaks into a wide grin, that same smile still embroidered onto his stupid, beautiful face. He's well aware that he's distracting me from my phone call with Max.

  “Unfortunately,” I answer before scolding Jay when he places a kiss on the palm of my free hand. “Would you stop it already? I'm on the phone.”

  “Sorry,” Jay lies, catching my hand in is before threading our fingers together. He smirks down at me before offering me a flirtatious wink.

  I roll my eyes at him, laughing softly to myself as I try to shove him away in a measly half-attempt.

  “You sound busy. Too busy,” Max states, the skepticism clear in his voice. “Am I interrupting something?” he questions teasingly. I can practically sense him grinning from ear-to-ear as wild assumptions run through that crazy head of his.

  Before I can answer, Jay snatches the phone from me and answers bluntly on my behalf. “Yes. Yes, Max. Yes, you are.”

  I hear Max chuckle before making some remark. I grab the phone back from Jay before he can mislead Max anymore. “What is it that you want, Max?” I eventually ask, sick of the ongoing banter.

  “Just informing you that we're all dropping by to say goodbye to you before you leave,” he tells me hurriedly, knowing that I'm about to protest. “So, I suggest you and Jay get ready before we get there or things could get awkward.”

  I lose him after that, the line going dead—an indication that he hung up on me. I glare down at my phone before turning my fierce glower onto Jay. “Can't help yourself, can you?”

  He doesn't take my insult personally. “Nope.” He grins down at me, admitting to it. “Not when it comes to you,” he confesses.

  I cross my arms over my chest and keep my gaze locked on him, motioning to my face. “Does this look like my 'I'm happy' face?” I question, refusing to budge this time 'round.

  He shrugs, his expression lighting up as his blue eyes twinkle with mischief.

  “I don't know. All I know is that I'm happy whenever I see that face,” he flirts, mirroring my previous actions as he gestures to my face.

  “It's my 'I'm not happy' face, Jay!” I snap at him, correcting him, already knowing that I'm fighting a losing battle. I can't beat Jay when he's like this, when he's in an upbeat mood.

  “Well, then let me change that,” he offers as he tugs me forward, puckering his lips up playfully, amused by my reactions.

  I'm quick to lean further back. I place my hand up in front of him. “Tut, tut, tut. Your kisses aren't always the solution to everything,” I tell him as I try to maintain my glower.

  “C'mon,” Jay continues, taking a step forward. “Forget Max. You're dating me,” he whispers, smiling against my lips. “And man…” he pulls away from me to take in my appearance, “am I lucky,” he concludes in sincerity, his gaze never leaving my face.

  “You're such a flirt.” I shake my head at him, failing to suppress a smile.

  “And you're so cute,” he retorts, proving my point. He glances down at me in amusement when I shove him away halfheartedly. My weak attempt has him laughing at me. He loves seeing me squirm.

  “Stop enjoying this, Jay Taylor,” I remark stubbornly as I hop off the table, putting distance between us.

  “I'm just admiring my girlfriend.” He chuckles, taunting me further with his charm. “When did that become a crime?”

  ***

  Max embraces me as soon as he steps in through the front door. “You and Jay have fun?” he whispers in my ear before pulling away with a suggestive look on his face. He glances over at Jay and waggles his brows as if to imply something.

  I clout him over the head with the back of my hand in response.

  “Ouch!” Max complains, mopey. “I was just asking,” he defends himself. “Jeez, someone needs to join Landon in anger management classes,” he jokes, chuckling to himself as if he's the funniest person on the face of the earth.

  Landon snaps his gaze to Max, narrowing his eyes at him. “Funny,” he retorts sarcastically.

  Max shuts up immediately, knowing which lines not to cross. Landon is the kind of person you don't want to annoy, especially if you value life...and your face.

  “Don't mind my brother,” Emma reassures Max, still clearly in denial about his temper issues.

  “I'd definitely mind him if I were you,” Xavier disagrees.

  I hold back a smile. These idiots have become family. It's not just my story anymore, it's all of ours, and I'm more than happy to share it with them.

  Landon scowls at Xavier. “Point taken, but this coming from the guy who nearly took out Grey and JT on the tracks?”

  I love you, Landon.

  “Accident!” Xavier exclaims for the billionth time, exasperated with us.

  “So you keep saying,” Jay grins teasingly, stirring the pot. He pats Xavier on the back, almost as if they're old friends. Like I said, he's a softy.

  “It was!” Xavier tries to convince us all into believing him, despite the fact that we all already do.

  “Yeah yeah, bud.” Jay brushes him off easily. “It doesn't change the fact that you still owe me a new car,” Jay reminds him with a half-smirk. “I'm with Landon, you should attend anger management classes for your attempt at murder.”

  Xavier rolls his eyes, realizing that Jay's only messing with him.

  “Granted, Max is still right,” Jay agrees with Mills. “My girlfriend should still tag along too, just in case, you know, for my sake.”

  “Jay!” I gape. “You're supposed to be on my side.”

  “Truth hurts, doesn't it?” Max teases, pretending to wipe away a stray tear from my eye.

  I end up doing what I do best and divert the attention off of me and onto the one who values the darkness most: Grey Ferrot. “I'll go to anger management classes if Grey goes with me,” I add under my breath, loud enough for him and everyone else to hear. “He needs it most.”

  “I'll be glad to see you go,” Grey mutters, shaking his head at me in distaste, irritated.

  “Grey doesn't need anger management classes, Aqueela.” Nancy, like expected, backs Grey up.

  “With all due respect, you all need to attend anger management lessons including…” Boss Man begins to go through all of our names. He eventually stops to take a breather. “The whole lot of you.”

  “I'd clap for that speech, Boss Man, but it wasn't very good,” I smile up at him teasingly, having truly missed the guy. I can't help but look up to him. He helped and still helps Jay through rough patches.

  “One of a kind,” Greg replies, shaking his head at me with a trace of a smile on his lips. “I feel sorry for Jay. He got himself a handful with you,” he teases me back in good nature, his spirits high.

  Jay lets out an over-exaggerated groan, going along with Greg's teasing as they join forces against me. “Tell me about it,” Jay says before winking at me. “She's exhausting. I'm hanging on by a thread.”

  “A thread of what?” FeeBee asks with furrowed eyebrows, clueless, as she tries to make sense of it.

  Jay, being the nice guy he is, shushes her through a lie. “Cotton,” he says for her sake, to prevent further mockery and humiliation on her part.

  “Won't it break?” FeeBee questions, puzzled, actually summoning brainpower for once. “Or is it
like Spider-Man's?”

  Jay places a finger on his lips, motioning for her to do the same. “Shh,” he tells her once she's copied his movements and placed her own finger against her lips like a little child. “I'll explain later, Feebs.”

  “You promise?” She pouts, holding out her pinky to him.

  He sighs but nods. “I promise,” he says softly as he clasps her finger in his, throwing his short-tempered reputation away in the hopes of keeping her happy.

  “Okay!” FeeBee shrugs all too enthusiastically as she drops the subject, permanently forgetting about it altogether as her attention drifts elsewhere.

  I've never seen Jay be so gentle and caring with anyone before. It's obvious he cares a lot for FeeBee. They're old friends. They've known each other since childhood. They have a strong bond. It's difficult not to be envious of how sweet, patient, and loving he is with her. However, I do understand why they're so close. They suffered in an orphanage together. I know they went through a lot together during their time there.

  The orphanage later closed down on the charges of child neglect. It's why Jay refuses to speak about any of it. He never opens up about that dark part of his life as it only brings back memories that he'd rather forget. The only one who knows everything there is to know about Jay is Greg seeing as Greg pulled him out the rut when he had absolutely no one to turn to.

  I think a part of Jay still feels guilty for leaving FeeBee behind when he broke out of the orphanage. It's why he's so soft on her, well, other than the obvious…she's not very bright.

  I break from my thoughts when I hear a screech of disdain. I gulp upon seeing her ferocious expression. “Uh-oh.” This can't be good.

  “How dare you not tell me about this sooner?!” Bells asks as she shoves an unsuspecting Max out of her way so that she can get to me. “How come I had to hear about this from Max, of all people?!”

  “Hey!” Max interjects, taking offense to his girlfriend's words. “I'm a perfect person.”

  “That's where I come in!” Troy argues, not bothering to even greet me as he shoves his sister out of his way as if she's nothing but an obstruction in his path to fame.

  “Not now, you two hooligans!” Bells ushers her boyfriend and her brother away before focusing her sole attention on me. “Were you even going to tell us?” She puts her interrogation skills to the test, using me as her test subject.

  A frown takes over my features upon hearing her question. “Why are all of you making such a huge deal about this?” I question, befuddled by everyone's concern. It's overwhelming. “I'm coming back in a month's time.”

  “Still gonna miss ya,” someone intervenes, ruffling my hair playfully with their knuckles.

  “You're late. You're always late,” I state knowingly. A smile lights my face as I turn to greet him. “Mr. Lagger! Ben Ben! Ley Ley! BoyBand! B-dawg–”

  “I take it back,” Benley narrows his dark eyes at me, “not going to miss you.”

  “Puleease,” I grin up at him tauntingly, “you're a die-hard Aqueela fan.”

  “I a Sprinkle fan!” someone from behind, being the obvious, interrupts the moment.

  Before I know it, I'm being lifted off the ground by Simo himself. “Be cool,

  Simo, just be cool,” I say, trying to get him away from me.

  “I hate you but I'll bring it in.” Blubber joins in on the hug, taking it as an invitation to hug me, even though it's really not. “Can't deny the warm embrace of a goddess.”

  “Get in here, B-dawg!” I plead as I slowly begin to suffocate.

  “I'm good.” Benley grins cockily, refusing to participate. He's too school for cool and all that jazz. However, Max and Bells have no problem jumping right in, joining the embrace. They're followed by Troy.

  “Group hug!” Troy chants in excitement before taking the initiative to drag Benley in against his will. “Bring it in, BroBoyBand!”

  Benley pushes against Troy. “No!” he protests as he tries to escape Troy's strong hold. “I don't wanna!” he whines like a little child as Troy continues to reel him in. “I'm too cool for this!” He fights back, struggling.

  Benley and his status, I tell you.

  “Do it for me!” I plead before Troy yanks him in any way.

  “Tough! You have to!” Troy persists through gritted teeth. He takes his group hugs very seriously. Refusing to be a part of it is most likely the only way to get on his nonexistent bad side.

  Benley rolls his eyes and sighs but finally cooperates, throwing the last shred of his dignity left to hell.

  Troy takes a photo and immediately uploads it onto his Twitter account.

  “Gross,” Grey comments with a shake of his head as he hangs back beside Jay and Nancy.

  Gland, my hero, is quick to break us all apart as he lifts me off of the ground. “You take care of yourself, baby girl. If you run into any trouble, you give me a call and I'll send my people out.” He pauses as if thinking. “Make it look like an accident,” he concludes in a reassuring tone. “Don't nobody mess with my Eela.”

  “Uh…thanks?” I say, at a loss for words. “I appreciate it, Gland. I'll be sure to call.” No, I won't. To this day, I still don't know what Gland really does for a living.

  “Eela!” Oog comes in sprinting before tackling my legs, hugging me. “Heya, little buddy, nice to see you again,” I grin down at him, patting his head.

  I miss him. The house is empty without him. Granted, I do get to spend more time with Jay. Still, I can't help but miss the little pest. He grows on you. However, I'm sure he's having a blast living with Gland and his dawgs.

  “You shaved!” I exclaim when I see that his red beard is gone. He actually looks somewhat human now. Gland's 'being normal' lessons are obviously paying off.

  “Will miss you,” Oog says, smiling.

  I find myself unable to return Oog's smile as apprehension sets in. Jam, the only one sensing my doubt, hands me a flower. “You'll do fine, Flower, just fine,” he assures me, his words hitting home. It's nice to know that someone understands why

  I feel I have to do this. “Just be chill. Be likes waves in da ocean.”

  I nod and take the flower from his hands, grateful. “Thank you, Jam. You're too sweet.” I don't think he has a mean bone in his body.

  “You're my idol.” Susie breathes out randomly, grinning up at me from her short stature. “I love you.”

  “That's a first,” Laiken kids as he flicks me on the forehead playfully. “See you around, Munchkin,” he adds, respectful for once.

  “Love you too, Lucy.” I high-five her before hugging both of them.

  “You said my name! My real name!” Susie exclaims with enthusiasm. “Best day ever!”

  “Offended!” I say, my expression faltering.

  She quickly fixes her slip-up. “Well, other than the fact that you're leaving.”

  She, having learned from Jay, salutes me with her little hand as if to say goodbye.

  “Nice save,” I wink at her. “You're going to grow up to be way better than me,” I assure her, meaning it. She has the wit, potential, and charm to be the next Aqueela.

  Jay claps his hands as he rounds everyone up toward the exit. “Let's wrap this up. Aqueela's still got a flight to catch,” he says, discreetly leading them all to the door.

  “I haven't even finished packing yet,” I explain to all of them, knowing that Jay's right to speed up the goodbye.

  “Also, I just want you all out of my house,” Jay says with a smirk.

  Bells gasps at his blunt rudeness, taken aback by his 'old self' resurfacing.

  Jay merely crosses his arms over his chest and motions for everyone to get out. “Man, it feels good to be me again,” he concludes with a lopsided grin, happy to be intimidating once more. I'm sure he's been waiting to kick everyone out of his house for months now.

  Everyone says their individual goodbyes to me before making their way out. I make my way out too in order to see them all off but, being the klutz I am, I end up
tripping down the front doorstep.

  Grey, who'd just been about to take off without even saying goodbye yet being the closest to me at the time, catches me. He steadies me with his hands on my hips before shaking his head at me. “Mind your step, idiot.”

  I take the opportunity for what it is and throw my arms around him, drawing him in for a long embrace. “It's happening, everyone!” I call over my shoulder. “Grey's actually hugging me!”

  “What?!” Grey sputters out in confusion as everyone begins to 'aww' at the sight. “I'm not! Don't you dare all aww at me!” He snaps at them as he quickly tries to push me off of him.

  “Aww, Grey!” Nancy coos, not moved by his threat—she's the last person he'd ever hurt and she seems to know it. She clasps her hands in front of her as if touched by the sight.

  “Something I never thought I'd see,” Jay remarks in surprise as he takes in Grey's hands on my waist.

  “She literally fell into me. I just helped her regain her balance,” Grey argues but none of them care to hear the rest of it. They're all too engrossed in the fact that it actually looks like he hugged me first. “Tell them, Aqueela!” he commands angrily, having lost his patience.

  “I can't take credit for this hug,” I lie. “This was all Grey-initiated.”

  The others know I'm lying but cheer anyway just to see Grey's hilarious reactions. It seems as if I'm not the only one who enjoys annoying him.

  “Someone needs to tape this moment! It's memories!” I chime giddily.

  “Should have let you face-planted, just as I should have run you over with my car,” Grey grumbles, making his regrets in life known.

  “Already taping!” Landon calls back to me as he holds up his phone, reassuring me that this moment will not go unforgotten.

  Landon the Legend!

  “Uploading it to Twitter,” Troy adds, tapping away quickly on his phone as if a pro.

  I release Grey and step back from him. “You're my last goodbye. I saved you for last because I know that this is most difficult for you,” I say dramatically and place a hand on his shoulder as if to stop him from fainting in devastation.

 

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