“I agree.” I hear Monica say from the other room.
Jake chuckles, but then asks, “So are you gonna date her?”
“We’re going to the beach this weekend. I told her it was a date and that I’m done with Amber. God, what did I see in her?”
Jake pauses the game, “You saw a hot cheerleader who’d satisfy your needs… until you realized that you were a shallow jerk who needed to dump the bitch and find someone who’d make you genuinely happy. In other words, you saw the fucking light.”
I stifle a noise of amusement. “Wow, you’re like a walking Hallmark card. Good God.” I press on the controller a few times, letting him know I’m ready to play and stop talking about this for now. My phone beeps; bringing a scowl to my face.
Jake notices, aware of the culprit. “Ignore her, maybe she’ll go away.” He thinks about his own comment and shakes his head. “Yeah, Amber going away is a nice dream… but you’re gonna have to break it off with her.”
A nod is all I can muster; finally satisfied with my decision not to date her anymore. I finish off my beer and game with Jake. Monica joins us in the living room, watching us. She’s pretty, with long dark black hair and brown eyes; petite and about five foot-something, probably four. They’re a great couple.
Another text alerts us, but this one seems suspicious. I look to Jake, who’s as clueless as I am. “Is she sleeping with him?” I ask him.
He lets out a sigh and nods. “I heard rumors about it, but just thought it was a stupid rumor. I’ve shown up at Daniel’s house a couple times and she was there, but you weren’t. I didn’t think anything of it at the time.”
I’m angry at both Daniel and Amber, but another part is relieved. Now I don’t have to make an excuse for why I’m dumping her, or bringing Skylar into my decision. Cheating is the last straw for me. Although, the fact that she’s asking me to come over and make him leave is pretty fucking ridiculous. She’s so stupid. “Looks like I’m going to take care of shit sooner.”
Jake gets up when I do. “I’m coming with you.” He kisses Monica’s forehead. “I’ll be back soon, okay?”
She slips her shoes on. “I gotta go home anyway. Call me later, babe.” She kisses him and grabs her purse. “See ya later, Jackson.” I wave to her as I walk out of the house.
I get in my car, opening the windows and lighting a cigarette. As soon as Jake gets in, I take off like a bat out of hell. I increase my speed just a little and turn down a winding road and make a right, then a left until I’m at the house.
They’re both out front in a heated discussion before I interrupt. “Well, this is a cozy scene.”
When Amber hears me, she rushes to my side. “Jackson, I told him to get off my property. I didn’t want him to come over.”
I don’t buy her fake act for a minute. She’s good at pretending to be the victim so everyone’ll feel sorry for her. “I don’t care anymore, Amber. I’m glad you texted me. I needed to talk to you anyway.” She looks relieved, but as soon as I drop the break-up bomb, she’ll be making excuses for everything. “We,” I gesture between us, “Are done, Amber. I’m breaking up with you.”
She scrunches her face up, incredulous. “What?” She reaches for me but I pull away. “You can’t be serious.”
“Yeah, we’re done. You and I are history, Amber. I finally see the light and you’re not it. ”
“Jackson, I—” I hold my hand up to silence her annoying voice.
I whirl on Daniel. “So. Are you enjoying my sloppy seconds?”
He laughs, “Right, because you’ve really been such a good lay, that’s why she’s had to turn to me for fulfillment, and this isn’t the first time.” He laughs and I feel my face get hot. Jake stands by witnessing the whole thing.
Amber grits her teeth, glaring. “Shut up, Daniel.” She starts crying and I don’t feel sorry for her, thinking of all the times she made Skylar cry.
Shaking my finger at her, I say “Don’t say anything, we’re done. You got it? Don’t call me, don’t text me. Don’t even look at me when we pass each other in the hall. Pretend I don’t exist.”
“Jackson, wait!” She shouts, as I turn on my heel and start to leave. She tries to stop me but what Daniel says to her gets my attention.
I turn and walk right back to him, “What did you just say?”
He stands tall, unafraid of me and says, “I told her to let you go so you can go run off to your little loser bitch.” The next scene goes by in a blur with my fist connecting with his jaw. The pain shoots through my hand, up my arm. Fuck, that hurt!
Amber screams my name in horror.
Daniel drops to the ground and I bend over to look at him as he’s grabbing his face, groaning. “You mother fucker!”
“Don’t ever talk about her again, or next time you’ll be in the fucking hospital.” I push him down as he tries to get up.
Jake and I get in my car and drive away. Despite the pain that’s still coursing through my hand, and it’s pretty severe, I feel kind of good. Not that getting into fights are the solution to every problem, but he had it coming. And now, he can have her. Good riddens!
“You okay, man?” Jake asks, noticing me shake my hand a couple times.
I open my window. “Yeah, I’ll be fine.” I’m better than fine.
Chapter 14
Jackson
Just as I suspected, rumors started to fly around school that I beat the shit out of Daniel. I could’ve done worse. He’s lucky I only punched his jaw. Every time I turn around, more students congratulate me and tell me how they’ve wanted someone to put him in his place.
I turn around to find Skylar at my locker. She’s not smiling, “Is it true?”
Putting my books up, I ignore the feeling that she’s upset about it. “Hello to you, too.” Trying to lighten the mood a little, I smirk. She doesn’t smile. I rub my forehead. “Is what true?”
“Did you get into a fight with Daniel? Everyone’s talking about it.”
I shut my locker and lean back against it. “I didn’t really beat the shit out of him like everyone assumes; I punched him in the jaw.” We start walking side by side, “He was at Amber’s last night. Not that that is the reason I did it. That was just a bonus, a reason to finally be done with all the bullshit. Apparently they’ve been sneaking around and shit.”
She stops walking, something written on her face I can’t decipher. She waits until I’m beside her again before she speaks. “I saw them at my birthday dinner. I was gonna tell you, but I didn’t think it was my business. They were eating and being all cozy.”
The night that I got her text saying she was busy and couldn’t come to the party, she was with Daniel. “Well whatever, I don’t care anymore.” I smile and walk her to class, stopping in front of the door. Students watching us from inside the room. I bump her shoulder. “Looks like we’ll be going on that date after all.” She smiles back and it takes everything in me not to kiss her in front of everyone.
Practice is intense and tiring. The first game is coming up and I’m feeling unprepared. I feel my lungs constricting in my chest, causing me to gasp. Blame it on my smoking habit, which I find myself wishing I could light one up right now. I pour water over my face, trying to wake myself up and get with the program. It’s my last year, I can’t screw this up.
“Cruz!” I glance at my coach who’s none too pleased with my performance. He approaches me, studying me and says, “I heard the rumor about Pierce.” He always calls us by last name, “I can’t say he probably didn’t deserve what you gave him, but he’s a good player so don’t screw it up for the team. Once the season is over, I could care less what you do to him.”
I almost smile but tell him I’ll try to be on my best behavior, I keep from telling him that if he starts shit, I’ll finish it. He dismisses me from practice and I hit the showers.
When I get to my car, I’m stopped by Amber. I laugh at the shitty luck I seem to have. “You know, you have big balls coming here. I told you not to bother me.”
“Look, I’m sorry you had to witness that last night. It happened by accident—” Jesus Christ.
I turn on her like an angry dog, almost feral, it scares even me. “You don’t get it, I don’t care. Do what the hell you want now. I don’t want to date you anymore. I should’ve dumped you a long time ago when I realized what a shallow, inconsiderate bitch you are.” I open my door, “I’m serious we’re done. Leave me alone or I’ll have a restraining order put on you.”
“You’re such an asshole. I hope Daniel presses charges against you.” She sneers before walking away. It dawns on me that he hasn’t been at school today, which makes me wonder if he’s gone to the cops.
But when I get home, my answer is parked in front of my house. Son of a bitch.
I get out and try to prepare for what I’m going to say as I walk up the drive. I shouldn’t be nervous, I was just defending Skylar.
I push open the door and call, “Dad?”
“In here, son.” He replies from the living room. I walk through the hall and enter the room. The cop gets up and greets me, I recoil when he gets in my face.
“Sorry, I’m Officer Wheeler. I need to ask you a few questions about your encounter with Mr. Pierce last night.”
My hands are shaking but I stand tall, to appear innocent. “Yes, what would you like to know?” I bite my bottom lip and move to the couch to sit. Jared sits in the smaller couch across from me, a look of disappointment written plainly across his face. “Well, I got a text from my girlfriend asking me to come over because Daniel, a guy on the football team, wouldn’t leave her property, even though she’d been sneaking around with him. I told her we were done because I couldn’t trust her anymore. Then I started to leave, and Daniel said something that set me off, and that’s when I punched him.”
“Okay, so you punched him first. He didn’t hit you?”
“No,” I swallow, “He was talking shit about someone and I was on the defensive. I wasn’t thinking, except for shutting him up. He’s a troublemaker.”
“Well, there’s still a law about throwing the first punch. Since he didn’t hit you first, you’ll still be at fault.”
“So I’m just supposed to take his shit? I can’t fight back? That’s bullshit!”
“Excuse me, don’t take your anger out on me, I’m just saying, you could’ve walked away. Fighting doesn’t solve anything.”
“Is there a way I can talk to his parents and try to settle this between us somehow?” Officer Dipshit lets out a sigh and tells my dad he’ll let him try to work something out but if it doesn’t work, we’ll have to take it further with him.
“I’ll be in touch soon so get this situated, the sooner the better.” He lets himself out of the house, making the tension thicken.
My dad looks at me seriously, “Why did you really hit him? You can’t afford to be getting in fights, Jackson.”
“You know what an asshole Daniel is. He started it by running his mouth. I wanted to put him in his place.”
Jared asks, “So you really broke up with Amber? For good this time?” I nod. “Thank God. She’s so snooty.”
I laugh. “I know.” God, do I know.
The next day at school, I wait by Randa’s locker hoping to talk to her alone. I need to apologize for being such a jerk to her. I check my phone, wondering if she needs to come here first. When I’m finally about to give up, figuring she’s not coming, she rounds the corner.
I move out of her way, “Hey.” I shove my hands into my pockets. “Can I talk to you real quick?”
“O-kay?”
“I wanna apologize for being an asshat. I haven’t really been all that nice since I’d started dating Amber.” She studies me with a skeptical look, trying to figure out my motives. “But that’s over. I broke up with her.”
She raises a brow, “Finally?” I nod. “Did Skylar tell you we saw her and Daniel at Olive Garden?”
I clench my jaw, thinking of that night. “Yes.” Relaxing my face, I smile. “I saw the picture. You all looked great, happy.”
She tries to hide a laugh, “Yeah and you thought she was dating your brother.” She hits me in the arm. “I knew you’d get jealous.”
“Shut up.” I tease her. We shuffle down the hall. Randa stops at the water fountain for a drink. “Well, I’m going to class.”
She wipes her mouth and crosses her arms. “You know she likes you, right?” I shrug. “No, she doesn’t like you, she loves you, Jackson. She always has. Don’t hurt her. If this is legit, great. But if you fuck this up, I’ll hunt you down.”
A smile plays on my lips, because I know she’s such a great friend. “I know Randa. I wouldn’t think of crossing you, you’re scary.” She makes a face to prove my point; I laugh. “I’m serious though. I won’t screw this up; she means too much to me.” I guess I should tell her what she means to me…slowly. “I don’t wanna rush this, which is why we’ll start with a date at the beach.” Then I decide to tell her, “I love her, Randa.” Her eyes widen. “I’m just scared, but I’m working on it. It’ll work out.” I hope thinking positive will lead to positive results.
Her smile reaches her blue eyes, startling me when she pulls me into a hug. “I’m excited!” She squeals. “This is gonna be great! I have to go now.” I watch her rush off to class and find myself excited, too. It will be great. I just have to take a risk.
Chapter 15
Skylar
I sit in front of my easel, staring at my painting, feeling pretty excited, yet nervous. I have a date tonight. With Jackson. It’s pretty surreal.
“I thought I’d find you in here.” Randa stalks inside the room, glancing at my newest masterpiece. “You’ve been busy.”
I get up to wash my paintbrushes. “Yeah, well there’s not much else to do. Besides, I needed to get my mind off my nerves.”
“Well, I have plans for us for this afternoon.” I cover the picture and clean up my space. I sit down; facing her waiting for the big plans she speaks of. “We’re going to the spa to get a mani and dye our hair.”
I raise my eye brows in curiosity. “We are?” Dye my hair? Absent-mindedly, I run my hand through my hair. I’ve never colored it. Not that I haven’t fantasized about having a different hairdo, or color. I guess it wouldn’t hurt; it might even make me feel good. It’s a change. Instantly, I perk up.
“I think you’ll look great with blonde highlights.” Her fingers muss up my already-messy do. It feels good, almost putting me to sleep.
“We’re getting our nails done and dying our hair. Well, I may dye mine. I don’t know yet.” I’ve always been jealous of her blonde locks, why would she ruin it? “We’ll go shopping for our outfits afterward.”
“I thought we were going to the beach? You don’t get dressed up just to hang out on the beach.” I do need more clothes, though.
“Well, we might change that. I think we should go to dinner first and see where the night takes us. Dude, who cares? You’re finally going on a date with Jackson!” She practically screams, startling me. I’m excited too. This night has to be perfect!
I look down and realize I’m not dressed to go out considering it’s only after nine and still in my comfy clothes and slippers. “Let me change real quick.”
Randa stands up, waiting for me to signal I’m ready to leave the room. “I’ll wait downstairs.” She skips in the opposite direction.
I walk into my bedroom; sift through my closet for something acceptable. It’s breezy but still a little warm. Luckily summer has passed so I’m not drenched with sweat the moment I step outside. But still, I’m ready for the cold. I finally pick a pair of jean shorts, tank top, and sandals and lay them on the bed. This’ll have to do.
While getting dressed, I remove my phone from the bedside table; there’s a text from Jackson. My heart does a crazy jump in my chest. I swallow my saliva and sit on the bed before reading what he wrote with shaky hands.
Jackson: What are you doing?
I hold my phone, wonder
ing if I should tell him our plans. On the one hand, what if he doesn’t think I should get my hair colored? I guess it wouldn’t matter, since it’s my hair. I can do what I want. I’m not one of those girls who has to have the approval of others. I settle for a brief reply,
Me: Hanging out with Randa today, doing girly things.
Jackson: Sounds marvelous. Pick you up later.
Me: Oh yeah, plans are somewhat altered. We’re starting off with dinner, and then wherever the night takes us after that, so it’s just playing by ear…
Jackson: I don’t care where we go, Sky. I’m fine with a picnic in the park. But you deserve an unforgettable first date, so if we end up at the park, it better be the last place we go.
My heart does a jig at his words; unforgettable first date. It’s my first date, and it’s with him. I don’t care where we go or what we do; it’s not about the destination or what we spend our money on, but the person I’m spending tonight with, that’s the most important.
“Sky!” I hear my mom yell from downstairs. “Get your butt down here.”
I get dressed and join them in the living room. “Are you excited, honey?” My mom asks, wrapping an around my shoulder.
“Yes, but we need to stop making a big deal out of it. My nerves are already making me dizzy.”
Randa scoffs, “You’ll be fine, Sky. You’ve known each other forever, it’s not like you’ve just met and don’t know whether you have anything in common or if he even likes you.” I consider her words; she’s right. We already know each other, although I suppose there are still things we don’t know and tonight’s a good night to discover one another again.
I hug my mom and race after Randa to the car. It’s early and I’m hungry. “Let’s get breakfast, first.” I tell her.
“Not to sit down. I’ll pull up to McDonald’s and order some sausage biscuits.” I don’t argue, sausage biscuits sound good.
Feeling full from our food, we pull up to the spa, and my excitement doubles. I feel like I’m on speed, not that I’ve ever done that stuff myself.
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