chapter 2.39
Jackson
When Luci came rushing out of the bathroom, telling me that Winter was slapping Mako, I just sat there, not really processing what she was saying.
“Jackson! They’re fighting! Come on!”
When Luci came rushing out of the bathroom, telling me that Winter was slapping Mako, I just sat there, not really processing what she was saying.
“Jackson! They’re fighting! Come on!”
My brain finally caught up, and all of us bolted into the restroom.
When I got inside, I couldn’t believe it. Mako and Winter were trying to rip each others’ hair out. “Stop it!” I roared.
Tugging even more, Mako said, “I’ll stop when this bitch goes down.” And she punched Winter!
Before she could get in another blow, I pushed Mako away and yelled, “Enough! Stop this, Mako!”
Running over to Winter, I rubbed her cheek where she got hit and asked, “Are you okay?”
She wiped her eyes and said, “I’m fine.” Then she shrugged off my arm and said, “Leave me alone.”
Stunned, I pulled her arm back and said, “What the hell happened?”
She jerked her arm away and glared.
Totally confused and angry with how she was treating me, I yelled, “Winter? What the fuck? Get back here and tell me what’s going on.”
“Fuck you, Jackson,” she said, flipping me off.
I felt like I was the one who got punched. Winter wasn’t talking to me, so I had to get the story from Mako. Alone.
“Guys, can you give us a minute?”
My friends nodded and one by one, left the room all looking as bewildered as I felt.
“Guys, can you give us a minute?”
My friends nodded and one by one, left the room all looking as bewildered as I felt.
Turning to Mako, I said, “What the hell happened? Why were you fighting with Winter?”
Still shaken from the fight, she put her hand to her mouth. “How was I supposed to know you didn’t tell her we were going on tour?”
Facing me, she said, “Once she found out, she attacked.”
It felt as if a boulder just plunged into my guts. I slapped my head. “Oh fuck.”
“Fuck is right, Jackson. I’m no counselor, but I’d say you’ve got major problems with this chick. She’s mentally unstable.”
“Shut up, Mako. I saw who was the fucking bully. You leave my girlfriend alone. You hear me?”
Looking hurt, Mako answered, “She’s not right for you, Jackson. She’s a spoiled mean girl. You’re such a fucking idiot if you can’t see that.”
“You don’t know shit.” I couldn’t take even looking at her, I was so mad. Running out of the bathroom, I searched for Winter, knowing I was in deep up over my head with this one.
I found her on the couch with her arms crossed. At least she hadn’t left. Knowing Winter, she would have called a cab and ditched if she really didn’t want to talk to me.
Sitting next to her cautiously as if she were a bomb about to go off, I stated my case, “Listen, I was going to tell you, but I wanted prom to be perfect. I didn’t want you to worry about anything, okay?”
“Oh, so I do have to worry about that slut in there.”
“No...God no...is that what you were fighting about? I don’t give a rat’s ass about Mako. She’s just a band mate. What are you saying? Are you going to go freaking jealous on me now? Because I can’t handle that shit. You know that.”
She didn’t answer me.
I yanked at my hair and turned away. This wasn’t going to work. How could I go on tour and have our relationship survive if she was going to pull this?
She whispered, “I guess it’s over.” Tears dripped down her cheeks.
Not even thinking, I knelt at her feet. Taking her hand, I said, “It doesn’t have to be. We can do this. I’ll only be gone a few weeks at a time. Six weeks tops. You’ll be studying and we’ll talk on the phone or Facetime. A lot. So much you’ll be sick of me.”
Tapping her lips, she said, “I don’t know.”
Pulling her to her feet, I caressed her cheek. “Come on, Angel. Don’t give up on us. You mean so much to me. I mean, how am I going to stay out of trouble without you badgering me, huh?
That got a little half smile out of her. But then the tears started again and I held her close for a while.
Sniffing, she said, “Promise me one thing, Jackson.”
“Anything,” I whispered, feeling a tightness in my throat.
“Don’t go out with Mako. Ever.”
Rubbing her back, I said, “I’m not going to cheat on you, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“Promise me.”
Pulling back, I took her face in my hands and held her gorgeous crystal gray eyes with mine. “I promise.”
Instantly, we drew together as I pressed my lips to hers, desperate for nothing to change between us.
My hands slid over her body, pressing myself against her, sending warmth through me. My deep voice trembled, “Let’s go, baby. I’ve got a room at my father’s hotel.”