Chapter 2.8
Paxton
I couldn’t believe Mickey had the balls to show up here. I told him I couldn’t go out, that I was with the gang, but he wouldn’t listen.
“Find out for me, okay? That’s all I’m asking,” he said, pointing at me.
“I already know, dude. Sandra’s going with him. Now if I were you, I’d get lost.”
“Shit.”
“Seriously, man, you need to go.”
Wiping his face, he slowly rose from his chair. “Later, dude.”
“Yeah. Later,” I said, hoping he could slip out without trouble. Clarke already told him the last time he’d kick his ass if he saw him even close to us again.
Jackson swooped down on me. “What the fuck, Pax? Why was Mickey Watts talking to you?”
“Alright, calm down, Jackson. He just had to ask me something is all. Chill.”
“How did he even know you were here? I thought you said you weren’t friends anymore.”
“Yeah,” Clarke marched up beside him.
Ro sat next to me and said, “Bros, chill out, will you? He’s gone.”
“I think we should go after him,” Clarke said. “We warned him. I’ve been wanting to have a reason to punch him since third grade.”
“Come on, Clarke,” Ro said. “The dude left. Let’s not ruin our night.”
I thought I was off the hook, but Jackson wouldn’t leave it. “Dude, what the hell? Answer me.”
“Listen, he just wanted to know if you were taking Sandra to the dance. He was hanging with friends across the street and heard about it, so he came over to ask. That’s all. Now can we get back to our game?”
Jackson pointed at me. “You can tell him for me that I will personally kick his ass if he even thinks about bothering her.”
I flung up my hands. “I am NOT your personal assistant. You can tell him yourself. I’m tired of this conversation. Are we going to play or whine like babies all night?” I picked up a ball and shot it at Jackson’s head. He was making me mad.
Jackson caught it and dropped it. “Dude, you’re seriously asking for it.”
I put my face in his. “Oh yeah, well, come on, Jackson. I’m ready for you.”
Ro shot up between us and said, “Dial it down, kids. Jackson, let’s go. You can take me home.”
I glared as the two of them walked away.
Clarke laughed. “He’s just nervous about the dance, bro. Don’t take it personal.”
Lifting the side of my mouth, I said, “Yeah. Looks that way. I hope he gets a piece. He seriously needs some.”
*****
Jackson
Nervous jitters jumped around in my stomach. I didn’t understand why I felt like this, but even at school, I just couldn’t say much when I was around Sandra. It was like someone surgically removed my vocal cords or something. I was such an id*iot around her. I hated it.
“You look great, Jackson,” Dad said, seeing me off. “Don’t be nervous, okay?”
He knew me so well. “I’ll try not to be.”
“Here, give me a hug,” he said, grabbing me. “You’ll do great. Just be yourself, huh?”
“Thanks, Dad.”
Just then, Pops hit me on the back and said, “Text us when you’re going to be home, son. Not too late.”
Pops always worried about me for some reason. Dad never worried. They were so different. “I will.”
“Make sure you mind your manners with her parents,” Dad added. “And be a gentleman, Jackson. No trash talking with your friends.”
“Dad...I wouldn’t do that.”
He laughed. “I know. Just had to do the fatherly lecture. I wish we could see you two together. That’s the bad thing about having a boy.”
“Send us pictures,” Pops said. He loved pictures. Took them whenever he had the chance.
I pulled my fingers through my hair. “Not sure if I’ll remember, Pops. There’s going to be a lot...”
Dad tugged on my arm. “Oh, don’t listen to him. Of course you’ll be too busy to remember stuff like that. Have fun, son. We love you.”
*****
Luci
I was so mad at myself. I had a pact never to date until after college and here I was crushing on a guy my senior year in high school. “You’re never going to change the world if you focus on the wrong things!” I yelled inside my head. But my head and my heart were at war.
Why did he have to be so...well...nice to everyone? Even to me. Jackson begged me to forgive him every day at school until I had to say yes. Didn’t he understand how I felt? No...he was a guy. They wouldn’t know a feeling if it landed on top of their head and crushed them.
And why did he have to like Sandra Nunez of all people? She was so boring. So bland. I mean, if it was her sister, Diva, I’d get it...but Sandra? She went out with super loser, Mickey Watts, for like two years and she never had her own opinion. Just his. Even if it was against women, she’d go with his politics.
“Jackson,” I whispered, eyeing them on the dance floor, “why can’t you see me?”
*****
Winter
I said yes to Rowan Atsukari because I thought we’d have fun. Sure, eating the eye candy of Jackson Richardson-Day was a draw but still. Rowan was cute. And I wouldn’t have minded making out with him at the end of the night.
It looked promising in the beginning. Jackson’s parents had rented us a stretch limousine so all eight of us could ride together. Then we immediately took pictures like we were all best friends.
I really got along with Clarke’s girlfriend, Lexx Blake. She had this cool vibe about her. I didn’t know her because she was from another school, otherwise, we’d definitely hang out.
When we did the crazy picture, Jackson wrapped his hand around my hip, and my eyebrow shot up. Was he sending me subliminal messages? I’d hoped Ro would have put his arm around me, but instead, he did the usual bro pat with Jackson. Ugh.
I hated Sandra and not because she was with my future hubby. She was just...boring. Didn’t say much. In fact, I didn’t see Jackson talking with her a whole lot either. He was just doing all his bro stuff with his friends. I had to check myself from rolling my eyes at him. He was way overdoing it. Showing off for her, no doubt. He wouldn’t have to be like that with me, but whatever. This ship was going to sink, and I wouldn’t have to shoot any cannons.
I just looked from afar and saw the cracks already peeling through the hull.
Being totally ignored by my date who was dancing with all his bros, I decided to search for Jackson, just to do a little spying.
There they were sitting on a bench. I raised my hand to stifle a laugh. Clarke and Lexx were making out as Sandra and Jackson sat beside them, bored as hell.
Good.
Jackson had his arm awkwardly around her and Sandra was checking for dirt under her fingernails. O. M. G. “Jackson...if only you were with me, we’d be having so much fun. This is sad.” I thought to myself.
And then I thought about my situation. I was here with a guy. And plum it. I decided we were going to have a blast. Searching through the dance hall, I finally spotted Ro. He was laughing with his buddy Paxton, sucking on oxygen.
Marching over to him, I said, “You have a date with the most beautiful girl here and what do you do, Ro? You avoid me every chance you get.”
Paxton lifted a finger and said, “She has a point, bro. Get out of here and have fun with her, man.”
But instead, he just looked like he’d been caught. Noticing the gorgeous girl next to him, I nodded. “Okay, I get it. You want to be with her.”
The Asian goddess nursed her pipe guiltily.
“But it would have been nice if you would have asked HER to this dance and not wasted my time.”
“Look, I’m sorry, Winter. I thought you knew we were going just as friends.”
Flipping up my hand, I said, “Yeah, but friends at least dance with each other and hang out. You’ve been awol all night. I have feelings, too, Ro.”
“I know. I...” he stopped himself and looked down at his shoes.
“You’re impossible. You know what, Ro? Have fun with yourself.”
Turning on my heel, I stormed away from him. He called out, “Come back, Winter. I’ll dance with you.”
Twisting around, I said, “I don’t need your pity, Ro. Go plum yourself!”
But I wasn’t about to leave. I’d decided I’d bide my time and snuggle next to Jackson in the limo once he realized Sandra certainly wasn’t going to be anything more than a cold marble statue.
The night wore on mechanically. I danced until my toes screamed in my pinched shoes. A guy who hated women definitely designed these things. Chunking them into the bushes, I massaged my poor pinky toe.
And then I saw my date. Tottering, almost falling down, he stammered, “I-I didn’t mean to hurt her feelings, Pax. Its jus’ that I don’ like her like that is all. She’s my frien’. And she likes Jackson so I thought...”
“Yeah, man, we get it,” Paxton answered. “Hey, where’d you put my flask, dude? It’s my old man’s.” He bobbed around left and right as if the flask was going to magically appear out of thin air.
Oh. My. God. They were totally hammered. Rising up, Paxton said, “Dude, I gotta go.”
Hitting his friend who was slobbering all over Ro’s suit jacket, he pulled the kid to his feet and wandered away. Without the help of his buddy keeping him upright, Ro flopped backward, passed out on the floor.
I hissed, “Unbelievable.”
This drunken heap was all Jackson’s fault. I mean, he didn’t even try to hang out with any of us once we'd taken our pictures. He’d followed Clarke and his girl around like a little puppy because they were the only real "couple", leaving his very best friend in the dust. Well, I was about to go tidal wave on him. He’d better take cover.
******
I want to say THANK YOU to amazing designer @RABOOSKI who made this night club SNOW BALL just for this dance. It has so much in it for anyone to have a blast and it's great for Christmas parties. It's breathtakingly gorgeous! CHECK IT OUT!
Hitting his friend who was slobbering all over Ro’s suit jacket, he pulled the kid to his feet and wandered away. Without the help of his buddy keeping him upright, Ro flopped backward, passed out on the floor.
I hissed, “Unbelievable.”
This drunken heap was all Jackson’s fault. I mean, he didn’t even try to hang out with any of us once we'd taken our pictures. He’d followed Clarke and his girl around like a little puppy because they were the only real "couple", leaving his very best friend in the dust. Well, I was about to go tidal wave on him. He’d better take cover.
******
I want to say THANK YOU to amazing designer @RABOOSKI who made this night club SNOW BALL just for this dance. It has so much in it for anyone to have a blast and it's great for Christmas parties. It's breathtakingly gorgeous! CHECK IT OUT!