"I hardly think this is the time!" I said. I didn't want to lie, but I couldn't tell the truth. "Jackson has been very good to me these past couple days, and that's why I'm so freaked out. We're friends."
"Whatever, Sophie."
"There's that lack of trust again," I growled. "You know what a cry baby I am; I can't believe you're surprised that I'm getting all worked up about this."He said nothing until we pulled into the hospital parking lot.
"I'm sorry," he said when we got out of the car. "I'm just stressed out; I didn't mean to snap at you." He pulled me to him and kissed my hair. "Jack is going to be fine, I know it."
Simon's mood swings were worse than mine, and I had an excuse once a month. At least he'd apologized, though.
"It's okay," I said, taking his hand. "Let's get out
By the time Simon and I got to his house, I wasn't even eager to see Jackson. I just wanted to go home and bury my disgusting face in my pillow and hide."I'll be back," he told me when I'd settled on his bed. "I'm gonna go check on my brother."He came back a few minutes later. "Want to run out to grab something to eat with me? I'm just going to get McDonald's or something. Jackson is really hungry."I frowned. "Simon, I really don't wanna go anywhere. I had a shitty day."He looked thoughtful. "All right," he said finally. "I'm going to let you stay here because I… I'm going to trust you. Don't betray that, all right?"I nodded. "Thank Simon, for giving me a chance." I got up and kissed him. "You're a doll.""If Jackson needs anything, don't feel like you have to get it. He can wal
"Um… hi Mrs. Sutterfield. We were just napping… we weren't doing anything… We're still wearing clothes…"She stared at me.Maybe I should have stopped at 'hi Mrs. Sutterfield'."Hello Sophie," she said finally. "Could you wake him up, please? I need to speak with him."I shook Simon lightly. "Mon, wake up.""Mm…" he leaned up to kiss me, not opening his eyes."Simon!" His mother snapped.He backed away from me, slowly turning to face her. I'd never heard anyone use his full name before, so I knew she had to be pissed."Hi Mom," he said awkwardly. "You look pretty today.""Come with me," she ordered."I'll be right back," he told me, rolling his eyes.
Around 5:30 the next night I stood staring at myself in the mirror, just as I had before the first party. I was a little more sexed-up this time. I'd curled my hair, my gray eyes were lined heavily in black, and my pimple was completely gone. I thought I looked kinda hot. Maybe hot was an overstatement, but it was the best I was gonna look.I arrived at Simon’s house around 6:00. I went in without knocking. Jackson was dragging a table from the garage to the living room."Let me help you with that," I said, approaching him."I'm fine," he said through clenched teeth."You're going to hurt your ribs.""They ain't going to get any more broken. You look pretty; go see your boyfriend before I lose self-control.""Can we talk first?"He shook his head. "I'm busy," he said
As much as the brothers fought, they told each other almost everything."It seems like I was so much younger than I am now and a lot fucking stupider. Funny how much one year can do. We had sex right here on this balcony." He shook his head. "I didn't use a condom… she asked me too… but I didn't have one… and…" He ran his hand back through his hair."Did she have an abortion?" I asked carefully."No… we were gonna keep it. Brenda’s family is Catholic, they would've disowned her. She had a miscarriage. I hate to admit it… but I was really glad. How fucking wrong is that!? Sophie, I regret that every day of my life. I don't know how Brenda can still speak to me after I pressured her into having unprotected sex. I wasn't man enough to tell my own father. I just kept it to myself… like no one would ever find out."
"Can you get me the trashcan?""Sure cupcake."He came back with the trashcan and then sat on the bed beside me. I just wanted someone to hold me, but Jackson was dating Brenda now, and I was determined to make things work with Simon."This is the second time you've had to take care of me," I murmured. "I'm sorry.""It's okay, you can't help being sick.""So you just left all those people in your house?""Yeah… looking back, that probably wasn't a good plan, but I was worried about you."We laid in silence until Jackson's phone rang."It's a text message," he said after a moment. "From Simon. He wants to know what's up. I'll just tell him it was nothing and stay with you tonight.""Actually Jack&he
It may have seemed like I was overreacting, but I'd caught Caroline all over him before. I didn't really blame Simon, since he'd pushed her away; but if I wasn't there to watch him, would he let her have his way with him? Maybe I was just as guilty of being untrusting as he was. I shut my eyes and groaned. Things were never going to work out. Something had changed between us over the last week, and no matter how hard I tried to deny it, thoughts of Jackson were always lurking somewhere in my mind. I needed a distraction. The only problem was I didn't really feel well enough to go anywhere. I called Ellie."Haven't heard from you in days," she said when she picked up."I know, sorry! Things with Simon have been a little crazy."We went through the obligatory small talk and then I invited her over."Why don't we go out? I've been cooped up in the ho
"Uh… yeah. I think I'm going to puke. Bye." I hung up. He loved me? There was no way he'd meant it. We were sophomores in high school for God's sake! I guess it was better than him being mad at me, though. The only problem was… I didn't love him, and I knew it. I didn't want to seem like a bitch, but I didn't want to lie about my feelings either. The one person that could give me advice, the one person that new Simom better than anyone, was the one person I hated more than anyone at the moment. I needed help, though, so I called him."This better be important," Jack growled, sounding slightly breathless. "I mean really important.""Am I interrupting?""Yes!""Well… call me when you're… done.""Yeah, okay, fine. Thanks for ruining the mood, cupcake.""I'm sorry!"
"Is something the matter with Simon?""What do you mean?""He was really quiet this morning. He just seems upset."He sighed heavily. "Well, you know what a momma's boy little Simon is… this morning Mom told us that she found a lump… in her breast. He's just freaked out about it.""Jack…" I began. "I'm so sorry."He smiled slightly, but when I met his eyes I saw the fear. "Nothing's definite, you know? It could be nothing."He was trying hard not to appear vulnerable. It wasn't his style to be scared. I knew that he was afraid, but I wouldn't mention it."She's going to get a biopsy done today. Apparently she's known about if for a while now, but she didn't want us to get upset about it.""I'll let you get back t
Summer turned out to be the best time in our relationship. We spent every day together and didn't take any of our time for granted. One day as we were driving home from having coffee with Wyette and Brent, I glanced over at Jackson."I feel bad," I murmured."What for?""You never hang out with your friends anymore. Now you just hang with mine."He shook his head. "Your friends are my friends. The only real friends I've ever had, except for Brenda. Thank you for introducing us." He kissed my cheek. "And I'll get you guys into college parties.""Are you going to start drinking a bunch again?""No. I won't. Not after how hard you've worked to help me. We're going to Mom's tonight for dinner.""What are we eating?""Who knows? Something
I laid in bed and cried until about 5:45, then I fixed my make up. It didn't matter much to me what I looked like, but I was representing Jackson so I felt like I needed to be pretty. Sharon arrived at 6:00 to pick me up. She knocked on the door and I peered out at her. Her eyes were glistening with tears."I can't believe this," she whispered. "I know that he's still going to be here for a few months, and that he'll less than an hour away… but…" she shook her head."It's okay," I murmured. "I've been crying since he left.""He'll come back and visit. We have to be happy for him. You ready to go?"I nodded. "Yep…"When I got to the car, I saw Simon sitting in the backseat."I thought we should all go as a family," Sharon said to me. "Hope you don't feel too awkward. You
He lifted me gently and carried me to the bed. He tucked me in and then climbed in next to me."Get some rest, Sophie. I love you." He kissed me goodnight, and I fell asleep feeling better than I had in…forever.The next day at school, I cautiously approached Simon. He was standing with his arm around Terry. He was being the attentive, sweet boy that he had been to me when we'd first gotten together."Can we talk?" I asked softly."Where's Jackson?""With Ellie and Ronald. He doesn't need to be here for this. This is about us.""There is no us anymore, Sophie.""Look, can I please just have a minute? I'm not asking for much, Simon, just a minute. Please?""Just go, Simon," Terry said, shoving him lightly. "Go."
His eyes grew soft and another part of him grew hard. I loved his reaction to me… it made me feel powerful."Hellooo cupcake," he purred. "This isn't a you-let-me-get-all-worked-up-and-then-pull-away thing is it?"I shook my head. "Oh no. This is an I-tease-you-for-a-minute-and-then-you-rip-my-clothes-off thing.""Oh God… this is the best Valentine's Day gift I've ever gotten." He looked me up and down, his eyes lingering in all the right places. "You have no idea how hard it's been for me to wait.""I'm sorry," I said softly. "I just…""Don't apologize. That doesn't matter anymore… all that matters is tonight."We shared a moment of comfortable silence."I'm not sure if this is weird," Jackson began sheepishly, "But those wings are r
When the doorbell rang I disappeared into the bedroom. Things were quiet for about ten minutes, then Jackson started to shout… shortly after that, Scott started to… beg. After a while it sounded like things were getting out of hand so I went out to check on them."Jackson, baby… I think you're done," I told him. Blood was pouring from Scott's nose and his eyes were both a dark, angry shade of red."You bitch," Scott managed to utter. "You weren't supposed to tell anyone.""Excuse me?" Jackson snarled. "Did you just call my girlfriend a bitch?" He hit him again and I approached him cautiously."Let him go… it's not fair to mess him up too bad, he's already ugly."Jackson's body was rigid and his hands were bloodstained. There was something feral in his eyes, he smelled like sweat and cologne.
When the alarm clock trilled at 6:00 Jackson let out an exaggerated groan and smacked the clock. I rolled out of bed and Jackson, of course didn't move. "Too early," he muttered."For you. I have to get up so that I can look pretty."He cracked one eye open. "You look nice now," he mumbled."You have to say that.""No I don't. I could have just pretended that I'd gone back to sleep. I think I've made it abundantly clear that I find you attractive whether or not you're all dolled up.""Well, you go ahead and go back to sleep," I told him. "I'll wake you up around 6:30.""Do I have to go to school? I mean, seriously, I'm almost done.""Oh, quit bitching."I went to the bathroom and hopped in the shower. By 6:25, my hair was blown
We sat around for a while longer, then Jackson and I headed home. We still had a ton to unpack. I changed out of my jeans into a pair of his sweatpants. Sure, I had my own sweats, but something about wearing my boyfriend's clothes was so comforting."What would you think if I started dressing like a boy all the time?" I asked Jackson, coming out of the bedroom."Huh?"I grinned. "Your clothes are comfy... they're nice."
We went to my house and tried the door. It was locked. Guess the dumbasses forgot that I had a key."We have to hurry," I said, "I don't want to talk to them.""All right," he replied. We rushed up the stairs and into my room. Everything was pushed to the center of the floor. The walls had been painted a cream color and my bed was gone."I guess they were serious," Jackson said, looking around the room.There were a bunch of boxes full of my stuff on the floor. "At least they made it easy on me.""Do you want all of this?" He asked.I shook my head. "Mostly just the clothes. Let me look around."As I was rummaging through boxes and setting aside the ones I wanted, I realized the stupidity of what I was doing. I'd already established that moving in with him was a
Jackson ate quickly, barely taking time to chew. I ate as slowly as I could, and I knew it was driving him crazy. He finished a good five minutes before me."I'll be in the bedroom," he told me. "You can join me when you finish… if you ever finish."He was lying in bed in his boxers when I came in. God, even as upset as I was, I ached with wanting him."Hey," he said softly."Hi," I replied. I sat on the edge of the bed. "I'm not mad that you drank… I just wish that you hadn't drank so much… because I really needed you, but you were out cold."He drew in a deep breath. "What happened, Sophie?""After everyone left, Scott was still here… and he… he…" Tears filled my eyes."Oh my God… he didn't… Sophie, he di