CH9

Azalea and Jackson hit up every two-player game they could find, diving into the challenge for bragging rights—and of course, free ice cream.

They played everything: air hockey, Dance Dance Revolution, Street Fighter, basketball hoops, laser tag, whack-a-mole. They went all out, their competitive energy building with each game. It was fun, though, and they didn't hold back. Finally, they ended their epic duel with a game of bowling, which Azalea won by a narrow margin.

"Suck it, bitch!" she cheered, raising her arms in victory. Jackson just rolled his eyes but couldn't help the grin that spread across his face. As competitive as she was, he had to admit—it was a blast watching her go all in, even if it did sound creepy to him.

Afterward, they grabbed a pizza, and Jackson paid, of course. They settled into a booth, the noise of kids running around and the clatter of arcade machines filling the background. It felt like the perfect ending to an unexpectedly great day.

"This was great," Jackson said, his tone genuine as he leaned back in the booth, stretching out a little.

Azalea nodded in agreement, a soft smile on her face. "It actually was, and I get free ice cream after this, so it's even better."

She grinned, and Jackson chuckled. Yeah, it was a pretty solid day.

"You only won because I allowed you to win."

"Yeah right. I even kicked your ass in whack a mole. Whack-a-mole."

"Kicked your ass in air hockey though."

"Took my win back with dance dance revolution, bowling, laser tag and street fighters." She reminds him. "And that's basically all of the games we played." Azalea took a sip of her soda with a triumphant smile and he returned it.

He's never done anything like this before, taking a girl out to have this amount of free time and fun. Sure they're friends but...the feeling is different. Especially when it comes to her.

Silence set between them, the background noise of cheering kids, young adults and the sound of game machines going off, was their only source of sound.

"Let's get ice cream and go for a walk," Jackson said, standing up from the booth, his voice breaking the comfortable silence between them. Azalea cleared her throat, nodding and following his lead.

As they drove, the car gliding through the quiet streets, Azalea couldn't help but feel a bit of uncertainty building inside her. She had something on her mind, something she'd been curious about, but she hoped it wouldn't ruin the mood. She didn't want to bring up anything awkward—not tonight.

The car slowed down, and Jackson pulled up in front of a Dairy Queen. Without hesitation, he got out, the gentleman he always was, to grab their ice cream. Azalea stayed in the car, lost in her thoughts as she waited for him to return. A few minutes later, they were off again, and once again, the silence filled the space between them.

Azalea took a slow bite of her ice cream, savoring the cold sweetness as Jackson drove them toward the closest beach.

Five minutes later, the car came to a slow stop. Jackson parked the car in the lot, his movements casual as he grabbed his cup of ice cream from the drink holder. Azalea followed suit, stepping out of the car, both of them still holding onto their silence.

They walked side by side, making their way toward the sand. Neither of them spoke, yet the quiet felt comfortable, like they both were just enjoying the simple, peaceful moment together.

Azalea and Jackson strolled along the beach, the cool sand crunching beneath their shoes as they pranced.

A gentle breeze whipped at their hair while the scent of the salty sea air tickled their noses as they continued to finish their ice cream.

After a few silent minutes of walking, Azalea finally broke the silence.

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Is it going to be about my father?" He responds.

"Y-yes." She wasn't expecting him to answer as quick as he did. "I've came to the true realization that I barely know anything about your personal life, and the same applies to me for you."

He sighs, twirling his spoon around in the cup. "Tell me about it." She whispers.

Jackson exhaled heavily. "Well...my dad and I never had a great relationship, he was always controlling and absent; and things only went completely downhill when I decided to drop law school and come to community college," he begins.

"You were in law school?" She sound stunned. Jackson nods, a frown playing his features.

"I don't like the title but I'm a bit of a prodigy, got my wit from my dad I guess. But it was terrible being the prodigy kid. I skipped about five grades because I was considered "too smart" for the class. You know how uncomfortable it was to sit in a class filled with ten to eleven years olds at only five years old?"

Azalea listened in, glancing at the sand as he spoke.

"Then at ten years old and many encyclopedias later, I was sent to law school."

"Holy shit at ten?"

"Well, not quite. He tried but they said they didn't allow children inside no matter how smart or famous, but when you've got a dad like mine he'll make sure it happens. After a four year delay I was finally in law school. I was known as the youngest law student on the planet." He shook his head.

"I knew what I was doing of course, knew all the answers, knew how to talk and argue a topic good or bad, but...I got so fucking tired of it all. Everything were about books and learning and just being a smart kid. I never had friends, never played with toys or celebrated holidays like regular kids, and I wanted that.

"And so I took it. I dropped out of law school and upon hearing this he went fucking manic. Screaming and shouting like I was killing him or something."

Silence. Azalea could only wonder if that's why he acts the way he does. Like the is always up. So cheerful and making the best of the small things.

"Wow...that's actually pretty messed up. He should've at least gave you a bit of freedom when you were a kid. I can't imagine what that was like."

"It was torment. It's nothing close to being fun knowing things you don't want to know or even care about sometimes. Then when I got here finally I was happy and finally felt free." But now that Thompson is teaching at Princeton, Jackson can't help but feel like his father isn't done with his mental torment.

"What about your mom? What did she say about it?"

"She never did anything." He mumbles.

"Are they still married?"

He shook his head no. "They divorced when I dropped out of law school. Then they hook up from time to time which just makes our shit storm even shittier."

Azalea set an arm on his shoulder and smiled. "Well I'm glad you did want you wanted to in the end. That action alone was a big "fuck you" to your father. Pretty badass for a prodigy kid."

He grins, feeling a bit lighter than before. Now he's glad she brought it up. He never knew he needed to talk about it, and to be honest, he does feel a bit better.

"What about you?" He asks. "Do you have shitty parents too or no?"

"I never met my dad, actually, my mom says she doesn't know who my dad is which probably explains my... questionable features."

"Unique actually."

"As everyone calls it."

"It's true, red hair, freckles, hazel eyes. Can't get any better than that. You're no ordinary redhead my friend."

"Well, anyways, I didn't really grow up with riches like you. It was hard to make a buck or two but we managed. But then my mom started drinking and things just got too hard to come by. So, I decided that one day I was done with all, so I moved here and decided to get myself a degree and make as much money as I can."

"How'd you get the tuition?"

Azie cleared her throat. "I had to work hard to do so. I started working at fifteen, two jobs. Day and night."

Jackson couldn't believe that the girl that looks like she's been treated like an absolute princess had the opposite treatment.

"Glad you made plans for yourself."

She laughed. "Could say the same for you my rebellious prodigy," she says, playfully nudging him.

"Oh haha."

The both of them shared a grin and they found themselves back into conversation.

"Do you have any siblings?" He asks.

"Yeah, about two. Could be more now but I hope not. And you?"

"Nah, was always an only child."

"Oh, right...that makes sense."

The two of them continued to talk more about their personal lives. She informed him of how she had to take care of her siblings and also her drunk mother and Jackson tried to find the little things he'd do to piss his dad off as a child, even up to now.

"He doesn't understand me, and I don't know how to communicate with him without a fight breaking out."

"Is that what happened to your hand?" He sighs.

"Yeah, we can never see eye to eye, so fuck him."

"Maybe you should try talking to him," she said tentatively.

"It won't go anywhere."

"I mean, really talk, with your heart."

Jackson shook his head, looking up at Azalea. "I don't even know where to start," he said. "He's always so distant when I try. I can't talk with that fucking..." He stops, catching himself.

Azalea put her hand on his arm. "I believe in you, J."

Hearing her words were like music to his soul. "Thanks, Azie." Jackson stopped and so did she. There's a bench facing the view of the water. Jackson took a seat, exhaling heavily through his nose.

Azie took a seat next to him, setting her cup beside her. He set his aside and put an arm over her shoulder, pulling her close to him.

She didn't mind since he always do stuff like that. It's Jackson for crying out loud. They sat like that for what felt like forever before Jackson sliced through the silence.

"I'm so glad I met you."

Her hazel eyes glanced up at him with a smile. "Oh yeah?"

Jackson rolled his eyes with a playful grin and nodded. "Yes." The both of them held each other's gaze, still smiling and grinning like idiots.

As seconds went by they both found themselves being engulfed into that same tension as before. The mystery tension.

Azalea didn't know what possessed her body in that moment but she felt herself inching forward. Her heart is racing, pounding, in her chest and heat radiating through her veins. As for Jackson, he couldn't keep his eyes from staring at her lips.

Something about this moment, the indistinct call of the seagull, the cool breeze brushing against them, or maybe, the light illuminating from the moon that shone onto them. It was like the world was telling them that this is the moment.

They're close, so close that they could smell the sweet smell of mint chip and strawberry ice cream seeping through the cracks of their teeth.

And when their foreheads touched and their nose brushed against the other's, Jackson couldn't take it any longer. He leant in, finally closing that gap between them. Their lips met and the boy nearly moaned. Azalea didn't know why or how she got kissing him back, but she did.

She pulled his shirt as a means to pull him closer to her. Jackson cupped her cheek, slipping his tongue into her mouth, deepening the kiss.

He wanted that taste of warm strawberry on his, and he got it. The kiss was hot, sweet and absolutely breath taking.

However, there's always something to ruin a good moment. Whether it be a person or an object, but in this case, it were thoughts.

"Yeah, Jackson is a man whore and everyone knows it."

Azalea pulled away from the kiss, and Jackson couldn't help the low groan that escaped him as her warm, intoxicating taste slipped away from his tongue. It felt like a loss, the connection broken too soon. She quickly stood up, almost tripping as she did so, and in an instant, they were yanked back into reality.

"Azie—" Jackson started, his voice strained, trying to process what just happened.

"Just take me back," Azalea interrupted, her voice sharp with panic.

She didn't wait for him to say anything else, storming off with frustration and confusion in her steps. Jackson watched her go, the sight of her retreating back pulling at something inside him. He lingered for a moment, lips tingling with the ghost of their kiss.

"Fuck," he muttered under his breath, the weight of the moment crashing down on him.