Worth The Fight ✓

Chapter Twelve

"You weren't before," he says with a matter-of-fact tone. "And you ditched school today so I thought it was because you didn't feel well enough."

"Uh no," I quickly reply, "I was bored of the lit class and the next was Maths so there was nothing worth to stay for."

He rolls his eyes. "We have a Maths exam in two days, do you realise?"

"Oh shit, do we?"

"Yes," he says, "what was your first grade? F?"

"D."

"Oh, I am so proud of you. The exam was hard and you got a D, you might have a natural talent for Maths."

I roll my eyes. "Nah," I mutter, "Sydney helped me."

"Sydney? Nerdy Sydney? Oh, how did she help you?"

I look at him as if he is kidding. "Do you doubt my methods of convincing people, Calvin?" I arch my eyebrow.

"Of course not, ma'am," he mocks.

"Good."

Then, we walk to living room just to find Sue watching Powerpuff Girls. "Look, Jackie, I freaking love these girls!" She exclaims, looking at me and I grin back at her. Meanwhile, Cal watches us with a smile on his face. "SHIT BLOSSOM!" She yells and I start laughing because she must have heard me using it. God, this girl.

"Sue," Calvin yells shockedly, "don't you ever use it again."

She looks at him, frowning. "Fuck you Cal."

The next few minutes, I'm on the ground, laughing so hard that it hurts. I swear I didn't teach her any of those but Cal's face is as red as a tomato due to anger. I know I shouldn't be laughing but should isn't a modal in my grammar. It means nothing. "Oh God," I sputter, "Sue."

"Jackie Cookie, it isn't funny," she says, bemused. "Cal."

"Did you teach her cuss?" Cal now looks at me extremely angry and I frown at him.

"Me? What? No."

"Sue, be honest, did she teach you?"

"No," Sue denies quickly, "but I heard her using them so why not?"

"Because it's not lady-like. Especially for a girl like you."

"I don't wanna be a girl like me," she pouts, "I wanna be Jackie Cookie."

"Cal, calm your tits. I'll talk to her," I say to Cal who looks very angry. "Sue," I spin at her. "Don't use those words, darling, okay? Only Mulan is allowed to use them."

"Why?"

"Because Mulan has to be tough to protect her princess."

She nods, and hugs me. And I steal a sideway glance from Cal, smiling, as I hug Sue back. Why do I have to handle those both? And why do I like it so much?

Meanwhile, the door opens and someone enters in with a cheerful yell. "Guys, mummy is home!" Along with her, a delicious smell spreads over the room and I feel my stomach roar. Smelling more carefully, I realise that it is something chocolate-related. Oh, now she has my heart.

She enters the room with bags in hands. She looks younger than I imagine her to be and she is beautiful. Her eyes land on me immediately and a new kind of smile forms on her lips. She exactly looks like Sue, like an older version of her. "You must be Jacqueline," she says.

"Yes," I say quickly, getting a bit nervous about how I am going to act. "But please call me Jack."

"Okay, then." She smiles as she spins and heads to kitchen. I gaze her as she drops the bags and comes back with the same smile. "Hope you like brownie, Jack."

Oh, brownie. I knew it is something delicious! "Brownie? I love it!" I exclaim and I curse at myself for seeming so enthusiastic (well, I am) in the first meeting. I need to keep calm and cool.

She sits down, her body facing us and an awkward silence creeps in because nobody knows what to say next. Then, she starts off again, "Hope Cal didn't force you for this."

I peek at Cal, who is growling at his mother. "No, of course not," I say, amused, "Cal can't force me for anything."

She chuckles. "From what he's told me, I gathered that."

I arch my eyebrow as though I'm surprised. "Has he been talking about me?"

"He doesn't shut up, to be honest."

"Mum," he growls uncomfortably again. "I'm just telling about my day and you are in it so."

Mrs. Gilmore rolls her eyes at him - she is so cool - and turns at me with another smile. "Are you hungry, Jack? I can prepare something."

"I've already eaten, but thanks Mrs. Gilmore." I murmur. Damn, I am so kind. I guess this is the end of the world.

"Uh," she huffs, "call me Isobel. Mrs. Gilmore sounds so old, doesn't it?"

"Yeah, uhm, Isobel."

During the conversation, Calvin is all mute and it's kind of relaxing because whenever he opens his mouth, he growls something. Isobel is so cool though, he is lucky to have such a mother. She says that she was like me in highschool, all rough and stuff but when she met Cal's father, she softened a bit and started to study for her exams just because to catch up with him and it is how she is a doctor now. She asks me what I want to be and I say I don't know. Because it's the truth - I don't even know if I want to be a thing at all.

She doesn't even judge me and nods. It feels good to know that someone understands me because I'm sure no one does, and it is kind of weird that the person is Calvin's mother. Then, she serves us brownie and I devour it for sure, and we laugh throughout the time we spend together and Sue is being so cute.

I pause for a second and analyse the situation: I am so happy.

It feels like a family, so warm and close, and I wish I was a part of it. I get so jealous of Calvin for having the best family ever but then, when I think about it, he is the best son ever, too so he deserves it. He deserves every fucking thing he gets.

And that's the problem.

I turn my head to look at him and he smiles at me - that confusingly charming and sweet smile - and I can't help feeling so softened and smile back. I am afraid of what he makes me feel and I am not sure if it is safe.

The problem is -

I don't deserve him and he doesn't deserve to get a person like me in his life.

I'm not sure if I will be that selfish to creep into his life, be part of it even though I know the actual truth. But right now, with the way he looks at me, I know I can't really stay away for long.

What was this called again?

***