MIA
I quickly ducked into the booth, unintentionally bumping into Sydney.
"Mia, why are you hiding?" Sydney asked, raising an eyebrow.
That's a good question. Why was I hiding?
"Nothing," I replied, trying to brush off the question. But deep down, I cringed at the sound of Rachel's voice. She was always determined to get what she wanted. And now, it seemed like Jackson was her next target.
"Why is she even here?" Ariel groaned, resting her head on the table with her hands covering her face.
"She's friends with the swimming team, but Jackson and his friends haven't been accepted yet. So I'm guessing she's here for Jackson," Sydney explained, her thoughts not making me feel any better.
Ariel suddenly perked up and looked at me. "You should totally go say hi to Jackson."
"No, thank you," I blurted out, feeling a surge of nerves.
"Why? He's into you," Ariel shrugged.
"He's not into me," I whispered, feeling a mix of emotions.
"Don't lie," Ariel lowered her voice.
"Guys," Sydney leaned in closer to us. "Why are we whispering?"
I sighed and lifted my head slightly to glance at Jackson. He looked bored, while his friends seemed captivated by Rachel's presence. I couldn't blame them; she was undeniably beautiful but also incredibly arrogant.
As they walked past my booth, heading to one farther away, the guys and I turned our heads in the opposite direction. I could catch a hint of Jackson's cologne—it had a strong yet inviting scent.
He was wearing a gray hoodie and black shorts, which accentuated his long legs. My eyes involuntarily traveled up his body, and I couldn't help but remember the intimate moments we shared in my bed—the way our bodies fit together, his comforting scent enveloping me, and the gentle circles his hand traced on my back, assuring me that everything would be okay.
I wished I could turn back time.
Snap! I blinked, the sound snapping me back to reality.
"Woah," I turned to Sydney and Ariel, who were exchanging amused glances. "Even Ariel isn't this distracted by that waiter guy," Sydney teased, causing all of us to burst into laughter.
But my laughter slowly faded when I heard a notification from my phone. I checked it and saw that it was a message on Instagram from Jackson.
'You look adorable when you stare,' I felt my soul leave my body.
What.
The.
Fuck!
"What's wrong, Mia?" I couldn't tell who asked, as my brain struggled to process what I had just read. How did he know I was here? I thought I hid myself well.
'I saw you the moment I walked in,' he sent another message, probably noticing my shocked reaction. I was too terrified to look in his direction.
"He knows," I told Sydney and Ariel, their eyes widening in surprise. They turned their heads to glance at Jackson's table. "But he's not looking at us," Ariel noted.
"Yeah, he's just ordering," Sydney added, stealing one more glance.
"Then look," I handed my phone to them. They read the messages and suddenly smirked.
"What?"
"He's flirting with you, Mia," Sydney chuckled, returning my phone.
"Huh?"
YOU ARE READING
Falling For Jackson Again ✓
Teen Fiction"Jackson," I shook him gently, hoping he'd move so I could breathe again. But then he surprised me. I thought he'd lean back, but he didn't. Instead, his hand moved across my waist, pulling me closer to him. I wanted to protest, but I couldn't move...
