EDITED
12
Jaycee's POV-
The day had gone great with Caleb, Jackson, and Riley. Riley is adorable. Very sassy little boy too.
Caleb and I were both in the kitchen with Riley - he was cooking burgers on the stove while I played with Riley who was sitting on the table. Jack was in the living room doing whatever it is Jackson Garfield does, up until he entered the kitchen.
"Hey, Cale, how's the cooking going?"
But before Caleb had even gotten a chance to reply, Riley did for him. "Bad."
"Hey, Riley, you know I don't like you right?" Caleb said jokingly.
"I don't like you either!" At Riley's sassy reply, I couldn't help but laugh. Caleb and Riley's father/son relationship was the cutest thing ever. Caleb said that Alesha describes it as a love/hate relationship.
~•~
Today I get to meet Alesha and if I'm being honest, I'm excited. I'm excited to finally meet another potential girl friend.
Out of the 5 friends I have made with the end of the year quickly approaching, only one is a girl - Claire.
There's one girl in one of my classes, Sam, who I am kind of friends with, too, but we don't talk all that often outside of class.
"Hey, Jace." Jackson greeted.
I thought it'd be awkward this morning because Jackson and I had to share the hide-away bed, but it wasn't gladly.
"Hi, Jack." I smiled to show off my almost perfectly straight teeth that never had to suffer through braces as a kid. Everyday I thank my parents for their nice teeth genetics.
"You have a pretty smile." I blushed and rolled my eyes.
"So do you." I winked.
"Hey lovebirds! Alesha is on her way."
"Yay!" I jumped up and squealed. After a few moments, Riley started to scream. Caleb let out a quiet groan seeing as it was still early.
"Wait, Caleb. Jack and I came here to help, so let me go see what's up." I insisted.
As I walked past Caleb, he squeezed my shoulder. "Thanks, Jace."
Jackson's POV-
"I don't want to get all mushy on you or anything, bro, but you two are fucking cute."
"Were not a thing." I reminded him, and myself. "We probably won't be for a little while."
"You can't blame her."
"I know, I know." I sighed.
I know Jaycee says she trusts me, and I know she genuinely tries. But she doesn't completely; I can tell by the way she looks at me. She looks at me like she's afraid I'll hurt her like that fucker she dated a few years ago did. I don't blame her, but it does bother me. It bothers me that that little shit got her and didn't treat her the way she should've been treated.
I'll admit, I used to treat girls like shit just like he did, but ever since I've met Jaycee, I couldn't even think about treating her disrespectfully. I knew from the beginning Jaycee Gardner was different. When I pretended to think Jaycee's name was Joslyn, I did it because I knew I was thinking of her different. I was scared, honestly. But I'm not scared anymore - I like Jaycee, for real.
Jaycee walked in the room with Riley on her hip and his arms crossed, stubbornly.
"What's his problem?" Caleb asked. Riley stuck his tongue out. Damn, that toddler acts like I did when I was 10.
"He misses Alesha."
Caleb sighed and held out his arms for Riley. Riley jumped into his arms and sat on his lap. Jaycee giggled.
She picked up Caleb's phone from the table and snapped a picture of Riley who had his head against Caleb's chest while pouting sadly. Like the good dad that I knew Caleb was, he rubbed the back of his son to soothe him.
Jaycee's POV-
It was when I took the picture I realized how alike they were and looked. It wouldn't be surprising if one had mistaken Riley as Caleb's little brother. It makes me wonder how much Alesha and Riley look alike.
Jackson pulled me out of my thoughts, quite literally, by pulling me down next to him and under his arm. I didn't fidget under his arm though; it felt nice.
As soon as the door opened, Riley had jumped away from Caleb and straight to the door into a girl's arms - probably Alesha.
Alesha had straight, shoulder-length blonde hair, she was an average size, and had the prettiest brown eyes. She was gorgeous. Riley had gotten her eyes, no doubt.
Alesha looked down at her son, who was on her hip, with a smile.
"Hi, Riley." She cooed. Riley grinned widely and kissed Alesha's cheek. Looks to me like Riley's a little mommy's boy. Caleb got up and kissed the cheek Riley hadn't kissed. But, Riley still hit Caleb's shoulder. "No." He stated. Me and Jackson both laughed, along with Alesha.
"Lesha, this is Jaycee, Jackson's friend...girl?"
She chuckled and put Riley down, then walked over to me. I stood up, away from Jackson. "I'm Alesha. It's great to meet you."
"You too!" I stuck out my hand for her to shake it and she did.
"Well, babe, I've had to take care of this monster for a solid 24 hours. Your turn." Caleb said. Such a charmer.
"Go ahead, Cale, do whatever. I'm going to get to know Jackson's little girly-friend." Alesha sent a wink to Jackson and I. While I blushed, Jackson just rolled his eyes.
Jackson and Caleb went out to do whatever it is a couple of unavailable college guys do on a night out.
Meanwhile, I stayed back at their apartment with Alesha and a napping Riley.
"So, how long have you and Jackson been talking?"
"You sound like were in middle school." I pointed out with a laugh. Oh, the talking stage. The worst stage of them all.
"I wish we were sometimes. But, no, seriously. How long?"
"We've only been talking for a week or so, but we literally started talking a month and a half ago." I stated. "When did you and Caleb start going out? Like, what's your guys' story."
"Well, we've been dating since we were 16, but broke up halfway through junior year because he was going to Stanford and I was doing community college down south. When I found out I was pregnant about a month after we broke up, Caleb was ready to give up his Stanford scholarship, but I didn't let him. I moved up here and got the apartment. Only you, Jack, and Matt know about Riley. Provably, even me."
"That is...awww..." Because I couldn't find a better word to describe that.
I liked talking to Alesha. I had only known her for about an hour and I already talked to her like I talked to Claire.
"I can tell Jack really likes you, just by the way he looks at you."
"Did you go to high school with him too?" I figured, because she said she dated Caleb in high school, but she could've gone to a nearby school.
"Yep." She nodded.
"Did you know Clarissa Evans?"
"Yes. She was so sweet to everyone, but we didn't talk. Is she still talking," she winked after saying that, "to Josh Marcus?"
Holy crap! "Yes!" They've known each other and have had a thing for that long?!
"They dated for like two months in high school but said it was too awkward. They were literally the cutest couple that was together, but not official." She explained. "Like you and Garfield." I blushed. Damn Jackson Garfield. I've been blushing like a mad-woman lately. It's his fault.
"So," I began to change the subject. "Where do you think the guys went?"
"I'd say the bar, but you guys have classes in the morning. Therefore, I'm not sure. They may have gone out of town a bit to meet Matt halfway."
Jackson's POV-
I really wanted to get into the bar tonight, but it was a school night and I had to take Jaycee home.
But Caleb and I settled for meeting Matt at a small cafe right outside of town. I've missed casually chilling with my best friends.
Caleb's always busy with school or Riley. Matt's always busy with school or hanging out with his brother.
"Matthew!" Caleb yelled across the cafe and flagged down Matt.
"Asshole and Dickwad...nice seeing you too again."
"You, too, Shithead." I smirked and fist-bumped him.
We ordered sodas and chilled back, while watching Major League Baseball on the TVs around the cafe.
"How's the lady, Cale?" Matt asked, taking a drink from his Pepsi.
"She's great."
"The kid?"
"Still an annoying little fuck, but I love the kid."
"He takes on from you." I pointed out.
"Alesha reminds me every day."
"How's your girl, Jack?"
"Good." I replied vaguely. I didn't like talking about her with my friends. All they do is tease me, I hate it. Caleb's teasing is like 12 times worse, because it's four years of payback from when Caleb had started dating Alesha.
"How're you guys doing?" Caleb asked, a smirk playing at his lips.
"Were good. Now shut the hell up." I snapped. The guys chuckled and patted my back.
"What the hell is what the Angels?" I muttered to myself, referring to the baseball game. They're losing to the royals 13-3 at the bottom of the 3rd.
I'm not big on baseball to play, but I enjoy watching it. I used to go to Matt's brother's games all the time.
Matt rolled his eyes at my pathetic subject change.
Whatever. Call me lame, but anything to keep the attention off of me.
~•~
Man, I really like her.
That's all that was going through my mind the whole car ride back home.
I got out of the car and walked with her all the way up to her room until we came to a stop outside her door.
"Thanks for taking me this weekend, Jack." She grinned.
"No problem, Jace." I returned the smile.
She should feel so special, I rarely ever smile in front of anybody. Smirk, grin - yeah. But Jaycee, my family, and my two friends (3 if you include Alesha) are the only few people who have actually seen me smile. "Ya know, I don't typically smile in front of just anybody."
"You smile at me."
"You didn't let me finish." I winked. "I smile at you." I added quietly and gently pushed her back against the wall. I was leaning in and just about to touch her lips when the door next to us opened. Fuck, Clarissa.
"Jackson..." She acknowledged my existence.
"Clarissa..." I swear I was probably the only person in our entire school that didn't really like her. But the feeling was mutual, so it worked out well.
"Come on, Jace."
Jaycee smiled sheepishly at me and went to pull away, but I pecked her lips before she could fully get away. "Goodnight, Jaycee." She blushed furiously as Clarissa's eyebrows narrowed.
"Bye, Clarissa." I smirked just to piss her off. She flipped me off in reply.
Oh how I love pissing people off.