A/N: Hope you enjoyed that prologue from Leslie/Lee. Now here's the hunk of a man—well right now hunk of a seventeen year old. God that feels wrong saying for a thirty year old woman. Eek! O-O
Also be prepared to get some Nex (Nate & Bex) scenes in this chapter.
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I. Little Did I Know
"I fell in love with her while we were together, then fell deeper in love with her in the years we were apart." - Nicholas Sparks
JACKSON
"Son, it's time for school baby. Get up, it's your last first day of high school," my mom gently shakes me awake and sits down on the edge of my bed, running her fingers lightly through my wavy hair.
"Okay Mom," I smile up at her and want to remind her I'm not a child anymore. I don't need these wake up calls for fuck sakes.
But when I see her warm smile, I don't have the heart to break hers.
"Are you excited?" she beams at me as she crosses her leg over the other and looks at me curiously.
"Sure. It's senior year. What's not to be excited about?" I laugh and sit up in bed as I grab my phone.
"I can't believe you're a senior already. Where the hell has the time gone?" she asks herself and looks around my room.
I watch her as she slowly looks at everything and when she looks back at me, I notice the moisture in her eyes. I know any minute now, she's going to break down in emotional tears. Thankfully my dad shows up in the doorway before she does. I don't think I can handle Mom and her crying right before school. It always breaks my heart when she's upset.
"Bex baby, leave the boy alone so he can get ready for school," he smiles warmly down at her and winks over at me, giving me a silent you're welcome.
"I know Nate," she groans and leans over to give me a gentle kiss on the forehead.
"He's just my baby and I don't want him to grow up," she sniffles and walks past my dad who looks after her with sympathy. He knows how emotional Mom can get, especially over her children.
"Is she going to be okay?" I ask with a nervous laugh and Dad nods his head.
"Yeah, she'll be just fine buddy," he grins down at me and I don't even want to know what that look is about.
I've been scarred enough with hearing them down the hallway when they think we all can't hear them. They aren't the quietest when they're in there doing whatever the hell they do. I make a gagging face as I get out of bed, making him laugh.
"One day son, you'll marry the love of your life and you'll use sex to calm her ass down when she gets herself all worked up and vice versa. So I don't want to hear it," he laughs more as he pats me on the shoulder before walking back to the hallway. He quickly returns to my doorway, remembering something.
"Also I checked your truck and it's good to go buddy. Have a good day at school and love you," he smacks on the door and walks away.
I smile after him before grabbing my clothes for today. I can always count on my dad to have my back and make sure I'm taken care of. Not that I can't do it myself but between my dad and mom, I never really get the chance to. I think that's why I want to follow in my dad's footsteps and join the Army. That way I can fully become my own man while doing something honorable, just like Dad did.
Once I've gotten dressed and ready to go, I grab my black Jansport backpack off the chair at my desk and make my way to the hallway.
I nearly run into my little sister—Sarah, as she comes barging out of her room groaning. I can tell she's upset about something so with a roll of my eyes and checking my watch, I know I have more than enough time to get to school. I back up subtly and look down at her knowingly with a raised brow.
"What's wrong with you?" I ask, putting my arm around her and she shakes her head, pouting.
"Sarah, what's wrong? Tell me before I call Mom and Dad up here to interrogate it out of you. And we still haven't figured out whose worse between the two of them at drilling us until they get all the answers," I laugh and gently shake her to cheer her up. It grants me a smile and she lets out a long sigh.
"Fine. I can't find my shoes," she turns red and I can't help but laugh.
"Your shoes? That's what's bothering you? Why don't you just wear one of the other fifteen pairs you have piled up in that mess of a closet?" I laugh as I walk into her pig sty of a room. I quickly straighten it up knowing if Mom sees this, she'll flip a fucking lid.
"I have to wear those particular ones so they'll go with the rest of my outfit. I'm wearing this purple shirt so I need my purple Vans but I can't find them!" she exasperates with annoyance.
God fucking forbid I don't understand her fashion and how dare I even suggest otherwise!
As I'm picking up some dirty clothes off the floor and tossing them into the hamper, her purple shoes are revealed like a David Blaine magic trick. I roll my eyes as I look over my shoulder at her.
"Here," I toss them at her and she jumps up and down with excitement. She runs over to me and hugs me tightly, nearly knocking me over.
Sarah is a lot like our Mom—tiny but damn can she pack a punch. Especially for a nine year old. As her 6'2 big brother—half the time I think she won't ever need me to protect her from anyone. I feel sorry for future boyfriends or God forbid she ever get married—phew! I truly feel sorry for that guy.
"Jax you're the best!" she beams and I smile down at her. Even though she can be a pain in the ass, I still love her like no tomorrow.
To me—she'll always be the little girl that would make me watch stupid ass Doc Mcstuffins and Bubbleguppies with. She'll always be my little sister that I vowed to protect the moment she came into the world. Yeah I was only eight years old at the time but I continue to live by it and will until the day I die.
"Well if you learned to clean your room more than once a month, you probably would've found them," I tease as I ruffle her curly brown hair. She rolls her eyes at me and sits on her bed to put her shoes on.
Knowing I'm no longer needed, I make my way out of her room and down the stairs. My little brother Ford is sitting at the kitchen island eating his breakfast while mom finishes cleaning up the kitchen. Dad walks in from checking her car and yells up at Sarah.
"Sarah, baby girl you need to get that ass in gear or you're going to be late for the bus!"
"And you—you sexy mama, have a wonderful day at work," he gives Mom a quick couple of kisses before grabbing her ass and I can't help but groan at the two of them. They have no damn shame in public display of affection.
Dad grins at my expression and leans over to give Ford a kiss on the top of his head.
"Bye little buddy, love you."
He gives me a pat on the back and gives Sarah a kiss on the cheek as she walks into the kitchen.
"Love you baby girl and love the shoes," he winks at her and she beams up at him before giving him a hug meant to knock you on your ass. Pfft—always will be a daddy's girl.
"You guys be good. Don't make me show up at your schools today for you misbehaving," he threatens with a smirk and quickly puts his gear on before heading out the door for work as Clinton Hills County Sheriff.
Mom grabs her bag for work and her purse as she makes sure both Sarah and Ford have everything they need as the bus pulls up out front. Good ole' Mom, making sure her babies are taken care of before anything else.
"Okay make sure you lock up the house before you leave baby and have a great day at school, love you," she smiles before planting a kiss on my cheek, no doubt leaving a lipstick mark on my face. I quickly wipe my cheek and grin down at her.
I end up leaving right after she does, making sure the house is completely locked before I get into my truck. I start it up and it roars to life. It's a single cab truck that was my dad's when he was in high school. It's old but still runs great. My dad took great care of it and continues to take care of it now.
When I finally park in my usual spot, my best friend Alex Cambridge, is sitting on the tailgate of his spray canned painted flat black truck—waiting for me. He waves at me in his usual excited self, making me chuckle to myself.
"Hey man, ready for our last first day of high school?" he grins and puts up the tailgate of his truck with a loud bang.
"Yup—let's get this shit over with," I swing my backpack strap over my shoulder and walk towards the front steps of Clinton Hills High School.
I silently think to myself as I push open the double doors, here is to my last year of high school. I probably won't remember a thing about it and will be bored the whole time. I can't wait to get the hell out of this small town and do something with my mediocre life.
Little did I know, that my life was about to change forever.