A week passed us by like a blur and we were finally on Spring Break. Now Dallas has some time to go shopping with Lisa and Cassadee while I stay ‘busy’ doing whatever the hot fudge I please. And right now, I want to continue to sleep on Dallas’ very comfy couch. But with Dallas up and running about, that’s not even an option.

“How about this?” she asks me hurriedly, probably shoving some sort of clothing in my face.

I barely tilt my head up before I give up and mumble, voice thick with sleep, “Yeah, tha’s greaaat. Weaahr dat one.”

“You didn’t even open your eyes!” she snaps, “And you say that to every outfit I show you! Even the one with the plaid top and polka dot shorts!”

“Oh well. It’s night-night time for Jell-o,” I yawn while rolling over.

“Ugh, you’re no help!” she cries out. I would have chuckled, but frankly I am way too tired. It’s eleven flipping AM for God’s sake and I’d had a very late night hanging out with my best friend. How is she so energetic this early in the morning? She usually hates mornings just as much as I do. Oh yeah, I forgot. She made coffee. I can smell it on her breath. I hope she brushes her teeth.

Eventually she figures out that she’d have a better chance getting interior decorating designs from a kangaroo than she would get fashion advice from me and leaves me alone. Well, until she’s all dressed up and ready to go.

“I’m leaving, get up,” Dallas says while shaking me.

“But this couch is comfy! I wanna stay here all day!” I whine in protest.

“Well, too bad. If I let you stay here, you might invite Barakat over and do the nasty on my bed,” she argues before hitting me with a pillow.

“Hey! I would never!” I promise as I trip off the couch.

“Jack would though. Now scram, monkey.”

I laugh, “Did you just call me monkey?”

“Yes, now leave,” she says as she pushes me out the door.

Dallas locks the door behind us and I follow her to her car.

She sighs and turns to me, “If you don't move, I'll run your pretty little toes over.”

I know I’m already on her last nerve, but I can’t help myself – pushing Dallas’ buttons is too much fun to pass up! So I persist, “Aren't you going to give me a ride?”

“No, I have to go to Towson,” she huffs.

“That's on the way, stupid,” I point out. She can’t possibly argue with logic.

“Fine, get in,” she sighs in resignation and unlocks the passenger door for me.

I pass out almost as soon as I buckle myself in and stay asleep throughout the entire drive, but because I’m such a heavy sleeper, and Dallas is already annoyed enough with me, that in order to wake me up, she decides to squirt me with her water bottle. The sudden chill made me squeal.

“Bye sweetums,” Dallas laughs as I grumble angrily under my breath.

I’ve barely gotten the door shut when she suddenly speeds off to Towson Mall.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. As I let it out, I let go of all the tension and anger that had built up over Dallas this morning. I repeat the process a few more times before I open my eyes, and as I do, a smile spreads my lips wide. There is just no way I could ever hold a grudge on Dallas – she’s my best friend. And since high school started, she’s been my only friend. Well, the only one who’s stuck around long enough to be considered a friend, anyway.

----------

In the past few hours, I’ve managed to sleep, shower, clean my room, have a talk with my parents about school, and become increasingly more and more bored. At this moment, I’m laying halfway on the bed while my torso hangs off the side of the mattress. It isn’t long before I slip off and my lower body collapses onto my head and neck. I roll over, groaning. Suddenly, I hear my phone ringing. And it’s all the way up on the pillow.

‘You’re only happy when I’m wasted! I point my finger but I just can’t place it…’

“Yeah, yeah, I know!” I finally reach it and put it up to my ear, “Hello?”

“Hey doll face. What’s up?”

I smile – Jack called. “Oh nothing really. You?”

“Same. I was just calling to see if you wanted to hang out?”

“That sounds great!”

“Awesome. I’ll pick you up in a few.” He hung up before I could reply.

----------

It’s not long before I hear the doorbell ring and I run to get it as I yank my shirt over my head. I fix the hem as I open the door and let Jack in.

He’s already smiling, “Hey sweet-tart, how’s it hanging?”

“Much better now. You saved me from dying of boredom.”

“Really? Come on, Princess, Lord Jackary is here to save you from the evil kingdom!” He grabs my hand and rushes me out the door as I yell to my parents that I’m going out. He takes me to his car and we speed off. Jack’s driving makes me a bit nervous, so as a reflex, my hand latches on to his which is resting on his thigh.

He glances at me, but I say nothing, keeping my eyes fixed on the road. I pray we don’t crash.

As I get more comfortable with Jack’s driving, I lean back in the seat and try to relax. “So, Jacky, where exactly are you taking me?” I ask.

His eyes flicker towards me and a soft smile settles on his lips, “It’s a surprise; I can’t tell you now.”

I just groan and collapse into the seat.

----------

Eventually, he slows down and pulls up to a public park/playground and my eyes light up. Jack barely has time to park the car before I’m up and off, running to my heart’s content. I sneak a glance behind to see if he has caught up, but I didn’t expect him to be that close. Smirking, he lunges at me and takes me down. He traps me in his arms and we roll to a stop. When I open my eyes, he’s on top of me and we’re both breathing hard. He captures my eyes in his gaze and I can’t help but search them. Jack looks at me as if I’m a precious gem. He looks at me longingly, hopefully, affectionately.

There’s a peaceful moment where we just stay like that, transfixed, but soon I notice that he is leaning closer to me and his eyes are slipping shut.

What’s going on? Is he trying to kiss me? Do I want him to kiss me?

All these things and more run through my head as Jack leans in.

Should I stop him? Or let him? Or maybe…

But I don’t have time to think anymore as Jack’s lips have already met mine and it feels wonderful. So soft and full. I become numb to the world outside of him and me as my eyes flutter closed and all I can think of is Jack and his lips. The warmth, the butterflies, the rainbows… It’s all so perfect.

So soon though, he pulls away, a dreamy glaze over his chocolate brown orbs as he opens them, and a gentle smile on his lips that warms my heart.

I wish I could see his smile all the time – it looks so good on him.

Yeah. That was definitely the best option.

I stare back at him and just grin.

I can’t imagine being any happier than I am at this moment.

But even the best of moments eventually have to be broken, this time by him.

“So,” he begins, “I had actually brought you here for a reason.”

I tilt my head and smirk, “You took me to a park just to kiss me?”

Jack laughs and rolls off of me, “Oh, no, I actually had something else in mind. I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity.”

“Ah, I see,” I say as I roll towards him and prop myself up with my arm, “So, what was the real reason for this outing?”

“Well, I wanted to play of course on the playground, but I also wanted to talk to you about a few things that have been on my mind lately.”

“We’ve got all day, but while we’re here, why don’t we talk?”

“Okay, sure,” he nods. He looks away briefly before he says, “So, why didn’t you go shopping with Lisa and them today?”

“O-Oh, um… I-I don’t really like shopping…” I lie and smile nervously.

But Jack sees right through it. He raises an eyebrow at me questioningly, “You’re lying; tell me the truth.”

I sigh,” I just…” I shake my head and look up at him as he takes my hand in his. I sigh again, “I just don’t like Cassadee. Don’t give me that look! I mean, I know it’s irrational and I’ve never really met her before, but I don’t like her…” I lower my gaze and start to trace random patterns on the back of his hand with my thumb. My confidence wavers and I can only whisper, “Don’t… Don’t hate me…” I bite my lip and turn my head away.

“Hey…” Jack sits up and grabs my chin, forcing me to look at him. “Don’t even think that; I could never hate you. You’re not in the wrong, Ad. Just give her a chance, she’s not all bad.” He smiles at me.

I smile back and only then do I realize just how close we are – I can feel his breaths on my cheeks. I soon get lost in his huge chocolate eyes before I lean in and capture his lips with my own. I lightly touch his face with my hand while his grasp my waist. I pull away when I need to breathe again. I grin and stand and try to bring Jack with me, but he’s too heavy so he gets up on his own.

“Come on; let’s go play!”

His smile grows huge as he runs along behind me towards the playground equipment.

----------

It’s not until the sun starts to go down that we run out of energy and take refuge against the trunk of a large tree. Jack has pulled me into his body and is running his fingers through my hair. “So I’ve been thinking…” he starts.

“Oh, good! I was starting to wonder if you still had a brain inside that pretty little head of yours, Jacky,” I smile cheekily at him.

He scoffs playfully and drapes his arm over his head dramatically, “Oh, Adelaide! Your words, how they hurt me so!”

I laugh and bat his arm, “You’ll get over it. Now, what were you saying about thinking?”

He chuckles, “I’ve been considering getting my skunk hair back, and I wanted your opinion before I decided for real.”

“Well,” I say, sliding up to face him, “if it’ll make you happy then I think you should do it.” I clasp my arms around his neck and stare deeply into his eyes.

“Really?” he asks as his hands grab hold of my waist, his eyes slightly sparkling.

“Yeah,” I nod and kiss his nose, “Just as long as I can be there with you when you do it.”

He grins, “Of course! In fact, I would love for you to be there.”

My smile widens as he leans in and kisses me, completely and wonderfully, on the lips.

Notes

Yay! It's finally done! I hit a wall during this chapter a few days ago, but I broke it today and hopefully this is good enough to satiate you guys until I give you another. (Because Hayley wrote 2 in a row, I'm writing again.)

Comment&subscribe? Thanks for reading!

(title credit: Love Like Winter - AFI)