The sun was almost completely swallowed by the trees that surrounded the pond. Sara had only been out in the backyard for a short time, finding herself disgusted by watching so many people throw themselves at Jack. She couldn't blame them - He was definitely someone who could capture everyone's attention, but the didn't mean she couldn't get jealous over the fact that he was soaking up the attention like a sponge. Sara had never cared so deeply about anyone before, mostly because no one ever really noticed her when she was living in Alex's shadow. She didn't know how to handle a situation such as this one, so she did the only thing she knew how to do: Find a place where she could be alone.

Unfortunately, Sara had chosen the one place she would never get a chance to be alone. The pond, the backyard, all the stars coming out, it was the perfect place for drunken romance. She pondered getting up, going back inside with all the other people who were having the time of their life, and getting a stranger to pour her a strong, fruity mixed drink; but instead she settled for sipping on the beer she wasn't quiet fond of, trying to block out the song of giggles all around her. They were showing up in pairs, some being sweet and loving, while the other's were pulling at each other's clothes, almost like animals. She was almost disgusted by the view around her, not necessarily because she was love-sick, but because she'd never been swooned or kissed the way these people had.

She grunted, feeling even worse about herself than she had when Jack stepped away from her back home. Would she ever get the chance to feel love, from the one person who made her feel loved? He's probably inside that big house right now, a girl on his arm and a drink in his hand, searching for a room do to his dirty deeds. Sara's stomach flopped. It was official, she was going to find Zack so she could go home and curl up in her bed, forgetting this night, and the Summer that led up to it.

She made it up the hill with not problem, it was getting inside that proved to be a difficult task. Though he hadn't seen her, Sara noticed Jack's skunk hair before she even made it to the patio. He was under the dim light, sitting at a metal, black table, with a tall blonde sitting next to him. She looked to be a senior. Skinny, large breasts, and barely any clothes. Sara cringed, hoping she could make it to the front of the house before she had to witness any distrubring make-out sessions between the two. She probably would have, too, if the sound of Jack's voice didn't reel her back in.

"I think I need another beer," he awkwardly stated. "I'll be back."

Sara hid in the shadows, watching as he attempted to walk away from the girl, but she grabbed his wrist and yanked him back down. Jack huffed, brushing his colored hair from his face, almost glaring at her.

"I think you should stay," she whispered in a flirty tone. Her fingers danced from his knee to his thigh. It was obvious what she wanted. "Come on, I won't tell if you don't."

"You really don't understand," Jack laughed. "I can't do this."

"Why not, Jacky? Don't you want to see what I look like without the dress on?"

"Trust me, you leave little to the imagination." Sara frowned at this comment, because he actually sounded interested in the girl. Maybe she had worn something a little more risky. Instead, she was in a tank top and jeans. "I wouldn't be getting that much of a surprise."

"Ouch," the girl giggled. "It's so much better, I promise. Now, come on. We can go to my car if you want. A little backseat sex, yeah?"

"Uh, no," Jack stood up again, this time his chair raked across the concrete. "It's nothing personal. Honestly, you're a hot girl and I'm sure you're a great lay, but I'm interested in someone else, and if she ever found out she'd never speak to me again."

"But baby, I won't tell," this girl just would not get the hint. She stood up with Jack, placing her hands on his chest and trailing kisses from his neck to his cheek. "I know you want me."

"That's enough," Jack grabbed her hands and pushed her away. "I'm really not interested."

He turned away from the girl and began walking down the hill, all the while she was screaming curse words in his direction. Jack laughed to himself, shaking his head at how desperate she was. Sara was so caught up in the moment she barely realized that Jack was walking right towards her. She was too busy thinking about how he'd done so much more than he had. It was no wonder he wasn't interested in her, she hadn't even been kissed yet! The young girl mentally yelled at herself. She was a fool for thinking she could ever get someone like Jack Barakat; older, popular, way more fun than herself.

However, when his footsteps were so close she could hear the grass under his shoes, she pulled herself from her thoughts and tried to make it seem as if she were just starting the walk up the hill. Maybe then he wouldn't think she was some sort of nerdy stalker.

"Sara? What are you doing out here?"

"Uhm, I, uh, just... I don't know, honestly. I came out here for some fresh air and now there are naked people all over the place."

"Yeah," Jack snorted. "I forget you don't come to parties. You'll soon learn to stay with the crowd if you aren't trying to get your freak on."

"Oh." She swallowed a lump in her throat. "So, that's what you were doing out here?"

Jack's eyes grew wide. He hadn't realized what he'd said until she spoke. Idiot.

"No, just, some girl wanted to but I'm kind of interested in someone else."

"Well, um, that was really smart of you?"

"I'm sorry, Sara. Can we talk? We haven't really had a chance to since I got back. I didn't see you anywhere inside so I was going to call you tonight. I stayed sober and everything."

Sara looked down at the beer in her hand, now feeling slightly guilty about the fact that she wanted to drink him away. At least she had him standing in front of her now, asking for conversation. Perhaps she could tell him how she felt without her brother making things awkward. She closed her dark eyes and nodded her head, hoping for the best.

Jack grinned and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. He led her to the far side of the yard, where the moon reflected off of the pond, but no one was around to hear them speak. He sat the younger girl down in the grass beside him and touched her hand. A part of him wanted to hold it, but the other part was afraid she'd freak out.

"So look, I know it's kind of weird to talk to me in person, because I'm a lot different when I'm not curled up in my bed alone, knowing no one can hear me but you.. I just wanted to let you know that this Summer meant everything to me. All those talks, how in tune with each other we became. It's almost like you know me better than I know myself."

Sara tried to steady her breath. Jack sounded so sweet, and so sincere, just like he had over the phone. It was the way he was touching her hand that had her head spinning out of control.

"I'm really afraid you're going to stop talking to me and ditch me for my brother like everyone else. I know that sounds selfish since you're his best friend, but I was honestly hoping that you saw me a little differently than you saw him, I guess. Like, maybe he could be your best friend, and I could be..."

"Something more," Jack finished for her. With that tought fresh in his mind, he wrapped his fingers around her soft skin and gave her hand a squeeze. Sure, he was terrified that Alex would kill him, but Sara was beyond worth it. Especially tonight, with the moon making her brown hair shine just like the color of her eyes. He only wished that he'd actually been beside her this Summer, so he could have had a moment like this much sooner. "I really like you, Sara. I don't care anymore that Alex is your brother. With me as his best friend and you as his sister, he should want us to be happy, and he should trust that I would never hurt you, and even if I did, he could kill me on the spot."

"So.. So you do want to be more than my friend? Because the way you acted earlier, I just figured I was going to be a distant memory of the Summer."

"I was still really weirded out over Alex," Jack shrugged. "But I don't want him to stand in the way. I'll talk to him, don't worry. If being with me makes you happy and it's something you'd like to give a shot, I say we go for it, because I'm so ready to be in this for the long run."

Sara's heart was swelling with nothing but pure joy. Jack Bassam Barakat, the boy she'd put all her faith in over the Summer, the boy everyone wanted; he wanted her. She knew he was something special, just the touch of his hand on her own made her skin grow hot. Would he be her first? Her first love, her first kiss, her first feeling of true happiness? She'd come a long way from the girl she used to be, just the thought of him taking more strides with her made her want to scream. Scream out with happiness, with freedom, with love.

"That's definitely something I want to try," Sara admitted, squeezing his hand. "Are you sure you want me, though? You could have anyone, Jack."

"Just you," he whispered, wrapping his fingers around her face. Sara breathlessly smiled, this moment being nothing but magic to her. "All I want is you."

Her smile was the only reassurance he needed. Jack's long fingers drifted through her hair, while his face slowly moved towards her own. He'd kissed many, many faces before. He'd told dozens of other girls they were beautiful, lied his way into their beds, but none of them had ever made him feel a fire such as Sara did. The instant their lips touched it was like a jolt of electricity. Jack pulled away from the brunette, breathless and longing, wanting more, but knowing he had to take it slow with this one. He wanted everything to be perfect with her, because she deserved it.

"Does that mean you want to be my girlfriend?" Jack asked with a sense of hope in his voice.

"Is that your way of asking me?"

"Yeah," Jack smiled. "I guess it is."

"I would love nothing more than to be your girlfriend," Sara whispered, a blush making its way to her face. "You know you were my first kiss, right?"

"I remember. You told me that you'd never been kissed during our sixth phone call," Jack laughed lightly, loving how innocent this girl had been. "Maybe, if everyting goes how I want it to, I'll be your last as well."

"Wouldn't that be something?" Sara smiled. It was the same, crooked grin her brother always wore. "It'd be a story for the history books."

"Come on, Sara Beth," Jack stood up, tugging the girl to her feet. "I'm suddenly not in the mood for a party. I'd rather take you home and teach you how to kiss."

"Are you saying I'm a bad kisser?" Sara asked as they walked towards the cars. Lucky for Jack, he'd parked in the backyard, still with a clear spot to get out. "Because I'll punch you if you are."

"You're not a bad kisser, Sara," Jack snickered. "I just want an excuse to do it again."

"You don't need one now, silly. I'm all yours."

"All mine," Jack sighed, grinning from ear-to-ear. "I like the sound of that. Maybe one day I'll change your last name from Gaskarth to Barakat."

"I really hope so, Jack."

She climbed into the passenger seat, feeling like a brand new person, ready to say goodbye to her life as Alex Gaskarth's little sister and begin her life as Sara Beth Gaskarth, Jack Barakat's lucky girlfriend.

Notes

Annnd, that's the end! Feel free to let me know if you want a story written for, or about, you! (: