I'm in the middle of eating breakfast the next morning when Jessica shoves her phone in my face.
"What the fuck is this?" I lean back and look at her screen, my fork dropping out of my hand.
"Where did you get this?" I ask, voice rising an octave in panic. I take her phone and look at the image. It's Jack and me at the fro-yo place, with his hand on my face, and he looks like he's about to kiss me. My stomach fills with butterflies at the memory right before me.
"Does it matter? What the hell were you doing with him?" She snaps, snatching her phone back from me.
"We went out for fro-yo, that's it," I defend, and she scoffs, rolling her eyes.
"Well, this looks like it's a lot more," she says before she narrows her eyes at me. "The one guy I'm actually interested in, and you dare to date him behind my back?"
"Wait, what? Date?" I shake my head as Jessica glares at me. "It wasn't a date."
"Then tell me why you were there with him!" She yells, and I jump. I don't like confrontation. And Jessica thrives on it.
"We were working on a project for Mrs. Hawkins, and we went out for dinner and got dessert after we were done, that's it!" Her eyes widen before she glares at me more, her face reddening with anger.
"So, it was a date," she snaps, and I shake my head.
"N-no," she scoffs, shaking her head.
"Well, everyone has seen this picture, so, good luck today. No one is going to believe that you so innocently went on a date with someone I'm really into." I gape at her as she flips me off and leaves the kitchen, slamming the front door behind her on her way out.
What the hell just happened? Who was there and saw us? What was it any of their business anyway? I feel panic rising in my chest as I take a ragged breath, cleaning up my breakfast, and heading for my keys. Despair captures my attention when I see my keys aren't where I left them. I run to the window and curse. My car is gone.
"That bitch," I mutter, sighing and running a hand through my hair. What was I going to do? I could call Jen and ask her to come to get me. I dig my phone out of my pocket and pick her name, calling her.
"I hope you're calling me to explain why you and Jack are out on a date," Jen answers, and I groan.
"You got that picture? Jen, it wasn't a date," she laughs, but then starts coughing. I wince. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah, just a cold," she blows her nose in the background. "I have a fever, so I can't come to school today."
"Damn it," I sigh. "Jessica took my car."
"What? Oh, my God, what a bitch," she coughs and sneezes. "Sorry, I wish I could take you, but I'm on strict orders to stay in bed." I sigh.
"It's okay. I hope you feel better," I say. "Can you send me the picture, please?"
"Sure thing. Oh, and you better call me later and tell me all about your date," Jen laughs, coughing again. I groan, annoyed. A second later, I receive the picture.
"It wasn't a date!" I hang up and take a deep breath before finding Jack's name, and I hesitate. I barely knew him. I couldn't just flat out ask him, but I was going to be late if I didn't get a ride, and being tardy is a big fear of mine. I press on his name before I can change my mind.
He answers on the first ring.
"Hey, Riley," he chirps.
"Hi Jack, um, I know this is short notice, but Jessica took my car, and Jen is sick. Do you think you could come to pick me up?" I ask anxiously. "As long as it isn't out of your way, that is. I can always walk."
"No, I can come to get you," he says with a laugh. "I'll be there in ten." I smile.
"Thanks, Jack," I say, and I can hear his smile.
"Anything for you, Riley." We hang up, and my stomach turns with butterflies. I gather my things together and wait outside on the porch. It isn't long before I hear the roar of the motorcycle. I was kind of hoping he wouldn't be on his bike, but I'm grateful for the ride. I sigh when he rolls up and kicks the kickstand down. I approach.
"Thanks for coming to get me," I say as he takes off his helmet. Just seeing him has my heart racing and a smile coming to my face. I know he's handsome, it's undeniable, but watching him remove the helmet and meeting his blue eyes is like a breath of fresh air. He grins up at me, handing me the helmet.
"Of course," he chuckles. I don the helmet, and he helps me get on. I don't hesitate to wrap my arms around him.
"Ready?" He asks, and I nod. He smiles one more time at me before kicking the kickstand up and turning the engine back on. We're on our way to school, and I know I have to tell Jack about the photo. We pull up into his parking spot, and everyone is watching. Jack cuts the engine, and he helps me take off the helmet.
"Jack," I say, and he looks at me. "Someone took a picture of us at the fro-yo place." He raises an eyebrow.
"Oh?" I nod.
"And they sent it to everyone in the school. Jessica basically accosted me this morning while I was trying to eat my breakfast about it," he frowns. "Even Jen got it." I pull it up on my phone, and he looks at it.
"Oh, I see," I nod and sigh, putting my phone away. "So, everyone thinks we went on a date."
"Yeah," my face burns at the thought. "Jessica is really pissed. She really likes you." Jack shrugs.
"I don't feel the same." I look up at him, and he's smiling at me, eyes bright and warm. I suddenly remember his request last night, and my face burns.
"About the date," I say, and his expression changes. His cheeks turn light pink as he nervously rubs the back of his neck.
"Oh," he clears his throat. "I'd still like to go out with you if you want to." I look at my shoes.
"Was last night a date?" My face is still burning, and my cheeks pound. Really, Riley? I ask myself. Why would last night have been a date? My breath catches as he suddenly lifts my chin with his fingers, and our eyes meet.
"Do you want it to be?" A flash of worry echoes through his eyes.
"Everyone thinks it was," I breathe, and he shakes his head.
"But do you?" Did I? Did he?
"You almost kissed me last night, didn't you?" My question is barely above a whisper, and he nods. His hand slips from my chin to my cheek, his thumb smoothing over my skin. Just like last night, the world fades away, and for a second, I don't care what anyone thinks. He could kiss me in front of everyone, and that would silence all of them.
"I wanted to," he says softly. He has the same look in his eyes, too, and I would be perfectly okay if he kissed me right now. He leans forward, and his nose touches mine when someone abruptly lays on their horn, causing Jack and me to separate, and we're thrown back into the real world.
"Get a room!" Laughter erupts from the vehicle, and my face burns. He was going to kiss me. Just now. And last night. And he said he liked me. Twice within twenty-four hours. I had to admit that I wanted him too and that Jessica can go find someone else to keep her busy. He's asking me out, not her. She didn't own him; Jack wasn't hers. I look up at him, and he's watching the vehicle as it parks and people get out.
"Jack," he looks at me quickly, eyes softening and pupils dilating. "I... I'd like to go out with you again." His eyes widen, but then he grins.
"Really?" I nod and gasp as he suddenly envelops me in an embrace, my face buried into his shoulder. The scent of his clothes engulfs me, and I breathe it in, relaxing me.
"Okay, give me a few days. I want to plan something," Jack says excitedly. I smile.
"Okay," he grins and picks up my hand, kissing my knuckles.
"Let me walk you to class," my eyes widen with surprise as he takes my hand, entwining our fingers. He looks back at me, and I just smile at him. I feel safe and warm with him. As we walk into the school, everyone is watching us, and I want to be buried alive. Their stares are judgemental and curious. Jack squeezes my hand reassuringly, and as we approach my locker, I let him go. He follows me and watches as I spin my combination. I can still feel everyone watching us, and I shift from foot to foot as I keep putting in my combination wrong.
"Don't you guys have anything better to do?" Jack suddenly snaps, and I look up at him as he glares at the people who won't stop staring. I hadn't ever heard him get angry like that. He's always so cheerful. Once everyone goes about their own business, he looks at me and smiles. I give him a grateful smile before trying my combination again, finally getting it right.
I exchange a few items I need for my first class, and once I'm done, Jack is holding his hand out to me, a happy smile on his face. I take it, and he squeezes mine reassuringly. Once we arrive outside my class, he kisses my knuckles.
"I'll see you later," he sends me a wink, and my face burns before I head into class and take my seat. I can see people looking at their phones and whispering, their eyes looking at me and then back at their phones. I take a deep breath as the bell rings and try to focus on the lecture.
It's unnerving, having people talk about you. While it's just rumors and gossip, it's still unsettling. And I'm not used to being the center of conversation, much less being gossiped about. It isn't until I'm being called a whore does it finally have an effect on me. I'm at my locker before lunch when I hear it.
"She lets on that she's just so innocent, but really, she's a shallow whore." The girls burst out laughing, and I look over my shoulder at them to see them looking at one of their phones. When they see me looking at them, they roll their eyes and head off on their way. I swallow the ball in my throat and am suddenly not hungry anymore.
I head to the library, needing an escape when Jessica suddenly comes around the corner and shoves me against the lockers.
"You fucking bitch," she snaps.
"Leave me alone, Jessica," I go to leave when she pushes me again, causing me to drop my book. I bend over to pick it up when she grabs my hair and shoves me to the floor, causing me to hit my lip on the hard tile. I cry out in pain as it begins to throb. I touch it, and my fingers return with blood. Jessica laughs.
"God, you're so pathetic. Go call Jack to save you, whore." Tears well up in my eyes as I grab my book and run off to the bathroom. Once I get inside, I let out the sob I was holding in and grab a paper towel, wetting it, and gently dabbing the blood away on my lip. I didn't even do anything wrong other than like a guy, and he likes me back. It isn't my fault that he didn't want anything to do with Jessica. I take a shuttering breath and wince at my lip as it's now swollen. I splash cold water on my face and try to hide my swollen lip in my mouth. I still had the rest of the day, and I didn't want anyone looking at me any more than they already were.
I exit the bathroom and look around, grateful I don't see Jessica. I'm about to head to the library when I see Jack pacing outside the entrance, looking around. He suddenly stops and looks in my direction, when he sees me, he smiles and walks towards me. I quickly look down and make sure my lip is tucked in my mouth.
"There you are, I was-" he suddenly stops short as he approaches. He lifts my chin, and his nostrils are flared, eyes dilated, and a possessive look is in his eyes. He tugs on the skin below my lip, and I wince as my swollen lip is released. I hear a low growl, but before I can question it, Jack speaks.
"What happened?" He asks, voice hard.
"I... I tripped," I mumble.
"Riley," he says, and I avoid his gaze. His hand suddenly cups my chin, and I'm forced to look into his eyes. "What happened?" My eyes can't help but fill with tears, and I try my best to suppress them, but I start to breathe harder as I fight my emotions. Worry fills his eyes, and he wraps me in a tight embrace as I cry softly into his shoulder. He runs his hand over the back of my head, and I fight myself to calm down. His scent engulfs me, fresh laundry and peppermint, and I breathe it in, hoping it'll ease my pain. Jack pulls away, wiping my tears away as I hiccup before he takes my hand, leading me out of the school.
"Where are we going?" I ask between my breaths of air. He doesn't answer as he leads me to his bike. "Jack, we can't leave."
"I think you've earned a get out of school early card," he says kindly as he places the helmet carefully over my head, fastening the clasp under my chin gently. I don't fight too much on the issue because I honestly didn't want to be here anymore. He straddles the bike and helps me get on. He starts the motorcycle, the engine roaring to life, and then we're driving out of the parking lot. I close my eyes and rest my head against his back, arms wrapped tightly around him. I don't care where we go, as long as I get to go with him.