Don't forget to vote and comment!

(If you don't, you'll step on a lego)

Follow me to become a member of #TEAMBLOSSOMS!

As soon as I get home, I unscrew my last bottle of Fiji water and down myself in the drink. I spread myself out on my bed, the bottle hanging out of my hands, my phone dangling precariously on the couch's arm.

It's blowing up with texts from Astrix, and before I can tap back a reply, there are about a dozen messages in my inbox.

Where are you??

Why didn't you come to lunch??

WHY DIDN'T YOU SAVE ME A TACO!

How could you do this to me? You know how much taco's mean to me!

ANSWER YOUR PHONE!

Where did you go?

aahjhgylskaiikylssfvjk

I laugh despite myself and set the Fiji water bottle down on the coffee table.

Astrix, calm down. I went home...I'll explain everything later.

A few seconds later I get a reply.

You'd better! And it should be a good excuse....Depriving me of my taco's and all....

I smile for the first time all day and then promptly bury myself in my pillow. This feels nice. Being in a state of peacefulness. Losing myself in the quiet of my apartment, slowly slipping into some form of a stupor...

I can forget about Jack. I can forget about Paige. Even Astrix...And Noah...

All I need now is a bowl of rocky road ice cream and I can brainwash myself into forgetting the past few weeks ever happened...

Unfortunately, the world doesn't work that way. And as the ding resonating from my phone points out....I am no exception to life. 

I pull myself up to a seating position and flip my phone around, fully expecting to see Astrix's name pop up on the screen. To my immense surprise, it's Jack.

I didn't think he'd want to speak to me after our episode at the school parking lot. I would have thought he'd avoid me...Stay away from me...Try to forget me...

But apparently not.

I open up my messages and my eyes quickly scan the screen, reading the text.

You didn't drive over to Noah's, did you? You're up in your apartment. What's really going on?

A gasp catches in my throat and I straighten up, walking over to my small window and pulling back the curtains to look out into the road below. I easily spot Jack's sleek, red car and tug my eyebrows together.

He followed me home?

Why does that make me happy? I should be totally freaked out...

You are insane!

I get that a lot. Now are you going to let me up so we can talk about what's happening?

I press my lips together and tap my fingers on the window sill. I want to let him up, I really do. I want to be near him, smell that minty scent I've grown to associate with Jack, and let him help me.

But then I think of Paige, and Delilah, and Mr. Travels and I remember I need to lead with my head, not my heart.

Being with him has HUGE costs. I could lose everything, and get us both in trouble. At the same time, I think it's best to let him up and have a proper conversation with him. He already knows I came here alone, he was watching me, wasn't he?

I let a sigh escape my lips and press the buzzer next to my door to give him access to the stairs. A few moments later, I hear him shuffling down the hall outside. I pull open my door and lean against the frame, looking at him with a raised eyebrow.

He copies my expression, crossing his arms in front of him.

"Noah isn't in there with you, is he?"

I shake my head and my weight sags. He smirks.

"You know...I sorta thought so."

I purse my lips and snap my hairband against my wrist. "How did you figure that?"

"Well...You came up here alone. I didn't see you pick anyone up on the way back...Not that hard to figure out. You're hiding something."

I step away from the door to let him in and then close it firmly behind him. He drops himself out on the usual seat he takes whenever he came over for court talks. The same seat he sat on when he kissed me...

I push that thought out of my head and choose another seat. He clasps his hands in front of him and leans forward, looking me square in the eyes.

I fidget and my face goes red; immediately I avert my gaze and look around all corners of the room, anywhere but those eyes. 

As per usual, he chews on spearmint gum, but that only adds to his stern, tense and calculating demeanor.

He snaps his fingers in front of my face and forces me to meet his eyes. He rests his chin on his fists and slowly blinks.

"What's going on? If this is your way to tell me you're not interested-"

"No!" I blurt out, and he pauses, waiting for me to go on. I clear my throat and start again. Why is it so hard to talk to him? He's just Jack! Just the Jackass! Why is it all so different now?

"It's just...Something happened that made me realize there can't be an 'us.' "

He goads me on. "And what exactly would that be?"

I sigh. What am I going to say? What should I say?

I bite my bottom lip and look up at him. His eyes strip me bare and make me want to tell him more. They make me instantly put down my defenses, release my hold on the lies and just tell him the truth.

God damn...What's his super power? 

"Paige knows everything." I say, waiting for a reaction.

"She knows the reason you come over, and all about Delilah and all about me and...She told me to stay away from you unless I wanted the news broadcast all over school."

Jack's jaw drops and a crease forms in between his eyes. He looks at me patronizingly before surprising me with a rib-crushing hug.

"Why didn't you tell me!?"

I hesitantly pull away and am torn between crying and smiling at the support.

"Because...Well...Because."

He rolls his eyes. "You can tell me anything. If she wants you to stay away from me, then sure. We can do that. At school. We could stage out a fight in front of her or something to convince her that we're through...In reality, we'll be on great terms."

I smile. "Do you think that would work? I mean...If she finds out that it's a lie, she'll expose me!"

Jack smirks and wraps his arm around my shoulders.

"That won't happen. I won't let it happen. Trust me, I can be a very convincing actor."

I smile and turn to give him a hug. He looks surprised for a moment, before reciprocating, lightly brushing his lips against my jaw before retracting and getting ready to go.

This better work.