A/N: Alright here is the next chapter. I'm not going to ramble on and on, after how long I made you guys wait. Hope you guys enjoy.
Chapter 28
*Jessica's POV*
*FDC SEATAC*
*1 Week later*
I heard the door alarm go off and turned to see Twitch walk into the room with his police escort. I began to tremble the closer he got to our table. I couldn't remember how long ago it was since I had been here. Wesley had begun to monopolize my time, but that's not an excuse.
"Hey beautiful," he said sitting down across from me and taking my hand in his laying a kiss on it while eyeing the guard carefully.
"Hey," I said back. "How have you been?"
"Living, as well as I could hope." He said. I noticed a mark above his left eye.
"And, fighting your way through the rest?" I said carefully touching it.
"Oh that, yeah that was a few weeks ago, and not so good of a day," he said with a laugh. "How have you been?" He obviously had no intention on answering my question.
I nodded my head and smiled. "I've been okay." I said. "This last couple of weeks have been interesting."
"Why is that?" He asked.
I shrugged. "Carly has been on and on about how Sam is hiding something, and wanting to find out what it is. All because she caught her in a tiny lie," I said. "Now she's trying to find any excuse to stay after school with Sam, but doesn't want to follow her because she promised Sam she would leave it alone. I swear she's like a modern day Lucy Ricardo." I said with a slight laugh, before it disappeared as Twitch rubbed my hand.
"Hm, well do you think Sam is hiding something?" He asked.
"Oh I know she is. She has been since last semester. I don't care what she says nobody can have that many detentions, without having some serious repercussions behind it." I said honestly. "At the same time, if she is keeping something from us it just means she's not ready to talk about it yet."
He nodded. "You know you and Sam have that in common. You either hide it or just tap dance around an issue when you're not ready to acknowledge something." He said. My heart dropped as he talked. I prayed to God that the gulp that had just happened wasn't visible. "Kind of like you're doing now."
I couldn't even manage to look him in the eye. "I don't know what you're talking about." I tried to say as cool as possible.
"Come on Jess, I haven't seen you in almost two months. Something was all of a sudden always coming up, and now here you are and you're talking about Sam and Carly." He said.
"That doesn't mean I'm avoiding a subject." I said back.
"No, but me knowing that when you usually come and visit it's a bunch of I miss you's and I love you talk does. You've been here for ten minutes and nothing of that nature has come out." He said. "I've been rubbing your hand and not one smile has graced your lips. Not to mention you haven't stopped starring into the world of nothingness."
I sat there in silence. I couldn't get anything pass him. I don't know why I even try.
"Jessica talk to me. What's wrong?" He asked.
"I just feel guilty, that's all." I said back pulling my hand away and crossing my arms.
"Why do you need to feel guilty Jess?" He asked.
"It's just like you said. I haven't been here in almost two months, because, I have been spending my time on other things instead of being up here to see you." I answered back.
"More like spending time with someone new…" He said with a warm smile. My heart completely stop beating. "What's his name?" He asked.
I sighed, wanting to be able to say that there was no one else, but that would be a lie. "His name is Wesley, he's Sam's ex Freddie's best friend." I answered honestly.
He nodded his head. "He wouldn't happen to be the DJ right? The one who spent three hours teaching you how to mix back in October?" He recalled.
I nodded my head with a smile. "Yeah, that's him." I said.
"What's he like?" He asked.
I felt myself perk up as I thought about him. "First off, he's black, which is something really new for me, but I forget about it all the time. He comes off so confident when you first meet him, but when you get pass all the barriers, he's like this ball of emotion and it's in a good way. He's so smart and funny. A great listener, I remember this one night I got into it really bad with my dad and I went to his house, I vented for almost four hours and he didn't say a word. I thought he was just being the typical male and not listening, but when I finished he gave me the most sound carefully thought out advice I had ever heard from anyone. He's athletic, on the thicker side, but its all muscle." I said before smiling at the face that had just popped into my head.
"He has the hugest heart and loves his mama. And, not in the crazy mama's boy way; like wanting to take care of her, and his father too. The first thing he wants to do when he makes it big is pay off his parents' house completely. He said that he never wants them to have to worry about paying for anything ever again. That it was the least he could do because everything they had sacrificed for him. He's so passionate about everything he puts his mind into, like his music. When he talks about his music it's like he's taking you on an adventure. It's like that when he even talks about the stuff he hates. I don't know; it's just when we're together I just don't feel so… alone anymore." I said before I even remembered who I was talking to. I looked up at Twitch his expression was confusing.
"I'm sorry Twitch. I just, I needed something to help me through this…" I started, but he cut me off.
"Jessica, there's a reason why I broke up with you when I got sentenced. I want you to live and not feel guilty about it. I want you to be okay and taken care of, and I can't make sure that happens while I'm in here." He said.
"We were supposed to be end game though." I said. "No matter what happened it was supposed to be us." I took his hand back into mine.
"Yeah, it was, but sometimes life gets in the way. It changes things whether it's temporary or permanent." He said back. "That's why you have to live it to the fullest and enjoy the ride."
I shook my head. "I don't want to just use him while you're in here Richard." I said pulling out his government name. I only use it when I feel the situation is starting to get intense.
"You're not using him. And, you're a fool if you think you are." He said back. "You're in love with him Jessica.
I felt my heart beat slow down. I just realized everything I had just said, in the one question he had asked me, and the fact that I only stopped when I realized I was talking to Twitch about the newest guy in my life.
"No, I can't be… I love you." I said.
"Yeah, you do, but not the way you love him." He said. "And, that's okay."
"No, it's not. You, you know me better than anyone else. You understand me better than anyone else. You've seen me at my lowest and picked me up to my highest." I said.
"And, that was what you needed at the time, but Jessica there was a time when I wasn't there for you. There was a time when I based our whole relationship off of someone else's point of view. I have broken you just as much as I have fixed you." He said.
"That's what a relationship is Richard, it's seeing each other and loving each other beyond those moments." I said.
"It is, but that's not what we were. If I wouldn't have saved you from that asshole you were with, would it have been us?" He asked me.
"Well, no, but that's because I was shallow, and couldn't see pass the surface." I answered honestly.
"Exactly, and maybe that's why I was brought into your life. So, you can learn to see pass the exterior so you can see him for everything he is." He said. "You love him Jessica, it's all over you. Even in the way your eyes light up at the mention of his name. You should be with him."
"Why are you so willing to let us go that easily?" I asked.
"I'm not it hurts like hell to know that you feel the way you felt about me for another, but at the same time when you love someone you got to let them go." He said lifting my hand up and kissing it. I was crying by this point I didn't understand how this had happen in a span of a year. One minute we were floating on cloud nine, now I was being ushered into the arms of another.
"I feel as if everything we had wasn't real to you." I said.
"Jessica, it was more than real to me. I love you and I always will. We had a real life fairy tale, but not all fairy tales are meant to last. We enjoyed it. We had fun and we had love, but maybe it was so we can know how to love when the person we were meant to be with came along." He said. "There are no accidents in this world Jessica."
"I love you Richard." I said with tears in my eyes knowing that we were coming to an end.
"I love you too, I always will." He repeated. "And, if I'm lucky enough that you are ever single again when I get out of here. I will welcome the chance to be with you again with open arms." He said. I nodded. "Just don't stop living because you're co-dependent on me. I can't carry you anymore Jessica. You got to stand up by yourself now."
I nodded my head. We stood up and I gave him a quick hug before his escort told us no touching. Time was up anyways.
I watched as he began to walk towards the door. "Hey promise me one thing." He said. I nodded my head. "Bring him up here one day, after the smoke clears and everything between you two is squared away. I would love to meet him." He said.
I laughed before nodding my head. He nodded back, and walked through the door. I sat there for a few more seconds to try to collect my thoughts before preparing for the hour drive back home.
When I reached my house I turned my car off and just sat there. My tears started forming as the highlights of me and Twitch's conversation took precedence in my thoughts. I didn't know how I was supposed to feel, but one thing was for sure me and Twitch were over for good. It hurt that I loved him so much for it to end here, but at the same time I felt relieved. I was no longer guilty for feeling something for Wes.
I knew the truth now. Though Richard would always have a special place in my heart, it didn't belong to him anymore. It hadn't for months now. I had fallen in love with Wes despite my willingness to hold on to Twitch for my life. Slowly a smile crept up on my face. My tears that were meant to for sadness, turned into tears of joy. I was free. I was free to love him and be with him, without feeling like I was betraying Twitch.
I ran inside the house past my dad and stepmother, and straight into my room. I took out my phone and called Wes. After about four rings it went to voicemail. I tried a few more times as I ran down his schedule in my head. He didn't have anything major planned that would keep him from his phone that I knew of.
When he still didn't pick up I called his mom. "Hi Mrs. Cheryl, its Jessica… I'm fine, how about you?.. That's good. Um, I'm sorry to be calling, but I can't seem to get a hold of Wesley is home?" I asked in my sweetest manner. Wesley had given me his mom's number just in case anything ever happened when we were together. Never thought I would be using it though. "Oh okay, well do you know what time he will be back… No that's fine; just tell him I called… Thank you ma'am… Yes, I'll see you soon too." I said.
"Fuck," I said out loud. Wes had gone with his dad to pick up something from his grandparents house, and wouldn't be back until late tonight. That still didn't answer the question of why he wasn't picking up his phone. I laid down on my bed, and thought to the near future. I was just going to have to tell him tomorrow when we got to school.
The problem was when would we have the time to talk alone. On that note I dosed off with a smile on my face thinking about the new man in my life, and ready to start this next chapter; that is if he will still have me.
*The Next Day*
I anxiously waited as the day was slowly going by. I had at least six missed phone calls and three text messages from Wes last night. The good thing was that meant he wasn't ignoring me because of the Twitch debacle. When I got to school this morning Wes wasn't here, but Freddie informed me that he ended up staying at his grandparents' house because he and his dad were too tired to drive back, and he should be here by lunch.
Now I was just anxiously waiting for lunch time to come around. However, the closer time grew the more nervous I got. I didn't know what I was going to say, or how for that matter.
The lunch bell rang, and I took a huge breath before making the long walk towards the cafeteria. Every step I took felt like an eternity it had gotten to the point where I was pretty sure my legs would give out at anytime.
I finally made it to the cafeteria pushing the door open and into the sea of students. I quickly eyed my friends all sitting at my table. 'How fucking long did it take for me to make it down that hallway anyways?' I thought as they were all sitting down with their lunches already. Suddenly Sam mouthed my name and nodded her head towards me. Everyone turned around including Wes.
All of a sudden everything around me started moving in slow motion as all my focus landed on him. He sent me a smile and I smiled back. I felt like I didn't have to worry about what I was going to say because he already knew.
I picked up my pace and my way towards our usual table. Everyone started greeting me and making room for me, but I didn't have time for all that just yet. I reached out to grab Wesley's hand and take him somewhere more private, but I completely shocked myself.
"Hey Jess," He said standing up to take my hand. "I tried to call you back last night…" He started, but didn't get to finish because before I knew it my lips was on his in front of everyone in the cafeteria. I knew it must have shocked him because it took a few seconds for him to kiss back.
When we pulled apart our friends were starring at us mouths wide open, but I honestly didn't care anymore. "I was wrong Wes. I told you that I couldn't be with you because I wasn't ready and I wasn't, but not because I don't see us in that way. You scare the shit out of me, because I thought I would never be able to feel the way about someone else like I felt for Twitch. And, I feel more for you than I ever felt for him." I said causing everyone in the cafeteria to all of a sudden go numb with silence.
"Truth is I am head over heels in love with you. Everything about you, the great things and even the annoying shit drives me crazy. I just didn't know how to accept that because I felt like loving someone else was a betrayal to Twitch because of all we've been through together. But, now I see that although I did love Twitch he ended up being a crutch for me to lean on, somewhere to play it safe, so when you came along that's what I did. I used Twitch to keep you at arms length and I'm sorry for hurting you like that. I just hope you can forgive me and feel the same way because it's been too late Wesley. I am completely one hundred percent in love…" I started but I didn't get to finish because Wesley had pulled me back into him and his lips came crashing down on mine.
The cafeteria filled with hooting and hollering. We finally pulled apart, and he rested his forehead on mine. "I love you too Legs." He said before kissing me again. We soaked in each other for a few more minutes before someone cleared their throat. We turned to see all of our friends still starring at us.
"Um, guys we've been meaning to tell you something." I said with a slight laugh, as Wesley snaked his arms around my waist and rested his head on my shoulder.
"I told you guys." Sam said. "Pay up people." She held her hand out to collect money as all of our friends rolled their eyes and began to reach in their pockets and purses.
"Bullshit Puckett," Gibby said. "You said they would tell us on Valentine's Day not before."
My mouth dropped open at the realization of what was going on. "No, Freddie said they would tell us on Valentine's Day." She said pointing at Freddie who was counting out his money to give to Sam. "I took it a step further and said that they couldn't hold out until then, so pay up Gibson, or should I say Mr. 'Bet Fifty There's Nothing Going On Between Them."
Gibby rolled his eyes and slammed the money in Sam's hand with silent curses.
"Wait a damn minute you guys have known something was going on this whole time." I asked moving Wesley's arms from around and sitting at the table finally.
"I mean you guys weren't exactly subtle." Wendy said with a shrug.
"Yeah, I mean none of us had solid proof, but we all suspected it." Brad said with his mouthful. "That is all of us except Gibby."
"And, we're so happy for you two." Carly said clapping her hands together.
"Yeah, now that we actually see it in our faces you guys are so adorable together." Tasha added in from Gibby's lap. Me and Wesley looked at each other and smiled. I mean I shouldn't be surprised after all we went from not hanging out one on one to doing it all the time within a few weeks.
"I got it we should all do something tomorrow for Valentine's Day and celebrate them getting together." Tasha said clapping her hands. I shook my head before laying it on Wesley's shoulder as our friends went on and on. I looked up and mouthed I love you before kissing him again.
This last semester was going to be sweet.
*Sam's POV*
*Later that Afternoon*
"Hey, great run through today guys." Dakota said as we all packed up our stuff after voice lessons that week. "Remember I am going to be out of town next week, so no need to show up at this room, because you all will be all alone and not thought about."
We shook our heads at Dakota. His wedding anniversary is next week so he was taking his wife on a second honeymoon.
"Oh you love us." I said. "And, just so you don't forget that I'm going to call you every day." I batted my eyes towards Dakota, who simply sent me a death glare.
"And, I will throw my phone into the Pacific Ocean." He said before walking out the door. He quickly walked back into the room. "I almost forgot have a good Valentine's Day. Be safe or be sorry." He finished pointing at all of us in the room before leaving for good.
Blah Valentine's Day, I wish people would just stop reminding me about that horrid day. I thought as I waved bye to the boys as they left. I finished putting my guitar away and turned towards my stand to get my sheet music. I looked up to see that Pete was still in the room.
"What are you doing here still?" I asked as I put my sheet music back in order before placing it in its folder. Ever since the first initial conversation last week we continued to have them.
"Eh, life is boring right now." He said pushing off the wall and walking towards me. "You did good today." He commented back bringing up a chair close to my stand and sitting in it backwards. He obviously wanted to chat, so I took a load off and sat on the desk table that held my guitar.
"Thanks… so did you." I said back.
He nodded appreciative. "So, tomorrow is Valentine's Day who are you 'being safe' with?" He asked mimicking Dakota's warning to us.
I threw my head back and laughed. "You have to have a prospect in order to even have to think about being safe. I don't." I said with a smart ass smile.
"Sure you do what about that Chris Daughtry cover boy? You said it wasn't over right?" He said referring to when I realized my feelings for Freddie were still very much alive.
"It's… complicated." I said for lack of a better word.
"Meaning there's another woman involved." He said with a knowing look.
I shrugged. "I mean we broke up, so he has the right to be with someone else." I said honestly. Truth be told it was hard to be with my friends, all of them paired up and making plans. While I was hoping that they didn't mention me in any of it.
"While you get to sit at home watching movies and eating your life away," He commented back.
"You say that as if it's a bad thing. I actually prefer it." I said.
"Yeah, maybe every now and then, but you don't seem like the type who chooses to do that shit every weekend." He said moving the stand in between us and scooting closer to me. He obviously had something up his sleeves.
"And, what do you suggest?" I asked.
"I'm just saying he moved on, why can't you?" He asked straight out.
"Because, I don't want to move on," I said back.
"Well, that doesn't mean you can't keep male company." He said.
"Male company like a fuck buddy, because I gave up on those last year." I answered with a scoff.
"Who said anything about fucking?" He asked. "I'm simply suggesting a guy friend to hang out with until things with your ex become less complicated." He said.
"Uh huh, and who would you suggest for this friend?" I asked knowing where he was going with this.
"I mean you're a single girl looking to have fun. I'm a single guy looking to have fun." He said causing me to laugh.
"I'm bad news Pete." I said referring to everything in past that Pete and the other fellas didn't know about me.
"I'm not exactly good news." He said back.
I looked Pete up and down. I started with his short blonde hair, his hazel eyes, his chiseled jaw line, and worked my way down to his body. His muscle weren't nearly as big as Freddie's, but weren't lacking in that area too. I knew he stood at 6'2, and from the way he dressed clearly came from money. He was after all a top student from the academy Dakota taught at.
I would be lying if I said that he wasn't attractive, but either way I clearly wasn't over Freddie, and I really didn't feel like being the bitch that played with someone else's emotions. I open my mouth to answer, but he dropped a flyer in my lap.
"What's this?" I asked instantly picking up the thick card and reading it. "The Viper Club," I said skeptically wondering what a guy like him would have anything that consisted of the remotely punkish dark night club that I often used to hang out with Jess and the old gang at.
"Yeah, my band has a standing gig there once a month and we happen to be playing there tomorrow." He said. "I would like you to come check us out. Many thoughts crossed my mind. One being what kind of band he has. And, how the hell did they manage to get a standing gig at a 21 and over club. However, I decided not to get into that and focus on the question at hand.
"Like a date," I finally said back. "Because I don't think I'm ready to go on a date."
"Will you just slow down little red corvette." He said with a laugh. "You called it a date not me. I said nothing about this being a date. I said that since you don't have shit else to do tomorrow night you should come check it out." He said. "No pressure, just a suggestion."
I eyed him carefully. He obviously was working some kind of angle, and this certainly sounded like a date in my book.
"How do you know I can even get in?" I said.
He shot me a dumbfounded look. "First, you didn't trip about the place being 21 and up. Next, from the tiny smile that you made when you said Viper Club lets me know that you've been there before and made a kick ass memory. Lastly, you have fake id written all over you." He said standing up and throwing his guitar over his shoulder.
"So, what do you say?" He asked.
I looked at him for a minute, before shaking my head. "I'll think about it." I said back.
He nodded. "Cool, check you tomorrow Blondie… Hopefully." He finished heading towards the door. I stood up and prepared to follow right behind him. He stopped in the doorway and turned around to face me. "Oh by the way, tomorrow is Valentines Day, so wear something… for lack of better word sexy." He said shooting me a cocky grin and a wink.
"Screw you Pete," I said with a laugh pushing by him and making my way out the door.
A/N: Alright little fun fact about me. It took me forever to write this chapter because of Twitch and Jessica's story line. Trying to put myself in that type of mindset from two points of views is rough, but at the same time they are my favorite moments to write because of the emotion behind it. Is that weird? lol Til next time.
