Chapter 13 – the guy I love

"Warren?" The guy turned around and Jean was so delighted to see him. "Oh… Jean," the blonde opulent looking guy greeted.

Scott

"Warren?" there was delight in Jean's voice. The guy turned around. He looked reputable, a highly regarded person which every girl would rather be with. "Oh… Jean," his voice greeted her with a hint that he wanted to evade her. Who is this guy?

"Hey! What are you doing here?" there was a glint in Jean's eyes. "Vacation," Warren plainly replied. "Oh… I didn't know that your family stays here in Mississippi," she pondered. Warren just smiled at her. "So, how you've been? Why didn't you call that you would spend your holiday here? I could have bought you something and…" "Hey! Honey!" a girl with purple dyed hair put her arms around Warren's waist. "Oh… honey, I want you to meet Jean; she's an old friend. And that's her friend…" "Scott," Scott introduced himself and nodded. "Guys, this is Rhisty. Umm… well, we have to go now. Merry Christmas!" he put his arms around the girl and walked away.

Scott

"Hey! What are you doing here?" Jean conversed blissfully with Warren. I think she had forgotten about me being there with her. She didn't even introduce me. "Hey! Honey!" a girl with purple dyed hair put her arms around Warren's waist. Jean's expression changed. She became gloomy and her smile reduced to a little smirk. I think she was hurt. Maybe that jerk is somehow her boyfriend or something.

Jean just stood with lifeless expression, while people rushed here and there in the mall. "Jean, let's go," Scott gently put his hand on her shoulders. "Let's have some coffee," she offered him a weak smile. "Okay," he replied. Scott ordered a cold cappuccino while Jean had a cup of hot cappuccino. Jean sat quietly, starring blankly on the table, sipping some coffee every few seconds. Scott tried to open up a conversation with her, but to his dismay, Jean didn't cooperate. She would just respond a word and sip her coffee again. "I'll go get something, I'll be back immediately," he stood up from his seat. Jean just nodded without even looking at him.

After a few minutes, Scott returned to the coffee shop. Jean didn't even move a bit, her hand still grip the cup, her eyes stared into nothing. She remained motionless…lifeless. "Jean, let's go. We have to go back," Scott took the shopping bags and waited for Jean to stand up. She just followed, without saying a word.

Scott drove silently. He peeked at Jean with the corner of his eye. Scott saw a tear escaped from her emerald eye. She tersely wiped it with the back of her palm. "Here," Scott handed Jean his handkerchief. She looked at him. "I don't want to see you cry," he said in a soft voice.

"Hum?"

"What I meant was…umm… I don't want my parents to see you cry! I don't want them to blame me!" Scott quickly covered up.

Jean took his handkerchief. "Want to talk about it?" Scott suggested. "No need. I'm alright. Thank you," Jean offered him a weak smile. She sat quietly and scrutinized the cars passing them.

"Mom! We're home!" Scott declared as he and Jean entered the house. "Hey, where have you been?" his mother curiously asked. "Umm… I just took Jean for a drive," he kept his mother's attention to him as Jean sneaked their 'gifts' to his room.

Jean never left the room. She laid on the bed, crying, "I waited for you," she spoke to herself. There was a knock on the door. Jean sat up and wiped her tears, "come in!"

Scott

I heard sobs in my room. I know Jean is crying. I knocked on the door without even thinking what to tell her. Stupid move!

Scott's head peeked inside the room. "It's just you!" Jean flopped back on the bed. "I thought your mom would check on me," she added. "Why? You're disappointed to see me? You thought I was your jerk boyfriend Warren!" Scott sat on the edge of his bed. "Scott, I'm not in the mood," she sighed. "You're still crying?" it was more of a statement rather than a question. Jean ignored him and stared blankly at the ceiling. Scott tickled her at the waist. "Stop it," Jean shoved his hands. "You already look ugly, cry and you'll look more hideous," he continued tickling her. "Shut up! Don't insult me!" Jean giggled. "Stop it! Please," she lightened up. Scott stopped, "there, you're smiling!" he pinched Jean's cheeks. "Ouch," she rubbed the part where Scott had pinched her. Jean suddenly hit Scott with a pillow. He fought back. Soon, they were both having a pillow fight. Scott was about to hit Jean, "I give up!" she surrendered. He paused and Jean has taken her advantage. She immediately hit him on the face. "Haha! I can't believe you fell for that! You're pathetic, Scott!" she imitated him. "I can't believe it! You are unfair!" Scott dove and pushed her down against the bed. Scott on top of Jean their faces inches away from each other. Neither of them moved, eyes stared at each other, both felt the fast pounding of each others heart. Scott gulped, 'here goes', he moved, closing the gap between them. Jean's faced flushed, her heart pounded but moving away from Scott didn't even occurred in her mind. Scott's lips barely touched hers, "Jean! You're parents are here!" Mrs. Summers banged on the door. Scott was startled and immediately backed away from Jean. He hit his head on the side table as he fell down the floor. Jean sat up straight. Scott's mother opened the door. "Geez! You startled me!" Scott rubbed the lump on his head. "Sorry, did I disturb you?" his mother looked at them both. Jean and Scott glanced with each other, both reddened. "No!" they replied in chorus. "Umm…Thanks, Mrs. Summers! I'll go now and meet up with my parents!" Jean hastily wore her sandals and exited the room.