For all of you who thought Jackson/Holt needed a little love...hehe please enjoy! 3
His uncle walks in and sits down on the bottom of the bed. He watched as Jackson didn't move. "Do you want to talk about it?" he asked softly as Jackson shook his head.
"That's fine…I will talk then." He took a breath, "I know break ups are hard…but there are plenty of ghouls…or girls…out there for you. There are also many nice people out there as well…you just got to find them." He watched Jackson through the corner of his eye, "you may think this is the end of the world…but it will get better, life can never stay bad."
"How do you know that?" Jackson said snapping at his uncle who smiled sadly at him.
"Because I been through life as a teenager as well…no I didn't go through what you are, but I have a good enough understanding."
Jackson made a noise and stared at the painting Holt painted a while back, "Why did it have to be my life?"
"Why did it have to be my family?" His uncle asked making Jackson look at him confused. "It isn't just you, it pains me to know you are hurting…it kills me to see you go through life without your father…and a little without your mother… but life works in strange ways. It makes you learn from the past or make the same mistakes twice. It's okay whatever the future holds, you will always have us. I might not be your father…I will never replace him…but I love you very much."
Jackson hid his face in his knees not really wanting to talk anymore, but his uncle still sat there watching him. "You are a smart kid, you know that right?"
Jackson made a noise making his uncle laugh, "You should know that…I mean you want to be a scientist."
"I wanted to be a rock star when I was thirteen." He mumbled out making his uncle laugh more.
"How did that work out?"
"My parents refused to buy me a guitar…and it would be hard to make music when I can't listen to it."
"So I guess being a scientist was your second choice?" He chuckled out as Jackson groaned at his uncle. It made him feel slightly better that his uncle was trying so hard to make him smile.
"It never was a choice…as far as I could remember I was always doing something with science. Whether it was my board games, to inspecting insects with microscopes to see their cells, there was always some learning involved." Jackson said smiling, "I blame my mother."
"I blame her too." His uncle said, "She raised you right."
Jackson rolled his eyes, stretching out his legs, "I don't think she did."
"What makes you say that?"
Not answering right away he pulled his legs back up to his chest as he rubbed his wrist, "I am a failure at life."
His uncle grabbed Jackson's hands to keep him from bruising his wrist farther, "Jackson you are not a failure. What would make you say that?"
"Because everything I touch…everything I do…I ruin it." He mumbled trying to get out of his uncles grip.
"What makes you say that?" He asked, but before Jackson can answer he says, "Because I see a very intelligent sixteen year old boy, that has been through the depths of hell and back…a strong boy that hasn't give up no matter what life threw at you. Some of it you went through alone…others you had someone, no matter what Jackson you are important, special and strong, just like your father."
Jackson stopped fighting his uncle and tackled him into a hug. He let the tears fall on his uncle's shoulder as he hugged him back. No words were needed as they sat there. Slowly moving out of their hug Jackson stood up, "I am sorry."
"No need to be sorry. Just when you leave take your phone with you or at least tell us that you are leaving." He got up to walk out, "But it is late…maybe you should get some sleep."
"Thank you for everything…" Jackson said as he left. Not knowing what else to do, he got ready for bed…maybe it was better for Holt to sleep as well…So Jackson turned off the lights and let a trouble sleep overcome him.
Two weeks later…
Jackson was nervously waiting for his friends with Heath…they were all going to the normie mall. The monsters had no idea where it really was…so they asked their only normie friend to show them. Deuce tried to talk Cleo out of it…but no one was going to make the princess back down. It also didn't help that Draculaura was also pushing. So here is Jackson being forced to go to a normie mall with his crazy monster friends. It is a good thing that his guy friends were coming…being dragged by their ghoulfriends of course, but it was better than being alone with a bunch of giggling ghouls. Even Frankie was dragging Neightan along…but that was more for the fact that she was still a little mad at Jackson. But he had Heath who was a little frustrated by the whole idea of going to a normie mall.
"I don't understand why you are so jumpy cuz," Heath said leaning on Jackson's car, "I mean it is just the maul."
Jackson sighed and tried not to pace as they waited outside the school, "Mall…" He corrected out of habit as Heath made a noise, "And I have my reasons for being jumpy."
"It's not like we are going to get attacked." Heath stated grumpily.
"A bunch of monsters who are not going to disguise themselves are walking straight into a normie mall…of course no one would notice…I mean you catch on fire…Deuce has snakes for hair…and don't even get me started on Gill and-"
"Alright Alright…calm down! I am sorry I brought it up."
"Sorry Heath…it has been a while since I been around normies." Jackson said leaning against his car with Heath.
"I don't know why you are so scared…you look like a normie."
"Yeah…but that hasn't saved me before." He said looking towards the school as Heath placed his arm around him.
"Come on cuz…it will be just fine! Anyway Bloodgood calmed everyone down from Spectra's post…no need to worry."
"I still don't understand why everyone was flipping out about it." Jackson said still a little pissed that everyone knew about his life.
"It is getting close to Halloween…and then our maul…she just had really bad timing."
Jackson snickered moving out of Heath's grip, "Halloween doesn't make people do crazy things."
Heath gave Jackson a dull look, "Seriously? You never had to deal with crazy normies on Halloween?"
"No…I went trick or treating as a ghost for eight years." Jackson said laughing as Heath stared at him in disbelief, "But there was this one time this guy tried to get me to come in his house…my father knocked him out."
"How were you able to do that?" Heath asked in awe as Jackson looked very confused.
"Your parents didn't take you trick or treating?"
"No…we stayed home and played games. They said it was too dangerous for monsters to go out during Halloween, even if nothing happens."
Jackson looked stunned, "That is why you never came over! I asked over a thousand times and my father kept saying no."
"Well yeah…Halloween has always been a time where monsters just stay home. Then everything goes back to normal the next day."
"Do you know why?" Jackson asked wondering why monsters hid.
"I don't really know…it has always been like that. It is only towns that have monsters living so open and close to them."
"You will always have monster hating normies. No matter where"
"It is just worst around Halloween. Only around towns like ours."
"This is going to be fun then…" Jackson mumbled out as their large group of friends walked towards them laughing.
"We are all ready to go Jackson!" Draculaura yelled out getting into her car. Jackson sighed going to get in his car with Heath, "Let's get this over with, without getting kicked out or worst."
Heath laughed, "Always looking on the Brightside of things."
"Oh shut up," Jackson joked as he pulled out leading the way.
Pulling up to the large building, Jackson got out of his car looking around as normies went on about their day. "Oh wow…I am already enjoying this." Heath yelled flaming up heading over to Deuce. They were already starting to get looks; Jackson looked at the ground as he moved over to the group.
"Now where are the shoe sales?" Cleo demanded as Jackson made a noise.
"Inside Cleo…I am not going to follow you around all day. Anyway Holt needs to get something from the music store…so at any point today I have to let him out."
Cleo glared at him and turned dramictly away with the girls following. Neightan looked a little lost as the guys glared him, "I should maybe go with the ghouls."
"That would be the best idea," Heath growled at him lighting his hand on fire making Neightan rush after the girls.
Jackson laughed, "I can't hate the poor soul. It just feels wrong."
"He took your ghoul dude," Clawd said making a face.
"She chose him over me…anyway Holt won't let me miss her."
"How is that possible?" Heath asked a little scared as Jackson just smiled walking away making the guys follow.
"Jackson? Answer me!"
"Calm down…we just had a super long talk…nothing to worry about."
"It worries me when you act all weird."
"Yeah…" Jackson said turning around to look at his cousin, "But I am still me."
"Yes a weird you," Clawd said as Jackson glared at him.
"Maybe Jackson is right; we shouldn't hate him for Frankie's choice."
"Whoa Gill," Jackson stopped him as he rolled his eyes, "No please hate him…trust me I still do. But unlike Holt I won't knock him out…as much as I want to. It makes me happy to see him a little afraid of me. I hate to admit it, but it does."
"Yeah how could she ever choose a gay guy over you?" Clawd said laughing as Jackson made a face with Heath, "I rather not think of her leaving me for a gay guy."
"Because that just hurts the male ego Jackson doesn't have."
"Hey!" Jackson yelled punching his cousin, "And he is bi-sexual…Deuce and I overheard him telling Frankie. Remember?"
"I try not to…" Heath grumbled as he remembered losing the bet. The guys just laughed as Deuce patted Heath on the head as he walked by. "I really hate you guys."
"And we love you cuz." Jackson teased as he led them to the tables to sit at and talk as the girls shopped.
"Why do girls always have to buy so much stuff?" Clawd asked as he sipped his drink, "I mean, where do they all put it?"
"Maybe their closets are black holes…and that's why it takes them forever to get dress!" Heath suggested as the others rolled their eyes.
"No I don't think my ghoulfriend has a black hole in her closet…trust me I would know." Deuce said leaning back in his chair watching a few normies rush away from him.
The guys just stared at him making him turn back to them, "What? You think I haven't snuck into Cleo's bedroom at night before?" He starts laughing as the others realized their stupidity for their shock, "Wow, dudes…you are all a little slow today."
"Hey some of us don't really have that kind of relationship with someone." Heath complained as Deuce just laughed, "Yeah like almost getting caught by her father while doing something he would not be happy to seeing his little girl doing is never fun. Trust me."
"How many times did that happen?" Clawd asked as Deuce started counting.
"Five…six times I believe."
"Does he like check on her in the middle of the night or something?" Heath asks laughing at how many times Deuce almost became a mummy.
"I am not sure." He said a little uncomfortably.
"Creepy." Was all Gill said looking around as people just stared at him, "But these normies are making me nervous."
"Yeah it is like they never seen monsters before." Clawd said smiling at a girl who smiled back.
"I think it is more of the fact we are so hot!" Heath yelled lighting his hair on fire as a few watching normies screamed.
"Heath!" Jackson yelled standing up throwing water on Heath, "Not the place or time to be showing off!"
"Aw damn it cuz!" Heath yelled sitting down grabbing the napkins as the guys laughed.
"This is why we can't have nice things Heath." Jackson said trying to hide a smile as Heath glared at him.
"I really hate you sometimes."
"It's okay I still like you, promise."
"Now that we have Heath turned off," Deuce said chuckling as Heath wiped the water off, "How did it go with Abbey? Have you asked her out yet?"
Heath looked at the table all the happiness or at the moment anger was replaced with sadness. Jackson patted Heath on the back, "it will be okay…I mean there are others."
Heath started to laugh still looking at the table, "She said yes!"
Jackson jumped back in surprise, "Really that's awesome!"
The guys started to congratulate Heath with a female voice yelled from behind Jackson. "Jackson? Jackson Jekyll? OH My God it is you!"
Jackson turned around just in time to have a girl with long black hair and a blue strip attack him in a hug. Jackson got up looking over this normie girl in complete shock, "Oh Clair? No way!"
"Way!" She screeched hugging Jackson again. She was different then before…her over sized black skull sweater was changed for a close fitting corset looking top complete with buckles and chains. She had a short shirt that matched perfectly with leggings that had one skull at the very bottom. To top off her outfit she had her heeled combat boots on.
"Y-you…umm…look-"
"Oh dude your nerd is showing!" She shouted punching him in the shoulder making Jackson blush. "You haven't changed a bit!" She said looking over Jackson as he rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, "Oh no way! You got your eyebrow pierced? I thought your mother would kill you?" She said laughing as he shifted uncomfortably.
"It is kind of a long funny story about how I got it really."
"Well you will have to tell me!" She said getting close to Jackson as he sunk back a little under her soft green eyes, "You still have your yellow bangs we did three years ago." She noticed moving them out of his eyes.
"Y-yeah…they grew on me." He stammered out backing up a little.
Her hand fell as she smiled at him, "It has been too long…why didn't you call?"
He chewed his lip, "I didn't think you wanted me to bother you."
"Oh come on!" She rolled her eyes punching Jackson again, "We were best of friends you dope! Of course I would have loved for you to bother me!"
Jackson blushed as Clawd wolf whistled getting their attention.
"Oh no way! Monsters! You are seriously friends with monsters?" Clair said excitedly, "I thought you father said you being around them was unsafe?"
"Well…after…you know…my mother and I moved around a lot…nothing really worked so I am going to school with my cousin." He said not looking at his friends at the moment.
Clair gave Jackson an excited look, "The cousin you told me catches things on fire a lot?"
"I don't catch things on fire that much!" Heath shouted a little offended as the glares of his friends made him rethink what he said, "anymore."
Clair giggled, "You must be Heath." She said holding out her hand as Heath got up catching his hair on fire. She yelled and jumped back grabbing the first glass she saw and threw on Heath making his hair go instantly out, "Oh my god he was on fire! WHY WAS HE ON FIRE?"
"Clair it is okay…he is a fire elemental…he won't hurt himself…I told you that forever ago!" Jackson said between laughing. As the others laughed as Heath made an overexerted sigh, "Aw come on!"
"You said he catches things on fire! Not that he himself catches on fire!" She screeched still trying to calm down.
"It's like when I showed you," he said moving to her placing a hand on her shoulder, "Remember?" He lit a small flame in his other hand as she laughed uncomfortably.
"Yeah now I do…but a little more warning would have been nice."
"Dude I don't think you should introduce her to Clawd and me then…I really don't want something thrown at me."
She turned her attention to Deuce and Clawd as they smile warmly at her, "Why is that?"
Jackson handed his flame to Heath so he can fully dry off, "Deuce is a Gorgon, he can turn people into stone…that is why he has the glasses, and Clawd is a werewolf. Trust me he is harmless unless you play against him in sports." Jackson said as he sat down.
She just looked over Clawd and Deuce with interest, "Cool…at least they don't catch randomly on fire…but as long as he keeps his glasses on…I am cool with him." She pulled up a chair to join them. "So what about the fish looking one?"
Gill cringed at her words, "I am a fresh water monster…not a fish."
She looked a little ashamed, "Sorry…I didn't mean-"
"It's okay…most normies aren't used to monsters," He said smiling at her.
She turned her attention back to Jackson, "So why did you think you would bother me if you called?"
Jackson looked at the table, "I just…you know…after everything."
She scooted closer to Jackson and placed a comforting hand on his arm, despite his friend watching, "Hey…You know I didn't-"
"I never blamed you!" He told her looking at her as she sighed in relief.
"But I am still sorry that happened like it did."
"If it wasn't for you I wouldn't be here," He said smiling at her, "I just should have listened to you."
"See we all learn things," She said trying to lighten the air between them as the guys just watched confused.
"What is she talking about?" Heath asked watching Jackson play with his fingers.
"Her father was the one that…well-"
"Attacked and killed his father." She said finishing the sentence for Jackson as the others gasped. They glared at her as she sunk back in the chair leaning closer to Jackson.
"And you still call her a friend?" Heath whispered in a deadly tone making everyone look at him in shock.
"Heath…there is no reason to blame her for what her father did…she saved me from him."
"But it was still her father that took my uncle's life!" He yelled flaming up in anger.
"Calm down!" Jackson yelled standing up to face his cousin, "Please this isn't the place or time…just calm down cuz, I don't blame her or hate her so nether should you!"
"That because you are too nice!" He shouted.
Jackson rolled his eyes, "No…I am understanding and forgiving, when something's aren't in someone's control. Just because her father is a cruel man…it doesn't make her a cruel woman. Anyway she saved me from the group of kids her father sent to have me killed. So I owe her my life in more ways than one." He reasoned with his over emotional cousin who slowly calm down. He sat back down still glaring at her.
"Fine…but this means she is on my list to watch closely." He grumbled as Jackson rolled his eyes.
"I didn't mean to upset everyone." She whispered to herself more than anyone else.
"Hey it's alright," Jackson said making her to look at him, "I just haven't told Heath all of this. He has every right to be mad."
She smiled softly at Heath who just glared, sighing she moved on, "So how long have you been here? I haven't seen you in school."
"Like I said I am going to school with Heath." He smiled as the gears clicked in her head.
"Duh…well I am stupid; you are going to a monster school. So you must have hung out at the monster mall that burned down."
He laughed as Clair gently pushed him, "You are going to New Salem School I take it?"
She made a face, "Sadly…it is so boring! I mean I have Chad as a friend…but even he has other friends and well they don't like me too much."
Jackson looked at her in concern, "You never had trouble making friends."
She looked away from Jackson, "Yeah…that was before everything happened…it is hard to trust people now."
Jackson sighed he didn't know this affected her just as much it affected him. He thought her life went straight back to being the way it was. That's why he didn't call…he thought it would hurt her to be reminded of her father's mistakes. "You will always have me as a friend," he said softly as Deuce chimed in, "And us. We might have just met you …but you seem pretty cool."
"For a normie," Clawd chuckled as Clair smiled.
"You friends are pretty cool," Clair told Jackson laughing, "Big change from the nerds you tried hanging out with."
"They hung out with me because they thought I was the cool nerd." Jackson said remembering them, "I also scared them a little."
"I never understood how you scared people in school! Everyone said that."
"Ha! Jackson being scary? What did he do to get that title?" Clawd said laughing.
"I just walked around going to classes not talking to anyone." Jackson said shrugging.
"We didn't understand it then and I still don't understand it now." Clair said.
"I was still picked on by the football team."
"They were just asses though! You should have just knocked out the quarter back."
"I don't fight…you know that!"
"I wanted to knock them out for you…" She grumbled out making Jackson laugh.
"I would have loved to see you do that."
"Yeah…but hey I got a tattoo!" She said remembering he didn't know about it.
"Really let me see." Jackson said trying to see if he could see it on her already exposed skin.
"You will have to wait until another time cuz I am not taking my shirt off."
Jackson blushed, "Its fine…I mean…"
"Oh come on! It wouldn't be the first time you seen me topless!"
"Whoa dude!" Deuce said laughing as Jackson's face turned blood red.
"I didn't mean to…I mean…I just…" Jackson stammered out as Heath slapped him on the back whooping. It was nice to see Heath slowly turning back into his old self.
She giggled at Jackson uncomfortable experience. "Now do you have any ink?" She asked as Jackson blushed again, "Kind of…"
"Oh cool!" She rushed out trying to take off his shirt, "Where?"
"Clair! Quit!" He yelled at laughing trying to keep her from unbuttoning his shirt that still had his sweater vest on.
"It is between my shoulder blades…it is a yin yang symbol. Now stop trying to undress me!"
She made a face, "What if I wanted to see you topless too?"
Jackson blushed and looked away as the guys just laughed. They were clearly enjoying Jackson's discomfort with this normie girl. Even with their history Jackson looked happier then they have seen him in a while. Heath may still be upset that she had to be the one Jackson was friends with, but it doesn't matter as long as Jackson was happy.
"So close to being that rock star you wanted to be." She said giggling as Jackson rolling his eyes, "That was a silly teenager dream."
"It was still a fun idea…I mean you could sing so beautifully."
Deuce raised his eyebrow, "I thought Holt was the only one who liked to sing."
"That was before the trigger change," Jackson mumbled out as Clair looked confused.
"Holt…like the imaginary friend you had when you were three?"
Jackson shifted a little in his seat, "Well his is more than…it is kind of hard to explain."
"Oh she doesn't know…" Clawd said looking a little uncomfortable with the rest of the guys.
"Okay…now I really want to know who this Holt is." She asked forcefully folding her arms.
"You didn't tell her?" Heath asked as Jackson glared at him, "I didn't know about him until I moved here."
Heath sunk back, "My bad…bad memory."
"More like short attention span." Jackson grumbled out before looking at Clair.
"Holt Hyde is his name…remember when we were reading my mother's journals I took every now and again."
"Yes of course…they were interesting stories. But what does those have to do with your imaginary friend?"
"He isn't my imaginary friend…more like an alter ego." Jackson said watching her face closely as she processed what he told her.
"So…what you are saying is that…those journals…they were real?"
"Yes…they were."
"And that Holt…is…your alter ego?" She said piecing the information together.
"Yes."
"Oh cool!" She said laughing, "You are crazy."
He cringed, "I am not crazy."
"Spending time with monsters made you think you turn into your alter ego?"
Offended Jackson shook his head, "No it isn't like that either…how about I show you."
"Show me what? It isn't like you change colors or something." She said giggling as Jackson rolled his eyes looking at the guys.
"Well…make sure she doesn't attack him okay? I really don't want any more injuries."
She looked a little confused at that statement as the others nodded. Jackson stood up and placed his headphones on. Holt let out a whoop before taking in where he was. "Oh yeah…'bout time he took us to the maul. I really needed a new part for my booth!" He looked around and saw his friends waiting for him to notice the normie girl who stared at him with her mouth open.
"Oh no way!" She whispered getting Holt to look at her.
"Well who is this fine lookin' lady sittin' with us monsters?" He asked in smooth voice making her smile.
"Jackson wasn't joking." She said as she got up to inspect Holt's face.
"Jackson wasn't lyin' 'bout what?" He asked as she placed her hand on his cheek.
"You look just like him…even the piercing is still there…but the tattoo? That's cool."
Holt grabbed her hand off his face, "I know that Jackson knows you fine little lady, but I just met you, no need to get all creepy with me."
She smacked his arm, "I am not being creepy you ass I was just in shock…how is this possible? Where does Jackson go when you switch out? Does it hurt when you transform? How do your clothes work?" She rushed out making Holt take a step back from her, "Oh do you have the tattoo on your back?" She asked as Holt laughed.
"Whoa…whoa slow down! I can't answer when you are askin' them so quickly. Any way…I was the one that got the tat and the piercing."
"Oh that is why he said it was a funny story…that must have been very scary to wake up to those."
Holt chuckled as she got close to him again, "But I can still see him,"
"See him?" Holt asked rising an eyebrow at her.
"In your eyes…there is still some blue."
"My eyes are orange sweet heart." He said backing away.
"Yeah…but…there is something."
Holt turned his back to her, "I am not Jackson. Sorry to break your heart lady."
"No you are Holt Hyde and you look like a partier." She said making him turn around, "Jackson is a scientist person who loves the quiet even though there were times we rocked out, but he is super shy and sweet. I might have just met you…but knowing a little bit about your past…tells me you are just the opposite of him."
Holt just looked at her, "How do you know so much 'bout me?"
"The journals Jackson and I read when we were younger." She said just watching him
"I am nothing like them!" He growled at her as she just giggled, "I know you are not, but most Hyde's are opposites of their counter parts."
"Counter parts?" Holt asked a little confused.
"The Jekyll side," She said smiling, "But I thought saying counterpart was a better idea since you are your own person."
"I guess thank you," He said a little confused as the girls came walking back with a large supply of bags in tow.
"Oh wow," Clair said as the girls walked up to them.
"Hey Deuce are you guys hungry?" Cleo asked as they sat down with them.
"Not really…Jackson just let Holt out so we might head to the music store." Deuce told her as everyone looked over to see Holt standing very close to Clair. Clair smiled at the new monsters taking a step away, "I want to go to the music store."
Holt made a face, "Why would you want to go there?"
"Same reason you want to go there," She countered making Holt grin.
"So you like music?" He asked as she laughed humorlessly at him, "Well duh! Music is like my life…what makes you think I wouldn't like a good beat every now and again?"
"You are friends with Jackie that's why."
"Psh…Jackson wanted to be a rock star because of me!" She said laughing as Holt rolled his eyes.
"Yeah he told me that…but I kinda ruined it for him."
"Who is she?" Frankie asked glaring at the human in front of her as Neightan stood back a little.
"None of your business Frankie." Holt growled at her making her glare at him.
"She wasn't here before!" She said making Clawdeen step in before a fight erupted.
"Alright that's enough! Holt you can go to the music store while us ghouls get something to eat."
"What was that?" Clair asked following Holt as he marched away leaving the guys behind.
"Just a bitchy ex." He said through gritted teeth.
"Sorry…ex's can be hard to handle sometimes."
"Have you had a lot of ex's?" Holt asked eyeing the girl next to him.
"No…the last guy I liked left without saying good bye."
Holt thought over what to say as she looked sadly at the ground as they walked to the store, "That…um…sucks, but it could have been worst."
She shook her head as he continued, "He could have left you for some guy; sorta like what my ex did…she left me for a bisexual dude."
She laughed, "No way! A hot guy like you got left for rainbow pony? Oh my god that is priceless!" She laughed even harder as she looked at Holt's offended face….but he couldn't keep it hidden he started laughing with her.
"That ain't that funny you know."
"Yeah it kinda is!" She play punched Holt in the arm as they reached the store.
"I love how you knew it who it was though," Holt said as they looked through some of the music books.
"Well it was obvious," She said shrugging pulling out a piano book, "Oh I wish I could play piano."
Holt walked over and looked at the book, "I ain't that hard, come here." He grabbed her hand and led her over to one of the keyboards.
"The white keys are you main notes, but these black keys are your sharps and flats." He pointed out, Clair listened closely, "Now you're right hands index finger goes right over the middle C key, middle finger goes on D, ring finger on E, pinky on F, and the thumb on G." He showed her as she looked a little lost, "Left index goes over the middle C, middle finger, B3, ring A3, pinky on G3, and thumb on F3. This is where your hands will stay for most songs; of course you will move your hands to different locations depending on the song you play." Holt picked up the book Clair was looking at and placed it on the built in stand.
He opened it to a random paged and looked at the song for a second and started to play, only stopping when he got to a part he couldn't see or to change the page. Once he was done Clair shook her head, "That was amazing."
"See Jackie ain't the only one with surprises." He said putting the book away as a few normies complemented him.
"Well that was surely something! I am glad you showed me that…maybe you can show me more sometime?"
Holt looked sadly at her as he found the part he needed and went up to pay, "You can't have us both…"
She looked confused at him, "Have you bot-"
"I mean Jackson and I…you can't have us both."
She giggled, "Holt you are an amazing guy I have seen so far…but I don't want to date you! Not really my type."
"But the nerd is?" He asked in a disbelieving voice.
"How did you know?" She asked in shock.
"You told me he left…we left after our father died…and then you wanted to get to know me better. Plus you just told me." He gave her a look making her blush a little.
She punched him in the arm when she realized what he just did, "Oh you are good."
He chuckled as they headed back to the others, "I know I am."
"Oh someone has a huge ego!"
"Well I am an alter ego…so I guess it makes sense."
She made a face, "I rather think of you as an annoying brother that is attached by the head."
He stops and looks at her, "I am not annoying!"
She laughs and walks past him, "I call bull shit!"
"Oh you cannot call bull shit on me!" He yelled running past her.
"Wait Holt!" She raced after him as he reached the table first and she was out of breath, "Oh you are so an ass."
"Hey I didn't tell you to run after me did I?"
She glared at him as the guys laughed, "ready to go cuz?" Heath asked as Clair looked around trying to find her small group of friends looking a little disappointed.
"Of course but I have to let the nerd out first," He looked over at Clair who was hugging herself.
"Hey you okay?" He asked walking over to her.
"Yeah…the guys just left me though…I guess they didn't want to wait for me."
"I can't drive Jackson's car…but I am pretty sure he will give you a ride."
"Oh I don't want to be a bother." She said looking at the ground as Holt wrote something on his hand switching out.
Clair jumped at little at the sudden brightness. Jackson looked around for a second right before his eyes landed on Clair who smiled sadly at him. "Awe what did he do now?"
She giggled at his statement and shook her head. Jackson looked at his hand, he sighed. "You know if you need a ride you can just have asked me."
"I didn't want to bother you…plus I don't want to go home."
Jackson watched her look away from him as he made her look at him, "You are never a bother…but why don't you want to go home?"
"My mother and I just have two very different outlooks on life." She whispered out.
"I am sure you can crash at my place…" He said blushing as Clair hugged him.
"Thanks Jackson."
"Just warning…Holt doesn't sleep…so I am sorry if he keeps you up all night."
"Or you could just keep me up all night." She said winking at him as she walked over to Heath and the others as he stood there in shock blushing profoundly. What just happened…two weeks ago he was heartbroken from Frankie? Now he got his best friend from three years ago coming over to his house. To spend the night…and she wanted him to keep her up all night. Jackson the swallowed lump that formed in his throat as he made himself to move forward, this was going to be an interesting night.