"Jack….I…uh…" I stuttered. Jack's face fell instantly and my stomach knotted.

"I understand, I mean don't feel bad, I wouldn't date me either." Jack mumbled while looking down at his hands.

"Jack! It's not that, I didn't say no!" I said while reaching out and grabbing his hand.

He raised his head slowly, a hopeful look in his eyes. "So Josie, if it's not a no then…..?" he said trailing off.

"I….. Can you give me five minutes to get my head together?" I asked before I nervously began chewing on my lip.

"Uh…yeah!" Jack said going to jump up but I placed a hand on his forearm.

"Where's the bathroom?" I questioned.

"Up the stairs, it's the first door on the right."

"I'll be back, don't move, okay?"

"Okay."

I watched Jack for a moment before slowly climbing to my feet and walking up the stairs. Once I got in the bathroom I shut the door and I gripped the sink tightly as I stared in the mirror. My stomach did flips and I ran my fingers through my hair before pulling off my glasses. I wet my face and then replaced them before taking a deep breath. I liked Jack, Jack was a nice kid but could I be in a relationship with him? I was thinking deeply when there was a knock on the door and I scrambled to answer it.

Alex was on the other side smiling and he pushed past me to step in, "Hey." he said.

"Uh, hi."

"So are you gonna say yes?"

"I don't know."

"You really should." Alex said while giving me an amazing smile.

"I don't know."

"What don't you know about? He's hot, you're having his baby, he's hot, he's funny, he's a rock star, he's smart, and did I say hot?"

"I think you've might have mentioned it but I don't care if he's hot. There's more to someone then their looks or whether they're a rock star."

Alex looked shocked at my statement. "Wow."

"What? I'm sorry I'm not completely shallow."

"No, don't be sorry. That's good. Most girls go for Jack because they know who he is, they don't care about anything else and I hate that cause he usually really likes the girl." Alex told me while leaning up against the sink.

"Well I'm not like that. At the end of the day I don't care what their face or paycheck looks like because it's not what's gonna make a relationship work."

"I like you."

"Uh, thanks?" I said unsurely.

"It's a good thing, trust me. Now are you gonna say yes?"

"I don't know Alex!" I said before biting down on my lip.

"What's stopping you?"

At this I turned away. What was stopping me? It wasn't Jack's personality, he had already showed me he was caring, he was funny and nice and sweet. It wasn't his looks because I was attracted to Jack, I already knew that much but I couldn't figure out what it was exactly. Then it hit me, I was scared. Jack was the first person in forever to actually treat me like they cared. My boyfriend before treated me like crap and I was afraid that Jack would act like that or even worse treat me like a princess and then I would somehow manage to mess that up and I truly didn't want that.

"I'm scared." I told Alex softly.

"About what?" he questioned.

"It's personal."

"Come on, tell me. I'm a good listener and I can be a good friend."

"I know, Jack told me." I said and Alex grinned.

"So just please tell me? You seem like you need a friend." Alex pointed out and I knew he was right. I had pretty much just lost Audrey, and Charlie and she had always been closer than me and Charlie so I had basically lost Charlie too.

"My ex treated me like crap and Jack doesn't." I said.

Alex looked confused for a moment at my statement, "Isn't that a good thing? Shouldn't that make you happy?" he inquired.

"Yeah but what if I mess up?"

Alex shook his head, smiling like he knew something I didn't. "Jack likes you a lot, the only way you could mess things up was if you cheated on him and you wouldn't do that right?"

"No, definitely not but what if I fight with him? I say stupid things."

"Then apologize and move on. Jack understands if you're in a bad mood and you're snappy every once in a while, he gets that way too. Just come on Josie, you'll never know unless you give it a try." Alex said and I sighed before nodding.

"Okay." I said.

Alex's face lit up instantly, "You mean it? Really? You're gonna give him a chance?" he asked.

I nodded as I chuckled, "Yes, I suppose so."

"YAY! Come on!" Alex said while grabbing my wrist and yanking me out of the bathroom.

He dragged me down the stairs and once we reached the living room he pushed me gently towards the couch before ducking into the kitchen. Jack looked up just as Alex disappeared and I gave him a grin hoping to sooth him. He looked like he was about to pass out but the grin made him relax a little. I walked closer to him and sat down on the couch beside him before I placed my hand on his.

"So, uh, did you make up your mind?" Jack asked before scratching the back of his neck nervously.

"Yeah, I did actually." I told him.

"Oh, well it's okay-"

"Jack shut up, my answer is yes." I said.

Jack's jaw dropped and I had to stop myself from giggling. "Are you, are you playing with me?"

"No."

"So you're serious?"

"Yes?"

"And you're not lying?"

"Jack!"

"Okay, I was just making sure but really?"

"Yes Jack, yes yes yes yes yes!"

Jack smiled widely before grabbing my hand and gently tugging me closer, "Can I hear it one more time?"

"Yes." I said before Jack's lips came down gently against mine. The kiss was so soft and gentle I barely felt it but it made me smile.

The next day was Christmas Eve and I was currently with Alex at the mall trying to find something that Josie would like. I was failing miserably and Alex wasn't being helpful at all, instead choosing to shop for himself.

"Come on Alex! You're supposed to be helping me!" I said grabbing his wrist and yanking him away from the shoes he was looking at.

"Jack! I wanted to get those!" he whined and I just glared at him.

"I need to get something for Josie and I've got like no time!"

"Okay dude, calm down. Why don't you get her chocolate? Girls love chocolate."

"I'm not getting her chocolate for Christmas."

"Get her clothes."

"I don't know her size."

"Get her a CD."

"I don't know what kind of music she likes."

"Get her jewelry."

"I don't know if she likes necklaces or bracelets or earrings!"

"Jesus Jack, what do you know?"

"Uh," I said pausing for a moment while I thought, "she likes owls, they're her favorite animal. She's terrified of feet, she likes reading, anything to do with history fascinates her, oh and she can do this thing with her tongue, it-"

"Enough!" Alex said while shaking his head.

"Sorry but seriously Alex, what do I get her?"

"Uh, I don't know. Let's go in here." Alex said pointing to the store to his right. It was a brightly lit book store and I nodded, I couldn't go wrong with a book, right?

Alex and I walked into the store and then stopped, "Uh, where do we look first?" I asked unsurely.

"I don't know." Alex said while shrugging.

"Let's look over there." I said pointing to the corner.

It took us about a half hour but finally we decided on getting her a thirty dollar gift card and some book marks. That wasn't good enough though and I wanted to get her something really nice, something really pretty. I was watching Alex walk around the jewelry store he dragged me to when he made this squealing sound.

"What Alex?" I questioned while walking closer.

"This, you should get her this!" he said while pointing down.

I hip checked him so he was out of the way and I looked down through the glass. I smiled when I saw what he was talking about, it was a necklace and the pendent was a small golden owl with green emeralds for eyes.

"That's perfect Alex!" I said and Alex smiled proudly.

Once I paid for it we left the mall, Alex going back to his house and me going home. I parked in the driveway and saw the only car here was Josie's. I wondered where everyone else went as I walked into the house. After hiding the presents in my closet I went down the hall to Josie's room, knocking softly before pushing the door open. I laughed softly when my eyes fell on her. She was lying on her back with books and papers spread out around her and her glasses were still on while she slept. I tip toed across the room and gently removed her glasses.

"Jack?" she mumbled sleepily as I placed her glasses on the table beside her bed.

"Yeah, I was just leaving." I said softly.

"No, stay." she said while slowly sitting up and starting to move everything. Josie straightened the papers and books, shoved them all into the bag that was by her foot and then let it thump to the floor.

"Did you actually get any homework done?" I asked while I climbed onto the bed beside her.

"No, I fell asleep."

"Oh, well you have the rest of break to do it."

"I know, I just wanted to get it done and over with." Josie told me as she scooted closer to me.

I let her rest her head on my shoulder and I stroked her hair softly. "You know yesterday was the first time I kissed you and it didn't turn into sex?" I questioned.

"Yeah and it won't be turning into sex for a while Jack."

"I know, I don't want it to. I kind of like taking things slow with you."

"Good cause we're gonna be going at glacier speed."

"What does that mean?"

"Nothing more than kisses." she said while shifting slightly.

"I'm okay with that but I don't know if you'll be able to resist my devilishly good looks." I said while striking a pose.

"Conceited much?"

"No, I just know a good looking person when I see one." I said.

"Mhm."

"So what kind of music do you like?"

"Gangster rap."

I practically choked on my own spit and Josie started giggling. "Are you serious?"

"No Jack, I like Blink 182 and Green Day and other bands like that." she said and I smiled.

"That's cool, I love Blink."

She didn't answer me after that, just played with the end of her shirt. I watched her for a bit until I got bored and I placed my hand over hers. She looked up at me, her nose scrunched up in frustration.

"What do you want?" she asked softly so I knew she wasn't annoyed with me.

"What are you thinking about?"

"The doctor's, I have to go in a few days." she said and by the way she looked disgusted I knew she wasn't the biggest fan of the doctor's.

"I can go with you…. I mean if you want me to."

"Jack you don't have to."

"I know but I want to, that is if you want me to."

"I do, I want you to come, I just didn't want to ask." Josie told me softly and I frowned.

"You can ask me anything; I won't get upset or get mad."

"I know, I just, I don't know."

"Hey, don't worry. I'm a pretty easy going guy; you can ask or tell me anything."

"Okay." she said softly and I smiled before leaning down and brushing my lips against hers. I felt her smile against my lips before she pulled away and buried her face into my chest.

I stroked her hair softly for a couple moments and then I felt her breathing even out. I knew she was asleep and I smiled down at her before shifting gently so I could lay back. It was still kind of early in the afternoon and I considered getting up to wrap her present but decided I would rather lie with her for a bit before shutting my eyes.