JACEY'S POV
I stare at my bedroom ceiling, still lying in bed.

It isn't exactly an ego boost getting rejected.

I didn't even get to take her on a real date.

Her mood completely changed after the party. Like she'd decided before we even got home.

I keep thinking about her...her soft lips, her smile, her laugh, her sweet scent. It never helps that I think about her first thing in the morning, or the last thought before bed.

My hormones don't help the predicament.

I grab the Jergen's lotion before closing my eyes, imagining what I now know will never happen.

The fantasy always starts out with us just talking. Enjoying one another's company. Talking about things we relate to. Joking and and laughing with one another.

I begin tickling her as she squirms with laughter. She begins to kick and I back off as she climbs on top of me, pinning my hands.

"Jacey can we go for a walk? I want to drive my car." Harper interrupts.

I sit up immediately pulling my pants up.

"Ok wait in the hall, give me a minute."

I wash my hands, brushing my teeth before clearing my head.

Harper just got a new electric car. You know those annoying ones kids drive with the rechargeable battery and all.

Parents never here but she has everything.

"Don't go too fast and put the seatbelt on." I instruct.

"Yeah, yeah, I heard you." She says before steering onto the sidewalk.

I watch her drive ahead, following behind her. Passing her house, I just look straight ahead acting as if I'm not affecting by it.

My phone rings.
"Hello."

"Son, hey what are you up to?" My father asks.

"What?" I ask, confused.

"What are you up to?" He asks again, less enthusiastically.

"I'm on a walk, with Harper why?"

"I want to talk." He says.

"About what?" I ask.

My father never really talked to me before. We've had a couple of conversations here and there. Short lived, he just worked and provided when necessary.

"Just catch up...how's lunch sound?"

"Actually dad I'd rather-."

"Lunch. Agreed." He interrupts.

I sigh before seeing Harper reach a stop sign.
"Harper don't go too far." I yell hanging up on dad.

"I know when to cross you know." She looks back at me running up to her.

"You still have to be careful Harp." I tell her. "You can go, no cars are coming."

She keeps straight for a while until turning into a restaurant parking lot.

I sit on a parking block as she drives in circles. We're in the far end of the parking lot, really empty. So we don't have to worry about cars.

"Jacey can you connect your Bluetooth to my radio? I didn't bring my phone." Harper asks.

Her phone wasn't an actual phone, just enough to listen to music and play games.

I connected my Bluetooth to her radio, playing the station with all of her favorite songs.

"Jacey...hey." I turn to see Gianna.

"What the fuck do you want?" I stand up.

"What- hello would be nice." She scoffs.

"I have nothing to say to you." I turn around. "Harper let's go."

"Wait, wait." She says grabbing my hand.

"What?" I ask as Harper pulls up next to me.

"Hi." She greets.

"Hi cuti-

"Don't talk to her."

Just then I hear the sound of something dropping. I turn to see, Rose?

I pull my hand away from Gia's, "Rose." I could barely say before she turns and runs.
"Rose!" I contemplate running after her but I'm not leaving Harper behind.

"Harper let's go."

"Jacey-

"Fuck off!" I put distance between us, resisting the urge to push her.

Harper drives as I jog.

Of course she saw me at the worst moment possible. I didn't even realize Gia was still holding my hand until I saw Rose's face.

Why does she care anyway?

She just rejected me.

This is why I don't do these kinds of things.

It's an emotional overload...but she's worth it and I don't know why I feel that way.

"I'm going to my house." Harper says. I watch as she drives to the backyard.

I contemplate leaving but Bianca's here for some reason. So I leave them.

I ring the doorbell, Mrs. Flores answers.

"Hey Jacey, come on in." She welcomes.

"Hi Mrs. Flores, is Rose home?" I smile.

"No actually, I sent her out for takeout not too long ago. She should be back soon." She says. "Want to wait here or?"

"No ma'am, I've got something to do. Thank you for your time." I wave before walking out.

Where would she go? Where would she go?

I repeat this question over and over again.

She disappeared fast, she couldn't have gotten far.

I go back toward the restaurant, walking behind it into the woods.

I jog, running toward the pond.

"Rose!" I yell.

She doesn't turn around.

"Hey." I breathe, catching my breath.

"What are you following me for?" Her eyes stay on the ice frozen pond, voice little.

I stand there in silence before speaking, "Well- are you ok?"

"What are you asking me that for?"

My hands go up in an exasperated motion.

"Anyone but her, you had to choose her." She calmly states.

"I thought you didn't care, didn't feel that way." I shrug.

"So you're bitter? Is that what this is? You go after the one person who put me in the hospital?"

"Ok first, it wasn't even like that. I barely said four words to her. She grabbed my hand. Why am I explaining this to you anyway? You don't care, you shouldn't care!" My voice raises.

"Don't yell at me." She snaps.

"Why are you pushing me away? I know you feel the same way, you wouldn't have kissed me back."

"I was bored." She shrugs.

"Another lie." I state.
It's so obvious when she lied.
She always tugged on her earlobe or rubbed the back of her neck.

"Just leave me alone ok? I don't want this." She turns to walk away but I pull her into me, kissing her.

To no avail she kisses me back, putting her cold hands under my shirt, touching my stomach.

"Mm, your hands are freezing." I softly grab them, cupping them into my hands, blowing my breath unto them.

She lightly gasps feeling the warmth.
"I'm sorry."

I couldn't tell what she was apologizing for. The cold hands up my shirt or the misunderstanding.

I just start walking back to her place. Her hand in mine as it's supposed to be.

I pay to replace the takeout her mom made her go out for.

"It's about time, I was starting to get worried." Mrs. Flores says.

"I'm sorry ma."

"Jacey you staying? We could split it into three." Mrs. Flores invites.

"No, thank you. I've got to get back home." I say as Rose leads us back outside.

"You have a good day." Is all she says.

"Aht wait." I grab her hands. "Call me later?" I ask. "Mm, no I'll call you."

"Why?" She chuckles.

"Because I know you probably won't." I nod.

"How about I come over later? We can talk." She says.

"Ok..." I nod.

"Ok." She gives a soft smile.