When I finally looked down at the picture that was beneath the Hollie portrait, I saw myself. I didn't look as glamorous as Hollie, but it was me sitting on the front steps of my school with my arms around my algebra 2 textbook looking into the distance.
My brunette waves were lifted by the wind, and left ripples in my semi baggy t-shirt that I had worn the day before. I looked like I was daydreaming in the afternoon sunshine.
I glanced up at him and he spoke first. "I was going to say something, but I never got the nerve."
My eyes were watering. I couldn't stop myself. He saw me yesterday, and I had no clue. His jade eyes were looking through that gorgeous dark brown hair of his. "I don't like her, Pey. I like you."
"You promise?" I whimpered.
"I promise." He leaned closer and kissed my cheek. "I've never felt this way before about anyone."
"I feel the same way."
He smiled and pulled the other book with the rose pattern across the front. "I drew these roses for you. I figured you could use this for your fashion drawings. They deserve a better home than in the margins of your math homework."
"Did you know it was my birthday?" I had tears of joy filling my eyes. I hated that I was so emotional. I swore it didn't matter if I was happy, sad, or mad if I got overwhelmed with emotion my eyes just teared.
"Your friend might have mentioned it. I wish you had told me yourself."
"I guess that explains why he got me drawing pencils." I laughed and admired the roses he had drawn for me. I flipped through the book full of empty clean white pages.
"Yeah we had a small chat yesterday after he freaked out on me. He thought I was on a date with my mom." He chuckled.
"Once he calmed down we talked for a few minutes and your birthday came up. He said he didn't want it to be weird between you guys and said he wasn't sure what to get you. I told him I was working on this for you anyways, and you could use some good pencils. I guess he took my suggestion."
"Thank you, Jamie."
"You're welcome." His eyes lingered on mine as he moved the drawing books to the side and kissed me. This time a little fiercer than the first time. Our lips moved together until he pulled away and smiled.
"You make me feel so happy." He was breathless, and couldn't stop smiling. "This feels like when you explained to me how a roller coaster is."
"Makes you wanna throw up?" I joked.
He chuckled. "I meant the part you said about being nervous and excited. You said then you get strapped in and you're like I can't believe this is happening, then slowly you inch to the top, you drop and your heart feels like it's fallen into your stomach, and then you're going fast, and time flies by. Before you know it's over. Except I don't want this to ever be over."
"I can't believe you remembered what I said." I felt so happy hearing him say he never wanted this to end. I felt the same way and it was so nice to have feelings returned.
"I thought you were so cute how you explained it. I wish that that day had gone better..." He trailed off. "I do have some, um, kind of bad news. I planned on telling you as soon as I came back but well, this happened."

I could feel anxiety building up in my chest. I didn't want bad news. I felt like I was wrapped in a blanket of bliss, and I didn't want to ever unwrap. "W-what is it?"
"I have to... I wouldn't...I...well..." He trailed off dropping his hands to his lap and slumping back against the wall. "It's complicated, Pey, now that I'm trying to say it out loud."
"Just tell me. It'll be okay. Right?"
He glanced at me, and then looked down at his hands. "I wish it were that easy. I'm worried about how you're going to react."
I can't imagine why he couldn't tell me whatever was bothering him this badly. "Is it about Hollie?" I wished greatly that he would say no.
"No. Clear Hollie from your mind please. I told you I like you. I don't like her and I'm not going to be her friend or anything. You mean alot to me, and that's why this is so hard."
He drew in a deep breath. "My dad wants me to come work for him and he wants to get to know me. He said that I'm not needed here anymore."
I admitted I was quite a bit relieved. It was hard to wrap my mind around being his girlfriend. I was still worried about Hallie wreaking havoc on my life.
"That's good right? You said you didn't know your dad that well. That you only get to see him when you have those, um, meetings." I said recalling that. It seemed kind of nice that his dad was taking the initiative to get to know his son. Jamie was a pretty great guy after all.
"But it's in Boston."
"Oh." That hit me suddenly. I had forgotten about that part.
"Yeah, and you're here." His hand grabbed mine on the floor between us, his fingers lacing with mine. I couldn't get over how wild that made my heart.
"Well, what'd you tell him?"
"I told him that I needed time to think about it. I always thought that that was what I was going to do and then I ran into you and things then became complicated." He went quiet when the sound of his front door thudded shut surprising us both.
We both looked at each other, and then he got to his feet. "Stay here. I'll be back."
I sat there for a moment, and then suddenly I could hear a voice. I was really confused at first. I thought I heard Hollie. Why the heck would she be here?
"You need to stop playing around with this little girl, and get your things together." She said.
I held my hands to my chest. My heart was racing. Was she talking about me? Did she just call me a little girl?!
I was too scared to leave the closet. I didn't want to face her when she was bad mouthing me. I didn't like where this was all going.
"Look at you. You're trapped now."
"I'm not trapped!" Jamie raised his voice. "I've already told you this. Peyton is a nice girl. It's not like you think."
"You're too young to be married. So she's definitely too young." Hollie snapped back.
How I wanted to punch her in her throat...with a brick. I refused to leave the closet though, plus Jamie told me not to. So I imagined it instead.
"You should leave." Jamie was strict. This stirred things up between them but she just kept at it. This was bad. If he still had feelings for her this would be really bad.
"She won't ever be able to make you as happy as I make you." Hollie knew just how to punch a girl in the heart with words. I was already way too insecure, and now to top it off the girl that would surely ruin it all was here, and wreaking havoc in my boyfriend/husband's living room.
I kind of laughed at that even though I was irritated. That lingered in my mind for a few minutes.
I knew we were married, but in our relationship he was just now becoming my boyfriend. Wow was that a mess to say.
I guess I always thought being married would feel differently. I thought I would be in my twenties, and have my own apartment or something and be done with college. I never did give it a whole lot of thought. I just thought I'd be further in life.
"I love you. Don't you still love me?" Hollie was starting to get a little emotional now. Her voice was rising, and she was starting to agitate me.
All this time I was worried about her because I thought Jamie had all these big feelings for her still, but he said that he liked me, not her. He wanted me to be reassured that she wouldn't be a problem to worry about.
It was making me feel like I should stop being a coward sitting in this closet and go say something to her face. She needed to know that I wasn't some scared little girl and she couldn't just take Jamie from me.
I got to my feet ready to leave the closet when I heard Jamie respond to a loud crying Hollie. "No. I don't love you."
I stopped right there in the closet doorway, and held my hands to my chest. My heart was thumping hard. He told her he didn't love her. He really meant what he said before.
I wanted Hollie to just leave so I could kiss him again.
"Do you understand what you've gotten yourself into? You do understand how serious marriage is right?" Hollie was talking so fast I was trying to keep up.
"I do understand. That's why I'm taking this seriously."
She wasn't happy. I could hear it in her voice. "If you were serious you would get that divorce your mother said your father offered. She is like five years younger than you. She doesn't even understand the seriousness here."
"I really think you should leave. You don't even know what I've been through with this girl and how I feel about her. You have no right to come into my suite and just start yelling at me."
I walked over to the cracked bedroom door and looked out. I could see Hollie and Jamie standing in the living room several feet apart. She had her arms crossed over her chest, and her face was streaked with mascara tears.
It was silent for a brief moment before Hollie started yelling again, her arms flying up now. "Is all this payback for telling you no when you asked me to marry you?"
Before I even registered what I was doing I had opened the bedroom door and walked out into view. I immediately had all eyes on me. "Is it?"
Jamie looked like he had forgotten about me in the heat of their argument. "Of course not."
He stepped toward my direction but Hollie grabbed for his arm. He shook her off and stepped back.
She looked hurt, and this whole situation was making me feel really uncomfortable. "Why didn't you tell me Pete-in was here?" She asked him and then looked at me. "Are you really going to stop him from this great opportunity?"
I stared at her. What was she talking about? My name was not Pete-in! I could feel my nerve and emotions ready to explode.
"That's just messed up." Hollie's useless commentary irked me. "You know he called his mother, and told her that he was thinking of giving up everything for some girl. She told me because she thought I could help him realize how stupid all this is. You have no idea what being married to a CEOs son means."
"Actually, I told my father I would have to think about it." Jamie seemed calm, but I bet she was irritating him just like me. I hoped that would be enough to get her to finally leave.
"What's to think about? Her? You have to be kidding me. You would have a better job than you could ever have going to school for an art degree. Even with all the business classes you have taken you seriously rather give up a multimillion dollar company for some cry baby kids doing arts and crafts making minimum wage at best."
Jamie rolled his eyes, and pulled his hair back out of his face. I had never seen him react like this before. He was actually really irritated. "That's not the point. Money isn't everything."
"It is important." Hollie interjected. I looked between them.
"Why are you even here?" I demanded, surprising myself. She had no reason to be here.
"I could ask you the same thing." Hollie was quick. She made me mad.
I wanted to come back, but my mouth was unnaturally dry. I was surprised when Jamie spoke for me. "She's my wife and I have been telling you to leave."
"Hardly." Hollie said. "Once those papers are turned in you will be a free man and you will want me back."
"Would you please stop. Peyton doesn't deserve this. This is something you don't need to be involved in. Now would you please leave so I can discuss this with my wife?"
I was utterly surprised, and by the looks of it so was Hollie. It washed away quickly on her face but he was being strict and nearly shoved her out the door.
I stood there stunned. I didn't know what to even think. My heart was thumping around inside my chest, but it wasn't because I liked him so much but because I couldn't believe he just chose me over what I thought was the most important woman in his life.
He slammed the door shut, and walked back into the living room sounding out of breath. "I thought she would never leave."
I just stood there in the living room feeling like I was on the verge of tears. The whole situation was so sudden and overwhelming.
Jamie walked back into the living room and walked right up to me and pulled me into his arms. We stood like that hugging and he whispered in my ear. "I'm so sorry that just happened. Please don't run away and ignore me."
I was a little sad that he had become accustomed to me doing that. Did I really run away from all my problems? I thought about it briefly and landed on yes. I did do that.
I didn't want to be like that anymore. I didn't want to hurt Jamie. "I won't go anywhere." I breathed into his shoulder.