the girl who lost things

part forty-eight

— jessie's pov
he brings me into a restaurant; ofc. Bring a girl with an eating disorder to a restaurant. It was IHOP. I let out a small laugh; it was cute.

the director seats us at a side table and hands us menus. " I didn't bring much money."

"I never said you had to pay anything." I calmly let out a smile. I don't know what to say; thank you.

I was about to say it, but I waited too long to say it. It doesn't matter anymore. he clears his throat and closes his menu.

" I'm thinking of getting the cheesecake pancakes and chicken with lemonade." I looked at him,

" you like cheesecake, pancakes, and lemonade. your joking."

" no, it's the best combo!"

" I've met my person." I let that slip out; I regret it too soon. I look at him; he let out a slight smirk. It was such a cute smirk. The waiter comes and takes our orders and brings it back quickly.

I ordered two pancakes and a lemonade. I was still coming down from the cereal and yogurt. It was awkward eating in front of him. I think he got the hint.

" do you want me to close my eyes?"

" what?"

" so you can eat." I smile and nod; he took his hands and covered them over his eyes.

I took about three bites. " you can open your eyes now." he takes his hand off his eyes and starts eating his food.

" so, you have little siblings?"

" huh?" he was talking about jade and eshiram. " oh, no, they're my friend's kids."

" your friend?" I take a sip of my lemonade and nod.

" it's complicated." he nods and goes back into his food. I start eating mine. Slowly but I was eating.

—
We were finished, we both didn't finish our food. But, we left the money on the table and went to his car.
" where are we going?"

" it's a surprise." my heart was beating a little, but it was just telling me not to get raped again. But that wasn't going to happen.

It was already dark; he lowered the windows. And now the breeze comes in. my hair was moving in the wind. It felt good. He blasted music. a song a finally knew.

He started singing it. He couldn't sing but, he made his hand in a microphone and pretended to pass it to me. I shook my head at first but finally gave in to singing it. The drive was a little long.

We were getting further and further from the road. My heart started beating a little faster. Then he pulls into the opening of the woods and stops.

" we're here!" he grabs what looks like a picnic basket and a giant blanket. I follow him into the wood.

We walk for like three minutes until we reach a clearing. It was like the end of a roof. he was spreading out the blanket on the floor. There was a cliff. I saunter to the edge looking down. It was water for miles. It was glowing in the moonlight.

" Jessie, come over here." I walk back to where he was; it was a little picnic. Like we haven't eaten already. But the thought was nice. I smile at the thought.

" your cold." it took a second for that to sink in, but I was shaking; he comes over and puts his jacket over me. It smelled like the flower aisle at the grocery store. I'm starting to like this guy more and more.

he sits down on the blanket, patting for me to sit two. " I thought this was a good way to close the night." he points at the stars, which were glistening in the sky. it was so clear.

" that's the kulper belt," I say; at least I'm contributing to the convo.

" if you look closely, that's the Big Dipper." it wasn't; the Big Dipper was further west. But I let him get away with it. I put my head down, laying on my back, looking at the stars. He joins me.

" I really like you." he says out of nowhere; it makes me sit back up, which makes him get back up. " did I say something wrong?"

I shake my head, " no, you didn't." he looks me in the eyes; I hate eye contact. I look at the picnic basket. But, he turns my face towards him. I just want to-

he leans in for a kiss; it felt like everything was in slow motion. But I kiss him. Savoring every bit of it. We unlock our lips, and I laugh.

" what's so funny?"

" you kiss like a girl."

I lower my head back to look at the stars, and he joins me. He starts babbling about the stars and other stuff. His voice was so soothing. So calming. His words started to get longer.

I was falling asleep. Don't do it, Jessie. But I couldn't fight it. My eyes start to close, and I drift away.

—
I could hear birds chirping; what the heck. I slowly start to blink my eyes open. I was lying on his stomach. He was also sleeping.

ahhh, get up! I slowly remove his arm from me and look around. We were still here. I feel my bra for my phone. I left it in the car.

I shake James up. he wakes up so swiftly. " are you ok?" I nod, and he realizes.

" my parents are going to kill me." I get up and pick up the picnic basket. He takes the blanket, and we run into the car.

" it's ok, I'll explain." No, that's even worse.

" it's ok, just head towards the grocery store. I'll tell you where to go from there." my stomach was rumbling. I go into the picnic basket and get some crackers out. Ritz; my favorite.

I look at my call log:

2 missed calls from Clara
5 missed calls from mom
4 missed calls from Savannah
7 missed calls from Derek

and so on... I call Clara; she's my best opportunity. She picks up almost immediately.

" Hello?! Jessie?!"

" yea."

" Is everything ok? Your mom and Derek and your team is looking for you!!"

" Tell them I'm ok and not to worry."

" where are you?"

"I fell asleep."

" with him?"

" yes." I hear a knock on the door following Emily's voice. " tell Emily, I'll see her at home." I hang up the phone. My heart was thumping out of my chest. I'm in trouble. More than trouble.

" are you ok?"

" yea." we were approaching the grocery store; I start to point him towards my house. he was trying to get a cracker. " pay attention to the road." I take a cracker out and put it in his mouth. He smiles and laughs.

We finally pull into the driveway. I close the door and look at him; he lowers the window. " when can we do this again?" I shrug my shoulders.

before he goes, I say something; " but James, I like you too." I hear the door unlock, and it was Derek coming outside. I'm doomed.

" Jessie! Come inside." I tell James to drive off, and I walk inside. Goodbye, to my freedom.