Different Sides To The Same Story

Chapter seventeen - Lilith Pearson

   He lies in my arms, his head against my chest and his arms around my waist, pulling me closer to him. Yes, it's three in the afternoon and we're cuddling under the covers of my bed. No, we didn't have sex. We haven't even talked about that as a possibility since that night.

Jason mumbles something against my chest, I feel the vibrations but do not understand him "Hmm." I hum back.

He shifts so his face is against the crook of my neck, "I said I love you." He tells me, pressing a kiss against my collar bone.

I laugh a bit, pulling a little tighter at the arms I have wrapped around his neck, "I love you too." I tell him, makerafactly. I move one of my hands to his hair as I start twisting a strand between my fingers.

"Seriously Lily, it means a lot to me that you're in my life." He says, making it seem less serious by still talking against my skin and not letting me see his face.

I nod, kissing the top of his head but not saying anything. The door opens, when I look over I see Dillion shielding his eyes.

"Did I walk in on something I don't wanna see?" He questions, making me and Jace laugh.

"No. We're just cuddling." I answer.

He unseilds one of his eyes glancing at the image before completely removing his hand, "So I'll answer my own question; yes." He says, half sarcastically.

I sit up, draggin Jason with me, laughing as I see his bed head, despite not sleeping. "What'd you want, Dill?" I question.

"I was just coming to see what you were up to." He says, shrugging slowly.

"Now that you know Jason's here?" I ask.

He shrugs, "I mean I could go tell Mom you're hanging out with your boyfriend in your room, under the covers." He tells us, making my eyes widen in disbelief. He eyes my desk walking further in and grabbing my wallet, "Or I could just take this ten dollars and tell Mom you're studying with the door open." He suggests pulling a ten dollar bill from my wallet.

"You're a con artist." I inform him, as he turns to leave.

He starts to swing the door closed before stopping leaving a crack open and puts his head through, "Why thank you dear sister of mine." He coos, leaving the door open.

I groan getting out of bed and close the door fully, annoyed at my younger brother stealing my lunch money. Keyword there; younger.

I climb back into bed this time on top of Jace, sitting down on his lap, putting my arms up and around his neck and landing on my hips. "I swear to god that kids like a mini Leanardo DeCaprio from Catch me if you can." I joke.

He rests his head on my shoulder as he falls backwards taking me down with him, making me laugh. "D'you realize we still have to do that project that's due next week." He tells me.

"Ah fuck." I mumble, resting my head against his chest.

"Ah don't worry it'll be a piece of cake." He says, putting one of his hands on the back of my neck as he subconsciously plays with my hair.

---

"Mom I've already decided." I repeat, trying to leave the kitchen as she follows me.

"Sweetie this has been your dream since ninth grade." She reminds me.

I roll my eyes turning to meet her, "UCLA has been my dream since the first time in eighth grade, since the first time I even touched that ball, so believe me when I say; I understand I'm giving up on something but only for a year, only until me and Jason's relationship is more stable and can handle this." I tell her.

"You and Jason are a great couple, I even think you're soulmates but darling this is a once in a lifetime chance they don't offer full ride scholarships to just anyone." She says, walking a few steps towards me, "Jason and you can handle long distance, lots of couples do it." She puts her hand on my shoulder comfortingly.

I push her hand off, "I can't just up and leave him Mom."

"It's California sweetie." she says as if I don't know.

"I have my priorities in check, I can finish high school and go to UCLA next year." I tell her, my voice low.

She looks at me sympathetically, "They said there's no way of knowing if they'll have a spot for you." She says, repeating the woman's words from earlier. I shake my head, as I start walking out of the room, stopping as I hear her next words, "Just think about it, you have two weeks to reply, don't rush it." Without giving her an answer I leave the kitchen, going back to my room and collapsing on my bed.

God fighting with my mom is fucking exasting.