best years ✰ l.p.

Chapter 23- Ghost Town

November 24- 10th grade

I have to admit, I was really nervous. I had been keeping this from him for four years. I couldn't keep hiding it. Even after those four years, I still hoped he felt the same way about me. If he did I wasn't ever going to let him go. Not like the others. This year was going to be different.

I felt horrible about last year. After I had accepted the fact that Jackson was probably never going to like me as more than a friend, I tried to move on. That consisted of getting a new boyfriend almost every two months. I thought that if I found one person that I liked more than Jackson, I would be fine.

I was using people and I didn't even know it. Now I was finally going to tell Jackson how I felt. I was pretty sure I knew what he was going to say. I hoped that it wouldn't make things super weird between us.

But as I walked up to his doorstep, I felt that hope fizzle out. I knocked on the door.

Ms. Williams was the one who opened it. "Hello, Dahlia.", she said in her normal soft spoken voice.

"Hi Ms. Williams", I replied. "Is Jackson here?"

"Mhm hm. Just give me a minute. Would you like to come inside?"

"Oh no, that's alright."

She nodded and closed the door. After about a minute, Jackson stepped outside.

"Hey", he said.

"Uh, hi", I said. I could already feel my cheeks heating up. "Can we talk?"

"Yeah sure."

We sat down on the porch chairs. I took a deep breath and prepared myself. I just had to say three words, but they could change everything.

"So, listen. There's something I've wanted to tell you for awhile, I just got really scared too.", I began. "We've been friends for five years now. I don't want to mess anything up."

My heart was practically beating out of my chest. "The truth is, I, I like you Jackson. I have since 7th grade." I looked down. I didn't want to see the look on his face.

After he didn't say anything, I felt so embarrassed. "I'm really sorry. It was stupid to even do this. I know that-"

"I like you too."

April 17- 10th grade

"Would you rather have a golden retriever or...a corgi?", I said. Everything was perfect. Jackson had set up a picnic in a field of daisies; my favorite flowers.

"That's so easy. Golden retriever's are literally the best dogs in the world."

I laughed. "Okay, it's your turn."

"Hmmm.", he said, resting his head on my lap. "Would you rather kiss Harry Styles, or me?"

"Well that's obvious. Harry Styles."

He gasped. "I'm kidding.", I said, leaning down and giving him a quick peck on the lips. "Mostly."

It was a memory I never forgot. It was the first and last time he'd ever done something like that.

May 9- 10th grade

"Stop dragging your feet, Sel, I'm hungry!", I exclaimed to my friend Selena, who was at least 50 feet behind me.

"Well, I'm tired", she said catching up to me.

We entered the restaurant and that's when I saw Jackson sitting right across from May.