Nametags

Chapter 9

          "Cherry?" I could not stop laughing. There, sitting in front of me, was my cousin, Jackson. He started laughing, too. "Jackson? Oh my gosh! This is hillarious! I can't believe this guy Jadee has been talking about all week is you!" I sat down across from him. "How are you doing, Jackson?" He took off his hat and set it on his knee. "Great! It's been a while!" I picked up a fry and ate it. "I can't believe how hilarious this is! Jadee and I went to school together before she changed schools, and then last week she called me and asked if I wanted to go on a blind date with one of her friends. I had no idea it was you!" He chuckled. "Well, do you wanna go to a concert with your favorite cousin?" He smiled "Yeah!" I thought about Jadee. "Aw, man. Jadee is gonna be super sad that you were my cousin!" I thought for a second, before a sly plan crossed my mind. "Hey, Man. What do you say we prank Jadee?" He looked up, slyly. "What mischief are you planning, Cherry Lakes?" I rubbed my hands together. "Well, when we meet up at the park, let's not tell her we are cousins... let's make this fun..."

          "Hey, Jadee!" I waved my arms until she came over. "Hi! I see your date with Jackson went good!" I Kept myself from laughing. "Yeah! It was just awesome!" Jackson stepped forward and took my hand. I decided to take it a step further, and kissed him on the cheek. Jadee seemed surprised. "Wow. Really good, then!" I nodded. Jackson tipped his head. "Yeah, actually, we are going on a date again this Friday." Jadee clapped her hands "Oh, I'm so glad! Where are you gonna go?" "Well, I have a family reunion. I'm gonna take her." What are you doing, Jackson? I asked myself. "In fact-" He knelt down. Oh. No. You. Don't. "I want you to be at every family reunion for the rest of my life!" He slid the ring off his own hand and made it look like he was proposing. Jadee looked like she was going to faint. "Oh, Jackson! Of course I will!" Jadee stood there in awe "But- You just met! And you're 16!" I laughed "Yeah! I loved he since the first time I saw her!" Jackson put his arm on my shoulder. "And the first time I saw her was, like, 16 years ago!" Jadee looked at us, confused. "What do you mean?" Jackson and I exploded in laughter. "We're cousins!" Jadee froze, then slapped my arm. "Cherry!" We all laughed "I can't believe you! You are crazy!" Tears ran down my cheeks. "You set me up with my cousin!" She laughed "I never thought you two where cousins! His last name is Canita" "Yeah, It's my mom's side!" She rolled her eyes and handed us two tickets. "We'll still have a fun time as friends and cousins!" She playfully nodded. Then, as friends, we all started dancing to "All The Ways" by Megan Trainor.