Together Forever

2: MATCHING WINNIE THE POOH TOWELS

"Good, you're back. Can you ask your boyfriend to introduce me to the new guy?" Kim snickers, standing up as I walk back into the gym.

"The asshole left"

"What?"

I sigh, "He left me in school all by myself without a ride just because he found out that he's not the best" I huff in frustration feeling anger build up in my chest. Am I the one that whooped his ass on the field? No, I think not.

Kim rolls her eyes, "Whatever, screw him. I'll drop you off, I need to see my darling Aunty anyways and Kiara already went home"

I exhale, "Thanks, you ready to leave?"

"Nuh uh, not until I get his number. He's hot and he made your boyfriend cry"

I roll my eyes, "whatever, I'll wait here for you"

Kim grabs my wrist before I can sit, "yeah, no way. You're my wing woman" and she tugs me along.

I follow her without a fight, down the steps in the bleachers till we stop behind the guy, who thankfully now has a shirt on.

"Hey, you were really great out there, I'm Kimberly"

The guy turns around and I drop my gaze. Ugh, all I need now is for one of Kevin's friends to tell him they saw me talking to the new guy that whooped his ass on the field.

Guess Kim's my ride till further notice.

"Hi Kimberly, I'm Jax"

Ice fills every vessel in my body and my grip on Kim's hand tightens so much that she lets out a yelp.

"Liv?"

No, it can't be. It cannot possibly be.

I slowly lift my gaze up off the floor, not trusting any sharp movements. It seriously cannot possibly be.

My eyes land on him and my throat constricts.

His hair is darker. He's taller and broader. Until this moment, I never really considered the prospect of seeing him again. I certainly never thought I'd recognize him on the spot. But it's him.

Jax freaking Callahan.

"Liv?" Kim's voice sounds distant, muffled, "what's wrong?" I can't reply, I can't move, I can't breathe.

All I can do is stare at him, a ghost of a memory suddenly solid in front of me. I lose it completely however, when he smiles at me. That achingly familiar smile I missed so much, "hi Ollie"

"Kim" my voice is quiet, almost inaudible, "take me home"

"Yeah, okay" my cousin doesn't know what's wrong—she never met Jax—but she gently steers me away from him, out of school and helps me into her car. Not until she gently places a hand on my knee do I notice that I'm shaking.

I look up at her to see she's worried. I offer her a tired smile, "I'll explain later, promise. I just need to get home"

Kim nods, "okay"

The drive home is quiet, save for the music from the radio. When Kim pulls up into my driveway, I see it.

The white moving van in the neighbor's driveway.

"You're getting new neighbors?" I turn to her, panicking slightly, "will you tell my mom I went out for a walk? I can't be here right now"

"Liv"

"I promise I'll text you at night and explain"

Kim sighs, "Text Kiara, I still don't have a phone" I nod and all but fly out of her car, leaving my backpack behind.