Hooked on love

Chapter 22

Chapter 22

It’s been a couple of weeks since Jackson and I have been dating, we’ve been to two different restaurants, a karaoke bar which ended up me being a microphone hog. Jackson refused to bring out his disco diva, but I know deep down he wanted too.
 I’ve basically been seeing him 4-5 times a week, Nick not so much. He’s mostly busy or working, it’s strange. I miss him.

 Mr Wilcock came round to meet mum and dad, it was pretty awkward for me to sit at the table casually chatting with my boss. He even offered to cook for Lucy, but Lucy being Lucy refused, so he brought her a piece of cake instead. I guess he can be good to her.
 They move the party to the living room now, I want to leave but I don’t want to draw attention to myself. “Ava!” Beau shouts me from our bedroom, thank god. “Excuse me,” I get up and shut the door behind me.
“Yeah?” She’s stood at the top of the stairs with my phone. “It’s been going off, I thought I’d shout you – plus aren’t you bored listening to them all chat on?”
“Yeah, I just felt awkward leaving.” I climb the stairs and take my phone, “thanks, and for bailing me out too.” She smiles and goes the way I just came.
I have two messages and one missed call, the missed call is from Jackson and the two messages are from him and Cassie.

‘What are you doing? I’m bored. x’

It was sent over an hour ago, I hope he doesn’t think I’m ignoring him, I reply.

‘The guy my sisters dating came round to meet my parents, he even offered to cook for her, but she said no. It was a bit weird seeing my boss in normal clothes and being nice. I’ve just escaped to text you, sorry I missed your call. What’s up?x’

A couple of seconds later, my phone rings, it’s Jackson. I answer, “Hello?”
“Hey, what are you doing tomorrow evening?” Just hearing his voice gives me butterflies, “Friday? Nothing yet, why?”
“I want to cook for you, come round tomorrow around 6?”
“Asserting your dominance already?” I say. He laughs, “Is that a yes?” I like how I can hear his smile.
“Sure, I’ll see you tomorrow at 6.” He must have gotten the idea from my text, I don’t know how Lucy said no. “Good, see you then,” and hangs up. Does he ever say bye like a normal person? I wonder what he’s going to cook too.
 I go back down to let mum know I’m having tea at Jackson’s so she doesn’t make extra for me.
“Why don’t you invite him round sometime instead of always going to his?” She says, she has a point. “I’ll ask him when I see him tomorrow, if you like?” I reply, “sure honey, we can do it next weekend if he’s free?”
“I’ll let you know.” We hug and I change out of my work clothes into some pajamas, “that’s better.”

I sprawl out over my bed thinking about tomorrow. I’m excited to see Jackson again but I don’t want to do it too much so he gets sick of me, or as usual I find an irritating habit in his and let it drive me crazy. I hope it’s something I like, I always worry when it comes to new foods or someone surprising me. The sickness returns in the pit of my stomach, it will be okay.
 It eventually washes away, I hate constantly having worries dangling over me to the point I throw up. I want to call Nick but I know he doesn’t want to talk about Jackson, why can’t he be the friend I need him to be? Keeping his distance isn’t fair. A beep from my phone distracts me from my thoughts, I didn’t even know I chewed my nails raw, again. Pain throbs through my fingertips, great.
 I check my phone and I have two messages waiting, both from Cassie.

‘Can we meet for dinner tomorrow? It’s urgent. C x’ I received that 45 minutes ago, how did I forget? I quickly open the next.

‘Ava?’ I have a bad feeling about this. It’s never been urgent before, I’m worried now, I reply.

‘Urgent? Everything okay? Where? x’
It’s normally boy problems are a hair crisis at the most, and she always comes here. Not arranged to meet in public. She replies,

‘More or less, I’ll come get you at 12 if that’s okay? x’
Yep, it’s definitely urgent. She’s never this evasive, before I know it I’ve already replied.

‘Sure, I’ll be ready. I hope you’re okay. x’

I try to push Cassie to the back of my mind, otherwise it’ll build up and I’ll burst. Being naturally curious is going to kill me one day.
 I text Jackson letting him know about my plans and that I’ll be at his on time. I get into bed and get comfy. Just as I start to drift, my phone lights up. I check it.

‘I’ll be fine hun, it’s you I’m worried about. x’  What? Me?

‘What do you mean, you’re worried about me? What are you talking about? x’ My heart is colliding against my chest, I hate this feeling. It lights up.

‘I don’t want to do this over text Ava. x’ She’s beginning to irritate me. I need to know, do I want to know? I reply,

‘Tell me, now.’ I stare at my phone waiting for her reply, she’s never done this before. She’ll know I’m being serious now I’ve erased the ‘x’ from the end of the text. She finally replies, just reading it makes me want to throw up.

‘It’s about Jackson.’

I said being curious would kill me one day.