Hooked on love

Chapter 24

Chapter 24

I walk to Jackson’s collecting my thoughts. I don’t know how to attack the situation, go in full force or lightly peck at him, I’m sure I’ll know once I see him.

I take a deep breath and knock on the door, there’s no answer. I knock again and I hear a clashing sound inside, so I lean forward and put my ear against the door listening. A couple of seconds later and I finally hear feet padding down the stairs, I stand up and flatten my hair one last time so it doesn’t look like I was eavesdropping.
 The door opens and Jackson steps into my view, he’s wearing a white button up shirt with the last 2 buttons undone, and to match he has straight, black pants on. They fit perfectly. He literally blows me away, and he doesn’t even know it. Before I know it, the questions and anger I had in me are slowly dissolving. He’s probably going to break me, and I’m going to let him.

As he leads me into the hall way, there’s no light – just candles lighting the way. I hear light music humming coming from upstairs, it’s so romantic and amazing. I’m glad I wore something nice now.
“May I take your coat Ma’am?” He purrs. I narrow my eyes at him, “if I wasn’t so amazed right now, I would have hit you for aging me 30 years with that comment.” He grins from cheek to cheek, pulls the coat from my arms and hangs it up. “This way please, if you’d like to follow me.”
 He starts to walk up the stairs, I notice each step has a small candle lighting he way. The instinct to blow them out so they don’t burn the carpet is strong, so I slap it away and ignore it. The effort and thought he’s put into all of this is incredible, so I’ll leave my criticism at the door.

He pulls a chair out for me to sit on, instead of 4 chairs, there are only 2. So it looks like it’s just me and him,my scalp pricks. I thought I’d have some company, I can’t do it alone. “Where’s Daniel and Seth tonight?” I say. He creases his eyebrows, “they let me have the house to myself, why?” With the way he said why, he doesn’t seem too happy I’ve asked. Cassie’s face pops into my head, a pang of guilt hits deep, it’s okay, everything will be alright.” I need to be strong so he doesn’t suspect anything.
 Whatever he’s cooked smells familiar, I start to panic. Please don’ be anything with Barbecue, please don’t be anything with Barbecue. Before I forget I need to ask him about next weekend, “oh yeah, if you’re free next week, my mum has invited you for tea.” He’s deep in thought looking at his phone, I guess I’ll ask him later. “What did you say?”
“Nothing important.” I smile, I just want to get through tonight. He sets my plate down, and it is what I thought it was. Hunters chicken smothered in barbecue sauce, no no no, maybe I can eat round it?
“What?” He snaps. I flinch, I flinched? “Um, nothing. Did you make this?” Stay cool, I’ll just chew and quickly swallow, it’ll be easy. “Yeah, I made it from scratch, it’s one of my favourites.” I my head I’m hitting my head against the table, why did it have to be barbecue? My chest feels like walls are closing in, I can’t breathe properly. If I carry on, I’ll throw up – I refuse to. Just say it!
“Don’t be mad, I don’t like barbecue sauce…” The look on his face makes my chest tighten even more. I need to so something, “It’s okay, I’ll still eat it though.” I smile, I don’t sound nervous do I?
“Great!” He barks, slamming his fists on the table causing everything on it to clank together making me jump. He rakes his hands through his hair, taking a long breath in and out.
In the first time in my life, I’m actually scared of someone. Someone I love.

“This is perfect, the nights ruined!” He isn’t even looking at me. “It isn’t ruined, I told you its fine. I’ll eat it, see?” I cut a piece off and take a bite, I’ll do anything to stop him from being angry. He glares a me, “spit it out! Why eat it if you don’t like it?” I try and swallow but my throat has closed up and won’t let me. I grab a napkin and spit in into it. I’ve tried something I hate for him, that should be enough right? “You’re a fool.” He says with a stern face, no smile, no joking, nothing. He’s really calling me a fool.

 The anger I had before is slowly boiling in me, “did I really deserve that?” He shrugs “probably, who eats something they don’t like? It’s insulting to the cook, you know?”
“Insulting?” I squeak, “It’d help if the cook asked what the customer wanted before cooking something random.” It’s starting to bubble inside, a bit longer Ava, keep going.
“It’s not my fault the customer is so picky, it’s so inconvenient.” He leans back into the chair folding his arms. “It’s not my fault I don’t like barbecue sauce, everyone is entitled to their own opinion!” I spit out opinion louder than I expected, I don’t care. It felt good.
“It is yours. You should just eat it and be grateful.” He sounds like a spoilt kid, who even acts like this? Oh yeah, a child. I stand up throwing the napkin at him. “I’ve had enough of your crap! You’re mad at me for not liking certain foods, when you could have just asked me what I liked, but instead you insult me like it’s acceptable? I tried it, for you and you go and call me a fool?” I snort through my nose, I can’t believe he has the nerve! He leans forward closing the distance between us, “you could have told me, you don’t tell me anything so we could have avoided this mess!” That’s it, I snap.
 “You want to talk about not sharing? Then please enlighten me, who is Damien?” I slam my hands on the table, I need to support myself my legs are shaking that badly. With that comment it’s like I pushed him back into his chair, he finally stares at me. He’s out of answers. “How do you know that name?” He’s beyond angry, he doesn’t get to be angry! “I know that name because of Cassie!” Just thinking about what she went through causes a ball to form in my throat, threatening to cut off my oxygen. “That stupid friend of yours doesn’t know what she’s talking about!” Pointing in my face, how much more does he want to insult me? “My friend came to see me today – with a cracked cheek bone and a bruised eye. She said Damien did it. Funny she should know that name isn’t it? Now, you tell me if she’s lying!” My entire body is shaking, my eyes are blurry from the tears trying to fall, I blink them away.
 He slumps down into his chair again as if someone has just sucked the life from him. He just stared at the table, stunned. I should feel victorious but I don’t. I feel hurt from his insults and lies. “I know you know him Jackson, he told Cassie before hitting her ‘what you take from me, I take from you’, and the second her and Kyle got away he shouted to warn you – you Jackson!” He flinches at the word you like it hit him in the face. He looks lost, speechless.

Minutes pass and all I hear is my pulse pounding against my eardrum. “Jackson!” I shout, his head finally shoots up, mumbling something. “What?” I say. “I said okay, I’ll tell you.” I sit down and fold my arms, “I’m listening.”