Starting Over (ITILMBBF Sequel)

That Boy Loves You

On the ninth day at the hospital, my parents sent me home to catch up on my classwork. Missing a week in college was the equivalent of ten class periods, five hours of readings, three homework essay questions in preparation for our midterms, and one pissed off professor (despite my very valid excuse).

I was covered in Art History, as I'd taken AP Art in high school, same went for Precalc. I had meetings with all my other professors to discuss what I'd missed, but Biology remained a pain in the ass. The professor had been majorly unsympathetic and refused to push back my due dates out of fairness to the rest of the class. So here I was, on a Monday night in my bedroom, studying for my Bio midterm as well as working on two labs.

Luckily, I had Jackie's assistance as she'd passed the labs with flying colors and needed to study for this ass kicking midterm too. Only instead of being a study-buddy, she wanted to play the role of therapist tonight.

"Are you sure you're okay?" she asked for what must've been the a thousandth time tonight.

I groaned, falling back onto my bed. My arms spread out wide, while my legs stayed crossed to provide room for Jackie at the end of the bed.

Truthfully, Jackie and I hadn't gotten passed the first chapter. She helped me with the labs, but after that we both hit burn out really quick. The problem was she was doing just about anything not to work and as much as I knew we were going to flunk my first college midterm ever, I did kind of want to talk about Adam and Chace.

"Does it matter? The midterm is in less than twenty four hours either way."

When she was quiet for too long, I pulled my head up from the bed to see her leveling me with a look. Only then did she begin to speak. "Nothing in life is more important than taking care of yourself."

I scoffed, "Tell that to Professor Nelson."

"Tell Professor Nelson to shove it!"

I threw my head back into a fit of laughter while Jackie giggled quietly from her end of the bed. It was an interesting quirk I noticed about her. Almost like she was too embarrassed to admit she was funny, she would instead stifle her laughs and cover her face with her hand.

After my laughter had calmed down, I heaved a sigh as I sat up to face Jackie again. She was right of course, my body knew it even if my mind was rebelling. If I didn't take care of myself I'd end up like Adam and then I really wouldn't be able to take my midterm (never mind the much more important things I had to do in life). So for the first time since I caught Adam's heart attack, I stopped being strong. Instead of bottling it up, I let out a wail and told my story.

I started with mine and Chace's breakup last year and retelling the story of our recent fight that I spilled in the bathroom to Jackie just the same because I needed to get it out again. Finally, I end with my promise to Adam. How I felt so guilty over lying to Chace and putting Adam in the position he was in now. For her part, Jackie never interrupted. She listened with a grace and ease that a girl who was used to venting to Aaron was not accustomed to. Once I let out a harsh breath and sagged back into the bed, she spoke.

"I don't know where to begin..."

I throw my head in my hands and cry, "I know! I'm awful!"

With my eyes down, I don't see it coming. Out of nowhere, a pillow comes flying at my head, hitting me repeatedly on alternating sides. I shield myself with my arms, throwing them over my head in a crossed pattern. Between thwacks, I catch a glimpse of Jackie on her knees, slamming the pillow down on me with heat in her eyes.

"Ow, ouch, thmmpt," I sputter when the pillow hits me in the mouth, "Okay, enough!"

Jackie finally sinks back on her heels, out of breath from the beat down she just delivered. We're both panting heavily, the aftermath of every pervy teenage boy's fantasies but with infinitely more clothes on our bodies. She takes her time gulping in greedy helpings of air before leveling me with a look.