The New Boy

oops

when I go to move the door, it hesitates. Jack is sitting in front of it. he immediately gets up.

"Jess! are you okay?!" he almost yells, embracing me.

"yeah. I'm better now." I say and bury my face in his chest.

"good." he says and doesn't let me go. he just runs his fingers through my hair.

"Jack?" I say, trying to get his attention.

"yes babe?" he says taking a step back, but not letting go of me.

"thanks for putting up with my shit." I say, almost laughing.

"you put up with mine." he says.

"oh yeah? like what? it doesn't even compare to mine." I say, actually laughing.

"yet, but-" Jack starts, but his mom yells from downstairs, interrupting him.

"dinner is ready."

"I need to fix my face." I say and hop to the bathroom. I fix my makeup and grab my crutches. Jack carries me downstairs and I see his mom and dad sitting at the table, waiting for us.

"hello dear." Jacks mom says smiling. I smile back at her, not sure if she's talking to Jack it me.

"hello Mr. and Mrs. Gilinsky." I say as politely as I can, sitting down next to Jack.

"Jess, right?" Mr. Gilinsky asks.

"yes." I smile again.

"I've heard a lot about you." he says.

"you have?" I laugh a little awkwardly.

"only good things of course. like on the first day of school, you were all I heard about." he says, putting a piece of food in his mouth.

I haven't even looked at the food yet, so I figure I should. it's grilled chicken Caesar salad and fruit. I think I can get used to staying here if this is what they eat all the time.

"oh really?" I say, smirking at Jack and I see his cheeks turn a bit red.

"yeah. I was starting to think that you were the only person he met." he tells me.

"so what all did Jack say?" I ask, smiling and I put my hand on Jacks thigh and turn to him and raise my eyebrows.

"I'm sure that she doesn't want to hear all of the details." Jack says, his cheeks turning even more red.

"sure I do. details are my favorite. I just like to draw a picture in my mind." I say smirking, trying not to laugh.

"well," his dad starts, "on the first day, all he was talking about was how he met this gorgeous girl and how you two were going to homecoming together and just everything. especially how nervous he was to talk to you at first, but needed an excuse to talk to you. so, he intentionally bumped into you so you two could talk."

"aww. Jack, that's really sweet." I say blushing and giving him a quick kiss on the cheek.

"there's a lot more than that, but I'm sure Jack can tell you that later." he says and winks in mine and Jack's direction.

"don't worry, I'm sure Finny will." I say, almost giggling because of what I just called him.

"Finny?" his mom asks and Jack just awkwardly laughs.

"yeah, short for Finnegan." I explain.

"I like it." she replies.

"mom!" Jack says, still embarrassed.