it's not that simple.

Chapter 8

"Oh dear," She began,

"Mom?" I asked again.

The silence on the other line frightened me, and I shivered at the thought she didn't want me to call her.

"Yes," She shyly whispered.

Now I didn't know what to say to her, I prayed she would say something to break this awkward silents.

"Honey please it's not a good time, and we both agree you are not ready for this," She soothed.

"I just needed to know you are ok," I pleaded holding back the tears that I knew would start falling.

At that moment Hali came trotting up the stairs and into the room, She looked at the phone in my hand and the tears welling in my eyes.

"Mom?" She asked quietly,

I reached out my phone to her and laid it in her hands, she pulled it to her ear gently.

"Happy Birthday," She squealed into the phone.

"Thank you Hali," I heard my mom say,

Dad took the phone from Hali and pulled it back up to ear,

"Jessebelle I think we need to talk," he said motioning for us to leave the room.

"I have nothing to say to you," She replied.

I took Hali's hand in mine and dragged her out of the room, She let me go and ran down the stairs.

I stood there, not knowing what to do now. Jayce came up the stairs and wondered up to me,

"Hey," He whispered.

"Hi," I tried to smile at him,

My vision blurred and my world went blank, I found myself being wrapped into a bear hug.

"I don't understand!" I wailed,

"Shhh it's ok," He tried to calm me.

I let him release me and I extended my hand to his, intertwining our fingers.

I looked up at him, his eyes wide with curiosity. To tease him a little I rose onto my tip toes and planted warm kisses along his bare neck, He groaned a little and I giggled.

"Maci," He moaned,

"Jayce," I laughed.

He pushed me gently to the wall and leaned his body against mine.

He laughed lightly in my neck, and teasingly kissed my cheek.

He lifted his head up to meet my gaze, and we both started aimlessly into each others eyes, just listening.

Tentatively listening.

I straightened up and put my hands on his chest,

"What is it?" He asked,

"Nothing just.." I began,

He forced himself away from me and pulled my arm, he haled me to my bedroom and sat me down on the bed.

Multiple thoughts ran through my head, but when he sat down in front of me I knew he wanted me to explain.

But was he really going to listen to me? Or was he going to tell everyone my story? As if he had been reading my thoughts he reached out to me and embraced me in a tight hug.

"You can trust me," He said holding me tighter,

"Can I really?" I asked shrugging him off,

He leaned back in and pressed his soft lips to mine, butterflies stirred in my belly.

"Jayce no," I whimpered,

His hand found it's way to my hair and the other flat across my back to hold me still. I moved my hands onto his neck, and clenched his hair tighter.

He eased up the kiss and playfully nipped at my bottom lip,

"Jayce," I laughed,

He laughed with me, and then I knew that maybe a summer with him wouldn't be all the bad after all.