call it what you want

Chapter 4

Jackson

When I get back from Ameeriah's dorm, I can't help but let out a smile as I'm washing my face before I go to bed.

For one, I'm definitely winning the bet I have with Wes. There's absolutely no way I'll be hooking up with anyone if Ameeriah's always there to make sure I stay clean. And, more importantly, that fuck off Ryan won't be able to bother her anymore if I'm with her.

Perfect exchange.

When I open the bathroom door, I feel the cool air of the room brush against me.

Wes is already asleep and as I plug in my phone I realize that we have an early morning for our first practice back.

I set my alarm and warm up under the comforter and try to go to sleep.

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I hear my phone go off and my whole body feels so tired still.
It feels like I was only sleep for an hour or so, definitely not a whole night's worth of sleep.

Dazed and tired, I reach for my phone and I'm confused because this doesn't sound like my phone's alarm clock, but my ringtone.

As I lean over my bed to where my phone is plugged in, the brightness of the screen makes me squint my eyes.
When my vision unblurs, I see the time showing 3AM.

What the fuck?
Who's calling me right now?

As my eyes adjust to the light, I see the caller ID.

Ameeriah?

"Ameeriah? What the fuck are you doing it's 3AM," I say groggily, still half asleep.

As my brain starts to wake up and I feel a little more conscious, I hear the words I'm saying and my heart skips a beat thinking of every possible reason why she would be calling me at this hour. Is something wrong?

On the other end of the phone I hear Ameeriah's soft voice spilling out words quickly.

"Hey Jackson, sorry to wake you, you definitely sound like I just woke you up so, sorry about that but um, anyways," she clears her throat as she continues. "Yeah so, uh, you remember that deal we made, oh, like a couple hours ago? Your idea, might I add."

"Holy fuck babe take a breath, yeah Ameeriah I remember," I say quickly in between her mumbled words because it didn't sound like she was gonna pause anytime soon.

"Yeah so," a quick pause, "so yeah, I'm gonna um, yeah I'm gonna need you to hold up your portion of this deal like uh, yeah like, like right now," she quickly says.

I sit up in my bed as I hear her words.

"What do you mean?"

I hear a deep sigh.
"Sorry, yeah I shouldn't have called you, I'm sorry that I woke you up, this was stupid. Goodnight Jackson."

"Wait Ameer—" I start to say but I hear the dial tone sound of the phone call ending.

She hung up on me?'

And what the fuck did she even call me about?

I'm obviously not not gonna go see what the hell she meant, so I roll myself out of bed and find a pair of shoes before I quickly head over to Ameeriah's dorm.

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Ameeriah

As I hang up the phone I feel like a completely and total idiot.
The moment I pressed call I knew it was a bad idea.

Technically, yes, our deal was that he would keep Ryan from bothering me, but like, I guess Ryan isn't causing too much harm right now?

He's just sitting outside of the dorm call and occasionally reminding me that he's there and to let him in to talk.

It's not like he's banging on my door, insisting to be let in.
I shouldn't have called Jackson unless Ryan was like seriously scaring me or something.

"Meer, please, let me in, let's talk. I just wanna see you," I hear from the other side of the door.

I silently roll my eyes.
I hate that fucking nickname.

I'm not responding.
I stopped responding after the first two pleas. I'm hoping he thinks I just fell asleep or something.

I sigh and get into bed and hope that Ryan decides to take himself home.

There's only a second of silence before I hear him starting back up.
Except...this time his voice sounds a little different.

"What the fuck are you doing?"

I hear a stern voice and realize that it's not coming from Ryan, but.. Jackson.

"Who are you?" Ryan replies.
"Who are you? And what the fuck are you doing sitting outside my girl's door?"

"Your girl?" I hear an unbelieving Ryan say.
"You heard me. Go the fuck home."

I don't hear any reply before my door knob jangles and there's a soft knock.
"Meeriah, it's me, open up," I hear Jackson's low voice.

I get out of bed and quickly go unlock my door before Jackson shoves his way in and shuts the door behind him.

"You don't know how to let someone let you in, do you?"

He ignores me and moves on.
"Dude what the fuck?"
"Don't talk to me like that."
"Sorry," he says so quickly. "What was that?" He asks still stern, but sincerely.

I bring my hands to my face to rub my eyes and sigh.
"He does that sometimes."

"What do you mean he does that sometimes?"
I blink at time. "Jackson. I know you understand English. He does that sometimes means he does that sometimes."

He rolls his eyes and sigh.
"What I meant," he emphasizes, "is like, what was he gonna do if I didn't come here?"

"I don't know, probably just sit out there."
"Sit out there?"

"Yeah he's pretty harmless," I say. "I shouldn't have called you, I'm sorry"
"Harmless? That's like grade A stalker Ameeriah."

I widen my eyes a bit. "Geez," I say, to lighten the mood. "I didn't mean to make you mad."

"Mad?" He laughs a little through his nose. "I'm not mad at you dude. A little pissed that you hung on me, uh ya," he rolls his eyes a bit.

"I'm sorry, I just," I sigh, "right when I called I felt stupid so because he doesn't actually do anything really. I just got a little scared because my roommate isn't back yet and I didn't want her to be coming home and open the door and then now he's in the room you know?"

I look into his deep brown eyes as I watch him listening to me intently.

"Ameeriah I don't care if he sent you a fucking pigeon from three thousand miles away, if he's ever even remotely bothering you, just call me, or fuck that, just text me, or something, I don't care."

I smile a little a let out a little laugh.
I let out a breath and soften my eyes.

"Thank you for coming Jackson."
"Anytime babe."
"Don't call me that."

Instead of responding, he smirks.

"Look at us. I think this little exchange of yours is gonna work. You're like a.." I start but get cut off.

"I can be anything you want babe. Handsome.." He drags out and I hit him on the shoulder.
"Goodnight Jackson," I say as I let him out the door,

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