Stalker

Chapter 8- The Proposal

Maria

Aiden and Jackson would be the death of me.

I no longer tried with Aiden, but I could tell he was still watching me.

As Jackson walked me to every class for the rest of the week, Aiden was only a few feet behind. His presence was heavy, and over time, I started to get in my head while Jackson was talking to me, more focused on the way Aiden matched my steps perfectly. The way he stopped right as I did, and the way he was still always there.

Hoco was on Friday, and Jackson still hadn't asked me, which gave me anxiety. All the good dresses would be sold out by now, and I would have to scavenge for something wearable at Macy's if I wanted to match with him. Jackson talked a lot, which made it easy to avoid awkward silences, but hoco was never mentioned.

I found myself day dreaming more and more while walking down the hallways with him, zoned out to the football talk and more focused on how I was going to keep hoco from Marco.

I just had to make sure no one posted anything with me and Jackson in it.

I don't really understand why Marco is so strict with dating, after all, I'm 17. I think I can handle one boyfriend.

It was now Monday morning, and Jackson texted me right as my bus pulled up to school.

Jackson: 'Meet me by the circle.'

The circle is a spot in the front of the school with grass and trees, it's where most people hang out before school starts if they don't want to actually be in the school building yet.

Jackson and I had been meeting up before school for a few days now, and I noticed the way his friends always scattered right before I showed up.

I wondered when I would be introduced to them.

As I walked to the circle, I noticed a large crowd of kids surrounding the circle, a small opening in the front.

He was going to ask in front of everyone.

I felt like I was going to throw up as I approached, locking eyes with Jackson in the middle of the crowd. I filled the gap in the crowd and then continued forward, reading the big red sign Jackson was holding in his right hand.

In his left, was a teddy bear.

The sign read, 'I couldn't bear hoco without you' in big letters, a small picture of a teddy bear at the bottom.

This is what I wanted right? A big proposal in front of everyone?

No, this was wrong. I felt sick, a million pairs of eyes on me.

"So?" Jackson said, his voice distant. "Maria, will you go to Homecoming with me?"

Don't pass out, don't pass out.

I forced myself to focus on his nervous smile and his brown eyes. And then I caught another pair of eyes, darker, angrier.

Aiden was watching.

"Yes." I flung myself at Jackson, giving him a tight hug as I wrapped my arms around his neck. The crowd began to cheer, many people patting Jackson on the back as I let go.

I felt Jackson lean down into me, aiming for my lips. But I was quick to turn my head, his lips landing on my cheek instead.

If it bothered him, he didn't show it. He grinned and handed me the teddy bear, showing off the sign to everyone.

I studied the small bear, brown with a white nose. I hugged it tight to my body as Jackson wrapped an arm around me, now having the sign rolled up so we could go to class without making such a scene.