call it what you want

Chapter 41

Jackson

We spent the rest of the day at my house and waited as long as possible before we drove back.
I was dreading this trip, thinking that as soon as I went home it would be a constant discussion of the divorce, and I feel so guilty about feeling that way because it wasn't.

I didn't realize how much I missed my mom and my stupid sisters.

The car ride back is so much better than the car ride there was.
I was a nervous wreak on the way here.

When I do begin to think about everything though, I start to spiral.
I haven't spoken to my dad in about 2 months.

I don't know if I'll ever speak to him again.

I know that's dramatic, but how I'm feeling right now? I'd like to fucking kill him.

"What are you thinking about?" Ameeriah says softly.
I turn my head quickly to see that she's looking right at me.

I don't know how the hell she always notices just..everything.

"My dad."

"Have you talked to him at all?"
I just shake my head.

She moves her hand to the back of my neck and gently sways her fingers. The comfort of her touch gives me goosebumps.

"I know things feel really permanent right now, but things are gonna get better with time," she pauses and continues quickly. "And I know that sounds like such shitty advice like oh things will get better," she mocks herself in a higher pitches voice and I have to hold the smile back from forming on my lips.

"But things really will get easier, I promise that."

I'd trust anything she said.

We listen to the music playing for a little bit and Ameeriah quickly turns to me after she gets a text message.

"Your birthday is in two days?" She exclaims.
"Yeah," I sigh.

I normally love my birthday, but it just so happened that my birthday falls on the same day as my parents anniversary or did fall on my parents anniversary.

"Why so bum Jackson? I love birthdays!"
This is such a buzzkill to say. "My parents anniversary is on my birthday. I don't really wanna celebrate this year."

"Oh," she says quietly. "Then we can just watch a movie," she says with the softest smile.
"Yeah," I smile softly as I reach over to put my hand on her thigh.
My gosh I really fucking care about this girl.

When we pull up to campus, we go drop off Ameeriah's bags and then we head back to my apartment.
I unlock the door and hear Wes and Adare. "Try this, see if it's done," I hear Adare say.

Once I open the door wide enough, Adare is dropping a noodle into Wes' mouth.

I snort.

"Wes you little bitch," I laugh as I go to watch past them to the fridge and he punches me in the stomach with the side of his fist while he continues to keep his eyes on Adare.

"How was you guy's weekend?" Adare asks.
"Good," Ameeriah says softly as she sits down.

"Don't forget we have Jared's thing this weekend," Wes says as he strains the noodles.
I scrunch my face.
I forgot about that.

Jared is our team captain and every year he throws a huge party and expects everyone from the team to show up.
Now I'm not against a party, but Jared is just..Jared.
No one on the team likes him, and everyone would boycott the party if his dad wasn't the coach who could take away playing time.

I still don't know why he makes it so clear that everyone on the team has to show up because it's not like its some kind of formal, black tie event.
It's a normal party. One that you could find in two seconds driving around in a college town on a Saturday night.

My personal theory is that he knows he's way too lame for anyone to show up on their own, because this kid is a grade A douche bag, but if he forces every guy on the team to go, obviously they're gonna bring people, and so on and so forth and what have you.

I don't know.
He's just a little bitch.

I walk behind Ameeriah and throw my arms around her shoulders to lean to her ear while Wes and Adare aren't pay attention.

"You're coming with me," I whisper in a smile. "Like old times," I smirk, thinking back to when I would drag her to parties just to spend time with her, telling myself that I did actually need her there for a real reason.

There was no real reason.

"Like old times?" She whispers back and I see a smile on her face as I lean into her. "That was like a month ago," she laughs softly.
"I'm not good with time."
"You're not good with a lot of things," she laughs.

"I make up for it by being good at other things," I whisper even lower and I see her gulp, which of course, brings a grin to my face.

After dinner, Ameeriah yawns.

"I'm getting ready to head back," she says as she starts to peel off of the couch.
"Alright let me grab my jacket, I'll walk you," I say.

"You don't have to walk me all the way back."

Adare stands up from the couch too. "I'm heading back to the dorms tonight too."
"Yeah I'll walk them back," Wes tells me as he begins to get up.

"No.." Adare cuts him off. "There's no point in you walking us back just to turn right back around," she laughs. "We'll be fine."

They head towards the door.
"Are you sure you don't want—" I say but Ameeriah cuts me off.
"Go to sleep Jackson," she laughs.

They walk out the door and we hear the door shut behind them.
It's just me and Wes on the couch now.

"Did they just tell us to shut up the fuck up?" I say while looking at the door.

"Basically."

I tell Wes goodnight and start to walk to my room.
After I take a quick shower and change into new clothes, I climb into bed.

Before I plug my phone in, I shoot Ameeriah a text.

Me Lmk when you get back so I can put down my stress ball

A minute of so later, the phone lights up the dim room.

Meeriah made it back u dork

✧∘* ೃ ⋆｡˚.
Thanks for reading!

Have you watched the new eps of season 2 of The Summer I Turned Pretty? My long distance bsf is coming down in 2 days so we promised to not watch it until we're together and I'm DYINGGGG anyways team conrad girlies will be fighting for their lives this season stay strong besties