Somewhere Only We Know

XXVI - Boundaries

The car hummed quietly as Jesse gripped the steering wheel, the road illuminated by the sunlight. Jackson quietly sat in the passenger seat, his gaze fixed outside the window, but the tension between them was apparent.

"The weather is quite good," Jackson said, trying to keep the mood light, but Jesse wasn't biting. "So what brings you back here?" Jackson continued, ignoring the obvious annoyance in Jesse's face.

Jesse looked at Jackson for a moment, thinking about the question, "What do you think? Max's graduation,"  He replied, his voice a bit too casual. "So, what's your deal with her? Last I heard, you were still messing with her and pissing her off."

Jackson shifted in his seat, glancing at Jesse, then back to the road. "I mean, we're friends again. I apologized, didn't I?"

"Apologized?" Jesse echoed, feigning a chuckle. "Listen, I know my friends and I have quite a reputation outside of this shithole. So I don't believe for a second that you only apologized to reconnect with Max."

"What? No! I mean, I know about your fame, but I would never use someone to gain network, let alone Max of all people," Jackson insisted, his voice tight, filled with panic. "Trust me, Jesse. All I want is my friend back."

Jesse turned to face him, narrowing his eyes. "You're quite the joker. I've had people watching over Max while I was away. I know about the shit you've pulled. So, no. I don't and will not trust you."

Jackson shifted his glance to Jesse, watching his expression remain mute. For a second, a glimmer of hope flashed in his eyes as he thought of what to say next, "I like her, okay? I've liked her for a long time. I know that doesn't align with my behavior towards her, but I do!"

"You have got to be shitting me," Jesse responded, laughing at Jackson's poor attempt to convince him, "No way you think I believe that." He followed as he quickly looked at Jackson, "Alright, let's say you do like her, what's there to like?"

"Plenty of things," Jackson said, defensive now. "Her music taste, her style, life. She's cool," Before he could continue, he was cut off, "There it is! Her life. Her life is centered on money, a successful family background,"

"What do you want from me, man? What the hell is there to gain from her success? I'll have you know I've been an outstanding student. I can build my successful background," Jackson followed, panic and irritation rising from his tone.

"Right, an outstanding student with a great background of buying drugs behind an alleyway," Jesse prodded, his tone sharper now, "I know who you are, Jackson. You lied to Max about your parents' deaths. For what? Pity? So she can feel less shit about how you've treated her in the past?"

For a moment, the car went silent. Jackson shifted uncomfortably in his seat, almost like he was figuring out how to escape, "I don't know what you think you know about me, but it's all wrong. Mind you, my parents are indeed dead."

Jesse sighed as they blended in with the traffic, "Don't give me that, Jack. I have a lot of receipts."

"I don't know what you think you have on me, but none of it is real. You don't know who I am or what I'm capable of," Jackson shot back, irritation creeping into his tone.

"See, now you're just throwing words around! You realize that this entire conversation has proved my point, right? So fucking what if you like her? By the looks of it, you're threatening me," Jesse responded, glancing at Jackson. "All I'm saying is don't come near my sister, alright? Is that so difficult?