SURPRISINGLY YOURS

Promises

Jagger

"We shuttled around together and then alone and then back together," she said of her time in foster care, "I was eight and Kyle was 10 when our folks got super stoned one night and fell asleep in the car with us in it—locked—and on the train tracks. A guy passing by dragged us out before a train plowed into the car."

"Jesus.." I scowled, slurping the soup, "And I thought my parents sucked."

"Oh, I'm sure they do," she winked, "I haven't seen ours in years. They're in California—or maybe Oregon.."

I frowned and set my bowl down on the nightstand, "Why wouldn't they see you?"

"They never wanted children," she told me, "That's what we kept hearing. They loved those checks, though."

"I'm sorry," I said, "That's fucked up."

"So is your situation," she said, "I mean, in the light they seem fine, but you've told me they aren't the prize parents."

"I don't amount to much if I'm not on the field," I turned to her and scowled, "This shit doesn't leave this room."

She looked hurt by that, "Jagger, your secrets are safe with me."

Julia

And they were.

I had shared so much with him—more than I'd ever planned on.

What would become of us now that we knew this about each other, and why was I more angry with his ex than ever?

"So, do you want to watch a movie or.."

"Can I kiss you again?"

His question wasn't shocking, but it did make me wonder if he just needed that connection.

"What's so important about you kissing me?"

"I don't know," he shrugged, "I guess when we kissed at the diner it made me forget a lot of my troubles."

I didn't know which Jagger to believe.

I knew everyone had multiple sides to them, including me.

I wasn't mad about his condition—only that his parents were assholes for not getting him the proper help he needed.

I made a promise then and there that no matter what became of us—even if we were to become mortal enemies somehow—I would be a shoulder for him.

He needed that.

"Julia?"

"Jagger.." I sighed and patted the space next to me in the bed, "I'll kiss you even though I feel so grade school."

"I'll even set the mood," Jagger turned out my main overhead light as I switched on the table lamp.

He turned on some classical jazz that I'd had stashed away—how he figured that would set the mood made me wonder if he knew me better than he let on.

"So...how many guys have you kissed?" Jagger asked as he settled in next to me.

The fact that now I knew what his body looked like underneath those sweats and tee made me needy.

I didn't want him to know that, though. He still had a big head—in more areas than one.

"Now, pucker up, buttercup.." he said as he hooked his finger under my chin and lifted my head.

"That's you setting the mood?"

He didn't answer.

Instead, he leaned in and kissed me...but this was different from the diner.

Something inside of me exploded—and I wasn't sure what it was.

All I know is that I didn't want the feeling to end.