That's What She Thought

Chapter 4

Chapter 4 

"Stop it! Omigosh, stop!" Peyton laughed uncontrollably as Jack tickled her on his black leather couch. She stopped his hands from doing so and looked straight into his eyes. She laughed again, not moving her glance. She wrapped her hands around his neck and kissed him once again.  

Peyton couldn't believe how lucky she was to have a guy like Jack. It had been five whole entire months...and they still weren't broken up. Did this mean their relationship was real, and it meant something true? He was just so hot, special, sweet, popular, and funny...everything about him just seemed...perfect.  

All of a sudden, Peyton had an idea. "Jack! Play Truth or Dare with me! You love that game! It's such a good boyfriend\/girlfriend game! It can help us learn more about each other!  

"Uh...well we've been dating for like five months-" Jack started. 

"...and two days!" Peyton interrupted. 

"Ok, five months and two days, so...what do we not know about each other?" Jack said slowly.  

"What do you mean?" Peyton asked coolly. "You love Truth or Dare. We've played it before, Jack-"  

"Yeah, before I..." Jack began. 

"Before you what?" Peyton asked worriedly. 

"Uh..." Jack looked around nervously. He whipped his head around and looked at the clock. "Maybe you should...uh, you know, head home. It's uh," he fumbled for an answer, "...getting late, Peyton." He coughed nervously. 

"Jack," she said, "it's 4:30! Seriously, what's wrong with you?" When Jack looked uncomfortable, she added, "It's ok. You can tell me anything." She leaned in closer. "I trust you." 

Jack said reluctantly, "I...I have football practice and a meeting in a half hour. The practice is at five, and the meeting is at 6:30...so I kind of need to get ready." 

Peyton laughed awkwardly. "You could've told me earlier, Jack. I would understand," she said, relieved that was all Jack was being weird about. But a question inside her head kept popping up...was that all he was acting strange for? Or was he hiding something? 

Brushing the feeling off, she got off the couch and pulled on her UGGs. If Jack wanted her to leave, she would. She began shuffling towards the kitchen, where the door was. She grabbed her cream-colored bubble vest off the hook, and said goodbye to Jack. She reached out to kiss him goodbye, but he quickly wrapped his arms around her instead. "I love you," she cooed.  

But instead of saying, "I love you too" like he normally did, all he said was, "See you tomorrow." 

Peyton stepped outside into the frigid February air. What was his problem? Seriously, he had no real reason to be awkward around her. He never had before. Maybe he was just having a busier schedule than before. That could happen to anyone, right? 

Peyton zipped up her coat and began walking home. She lived only two blocks away, but she didn't feel like walking there today. It was too cold outside. She considered turning around and heading back to Jack's house and asking him for a ride, but he had to get ready for football practice anyway. She jogged to the end of his street. She could see her breath puffing as she ran. Her bubble vest with its underneath baby blue cashmere sweater attempted to keep her warm, but failed badly. She slowed her jog to a walk, and rounded the corner. 

As soon as Jack knew for sure Peyton was gone, he punched a number into his cell phone. He still stood in his kitchen, looking out the window carefully. Jack checked again. There was no one in sight. He put his phone up to his ear and listened to the steady rings.  

Someone answered. "Hey." 

"Hey," Jack replied.  

"Is she gone?" they answered back.  

"Yeah," he said, looking around suspiciously. It felt like someone was watching him.  

"Can you come over now?"  

"Yeah."  

"What about your football practice?"  

"I don't have any tonight." 

"Then why did you --"  

"I had to! Otherwise, why would I kick her out? I have to give her some reasons," Jack interrupted. 

"Alright. But-Jack, this isn't right. We shouldn't...your girlf-" 

"Don't worry about my girlfriend! She'll be fine."  

"Ok...if you say so," the voice answered slowly. 

"I'll see you in a few," he said back, hanging up the phone. He jogged to his room upstairs to grab a coat. As he trotted up the stairs, he thought about his life right now. Compared to the way he thought it would work out, everything was going really smoothly. And then thinking about Peyton's reaction when he had to kick her out, his features softened visibly in his bedroom mirror. He still couldn't believe he had done it that way. Shaking himself back to reality, he remembered he should be practically bursting with excitement right now. And he was.