Soulmates and Exceptions #Wattys2016

Why?

     "I think I need a walk after all of that." Brea announced. She went to the door to put her shoes and jacket on, looking to see if anyone would take her up on her silent request for company.

     Jackson looked down at Spencer, silently challenging him to make a move. Spencer straightened his shoulders, in a failed attempt to become taller than his brother, and glared back.

     Brea bit her bottom lip and slid out of the door. She had made it down the street and around the corner before she felt someone bump her shoulder from behind. "Jackson." She frowned. She had hoped that Spencer would have followed her.

     "What are you thinking about Brea?"

     Brea shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know what to think, really. Why did you tell them?"

     "I didn't tell my dad anything specific. I just told him that you and Spencer might..."

    "You PROMISED!" Her words sounding more hurt than angry.

    "I HAD TO!" He grabbed her by her shoulders. "I didn't want you to make a mistake."

    "What I feel for Spencer is not a mistake!" She turned from his grasp and began walking away from him.

     "What if it is?" He called after her.

     She stopped and turned around. He had never seen her this angry, even when she got into fights at school. She stormed up to Jackson and pointed at his chest with her finger. "You have no idea what I feel for Spencer. The frustration of always wanting to be around him and knowing that he is so determined to not be matched...ever."

     Without thinking, Jackson took her hand in his. "I don't know what it's like? To feel drawn to someone and know that they'll never want you in return?" It was his turn to be angry. "I've felt it every day for the past two years!"

     Brea huffed, again trying to walk away from Jackson. "Maybe you're the one who's wrong then." Her words were cold and biting.

     Jackson shut his eyes, feeling his heart being shattered by her words and anger. He internally debated his next actions while Brea walked away, rambling on about Spencer. This would be his only chance, he couldn't lose it. He figured, that from a logical stance, and given everything he knew about Brea and Spencer,  that there was a strong probability the two were soulmates – that whatever he felt for Brea was simply a crush he's had since he was eleven. Selfishly, he knew how he felt and wanted to see if there were a small chance that everyone was mistaken. What was the worst that could happen? He touched her, a mark failed to appear, and things would be awkward for a couple of weeks, then they would be fine. Spencer and their parents would never need to know. Jackson needed to know for sure. He took his gloves off, leaving them in his pockets, and began to chase her. "Brea!"

     She stopped, shutting her eyes as she let her head fall back. "Jackson, I'm done talking with you right now." She turned to find him right in front of her. "Listen Jacks," her tone softened slightly, "I'm getting another headache. I just want to go home and lay down."

     "I'm sorry Brea." He uttered, as he took her face in his bare hands, drawing her close for a kiss.

     Brea felt her eyes widen before they fluttered shut, her mind spinning. 'When had he taken his gloves off? What's happening?' She questioned herself, instinctively pulling one of her gloves off to touch his face.

     The stinging feeling and the after-warmth happened quicker than they had been led to believe would happen. They broke apart, both breathing heavily.

     Brea opened her coat and pulled her shirt collar, peering down. "It was you...this whole time?" She asked, surprised, looking at Jackson.

     "You were...mine?" Jackson was stunned. He had convinced himself that it never would have worked. Spencer had told him so last night...he looked down his own shirt to make sure he wasn't dreaming. Brea took her other glove off and held his face with both of her hands, kissing him with everything she now felt – she needed more. Jackson eagerly kissed her back. He abruptly broke the kiss, both happiness and anxiety filling him. "What did I just do? Our parents are going to kill me! You're SEVENTEEN!" He began to pace.

     "They said we could try to ignore it, even after this...we just can't...you know."

     Jackson swallowed hard at the thought. "We can do this. We just can't let anyone see our marks."

     Brea looked down, "What about Spence? My mom read my journal – she knows what I was feeling..."

     Jackson thought for a moment. "You need to keep acting the same way around him."

     She took his hand and squeezed. "What if I don't want to anymore Jacks?"

     "I don't think we have a choice. If they suspect anything's different, we're busted."

     She reluctantly agreed with him. She slid her arm around him, instantly enjoying the safety and warmth he brought. They walked together, arms wrapped around each other, until they were a block away from their street. "We should put our gloves back on."

     "Don't worry." He smiled at her and patted her arm before letting go to put his gloves back on. "We've got this."

     Brea watched him, trying to take everything in as she felt her headache slightly ease. To the untrained eye, Jackson was goofy and aloof – completely undisciplined. Brea knew better, Jacks was calculated in everything he did. Being goofy was a coping mechanism to deal with the daily taunts. If given the opportunity, she knew that he'd rather be accepted – by anyone – for who he is: a deep thinker who enjoyed to get lost in assorted kinds of literature that offered him an escape. If he wanted her to keep acting the same way she always acted around Spencer, she knew there was a reason. "We've got this." She echoed.

     They arrived at Brea's house first. He hugged her, whispering, "I love you."

     She blushed. "I know that. It's just that now, I know that I love you the same way too."

     Jackson reached for the back of his neck. His heart was thundering so loudly in his chest, he couldn't respond. He watched Brea walk into her house, then turned towards his own. He spotted Spencer glaring at him from the front door. He held his hands up, showing off his gloves. "Don't worry."

     "I don't have to."

     Jackson pushed his way past his brother to enter the house. "Then why are you so jealous? You, yourself, told everyone that you're never going to get matched." Jackson smirked, leaving his brother to seethe.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

     Brea watched the boys as they entered the house to scavenge the kitchen for lunch. They had been out in the pool for the better part of the morning and mid-afternoon. It was nice to have a day off they could all spend together. The past couple of years had been rough on the trio. All of the things that needed to change and the others that remained the same had all changed the group's dynamic. She was happy to know that despite all of the changes, the boys' appetite wasn't one of them. It amused her that she could still practically tell time by their hunger. Some of the changes, however,  hadn't been nearly as entertaining. In fact, they were devastating.

A/N: The next part would be on the more mature side, so if you'd rather not read that part, skip ahead to the chapter after.  :)