My Section Leader's Secrets

Epilogue

(Friday, the day of the Homecoming game.)

School went by insanely fast because we only had a half day. I was sitting on my floor by the lockers when it happened.

"Hey so you wanna go and get some lunch before we have to be back here?" Jackson smiles down at me.

"Of course!" I push myself off the ground and push my head into Jackson's shoulder. "You smell so good. I mumble and he chuckles.

"It's gonna be torture not being with you at Homecoming." Jackson says grabbing my hand.

"Yeah I know, but it's okay. Patrick and I are just friends and I already told him." I assure Jackson as we move forward.

"So you've said, but I'm just saying I don't like it." Jackson starts to pout, which is a hilarious change to his normal facade.

I roll my eyes and grab my phone from my back pocket to see a new message.

"Oh hang on." I stop walking and Jackson comes behind me to see. "That's weird, it's an unknown number." I laugh as Jackson starts kissing my neck.

I click on the message and my stomach immediately starts feeling queasy.

"What is it?" Jackson moves to look at me, worry lines etched in his face.

I shake my head and hand him my phone, tears in my eyes. How is this happening?

Jackson starts to read out loud, "'Dear Emily, this is Patrick's mom. Maybe you should think a little better next time you want to be making public displays of affection in the middle of the hallway.'" Okay first of all we weren't even doing anything, but whatever! Jackson looks mad enough to kill. I motion for him to keep going.

"'You have been leading Patrick on, all for dinner and a ticket and he will no longer be taking you. If you want the ticket, you may pay him for it tonight at the game.' What the actual fuck?!" Jackson yells, thrusting my phone back in my hand.

"I said we were just friends, I don't even know how this is happening!" I shake my head and try to stop crying.

"Hey hey," Jackson moves so he's facing me, " it's okay baby, we'll get through this together." He wipes my eyes and pulls me into a hug.

When he let's go I form a response for Patrick's mom. Wait, why is his mom texting me? That's so childish. Whatever.

I am very sorry for the misunderstanding, but I told Patrick we were going just as friends. I appreciate you trying to help, however I will purchase my own ticket at the dance tomorrow. Thanks.

The response makes me want to pull my hair out.  That's sounds like a great plan, however Patrick is on the student council and he knows there will be no tickets available tomorrow.

I don't even answer. I am so beyond done. "Let's just go to lunch." I shove my phone in my pocket and get into Jackson's truck.

***

I'm able to forget about the whole Patrick and his mom thing during lunch, until we get back to the school. "Are you okay?" Jackson asks me for the millionth time.

"I'm fine." I assure him, but as soon as my mom comes through the door, the tears come back.

"Hey what's going on sweetie?" Mom looks worried.

I hand her my phone and she goes through the messages slowly. "What the hell?" I've never seen my mother so mad. "Okay this is staying with me!" She puts my phone in her pocket. "So you two are going to homecoming together then?" She looks between Jackson and me.

"Uh." I look at Jackson and he looks helpless.

"Perfect," my mom claps "We will need corsages, I'll take care of everything, don't worry, go have fun!" With that she kisses me on the cheek and walks out.

"Weird." I mumble and start to go to my locker only to have Jackson grab my wrist.

"Hey," he pulls me back "you're the best." He kisses me quickly on the mouth and walks away.

Best. Year. Ever.

***

The next day, everyone in my house is going crazy. My mom, my aunts, and my cousins are all fussing over my hair and makeup. "Hey, it's fun to look like a princess." My cousin, Lizzie says smiling and eating a cookie.

I roll my eyes at her, but go put on my dress anyways. I have to admit, blue is my color.

"Absolutely stunning!" My mom gushes as I walk into the living room where every one is.

"Thank you thank you!" I twirl around.

We're all laughing when I hear a door shut. "He's heeeere!" My cousin sings out from the kitchen.

My palms go sweaty and I'm blushing profusely. It's okay, I can do this.

"These are for you." I hear Jackson say to my mom as he walks in the house with a bouquet of flowers.

I turn the corner and suck in a breath. When Jackson's eyes meet mine, it's like we're the only two people in the room. I walk towards him picturing every romance movie where the couple run towards each other and make out.

Even if it would be okay for us to kiss in front of my family, Jackson is stuck in his spot by the door. "You look amazing." He whispers when I finally reach him.

"Thank you. You look very handsome." I smile and pull him inside. Everyone takes about a million pictures before we're allowed to leave, but somehow we make it out.

When we get to the dance, Jackson takes out costs over to the check in and we move to the gym. 'All of me' by John Legend comes on just as we make in inside and Jackson sweeps me onto the dance floor.

"This is the best homecoming I've had all four years." Jackson admits while twirling me around.

"It's sad you're leaving though." I admit.

"We still have the whole year together." Jackson smiles down at me. " And then an entire lifetime."

But when Jackson kisses me in the middle of the gym I'm not thinking about a lifetime. All that matters is that we're together right now in this moment, because one moment can last a lifetime.