Lovin' Lexi

Chapter 39

"No," he shook his head, "you have nothing to be sorry for."

I nodded my head vigorously, arguing, "It was supposed to be you and I, together. Now it's just me. I feel like such a bitch, just thinking about myself."

He gave a forced laugh, "Lex, you can't always be thinking about others before yourself. If it's what's best for you, then do it."

"I'd miss Florida," I told Jake, sighing. "If I leave I wouldn't have even stayed there for a year. And I didn't even finish a week in school!"

"You didn't, did you? That sucks, you would've liked it there," he had an emotion in his eyes that I couldn't decipher. It looked almost like longing? Sorrow? I couldn't tell.

"Speaking of schools," I started, remembering something that I wanted to tell Jake, "I wanted to ask you something. I know that it will sound selfish- and it is- but I just wanted to ask for the sake of asking-"

"Lex, just ask me."

I nodded, letting out a breath and asking all at once, "I was just wondering if, while I was on tour, youwouldwanttocomewithmeandjustbetutoredlikeme?"

Jake just stared at me, trying to figure out the last part of what I said. "What?"

"Never mind," I quickly rebuffed. "It's nothing."

"No really, what? I wanna know."

"It's not important." It was important, though- to me. I amended it, saying, "Well it is."

"Alright," he nodded, "so let me hear it."

"But I don't want you to."

He let out a humorless laugh. "Yes you do. C'mon, just tell me. What's the worst that can happen?"

I shook my head, deciding to be stubborn. I didn't want to be, but the thought of asking him again and, when actually hearing what I wanted to say, him turning me down didn't sit well with me.

"Lex?"

"Hey, that's my name!" I said, pretending to be astonished by the coincidence. Maybe if I stalled long enough, Jake would just give up and leave me to wallow about it on my own. As depressing as that sounds, I think that would be the better of the two choices.

All of sudden I felt my back gently hit the bed and Jake's hands on my sides. Once what was happening registered into my mind, I began shrieking with laughter and tried to squirm away from Jake's hands. I caught a glimpse of his face and saw that he was enjoying it- that jerk. "Jake! Jake, stop! Stop it, Jake!" I cried out.

"Hey, that's my name," that jerk had the audacity to mock me. I tried slapping his hands away, but to no avail. I was gasping for breath when he decided to stop. "Are you ready to say what you were going to say?"

"Um..." I guess I took a few seconds too long because Jake began to resume tickling me. "Alright, alright! I give- just stop tickling me!"

He, thankfully, stopped and gave me a minute to recover before asking, "So what were you going to say?"

Here it goes, the moment of truth. "Um... I was wondering if you wanted to come with me... You know, while I'm, um... on tour. You could be tutored like me..." I trailed off, immediately realizing that it was way more stupid and selfish outloud than in my head. "Nevermind, it's stupid. I mean, of course you wouldn't want to move away, you have school here and our friends and... Nevermind, forget I asked-"

He turned his head to look at me so quickly that I was surprised that he didn't get whiplash. "You want to stay boyfriend and girlfriend?"

I frowned, "Yes? Is that- is that a problem?"