Journey to the Center of Attention

Bonding

"Remember when I told you that I asked George out?" April asks Jackson as they are sitting on the couch as she is currently resting her head on his shoulder.

"Yes, I remember." Jackson replies in a slow manner.

"Well, we're finally going out tonight."

"That's great." He replies with a fake smile.

"It is beyond great. He's really awesome and I'm really excited to go out tonight and-" She gushes.

"Take it easy, April. This isn't Disneyland." Jackson teases.

"Sorry." She blushes.

"Just have fun and be yourself."

"Thanks, Jackson." She says, giving him a hug.

"Anytime."

"So, what are you gonna do tonight? Are you going to dick around on the couch playing X-Box or binge watching Scandal?" She jokes.

"Probably play X-Box." Jackson responds. 'Kill George or come up with a plan for us to date each other.' He thinks to himself.

"You're such a loser." She says and they both laugh.

"I wonder what time I should get ready." She says sitting up on the couch.

"Um...maybe an hour before he gets here."

"Hmm, who knows." She says taking his phone from his pocket.

"Hey, remember when I got that phone?"

"Yup. You were running around with a Blackberry for years and you had a breakdown when it wouldn't turn on that day. I've never ever seen a man go crazy over a phone before." She snickers.

"I had a hot date that night." He says. "Anyway, you had to drag me to get a new phone after work. Good times." Jackson responds fondly.

"Well, I better go make dinner." April says as she stands up.

"Make dinner? Why are going to make dinner? Aren't you going to dinner with George?" A confused Jackson asks.

"I'm making dinner for you, you macadamia. What are you in the mood for?"

"Mmm, homemade pizza?"

"Well, let's go to the store." She says, dragging him from the couch.

"Damn, I forgot that you are a strong woman." He says.

"And don't you forget it." She tells him.

♦

"So, how was the date?" Jackson asks her as she entered through the door.

"It was wonderful." She lies.

"Really? From the way you look, it seems like you were helping him push his car." Jackson teases.

"Correction: the earth moved in his car, ok? And it was spectacular." She tells him.

"So you really like George don't you?" He asks her, hoping he doesn't sound jealous.

"He is pretty damn cool. But I have to say, I am hungry."

"Well, you did work up an appetite."

"Shut up, Jackson."

"Come on. There's still some pizza left."

"Wait a minute. You didn't eat all of the pizza?"

"Did you forget that I was eating that big bag of trail mix?"

"Trail mix that you didn't share and half the bag of potato chips you stole from me." April reminds him.

"It's not my fault you had to buy the barbecue flavored Lays. Besides, you stole my gummy bears."

"Payback is a bitch." April smiles. "Now, let's just get the pizza." April says.

"Your wish is my command."

♦

"Man, this pizza sure is good."

"It should be good. After all, you were the one that made it."

"True." She says, snapping her fingers and pointing at him.

"So, what do you want to watch now?"

"Hmm, how about The Boondocks?" April recommends.

"You really wanna watch what?"

"The Boondocks. It's your fault for getting me into the series. Unless you want to watch The Golden Girls?"

"Damn you for giving me a hard choice." He says with a smile on his face. "Let's watch The Boondocks first."

"And I'll go shower up, get ready and get the blanket."

"Great."

♦

"Dear Dairy,

I lied to Jackson about my date with George. It was freaking HORRIBLE! For starters, he didn't open the door for me and said that I've looked better in darker colors. Rude! Then when we got to the restaurant, he closed the door just as I was going to enter the establishment. And the dinner? God, that man wouldn't shut up. Every time I tried to say something, he would just cut me off and talk, talk, talk. He just wouldn't shut up. To top it off, he ate all of his food, ate all of my food and proceeded to tell the waiters that I was going to pay for the bill. I mean, what the hell goes on in that mans head?! The worst part of the evening? His car broke down and he had the nerve to make me push the car, and then ask me out for another date. My response to George was, 'I'll swipe left to that idea.'

On the bright side, I did get to spend more time with Jackson. Spending time with Jackson is never dull. Even though he teases me for watching The Golden Girls, it makes me laugh because he's more obsessed with the show than I am. I mean, he has the entire show on DVD! I'm so thankful that he is my friend. I don't know what I would do without him, but I'm just happy that he's in my life.

- April.

PS: Is it wrong that sometimes I wonder what it would be like to date him?