That's South Side

Chapter 20

"Explain myself." He whispered, noticing she'd been wiping a few tears before he barged in.

"Explain what?" She shrugged, moving past him towards the door, "I already told you the other day that I forgive you." She faked a smile, making her way out the door.

"Alinea, wait!" Jimmy called, following her out the bathroom and losing her for a moment in the party. He finally quickly spotted her a little ways in front of him. "Hey." He said, grabbing onto her arm gently to stop her.

"What?" She asked, not turning to face him.

"I just...I need to talk to you." He whispered, "Please."

"JIMMY!" He heard that familiar shrill voice calling from behind him.

"It sounds like you're needed somewhere else." Alinea let out, as Jordyn approached Jimmy from behind.

"You left me for a long time." Jordyn purred into his ear, as Jimmy just rolled his eyes. "Who's this?" She asked, seeing Jimmy's arm still grasped around Alinea's arm.

"Alinea." Jimmy let out, as Alinea just turned to force a smile.

"Oh," Jordyn pursed her lips, "I'm Jordyn."

"Hmm, okay." Alinea nodded, "Well I'll leave you guys to it." She said, pulling away.

"Jordyn." Jimmy sighed, as this girl had her arms snaked around his middle.

"Hmm." She whispered.

"Can't you go bug someone else for a while?" He asked, shaking her grip off of him.

"What?" She asked with surprise, pulling away.

"I don't want to be with you anymore," He shrugged, "You know this." He said, "We broke up forever ago for a reason, and I wanna keep it that way. Okay?" He said, as Jordyn just gave his a look.

"You know what?" She asked with her hands on her hips, "I can do better than you anyways." She concluded, storming away.

"Okay then." Jimmy shook his head, looking back out into the crowded room to find Alinea.

----------

"Hey." Wade said, grabbing Alinea's shoulder. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be." Alinea nodded, "It's whatever."

"Yeah, I know whatever." Wade sighed, "I know that you're not supposed to let out your feelings on the south side," He smiled, "But if you want to, I'll be here alright?" He half smiled down at her. He knew what it was like to come from a community where showing emotion wasn't tolerated – it was rough.

"Really I'm fine." She breathed, "I just need a drink, I'll be good."

"Yeah, we'll see how that works out alr-" He began, as he noticed Alinea's eyes drop, and a hand make its way on her shoulder.

"Hey." Jimmy said, "Can I steal her for a second?" He asked, referring to Alinea.

"Sure." Wade shrugged.

"Will you walk with me for a minute?" Jimmy asked her, as she just nodded taking a sip of her drink. "Okay, c'mon." He nodded, leading her from the small of her back to the back door as the two made their way outside.

"I don't know what you wanna talk about." Alinea breathed, "I already told you that I forgi-"

"Shhh, no it's not about that."

"Did you just shush me?" She asked, as her eyebrows raised.

"Wait," Jimmy laughed, "I'm sorry I just, I want you to hear this." He said as the two slowly walked next to each other around the perimeter of Lopez's home.

"I'm listening." She said, taking a deep breath.

"Me and Jordyn, we're not anything." He clarified, "She came here tonight, it just threw me off. She's nothing to me."

"And you're telling me this because?" Alinea wondered, keeping her eyes focused on the things in front of her.

"I'm just gonna be straight, I like you." He shrugged, as Alinea stopped in her tracks, "I have been ever since before you and Taj." He breathed, "You just make me feel like...this weird thing I don't know."

"I make you feel a weird thing?" Alinea laughed, finally getting herself to turn towards him.

"Not in a bad way! I swear." He smirked, "You challenge me, I like that." He explained, "I don't know, I just feel...so crazy when I'm around you. I just..."

"Are you being for real?" She asked seriously, the last thing she was gonna let happen was make herself look like a fool.

"I'm being straight. I swear." He nodded, looking down at her – into those eyes.

"I came here tonight," She began, "Because Wade came to talk to me about you."

"I heard." He sighed, he didn't realize how fast his heart was beating.

"He told me that maybe you had a thing for me, and that if I felt something...about you...that I should tell you tonight." She concluded.

"But then you saw me with Jordyn..." He realized.

"Yeah," She nodded, "So I was a little confused." She laughed.

"Okay," Jimmy said, putting all of him out there, "Well I'm not conused anymore, and I know what I want."

"Really?" Alinea raised an eyebrow.

This was weird. The guy she used to despise, hate – was standing in front of her telling her he had feelings for her.

"You really draggin this out, huh?" He laughed.

"I just wanted to make sure I understood the situation before I put myself in a situation to be a fool." She said.

"I promise," Jimmy inched closer, "That's not my intention." He whispered.

"Good." Alinea whispered, as Jimmy softly slid his hands down her forearms and connected their hands.

"You wanna go somewhere?" He blurted, as their faces were just inches from each other.

"Go somewhere?"