What you and I could've been

Unexpected

We went to Bryce's house after the big scene at the pep rally. I for sure was never going to a pep rally ever again. I was still a mess with paint but with Greg's shirt. Sam was sitting beside me as I sat on the window side of the car looking out to the dark city. Physically it was light, but emotionally it felt dark to me. What a truly dark place. Maybe I fell into the state of exaggeration, but after what happened tonight I had nothing left in me that wanted to see this world a little better. We finally arrive to this huge mansion. A typical 'rich boy' scheme.
"Alright we're here ladies and gentleman." Bryce's dad speaks over us. To top the richness, Bryce's dad is a senator in the mayoral republic.
We begin heading for the tall white doors that lead into this fantasy. Sam was definitely in awe of this.
"One hell of a house Bryce." Greg comments.
"It's not so bad given how much you talk about it at every family get-together." Veronica speaks.
We're slowly making our way in as a maid quickly runs to me.
"Oh dear my, what happened to this poor girl?" The maid questions Mr. Davidson.
"Just a bit of a ruckus. Teenagers huh?" He chuckles and walks off.
"Let's get you cleaned up dear." She says to me.
"We'll meet you outside." Bryce says to me.
"Actually I'll stay with her." Jacob speaks suddenly.
They all nod and begin to head for Bryce's something-million-dollar pool lounge. The maid takes me by the hand as we walk up stairs with Jacob behind us. We finally make it to the bathroom.
"Let me fetch some clean clothes for you dear. In the meantime take off your painted clothing." She kindly says and walks out.
I begin to take my clothes off. I had nothing in mind as to how generous this maid was being. I was almost done when I spotted Jacob in the creak of the doorway. Quickly, he disappeared. Was he watching me?
"You know I would feel more comfortable if you weren't watching me." I spoke.
"Jess, I'm not a pervert." Jacob says on the other side of the door.
The door opens quickly and for a second I though it was Jacob but it was the maid.
"Here, let's get your hair washed." She said.
Once I was fully clothed and bathed, I walked out with the maid and she smiled at Jacob.
"I'll give you two some privacy." She smiled and walked off.
I turned to see Jacob as red as me. We laughed and began to head downstairs.
"One hell of a house." Jacob said.
"I think I'm already aware of that." I said.
"Bryce's family has really hit the jackpot." Jacob said.
"They sure have." I said.
We continued to head down and into the pool lounge. I could already see Sam splashing around with Bryce as Veronica and Greg sat away from each other.
"Hey I'm gonna go accompany V ok?" I said to Jacob.
He smiled and pat me on the back and started heading for Greg.
"Holy shit." Veronica said as I approached her.
"My words exactly." I said.
"If only Gena could see this. She would be knocked off her throne am I right?" Veronica said.
"Let's not mention Gena right now." I said.
"Yeah I'm sorry." Veronica said.
We looked out to where Jacob and Greg were. They were playing pool as Sam and Bryce were swimming in the pool. I chuckled.
"So why is it that you and Greg dislike each other so much?" I asked.
"Well I didn't want to bring it up but, we dated back in 8th grade." She spoke.
"Really?" I asked surprised.
I never thought of it. Greg really doesn't like to be around Veronica so maybe that's where the line is drawn.
"It's not something I bring up often. We ended up cheating on each other unhappy with our relationship so that's why we're not on very good terms." Veronica explained.
I looked over to Greg. He was talking with Bryce and Jacob. No wonder he's seemed so distant in talking to other girls.
"Well I had no idea." I said.
"I guess ever since Greg and I had our deal that's where my rudeness kicked in which I know it's what everyone sees in me." Veronica said.
I saw Sam and Bryce making their way to the hot tub. Jacob and Greg were still talking.
"But hey let's not bring up the past." Veronica said.
"Sure." I said.
She smiled, "so you and Jacob huh?"
"What? No way, we're just friends." I said.
"That's what they all say." She said and walked towards the pool.
I saw Greg eye me and began to walk over. He walked past Veronica like she didn't even exist.
"What were you two talking about?" He asked almost concerned.
"Girl stuff Greg. Don't worry." I said and began to head for the pool.
I was walking along the crystal light pool. I forgot what happened earlier that night for a moment and sat by the water. For once, I forgot I wasn't ok.
"Hey there." Jacob came by.
"Well hi." I said.
He sat himself down beside me as we both took in the beauty of the pool.
"Well I guess those two are having a great time." Jacob said while pointing out Sam and Bryce by the hot tub.
They were laughing and swimming around together. Sam looked happier than she ever had before. For once I knew that she wasn't falling for a total douche bag.
"Bryce's family is pretty lucky huh?" Jacob said.
"I wouldn't say this is being lucky. Being lucky means truly finding something unexpected and going for it whether you have to sacrifice everything or karma didn't bother showing up." I explained.
"Well I know I can always count on you for an explanation in everything." Jacob said.
We laughed and looked back at the water. Jacob nudged me a bit and suddenly I knew what he was going for. I nudged him back and kept at it until we ended up pulling each other into the pool. We were both sinking into the water and laughing. We locked eyes. I swam closer to him and so did he. Suddenly it felt like nothing around us was moving. It felt as if time stopped as we were floating there looking into each other's eyes. We quickly ran out of breath and swam up to the surface.
"Let's go under there." Jacob said as he pointed out the water fall in the pool.
We both swam over there each dove into the water fall. We were alone.
"So anyways," he began to say, "was that your sister at the rally?"
I went silent.
"I don't mean to bring it up-"
"It's ok. Yeah she is my sister." I answered.
"Is she the only one in your family?" He asked.
"In her world, yes, but in reality it's me, her and our mom." I said.
"Oh. What about your dad?"
That's when I truly went silent. Never had I ever spoken to anyone about my dad. There's a long story behind him that I never want to tell anyone about. Not even Sam.
"He's um, long gone." I said.
"Oh I'm sorry." He said.
"Don't be. He's not worth talking about." I said.
"Jess, if there's any-"
I interrupted him, "it's not important. Like at all. Let's just not talk about it."
"Sure." He finally said.
We stayed there floating as I looked to the water. How peaceful it looks when it's not moving, but just a simple touch and I realized, thousands of ripples were created. Like how one can feel nothing but then all of a sudden feel everything. I was mesmerized.
Jacob suddenly swam right in front of me.
"You seem distracted Jess." He said.
"Well don't you think it's better than concentrating on how shitty my life can be." I said.
He backed up.
"Is it shitty right now?" He asked.
"No of course not, heck I'm not even thinking about what happened." I said.
He nod and swam right next to me once again. We sat there in silence only hoping for words to fill it with.
"So, can I ask, who were you visiting at the cemetery the other day?" I asked.
"Oh yeah, you were there and you saw me." He said.
"Correction, you saw me." I said.
He started sinking into the pool up to his neck.
"It was my little sister. She died in a car accident while my uncle was drunk. Of course he's in jail now but it was horrible." He explained.
Shocked, I turned away. Jacob had a deceased sibling too? This took a turn.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to upset you or anything." He said worried.
"No it's fine. I lost my brother to cancer so in a way I guess we've both suffered, right?" I said.
He seemed intrigued.
"You know, this topic is just too sad. How about we change it?" He asked.
"Sounds good." I said.
We continued to float in more silence. I splashed him a bit and he returned the splash. We began a little war and by the time we knew it, we were looking into each other's eyes again. I began to swim closer to him as did he, he held onto my waist and pulled me in for a kiss. I felt his soft hair as his lips were pressed against mine. We were at it for a bit before we both felt a huge splash on us. Bryce had snuck up on us with a bucket full of pool water. He began to swim away quickly as Jacob swam after him and I shoved Sam as she was dying of laughter.
"My little Jess is so grown up." She faked her tears.
I continued to splash her and I spotted Greg storming off into Bryce's house. Veronica was at the mini bar with her head slumped down.
"Something must've gone down." Bryce said as we all eyed Veronica. I hopped out of the pool.
"Where you going?" Sam asked desperately.
"I'm going to check up on him." I answered back.
I began to walk towards Veronica as Bryce and Jacob were splashing each other. I began to hear soft sobbing as I approached her.
"Hey what's wrong?" I asked.
"He had to bring up the situation we had almost 2 years ago. He had to bring it up now." She said crying.
She slouched her head back onto the table and I looked into Greg's direction.
"I'll talk to him." I said.
"No please, don't make it worse by putting yourself in the situation." She pleaded.
"I won't say anything about you. Just let me check up on him." I said.
She nod as she wiped away some tears and I went for the house entrance. I looked around inside for Greg and didn't see him anywhere. In a house like this, one could get lost easily. I called out to him to see where he was. I heard a small noise from upstairs and began to head up there. As I got closer to Bryce's bedroom I saw him sitting there with his hands cupped into his face.
"Hey there." I said cheerfully to enlighten him.
He looked at me like he was as dead inside as me.
"So everything ok or?" I asked.
"You ever get so angry at someone that in the end you just end up feeling sorry for yourself about wasting your anger on someone who isn't even worth it?" He asked me.
"You know who you're talking to, right?" I asked him.
He laughed stood up and threw his fist at the wall. He sat back down on the bed. I sat next to him.
"One hell of a life huh?" I said.
"Veronica told you about her and me didn't she?" Greg asked.
"Well she told me a bit." I said.
"What exactly did she say?" He asked.
"Well she told me how both of you guys cheated on each other back when you dated in 8th grade." I explained.
He lost his smile. He looked down at the floor.
"Yeah that's one way to put it." He said.
We both went silent and heard the distant laughter from the pool lounge. I got up and walked to the window to see down below. I saw Jacob talking with Bryce and Sam as Veronica was sitting by the pool.
"Crazy to think how someone can so easily break your heart." Greg said as he walked over.
"You're talking to a girl who's had her heart broken way more times than a regular person should." I said.
Greg looked to me. I turned to look at him and we locked eyes. He moved the curtain at the window to close it as he approached me slowly.
"Greg..." I spoke.
He pressed his lips against mine. He began to move me back onto the bed. He moved over me as I lay down.
"Jessie.." He whispered my name.
We began to make out. I was lost in thought until I looked at Bryce's shelf. There was two empty beer bottles and a half full one too. Greg had been drinking. He wasn't going to remember this.
"Greg," I spoke. He continued to kiss my neck, "GREG!"
He backed up, "what?"
"You're drunk Greg. And you don't feel this way about me." I said.
"Jessie, I've always felt this way about you." He spoke almost exhausted.
"You're blurry Greg. You need sleep." I said.
He began to approach me again.
"It's ok Jess, trust me." He said as he got near my neck again.
I pushed him back.
"Greg don't, your seeing someone right now." I said.
"Abby Jansen? That slut who bullied you in middle school? Hell no." Greg spoke.
I stayed there in silence. Greg's heavy breathing was the only thing I was hearing.
"I've always liked you Jess." He said.
I had no idea what to say. I sat there questioning everything. Is it true what Greg was saying? Or was it just the beer talking?
"Greg you can't be serious. A girl like me is never even thought twice about. I'm just arty mc gloomy as everyone says." I said.
Greg looked at me with passionate eyes.
"Jess, you are the most beautiful girl with the most amazing talent and the kindest heart." He spoke.
"Greg I mean it, it's just the beer talking." I said.
He got closer and began to kiss me again. He came over me. We were at it until he began looking away and coughing.
"Greg," I said.
He began to gag and ran for the trash bin in the room. He was throwing up as I walked out of the room.
"Jess wait." He called out.
I was walking down the stairs while Sam was waiting for me at the bottom.
"And where have you been Juliet?" She asked me.
"Forget about it. Let's just go home." I said.
"Already? But me and Bryce-"
"Don't Sam! I don't want to hear anymore shit about Bryce than I already have. Bryce this, Bryce that, I'm done!" I said and stormed off.
I looked back and she was standing there in shock. I walked out the doors and stood there in the darkness.
Well tonight was unexpected.