Fixing Me ∞ Hood

Chapter 22 - Denial

Start of part 3

Jordan’s P.O.V

I tugged my dress down a little because I could see that Calum was getting… thingy about the guys staring at me due to it rising up. Calum smiled and kissed me softly on my cheek.

“Thank you.” He whispered. “Even though I did like it. I just don’t like the guys staring at you because of it.”

I titled my head back on his shoulder to look up at his perfect face. “Awwww! You’re so protective.” I smiled. 

I saw him blush slightly before swiftly kissing my cheek again and burying his head in my neck. I smiled to myself. Everything that Calum does makes me like him more and more…

What?! No… I did not just say that. Crap.

Even though I shouldn't be thinking like this, I continued to smile. Being with Calum felt so right, even though it shouldn’t. 

As I looked around the group, my eyes caught on someone who was someone that I recently despise. Another one of my exs. Jackson Bridge. Incredibly nice guy, at least that’s what I thought. We were quite serious. He said that he loved me, and I’d never had that before, so I said I loved him back. But now I realise that it was never really love… it was just a hope that I’d always wanted to have. I forced myself to believe that I loved Jackson, I never really did. The reason he caught me eye now was because he was glaring at me. And it isn’t one of those I dislike you strong glares. It was one that feels like it burns into your sole, and one that says ‘I seriously despise you, go kill yourself’, that kind of glare. 

I’ve seen that glare before. But not from him. I’ve seen it from the opposing gang. I saw it from Jimmy and Johnny, when they were… hurting me. Whenever they looked at me, they looked at me with such hate and disgust. The day I escaped, it was the happiest day of my life. Well, no not really, but I was just relieved that I was able to get out of there. The way I escaped… not exactly proud of… but that story will come later.

 To this day, I still don’t know what I did to them to make them hurt me the way they did, but I’ve always wanted to know… sometimes I find myself thinking about what I could have possibly done, as a little seven and eight year old, to make them hate me that much… I always come up blank.

I have no idea how long Jackson has been glaring at me, but his glare turned from me to Calum, and that’s where I started to get thingy. I don’t like the way he’s looking at Calum… it’s like he’s plotting the ways that he can kill him. Jackson isn’t usually like this. I’ve been trying to ignore him all night, well because he’s my ex, but now I can’t. Maybe he’s just drunk…? I don’t know… something just seems different. Not just about Jackson, but about the atmosphere of the club. I’ve realised, as well, that Jackson keeps checking the watch on his wrist every 5 minutes. Is he waiting for someone? Does he have another girlfriend? Psh, who do I care? Him and I are done. We were done a long time ago. But something was bugging me about him. He’s involved in the gang, so maybe I can ask Danny if anything’s up. Yeah, that’s what I’ll do. 

I tilted my head back, making Calum pull his face out of my neck, looking at me expectantly. “I’m going to go get another drink. Want anything?”

“Nuh, I’ll just come with you.” He pushed on my back lightly, letting me know that he wanted to get up. 

I put my hand on his chest to push him back down. I gave him a guilty smile. I feel like I’m turning him down. Don’t ask me why.

“Why can’t I come with you?” He frowned and pouted.