Once Upon a Neighbor

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Jamie

"So besides the pizza, why did you decide to come over?" Thatcher asked with a smirk playing on his lips as he took a drink of his water.

"Oh, Thatch." Jamie mumbled between bites of pizza. She pointed to his six pack. "For that of course. Its more edible than this pizza."

Thatcher choked on his water, spinning towards the sink and spitting it out. Jamie burst out laughing at his expression. He downed the rest of his water to keep from coughing again before he looked at her, bug eyed and excited.

He looks like a little kid! Jamie giggled again.

"Did you really mean it? My abs are edible?" He asked excitedly. 

Jamie nodded, unable to surpress her grin. Thatcher did a little dance, moving his hips like a belly dancer and shaking his arms in a shimmy. He continued dancing until he too started breaking down into laughter.

"No, but seriously now... I need to ask you a favor." She said, jutting out her bottom lip.

"Ahh, I knew there was something else.. " He moved over to her and in one quick move he took the pizza out of her hand.

She scowled at him, before getting back to the task at hand. "Thatchy Poo, will you go see a movie with me?" Jamie batted her eyelashes to help her case.

Thatcher took one long look at the slice of pie, sniffed the air a little before tossing it into the open box. "What's the catch, 'Jamie Poo'?" He replied mockingly.

At this she bit her lip. "It's with Miriam?"

His joking smile flat-lined into a frown.

"Jay-"

"I KNEW YOU WERE TROUBLE WHEN YOU WALKED IN-" The samsung phone in Jamie's back pocket blared.

"Oh shit. Hold on for a sec, Thatch."

"SO SHAME ON ME NOW-"

Without a moment's hesitation, Jamie hopped off the bar stool and slid the answer button on her phone.

"Sully, hey." She was little breathless after running out of Thatcher's apartment to answer the call in peace.

"Mom told me you called today." Her younger brother stated.

"And what did she say?" Jamie's heart pounded a little faster in her ribcage.

"Aw, sis, it's nothing to worry about. Yada yada, I'm concerned, yada yada, maybe it was too harsh of me to send her away, bla bla. Nonsense really."

She imagined he was on the couch in the basement, looking at his nails or polishing his trophies. She couldn't help but crack a smile at the mental image.

"Oh. What's up then, Sul? Girl problems?" Jamie asked her brother, who often came to her for advice.

"Just playing some jugar videojuegos. And naw, you know me, during the summer, I fly solo." He extended the word solo to add an extra effect.

"Jugar videojuegos means 'playing video games' so that's all you needed to say." Jamie scoffed a little at her brother's ridiculousness. "Genius."

"Don't hate me 'cuz I'm cool." Sully replied automatically.

"You should tell that to the ladies. Don't date me 'cuz I'm a fool." She laughed.

"Ha. Ha." He returned dryly. "Puh lease. The ladies would try and date me anyways."

"Eh... I don't know about that. We all know I'm the real stud." Her nose crinkled with her laugh.

"Ew. Just ew, sis."

"Ew. Just ew, girl. That scarf just does not suit you. Totes get that other one." She mocked him, gasping with giggles. "You would be like the perfect gay best friend."

"Need I repeat myself? Ew. Just ew, sis."

She snorted. "You know you want to be my bestie."

"Maybe, but not your gay one. That's like Warren or whatever."

"Wren." Jamie corrected, although she knew he wouldn't remember it anyways.

"Right. That dude. He needs to stop checking me out. I know I'm a hot piece of ass, but-"

"Oh my jelly beans, Sully. He has a boyfriend!"

"And he wishes his boyfriend was me."

Jamie doubled over in laughter again. "Sure, Sul. Whatever you say."

There was noise coming through in the backround from Sully's end and her grin dropped a little. She was sad to have to let her brother go off and spend his summer without her.

"Hey, Jay Jay. My friends are over so I have to go. I'll call you later?"

"Yeah, of course, Sully. Tell Ty I say hi." She paused. "Love you."

"Love you too, sis. I'll text or call you soon. Bye."

"Bye."

The phone stopped transmitting sound.

-----------

"Ugh, I can't believe you dragged me into this." Thatcher whined as Jamie tugged him into the theater. She merely shrugged.

"All I said was I'd buy your soda and popcorn and you caved. So don't cry like a baby."

He pouted his lips a little at her. "Fine, but just one more thing. I can run out of here and ditch you if you don't oblige."

Jamie sighed. What now? "Fine.. what is it?"

Thatcher's fingers touched hers with a spark and they entwined themselves with hers. Blush spread across her face, which Thatcher immediately noticed. He smiled at her, and she smiled back.

"How about we go find Miriam now?" She asked to distract her wandering mind.

"Ugh. Have I told you how much I dislike her?" He groaned.

"Plenty of times." She said looking around the mall. They finally spotted Miriam in the line for snacks, leaning on a familiar, tall redhead. He had a smirk on his face when he wrapped his arm around the giggly girl.

Jamie barely contained her anger. First, the guy flirts with her, then practically stalks her by getting her actual phone number, then calls her a slut and is now leaning on her friend. Although she was furious, she squeezed Thatcher's hand and tugged him towards the pair.

"Are you okay, sugar?" Thatcher's deep voice rumbled with concern.

"I'll be fine." She assured him, not totally meaning it. His eyes remained skeptical and on hers, but he shrugged and looked away.

"Let's go then."

A/N: I'm so sorry I haven't updated in like two months or so.... golly, high school makes people so busy!

Anyyyywaaayyyss, three or four things:

1.) You'll meet Miriam next chapter
2.) I am currently going through the story to make sure there are not plot holes.
3.) I know her mom doesn't honestly make sense because in the first chapter Jamie was happy while on the phone with her mom, and then her mom was pissy layer. It will make sense. Promise.
4.) Jamie has three brothers; Jaden (her twin), Andrew (the druggie), and Sully (the one who called her in this chappy)

And I lied, two more things

5.) Ty is Sully's friend who goes to Jamie for advice.
6.) Ship names? I need help with them, so comment below!!

That's all, folks!! I love all yall :D