The Boy From California

8. More Than A Broken Nose

Dylan dragged me across the hall and took me into one of the guest rooms, the one I thought Jackson was staying in. Faith's house was something less than a house, more of a mansion. Although we lived in the same neighborhood, Faith's house was a few rooms bigger which I didn't mind. We practically lived at each others houses.

"You think they bought it?" he whispered. I sat next to him on the bed, feeling uneasy as ever. 

"No way," I scoffed. "You need to ask me out publicly or something."

Dylan suddenly hushed me with his finger and mouthed a word I couldn't pick up on. I was always terrible at reading lips. 

The door creaked a bit and before I could see who entered the room, Dylan cupped my cheek and brought his lips to mine. 

I felt the numbness in my body increase. His lips rubbed against mine in a way that made me feel like I was choking underwater. The kiss was not a graceful swim in a river, but it felt more like drowning in the depths of the Bermuda Triangle. 

His body moved against mine but not in sync. I stood frozen for majority of the kiss until realizing that I had to be embraced by his kiss to make it convincing. I wrapped my arms around his neck and forced myself to gently tug at his hair - something I learned from dozens of teen romance books. 

"Didn't realize I was interrupting something," a voice which I recognized as Jacksons' spoke. I pulled away from the boy in a single, swift move. Dylan's lips were puffed up and a bit red. 

"Sorry," I muttered and let my hands fall into my lap. Dylan sat next to me, wearing a smug expression as if he got just what he asked for.

"Were you following us, Campbell?" Dylan hissed. I wanted to smack him for talking to Jackson that way.

Smack as in inflict pain on him in a harsh manner. Not like that.

Jackson spoke in deadpan, "no - I really couldn't care less. This is the room I'm staying in."

"And that," he says pointing to the bed we were sitting on, "is my bed. So I hope you didn't do-"

I cut him off, feeling my cheeks flushing up already, "nothing you need to worry about."

Dylan took my hand in his and pulled me out of the room in such speed that it made my head spin. I wanted to give Jackson an apologetic looks, hoping it would make up for Dylan's idiotic ways.

My thoughts were cut short when Dylan pinned me against the wall, which caused me to bang my head against it. I hissed in pain and brought my hand up to my head to caress it.

"Damn, I'm stronger than I thought," I almost spat at him in disgust and suddenly had an overwhelming urge to sack him in the gut. How did Faith ever deal with this sad-excuse of a man.

"You're such a dick," I pushed him away from me and rubbed the back of my hair. 

He rolled his eyes, "what? Because I ruined your hair-do?"

I narrowed my eyes at him, "that's it. I can't with you." I stormed out of the hallway, feeling Dylan's presence hot on my trail.

"C'mon Sierra," he called out for me. "I need you to do this for me."

"No, if I want to know anything about Jackson, I'll ask him myself. By the way you talk to him, I doubt he'd tell you anything."

Dylan's eyes widened in realization but his laughter roared through the corridor. I gawked at him in disbelief and wondered what could be so god damn hilarious.

"I see," he took a few steps towards me. The honey-haired boy put his finger to my nose, "you have a crush on him - don't you?"

I took the opportunity to bring out my inner Cher, "as if!" 

"I know a crush when I see one," he cocked an eyebrow. "Now with this useful information, I can really get back at you."

"Get back at me for what?" I pondered.

"There's more to the story, Sierra," my name on his tongue felt wrong. "Whatever Faith told you, you haven't heard my side. It's more than just a broken nose."

"Quit with the act, Dylan. You aren't going to scare me into doing jack shit for you."

He turned on his heel, "whatever! You don't know what you just got yourself into."

He was right.

The sun was slowly setting after the guys left. Dylan was the first to take-off and Ryan was the last. Faith and I gorged down all the left over pizza right after. Jackson watched us wide-eyed without a word, only leaving with an impressive nod.

Faith was less than her usual bubbly self after I broke the news to her. She was so stiff that it made statues seem as if they were moving. For the first time in what seems like forever, I couldn't read the girl. 

"Damn," she finally spoke. "It's your choice, you know?"

I nodded, "I know. I don't want to do it. Dylan is too much of a dick."

"Are you sure it's not because you li-"

"No!" I groaned and threw my hands over my face. "Why does everyone seem to think that? We've only known each other for four days."

She shrugged, "love is love." I snorted at her suggestion.

We were currently laying on my bed, staring at the ceiling. It made my stomach knot because it just so happened to be what I was doing before Jackson 'snapped at me'. 

In all honestly, I don't really blame him for it. He had been through a divorce and who knows how much more? All Faith has told me is that it was very messy. What confused me the most is where his mom was. I've never been through a divorce, thankfully, but I knew not to pry at the subject.

"Jackson misses you," she sighed. I sat up almost immediately, propping myself on the bed with my elbows behind me. My best friend notices my sudden action and wiggles her eyebrows at me.

"Seriously?" I feel the shadow of a grin creeping onto my lips. 

She cooed, "go get your baby, Sea."

I jumped onto my feet and looked back at her, "Faith if you're lyi-"

"No arguing right now," the blonde smiled. "Go talk to him!"

I took her advice without a glance back. Now only to find him.

AAAAAAAA i dont know what this chapter was, it was really shitty but lmk if yall enjoyed it!! 

It took me like two days to write this because at the part where Dylan ACCIDENTALLY bangs Sierras head on the wall i got so pissed off at Dylan that I had to go to bed LMAOo

if you have a faith in your life, tag them!!!! teehee

-nahdeeah