a work in progress

Chapter 20 - Past * Present * Future

Today is Valentine's Day I thought to myself as I stood examining my every curve and feature in the mirror.

"Noe Marie, you look good girl."

The day was set up to be nothing short of wonderful. It was unseasonably warm and I was sporting some casual chic – dark wash boyfriend jeans, a black and white striped tank, my new red blazer, and some black pumps, on my way to breakfast with my papí.

Since I was a little girl he always made a point to show me that I was his number one girl. In the privacy of the library, our favorite room in the house, we'd have a heart shaped cinnamon roll with hot cocoa that had mini marshmallows in the shape of a heart floating on top.

After breakfast I had class then an early rehearsal for the valentine's showcase with the girls at the studio. Later I would have gift exchange with Harper and Hayley at my apartment, and then they agreed to help me get ready for the romantic evening Luca had planned for us that night. It was all going to be perfectly magnificent.

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"Happy Valentine's Day Jackson!" I sang pushing past my brother and into the living room.

"You're so chipper and it makes no sense," he muttered, slamming the door and following behind me.

"Why are you so....not? Don't you have some bimbap on standby to dissatisfy tonight?"

"MC I only date ladies of class, thank you very much. Tonight, is no different, but unfortunately I have an issue."

"Issue? Whatever do you mean? Did you accidentally over commit?" I laughed.

"Actually MC," he began sinking into the couch, burying his head in his hands. That's exactly what's happened and it's not okay."

"What do you mean it's not okay? Jackson you do that all the time. You hardly ever have one girl at one time. You should be a professional at this. Jackson? Jack? Are you crying?"

"God, no! I'm not crying. It's just....it's just this time it's different. I don't want to be double-booked."

"How's this time different? You actually like one of these girls?"

"Yes actually, I do. Her name is Cassidy. I don't know why you think that's so out of the ordinary."

"Jackson you can't be serious. You've never thought twice about a girl ever in life. Wait, except for Madison Reamer from next door when you were nine. Cassidy..."

"I'm serious. And why do you keep saying her name like that?"

"I can't help the irony that both of their names are Presidents."

"Wha-? MC, only you would find something so nonsensical. Thanks for your help," he grumbled, standing to leave.

"No, please sit," I pleaded tugging at his hand. "Let me see if I can help at all. I promise I won't laugh again. I'm so pro the Jack and Cassidy show. Oh gosh...and I didn't mean to rhyme just then. It was totally accidental. Please Jackson, tell me."

"Are you sure you're serious?"

"As a heart attack."

"Fine. So I met Cassidy last year. She was here doing a summer program working in the engineering lab. I was there too last year with Professor Cleiborne. Anyway, we didn't really work on the same projects, but we were around and I would talk to her periodically when we had mixers and meetings for fellows."