The Choices We Make

Chpt. 13: An Odd Pair

***

"I don't think Candace likes me as much as you said." I state as I spritz another record player with a bit of dusting spray before wiping it down.

"Really? What makes you say that?" Jackson inquiries. He's seated a few feet in front of me, wiping down a different wooden record player. The players gleam gorgeously once they've been polished to perfection. I shoot Jackson an 'are you kidding me?' Look. Was that question even necessary? After I opened up my big mouth, Candace changed the punishment and included me in on it too. We were stuck closing up the shop and cleaning out the cluttered back room, which included dusting off about a thousand record players. So instead of relaxing at home with Grace and Jordan, I'm stuck here. Yippie. According to Candace, her reasoning behind upping the punishment was because I should know better than to join in with Jackson's antics, and because Jackson not only hit her but came in late. "It's not really that bad." Jackson tries. I shoot him another deadpan look.

"Really?" I ask monotonically, gesturing to the wall of shelves filled with record players; then to the rest of the cluttered back room. Stacks of old newspapers and boxes were everywhere, and the whole room was in bad need of a really thorough dusting. We sit atop a dreary, old carpet with dull colors swirling though the sewing. A desk is against one wall, and two couches sit against two others. This was what everyone who worked here called the record room; and apparently it hasn't been cleaned in ages. How can a room contain absolutely nothing yet be so cluttered at the same time? "This is going to take forever." I groan as I scrub the rag against the mahogany player.

"It'd be more fun with music. I can go put some on." Jackson offers as he places his player next to the finished ones.

"How?" I question. I knew there were speakers all around the store, but I never figured out where the sound system was located.

"Easy. The sound system's in Candy's office." He explains nonchalantly. I raise my eyebrows.

"In Candace's office? It's locked, Jackson." I point out. To my surprise, Jackson pulls a set of keys out of his back pockets and shakes them in the air. How the heck did he get those?! Why would Candace ever trust Jackson with a set of her office keys?? Maybe he found them somewhere... But why would Candace put her keys somewhere this little devil could find them? There is really only one explanation. "Do you and Candace have a thing?" I inquire, curiosity getting the best of me. I've been wondering this for the longest time. Candace seemed like a smart girl; so had she fallen under the spell Jackson seemed to have casted on every local girl in this town?

"Hm?" Jackson questions, but once it registers in his brain what I asked, his face contorts into a grimace. The expression of pure disgust is truly the ugliest face I've ever seen him pull.

"What?" I ask between laughs. I honestly didn't see the harm in my question. It wasn't like Candace was an ugly girl. Candace is beautiful. What on earth was so gross about what I'd asked?

"Oh God no! Is that what people think?? Is that what people are saying now???" He questions, looking utterly horrified; only causing me to laugh harder.

"What's your problem?!" I ask in hysterics. Jackson doesn't seem to find any of this funny in the least.

"Alexis she's my half sister!" Jackson trills.

Oh.

"Oh." I respond, not even hiding my amusement. "Well isn't that awkward." Jackson groans and rolls his eyes, causing me to roll back and burst into a fit of laughter. So maybe there was two possible explanations. It all makes sense now. The reason he calls her Candy, and the reason they fought so much, and why she hadn't fired him yet. What an uncomfortable situation I've put Jackson in.