lungs

part 28

"who's this?" he asked as i heard the anger in his tone of voice.

now that i've come to think of it, dad hasn't met joey. mom met joey when he came over for dinner and when he helped us move in, but dad never met him.

"this is joey." i said as he walked across the street to joey and i.

my heart picked up a paste as he stared us both down. "is he your boyfriend or something?" he asked.

i swallow hard, "um, y-yes."

he looked joey and glared at him, he reacted way different to when i told him that i was dating kyle. probably because he saw joey and i kiss.

"are you taking good care of my daughter, young man?" he asked joey.

joey nodded. his whole body was frozen, but he looked relaxed. "yes mr. cross."

my dad nodded, "take good care of her, you got me?"

"yes sir." he said.

dad looked at me, "it's time to go home." he said.

i nodded and looked at joey, "bye." i say.

he smiles at me, bye.

i walked back to the house with dad. he was silent the whole time when we walked, he was probably containing the fact that his daughter is dating the boy across the street.

as he got into the house he turned around, "just don't do anything you'll regret with him, understand?" he says.

i nodded and went upstairs to my room.

i'm surprised dad didn't get all mad, i wonder why.

+

"where are you?"i read a text from joey.

"im in the parking lot, where are you?"i texted back, and then i looked up to try to find him.

suddenly i see him walking in the crowd. for some reason those butterflies come back in my stomach even when i see him.

he saw me and we made eye contact. he smiled at he approached me. "hey cross." he says wrapping his arms around me and hugging me.

my stomach twists as i lay in his arms. he pulls back from the hug and smiles down at me, "i'm happy that i'm here with you."

with you

he connected our hands as we began to walk to the bleachers, going to get ready to see the game.

as we got to the bleachers, i saw jeremy and jacob on the bleachers eating popcorn.

i sat down on the bleachers next to him while joey sat next to me. i took a piece of pop corn from jacobs popcorn bag.

"hey!" he chuckled.

i put the popcorn in my mouth and then took a handful from the bag.

"anna!" he said, lauging.

"what? i'm hungry." i said.

"get your own." he says.

i shrug, "eh, i'm fine."

i felt a hand go on my thigh, i look down and saw joey's hand on my thigh. i don't mind it. i love how he traces his thumb against my inner thigh, warming it up a little since it's cold.

i lean on his shoulder and eat the popcorn in my hand. time to time he takes popcorn from my hand.

the football game started and i watched as the foot ball boys walk out on the field.

at the corner of my eye i see a familiar face. it's zach, what the hell is he doing here?

him and i make eye contact and he looked at me and smirked. my breathing hitched, he better not come over here.

i grabbed joeys hand and squeezed it, he looks down at me. "you okay?"

i nodded, "yeah," i looked up and didn't see zach, where did he go? "um, could we just go?"

"yeah, but are you okay?" he asked.

"yeah i'm fi-"

"hey baby girl." i hear.

i turn around and see zach smirking. i look back at joey and he clenched his jaw. he stood up quick and so did i.

"go away, clayton." joey said, reminding me how he calls me by his last name.

i grab joeys arm, i don't want him to get suspended again for beating up the same guy, "let's just go." i whisper.

he ignored me and i looked at jacob. he furrowed his eyes but then realized what was going on. "zach you gotta leave." he said.

i parted my jaw, i thought jacob likes zach, now all of a sudden he's telling him to go away? what?

joey put his hands into a fist. "don't mess with my girl!" he yelled.

i squeezed his arm, hoping he won't do anything stupid.

"joey please." i whisper.

he looks at me and grabs my hand, taking us away from zach and then leaving the bleachers. we didn't even get to see the game.

as we got back to the parking lot and he hugged me as we swung back and forth

"i just want you all for myself." he whispers.

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read my new book get you the moon. but i don't know if i should continue it but just check it out🧡