The Middle | ✔️

Chapter 13

Jamie

6 Months Earlier

I'm standing making out with Will Archibald in his fancy dining room in his fancy house, with his fancy asshole parents somewhere in the vicinity, probably drinking fancy drinks and talking about how I'm not good enough for their perfect son. Whatever. Because, you know what Mr and Mrs Archibald? Your son is not perfect. He sure as hell can't kiss, anyway.

I don't mean to be a bitch, but man, he is not a good kisser. I'd go as far as saying this is the worst kiss I've ever had, and I have made out with more boys than I'm proud to admit... If this is how Will kisses, how does he do everything else!?

I'm so confused. He's Will Archibald. Good looking, athletic, smart, rich. He's the package most girls my age are looking for. I'd assumed he'd have the whole kissing thing down. I mean, I know he's been with half the cheer leading squad already, and I have never heard any negative reports about his... skills. But this is not good at all. It's sloppy, it's wet, he has absolutely no sense of rhythm, he's not even attempting to follow my lead or match my speed. I just want this to end.

So, I pull away, effectively ending the worst 3 minute make out session of my life. He's smiling at me, and I feel bad for him, so I smile back at him. But, I immediately remove my hands from the back of his neck. He leaves his hands firmly where they are on my hips though. God, I hope he doesn't wanna kiss me again.

"Does that answer your question?" He asks, still smiling at me. Christ, what was my question?

I said something about how I've been unsure about exactly what's going on between us. It's all felt so friendly, and, until just now, I was kinda thinking that he didn't want anything romantic with me. I'm not so sure now. But, I know I don't want anything romantic with him anymore. How the hell do I play this? Brutal honesty? Or, spare his feelings?

"It does, but dude, that was a bad kiss, right? You must think so, too?" Brutal honesty it is.

He looks extremely put out by this. I'm a little surprised. There's no way that kiss was good for him, no fucking way.

"Um, thanks." He says, sounding pissed.

"Oh, come on, Will! Sparks were not flying just now, I know you must agree with me on that."

"I guess... it was okay, though." he says quietly. I've made him feel like shit, oops. Well, I feel a bit shit about myself after the grilling his parents just gave me, so now we're even.

"Just okay? That's hardly a great review." I say, giving him a small smile. "I think we should probably just stay friends."

I expect him to roll his eyes then agree with me. I mean, there hasn't exactly been much sexual chemistry between us so far, I've known since day one that I was never gonna end up marrying this guy or anything like that. But I've really enjoyed spending time with him. He's nice, he's funny, and he wasn't what I expected. He surprised me. He's much more than meets the eye, and I really like him. Romantically, though? Probably not. I mean, I am physically attracted to him, or I wouldn't have agreed to go out with him. In the beginning, I thought maybe we could hook up for a while, and that would be it. The timing was good too, I needed to get Luke Gibson off my back. Then, I don't know, I ended up actually liking Will. And nothing happened between us, so I was hoping we were just gonna be friends. It's clear to me now that he has other ideas though. But after that kiss, god. I just can't see it. So his response takes me by surprise.

"Let's go upstairs." He says, looking me dead in the eye.

"What?" I ask. I hope he doesn't mean what I think he means. "Why...?"