blue (book one) - h.s. ✔️ watty's 2019

chapter 77

"It'd really mean a lot if you'd join me this evening for popcorn and a movie," Jax grins, smiling down at me.

"And before you say no, again," he continues, stressing the word.

"I have no other intentions other than just getting to know you better: totally harmless. It'll only be a thing if you make it one, Park."

His smile is radiant in the bright sun. We just finished up literally all of the essays, scholarships, everything, that I've been working relentlessly on for the past few months. It's really so hard to say no to Jax. He is nothing but sweet to me, and believe it or not, really respectful of my relationship with Harry, despite his initial attraction to me. I want so badly to agree to just hanging out with him. Never in my life, would I have ever thought of actually getting along with one of Harry's friends. Th- this change of dynamic is just all very new and complicated for me to deal with sometimes.

"Come on, Park. Just one movie," he breathes, flashing me his kind smile.

"I don't know," I groan still reluctant. The last thing I need on my plate is more drama. There's an army of small children not too far ahead of us on a school field trip. It's weird to see yellow school buses so late in the summer, but school is right around the corner. I guess some schools just start earlier than we do. Unfocused, I blush fiercely as soon as I trip over a ro-, no, honestly, literally nothing. There is nothing on the sidewalk ahead of me or behind me. Instead of checking to make sure that I'm okay Jax bends over, out of breath, laughing loudly.

Why am I so embarrassing?

I recover happy to be the center of his attention. However, the universe seems to be out to get me once I plow into a wooden poll that seems to have appeared out of nowhere.

Why?

"HAVE YOU ever tried powdered cheese on your popcorn?"

"What? No! That sounds disgusting, Jax," I chuckle, running away from the blast of yellow, powdery cheese he tosses my way. It didn't take much convincing after my series of bad luck to agree to just one movie with the wide eyed boy. Harry will just have to get used to our relationship, like Jax said, it's completely harmless. I trust Jax's word more than I should. He's just so incredibly charming it's nearly impossible to not believe him. He lives in the house of his fraternity brothers. Well, Jax and about seven other brothers live in the Greek house. Surprisingly, the boys take pretty good care of the place. Despite several obscene posters of naked woman plastered on several walls within the house, it is a pretty ordinary-looking home. It's much bigger than the two story house Alex and I own, of course. Each brother has his own room and within each room a private bathroom. I expect nothing less from the notable fraternity.

Positioned in the front of a huge television screen lies a small pellet covered with a variety of unhealthy snacks Jax laid out a few moments ago. He gave me absolutely no choice in choosing the fatty snacks, claiming that he has impeccable taste in junk food. I'm no expert or anything on junk food, but I'm sure that what he claims is top tier binge foods is nothing in comparison to what Harold consumes on a daily basis. He is surely going to waste away.

"Do you think that dogs are aware of their tails wagging when they're extremely excited?"

Instead of responding right away to my question he just laughs loudly, spilling popcorn on to the floor. His laugh is loud and obnoxious, but oddly not annoying. In fact, the cackle makes me smile widely; it's so genuine.

"I'm serious," I try, chuckling lightly.

Was my question really that stupid?

"You are a work of art, Parker."

He doesn't respond to me still. Instead, he sends me a small smile before sitting down beside me to start the movie. Reaching around my head, he pulls the throw from the couch to toss over both of our bodies. I know that Jax's motives are friendly, but I feel wrong for being so close to him. It's annoying that I have to be so conscious of every little thing when I'm around him, but it's only fair for Harry's sake. He's made it clear that he doesn't want me around any of his friends, especially Jax and Amy. And though that is not something I agree to, and won't ever agree to, I have to place boundaries to ease Harry's anxieties regarding my relationship with his friends. And honestly, I can't argue with him still being a little upset with it. If the situation was reversed, I know I'd be devastated to see him and Amy together and getting along with one another. I at least owe it to him to create as much distance between Jax and I when we are alone together; it's only right.

"I don't bite," he starts, chuckling with a mouth full of popcorn.

"Come here you'll get cold. I'll share my cookies," he smiles, popcorn bits in between he teeth. He radiates such a friendly nature it almost feels wrong to say no to him.

"As enticing as that sounds, I'm going to have to decline," I begin, bringing my knees up to my chest and wrapping my arms around them.

"I don't think it'd be appropriate for the both of us to be under the same blanket."

He flashes me a look of confusion before understanding smooths his features. Without a reply, he stands up abruptly, tossing the bowl of popcorn into my lap, and walks out of the living room. I feel bad, thinking that I offended him. I almost start to grow worried for our relationship until I hear his large feet muffled by the carpeted floors approaching.

"Here," he says, unwrapping a gray blanket and placing it around my shoulders.

"It gets cold in here and our heater is broken. I understand why you're not comfortable being so close to me, and hate that it has to be this way, but I still don't want you to get sick. It won't be pretty for either of us," he finishes, softly smiling my way before wrapping himself in his own blanket, lying down with his head propped up on the fortress of pillows behind us. He's literally the greatest ever.

"Thank you," I mutter quietly under my breath before scooting up beside him, my back against the white pillows. Not thinking, I lean into his warmth only slightly. I sense his attention on me for a split second - probably confused - before he's focused back on the black screen.

"You'll love this series," he begins, causing my eyebrows to scrunch perplexed. I promised him one movie.

"Series?"

He laughs lowly, his arm shaking against my cheek, before he responds innocently.

"Did I say we were watching a movie? Yea, sorry, we don't have any of those. But we do have an entire season of the Walking Dead on dvd, bloopers included," he exclaims, smiling down at me.

Oh, brother.