Jackie, Roslyn, and I watch through the large window as a new family moves in next door.
"They've got a son." Roslyn notes, watching a couple and their teenaged son walk boxes inside over and over.
"And he's cute." Jackie adds, earning a disgusted look from me. Gross.
"Let's go over there and help him." I suggest, hoping to get out of the house for at least a little while. Roslyn has been too scared to go outside lately and I am honestly starting to go a little stir crazy in here.
"Yeah, I need some new friends who aren't you guys." Roslyn sighs.
"Hey!" Jackie and I scoff in unison.
"I'm kidding. But seriously, let's go!" Roslyn laughs, grabbing my hand and pulling me out of my own house.
"Hi! I'm Roslyn and this is James and Jackie." Roslyn smiles, walking right up to the new boy. "We are your neighbors."
"All my friends call me Jacqueline." Jackie smiles, holding her hand out for him to shake.
"No we don't." I scoff. She elbows me and turns back to the new kid.
"Zack." He smiles, shaking Jackie's hand, then mine followed by Roslyn's. "Did you guys, uh, want to come inside for some cupcakes?"
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"You just moved in and you've already had time to make cupcakes?" Roslyn asks, intrigued. "You must be a talented man." I wrap my arms around her and remind her that she is taken.
"My parents run a bakery. We always have cupcakes. Come inside." He waves us in.
Jackie follows him inside without question. She trips over her own feet and nearly lands on her face. If it wasn't for her quick reflexes, she would have a huge scrape along her entire face.
Zack turns around and helps her off of the ground. "Wow, are you alright Jacqueline?" He asks, pulling her close to examine the small cut on her hand from a rock.
"Yeah, I'm Jackie- I mean- no- yes-wait. Let me start over." She laughs. "I'm okay."
"What the hell is she doing?" I ask Roslyn, hoping she is seeing the same strange interaction that I am.
"I think it's pretty obvious." Roslyn follows them inside, glancing over her shoulder at me. "Jackie's got a crush."
"That's gross. Jackie hates boys. She doesn't have a crush on him." I whisper, entering the house. "There is absolutely no way she likes him."
Roslyn scoffs jokingly. "How can you say that? She tripped over her own feet and forgot how to talk when she looked at him. I promise you. She's totally smitten." she turns back to look at them.
Zack hands Jackie a cupcake and invites her to try it. He claims it's the best cupcake in the nation. Yeah right. He's just a bit too cocky. He hands one to Roslyn and I and takes one of his own. His counter is completely covered with these little sugar-filled snacks.
Zack laughs and gently wipes a bit of frosting from Jackie's nose after she went in too fast and aggressive to eat the treat these humans seem to adore so much.
They're disgusting. I don't even know how she pretended to like it. She is a great actress.
"Okay," I interrupt their giggle fest from across the counter. "Mom and dad just called. They want us all home right now." I lie.
"Mom and dad don't even have phones." Jackie cocks her head to the side, trying to figure out what my motives are for ending this meeting so quickly. "Plus, you wouldn't have answered their call anyways." She calls my bluff. She knows damn well I avoid talking to my father at all costs. Ever since he shared his disgust in my relationship with Roslyn, I can't stand him.
"Yes they do. And they want us home." I grab jacked wrist and then Roslyn's hand, ready to get out of here. "It was nice meeting you Jack."
"It's Zack! But nice meeting you too. How about lunch tomorrow?" He asks as we run out the door. Gosh, why is he so eager to hang out with us? It's revolting.
"What the hell was that for?!" Jackie asks, ripping her wrist from my hand angrily.
"Yeah," Roslyn chimes in. "Why did we have to leave all of the sudden?" She wonders, joining Jackie's side in all of this. "You are the one who wanted all of us to go over there and get out of the house." She wonders.
"I got bad vibes from him, okay?" I throw my hands up in the air in defense.
"Oh, bad vibes my ass! You were lounging on the counter talking to Roslyn! You don't lounge when you have bad vibes!" Jackie calls me out, living with me for long enough to know all of my tells when I am lying or bluffing.
"I don't know." I sigh. "I can't explain it. I just didn't want to be over there anymore. I was uncomfortable." Roslyn begins to laugh. "What?" I ask. "What?!"
"You are totally jealous that Jackie had someone else to hang out with! You were jealous!" Roslyn continues laughing, putting pieces together that clearly should not be put together.
"I am not jealous!"
"Oh my god!" Jackie crosses her arms over her chest. "Roslyn is right. You totally are jealous of Zack."
"I am not jealous of Zack." I defend myself, feeling the need to protect my stance while both of these girls gang up on me.
"Then what?" Jackie asks, not taking my answer as it is. She wants more.
"I don't know. I guess I just didn't like how he was touching you. I could tell you didn't like it." I shrug.
"Didn't like it?" Jackie scoffs. "He cleaned off my nose. It's not like he grabbed my boobs out of nowhere! And- ugh! James! If I didn't like what he was going, I would have throat punched him and you know it!" Jackie defends herself. "Fuck off." Jackie storms inside, making sure to slam the door behind her so I really know she's mad.
"Jackie come on!" I call after her, looking to Roslyn for support. How can Jackie not see that she is being totally irrational?
"Don't look at me for help James." Roslyn crosses her arms over her chest and shakes her head. "You did this to yourself. I'm on her side here." Roslyn follows my sister inside. My jaw drops. How did I manage to piss both of them off? Within minutes, Roslyn is holding Jackie's hand and dragging her over to her house.
What, are they going to have a sleep over or something?
Author's note: do you agree with James or Jackie and Roslyn in this chapter?
