Jack Kelly x Reader

Chapter Twenty-One

(y/n)'s POV

I spent the entire night talking to Jack, and some point I'd started not-so-subtly flirting with him. We chatted about our lives, and he mentioned that he likes some girl.

I was really hoping that girl was me, and almost none of that hope was for Race's 50 bucks.

When he leaned in and kissed my forehead, that was the moment I fell in love with him. He seemed flustered, but I went up on my tippy toes to kiss his jawline, considering I wasn't tall enough to reach his cheek.

It was really cute watching his face go completely red like an adorable little firetruck.

Now I was in Kath's car, left reflecting on the night. At one point we even danced together, and he'd twirled me so carefully right into his chest. I could see this look in his eyes, one that made my knees go completely weak.

He was strong and gentle and what many would call a mess of contradictions.

But I liked that. I liked him, and his stupidly perfect smile. And everything about him. I had it bad.

I wished I was the girl he mentioned he liked, he just seemed so smitten when he said it.

I just had to try harder to be that. Whoever she was could move the fuck aside.

"You've been staring out the window for ages, you okay?" Kath interrupted my thoughts, glancing over at me. I looked at her and nodded, despite her only being able to see it in her peripheral, if that.

"Yeah, just... thinking." I stated. Okay, I knew that was cryptic as fuck but who cares? I had thoughts to think.

"Thinking about?" She prompted, not having my bullshit today.

"Jack asked me to be his friend-date to homecoming." I blurted. She gasped, grinning.

"Noooo, oh my god! Nobody asks for a friend-date in advance unless they like the person! He likes you! Did you say yes? Oh please tell me you said yes." She rambled, like a kid in a candy store. She was far too into romcoms, I swear.

"I did. But this isn't a fairy tale or a romance novel, Kath, this is real life. And in real life, I don't get the guy and the guy is happy with someone else. He said he likes someone, didn't tell me who." I told her. I had to be realistic, as much as I wanted life to be a romantic fantasy, that wasn't my life.

That wasn't my world to live in, and I had accepted it.

"He probably didn't tell you because it's you, stupid. He's hinting! Oh my god, I swear if you don't get together at homecoming I'm going to hit him." She said. I smile ruefully, holding out a pinkie.

"Promise?" I asked, all sugary sweet. She chuckled, linking one hand's pinkie with mine while the other hand was dutifully on the steering wheel, making sure we didn't die and all.

"I promise, pumpkin. He'll be reeling so hard he won't even remember homecoming." She said. I took my hand away, resting it on my lap.

Maybe I could pretend for once, that Jack did really want to start a relationship with me, and simply let myself like him. Blush like a giddy schoolgirl at his compliments and fantasize about how soft his lips must be at night when I couldn't sleep.

But was that even me? I didn't think of myself as the dreamy type, the kind of person to get so swept up in a crush. Sure, I had just realized I loved him, but maybe that feeling would fade. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe I was being stupid.

"You get so swept up in your thoughts, (y/n), why don't you share what's on your mind?" My best friend asked.

"I could share... if we have a sleepover tonight." I said with a playful smile. Her own face morphed into an enormous grin, too.

"Of course, it's been a good while. We can talk about boys, you can read my writing, you can perform your audition material for Addams Family and Bonnie and Clyde, it'll be great. Text your mom, you're coming to my place," she said. I laughed at her excitement, despite my own building up in my body and making me feel all warm and fuzzy.

"Can we stop at my house first though? I can grab my music binder and phone charger and stuff, and we could sneak Lily in without your dad knowing." We'd done it a million times, and my stupid dog was smart enough to love Katherine, maybe even more than she loved me.

"Sure, sounds like a blast! Oh, it's been too long since we've acted like real best friends." She squealed.

"Yeah, all this drama PLUS senior year has been exhausting. But tonight will make up for it all. Hell yeah!" I laughed, grabbing Kath's hand. We chattered for the rest of the car ride with new energy and vigor.

I was glad to have my best friend in my corner no matter what.

(856 words)