To Kiss Kate

15. the drive

Jackson Michael's Point of View:

The week had gone by slowly without Kate. She had made me promise to let her do her own thing this week, saying she needed to focus on her dad and work before this weekend. I didn't understand it, but obliged. We still talked on the phone a few times and talked at group hang outs, but I was excited for her to come to the city with me, to meet my friends, to see my home. We hadn't known each other for long, but I felt like we had already been through so much together.

Now, I was picking her up. It was happening, and I was nothing but ecstatic. She, on the other hand seemed less excited.

She walked out of her house, sending a tight lipped smile through the windshield. She was carrying a small duffel bag and a garment bag. I had told her to bring a nice dress so that we could go to a fancy dinner, but warned her to be ready for anything. Right now, she was wearing athletic shorts and a sweatshirt, understandable for the 7am wake up call I had given her. However, she still looked gorgeous.

She opened the back seat door and laid the garment bag flat, setting her bag on top of it.

"Hey." She said softly, shutting the back door and getting in the front.

"Good morning. We'll stop at 5?" I asked, referring to Cafe Five, the local coffee shop. She nodded, sending me a small smile which was nothing compared to the grin I wore. "You don't seem as excited as I am." Maybe it was stupid of me to think that this girl I barely knew wanted to go home with me. Now that I thought about it, it totally was.

"I'm excited." She said, forcing a wider smile and touching my knee. She pecked my cheek as I put the car in drive. "Just a little nervous is all." I was thankful for her honesty.

"Nervous about what?" I asked, genuinely confused. She looked at me uneasily.

"I mean. Your friends, really." She couldn't be serious. She had already met Brad and Ashton, who she liked and they liked in return.

"You've already met Brad and Ashton. They like you. What is there to be nervous about?" She bit her lip. I really didn't want to start this out on the wrong foot.

"I know. I really like them too. So much, it's just." She took a long pause, like she was really thinking out her words. "Brad and Ashton kind of have that. I don't know, rich douchebag kind of energy. You know? And I just don't want your friends to think of me... like your parents." Damn. Although it was harsh, it was honest. My parents had never given her a chance based on her income level. I thought going to Duke to be a doctor was pretty impressive, but they for some reason just couldn't get over it. However, she knew I didn't approve of that, and my friends weren't like that.

"Kate. Come on... give me some credit here." I smiled a little, based on her expression she clearly felt bad for saying the truth. "You know that I resent my parents, primarily for being assholes. Brad and Ashton are dickheads, I agree. But not as much as they could be, and they're my friends so they will like you. My friends aren't like my parents. I promise, Kate. You have absolutely nothing to worry about." She seemed like she hadn't forgiven herself for her words, but I didn't really care about her honesty. It didn't hurt my feelings at all. She was right. "Really, Kate." I looked at her, trying to console her obvious insecurity. It was a new side to her, I guess she was used to feeling inferior and thought this was going to be a similar experience.

"Okay, I'm sorry. This is all just a little fast for me." She paused before adding more, "But I really like you, Jack. Everything we've said is true, this feels different and the fastness is comfortable. It's just a lot for my brain to handle, especially with someone like you." I knew that I could take the things she was saying the wrong way and be upset about them, but I knew she was trying hard not to upset me.