More Than Friends

Chapter 20

Ramona's POV

When the appointment is over, I actually feel a lot better, like a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. Maybe I do need to see Dr. Jenzie.

I text my mom that I'm with Jax before calling him. "Hey, I'm done with my appointment. Where are you?"

"I am at the playground to your left, on the swings. Please join me shortly," He says, clearly enjoying this. "You called Kimmy, right?"

"Yes, I did. She just told me not to get arrested, so you better not get me arrested," I say, walking to the playground. Crossing a San Francisco street at this time of day requires precision.

"You're clear to cross." I can see the swings, so it makes sense he can see me.

I run across the street and over to the playground. "I'm hanging up now." God, I don't think I've been here since I was seven or eight. It's been a while, but so much of my childhood was spent here. There are so many memories.

He hops off of his swing and gives me a hug, our new greeting. "So, Ramona, let me guess what's going through your mind right now: admiration of my hotness," Jax says and I laugh, "Confusion as to where we're going, and worry because about ten people skipped last period."

"Yes, that about sums it up," I nod along to his drawn out tale.

"So you admit I'm hot," Jackson states, putting his arm around me.

"I admit you're full of yourself, weirdo," I argue.

"Mhm. Okay, sure. Anyways, don't freak out, we're not going to get in trouble for skipping. It was free period, so no one really cares we skipped. We are going on an adventure, my dear," Jax smiles to himself as we move over to the edge of the playground.

"Just us two or is everyone else going to meet up with us?" I ask, smiling. I'm okay with either, but honestly, I need some just us two time. We never have any anymore.

"Just us two for now." With that, we leave the playground, walking away from the mall but towards the school.

"Why are we going back to school? Did you forget your homework again?" I probe, and he just chuckles. "Dear God, if I'm having something at school, I'm going to leave."

"You should know I'm not that forgetful. I forgot my headphones, and I want them. Besides, we haven't really talked in a few weeks. Now, if we don't, it'll just be really awkward," Jackson is clearly enjoying this; his blue-gray eyes are lit up with joy.

"Well, I mean, from what I heard, everyone had to clean out their locker today because yours smelt like dying rats and it was starting to spread into my locker," I tease. He never tosses his coffees in the morning, ever. Once a month at least, he'll get in trouble for having all that in his locker and have to dump them into a urinal with Ben and Alex as Aria, Sky, and I watch in horror. There's a reason they never give out his locker the next year.

"Starting to? Mo, it was stinking up your locker. It smells like dying rats pissing on squids. You're very welcome for that," I get corrected and shudder in disgust.

"That's disgusting, Jacksito. How did you get a girlfriend?" I ask seriously.

"It's this charm, kiddo. If you're hot enough and you have the personality, you get everyone. I'm not sure why no one's hitting you up," he teases.

"You threatened to break their bones if they broke my heart, overprotective," I remind him, and he shakes his head.

"No sir! I took that back a couple of days ago, so start expecting your phone to be blowing up with texts from hotties who I'll intimidate," Jax smiles easily at the thought. Why is he so overprotective? Oh yeah, Popko cheating on me probably ruined all hope he had left for guys. And he's a guy.

"Ooh, I get to be a heartbreaker now. How fun," I smile easily. All I'm saying is, I'm not going to cheat, but it's middle school: you're lucky if your relationship lasts a week.

"Hey, better than the other way around. But don't be a dick or I'm not gonna talk to you," he warns and I chuckle.

"Well, we wouldn't want that, would we?" I ask jokingly, but he knows I mean it.

"We would not. However, we would like some cupcakes, would we not? Come on, I get free cupcakes in honor of my dad," Jax smiles and we walk into Daisy's, my favorite bakery in the city. "Lemme guess: All chocolate but really cute?"

"You know me so well," I answer. "I'm going to go get us a place to sit; you okay getting the cupcakes?"

"Yeah, even though it looks sad getting two cupcakes and being one person," he fake frowns, very dramatically.

"Well, then I'll just have to stay, won't I?" I ask as the time to order comes. "I'll have a chocolate flower please, and he'll have a vanilla funfetti." I slide over $10 to pay.

"How did you guess my order?" Jax asks in slight amazement. He never orders the same thing twice.

"I saw you eyeing it the second we walked into the store, kid. I'm not blind," I inform him, thanking the cashier when she hands back my change.

"Well, aren't you two an adorable couple? Have a nice day," she says, handing us our cupcakes.

We look at each other and share a glance in which an entire conversation happens, during which we decide not to say anything and just play along. "Thank you." I respond, trying not to laugh.

🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈

We're now updating on Thursdays too y'all.

Later loves,

~Ry