Chapter 6|Did I Think Out Loud?

*•Mathew? What the hell are you doing in my sister's room, Jerk face?•*

Maxwell Hart.

“Sky shush!”I groaned as I sat up on my bed awakened by my puppy's bark.

I picked my glasses up from my side table, slid them on then turned the lights on.

I got out of bed and picked my currently noisy pup off the floor.

I had school tomorrow, I had to go to bed now else I'd be all tired in morning.

“Sky, I just shut my eyes a second ago, I need you to–”

I stopped mid sentence when I noticed the reason Sky was barking.

And it wasn't a ‘what’ like I had assumed somewhere in my head.

The reason was a ‘who’.

Jason stood outside on my balcony with a bouquet of blue daises and a small shopping bag.

What teen romance book was I in?

Do I let him in?

Do close the shutters, pretend I didn't see him there and go back to sleep?

“Hey,” he said and I raised an eyebrow.

I could hear him through the glass.

“Hi, umm what are you doing here?”

“I promised I'd get you something for your birthday, so here I am.”

I glanced at the white analog clock that was hung above my study desk.

I resisted the urge to pinch myself to make sure I was dreaming.

I didn't, I couldn't.

If I did, it would become a possibility that I could actually dream of Jason.

“It’s almost twelve in the morning,”I said.

“So I'm not too late then,”Jason replied as he waited for me to let him into my bedroom.

He didn't ask me to, he just waited like he was expecting me to just let him in.

I know I've seen his room and all but it wasn't twelve in the morning then right l?

Indecidsive, I weighed my choices.

Usually, when I couldn't make a decision, I made a positive and negative list.

Positive–If I let Jason in, I'm kinda returning the favor of him letting me sleep in his house–in his room actually but that sounds so much dirtier.

Negative–If I let him in, Mg, mom and dad could find him here, they'll jump to conclusions and Jason would leave with a broken nose courtesy of Mg.

As Jason waited for me to make my decision, I noticed Matt’s curtains move.

For a brief second, I thought it was the wind noticing Jason's brown hair sway ever so slightly in the night breeze but then I shot that idea down.

There was no way that could have been the wind because his windows were shut.

Not to judge him quickly or anything but the last thing I needed was for Matt to tell the whole school Jason Macaulay was at my room.

With one hand, I unlocked the balcony door, pulled Jason inside and drew the shutters close.

I felt his eyes on me as I walked over to my bedroom door to lock it and sat Sky on my bed.

“Happy birthday,” Jason said as he handed the blue daises and I took while keeping my eyes locked on his.“Elizabeth told me blue daises are your favorite flower.”

Of course she did.

Liz and I are so having a long conversation about what she tells people about me.

She can't just go around telling people my favorite flowers and stuff.

Why not tell them my number, favorite colour, favorite day, preferred season–why not just broadcast it to the world.

“Thank you,”I told him,“but to be honest you don't have to get me anything.”

“I know but I saw this at a store,” he said as showed me the bag,“and I just thought of you.”

I watched as he pulled a small black box from the bag and lifted it open while I stared in awe.

A silver butterfly necklace.

I'm pretty sure that's actually silver not melted platinum or whatever silver jewelries are made from.

“I don't know what to say,”I blurted.

There I was standing in my PJs having no clue if I should accept this.

I wanted to reject it but I couldn't, he came all this way.

How did he even climb up here?

“How about ‘Jace, will you help me out it on?’”

“With my PJs on and everything?”

“They’re are adorable by the way,” he said with a teasing smile.

Choosing to ignore his comment, I did as he asked.

“Jace, will you–”

I did a double take.

He knows I call him Jace?

Not waiting for me to complete my sentence, Jason walked behind me and placed my braid in front of my shoulders.

“You're okay with it?”I asked him.

“I do,” he said as he fastened the necklace.

“I meant the name,”I pointed out.

“I know.”

“Did I think out loud?”

“You did.”

Stupid, Sienna.

Stupid.

*Jason Macaulay’s [POV]*

I could tell she was face palming herself in her head.

Something I did a while ago while I stood at her balcony.

I wanted to call her and tell her I was at her house but I couldn't let her know that I actually kept her number from that piece of paper the other day.

It's not like I did it on purpose.

I didn't mean to but I stared at the dang piece of paper that I had the number memorized.

I would also be able to tell her handwriting if I saw it anywhere else.

It was like a beautiful cursive font, ‘I’s dotted and all.

So instead of calling her, I had Brandon give me a boost and here I am.

I can't really explain it but there's this force that pulls me to her.

Kinda like a magnet but without bumping into each other thing though, that has happened once.

“Thank you,”She said as she turned around to face me.

Her beautiful eyes even more noticable behind her glasses.

She had dark brown eyes but they were bright enough that you could tell they hazel brown when you were close to her.

“How bad is your eyesight?”I asked randomly as I looked around her room, learning bits of information about her.

Her room's wallpaper was a light shade of blue with patterns of flowers and petal in a dark shade of blue.

Beside my entrance was small desk and chair and beside those stood a shelf filled with so many books.

She fancied the colour blue, she loved to read and she was pretty organized judging from her desk where books were stacked according to size and pens, pencils, and highlighters stood in a little cup.

“Out of a hundred, 39 percent,”Sienna said, “I can't read without my glasses, I can try but it hurts my eyes a little bit and I can see but it's a bit blurry too.”

“Sorry,”I said.

“Thanks,” she shrugged,“but it's getting better.”

I stopped in front of her drawers, letting my eyes examine the pictures there.

There was one of her, Lizzie and the dog who laid silently on her bed, watching me.

Another of her, her brother and the other blonde from the store.

Courtney, a waitress and the cashier.

I wasn't at their store much but while I was there, Courtney stood out.

The final picture was of her and her family. I noticed she had her mom’s eyes and obvious curly hair.

They were kinda like my family except the female was older.

A part of me wondered if she'd put a photo of me up here too if we got close.

“How long have you been friends with Elizabeth?”I asked as I moved to seat on her bed.

Brandon was going to kill me for taking this much time.

“Since were five,”Sienna shrugged,“what about Brandon and you?”

“Since the womb,”I said,“our parents went to highschool and college together so we're basically brothers.”

Sienna only gave a nod and I sat there in silence.

“Jace, it's getting late,”Sienna said after a short while, gesturing to her alarm clock that glowed 12:05.

“Yeah, you're right, time to get going,”I told her as I got off her bed,“So, I'll see you tomorrow?”

“Yeah, we have English, Bio and literature together,” she said.

“Right,”I nodded, not giving of that I knew that.

“Thanks again for the presents,”she smiled a bit shyly if I might add.

“You're welcome,”I told her, meaning it,“goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

Once my feet touched the ground, I made my way out of the Hart residence, back to Brandon's car and I could swear I saw a flash of light.

“How was the kiss?”My best friend asked with a smirk as he turned on ignition.

“We didn't kiss,”I told him,“nothing happened. We just talked for a while.”

“Oh, anything concerning Lizzie?”

“Just how long they've been friends for,”I answered and Brandon nodded, trying to tone down his feelings for her.

He's had a crush on her since junior year when she accidentally threw a pom-pom in his face.

He'd stared blankly at her as she hopped over with her blonde hair in a ponytail and her dusky blue eyes apologetic.

“I’m so sorry,”she had said and my bestfriend just stood there, too love struck to even ask her name.

“Dude, I think you should tell her how you feel?”I told him honestly but as a part of me expected, Brandon snorted.

“Sure but why don't we do it together,”He said,“I'll tell Lizzie and you'll tell Sienna.”

“We just met,”I argued,“I barely know and by the way, my feelings for her aren't strong enough for a relationship.”

“Excuses, excuses,”Brandon mocked in a sing song voice.

“You know you're the only one with excuses,”I pointed out. “You and Lizzie have been acquaintances since last year. You both only became friends at my party.”

“Alright, I'll ask her to the Halloween party,”Brandon sighed, “ you happy?”

I let out a snort,“I've got my own problems to deal with.”

How exactly was I going to get out of the friend zone with Sienna?

I know I just got there but the longer you're in the friend zone, the harder it is to get out.

But I wanted to get to know her better too.

To know what made her smile, what made her laugh.

The things that got on her nerves.

I had to act.

I had to act fast.

*Sienna Hart POV*

This was one of the mornings where my family ate breakfast together.

All of us.

It wasn't like it was a rare occasion but with Mg at school and my mom's status of head doctor at the hospital, it only happened during August and December.

You know, the typical holiday months.

This morning, I went with dark blue shade boot cut jeans, a black knitted sleeveless turtleneck courtesy of Lizzie beneath a white sweater that had ‘CIAO’ in upper case letters designed on it and my vans from yesterday except I switched out the laces from white to black.

I also had my hair in a neat bun at the top of my head.

I think it's about time I ask Mom to book a hair salon appointment for me.

Maybe I could put my hair in cornrows, I was tired of all the brushing and combing and washing.

“Morning,”I chirped to my family as I settled the first order of business; Sky's breakfast.

“Look who got out of bed or bright and happy,”my dad said as he placed a kiss on the side of my head.“News around town is the kids are throwing a Halloween party on 31st night. Are you going?”

So I could get drunk, ask a stranger to hug me, lose my memory of the past eight hours or so and wake up with a raging headache?

Thanks, I'll pass.

“I don't think so,”I said as I placed Sky's bowls before him on the floor,“but I haven't heard anything about it though.”

I turned to my mom who stood at the sink,“mom, can I have cake for breakfast?”

Mom had her hair in a bun too but hers was a bit messy.

“Fine,” she said,“but just this once.”

With a wide smile, I removed the left over cake from the fridge, cut out a satisfying piece, settled beside a bored Mg and dug in.

“I made a pie for the Davidsons,”My mom told me,“would you mind giving it to them on your way out?”

I stopped chewing.

You see, my mom and dad always thought Matt and I were friends.

I guess I can understand why they do.

I mean, we've been neighbors for years so anyone would think we were buddies or something but believe me when I say, I do not appreciate them thinking that way.

If it was before I found out Matt was back, I would have gladly skipped over there because Renée, Matt’s mom was a wonderful person.

Matt’s an only child, in case I forgot to mention that so I guess it's safe to say Renée treats me like the daughter she never had.

Back when I younger, she'd give me a piece of chocolate whenever she saw me.

“I think I saw them leave for work earlier,”Mg helped out, noticing my discomfort,“how about I take it to them later in the evening. It's been a while since I saw the Davidsons.”

“That won't be necessary,” my dad said,“we invited them to dinner. Mathew just got back from the UK. Did you know that, Sisi?”

“Sadly,”I muttered under my breath.

“What was that?”My mom asked as she poured herself a cup of coffee.

“I said I did,”I lied.

I stared down at the almost untouched cake in front of me, upset that I had lost me appetite so quickly.

“Well, I should better get going.”

“But you're not done with your cake yet,” my mom pointed out.

“I'll eat it when I get back,”I told her as I got out of my seat,“I'm full.”

“But you've barely had a bite,”My dad said.

“And is that a new necklace?” my mom asked all of a sudden.

I let the tip of my fingers feel the smooth, cold surface of the silver butterfly necklace.

“It was a present,”I said as I picked my lunch from the counter.

“From who?”My dad asked,“I don't recall seeing any jewelry last night.”

“It’s from Jason,”I blurted honestly and watched for their reaction.

“Who’s Jason?”my mom asked, not remembering him.

“The same guy with the sweater?” my dad asked to confirm.

“The same one,”I nodded.

My dad and my mom shared a look.

“Sweetie, is there anything we should know about?”my mom asked and I pushed my glasses up my nose bridge as I thought of what to say.

“No,”I said,“ but I should really get going. Wouldn't want to be late to school.”

“I'll walk you,”Mg said before my mom could ask any more questions as he got out of his seat and followed me out the door after I kissed my parents goodbye.

“You okay?” my older brother asked as we walked out onto the front porch and he shut the front door behind him.

“Yeah,”I shrugged, “why?”

“Nothing,” He said, “your bedroom was locked this morning, just wondering if there's a reason why?”

I let out a tired breath.

“Seriously?”I questioned, filled with annoyance,“what is with you all? I'm said I was fine.”

“You didn't answer my question you know,”Mg said as he folded his arms across his chest staring at me expectantly.

I stared at my brother having no idea what to say or do.

All brothers and sisters fight and so did Mg and I but it over the little stuff.

This conversation we were having now was getting tense and that meant a lot seeing that our conversations were never like that.

“There's something you're not telling me, Sienna,”Mg said,“and I want to know what it is.”

“What world do you live in?”I asked, letting my annoyance show,“it's my life and you know only what I want you to know. Just because I choose to tell you all the time doesn't make it your right to know.”

My older brother stared at me dumbfounded.

Mg and I just had a fight.

Not our usual regular back and forth banters but a full blown argument.

I didn't wait for his reply.

Instead, I hopped into my car and I headed straight for school, hoping Mg would still my home when I got back so we could talk.

♡✿♡

“It's so cute,”Syd gushed after I told Liz and her about last night and showed them the necklace Jace got me.

“Do you know it's actual silver?”Syd asked.

“I guessed last night but I couldn't tell,”I said as I switched my books from my bag to my locker.

“Speaking of boys,”Lizzie spoke up as she tossed her coffee cup in the trash,“How did things go with Owen?”

“Who's Owen again?”I wondered.

“My boyfriend,”Sydney said,“we had a fight last week but we're okay now.”

Owen...

It sounded familiar but I couldn't remember where I had heard it from and whenever they talked about him, he seemed like a total stranger.

Sydney's phone buzzed and she brought it to her face but too close that it was weird or something.

“That's him,” she said as she tucked her phone away in her bag, “he's waiting at my locker. I'll see you guys later.”

After Sydney left, Lizzie turned to me.

“Si, there's something I have to tell you,”she said a bit nervously.

Finally.

“Is it about a certain Brandon Bishops?”I guessed as I shut my locker.

Lizzie's eyes widened.

“You know?!”

“Define ‘Know’,”I told her.

“What do you know,”she asked ignoring my question and I shrugged.

“I know nothing,”I said raising my hands in mock surrender, “but I kinda noticed something was up with you two at the mall. He kept staring at you and it wasn't just any stare. He had the same look Mg has in his eyes whenever he stares at Courtney.”

Lizzie's jaw dropped,“he does?!”

I shrugged again,“I guess.”

“Si, do you think he likes me?”

“Well, yeah, isn't it obvious?”I asked her,“I mean, you're the love expert. You should know. So you like him?”

“Yeah, maybe, I don't know,” Lizzie let out a tired breath as she ran her fingers through her hair.

“You like him,”I concluded, seeing through my bestfriend's lack of decision.

“Let’s say, hypothetically I did like him,”Liz said,“you'd be okay with it?”

“What?”I said in disbelief not accepting that my bestfriend was even asking me this.

“Forget I asked,”Lizzie blurted out before I had a chance to reply,“I don't like him.”

I stared at her with incredulity.

“Liz, why would I be upset that you like a guy?”I asked her so she could hear how unreal it sounded,“if you like him, go for it. Kev moved on already, so should you.”

My bestfriend frowned as she looked forward ahead, trying to act as normal at possible.

“I thought we agreed we wouldn't talk about him anymore?”Lizzie pointed out.

Kev Aka Kevin Greyson was this guy Lizzie and I met while we were at her parents’ vacation home last year's summer.

Kevin and Lizzie had so much chemistry that they dated soon after they met.

At first, I couldn't believe it but Lizzie seemed so happy that I decided not to shoot down the idea just yet.

Sadly, their relationship came to an end when he gave her to he amazing going away present of him cheating on her.

Wonderful, right?

I'm so glad that he showed his true colors before we left because it would have hurt so much more if they had dated for a longer time.

Though I wouldn't say I saw it coming but I did not trust that guy.

Like at all.

I gave a weak shrug, “Sorry, I forgot.”

“But you're sure you're cool with me dating Brandon if it ever gets to that? ”Liz asked, “even with Matt being back and everything?”

I did a double take.

“Wait a minute, you knew?”I asked my bestfriend,“why didn't you tell me?”

“It was your birthday,”Lizzie deafened,“I didn't want to get you all tensed up and looking behind your back.”

“Well a little warning would have been nice,”I told her,“what if he got me?”

Liz let out a sigh before she placed her hand on my shoulder and wore this expression on her face that I wouldn't say I liked.

At the same time, a bell sounded throughout the halls signaling it was time for first period.

“Si, I'm saying this because you're my bestfriend and I love you, ” she said,“I think it's time for you to stand up to that jerk. He ruined your sophomore year, don't give him a chance to ruin this year too.”

I let out a tired breath.

“I wish it was as easy as that,”I said as Lizzie and I began to make our way to class.

“Everytime I see him,”I told Lizzie though she already knew this,“I just freeze up and get all tensed.”

“And this is why you have me,”Lizzie smiled,“I'll get rid of that jerk for you.”

I smiled,“what I'd do without you?”

“I’ve got no idea. ”

“Hey, Si, ”Lizzie said, “Umm, Mg texted me. He says he's worried about you. Did the both of you fight or something?”

“Yeah, I said a few things I shouldn't have,”I told Liz while I massaged my forehead, “he was just pestering and I couldn't tell him Jason was in my bedroom last night. He'd start acting even more over protective. I don't know what to do.”

“Well the answer is easy, I think you should talk to him,”Lizzie said,“I'm sure he'd understand. Remember how he hid his feelings for Courtney from your parents for those first few months?”

“What? No,”I blurted, shutting down whatever idea Liz was getting about Jason and I.

In fact, scratch that.

There was NO Jason and I.

“Liz this nothing like the ‘Mg-Courtney’ situation,”I said,“I don't like Jason that way and that's what I'm worried about. He'd start fussing over nothing.”

“Is that line from a movie?”Liz asked, choosing her weird curiosity over my problem.

“Liz,”I drawled out.

“Okay, let's go over this,”Lizzie said,“my Brandon problem?”

“Go for it, I'm totally cool with it, I promise,”I assured my bestfriend,“my Matt problem?”

“I'll talk to him,”Liz said, “has he made contact yet?”

“Not physically,”I said,“but he did put this creepy note in my locker.”

“He did?”Liz asked, “what did he say?”

“I'm watching you, ”I told her with a shudder, “like some 90’s black and white horror movie or something.”

“Do you think you can file a restraining order?”

I stared pointedly at my bestfriend,“Let's say I can afford that, what do I tell them? My neighbour’s playing pranks on me?”

“That's definitely a name of a musical or something,”Lizzie said and I glared at her, “alright, I'll talk to him.”

“Are you sure?”I asked,“I mean, now he hasn't reached out, don't you think we should leave it that way?”

“I guess, ”Lizzie shrugged.

“My Mg problem?”I asked.

“Just talk to him,”Lizzie drawled out, “don't ruin your relationship with your brother over nothing cause you don't know how lucky you are to have a sibling.”

“Fine,”I told her,“I'll talk to him at the store.”

“My ‘I'm-going-on-a-date-with-Brandon’ problem?”Lizzie asked, her words rushed.

My lips formed an ‘O’.

“He asked you out already?”I asked indisbelief.

“He texted me last night asking if I wanted to go out with him on Saturday.”

“And what did you say?”

“I told him I'd see if you were okay with it,”Lizzie said.

“Why would you tell him that?”

“Because, you’re my bestfriend,”Lizzie said,“your approval is needed.”

“Liz, I think that only applies if he's like my ex or something,”I said,“say yes.”

“Fine, okay, I'll tell him,”Lizzie said as we settled in our seats.“What I'd do withour you?”

“Nothing apparently,”I said under my breath.

“I heard that.”

“Good.”