Achieving Unbroken
Chapter Twelve
—
"I look at you now and I want this forever,
I might not deserve it but there's nothing better;
Don't know how I ever did it all without you,
My heart is about to, about to, jump out of my chest"
Paris In The Rain | Lauv
—
Lilla
[Wednesday, May 17th, 2018 - After School]
Jason and I decided to make the quick drive to Green Lake after relentlessly texting in class to figure out where to go. A few close calls with our teachers later, and boom: Green Lake it is!
Thank goodness I keep a change of shoes in my car at all times; if not, I would be walking over a mile in these wedges that I can only tolerate for so long.
The cool breeze whips my hair around, and I have to keep messing with it to get it out of my face. Jason laughs at my struggle.
"I'm sorry, is my brutal war with Mother Nature funny to you?"
"Yes, because you could just put your hair in a hair tie."
I scoff, and aggressively tuck long strands of hair behind my ear for like, the 52nd time.
"I look like a horse when I tie my hair up. I'll pass."
He doesn't respond, but he looks down at me, doubtful. Wind blows hair in my face again, and Jason stops walking. I stop with him. Curiously staring up at him, I see him bring his hand up to move the hair away. The tips of his fingers barely brush my forehead, but it's enough to put me in a state of shock.
You see, I don't really blush. I'm more of a muscles-tense-up-too-scared-to-move girl.
I turn my head after he pushes away the hair. Too much already and we haven't even walked 20 feet.
Jason clears his throat.
"So, October is when we come out as a couple? That's what we agreed?"
"Uh, yeah. If we hang out over the summer as much as we can, and then get seen together around school as senior year starts, I think it'll be good timing, yeah?" I shrug. He nods in agreement.
"Yeah. Just, like, what are we going to do when we hang out over the summer? I don't know how this is supposed to work." Our arms brush against each other as we walk along, and I giggle at his hesitation.
"Well, I don't know if this will come as a surprise to you, but I haven't done anything like this either. Summer will be like this, you know? We'll just get comfortable with each other. Learn the favorite movies, favorite songs, basic schedules. If and when I see the guys over summer, you come with. Or if I hear about the guys going out and doing something, I'll recommend that they ask you to come along. You'll train and try out for football. Just trying to slowly but surely rope you back in."
He looks down as he walks and I can visibly see the gears turning in his head, spinning and spinning and spinning. I wait for a response.
"Do you really think this will work?" His head comes up and his eyes lock with mine. My heart throbs, seeing the hopeful and worried look on his face, the what if this doesn't work? What if you can't get me to open up? What if they guys don't want me around? What if nothing changes?
"I think that if you don't try, there isn't a chance, Jason. With this, there really is a chance."
The corners of his mouth quirk up, the slightest bit, and his gaze softens. I can only imagine I do the same thing.
Turning away from each other, the calm stroll continues. The bright green of the trees along the path intensifies in the golden sunlight, practically glowing.
"Ya' know, I kinda liked Jace."
I let out a single loud, high-pitched laugh, and cover my mouth instantly.
"You didn't."
"I did! No joke. No one has ever called me that before. It's always been Jason or Jay. But Jace is pretty fucking badass." I bump into him with my shoulder and he bumps back.
"Well, you are 'pretty fucking badass' in my opinion. I mean, talking to you for the first time in over a year, you threatened to dump food all over me."
"I thought you would have interpreted that as disrespect."
"I would have, if I didn't know you before the... Party."
He nods.
"Yeah."
More silence. Quick, think of something other than freakin apple juice—
"20 questions?"
Internal hair flip. I am on fire with these subject changes.
Jason smiles, and I see relief loud and clear on his face.
"Perfect. Number One: Favorite movie?"
I don't even try to disguise my smile.
—
"That's you're guilty pleasure? Of all things?" Jason asks incredulously.
"Yes! That's literally all I've got."
"Hallmark Channel's Frasier reruns at 1:00 AM are your guilty pleasure?"
"Yes, they are. Now, 18: Do you like frozen yogurt?"
He nods, and I smile.
"Yeah, why?" Jumping in excitement, I grab his hand and start leading him off of the trail and onto the sidewalk.
"There's one right up the block, and your girl needs her energy."
Your girl.
Disclaimer: I blame Zoe for literally all of this.
"Well, can't have my girl be exhausted during our day, huh?"
Averting my eyes, a growing grin on my face, I continue leading us down the busy streets to the frozen yogurt place: The Cooler. The whole place is painted an icy blue and white, adding to the natural chill of the place. The two of us grab cups and start our selection.
While I go for more refreshing flavors, like the strawberry lemonade sorbet, I see Jason go for anything with chocolate. Plain chocolate, cookies and cream, and topping it off with chocolate sauce.
Note to self: Jason Oakland is a slut for chocolate.
I go to ring mine up, placing it on the scale and pulling out my wallet. While I dig for the right bills, Jason puts his cup right next to mine on the scale, slightly moving it. When I look up at him, he is already handing the cashier a twenty dollar bill.
"Jason!" I whisper. "You don't have to pay for mine. I have money."
He shrugs. That's it.
"I wanted to," he answers, effortlessly, without a care in the world. My eyes go wide with shock.
"Okay, well, thank you." His head bobs in acknowledgment.
The cashier hands him back his change and we take the cups off of the scale, exiting the store. Jason holds the door open for me as we leave.
"Wow," I hum. "You really are practicing the whole doting-boyfriend thing aren't you," I joke. He almost looks offended.
"That's not how I see it. I was raised to pay for a girl I'm on a date with, hold the door open for her. It's respectful."
Now I feel like an asshole. Why does he have to be the one decently raised guy at our school?
"Sorry, I just— Not all guys are like that, especially in high school. I appreciate those little things. Really, I do." He still looks doubtful, so I link my arm with his. "I am the luckiest girl in the world to get to have you around, you know that?" I've got him now. He tries to hide a smile by looking down and away from me, but I see him blushing.
"I think I'm the lucky one here, Lilla."
Content, I hum, and keep our arms linked as we walk back to Green Lake. After a few moments of blissful quiet, listening to cars pass and toddlers giggle, I raise my cup as if I'm making a toast.
"To mutual appreciation," I state, keeping my cup in the air, waiting for him to knock it with his. Jason smiles, and does exactly that.
"Mutual appreciation. I like that," he smiles, wide and with teeth, looking at me. I give him an identical smile back.
"Me too."
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