I'm so glad I'm getting more inspiration for this book because seriously I have been writing this for a whole year!! I need to finish it soon and focus on others and thank you all for being so ever patient with me, it's means alot.

Happy new year, my lovelies!🙈

MIA

I have a boyfriend.

Me. Mariah Mia Smith officially has a boyfriend.

And not just anyone. Jackson.

Jackson is my boyfriend.

The thought repeated in my head like a catchy song I couldn’t turn off. It felt surreal, like some wild daydream I conjured during the carnival. But no—this was real. The endless kisses on my hand, the way he drove beside me as the night grew darker—it all confirmed it.

He’s my boyfriend. Hehe. Jackson’s my boyfriend.

Mine.

A smug grin spread across my face, but before I could fully enjoy it, an annoying little voice crept in, whispering doubts. Not for long, it sneered. I shoved the thought away like yesterday’s trash. Couldn’t it let a girl bask in her delusion for five minutes?

Sigh.

Jackson’s hand squeezed mine, pulling me back to the moment. I glanced over at him.

“Hmm? Is something wrong?” I asked, playing innocent.

“Yes,” he said, sighing dramatically. “My girlfriend is overthinking. Could you tell her to stop? I want her attention—all of it—on me.”

Seriously? No words. Just… no words for this guy. He always knew exactly what to say to make my brain short-circuit. And, of course, I was eating it up like a kid with unlimited candy.

“You’re such a hopeless romantic, Jackson,” I said, pinching his cheek with my free hand. The road was empty, so I figured it was safe to act a little silly.

“Jackson?” He raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into a smug grin that showed off his dimples. “It’s boyfriend to you now.”

Could he be more perfect? I think not.

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t stop the smile tugging at my lips. “Boyfriend, huh? That’s a big promotion. Are you sure you’re ready for all the responsibilities?”

“Responsibilities?” he asked, glancing at me with mock confusion. “Oh, you mean like holding your hand, stealing your fries, and making sure you don’t fall asleep during boring movies? Yeah, I think I’ve got it covered.”

I let out a laugh, shaking my head. “Wow. Confident much?”

“Confident? No, no.” He smirked, giving my hand another squeeze. “I’m just stating facts. You’re stuck with me now, Mia. No refunds, no returns.”

“Hmm,” I said, tilting my head as if considering it. “That’s a bold claim. What if I decide I want my money back?”

He gasped, feigning offense. “Impossible. Once you’ve had me, there’s no going back. You’d miss all this too much.” He gestured dramatically to himself, dimples flashing as he grinned.

I snorted, trying to look unimpressed, but my cheeks were already hurting from smiling so much. “You’re ridiculous.”

“And yet, you’re still holding my hand,” he teased, lifting our intertwined fingers like it was evidence in a courtroom.

“Only because I haven’t figured out how to escape yet,” I shot back, narrowing my eyes playfully.

“Oh, escape?” His voice dropped an octave, and he gave me a look so intense it sent a shiver down my spine. “Mia, you should know by now—I don’t let go of things I care about.”

Cue the butterflies. It wasn’t fair. How could he go from goofy to heart-melting in two seconds flat?

I swallowed, trying to act cool. “Good thing I don’t want to escape then,” I muttered under my breath.

“What was that?” he asked, leaning closer with a sly grin.

“Nothing!” I said quickly, turning to look out the window, my face heating up.

He chuckled, clearly enjoying my flustered state. “You’re adorable when you’re embarrassed, you know that?”

“I’m not embarrassed,” I mumbled, refusing to look at him.

“Sure, sure,” he said. “But if you keep blushing like that, I might just have to kiss you again.”

And just like that, I was a goner.

"Just focus on the road, please,"

"Hmm, I’d rather focus on you,"

"No way!" I reached over with my other hand,  gently turning his head back toward the windshield. "Eyes on the road, Jackson. I’m not ready to die."

He chuckled, completely unbothered. "You sure this isn’t just an excuse to touch my face?"

Ugh. He was so cocky now. And, embarrassingly, I loved it.

Something was definitely wrong with me.

I huffed, trying to keep my composure. "You’re seriously surprising me with this new you. Boyfriend."

His grin widened, dimples fully on display. "That word sounds perfect when you say it like that."

"Say what?" I teased, leaning in close to his ear. "Boyfriend?"

"Mia!" He gripped the steering wheel tighter, swerving slightly to avoid an oncoming car. I burst out laughing as I leaned back into my seat.

"I thought you didn’t want to get us killed!" he exclaimed, shaking his head but smiling.

I gave him my best innocent look. "Sorry, love, but weren’t you the one who said you’d rather focus on me a few seconds ago?"

He shot me a side glance, his lips twitching like he was fighting back a laugh. "Yeah, but I wasn’t planning on dying to prove my point."

"Oh, come on. You love the chaos I bring," I teased, flashing him a cheeky grin.

He sighed dramatically, though his smile never faded. "You’re going to be the death of me, Mia."

You already are to me.

The car slowed as we turned onto my street, the familiar houses lining the way like silent witnesses to my racing heart. Jackson’s headlights illuminated the front of my house, and I felt a sudden pang in my chest.

Already? It felt too soon to let him go.

He stopped the car, cutting the engine before stepping out. I barely had time to process before he was opening my door, his hand reaching out to help me. Always a gentleman.

“Thanks,” I mumbled, stepping out as he smiled down at me, his warm palm still holding mine.

He walked me up the path to the door, his footsteps steady and confident while mine felt clumsy and hesitant. When we reached the porch, he paused, then suddenly turned back to the car.

“Wait here,” he said.

I tilted my head, confused, as he jogged back to the car. He opened the trunk, grabbing all the stuffed animals, prizes, and other random things we’d won at the carnival. With his arms full, he returned to the porch, grinning like a proud kid.

“These,” he said, holding them out, “are for you.”

I laughed, reaching out to take the pile, which was far heavier than I’d expected. “You’re giving me everything?”

“Of course. They’re yours,” he said simply, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

I rolled my eyes. “Well, my sister Maddy is definitely going to confiscate all of these the moment she sees them.”

He smirked but then leaned in closer, his voice soft yet firm. “If she does, I’ll buy you double of everything. No one’s taking what’s yours, Mia.”

I stared at him, stunned for a moment, before chuckling nervously. “You’re serious?”

“Dead serious,” he replied without hesitation, his expression unwavering.

The sincerity in his voice sent a little shiver down my spine. I didn’t know what to say, so I just laughed softly and shook my head, hugging the prizes to my chest.

When we reached the door, he turned to face me, that smile of his softening into something sweeter. Before I could say anything, he leaned down and kissed my cheek, his lips lingering just a moment longer than necessary.

My cheeks burned as I frowned up at him. “What, you wouldn’t kiss your girlfriend on the lips?” I teased, my voice barely above a whisper.

His chuckle was low and warm, sending a flutter through my chest. “Oh, I want to,” he admitted, his eyes glinting. “But I figured we’ve kissed so many times tonight, you wouldn’t want another one.”

“Never,” I shot back, shaking my head. “I’ll never get tired of it. Well…” I paused, trying to keep a straight face. “Unless you eat fish or onions first.”

That earned me a real laugh, one that made his dimples appear again. But as his laughter softened, his gaze turned serious, his head tilting slightly.

“Noted,” he murmured, his voice lower now. His hand found my waist, pulling me just a little closer as he leaned in.

My breath caught as his lips brushed mine—soft, warm, and slow. When he pulled away, his forehead almost resting against mine, he whispered, “Good night, girlfriend.”

A shy smile broke across my face, my cheeks blazing. “Good night, boyfriend.”

And with one last look that made my knees weak, he turned and walked back to the car. I watched him go, still feeling the warmth of his kiss, his words playing in my head like a song on repeat.

At the edge of the driveway, he stopped by his car and turned back, his eyes catching mine under the soft glow of the streetlight. He waved, that signature smile of his making my heart skip.

I smiled and waved back, my chest tightening as he grinned wider. Then, he climbed into the car, started the engine, and drove off. I stood there, frozen, watching the taillights fade into the distance, replaying every moment of the night like a movie in my mind.

I didn’t even hear the click of the house door.

Before I could react, someone grabbed the back of my collar and yanked me backward. I gasped, stumbling as my heart leaped into my throat. My head snapped around, but their grip was too strong, dragging me closer before I could even see who it was.

I heard the door slam shut, and I blinked through the dimness of the house, trying to see who it was. “Mandy?”

“Finally, you’re back—Ah!” Mandy clamped a hand over her mouth, wincing at how loud she’d been. Her eyes widened as they locked onto the chocolates, stuffed bears, and cotton candy in my arms. “Oh my gosh! He got all this for you?!”

“Is that why you haven’t slept?” I hissed, keeping my voice low. I didn’t want to wake anyone up, but honestly, I was still trying to recover from the fact she had literally dragged me by the collar.

“Uh, duh,” she said, folding her arms like it was obvious. “Mum tried waiting for you, but you know how exhausting Max is, so I, being the ever-amazing sister, decided to stay up and make sure you came back safe.”

“Oh really?” I raised an eyebrow, calling her bluff. “So, you’re saying you stayed awake just to make sure I got home safe? Nothing else? No other reason?”

“Exactly,” she said with an exaggerated nod, her eyes darting between me and the loot in my arms. She was trying so hard to play it cool, but the way she kept sneaking glances at the chocolates was killing me.

“Right,” I said, biting back a laugh. “So, you don’t care about the cotton candy at all? Or the chocolate? Or the massive stuffed bear?”

“Nope. Not at all. It’s all about you, sis.” She placed a hand over her heart like she was making some dramatic declaration. “You mean the world to me.”

“Sure I do,” I said, finally letting out a snort. “And I’m sure the candy and the bear have nothing to do with it, huh?”

She gasped, pretending to be offended. “How dare you accuse me of being bribed by a stuffed bear! I’m appalled. Insulted, even.”

“You’re ridiculous.”

“And yet, you love me.”

“Debatable.”

Mandy let out a loud fake gasp and grabbed the stuffed bear out of my arms. “Fine, if you don’t love me, Mr. Bear does! And he won’t accuse me of being a chocolate thief!”

“Okay, first of all, his name is not Mr. Bear,” I said, yanking it back.

“Oh, really? What’s his name then? Huh?” She smirked, crossing her arms again.

“... I’ll let you know when I come up with it,” I muttered, heading toward the stairs.

Mandy trailed behind me, still grinning. “Fine, but I’m calling dibs on some of that chocolate. I stayed up for you, after all.”

“You mean you stayed up for the chocolate.”

“Same thing,” she said, shrugging.

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t help smiling as I headed up to my room. We parted ways to our rooms, and just as I was about to close the door behind me, Maddy’s voice stopped me.

“Mia?”

I turned, already bracing myself. The smirk on her face told me I was doomed.

“So glad you two are finally dating,” she said, leaning against the doorframe like she had all the time in the world. “And, for the record, I was right—he’s definitely a good kisser.”

My jaw dropped. “Y–You saw that?!”

She scoffed, crossing her arms like I was the ridiculous one here. “I didn’t just see it. I heard it too. The ‘goodbye, boyfriend,’ and ‘goodbye, girlfriend’ parts? So cringe.” She puckered her lips in exaggerated mockery, her voice turning all singsong as she repeated it.

I wanted the floor to swallow me whole. “Why on earth were you even watching us?” I whispered harshly, glaring at her like I could actually shoot daggers.

“Oh, I don’t know,” she said with a fake shrug, her smirk growing. “Why would I want to witness my sister finally get kissed by the boy she’s been obsessed with for years? I mean, come on, Mia.”

My face burned. “I am not obsessed!”

“Right,” she said, dragging out the word as if she didn’t believe a single syllable. “And the redness of your lips right now totally isn’t giving it away.”

I gasped, covering my lips with my hand in record time.

Maddy chuckled, clearly enjoying every second of my misery. “Don’t worry,” she added as she turned to walk to her room. “Your secret’s safe with me… girlfriend.”

“Seriously, Maddy?” I hissed, ready to defend myself, but she just waved me off and shut her door, leaving me standing there like a complete fool.

Great. Now I had to figure out how to live with this on top of the butterflies still swarming in my stomach.

With a deep sigh, I entered my room, the evening's events replaying in my mind like a favorite song on repeat. I dropped the teddy bear and candy onto my desk, kicked off my shoes, and headed straight to the bathroom.

The first thing I did was take a quick shower, letting the warm water wash away the lingering tension and excitement. Afterward, I brushed my teeth vigorously because, honestly, my tongue was still coated with sugar from all the cotton candy Jackson bought me. By the time I jumped onto my bed, freshly showered and smelling like vanilla, my body finally started to feel the day’s exhaustion.

That was until my phone buzzed on the nightstand.

I grabbed it, my heart skipping when I saw his name on the screen.

"Just got back home now." Jackson’s text read.

I smiled, my fingers hovering over the keyboard to reply, when another message popped up.

"Don’t reply. If you do, I might want to do a video call, and I might want us to talk till dawn. And don’t say you don’t care because you have school."

I nearly rolled my eyes but stopped myself, amused by how well he knew me.

Another text followed immediately:

"I know you wanted to roll your eyes just now."

A giggle escaped my lips as I clutched the phone to my chest.

"Oh gosh, I know you’re laughing right now, and I want to hear it."

I buried my face into my pillow, my toes curling into the sheets as I tried to contain the giddy feeling building up in my chest. This boy was making me lose my mind, and I wasn’t even mad about it.

Then came the final text of the night:

"Goodnight, love. I’ll see you tomorrow."

My heart did a little somersault. He’ll see me tomorrow. Was he going take me to school?

Oh I hope he will.

I pressed my lips to the screen and peppered the messages with light kisses. “Goodnight, Jackson,” I whispered to myself, smiling like a lovesick fool.

I know I looked dumb, but I didn’t care.

Before the butterflies in my stomach could settle, I switched over to the group chat with my friends and typed four simple words:

"Jackson’s my boyfriend."

Within seconds, the chat exploded with notifications, each one more chaotic than the last.

Ariel: "I KNEW IT!!! I WANT TO HEAR EVERYTHING."
Sydney: "Girl, don’t even think about sleeping tonight because we’re talking ALL night."

I laughed, already bracing myself for the interrogation that was about to follow. Sleep was definitely not happening tonight.

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