“We’re going to the movies with Taylor and her friends this weekend.” Holly informed me. “And in two weeks is Kale’s birthday, so can you guys help me think of some birthday ideas?”

“Birthday sex is always an option.” Andy suggested as we, all four of us girls, were all sitting at the dining room table and eating our breakfast which, today, was cereal.

“Birthday sex is always a must.” Holly corrected. “But I need something more.”

“Let’s just get drunk on the beach again,” Elle grinned. “That was fun.”

I held back a snort- more like the beginning of all of my problems. It’s been a few weeks since my argument with my mother and she’s left countless emails that I haven’t even opened, since she is notified when I open a message, so I just don’t open them. My dad has called me a few times, but I don’t answer. I meant it when I told her that I don’t want to talk to her. Also, in those past few weeks, me and Jackson have upped our sex count to nine so far, and still counting- unfortunately.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the sex, but it’s like we’re just digging ourselves into a much deeper hole each time. Like, our metaphorical hole is opening up into China right now as we speak. I don’t talk to Holly too much, both because she’s always with Kale and because it’s so awkward, since I’m kind of sleeping with her brother behind her back and I know that’s a shitty thing to do as her best friend, but she’s never around. I’ve tried telling her, but she just won’t listen because she always has to go somewhere or meet Kale and she just doesn’t have time to be my friend right now. I’m pretty sure she doesn’t even know about my war with my parents that has been initiated.

“Libby, do you have any ideas?” Andy asked me.

I shrugged. “Nope, I can’t think of a thing. I mean, a nice dinner would be nice, just the two of you, I suppose.” But that wouldn’t be anything special since they go out to dinner together all of the freaking time, but I don’t say that.

“That’s so plain, though, I have to make his birthday huge.” Holly said.

“We’re in Australia, that’s kind of huge. Anyway, we don’t know anybody here, you can’t just throw him a party, who would you invite other than the neighbors?” Elle rebutted.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right.” Holly huffed. “I will make him a cake, though, that will happen.”

“You can’t bake.” Andy laughed.

“No, but Libby can, right?” Holly asked me.

Honestly, I’d zoned out, but hearing my name kinda pushed me back into the conversation. “Wha?”

She smirked at me. “You weren’t listening, you were too busy thinking about Damon.” She sang teasingly.

“I do not like him.” I protested for the billionth time, but she still won’t have any of it. Damon’s a nice guy and a great friend, but my mind is obviously a little preoccupied in the romance department. “But I can help you bake a cake if you want.”

“Goody.” She chirped. “Do you mind going to the store to get cake mix today? You know how to pick out the good tasting cake mix. I can go with you and we can go to lunch or something.”

“Sure, I don’t mind.” I mumbled absentmindedly. “But you don’t have to go with me, it’s fine.”

“You’re the best!” Holly cooed. “But you shouldn’t go by yourself, that’s boring. I’ll have Jackson go with you.”

“What? Why?” I yelped.

“Because he knows where the store is, silly.” Holly chuckled. “Do you have something against my brother now?”

“No, I don’t, but I can go by myself.” I insisted.

“And get lost in Australia?” Elle asked with raised eyebrows.

“Okay,” I sighed. “Fine, I guess.”

“You’re the best!” Holly squealed once more, hopping out of her chair. “I’ll go get Jackson so you can go now.”

“It’s fine, I’ll go get him.” I mumbled, standing up from the table and walking away from them, heading for the game room where all of the guys were playing some stupid violent video game.

I was about to call for Jackson when I realized that I didn’t know what kind of cake I should get because I didn’t know Kale’s favorite and I assumed I should probably ask since it was his birthday cake on the line here.

“Hey, Jarrod,” I called,  standing beside the long couch where all the guys were sitting, watching the game that was being played between Isaac and Tommy. “What’s your favorite kind of cake?”

“Um, red velvet. Why?” He asked curiously. All of the guys who weren’t playing the game turned to look at me when they realized that I was observing from the back of the room.

I shrugged. “Because I’m Libby and I want to know. Ryder, what about you?” I asked Ryder.

“My favorite kind of cake? Chocolate, I guess.” He shrugged.

“Red velvet, chocolate, and what’s your favorite, Kale?” I asked nonchalantly.

“I don’t know, funfetti, I guess.” He muttered.

“I like chocolate.” Brendon chirped.

“Alrighty, I have enough information. Thanks guys.” I chirped.

“Hey, we heard about what happened. Sorry about your parents, Lib.” Brendon spoke up as I was about to tell Jackson that he was being kidnapped by me.

I shrugged. “It was inevitable.”

“Have you told Holly?” Kale asked. “I don’t think she knows.”

“No, I haven’t. She can’t really be bothered with my life-changing situations right now.” I sighed. “And Jackson, we need to go to the store.”

“Why do you need to take Jackson to the store?” Ryder asked with a teasing smirk, causing Tommy to nudge his shoulder hard, silently yelling at him to be discreet.

I glared at Ryder- I so was not in the mood for this. “Holly told me to take him with me because I don’t know how to get there.” I snapped at him. “Would you like to go instead? Because you can go, I don’t care.”

“No.” Ryder said quickly. “You’re very grumpy today.”

“Well, I’m PMSing like nobody’s business and I’m not in the mood. And keep your mouth shut because I don’t want my toes to be eaten by the snakaspideroos.”

“Alright, we should go before somebody loses a head.” Jackson muttered with a soft chuckle, standing quickly from the couch and grabbing my hand, he pulled me away from the crowd of boys. “I’ll be back.” He called before we left the room.

“We just need to get cake mix, so we shouldn’t be too long.” I informed him.

“Oh, so that’s what the cake inquisition was for.” He chuckled. “For Kale’s birthday.”

I nodded. “I am a genius.”

“So what’s wrong? You seem… off.” Jackson commented when we were in the black SUV and Jackson was driving us in the direction of the store.

“I told you, I’m PMSing.” I said, rolling my eyes at him. Didn’t he hear me the first time?

“Is that all this is? Like, nothing’s wrong?” He asked with a concerned frown.

“No, why would anything be wrong?” I asked him. “I mean, I have a totally complicated non-relationship with the guy I’ve known since kindergarten, I have a best friend who isn’t really acting like a best friend right now, and my parents are probably going to disown me. I am living the dream. Not to mention the fact that I have a cylinder of absorbent tissue paper shoved into my no-no square.”

“I’m sure if you just talk to Holly, you can work things out. She doesn’t even know that you’re mad at her.” Jackson told me.

“I’m not mad at her.” I defended. “I’m just a bit upset. And I’ve been trying to talk to her, but there’s always something that’s more important than talking to me. Like Kale or tanning.”

“Well, everything will work out with her, I’m sure. You two have been friends forever.” He assured me.

“I know.” I sighed.

We got into the store and we bought two boxes of funfetti cake mix as quickly as we could- I just wanted to get back to the house, take some Midol, and then nap. A nap sounded so nice at the moment, that’s really all I wanted in life.

Once we were back in the car, I leaned against the head rest and closed my eyes. “This vacation sounded a lot more fun two months ago.” I muttered softly.

“It’s not over yet.” Jackson chirped optimistically.

“I just want it to end.” I admitted. “I just want to go home and forget that this summer ever happened.”

“All of it?” He asked with raised eyebrows.

I sighed heavily, wanting to end this conversation so badly that I just didn’t respond and closed my eyes again as we drove silently back to the house. Did I want to forget about all of this summer? Maybe, I really don’t know. That would include the rapidly growing feelings I might have for Jackson and that scares me. It scares me so bad. At the beginning of the summer, Jackson was a good friend, he was my best friend’s brother and that was it. Things were simpler back then, life was easy to understand. I was coming out of a relationship with Brendon and that was the biggest problem in my life and it was hardly a problem at all.

But now… Now, I’ve hooked up with Jackson more than a few times because I love kissing him- he has very soft lips and his eyes are just so… heart melting, and his abs. He has very lickable abs. I never thought that I’d ever say that about Jackson. I mean, I’ve always known that he’s hot, but I never really thought that he was as attractive as I find him now. But that’s why he’s famous- because he can make girls fall in love with him, and he’s very good at it. I’m not the only one that’s fallen for his abs and his eyes and his personality, every girl in America and probably all of the world as fallen for Jackson Thorne. I’m no different.

“We’re here.” Jackson announced after a while.

I opened my eyes and readied myself to get out of the SUV to go into the house and nap, but that plan was quickly demolished when I noticed one crucial thing missing from the view.

“Where’s the house?!” I shrieked.

“We’re not at the house.” He chuckled. “We’re at the pier.” He pointed out his window and I saw the beach with a large pier hovering over the calm waves. There were people here so it must be a public place, but it was nice. However, it was Libby’s nap time and I can’t nap at a frikkin’ pier.

“Why are we at a pier?” I asked rather impatiently.

“Because we are getting Libby back.” He told me before hopping out of the SUV and hurrying over to my side of the car, opening my door before I could even process what he had said.

“What do you mean? I’m clearly right here.” I told him rolling my eyes as he grabbed my hand in his and pulled me out of the car towards the pier. My hand in his felt… nice. Nicer than it should. I tried to pull my hand away because I liked it too much, but my brain wouldn’t let me because his hand was so warm and nice and comforting.

“I mean, you’re barely Libby anymore and that’s not okay with me.” He explained, leading me away from the parking lot and then we were in the sand, up the small set of stairs and then on the cement pier. I thought piers were wood, but I guess this one obviously wasn’t.

“What if somebody recognizes you?” I asked him with raised eyebrows.

He shrugged. “Then we’ll leave, but until that happens, we’re just going to sit down on the edge of this pier and you’re going to forget about everything.” Jackson said. Well, that’s basically impossible if you ask me. Especially since the root of all of my problems was still right next to me and holding my hand carelessly. We walked down the pier, passing people as they looked over the edge- there were metal railings on the side so people couldn’t fall off of the edge.

“That’s easier said than done.” I muttered, following Jackson all the way to the end of the pier. He sat down on the hot concrete with his legs dangling over the edge and the metal bar of safety over top of his head.

“I know.” He admitted softly. “Now sit.”

I sighed heavily and sat down beside him.  I was wearing short jean shorts, so my thighs sat against the hot concrete, but I ignored the soft burn. “So why are we here again?” I asked.

“To talk.” He told me.

“About what?”

“About whatever you need to talk about. Whatever it’s about, just talk about it.” He said, wrapping his arm lazily around my waist. I don’t know why he did that, but it felt nice… like, really nice. Like holding his hand, I didn’t want to enjoy it as much as I did, because his arm around my waist felt so good that it sent butterflies into my stomach.

“I already told you,” I informed him. “I can’t talk to you about you. That’s just… ridiculous.”

“So all of your stress is based on me? Libby, if what we’re doing is that bad, then we need to stop. I don’t want to hurt you, I never wanted to hurt you.”

“It’s not that.” I croaked, feeling a buildup of tears starting to form behind my eyelids. I knew that they were going to spill over soon because I was way too tired and emotional to stop them or bat them away.

“Then what is it?” He asked softly, pulling his arm up my back and he started rubbing soothing circles around my back.

“I can’t tell you.” I whispered. I didn’t mean to whisper, but I couldn’t use my voice because it was hidden behind a wall of thick tears that I was trying with all my tired effort to hide, but they were falling and I couldn’t stop them.

“Libby, you have to tell somebody. You can’t keep whatever is in your head inside of your head because it’s not good for you. You’re not as energetic or happy as you were at the beginning of this summer. Just let it out and I think you’ll feel better once it’s off your chest.”

“You’ll hate me if I tell you.” I whimpered.

He pulled me close to him and kissed my temple as I rested my head on his shoulder and let my tears freely fall. “I could never hate you, and you know that.”

I took a deep breath and decided to let it out- I’ve been holding it in for almost two months so maybe it would help if I told somebody. “That day at the pool, a few days before we… you know, for the first time, when you left the pool Taylor told me that she thought that we were in love.” I cried, tears spilling down my face. “And I just laughed it off like it was nothing but I was so scared because I think deep down, I knew that she was right and that terrified me. It still terrifies me. I don’t know what to do, and I’m so scared.”

“Libby, I-“ He started, but I wasn’t done. If he wanted me to spill my guts, then he was going to get it. It was like releasing a damn inside of me as I continued to babble about everything inside of me like there was no tomorrow.

“And I thought that it was crazy, I mean, you’re my best friend’s brother, but now I’m realizing that that’s my problem. I still look at you like my best friend’s brother, but you’re not just Holly’s brother… You’re Jackson Thorne. And maybe if I just start thinking of you as just Jackson then I think I can start to make sense of all of the mumbled crap hole inside of my head.”

“Libby,”

“I just want to go home.” I said quietly, wiping the tears off of my face and standing off of the pier’s edge. The wind had picked up and there were clouds moving in so it looked like it was going to rain soon, which explained why most people had left the pier and the beach and were emptying out into the parking lot to go back home. There was no rain yet, though, just heavy wind as I stomped away from the edge of the pier and away from Jackson.

I was half way down the pier, continuously wiping tears off of my face as I walked. I was beginning to wonder what Jackson was doing behind me, but I didn’t look back. I wasn’t sure if he was following me, or still sitting there on the edge of the pier, or maybe he was laughing at me. Okay, so I don’t think that he was laughing at me, but I didn’t know what he was doing.

“I love you!” His voice roared from behind me. Those three words pierced through me and every barrier that I’d ever formed inside of me, and stopped me in my tracks. Surely, the roar of the wind had to have contorted his words because he said something completely different than what I thought I heard. It’s official- I’m going crazy. I’m a lunatic. When I get back to America, I’m admitting myself into a mental institute, because that must have been a hallucination.

Slowly, I spun around to face Jackson who was now standing, but still at the edge of the pier, pretty far away from me. Luckily, there wasn’t anybody on the pier anymore so nobody would like, recognize him and mob him or something, so that was good. As I turned around, he started walking towards me, but I didn’t move.

“I wish I had some grand confession, like I’ve secretly been in love with you for years or something, but I don’t.” He said, still walking closer to me. “Before this vacation, you were like a second sister to me, except not because I always thought that you were hot. Anyway, the point is that I do love you, Libby. I love you like I really love you. I didn’t before, but I do now. I could kiss you forever and it kills me to see you crying like this, I really can’t stand it at all.”

This only made me cry harder, but now it was a mix of sad tears, happy tears, and very overwhelmed tears. I really did not expect this when I agreed to go get some cake mix this morning.

I didn’t say anything in return and then I was wrapped in Jackson’s arms as he held me close to him, he felt so warm and comforting and soft. Maybe even softer than he did before. And I knew that it was going to rain soon, so we were going to have to leave, but before we did, I know that I had to do something. And so, I admitted back to him in a whispered reply, “I love you too.”

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I think you might like this chapter x)

My newest obsession (Back To Live- 3Oh!3) is to the side <3

The cover to the side is from riodekovil :D

Thank you for reading!!! I love you!