♡ Jessica Woods ♡

"I hate you so much!!" I screamed at Alex, standing infront of him and blocking the TV screen but he just closed his eyes, leaning his head against the couch.

"I don't care." he opened his eyes and grabbed the remote. "Now stop being the drama queen."

I shot him a glare and picked up the cushion that was laying on the floor and hit his head with it continuously while he was doing nothing to defend himself.

See! Even he too realized that he deserves this for what he has done.

"You moron, I want it. It's mine.. Give it back." I whined and he huffed, grabbing the cushion out of my hand and tossed it somewhere before standing up.

"Jessie, don't act like a kid. It's just a chocolate."

"No, it's not." I fumed. "Spit it out. C'mon SPIT it out." I yelled and he rolled his eyes.

"Jeez, do you want me to puke?"

I frowned at him and pushed his chest hard and he fell on the couch. "Chocolate-stealer."

He shrugged and I gritted my teeth deciding not to give in.

"Alexander Woods, I want my dark chocolate back! Right this instant!" I emphasized and his forehead creased in confusion.

"Dark chocolate? I just ate galaxy, Jessie."

Ugh.. this boy is getting on my nerves.

"Don't you dare lie to me Alexander. I saw its wrapper in the dustbin already. I want my dark chocolate back!" I yelled loudly this time and he cringed, covering his ears with his palms.

"Oh God! What's happening?" mom appeared to our view and glared at us. "What's the problem children?"

"Mommy she's being mean." Alex replied innocently and I wanted to kick him on his family jewels because he was pretending to be act like he didn't steal the dark chocolate from my room that Jace had given me and ate it sneakily when I wasn't home.

"Jessie-"

"No mom.. He's the one who ate my chocolate." I complained.

"So?" she asked casually like it wasn't a big deal at all which made Alex smirk victoriously.

"Huh? Mom, are you deaf or something? He stole my dark chocolate and ate-"

"I didn't eat any dark chocolate mom, I swear." he said sincerely, placing his palm on his heart and I gave him a flat look.

"Then where's my chocolate? It got wings and flew away?" I hissed and he shrugged.

"Maybe. Who knows."

I gritted my teeth and grabbed the cushion and about to throw it on him but my mom protested.

"Jessie, wait. Err, are you talking about the purple colour covered chocolate which had nuts in it?" she asked and I nodded instantly.

"Yes mom! Yes! Where's it?"

She smiled sheepishly as she pointed at her stomach. "Oops. It's in my tummy. When I went to pick the piles of laundry in your room I saw that chocolate under your bedsheets and it seemed to be yum-yum, so I ate it." she said causally and my mouth fell open while Alex was laughing hysterically, clutching his stomach.

My family is a blessing.

"Don't worry Jessie. I was wrong. It's not that yum-yum. So I took half of it to make chocolate cake and look, I'm working on it." she said enthusiastically, waving her egg beater and headed towards the kitchen leaving me speechless.

"Spit it out! Spit it out! Oh My Chocolate! Where are youuu?" Alex sounded in a girly tone trying to mimic my voice and laughed when I slapped his arm.

"Well, I guess.. I shouldn't say what Georgia told me to let you know." I told and suddenly I noticed his body stiffen as he stopped laughing.

"W-What are you talking about?"

"Nothing." I shrugged and turned on my heel but Alex stood infront of me blocking my way.

"No, you're lying. Jessie, what's it?" he asked through his clenched teeth.

I gave him a smug grin and wrapped my arms around his neck. "Actually.. she told me that.." I drawled.

"Hurry up." He huffed and I slapped the back of his head lightly.

"Don't interrupt me or else I'll forget the whole thing, got it?" I asked tilting my head and he nodded trying his best to be calm.

"So.. she told me that.. she has fallen in.. uh.. don't cry okay?" I whispered and he licked his lips, looking at my face intently.

"Hmm." he mumbled "I guess she has fallen in love with Brian, right?"

"No dude. She has fallen in the river and drowned. The End." I deadpanned and he groaned, swatting my hands away that were wrapped around his neck.

"Stupid girl, you wasted my time." he huffed and started to walk past me but stopped when I spoke again.

"No. She actually said me something to tell you." I said and he quickly turned around and his curious gaze met mine. "..And I'll tell you that if you let me have the biggest piece of chocolate cake that mom's making right now."

"Puh-leeze.. I don't have a sweet tooth like you." he stated exasperatedly and I smiled, clapping my hands.

"Great then. What did she tell me was.." I trailed and he sighed loudly as he stepped towards me.

"Told you what? Speed up Jessie! Don't you know the normal people like me always run out of time?" he told and I rolled my eyes.

"Fine, fine. She told me that she wanted you to participate in the audition of Cinderella drama and try your best to get the role of Lucifer."

"Lucifer? Why's that?" He frowned.

"Maybe, she would've thought you'd be fitting in that role perfectly." I shrugged and he frowned even more.

"Me? The devilish fat cat? Seriously?" he ran his fingers through his hair in frustration. "Why the hell is she always trying to annoy the shi-"

"I'm just joking. She told me to participate in the audition of Prince Charming character because she has chosen for the Cinderella role." I told and his lips parted slightly.

"What? She requested that? No way in hell." he shook his head. "Hold on, then does the Prince have to kiss Cinderella in the end of the play?" he asked, rubbing his jaw and I shrugged.

"Maybe.. Maybe not.."

He let out a exaggerated sigh and circled the living room as if he was in deep thoughts.

"Tell her that I won't participate." he said in finality and I rolled my eyes at his stubbornness and made my way to my room.

"Sorry, that's not the part of our deal." I shouted as I closed the door behind me.
----

Being the most stupid person in the world, I forgot to bring Jace's CS book to school today eventhough I've completed all the notes during the late hours of yesterday's night.

I could remember after admiring his weird handwriting, I drifted off hugging his book instead of my pillow.

Jace hasn't completed his homeworks too and unfortunately we did have Computer Science period tomorrow so eventhough if I gave him the book tomorrow there was no way in hell would he finish the tons of homeworks before the period starts.

"What are you thinking for the whole time Jessie?" Louise brought me back to reality and I huffed, closing my locker.

"I forgot to bring Jace's CS book and the third period we have tomorrow is CS and the-"

"Hey look over there, Sam is coming." Louise muttered, nudging me and I realized she didn't listen to my rant as her gaze fixed on the guy who was heading towards the Principal office with a sullen expression on his face while most of the girls were gawking at him.

"C'mon, let's go." Louise held my wrist and before I could further ask, she reminded. "Today Jace is getting back his badge and the suspension of Samuel was over. Don't you want to welcome Jace when he'd be coming out of the office with pride and all?" she said dramatically and I rolled my eyes, nevertheless I let her take me to the office.

The moment we stepped into the hallway where Mr.Henderson's office has located, I saw Ryan leaning against the wall and nodding his head with a slight annoyed expression while Leah was telling him something, batting her lashes seductively.

"What is she doing with my man?" Louise fumed and strode towards their direction. I followed her behind and noticed Natasha was talking with Gabriella, Oliver's girlfriend, standing at the other corner of the hallway.

"Honey.." Louise cleared her throat and Ryan turned his gaze to us, acknowledging our presence and grinned widely. "Why are your ears bleeding?" Ryan and I stifled our laughter as Leah shot a glare at Louise before stomping off.

Once she disappeared from our sight, Louise grabbed Ryan's collars yanking him down to her level and glared at him. "Is she gorgeous than me?" she asked and he glanced Leah giving a once-over and back at Louise.

"Well, she has big boobs than you but you're always the gorgeous one to me." he smiled, pecking her cheek and Louise blushed, releasing the grip and slapped his arm.

"Don't you dare insult my boobs okay!"

He chuckled and wrapped his arm around her neck, pulling her closer to him and was about to say something but the office door which opened with a creak sound interrupted us. Everyone averted their gazes to the office and I saw Jace and Oliver stepping out of the office at the same time and their faces were holding unreadable expressions as Oliver patted Jace shoulder and walked towards his girlfriend's direction but I had a broad smile on my face when I saw the badge pinned on Jace's shirt collar.

His eyes locked with mine and with the huge smile on my face I kept a step towards him but before I could reach him Natasha appeared out of nowhere and jumped into his arms hugging him tightly.

It caught him off-guard and he shifted his gaze down at her when she pulled away and she whispered something to him and gave him a kiss on his jaw. I averted my gaze to the other side and saw Oliver shoving his tongue down Gabriella's throat.

Mr.Henderson, please come outside.

Then another one revealed to our sight and when everyone noticed it was Samuel, Ryan ran towards him and muttered something while Jace was encircled by Natasha, Leah and Louise. Louise was gesturing me to come there but I stayed on my spot and looked back and forth at my ex-crush, Samuel Collins, who was staring at me with a guilt look and my current crush, Jace Parker, who was shooting daggers at him and sighed inaudibly.

Such a complicated life.
----

"Jace?" I poked his lower back and he glanced over his shoulder.

"Jessica?" he shut the locker and turned around. "What's up?"

"Uh, I'm sorry. I didn't bring your book." I admitted and he gave me an amused look.

"That's no biggie. Bring it tomorrow." he told, ruffling his hair.

"But you haven't done your homeworks. Do you want me to complete it?" I asked and his forehead creased thoughtfully.

"Well.. To be honest I can't do it on my own. But I don't want you to complete it on my behalf, either. So why don't you come over to my place after school and help me in my works?" he suggested, scratching the back of his neck and I stared at him open-mouthed.

"B-But your book is at my home."

"Yeah, I mean.. you could go home, freshen up and wait for me with my book till I pick you up from your home eh?" he offered and I opened my mouth and closed it several times but nothing seemed to be come out so I just nodded in approval.
----

Sometimes being the stupid girl in the world is a blessing, I thought as I kissed Jace's book cover continuously.

I pulled my long blonde hair in a high ponytail and glanced at myself in the mirror. I was wearing an indigo jeans and a plain black sweatshirt which was tucked in and my lips were painted with soft pink coloured lipstick.

I put his book and my books into my bag and grabbed the phone, glancing at the time which read half past four and then glanced outside of the window waiting for his car.

I'm going to his house. And he's the one who invited me to come over. Yahoo!

Suddenly I heard a car's honk and I glanced at myself in the mirror one more time and ran down the stairs and put on my trainers.

"Bye mom! I'm going to my friend's house." I yelled, gripping the strap of my bag.

"Louise?" I heard her ask and I bit my inner cheek, arguing with myself whether to tell her about Jace or not and finally left the place without responding anything. I opened the door and quickly hopped into his car and looked at the always-charming guy who was staring at me intently from head to toe.

"Hi-ya!" I chirped, putting on my seatbelt and he fixed his gaze back to my face.

"Last time I checked I'm not Louise." he smirked slightly and I titled my head.

"Last time I checked I didn't respond anything but seriously you do have sharp ears." I exclaimed and he chuckled starting the engine and drove off. I noticed he was wearing gray-coloured hoodie and chinos. My eyes fell on the phrase which was printed on his hoodie and it had 'Don't read the next sentence.' in big black letters and I nevertheless slowly sneaked a glance at the phrase that had written in tiny letters below it.

'You little rebel, I like you.' A blush crept over my cheeks and I quickly turned to look out of the window before he could notice it.

Could the butterflies stop fluttering in my stomach? Everyone knew that he just wore this without any purpose.

He stopped the car infront of a one-story house which had a small garden in the entrance and to be frank, it seemed to be a bit old house compared to others. I glanced at him and he nodded his chin at the house.

"This is my home." he announced and I smiled, unbuckling my seatbelt and stepped out of the car at the same time he did.

"Let's go." he said, walking towards his home and I nodded gripping the strap of my bag in nervous.

I've never seen his parents. What if they didn't like me?

He pushed open the front door and entered in and waited for me to get in as well but when he noticed I wasn't making a move he held my wrist and took me inside before closing the door behind us.

"Nanny, I'm home." he shouted, removing his shoes and I removed my shoes as well, glancing around.

His house was painted in beige colour and there was a tiny hallway which would be leading to the rooms probably and there was large two windows behind the black leather couch and the wall was decorated with his family pictures where only Jace and Georgia could be seen.

Eventhough his house seemed to be small it had a homely atmosphere and I loved it was a huge understatement. After all it was Jace's house, how could I not like it?

His grandma appeared out of nowhere, holding a sharp knife and was about to shout at Jace but when she saw me her eyes widened as she adjusted her glasses.

"What a pleasant surprise sweetie? I'm sorry I don't remember your name but I do acknowledge that you're his girlfriend." she said, moving closer to me and handed the knife to Jace before giving me a hug which I gladly returned.

"She's not my girlfriend, nanny." Jace muttered beside me but her grandma ignored his statement as she pulled away, looking up at me.

"I'm sorry I didn't know you're coming so I didn't make any fancy dinner." she said and I stared at her in surprise.

"You're the one who cook?" I asked and she furrowed her brows.

"Yeah, why? Is there any problem with that?" she asked, tilting her head to one side and I shook my head slowly.

"Alright kids! Give me a minute and I'll bring the awesome tea for the both of you." with that his grandma headed towards the direction where supposed to be the kitchen located.

Why can't Jace's mom cook?

"Neither me nor Georgia know how to cook so she's always the one who does cooking." Jace explained and I glanced up at him with the same surprised expression.

"What about your mother?" I asked and his jaw clenched tightly as he shut his eyes. But when he opened them his face turned into calm expression like earlier.

"She's dead." he said dryly and his voice held no emotions while my jaw was sweeping the floor.

She's dead? What? Jace's mother has died? When? What about his dad then? Is he dead too?

"Come on, I'll show you my room." he changed the subject and guided me to his room walking hastily.

Eventhough I wanted to ask him so many questions I didn't want to make him uncomfortable at the same time and a tiny part of me was afraid that he'd snap at me saying it was none of my business.

My eye brows shot up in surprise the minute I stepped into his room. His room was painted in beige colour as well but the colour couldn't be seen clearly as the posters of guitarists were hiding it. His modern king-sized bed placed in the corner and there was a wooden bookshelf right by the door and it was filled with so many books and above his bed there was a wooden wall shelf too where his trophies were placed on neatly.

"You're a fan of guitarists?" I asked eyeing the posters.

"I'm a fan of guitar." he replied and I looked up at him raising my eyebrow.

"Do you have a guitar?" I asked and he nodded, pointing at his wardrobe.

"Noah presented it to me on my.. 12th birthday. Because the young-stupid-me always wanted to own a guitar back then." he told me, chuckling lightly but his eyes were still looking hurt since I've inquired about his mother. "I mean, I used to play it once upon a time." he let out a soft sigh and I stared at him open-mouthed.

"What? You can play guitar? Oh My God! Really? Can you play it for me now? Please.." I requested looking at him with puppy dog eyes.

He chuckled looking down at me and shook his head. "Sorry. I already forgot how to play it as I haven't touched it which seems like an eternity. But don't worry I'll play it for you one day." he said assuredly and I looked up at him, extending my pinky finger.

"Pinky promise?"

His lips curved into a smile as he looked at my pinky finger and entwined mine with his.
"Pinky promise."

I grinned widely and slowly pulled my finger away. "You're so sweet."

"Isn't that obvious?" his grandma made her appearance entering into the room with a tray of two tea cups and placed it on his study table.

"Uhm.. You guys don't seem to be studying. And my dear young man," his grandma stood infront of Jace and raised her head up at him. "You- dear Lord, why do you have to be so tall? Can you just sit on the bed? I have to give some advices to the two of you." she told and Jace gave her a flat look nevertheless sat on the bed and then she motioned me to sit down as well and I reluctantly sat on the bed beside Jace keeping a good distance between us.

"No one could deny that you both are cute together and would be making cute babies too, I mean in the future. But-"

"Nanny we-"

"Don't interrupt me." she stated sternly and Jace groaned, looking down at his lap.

"So what was I saying?"

"Don't interrupt me." Jace muttered and his grandma slapped him on the side of his head which made him wince slightly and I held back my laughter when she looked at me. "Oh yeah, the babies! So what my point is that Jace, you have to pick up Georgia from school within half an hour and if you did stuffs you'd be tired and I'm the one who will have to pick her up and last but not least I wouldn't be touching your bedsheets hereafter." she cringed and I giggled inaudibly while Jace's eyes were popping out.

"This is it!" Jace stood up in an instant and carried her in his arms which made her squeal and took her out of the room.

I let out a hearty laugh and realized how much I loved the Parker's family. Suddenly my cheeks blushed at the thought of Jace and me making cute babies together.

The stupid thoughts of stupid teenaged girl.

Wait, she said he had to pick up Georgia from school. What was she still doing in the school?

Jace entered in a couple of seconds later and didn't make any eye contact with me as he sat on the bed across me and placed down all of his books between us.

"Let's.. start to do it. Because I have to pick up Georgia from school half an hour later. She has some drama practices for the talent show I guess." he told, flipping the pages of his CS book and I slowly nodded in realization.

Oh, so Alex would be there too and I hope, they'd have fixed up everything and rebuilt their relationship.

"So these are the questions I've to do right?" he asked, pointing to a page of his book and I nodded, taking my books out of my bag as well. "Help me with these, would you?"

"With pleasure." I smiled and grabbed the text book and started to explain it to him. Only for a minute or two he listened to me attentively, after that he started to yawn, stretching his arms and glanced his phone now and then.

"Jace, are you listening?" I asked flatly and he nodded placing his phone aside.

"Yeah, yeah. Go on." he said and rested his chin on his palm, pressing his lips in a thin line. I sighed and started to explain again and now he was staring at me fixedly but there was no doubt that his mind was wandering somewhere else.

I sighed again and was about to scold him, but restrained myself when he gulped audibly, gripping the pillow tightly that was laying beside him. I furrowed my brows in confusion and placed a hand on his thigh gently.

"Jace, are you okay?" I asked and he blinked looking at me.

"Uh, yeah." he cleared his throat. "Yeah, I'm okay."

"You seemed to be lost in thought." I informed and he sighed softly.

"That's.. nothing. You continue." he said and took his phone and glanced it. "I have to pick up Georgia and after that I have to drop a text to Tash also." he muttered to himself ignoring my explanation completely and I set the book down glaring at him but he didn't notice it as he was engrossed in the device he was holding. I huffed and grabbed his phone out of his hands and hid it behind me. He was a bit taken aback by my action.

"What the-"

"I won't give your phone back until you complete your homeworks." I told firmly and he frowned.

"Jessica, just give me the phone for a minute. I'll drop a text to Georgia and give you back." he said and I sighed and handed his phone back to him as I could understand his situation.

"Only one minute. I'll be counting." I said sternly and he chuckled at me before typing something on his phone. I slowly sneaked a glance at his phone and he was typing some message to.. Tash?

What the hell? Did he lie to me?

"You said you wanna text Georgia." I frowned and he smirked focusing his gaze on the phone.

"I said I wanna text Tash. You might have misheard me."

I frowned even more when I was hundred percent sure he told me he wanted to text Georgia and there was no way in hell I would've given his phone back to him if he told me he wanted to text Natasha. And for some unknown reason it made me angry.

"Give me the phone Jace." I ordered and was about to snatch it from him but he instantly hid it behind him like I did earlier and shook his head at me, smirking.

"Nah-uh."

I glared and moved closer to him, wrapping my hands around him and tried to grab the phone out of his hold but he was clutching it in a vice-like grip.

"Jace give me the phone or else-"

"Or else what?" he challenged with an amused look on his face and right now I decided to ignore how close our faces were.

"Or else I will take it on my own." I said trying to open his clenched fist.

"You're already failing on that attempt." he chuckled and I shivered slightly as his mouth brushed against mine.

Suddenly a light bulb flashed inside my head and without any second thoughts I started to tickle Jace on his stomach and he let go of his phone as he burst into laughter and tried to grab my hands but he stopped trying when he fell on the bed backward and began laughing loudly.

"Hey! S-Stop.. Stop it. Please!" he said between his laughter and I laughed along with him as it always warmed my heart whenever I saw him being happy and eventhough he was being forced to laugh in this moment, I loved it.

"Can't." Now I was the one who was smirking and he was wheezing for breathe as his eyes filled with tears. He tried to wriggle out of my grip and tried to grab my hands again but I didn't stop tickling as I didn't take his phone yet.

"Tash! Stop it!" he laughed and I immediately stopped when I heard what he said.

Excuse Me?

He stopped laughing and panted heavily while I was looking at him with my lips parted and when he saw my expression he realized what he had done and I tried my best not to show how hurt I was right now.

"W-Well.. I gotta go now." I stammered and shoved my books into my bag hastily and rushed to head outside but he gripped my wrist and spun me around.

"What's wrong? You're mad at me because I called you Tash?" he asked slowly, sitting on the edge of the bed.

"No, I have a bipolar disorder." I deadpanned and he sighed.

"Actually I intentionally called you Tash so you'd stop tick-"

"I'm not stupid, Jace." I snorted and tried to take my hand out of his grip.

But I am stupid, because I'm loving a guy who was already taken.

"I know that you love Natasha so much and vice versa, but I hate being ignored and replaced. Because in the seventeen years of existence all I had was those two and you've no idea how much it hurt me. Samuel often forgets my name and it crushed me back then and now you.." I sighed and for a second I thought my stupid mouth would confess my feelings towards him. "I know, I'm not anyone's best choice. Even for my parents. But I actually didn't want to be second best too-"

He tightened the grip on my wrist and pulled me closer so I was standing infront of him inches away and looking down at him while he was sitting on the bed and looking at me intently.

"God, you were never second best." he stated huskily and I shot him a glare.

"Stop quoting to all the boys I've loved before."

He smiled, looking down at my hand he was holding on and stroked my wrist with his thumb and brought it closer to his mouth before pressing his lips on my wrist. My knees weakened as it gave me goosebumps all over my body.

"I'm not quoting anything. I'm just stating the obvious." he whispered, squeezing my hand and now his gaze was wandering all over my face as he licked his lower lip. "Trust me, you're actually someone's first priority. Not choice. Plus Natasha isn't my girlfriend." he admitted and instead of wondering who was that someone I narrowed my eyes in confusion at his last phrase.

"What? B-But she-"

"We both are fake-dating for more than one year as my bestfriend in the whole wide world almost begged me to do it so the horny guys would stop stalking her and I agreed as I didn't have any choice at that time." he confessed and my jaw was hitting the floor as I stared at him with a mixed feeling that I couldn't name it properly.

They aren't really dating. Oh My Freaking God! I couldn't believe this.

"OH MY GOD!" His grandma shrieked and Jace stood up in an instant, letting my hand go and I turned around too as her voice filled with shock and surprise.

Did she eavesdrop our conversation?

But I realized I was wrong when I reached the living room and saw her standing-still with watery eyes. Jace immidetely wrapped his arms around her and asked gently. "Nanny, what's wrong?"

"J-Jace, we.." she sniffled, gripping Jace's forearms tightly with her wrinkled hands. "We gotta go.. t-to the.. hospital." she managed to say and Jace frowned in confusion and glanced at me and then back at her.

"Hospital? Why?"

"I got a phone call and Georgia's drama in-charge teacher informed me that.." she paused, looking at Jace who was clenching his jaw. "G-Georgia fell down from the staircase and passed out on the spot as she in-injured the back of her head." she concluded.

What The Freaking Hell?

I gasped audibly as my eyes widened in surprise while Jace was cursing loudly and striding towards his car without sparing a second glance at us.

Hey Lovely Readers!

You got a long chapter for your long wait!

The secrets are slowly revealing in each and every chapter. So stay tuned until next time.

And please tell me whether y'all okay if I write a little POV of Alex in next chapter.

I love y'all! And do vote and Comment!