I've never really thought about how Scarlette and Jackson became and remained good friends for so long. At first thought, I'd think they've been friends since little kids and couldn't be without the other growing up. That'd still be my first thought, but now it's more to it. They fit each other so well. In recklessness and danger. Their carefree natures match each other's perfectly. Too perfectly if I say so myself.

"Hey, I actually should be going home. My mom wanted me to join her and dad at a get together," I tell Jackson, lying through my chattering teeth.

He seems to ignore my words at first, his eyes bouncing between the three skateboards that sit neatly in the trunk of his car. "Do you have to go?"

"Um," I think for a moment, "no?"

"Cool. Pick a board, Nabster, we don't have all day."

I try to blubber out a coherent sentence as Jackson grabs a skateboard and walks away towards the skate park. Leaving flashes through my mind, but I have no way home. Calling my parents is out of question; it's still a little awkward being overly family like with them. They have some slip ups, but I can tell they're really trying.

Sighing, I take a random skateboard before closing the trunk of the car and following after Jackson. He glances back for quick second, to see if I'm following, then continues on toward a ramp at the unfamiliar park. He stops at a ramp that's good for two people, and hops up with ease. I slow my steps until I'm standing directly in front of the ramp. Jackson leans back over the ramp, his hand held out, ready to pull me up. He's clearly not letting up, and I did want to hang out. Even if it involves a death machine with four small wheels.

I place my foot onto one of the lower rails and grab his hand. I'm yanked up from my spot, with ease, in seconds. Jackson grabs onto the board I chose with his free hand.

"Thanks," I mutter, as I get my body to the other side.

"No problem," Jackson hands me the skateboard back before picking up his own.

He walks to one side of the ramp, his board settled under his foot to keep it from moving. I continue to stand in my spot, awkwardly, not wanting to join his side. I give a nervous smile to my friend who looks back to me, again, then out at the ramp. I watch as he places his other foot on the top of the board, leaning down until he falls to the crevice of said ramp and swaying to the other side.

He wants me to do that? There's no way in any lifetime that I'll risk the safety of my bones and life.

"Your turn," Jackson says, simply, waiting for me to die.

"Um," I take another good look at the ramp before Jackson, "no."

Jackson takes that as his cue to go again as he shrugs before doing some neat trick on his skateboard. He continues this for a bit, so I end up sitting on my board. While watching Jackson, I notice a small smile appearing on his face every time he lands a trick. Skateboarding to him is like street racing to Scarlette, and astrology to me. He truly enjoys it.

I ponder on getting up to join him, and at least move around. Madaline would probably slice me if I did more than that. She's never gotten me to ride a skateboard- much less sit on one. Mhm. I'd definitely get cut into pieces. She'll probably even use me as dog food. I think Scarlette has a dog.

"Is this a one man show, or what, Nabster?" Jackson asks, stopping his movements.

My head perks up from the sudden confrontation, not expecting him to mind too much. I wouldn't have minded his continued "one man show."

"Are you intent on ordering my death certificate?" I question him, with a mock detective voice. "Scarlette told me to be careful. We thought your beef sticks would end me- but no! It's this."

Jackson nods along, like he's confirming everything that I'm saying. He kicks his board up, and places it against a rail before sauntering over to me. He ignores the rapid shakes of my head, nodding to himself and me with a scheme-full smile.

It doesn't take much for him to pull me off the board, and grey concreted ground. I'm captured in his arms before I can even ponder a plan.

"This is truancy!" I yell, "let go of me you muttering swan!"

Jackson's arms loosen from around me, his questioning stare apparent in his features.

"Saw it in a movie once," I state, "it didn't work then either."

Jackson takes a moment to process my words, and fully lets me go as he shakes with laughter. I join in not long after, realizing what exactly I said. Maybe I do need to lay off the movies.

"Okay, lincoln," Jackson eases up from his laughing fit, "you're doing somethin', so get your ass on that board. I don't care if you have to hold my hand like a three year old girl."

I gulp, the sound probably loud enough for the entire park and the town next over to hear. I turn towards the board that hasn't done anything to me, yet, and drag it over with the pad of my foot. Jackson makes a noise of surprise when I grab onto his wrists. He told me I could, so I'm taking every opportunity of safety that I can get.

Both my feet eventually end up on the skateboard, my body wobbling as I struggle to maintain balance. My grip on Jackson's wrists become deadly tight, but he doesn't say anything; his figure is relaxed, waiting for me to say I'm ready to move.

I nod after a couple more minutes of us standing in one spot. Jackson moves slowly around the edge of the ramp, and I go with him since I haven't let go of him. It's quiet between us, my mouth sewed shut as I'm focusing on my feet that's planted in the middle of the skateboard. Jackson is more focused on keeping us away from the edge of the ramp. Things can get ugly really fast.

It's not until we're going for a second lap that Jackson says something.

"So, you and Scarlette, huh?"

"Yeah," I look up with a small smile, "me and her."

Jackson nods as if he's confirming what he already knew. He goes quiet for a minute, his eyebrows pulled in like he's thinking really hard about something. I watch him to make sure he's okay, and when he catches me staring, he attempts a grin.

"She really likes you, Nolan."

This time my eyebrows do a weird movement as they raise from Jackson's sudden, serious tone. I squeeze his wrist to hint that I want to stop moving. He gets the gist and stops our movements completely. He's patient when I hold onto him a little longer to ensure my safety as I step off the skateboard.

I do the same as him, and place the skateboard up on a rail before sitting back down on the hard ground. Jackson follows, sitting next to me while taking out a beef stick. He offers me one, causing me to laugh from the random appearance of it, but accept it this once.

"I really like her too," I speak up while we chew on our sticks. "More than anything. I didn't know liking someone this much was possible."

"Yeah?" Jackson questions, making me nod in response. "Good."

"Why do you bring it up?" I wonder, with no malice to my tone. It's general curiosity; I never thought Jackson would be interested in hearing about it.

Jackson sends me a look before leaning his back against the rail, setting the skateboard in his lap. He plays with the wheels of it as he thinks of what to say.

"You're a cool person, Nabster. A cool friend. But, Scar is my best friend."

"I get that," I answer, slowly, not at all hurt by the statement.

"The situation with Julie," he brings up, "it went on for some time, and Scar...truly was not okay."

My chewing stops as the echo of his words flow through my ears.

"We always put on this cool act, and seem like people that don't care about things, but we care a lot. Scar cares a lot. She cares about you. I just wanna make sure that she stays comatose, ya know?"

I nod, letting his words sink in. "What happened between us and Julie...was messy. I made a big mess of a mistake by trying to fit peoples standards, but my feelings towards Scarlette has always been true. I really really like her, Jack. I don't want to mess us up anymore."

Jackson grins at my words before clapping me on the back. I smile despite the sting that I felt after the hit. I realize that he just gave me the 'don't hurt my best friend' talk and mentally sigh in relief that he still approves of me. As his friend and as Scarlette's boyfriend.

"How do the parents feel about it?" he asks, his attention back on the wheels of the board.

"They reacted surprisingly well," I admit, "I had to explain the Julie thing to them too, but they approve of us. My mom even wants to meet her."

"Oooh," Jackson hums, "you might get the chance to see Scar in a dress if you play your cards right. Meeting the parents is supposed to be some big thing, yeah?"

"Yeah," I answer, "which is why she's not meeting them."

"Why?"

"Well, we just started dating. Isn't meeting my parents too soon?"

Jackson shrugs, while finishing up his beef stick. "I don't know, man. I've never been in a relationship. But, how long you've been together shouldn't matter I would assume. What feels right to the two of you is all ya need."

I let out a surprised laugh, sharing a glance with my skateboarding friend, "when did you become wise?"

"All in the genes, Nabster," he grins at me, "but, what about a sleepover? With all of us? Then Scarlette wouldn't be the only one they're seeing."

"You just want to eat my food," I conclude while giving him an accusing look. Jackson holds his hands up in surrender, and I push him over with a playful shove. "I do like the idea. When should we do it?"

"Weekend probably. We can plan it all out like girlfriends later. Let's board."

I'm pulled up for the third or fourth time before we grab our skateboards and utilize the ramp until the sun starts to go down.

"Wait, girlfriends?" I ask, his words fully marinating in my head.

"Skate, Nolan!" he totally ignores my question.

"I'm trying!"

"Try more!"

"Shut up, you swan!"

Jackson trips off his board as he bursts into laughter and I follow in his steps, our bodies laying on opposites side of the ramp. Man, I love my friends.