I had gone to the arts and crafts store and got a whole bunch of supplies. My art teacher, Mrs Davies has been giving me more private lessons to really develop my skill and find out what kind of painting I would succeed in the most. She said that if I really wanted to pursue this that it'd be best to apply to a school of arts institute. But in order for me to do that, I would need to create a portfolio. 

I need this to work. As I was sketching on my bed, I felt it like it was a presence, the piece of paper that could ruin my future was sitting in my desk drawer. 

JAX

"So you nervous for tomorrow night?" Lucas asked. 

I dry my face of sweat as I answered, "Not really."

Lucas frowned, "How could you not be nervous? This could be the beginning of your career?"

I shrug, "It's not tomorrow I'm nervous about. I haven't told Milly yet."

My best friend's eyes widen, "Whoa bro, bad move. The ladies hate dishonesty. They always find out at the end and they all say the exact same line 'you should've told me the truth!'"

I sighed and rub my face as I felt my heart beat a little faster, "That's not helping. I mean yeah I should've told her, but she hates that I fight. She would've flipped out if I told her that I'm pursing a career in professional boxing."

Lucas sighs, "I know bro, but at least tell her before the dinner tomorrow night, yeah? Ain't she supposed to be your date?"

I grab my sports bag and cringe, "She probably won't come once she finds out. I kinda told her I'll do a building apprenticeship thing instead of boxing."

Lucas groans and rolls down the ground, "You're digging yourself a hole, man, you're digging yourself a hole."

I exhaled anxiously, "I know."

I went and had a shower. I looked at the time. I'm supposed to pick Milly up from her art thing. I'm glad she's found something she likes. She seemed way more relaxed and happier after doing all this art stuff. 

On the way to Milly, I kept reciting different ways of breaking the news to her in my head. But whatever I say, I feel like it's just gonna end the same. Bad. She's gonna be hurt that I didn't tell her. Then she's gonna be mad that I'm doing it at all since she thought I was gonna do that building thing. And then she's gonna say some shit about how she can't support me since I'm pretty much volunteering to get beaten up. I sigh. Yup. That sounds like her. I just pray that at the end, once she calms down, she'll be okay with it. 

MILLY

I looked at all the paintings laid out on the table. It was a series of sorts. My teacher told me that art schools don't just look for talent, they look for people who put in hard work. And when they examine an art piece, they look at common themes, how those themes are conveyed in the different colours, patterns, the texture of the paper or canvas, whether it's acrylic painting, watercolour or oil. Everything is taken into account, everything is closely examined. 

It seemed so intense to me at first, but my teacher assured me that I'm more than half-way there. Jax has been wanting to look at my paintings, but I didn't want him to see them yet. I wanted to wait until they were all complete. Because you can't just look at the one painting. You have to look at all of them to know the story. 

I looked at the time. Jax will be here soon. I took the last couple minutes to clean up and set my paintings on the drying rack. 

"Have a good afternoon, Milly!" My teacher shouted from her office. 

I smiled and waved, "See you tomorrow Mrs Davies!"

I grab my sketch book and pencils and then head outside. I told him to pick me up from the ice cream shop that's just a little down the road. As I was walking I was feeling good about myself. The more I was painting, the more I loved it. I couldn't stop the proud smile on my face. I didn't feel like I hated myself as much. 

As I was walking I noticed a car was driving particularly slow. But I thought surely they weren't following me? Just to test it out, I turned a corner down a random street. I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand when the car did the same. It didn't drive past me, it stuck to a slow speed behind me. I gulped. I pulled out my phone, through the reflection I saw it was an old white chevy. I gulped. I began to walk faster, but as I changed my speed, so did the car. 

Shit. Who the hell is this person? 

I unlocked my phone and was about to dial Jax's number. 

"Milly!"

I screamed in a fright and whipped around to see Jake standing there. I sighed in relief, "What the hell, Jake! Are you stalking me or something?" I yelled. 

Jake laughs and raises his hand, "I'm sorry! I just wasn't sure if it was you or not! I saw you walking and was wondering if you needed a ride?"

I look at his car, "When did you get a new car?" I asked. 

Jake looked over his shoulder and chuckled, "Oh yeah, it's not my car. It's an old friend's. He's just visiting from the city."

I look closer in the car and didn't realise there was a guy in there on his phone with his brown hood pulled over his head. 

"Old friend huh?" I said. 

Jake nodded his head, "Yup. Anyway, you need a ride or?"

I found it so weird that of all people Jake was being nice to me. After everything that happened between us and what he did to me. "Ummm, no thanks." I said. I turned around and began to. 

"Hey wait!" He grabbed my arm and I instantly yank it out of his grasp. 

"Don't touch me." I said as my chest began to burn with anger, "What do you want Jake? Why are you even talking to me?" I asked suspiciously. 

Jake sighed and rubs the back of his neck, "Look, I feel bad about what happened between us. Rosie and I were having sex and-"

My face scrunches, "Ew! I don't want to know about that!" I exclaimed. 

Jake grunts in frustration, "I know! But we were having sex and she got all insecure and asked about you and if you were better than her! And I was in the middle of having sex so I just said some stuff without thinking!"

I frowned and just stared at him for a couple of seconds, "That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard."

Jake sighed, "I know. Look, just know. I'm sorry."

I shrug, "Whatever Jake. You're forgiven, but that doesn't mean I'm gonna be your friend. I don't want to be around you."

Jake nods his head, "Yeah I understand. I just saw you and thought to pull over."

I frowned as I looked at the dude in the car and back at Jake, "Right, well...later." 

"Wait, you don't need a ride?" Jake asked. 

I shook my head, "No thanks. I'm meeting Jax any minute so..."

Jake's whole demeanour changed as soon as I mentioned Jax. He wasn't this soppy sad looking guy. I noticed his eyes changed, he seemed more stiff. 

"Right well, tell him I said hi."

"I probably won't...bye." I waved as I turned around to quickly walk away. I made sure that I saw them drive away before walking back to the street I needed to be on. That was so weird. That still didn't explain why he was driving so damn slow. I mean he could've just shouted my name out the window instead stalking me. 

I felt the anxiety in my chest ease when the ice cream shop came to view as well as Jax leaning against his car. 

He saw me coming and kicked off his car. He met me half way. I smiled as he opened his arms up and wrapped them around me, "Hey babe." He said in my ear. 

I smiled and looked up at him, "Hey. Sorry if you were waiting for a while."

He shook his head, "It's fine. What took you so long?"

I laughed, "I just had the weirdest moment."

He steps back ad tilts his head, "Elaborate."

We were walking to the ice cream shop as I explained, "I was walking when I noticed a car was following me."

Jax immediately stopped walking, "What the fuck? It was following you?"

"Just wait! Don't go crazy yet, just let me explain!" I exclaimed. I saw the familiar tick in Jax's jaw, but he kept quiet and let me talk, "Anyway, I turned down a random street just to test out if they were really following me or not."

Jax's eyes widen, "What the fuck Milly! That's the last thing you're supposed to do! I told you whenever you go out for walks or runs, you go into someone's property and act like you live there if you're ever followed!"

I sighed, "Jax! Let me finish!"

"Fine fine!" He exhaled with a frustration. 

"Anyway. Someone shouted my name. I turned around and it was Jake!"

"As in Jake from school Jake?" I nodded my head. 

Jax pinches the bridge of his nose, "Please tell me you told him to fuck off?"

He looked at me and I just smiled innocently. He growls, "Milly!"

"I didn't say fuck off! But I pretty much did with my attitude. He just went on and on about how sorry he was about how he told everyone about my thing. And then he offered to give me a ride but there was this guy in the-"

"He offered you a ride?" He exclaimed in frustration. 

I groaned, "Jax! Calm down!"

"Wait there was another guy there?" 

"If you just shut up then I'll explain!" I shouted, "Yes there was a guy in the car. Apparently he was Jake's old friend that was visiting from the city or something."

Jax stopped talking. He became very still and was looking off into the distance, lost in his thoughts. I frowned and stepped closer. His jaw had a tick in it, "Jax?" I said carefully. I touch his hand and he snaps out of his trance. 

He looks down at me and smiles, but they never seem to reach his eyes, "I just don't like Jake around you." He stated calmly. 

I tilted my head, "Are you sure thats it?" I questioned. 

He smiles again. He leans over and kisses the top of my head, "Yeah, Milly. That's all," He ushers me toward the shop, "Come on, let's get some ice cream."