Forever His & His Ghost

Chapter 6: The Football Game

      "I can't believe we are here," Marie grumbled beside me, and we curled up under the throw I brought with us.

       It's Friday night, first home game of the season, the week was rather uneventful. Isaac had sent me all the info on the event, and I had already sent my RSVP and mom had helped me with the outfit and hotel arrangements. Jaxon had continued our nightly walks home and it went by blissfully, while I managed to still fly under the radar. Tonight, though if I didn't play it cool, I would be put on everyone's radar, even the Queen B who had become Darlene's best friend, and apparently Jaxon's ex. She was the total high school mean girl, captain of the cheer leading squad, best dressed, beautiful and her name, Samantha Harrison, not barbie that I so like better than her name.

        Marie talked me into sitting the first bleacher up from the field, she said it would be warmer and we could see better, but now I wasn't so sure, because everyone was behind us, and I felt like I was in the spotlight again. I rolled my eyes as I watched Darlene and Samantha approach us, Darlene looks like the cat that just caught a mouse and she knew it but no one else did yet. I knew this wasn't going to be good.

        "Well, I guess you will be just another notch on his belt next month, looks like your perfect boy toy gets around." I raised my brow; I wasn't really sure what she was talking about.

        "Huh?" I was utterly confused.

        She rolled her eyes and held her phone to my face, and I felt like I was going to vomit right there. Right there on the front page of our local paper back home was a picture of Isaac and some beautiful blonde bimbo sucking face, the headline read, "Newest Hollywood Playboy, from boy next door." She saw the look on my face and even though I tried to mask it fast I knew she had already seen it. "Guess you are on your own after all, it isn't like anyone would ever want you."

        I could feel myself trembling and I closed my eyes fighting the tears, Marie was trying to console me, but nothing. I felt like my insides were going to crawl out of my mouth any minute and just as I was ready to open my eyes and run, Marie's small arms were removed, and I was engulfed in warmth and big warm arms. I didn't have to open my eyes, I just laid my head forward on his chest, "Jaxon." I whispered and he only held me not saying anything. I don't know how long I sat there like that engulfed in his arms, before I finally got enough courage to sit back and look up at his beautiful smiling face, but his eyes showed nothing but concern. "Thanks." I whispered and sat back, breaking loose from his strong hold.

       He grabbed my chin softly and tilted my head back, "I promise I will always catch you when you fall only to pick you back up." He gave me a smile and I could only smile back at him. "I got to go get ready, you, okay?" I just nodded. "Here," and before I knew it, he had his varsity jacket off and wrapped around me. "It will keep my girl warm," he kissed my cheek softly and I could of swore I heard gasps and whispers around us, but at that moment I didn't care. It was just me and him.

        "Thanks," I whispered in his ear as he stepped back.

        "Very welcome, now don't go after the game, okay?" I nodded and he smiled leaving me sitting there.

        I could feel those daggers again and when I turned back to the field, Samantha and Darlene both had their eyes on me, and I wanted to crawl in the earth right there. "This isn't good," I whispered.

       "It's perfect." Marie beamed from beside me, I had almost forgot she was here.

       "No, look." I motioned to the field, and I knew she knew what I was talking about.

       "Listen Skyla, I never said this was going to be easy, but let me tell you a little about Jaxon okay." I nodded, "Jaxon's family is extremely wealthy, they moved here when Jaxon was in third grade because they had to get away from his crazy uncle who was trying to embezzle all of the family funds. Anyway, as soon as Jaxon came to school everyone wanted to be his friend, but Jaxon chose his friends. He wanted real friends not fake ones, just after his looks or wealth. Samantha was a joke, she tricked him into taking her to the eighth grade formal and then went around telling everyone they were dating. He didn't even bother to say yes or no about it, he didn't care he just went on about his way." She took a drink of her pop. "But Jaxon doesn't chase anyone. He is pretty much about the boys; he doesn't ever look twice at another girl. I think he really likes you. You should give him a chance."

       I focused on the field in front of us, letting my mind take in all that she just said. Maybe he wasn't the school playboy, maybe he was like me just trying to float under the radar.

      They called for the players to enter the field, "I think you are right Marie." I leaned over whispering in her ear but never taking my eyes off the entryway. As soon as he ran on the field our eyes met, I shot him a wink and he blew me a kiss, causing my face to turn that crimson red.

     "Perfect, then shopping tomorrow, and costume party tomorrow night." Marie giggled beside me.

     "Yes, costumes."

      It was the first football game I ever watched, and I was appalled, I was cheering, I was on the verge of tears, all in a matter of twenty minutes. Jaxon was good, and he could take a hit and get right back up and keep going. Every break they took he never missed the opportunity to blow me a kiss or slip a wink in, leaving me red every time. Eventually I just didn't care what the squad thought, sending me nasty glares, I just didn't look. I will worry about it on Monday, tonight, this, this is for me. I am going to flirt, and for once feel like a normal teenage girl.

       "Hey ready to go?" Marie asked as she was collecting our stuff. The game was now over, and we had won.

       "No, I promised I would wait, you go ahead, I will get home."

      "No, I can't leave you, it's late and Mark will kill me if I let you walk home alone."

      "I will get home; I will message you as soon as I do, okay?"

      She pondered for a minute and then her eyes went big, "Okay see ya."

      I just shook my head laughing, that girl is so hot and cold, "Hey baby." That voice came from behind me giving me shivers. I didn't even have to turn around as I felt arms wrap around my waist and I was instantly pulled into a warm chest.

      "Hey," I giggled.

      He kissed my cheek, turning me loose and stepping to the side grabbing my hand, "Ready?"

     "Yea," I grabbed my bag and let him lead me to his cherry red Audi.

    "Wow." I gasped as he opened the door for me. "Nice ride."

     "Yea, birthday present." He shut the door and ran around climbing in. He started the car and pulled out of the parking lot, "I want to show you something, but it will take us about thirty minutes to get there. You game?"

     "Yea." That was all I could say, I was nervous, but not in a bad way at all.

      We drove out of the small town to the mountain pass; I wasn't sure how far up we had gone but I was starting to see where the snow had peppered the ground. He pulled off in a pullover spot on the side of the road and got out running around to open the door for me. He took my hand and pulled me to his chest wrapping his arms around me and holding me for just a second, before grabbing my hand and leading me down a dimly lit path through the trees.

       "Where we going?" I asked.

       "Just right up here. Close your eyes." He demanded and I did as I was told. He pulled me to his side and wrapped his arm possessively around my waist and pulled me to his side, leading the way. The minute we walked into and opening, I could feel it, the cool winter air nipped at my cheeks as the slight breeze blew by. Jaxon stepped behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist pulling me back against his chest and rested his chin on my neck. "Open your eyes," he whispered, and my breath was immediately taken away.

       We were above the town below us, the moon looked close enough it felt like I could reach out and touch it, the stars twinkled all around. The mountain tops around us glistened in the moonlight with fresh laid snow. And the way the town lights twinkled below us it looked like it was mirroring the stars above.

       "It's beautiful," I smiled over my shoulder at him, realizing he was staring at me, not the scene in front of us.

        "Not as beautiful as you, but yes, it is." He pecked my cheek again, "Now you want to tell me about what happened earlier that had you so upset."

        "Not really," I took a deep breath, "but I will." He gave me a smile. I started with my story all about my friendship with Isaac and my life in LA. I didn't even leave out the part about us deciding to be each other's first for everything. Then I told him how Darlene rubbed it in my face at the game about him being on the front page of our local paper back home, how he was now the newest Hollywood Playboy in the making. When I was done, I thought I would be in tears, but honestly, I didn't feel it, nothing.

       "Can I ask you something?" He broke the silence after minute.

       "You can, but I understand if you don't want anything to do with me." I gave him a half-hearted smile, hoping that was not the case. For some reason I felt like my life would end right there if he said that.

       He squeezed me a little tighter, reassuring me he wasn't letting go. "My question doesn't have anything to do with that." He kissed my cheek again, "Is that why you keep blowing me off?"

        I closed my eyes turning around in his arms slowly to where now my hands were on his chest and I was looking deep into those amber eyes, while his arms pulled me a little closer. "Yes and no. I am not really even sure about this now. Jaxon we are from two different worlds, you are the popular kid that all the girls want to date, and the boys want to be friends with, I on the other hand am the nerdy quiet girl, that has a handful of friends and tries to skate under the radar till I can get out of here. I just don't know how this could all work, without my heart shattering."

        He closed his eyes and placed his forehead on mine before he looked at me again, "I might only be sixteen and you to. We might have our whole lives ahead of us. I can't tell you how anything will turn out for any of us, but I do know that what is between you and I, that's something that is a once in a lifetime thing, and I am willing to go to the ends of the world to keep it that way."

       I don't know how long we stood there like that, his arms around my waist, my hands folded into his chest and our foreheads rested against each other, when my heart took control of me. I gripped his shirt in my hands and raised my head to look in his eyes. All I could see was sincerity and honesty shining back at me and I lost it right there. I pulled him closer to me, and raked my lips across his lips softly, that only ignited something in him, he took one hand cupping the back of my neck and pulling me closer to deepen the kiss. Our lips danced together like two perfect ballroom dancers, and when I slightly opened my mouth and he took the opportunity to slip his tongue in, my whole world crashed in on me, and he immediately became the oxygen I needed to breathe.

       We broke apart only to catch our breath resting our foreheads together. "Wow, you are going to be the death of me." We both laughed. "Come on, I probably should get you back, it's getting cold out." I pouted a little, but I knew he was right, shivering as soon as I felt the warmth of his embrace shift to my side.

       He opened the door for me as we approached the car shutting the door and running around to climb in before starting the engine. Once on the road, he took my hand and held it to his chest the entire ride back to the city. He pulled up in front of my house and I started to open the door when he pulled me back to him.

      "Jaxon, I have to go." I smiled at him, but who was I kidding, I wasn't fighting to get out of the car.

       "Can you make me a promise?" He asked softly and I swear my heart melted, right there, just the way he said that. I just nodded my head, afraid of my own voice at that moment. "Promise me, you will always talk to me, when it comes to us before making any rational choices, okay. And promise me, you won't break my heart."

        I slapped his shoulder playfully, no way this boy was this good, the other shoe is about to drop I know it. "I should be the one making you promise me, the girl is always the one with the broken heart."

        He kissed my knuckles before smiling, "Not this time sweetheart. I am all in, I won't hold anything back. And I promise I will always catch you when you fall, and if I break it, I will make sure to put all back together. It will never be intentional."

        I leaned over and he pulled me closer kissing me deeply and I could tell from the kiss, he meant every word. I pulled back and put my hand on the handle behind me before opening the door. "I promise Jaxon." I pecked him one more time and jumped out of the car running to the door.