The Bad Boy's Redemption

Chapter 2: First Kiss

Lexi’s POV

*Flashback to 6th grade*

Aunt Meghan is currently driving Maddy, Peter, and me over to Daisy’s house for her party. This is my actual first party that I am going to that isn’t a birthday party. Now that I am in middle school parties are going to look a lot different now, my brother Phil told me. Phil is in 7th grade, he told me how he attended a party a couple of weeks ago and he was kissing this girl and grabbed her butt. I also heard from Peter’s older sister Cameron who is now a 9th grader that the first time she tried alcohol was when she was in 8th grade at a small party with her friends. I am a little nervous about going to this party, there won’t be alcohol especially because Daisy’s parents will be upstairs while all of us are in the basement but what if there are games, like spin the bottle and truth or dare. To be honest, I really don’t want my first kiss to happen because of spin the bottle. 

Aunt Meghan pulls up to the Rivers house and the three of us climb out. She quickly rolls down the window to say, “You kids have fun, and remember Aunt Kaylie is picking you guys up at 10. If you want to leave sooner just give her a call.”

We all thank her for the ride and wave goodbye before we walk up to the Rivers front door. I knock and Mrs. Rivers answers and smiles at all of us. “Hi, everyone is downstairs. Mr. Rivers and I will be upstairs if you need anything.” 

We say hi to her and remove our shoes before heading downstairs. Not everyone has arrived yet but there are already about 12 people downstairs. Daisy told me in school a couple of days ago that she invited about 25 people to the party, but not everyone can come. I notice Jason is standing over by Zach and Justin while the two of them play ping pong. Peter and Maddy go their own ways to say hi to people, so I decide to go over to say hi to Jason. I look down at my outfit for a second to make sure it is okay. I am wearing a gray t-shirt dress with a denim button-up shirt over it but I don’t have it buttoned and my sleeves are rolled up. I look around noticing that a couple of the girls like Sam Adams and her friends are wearing short denim skirts or shorts. I usually don’t worry about what I look like but I can’t help it when it comes to Jason. Ever since we were in like 1st grade I have had a crush on him. His dad and my dad are really good friends since they serve together, so whenever there was a cookout or get-together I would hang out with him and Maddy. But Jason is like one of the cutest boys in our class with his blue eyes, short brown hair, and adorable dimples, so he would never have a crush on boring Alexis Walker. 

But I can’t think like that. I shake my head slightly to get that thought out of my head before walking over to him. He notices me and smiles before walking over and giving me a hug. 

“Yes, I was hoping you were coming.” 

I blush slightly but I am glad the lights are dimmed. I try to play it off as not a big deal and act nonchalant, “Oh really, so you can lose to me in ping pong again.” 

He furrows his brows to act slightly angry, “I let you win.” 

I laugh, “Sure you did.” 

He groans slightly and pushes Zach out of the way and takes his paddle. Zach yells, “Hey, dude I was winning.” 

Justin laughs, “No you weren’t.” 

Zach rolls his eyes, “Whatever.” 

Jason, “Move, Lex and I are playing now.” 

I grab the paddle from Justin and laugh, “Get ready to lose, Jacey.” 

He grins at his nickname which I am only allowed to call him. He then says, “Just serve the ball, AK” I smile and serve the ball thinking about when he started calling me that. The two of us were talking when we were like 7 and being Military Brats we have some knowledge of guns and other weapons. He realized that the initials for my first and middle names are AK like an AK-47. He started calling me AK, so now I have the same nickname as a gun in the military. 

The two of us play an intense game of ping pong where the score is super close and I am only down my 1. At some point, a bunch of people came over to watch our intense game. However, Mr. Rivers brought down the food for the party and we needed to pause the game to grab food. 

As everyone gets in line for food I notice that Sam is glaring at me. I try to ignore it and just focus on getting food but it is hard when Sam is standing right behind me in line. It's my turn so I grab a paper plate and a napkin before grabbing some food. I grab a small handful of Doritos and hear Sam mutter under her breath, “Jeez, Alexis save some for everyone else. It isn’t like you need anyone more chips.” I bite my bottom lip as I move down the line realizing she just insulted my weight. I know I am a little bigger than the other girls at the party but not much. The doctors just say it is like baby weight and should go away when I grow. I grab a few slices of pineapple. Then a slice of cheese pizza. Most people grabbed like 2 or 3 but I only grabbed one. This is the first time I have ever limited the amount of food I am eating because I feel bad about my weight. But I can’t get Sam’s comment out of my head. The last items on the table of food were cookies and cupcakes and I decided to avoid them altogether. I grabbed a water and went to sit down at one of the card tables with Maddy and Peter sitting across from me.

Jason comes and sits down next to me with a plate full of chips and 3 slices of pepperoni pizza. He smiles at me before digging in. He looks down at my plate which no one has noticed that probably has the least amount of food on it compared to everyone else at our table and he asks, “That is all you are eating?” 

I nod trying to hide my embarrassment, “Yeah, I am not that hungry.” 

He shakes his head and gets up and goes somewhere and I don’t bother to see what he is doing. He comes back with a slice of sausage pizza and more pineapple and a chocolate chip cookie. And place the plate next to me and he says, “Here.” 

I look at him confused, “What is this?” 

He grins, “I got you more food. I know how much you love pineapple. And whenever there is pizza you always take one sausage and cheese, and chocolate chip cookies are your favorite.” 

How can I not have a crush on him when he does stuff like this. I know he is just being a good friend, but I always have a slight hope he is doing it because maybe he likes me but that isn’t it though. I laugh and roll my eyes, “You are going to make me eat all of this aren’t you?” 

He smiles with pizza in his mouth, “Yup.” 

I just smile to myself and go back to eating and talking with my friends. However, I notice out of the corner of my eye that Sam who is sitting at a different table is glaring at me. I don’t know why she doesn’t like me but for a while now she hasn’t. 

I remember last year she was nice to me at the beginning of the year but then all of a sudden she started being mean. At recess, Peter, Maddy, and I would go play football with the other guys in our class on the field by the playground. And every so often I would notice Sam and her friends sitting on the playground watching the game and they would be pointing and giggling about something and I swear it was directed towards me. 

Then in middle school, I really started noticing that she really didn’t like me. Her friends and her would make comments about me in the locker room and in the halls. I never did anything to her but for some reason, she didn’t like me. 

We all ate our food and discarded our plates so Jason and I could finish our game. We were playing to 11 and had to win by two but the game was still going even though the score was 12 to 13 with Jason winning. It is Jason’s serve and the two of us are rallying the little ball when I hear someone say my name. It wasn’t that loud since they were talking on the other side of the room but you know when you hear someone say your name and you start to have super hearing, well it is more very selective hearing and I could hear Sage one of Sam’s friends say, “Alexis is so ugly.” followed by Heather, “I know, I think it is so funny that she thinks Jason likes her.” Sam, “I know and we all know he likes me.” Is Jason the reason that Sam is so mean to me because the two of us are friends? I mean I get why Jason would like Sam, she is beautiful. She is skinny, tall, has long straight blonde hair, green eyes, and is a cheerleader. While I am short and fat, clearly ugly since they said it, with brown wavy hair, and I play softball. Plus Sam has gotten her period and I haven’t, so she is more mature too. 

I was too focused on their conversation that I wasn’t paying attention to the game fully. I messed up my hit and the ball hit the net. I hear Jason yell slightly, “Finally I won.” 

It brings me back to reality and I just smile well attempting to smile “Good game Jacey, you finally beat me.” 

Maddy must have noticed my change in demeanor and asks me when I go over to take a sip of my water, “Are you okay?” 

I smile, “Yeah, why wouldn’t I be.” 

She nods but she doesn’t look too convinced, “You just have a look on your face. You can tell me later if something is bothering you.”

  I nod and smile as the two of us make our way to sit down on the couches with everyone else. I take a seat next to Peter who is sitting next to Daisy. The two of them are joking and laughing. I know Daisy has a crush on Peter, but I know Peter doesn’t feel the same way. I have a slight feeling that he might like boys. He hasn’t said anything about it. I am just assuming he might because of some comments he makes and just other things. When we watched the new spiderman movie Maddy and I said we thought Tom Holland was so cute and Peter was agreeing with us and saying some other things about him. There is nothing wrong with him if he does, I just hope he feels like he can tell me and Maddy. 

At some point, one of our classmates Caleb suggested that we play truth or dare. I was a little hesitant about playing but everyone agreed so we did. Luckily, we agreed that we can’t ask questions about people that we like. Actually, it was Justin who suggested that and I noticed that he looked at Maddy after we all agreed to that rule. Does that mean that Justin’s crush is Maddy? I mean he was kind of flirting with her while we were eating and when they were watching Jason and I play ping pong. I am just thankful because I didn’t want to have to say that I had a crush on Jason in front of everyone. I could have lied but I am not the best liar. We started playing a few rounds and none of the dares or truths were too bad. I mean Daisy was dared to kiss Peter and Zach had to kiss Heather. But that was kind of it. It was now Sam’s turn and she looked at Jason and said, “Jacey, truth or dare?”

I watched as Jason cringed at the nickname. I said I am the only one who is allowed to call him that and replied, “It's Jace or Jason and Dare.” 

Sam shot me a glare, she must have called him that because I get to call him that. She then smirked, “I dare you to play 7 minutes in heaven with Alexis” The way she said my name had so much venom in it that I swear she is part snake. 

I bit my lip and avoided looking at Jason because I was worried he might have been disappointed. He got up and said, “Okay, let’s go Lexi.” 

I followed him towards the closet that was used for storage and held the water heater. Justin spoke up and said, “I got the timer, you two have fun.” 

We went into the closet and closed the door behind us. Jason turned on the light by pulling the cord, the light was really dim because the bulb was starting to burn out. I awkwardly looked around trying to find something to sit on. Jason used a folding chair that was in there and I sat on the step ladder. 

It was a little awkward because neither one of us knew what to do at first. I played with my glasses and asked him, “Are you looking forward to baseball starting soon.” 

He seemed to visibly relax and smiled, “Yeah, I have been practicing so much to hopefully be the main pitcher this year. What about you and softball.” 

I smile, “Yeah, I am trying out for a travel team in a couple of weeks.” 

“You will make the team, you are amazing in center field and you are one of the best hitters I know.” 

I laugh, “Thanks.” 

He scratches the back of his neck and looks nervous, “Jason, what is bothering you?” 

He looks away from me and stammers, “It’s nothing.” 

I shake my head and walk towards him, “No, something is clearly bothering you.” 

He sighs and looks towards me, “Ummm… you know how I told people a while ago that I had my first kiss.” 

“Yeah, you met her when your family was on vacation in Florida.” 

He bites the bottom of his lip, “It was a lie.” 

I look at him confused, “Why did you lie?” 

He shrugs, “I don’t know. Zach already had his and I wanted to look cool I guess.” 

I shake my head, “I don’t think lying is cool.” 

He runs his fingers through his hair, “I know you don’t like lying.” 

“So, why are you telling me this?” 

He bites his bottom lip and then slightly blushes, “Because I don’t want to be living a lie anymore.” 

I look at him confused, “What do you mean?” 

He rubs the back of his neck, “I was wondering, ummm… maybe…. I could kiss you and I would then have my first kiss.” 

I feel my cheeks turning red, why would he ask me that? Jason then asks, “Have you had your first kiss yet?” 

I shake my head no and I see Jason smile at this comment. He mumbles, “Cool, then we can be each others.” 

I nod, “Okay...you don’t have to tell anyone that I was your first kiss. I will keep it a secret.” 

He looks at me confused, “Why would you do that?” 

I shrug, “Because you already told people you had your first kiss, it would be embarrassing for you if everyone found out that you lied.” I also think to myself plus why would he want people to know that I was his first kiss.

He looks at me and nods. He stands up and I stand up too. He looks down at me and laughs, “I always forget how short you are.” 

I am only 4’11 and Jason is about 5’7. I roll my eyes, “Blame my mom, you met her.” 

He chuckles nervously and looks down at me then at my lips. He wraps his arms around my waist and I get on my tiptoes and wrap my arms around his neck. We both lean in and our eyes close as our lips inch closer to each other. After a second our lips meet. His lips are soft and feel good. I still don’t believe that I am kissing  Jason Humphery. 

I pull away first and he smiles at me and I smile back. He kisses my lips again and says, “I am glad you were my first kiss.” 

I smile at him, “Me too.” 

He kisses me again and we move our lips against each other and I feel his tongue touch my bottom lip. It startles me slightly and I freeze and he pulls away looking super embarrassed and mutters "sorry, my cousin told me about making out and I guess...i-i"

I laugh, "okay, it's okay, you just caught me off guard. We can um try it."

He looks at me wide-eyed, "you sure?"

I nod and laugh to ease his embarrassment, "yeah, but I don't really know what I am doing."

He smiles, "Neither do i." 

He kisses me again and the two of us move our lips against each others. I feel his tongue and I part my lips. Neither one of us knows what we are supposed to be doing with our tongues so we are just winging it. But it does feel good. His hold on my waist tightens as he pulls me closer to him. As the two of us are kissing I feel something starting to poke my leg. Did I just give him an erection? 

Jason pulls away and he looks mortified as he backs away from me. 

` Yup, he has an erection. I avoid looking at it because I know he would be more embarrassed. He sits down in his chairs places his face and his hands and says, "Sorry"

I drop down in front of him so he would look at me and I say, "it's okay it happens."

He shakes his head, "this is so embarrassing."

I smile at him, "you don't need to be embarrassed. It is natural. My mom told me how guys can't control it." 

He looks at me and I can tell he is still embarrassed, "please don't tell anyone."

I smile at him, "I won't, Jacey." 

He seems to relax at that nickname and smiles, "you are amazing, AK." 

We then hear someone knocking and yelling "Times up." 

The two of us stand up and Jason turns away from me to adjust himself before turning back around and kissing my cheek, “Time to leave heaven.” 

I blush and smile wide as we walk out of the closet. I can’t believe Jason and I just kissed. I seriously could not be happier. However, that happiness was pretty short-lived.