Falling like the Stars

10

Jemma’s Point of View

It’s been two weeks. Two weeks since Skye made her snarky comment in front of her friends. She has not tried as much to get on my good side again, not that I mind. Maybe this is for the best. She is living a life that I most definitely do not want to be a part of. The partying, drinking, getting in to trouble. Not for me. Plus, she is the preacher’s daughter. It’s not like she could ever like me in that way. Right? Her parents would forbid it. I mean, then again, she was holding my hand and broke up with Miles the same time that he was a jerk to me. Could that mean something? Why can’t I get over this? I should not be thinking about her after everything that’s happened. And yet, I can’t stop.

Fitz had his sixteenth birthday this past weekend. We invited some kids from school. It was no surprise that Ward came. We have grown quite fond of him and I think he has done the same. What we were surprised about though, is that Skye came with him. She bought Fitz half of the seasons of Doctor Who and Ward bought him the other half. If there is any way to get on Fitz’s good side again, it is through Doctor Who. This is why I was not that surprised that after he opened that gift and was given a couple of apologizes, he forgave Skye. I couldn’t help but think, hope, that she would do the same for me. Come and apologize and make things better. She didn’t.

We have rehearsals still. Well for me, it is called two hours of torture. I have to see the girl who I want so badly to get out of my head and the jerk who basically caused all this. Seeing them go through the script, and acting like they are a couple, kills me. It kills me even more to know that at the end of the play my character ends up with Miles character. Great. That means I have to kiss him. Luckily, I have managed to keep convincing Agent May that Skye needs to work on her couple acting more than I do.

Skye’s Point of View

It’s been two weeks. Two weeks since Jemma slammed that door in my face. Not that I mind that she did that. I deserved it. I let the pressure of everything I thought I knew get to me. Why do I continue to want to be a part of the group? It’s not like they have ever done anything for me. The only person I can actually relate with is Ward. Yet, here I am. Eating lunch with them every day while staring across the room looking at where I really want to be. Jemma and Fitz still sit at lunch table seven. Ward sits with them every other day to keep both parties happy. I envy that. When Ward invited me to tag along with him to go to Fitz’s birthday party, there was a part of me that screamed this is your chance. Get Jemma back. When I got there though, I only had the courage to make up with Fitz. I do not know how to bring myself to talk with Jemma. It’s not like she wants me to. During all of our rehearsals recently, Jemma has made it apparent that she wants for me to continue doing my lovey-dovey scenes with Miles throughout the whole time. She must want for me to get back with him.

It is no different today. She gets there a couple minutes before I do to have a little conversation with May. Next thing you know I am finding myself stuck with Miles the whole time. Luckily, May got a phone call stating she was needed for some mission so we got to leave early. Of course Miles offered to take me home. Yeah, fat chance. I texted Ward to get me and he texted back saying that he was getting his car repaired and to either walk or ask Fitz for a ride in his new car. I looked up once I got the message and saw that both of them were getting ready to leave. Gosh darn it Ward. He knows very well that I cannot walk three miles with my ankle still healing. This is why he gave that second option. I know that I truly have no other option. Which is how I found myself walking in front of Fitz’s car before they pulled out.

They stared at me expectantly and I walked to the driver’s side when Fitz rolled down his window. I looked at them both with hopeful eyes. “Are you feeling Christian?”

Fitz grinned and turned to look at Jemma. He raised an eyebrow and said, “What do you say, Jemma.”

Jemma looked back at him with a blank expression. She moved her eyes to me and clenched her jaw before turning away. “It’s your car Fitz. Do what you please.”

Fitz smiled and turned to look back at me. He gave a look that was mixed between sorry and she will get over it. He then motioned his eyes to the back. “Get in.” In which I happily obliged.

The ride seemed like forever. We had managed to catch every single red light. Normally I wouldn’t mind given the fact that my crush is in the car, but when she hates your guts, I wanted to get out of there. Fitz had stopped to get gas when we were just a mile away from my house. Couldn’t he have waited?

“I will be right back,” he said looking at the two of us, “I need to pay inside and I want to get some snacks. So…. Use this time to chat.”

Before either of us had the chance to refute, he was out of the car. Jemma quickly glanced over her shoulder to look at me, rolled her eyes and turned to face the front. I was not sure what to say or do. She does not want to talk to me nor do I want to just sit here in silence. This is how I found myself leaning past her to turn on the radio. It started blaring out some pop song that is on repeat every ten minutes. Jemma made a noise like she found it loud and went to turn it off. I hung my mouth open in shock and leaned forward to turn it back on. She made an annoyed look at me and never taking her eyes off of me, she again turned it off. I clenched my jaw and went to turn it on once more.

She furrowed her eyebrow and cleared her throat. “Fine. You win.”

I grinned happily and leaned back into my seat. “Thank you.”

She turned back around to face the front. She then began to fiddle with her hands and said, “twenty-two.”

I looked around to make sure that she was talking to me and not someone that was out the window. I raised my eyebrow in confusion. “Twenty-two? What do you mean twenty-two?”

Jemma let out a soft breath and turned around to face me. “Twenty-two is to do something nice for someone I do not like. It’s a list.”

“So, like a bucket list?” I asked.

She turned to face the front once more. “You could call it that, I suppose.”

I cannot believe that this girl has a bucket list. I made a somewhat sarcastic laugh. “What exactly is on this bucket list of yours?” I did not necessarily expect her to answer. After all she is mad at me.

Once again she let out a sigh and turned to face her right, looking out the window. “Things like get a tattoo, climb a mountain to have an overview of the city, be in two places at once, to—“

I stopped her before she gave me a full play by play. There was only one thing I wanted to know about this list of hers. “What is number one?”

She turned to look at me, gazing at my face up and down before once again facing the front. “If I tell you…I would have to kill you.”

I pursed my lips and grinned. “Then maybe I am willing to die.”

She looked back at me with a clenched jaw. I began to see a smile form, but of course that is when Fitz decided to come back into the car.

“Alright…,” he said as he closed the car door. He then turned to face the both of us. “Did you to have fun while I was gone?”

I was about to speak before Jemma beat me to it. “Nope. Skye here is very nosy.”

Her comment could have been mistaken for sarcastic-ness, but I decided not to push it. I can only be hopeful that throughout the rest of this semester we can have more small conversations to make things better.

Every day after school when there are rehearsals, I tried to be around Jemma. To strike up a conversation, but nothing. I can’t bring myself to say sorry because after everything I have done, it would be meaningless. I need to do more than just say sorry. I have to show this girl that I really care about her, whether she likes me back or not.

*The day of the play* *A couple months later.*

Jemma’s point of view

Skye has been trying to talk to me these past months, but I just can’t bring myself to allow her to. She still has not tried to say sorry. Not that it would mean much. After what she has done. It would be somewhat meaningless.

Everyone was rustling backstage trying to get everything together. The play had a lot of people coming to see it. I peeked out the curtain to find a packed house. The first play did not have this much people come. Then again, Skye and Miles were also not in the first play. That explains it. The group was sitting right in the front with Ward, Triplett, and Raina sitting in the middle.

Agent May went out to do here greeting and mentioned that it was written by Fitz. The Performing Arts center got dark and the play began. It started off with both Miles and Skye sleeping in a bed having a dream. There were other actors surrounding them acting out the dream so people would know what the dream was. Then it goes on to explain that Caroline and Tommy are in a relationship. Most people seemed to be enjoying it. Although it was mostly the parents paying attention for their kids in the play. Triplett and Raina were both laughing in the front making silly faces at Skye and Miles while Ward kept telling them both to cut it out.

The last part of the play is the bar scene. Caroline and Tommy have been having arguments because when they found out that the mysterious girl from the dream (Elisa) was actually real, they both yearned for her attention. Which made them break up. Caroline wanting to be friends and Tommy hoping to be more. The bar scene is where I step in to meet with Skye, I mean Caroline, we are supposed to be talking about some non-sense thing and then out of nowhere she is supposed to mention the dream and ask Elisa if she can sing for her. I was really nervous to sing, but I didn’t get the part for nothing. I stepped into the pretend bar with a large black coat around me that covers my face. Skye is reading her line and looking in a different direction as she was supposed to when I took off my coat. My costume was a light blue dress that went up just past the knee.

“…It’s not like I should get forgiveness from him after the break up. I mean we both had the same dream about you…” Skye was performing her line when I had completely took off the coat successfully. She turned to look at me right on cue. She seemed to be stunned because she was staring. “When—When I had that dream about you, and seen you in the street… that wasn’t just coincidence was it?” She finished her line but was stumbling to get the words out. I knew that Skye was either forgetting her lines or distracted. Could it be because of the constant little outbursts of jokes that Triplett and Raina were saying or could it have been something else? Like…me?

Skye’s Point of View

When I had turned to look at Jemma, I mean Elisa, she was wearing her costume. She just looked completely beautiful. I could literally feel the lines from my head just falling out. I managed to get the next line out, but I was very shaky. “… That wasn’t just coincidence was it?”

Jemma made her facial expressions that she was instructed to do before responding. “Nothing is coincidence.”

I don’t know if it was the way she said it or if it was because that was the first time I heard her talk while wearing that dress, but I completely forgot my lines.

Jemma went on to perform the next part of her line. “Will you tell me again about this dream girl? The one that you say reminds the two of you of me.”

I clenched my jaw and furrowed my eyebrow. “I-I don’t remember…” I said softly. I looked past Jemma to find Fitz and May watching in the wings. May looked at me and knew I had forgotten. She waved her hands and mouthed, just make it up. So I decided to speak the truth. “…but all I know…is your beautiful.”

Jemma looked back at me with shock in her eyes. I hope she knew that I was being honest. I looked up to also find Miles in the wings with a pissed off expression. I turned to the audience to find that both Raina and Triplett were no longer laughing anymore. While Ward was staring at the situation with the biggest smile on his face.

Jemma had a line at this point, but she didn’t seem like she was responding any time soon after the comment I just made. I turned to look at May once more and she motioned for me to continue. The song. The song. She mouthed to me.

I turned to gaze into Jemma’s eyes and placed my hand forward to rest it on her arm that was laying on the table. “The dream. Help me to remember…” She looked down at my hand and back up at me, still not saying a word. “…Will you sing for me?”

The piano began to play right one cue. She started singing and I found myself completely engaged. Every movement she made I studied thoroughly with my eyes. She was already beautiful, but her singing and in that dress just made me lose it. Miles walked on stage while she was singing. He sat at the chair next to me just like he was supposed to. I knew what was coming next. Tommy kisses Elisa once the song is done with my character ending up in the damn friend zone.

Jemma came back to sit at the chair that was across from Miles and I. As she was finishing her last note, Miles was getting ready to lean up across the table to kiss her. I panicked. I turned to him and back at her and before he could lean forward anymore, I found myself leaning forward faster. She hesitated at first, but quickly allowed me to lean in all the way. The kiss was short and sweet. Nothing but a peck. But the feeling of Jemma’s lips on my own was worth it.

When we broke a part I still stayed close to her face. The place got dark once more, signaling that the play was over and everyone began cheering and clapping. I could hear Ward over everyone else, and I even heard the grunt Miles made as he walked off the stage. I looked at Jemma who was staring at me in a gaze of shock. “Jemma, I can explain…” I started but she got up and left the stage to go into the back.

I got up and quickly went backstage to change my clothes. I needed to find Jemma. This was definitely not the way I wanted to explain my feelings, but now it is out. I got to the front of the performing arts center where there was a crowd of people praising and interacting with the other actors. A couple people made compliments to me when walking past, but I was not paying attention. I finally found Jemma who was in a little group talking with some of our class mates.

I was about to walk over there when I felt someone tap my shoulder. “That was an interesting rewrite you did out there Bennet.” Fitz said.

I looked at the floor before turning to face him. “Yeah. I’m really sorry Fitz. I just--.”

He waved his hand dismissively. “I meant it in a good way. I am honestly really impressed. Although that was not how I imagined the ending, it worked.” He finished with a grin.

“Thanks.” I finished simply. He nodded and walked off toward Jemma. I was going to follow when I felt myself being picked up off the floor.

“That was honestly the cutest thing ever.” Ward said with me in his arms.

I laughed and hit for him to put me down. “Shut up. I was nervous and I just… I don’t know I needed to do it.”

“Did you talk to her about it? What did she say?” Ward asked.

“I don’t know. I was just about to talk to her and…” I turned to look where Jemma was and saw that she and Fitz were leaving. “…and now she is leaving. Great.”

Ward hit my shoulder playfully. “Hey, lighten up. There is always tomorrow to talk to her. Or the next day. Or the next day. I mean it’s only Monday and –“

I hit him on the shoulder because he was rambling. “Okay! I get it. I will talk to her tomorrow. Now, can you just take me home?”

The next day I avoided the group at all costs. I did not want to hear any of the little sly comments they had to say to me. Instead Ward and I sat in class early and he was explaining to me what he thinks I should do and say with the whole Jemma situation. We decided that lunch would be the best time to talk to her since the only people that would be there is Fitz, him, and Jemma. Although my main focus is to talk to Jemma alone, I do not care if the boys listen in.

I walked into the cafeteria and saw the group automatically glaring at me. I did not care to look back and narrowed my eyes to lunch table seven. Jemma, Fitz, and Ward were already sitting down. Fitz and Ward seemed to be having a conversation while Jemma was just reading a book. I walked over there and took the seat next to Jemma. The boys both smiled at me and went to continue their conversation. Jemma flinched in her chair because she knew I was there.

I took a deep breath before speaking. “Listen Jemma, I wanted to—“

She never looked up from her book when she spoke. “I thought you wanted to be secret friends. People can see.”

I let out a grunt and moved to look more closely at her. “That would ruin your reputation how?” She did not respond so I proceeded to make small talk. “What are you reading?”

She moved her position so I could see the front of her book. Once again not looking at me. The book was to kill a Mocking Bird. She moved back to her original position and cleared her throat. “I’m reading all the books off of Mr. Rothman’s list for contemporary American Authors. There’s one hundred of them.”

I nodded in understanding. “So, is this on your list? To read all these books?” I asked remembering her bucket list she mentioned a couple months back. She grabbed her juice box and began to drink. She was not going to answer me. I sighed, “Look, Jemma I am trying here. Maybe—Maybe I miss spending time with you. Maybe… you inspire me.”

She chuckled and closed her book hard which caused both Ward and Fitz to stop and pay attention. “Sounds like bull.” She said staring at me and began to pack up her things.

I let out an aching sigh. “Which part?”

She proceeded to quickly pack her things. “All of it.”

“Well it’s not.” I scoffed back at her.

She put her bag around her shoulder and got up. She stopped to look me in the eyes. “Prove it.” With that she walked off angry.

I looked at both Ward and Fitz confused. “What do I do?” I asked looking at them.

“Let’s go get her.” Fitz said.

I got up and the boys still had their stuff to pack up. Which was good because I could get to Jemma first and they won’t be able to hear the whole conversation.

She was already walking to the parking lot when I saw her. “Jemma. Jemma!” I screamed as I began running toward her.

“You don’t know the first thing about being someone’s friend.” She scolded at me, still walking forward.

I finally caught up with her so I could lower my voice. “Well maybe that’s true. But, I don’t want to just be your friend Jemma.”

“You don’t know what you want.” She replied.

I rolled my eyes. “Neither do you. Alright? Maybe you’re just scared that someone might actually want to be with you.”

She stopped in a huff and turned to look at me. “And why would that scare me?”

“Because! Then you wouldn’t be able to hide behind this smart girl persona, Fitz, or Ward.” She began to walk away again before I grabbed her shoulder to turn her around. “No. No, you want to know the real reason why you’re scared? Because you want to be with me to. And you’re worried. You’re worried that I don’t feel the same. That I can’t, because of my parents. That you might change because of who you think I am. But you are wrong Jemma. You’re wrong.”

She looked me up and down before glaring past me to see Fitz and Ward approaching. “Take me home, Fitz…” She looked into my eyes before finishing, “…Now!”

Fitz walked past me and mumbled a sorry about that before they both entered his car and drove off. Ward came up behind me and wrapped an arm around my shoulder. “Hey, cheer up kid. You know what to do now.”

I looked back at him to find him raising an eyebrow and grinning. I did know what to do now. “Take me to the mall…”

Jemma’s Point of View

I managed to get Fitz to not ask me any questions on the ride home. Everything Skye said was right. I just needed time to process it. I walked into the house and my dad looked straight into my eyes. He raised an eyebrow and I could tell that he knew I was distraught. “Skye?” he asked in a stern voice.

My dad knew almost everything. My crush, the party situation, the fact that she is the typical preacher’s daughter getting into trouble. The last time he talked about Skye was the day I slammed the door in her face and she screamed Damn it, in which he came out to potentially yell at her. “Yes.” I replied simply.

He clenched his jaw and straightened in his chair. “I don’t like that girl. I can’t imagine why you do. You deserve a girl that is going to treat you right.”

I nodded in understanding before walking up to my room. I did not want to talk about it more with him. The only time I came out is when we had dinner with my mom being the only one sparking up conversation.

It was night time when I had decided to go out the front porch to sit on the chair that was placed there to have a perfect view of the stars. I was intently reading my book and listening to the peaceful noises that the earth had to give around me when I heard a creak come onto my front porch.

I looked up and found myself surprised at the sight. “You.” I said looking at Skye.

She smiled and walked a little closer. “Me.”

I looked down to see that she had a gift bag in her hands and looked back up at her. “What is it?”

She moved the bag toward me. “I got you something. Open it.”

I couldn’t help the grin that was tugging at the corner of my lips when I grabbed the bag. I opened it to find two cardigans that were similar to the two I already own, just in different colors.

She cleared her throat. “I was going to get you one, but then that would mean you have three. And… I don’t like odd numbers. So I got you two.”

“Thank you.” I finished with a smile.

She nodded. “You’re welcome. I’ll – I will see you at school then?”

“Yeah.”

She let out a sigh of relief and smiled. “Well, goodnight then.”

“Goodnight Skye.” She walked off the porch and got into Ward’s car. He turned to look at me and smiled before they drove off. It was in this moment that I was really glad for school tomorrow.

Walking to lunch the next day, I was rather excited. Fitz texted me saying that he and Ward were going to go grab lunch somewhere else so that way it would be just Skye and I. That they would be there to pick us up once lunch was over. As I was almost to the cafeteria I was stopped by someone I never expected to be talking to me.

“Hey Jemma.” Raina said with a rather large smile.

“Um. Hi Raina.” I tried to sound not awkward.

She bounced on her heels a couple of times. “You were really great in the play. And listen, we all do not have hard feelings. Miles and Skye are completely over.”

I raised an eyebrow in confusion. “I’m not really sure what you mean.”

She smiled and continued. “You know Jemma …You would be so beautiful if you knew how to do your makeup… Come on eat lunch with me.” She tugged my arm.

“Uh, okay.” I figured that was fine since Skye does know Raina and she wouldn’t mind much.

There were people laughing and giggling more than usual when we entered the room. Raina stopped at some random person’s table and grabbed a paper that was on it. I continued to look at my fellow classmates, trying to figure out what was so funny.

“Wow. Is this you?” Raina asked handing over the paper.

I grabbed it and became angry and upset at what I saw. There was a picture of some random woman’s body in very small lingerie with my face photo shopped on it. The bottom of it said British Girl for Rent. I looked up once again to find everyone there staring and laughing at me. I looked at Raina who made a sarcastic grin, “Nice bod.” She laughed.

I could feel the heat creeping up my body and I looked to the table where Miles and the group sit to find them laughing more than anyone else. My eyes were filled with tears because of the embarrassment. I quickly turned around to run out of there when I felt comforting arms catch me…

Skye’s Point of View

Jeez May. Couldn’t she have waited another day to tell me how well she thought I did in the play? I am running late to meet Jemma.

As I approached the cafeteria I could hear large amounts of laughter. I walked in to find Jemma rushing to leave. I grabbed her and could see that her face was red and filled with tears.

I looked around the room and realized they were laughing at her. I knew this because Miles was laughing the loudest. I turned to look at her in the eyes. “Okay. Look, this is me. This is not you.” She nodded in understanding and I dropped my bag and cupped her face. “Stay here okay. I’ll be right back.”

I walked past her and grabbed the paper that was in Raina’s hands. Miles and the rest of the group got up to approach me. I looked down at the paper and I knew immediately it was them. “Do you really think this is funny?” I scoffed and threw the paper in Miles face.

He laughed and grabbed the paper to stare at it. “I mean hey Skye, I understand why you keep her locked up. I had no idea this body was underneath that.” He motioned to Jemma.

I made a sarcastic laugh before punching him in the face. When he bent over from the searing pain I had just provided for him I kicked him in the nuts. He went down to the floor with the rest of the group going down to help him. Raina rushed passed me. “Are you crazy?” she protested.

Miles began to get up. “Get off of me…” once he was standing he looked me right in the eyes. “We are through. Do you hear me? You are no longer a part of this group. Done!”

I looked at him back and grinned. “That’s fine. I have never been happier.” With that I walked back to Jemma and put one hand up to her cheek, lightly rubbing it. “Are you okay...” she nodded yes, “… Are you sure?” She nodded once more and I bent down to grab my bag. “Alright, let’s get the hell out of here.”

Walking toward where Fitz and Ward were waiting in the car, I could feel Jemma shaking and still crying. It truly killed me. I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer. “Hey. Hey babe, look at me. There animals okay?”

Jemma nodded and turned to look at me. “Thank you…for doing that.” She finished by giving me a kiss on the cheek.

As much as I wanted to just kiss her right there, I knew it wouldn’t be right. “Any time.” I said instead.

We go into the car and Fitz and Ward were immediately asking what happened. I knew she did not want to relive it just yet, so I just said, “We will explain later.”

We arrived in front of Jemma’s house and Fitz got out to walk to his house, but not before thanking Ward for the ride. He offered to walk Jemma to her door, but I said that I would do it. I had my arm around her all the way and we stopped in front of the door.

“Are you sure that you’re alright?” I asked looking at her in the eyes.

She placed a lock of hair behind her ear. “Yes. Thank you again for everything.”

I nodded and cleared my throat. “So, listen. I wanted to ask you something.”

She straightened herself up. “Okay.”

I let out a sigh and said, “Will you go out with…me…this Saturday night?”

She hesitated before speaking and I really hoped that she was not going to say no. “Um…I’m sorry…I can’t.”

“Oh. Do you have something else going on or… I mean do you not… like me?” I asked hesitantly.

She walked a little closer. “Oh no. No it’s nothing like that. It’s just I—“she looked down at the ground.

I could tell that she was struggling to get it out so I put my hand under her chin, gently picking it up. “Then what is it?” I asked kindly.

She let out a sigh. “My dad does not approve of you.”

I stepped back and let out a grunt. I knew exactly what she meant. I did kind of curse outside of his house a while ago and he came out wanting to beat me up. I immediately knew what to do. “I guess I will have to fix that.” I walked down her porch steps and walked to get in Ward’s car.

“Where are you going?” Jemma asked.

I turned back around and said, “I will be back later.”

I returned when it was dark out. Ward was once again waiting for me in the car. I walked up to her front door and rang the doorbell. It took only a couple of seconds for Jemma to answer it.

She smiled brightly. “Hello, Skye.”

I returned the smile. “Hey Jems.” I grabbed one of the flowers that I had brought with me. Making sure that it was the correct one, I gave it to her. “Here.”

She grabbed it and looked at it with amazement. “What kind of flower is it?”

I took a step forward. “It’s a tiger lily. And hopefully, if I succeed with what I came to do tonight… I will get the chance to tell you more about it Saturday night. Now, are your parents here?”

She nodded and called for her parents to come to the door. I handed the red rose over to her mom in which she happily took and thanked me for. I looked at Jemma’s dad who was glaring at me with hatred. “I was hoping I could talk to you sir. Alone.”

He looked down at Jemma who returned the look by pouting her lip and he looked back to me. “Fine.” He finished sternly.

We sat on the bench that was on the patio when Jemma and her mom went back inside. I did not know how to go about telling him what I had to say so I just decided to be blunt. “I came to tell you that I asked your daughter on a date.” He looked up at me with a quivering eyebrow. He did not respond. “She likes…girls, sir. I thought you knew.”

He let out a sigh and straightened up. “I do know. Girls aren’t the problem. You’re the problem. You are the preacher’s daughter. Which means that you are doing the typical things that those kinds of daughters do and are most likely trying to just experiment.”

I looked at him angrily before responding sternly, “Look sir. I like your daughter. A lot. Yes, I am the preacher’s kid, but that does not have to do with anything. No, they still do not know that I am here trying to win over a girl’s heart. I will tell them eventually if it works out. Which I know it will. And I also know that I have messed up in the past when it comes to your daughter, but I am willing to change for her. And in a lot of ways sir, she has already changed me.”

He let out a large sigh and cleared his throat. “How can I know for sure that this is not a game? That you are not going to eventually break Jemma’s heart?”

I looked at the ground and back to him. “I guess you can’t sir. The only thing that I can tell you that I know for sure is that…I am not going anywhere today.” I paused a couple seconds for him to process that sentence before speaking up again. “What do you say? Can I take her out on a date?”

Just then I heard a window open from the house next door. I turned to see that Fitz was there. “Come on Mr. Simmons. The girl kicked some bloke in the nuts today for her.” Fitz screamed down at us. “Yeah! And she socked him a good one to the face.” Ward shouted from his car.

The front door opened and Jemma stepped out. “And…I happen to really care about her a lot.” Jemma said looking into her dads eyes.

He got up to walk inside before turning to face me. “The two of you have fun. I expect her back at a decent hour.” With that he walked inside.

I smiled greatly and stood to walk to Jemma. “Thank you guys!” I said loud so Ward and Fitz could hear. I then turned to look Jemma in the eyes and smiled. “I guess my plan worked.”

She kissed me on the cheek and returned the smile. “I guess it did. Now…where are you going to take me?”

I placed a small peck to her forehead before walking down the steps to Ward’s car. I turned back to look at her and said, “You’ll find out.”

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