Dear Diary, I'm Completely Lost

Guess Who's Home?

Dear Diary,

I clearly learned nothing from last year. I’m starting to think that this is just the irony of my life. When things are going semi-well for me, something just has to come up to ruin it. I mean, what is this? Living with the Kardashians? It sure feels that way with how much drama comes my way.

Anyway, it was all just a silly misunderstanding, no big deal. Everything is good, everything is under control. At least that’s what I keep telling myself. Ah, I love you, diary. You’re the most uncomplicated bestie in the world. And you’re always here to listen.

Yep, I’m spiraling. Definitely.

I dread the week after the holidays. Not just because classes are starting again. Actually, school is a minor problem. Facing Jackson, however? Ha. Ha-ha. I really don’t want to show my face to biology.

It’s one of the few classes that I don’t have with Leslie and I really wish it wouldn’t be like that. Because he’s free to bother me whenever he likes. My best friend has taken an overprotective stance ever since I told her I want nothing to do with Jackson.

She’s truly hanging out with my brother too much. But in this case, I’m grateful to have her overreact like this. She glares at him whenever he tries to get within ten feet of me and it makes him quit trying. At least until Leslie has a different subject on her schedule than we do.

Okay, he doesn’t bother me that much. He simply wants to know when we’re meeting and all that. I already regret asking him to meet at my house, because my mom has this seminar thing this week. She’s staying at work longer every day, which is why I’m taking the bus home. I really need to sign up to get my driver’s license.

Anyway, what was I saying? Oh, yeah, my mom is absent. My dad is changing shifts with his coworker, because his coworker had a family emergency. So that leaves the house empty. Oh, I would give anything for Hunter to be here. Or even my brother. That would make things so much easier. I don’t want to be alone with this dude, not even in my own house!

I offer him tea. Coffee. Biscuits. You know, just to have his brain working on a sugar rush. I intend to discuss strictly school stuff with him. I’m not letting him pull any of that s**t he pulled at the Fall Festival. I’m not in the mood to deliver a rejection speech.

Okay, maybe I did learn something from last year. I learned that accepting someone’s compliment doesn’t mean that I should date them. Like hell that I’d even think about dating anyone else. I’m perfectly content in my relationship.

Everything is going quite well. No suggestive comments, no compliments, no making moves. We’re halfway done, when I suggest we take a break. I just really have to use the bathroom. I tell Jackson to make himself at home if he feels hungry or anything, telling him I’ll be right back.

When I’m washing my hands, I hear a sound. Huh. Probably my mom came home. I thought she’d take longer. I did tell her that I’d be doing that term paper with Jackson today, and she wasn’t exactly pleased that we’d be home alone.

I explained that I thought at least dad would be at home, but he had to take the afternoon shift. She calmed down after I assured her I’ll kick him out the moment we finish schoolwork. I regret that I didn’t take Leslie’s offer today.

She told me she can come with us to supervise. Like I need supervision. I got mad because I felt like she doesn’t trust my word that I don’t want anything to do with Jackson. I was so offended that I rejected her. Multiple times. I now really wish I didn’t turn her down so quickly.

Okay, I can still text her to stop by. You know, make it seem like she’s forgotten that I’m doing the paper with Jackson today. Yeah, that’s what I’m going to do. But before I’m able to even start typing, I hear raised voices from downstairs. What’s going on?

I quickly put my phone away, getting out of the bathroom to check what’s happening. As soon as I open the door, I realize Jackson is talking to someone like he just got offended. Then, I hear my favorite voice in the entire world, and I stop in my tracks, completely mortified.

No. Surely I’m imagining things. Did Jackson put something in my coffee? There’s no way this is real. I must look ridiculous right now, standing at the top of the staircase, frozen like a statue. But I just can’t move. Not until I hear him one more time, suddenly realizing that this is all real.

“I asked what you were doing here! Don’t lie to my face!” he snaps at someone. And that someone can only be Jackson. Only then it dawns on me. Crap. Neither of my parents’ cars is parked up front. I know how this must look like.

The strange state I was in finally loses its power over me and I find myself quickly rushing downstairs before things escalate. This doesn’t look good at all. Not for Jackson, not even for me. I hope Hunter isn’t imagining the worst now.

When I see his backside, the way he’s appearing all big and mighty from being furious, the only thing I want to do is jump his bones. Keep the nasty thoughts to yourself, Perrie, you have a situation to handle. “Hunter!” I exclaim happily, a smile appearing on my face, even if I’m scared of what’s about to happen.

He turns around at sound of my voice, his eyes taking me in, doing a full scan like he’s trying to make sure that dude didn’t touch me. I can basically read what’s going through his head, but I don’t give him the chance to even think about it.

I rush into his arms, pressing my mouth against his in greeting. I already think he won’t even hug me, because his lips feel like stone against mine. They don’t budge. But as I’m about to pull away in defeat, he snakes his arms around my waist so tightly that I can barely breathe, then opens his mouth, kissing me so passionately, that I almost feel embarrassed.

I don’t stop him, though. I basically forget that we’re not alone. Only as Jackson clears his throat behind Hunter’s back do I remember what this is all about. I let Hunter pull away whenever he wants to, because he doesn’t react to Jackson’s clear reminder that we’re being rude.

Once he does, he doesn’t acknowledge the guy. He sighs and holds his hands against the sides of my neck, asking: “Why are you alone with a guy in the house?”

“We have to make a term paper for biology. We’re working in pairs,” I explain before Jackson manages to say anything to worsen the moment.

“I told you, dude, you’re totally misreading the situation,” he remarks not even a second later, almost making me feel the need to roll my eyes. Hunter’s face darkens and he glances at him briefly.

“I was asking my girlfriend,” he tells him, before turning back to me. “He didn’t try anything, did he? Because if he did, I’m going to-”

“Hunter, nothing happened. We’re doing schoolwork. We don’t have much to do left and Jackson is going to leave when we finish,” I assure him, then peek from behind him to look at Jackson. “Isn’t that right?”

“Yeah, as soon as we’re done with the paper,” he assures me, making me offer him a fake smile, before straightening up again and looking at my boyfriend. My handsome, incredibly sexy when he’s jealous boyfriend, who I can’t believe is actually here!

“See? Nothing to worry about. Besides, we’ll finish even quicker now that we have a Yale student helping us out,” I tease him, making him frown. I smile at the look on his face, but I know he’s calmed down.

Thank God he trusts me so much. I’m so grateful he listens to me before making drama. Well, too much drama. You know, the kind that would result in a fistfight. I turn him around, so he faces my newest schoolmate. I think some introductions are in order. I can at least try to fix whatever just went down between these two.

“Okay, Hunter, I don’t think you’ve met Jackson, he’s a new student at Hilhi High. Jackson, this is Hunter, my boyfriend. He studies at Yale, so he’ll be nice enough to help us out now,” I speak up, basically forcing them to shake hands. But they do it briefly, backing away as soon as they can.

I try to pay no mind to it, but the atmosphere is incredibly tense the entire time Jackson is still there. Hunter does help us out, like I said he would. I can’t believe he’s so kind even after this whole misunderstanding. He talks to Jackson like nothing happened, but the previous event is still hanging above us. I can feel it.

Once our paper is done, Jackson literally leaves as fast as his feet can carry him out of our house. “Bye! It was nice meeting you, Hunter,” he tells us before walking out the front door. Hunter stares at him, clearly unconvinced by his words.

“Likewise,” he remarks dryly, before closing the door after him. Once he does, he keeps his hand leaned on it as he looks at me. “I don’t like him,” he informs me, making me roll my eyes.

“Well, congratulations. One more thing you have in common with my mom,” I tell him, making him stiffen. He narrows his eyes slightly, tilting his head in a questioning way.

“Your mom knows this guy?” he questions me, already making me regret that I said anything. Ugh, there’s no way I’m telling him that Jackson called me beautiful. At least not while the guy is still within ten feet of our house. He’ll run outside after him and kick his ass. Then he’ll fly straight back to Connecticut and never speak to me again.

“Yeah, we ran into him at the Fall Festival,” I explain shortly, making him nod. I step closer to him, running my hands over his chest. “I really don’t want to hear another word about Jackson. I didn’t know you were planning on coming home,” I continue in an alluring tone, looking up at him with a smile playing on my face.

He uses his free hand to run it through my hair. “Is that a bad thing?” he wonders, searching my gaze for answers. I know what he’s able to see inside them. Only pure bliss. I can’t believe he’s really here.

“Not even closely,” I murmur, before pressing my lips against his.