Chapter 9: You Don't Have To Go

A pair of soft blue eyes were staring down at me when I woke up Thursday morning. The sight of James's grin was enough to creep me out. "What are you doing?" I groaned, turning over on my side. I pulled the blanket over my head but it was jerked from me moments later.

"I've been gone for two days and this is how you greet me? Shame, Juliet."

I fell back over on my back and sent him a glare. "It's my day off and you're waking me up. Let me sleep." I tried reaching for the blanket but he jerked his hand back.

"Meredith wants to do something today. Says she needs a girl day." James rolled his eyes. "Believe me, she saw plenty of her friends yesterday. So, it has been made my quest to get you out of it."

I pushed myself up into a sitting position, "And how do you think you're going to get me out of that?"

"Easy." He smiled. "I'm going to go downstairs and tell her that you're very sick and you need all the rest you can get." He said the last part in a baby voice.

"Yeah, okay. I have plans today anyway."

James looked confused, but he caught on. "Right. The deal. Well, then you really need to get out of this. I'll tell her you're sick."

"Make sure she buys it."

James nodded and stood from my bed. "Feel better, Juliet." He smirked and backed out of my room.

Meredith didn't come check on me or anything so I was relieved. I got out of bed, took my shower, and changed into today's clothes. A pair of shorts and a t-shirt was all I needed. I put my hair up into a loose ponytail and checked my reflection. The bags under my eyes were barely there now. I've slept pretty well these past few days surprisingly. Even though I stayed up all night Tuesday after I got home from Jack's because of everything that happened.

I told him something I never told anyone, including Lindy.

The ghost of an almost kiss...

It was another hour and Meredith left. James came into my room, telling me the coast is clear. "Where's my grandparent's?" I asked as we walked down the stairs.

"They went to lunch with a few friends."

"Good, they probably won't be back for a bit." When we reached the bottom of the stairs, I threw my arms around his shoulders. "Thanks so much for doing this. I owe you one."

He laughed and hugged me back. "Just don't do anything stupid."

I took a step back and opened the door. "Sometimes I wish I had a brother." I stepped out of the open door. "Thanks again! I'll see you later."

The walk to Jack's was obviously short. I rang the doorbell and waited. I felt my stomach flutter a little when the door opened. But instead of Jack, it was Paxton on the other side. "What can I do to help you?" He asked, the corner of his mouth turning up into a smirk.

"Where's Jack?" I asked in a small voice.

Paxton stepped out of the doorway and gestured for me to come in. Once I stepped inside, he spoke, "He's in the shower, but he should be out any minute. You can wait in the living room and I'll tell him you're here."

I mumbled a thanks and retreated to the living room. I sat down on the couch I once slept on and I thought of how much has changed since that night. It's only been a few weeks, not even a month into summer yet. And I feel different about him. He hasn't been mean to me lately, so I'm counting that as a definite plus.

Fifteen minutes later I heard a rumble of footsteps coming down the stairs. I stood up quickly in time for Jack and Paxton to come into the living room. "I thought you would be here later." Jack said. "Sorry about that." He then looked at Paxton, "You can go now." It was a bit harsh, but Paxton grinned.

"Of course. And remember what we talked about—"

"Yeah, whatever." Jack said quickly.

Paxton looked at me with that grin still on his face. "Nice to see you, Juliet. Tell the boyfriend I said hi." He glanced at Jack and walked away.

Once the front door slammed, Jack was the next to walk away from me. I didn't say anything and just followed him. His work was spread out on his bed again and we took the same positions we did Tuesday. He was quiet. He hasn't said a word to me since I saw him in the living room. "Did I do something?"

"No." He said in a flat tone.

I didn't drag it out. We went back to work for what felt like an hour already, but it was only twenty minutes. The clock on Jack's bedside table is moving terribly slow.

Jack all of a sudden dropped his book and it forced me to look up. He was staring at me with such an intensity I felt it burn. "And you're telling me I did nothing wrong?" I snapped before he could speak.

"You didn't tell me you had a boyfriend." His voice was steady.

"What does that have to do with anything?" I tried keeping my voice calm, but I had no idea why this mattered right now.

He let out a sigh and his face relaxed, "I...I almost kissed you that night...and you didn't say anything about a boyfriend."

I felt chills speeding down my spine. Because of the lie I made Paxton believe is coming to bite me in the ass. "Because he doesn't exist."

"I'm confused."

I broke into the story about what happened at the diner that day. I told him Paxton just showed up and James came at the right time. And I also told him that James went along with it. His hardened expression didn't change. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Not what I expected. "Because it wasn't a big deal." I said softly.

"You can't go near him, Juliet." He said firmly. "If you think I'm trouble, you don't know the half of it."

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "Is that supposed to make me feel better?" my tone remained soft but started to shake. "Because it doesn't."

Jack stood up off the bed and came to sit down next to me at the edge. I sat facing the front of his bed and he sat in the opposite direction. He turned his head slightly over his shoulder to look at me. "It's important that you stay away from him." He paused. "If it happens again, tell me."

Jack was sitting too close and it was intoxicating. "I will." Not exactly sure what he could do, but it was reassuring.

He looked away from me when he spoke again. "Would you have let me?" He asked and finally looked my way.

"Let you do what?"

"Kiss you."

My heart was betraying me again. Beating so fast I couldn't hear myself think. The answer was easy. "No."

And that wasn't it.

Jack just laughed a little, "I had a feeling."

Not the response I thought I would get. "Why do you say that?"

This time he shrugged. "It was stupid on my part to even try."

Knowing Jack, he's probably jonesing for female attention.

I wanted to tell him that it wasn't stupid and maybe if he tried again, I would comply. But I didn't. I stared down at my clasped hands in my lap. Jack still sat next to me, not saying a word. His presence alone made me want to do crazy things. "We should probably get back to work." I mumbled.

"Yeah, right..." Jack lingered for a moment, maybe hoping I would change my mind. I was ten seconds away from it.

But he moved to his original position and I did my best to avoid eye contact. We worked at a steady pace and I've pretty much avoided his gaze for two hours. I felt his stare again, but I still avoided the contact.

When the session was over, I helped him clean up the mess on his bed and headed out his bedroom door. I felt Jack on my heels as I made my way down the stairs. "You don't have to go." Jack's voice was surprisingly closer than he felt.

I turned around to face him when I reached the bottom of the stairs. "I think I do." I swallowed hard. I didn't want to go, but I had to.

"You don't. I swear I won't—"

"I know." I said quickly. "I'll see you Tuesday, Jack."

He didn't say anything else, so I left. I felt like I could finally breathe when I reached the porch to my house. My grandparents weren't home yet and I'm guessing Meredith isn't either because James's car isn't in the driveway. I stepped inside and called out for James.

James came down the stairs, smiling. Probably happy there's another person in the house. "Want to watch a movie or something?" I asked.

He jumped the last step and walked closer to me. He bent down so he was eye level and leaned in closer. "What are you doing?"

James squinted his eyes for a few moments and then took a step back. "Your face is really red." He said slowly.

"It's hot out."

"It takes you thirty seconds to walk back and forth to Jack's house." He pointed at me. "He kissed you!"

"No!" My eyes widened. "Hell no!"

James tilted his head, still examining my face. "Maybe not. But almost."

I quickly shook my head, "No where near it." I lied. "We got into a fight." And there goes another lie.

But James seemed to believe it.

He dropped the subject and we went into the living room to find a movie.

About an hour later, my grandparents came home and Meredith shortly after. Meredith joined us for the rest of the movie and she didn't say anything about me being sick. But I coughed a little and sniffled. "What'd you guys do today?" She asked when the movie ended.

James and I looked to each other, not sure what to say, "You're looking at it." I pointed to the TV.

"Exciting."

And that was the end of that conversation.

When dinner was over, I retreated to my room where I can at least get a little bit of peace. Hopefully.

I picked a book from my shelf and took my seat at the window. I couldn't focus on the words that made up the page. They blurred together. After trying to read the same page for five minutes, I gave up. I slammed the book closed and threw it to the side.

I got up, frustrated with myself, and went into the bathroom. I drew myself a warm bath. I think I deserve it. I stripped free of my clothing and sank into the tub. I don't know what's wrong with me right now. I do know Jack's weaseled his way into my brain, burying himself there to make a permanent memory.

He could be the person that murdered that guy and here I am thinking about how soft his lips could be. It was idiotic. Barely at the brink of summer just weeks ago, he was horrible, and now, not so much...

I think I would rather him be mean to me. At least I would have an excuse to not have these thoughts. Him being a suspect should be a reason on it's own, but I can't help it. The thoughts that tear into my mind every five seconds are not helping me the slightest.

I shut my brain off, or attempted to, and got out of the tub. I wrapped a towel around my bare body and walked into my room. I gathered my clothes and went back into the bathroom to change and take care of other business.

As I was walking back into my room with my hairbrush, there was a knock on my door. I opened it to find Meredith standing on the other side. "Hey, can we talk?" She asked.

I nodded and let her in. "Oh, can I?" She pointed to my brush. "I've always wanted a sister so I could play with her hair. Tried that on James when we were eight. Still won't let me touch his hair."

The laugh that came out was easy. "Go ahead."

We sat down on my bed and Meredith sat behind me on her knees. She leaned forward a bit and started running the brush through my hair. "What did you want to talk about?"

"Well, it's more of a compliment." She laughed. "I wanted to thank you for keeping James out of trouble. You make it look so easy."

I shared her laughter, "He's been a good friend to me."

"You've been a good one to him as well. And that brings me to my next question." I felt her nimble fingers work through my hair as she started braiding it. "Is there something going on? You know...between you and James..."

I snorted, "No, I promise. He's an unexpected ally."

"I wouldn't be mad, Juliet. If anything, I would be happy. He needs someone to put him in his place and tell him that the world does not indeed revolve around his being."

She tied the end of my hair off with the band around her wrist and I turned around to face her, "That's good to know, but I swear, there's nothing going on. But I'm really glad we're friends. And I'm also glad he hasn't gotten into anymore trouble."

She smiled sadly. "I understand. He's probably not your type." She giggled a little. "Now that I think about it, I don't think you're his type, and not in a bad way. I really wish girls like you were his type. All the girls he hangs out with get him into all kinds of trouble. But I'm glad you can call him your friend."

I nodded in agreement. "Me too."

Meredith stood up off my bed and headed to the door, "By the way, I know you aren't sick." She smiled and winked before walking out my door. I had to smile to myself as well. She probably thinks that I faked it to stay home with James all day. And part of me wishes that's what I would've done.

I was sleeping so well when the loud crackling of lightning struck and woke me up. Several claps of thunder followed the boisterous noise, making it impossible to go back to sleep.

In a sleepy haze, I looked at my bedside table to read the time. It was a little past three in the morning.

I got out of bed and walked to my window to close the curtains.

But before I could close them, something caught my eye.

I tall figure, standing below my window. I know it couldn't be Jack because of the line of string. The figure stood on my side of it.

My heart was racing and I couldn't look away.

A flash of lightning illuminated the face for only a second.

I waited for another flash of lightning, and when it came, the person was gone. The sight of white hair was etched into my mind, willing me away from sleep.

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I really hope this story is finally getting interesting, lol. It definitely will be in the next chapter!

Your votes and comments mean the world!! :) So thank you guys.

And that's the casting for James and Meredith, they don't really look alike but they're not identical twins in the story so...

Hope you like the chapter! :)