CHAPTER THREE

Honestly, I didn't want to fall for Jackson. I know that might sound weird for my situation, but it's the truth.

It started out with the idea of being bed buddies, someone to cuddle with when Michael pissed me off, someone to kiss me to make up for all the times I'd been hurt. But I can't call him that anymore. It's different now, so much more different than how it was in beginning.

I was so mesmerized by him; I felt stuck in a trance, where he captivated my thoughts and appeared in my dreams every night because he was the last person I thought about before going to sleep.

I hated doing this. Hated the fact I was now a cheater.
Hated that some day I would have to tell Michael about it.

But he didn't seem to care about me anymore, and what was I supposed to do? I couldn't just break up with him, because deep down I know there's still something there. I know I'm stupid, I know it. I just can't bring myself to telling him the truth.

I could hear the rain dancing on the roof above me. It was like music, listening to the soft pitter-patter pounding against the shingles and sliding off into the night.

Eleven o'clock sharp, I heard a light knock on my bedroom window. 

I was startled at first; Nobody ever came to my window, since it was on the second floor of our house. I knew it couldn't be Dad. He wasn't the kind of person to do roof work, nor would he climb up to the roof to knock on my window when he could just walk up the stairs. And my little sister Emily was definitely out of the question, since she was five and would most likely fall.

"Courtney, it's me." said the male voice I knew so well.

Jackson. My heart stopped beating so frantically as I made my way to the window and opened it for him to climb inside. He was drenched, for the rain was coming down harder now. I pulled him in for a hug even if it meant getting myself wet.

"What are you doing here? How did you get to my window?"

I stood with my head buried in his shoulder, my hands around his neck. I could feel my clothes beginning to dampen, but I didn't care. I didn't care at all. I was just happy to see him. Happy to see that he was standing here in my bedroom hugging me even if it was late on a school night.

"That tree out in your yard. The branch is close enough for me to jump onto the roof. I just needed to see you for a little while. I can't stand not being around you."

I pulled away from him, a grin sneaking on my face.

"You climbed a tree and jumped on my roof in the pouring rain just to see me?" 

"Of course. I do miss you, you know. Weekdays are so hard without you. I wish we didn't have to do it like this." He sighed.

"I wish we didn't have to, either."

He leaned in to kiss me; It was so much more than what I felt when Michael kissed me these days. He was tender, and a lot more gentle with me. Kissing him was beyond perfect. He stopped, and I didn't want him to stop because I really wanted to kiss him more, but he just stared at me.

"What?"

"Nothing." He smiled, his dark brown hair swooping over his eyes in a cute, adorable little kid way. He was so breath-taking, I couldn't help but swoon over how cute and innocent he seemed.

"Why are you staring at me? Is there something on my face?" I immediately reached up to feel around for remains of dinner.

"No, no. That's not it. You're just beautiful. I'm glad to be here with you."

I laughed and felt myself blush. "Oh, come on."

"I'm serious. You're really beautiful, Courtney."

He smiled again, a gorgeous toothy-smile that makes your stomach fill up with that butterfly-like feeling and takes over your brain, making you want to draw little hearts all over your Calculus notebook instead of actually doing the math. That was the smile I fell in love with.

The past few months played a scene in my head, as I remembered all the fights with Michael and how Jackson ended up coming to my rescue. How he'd slept with me, and how he just wanted to hold me now. How he first told me he loved me, and how I had shrugged it off because I was scared.

"J-Jackson?" I stammered a little, hesitant.

"What?"

"I love you."

"I love you, too."