"Aye, good practice today," Jackson gave a couple of his teammates high fives as they all went back to the locker room to hit the showers cause in all honesty, he stinks.

After practice though, he hangs out by the bleachers, watching as the sun sets on the horizon. That's when he felt someone sit down next to him. "Thanks for meeting me," he said, turning to meet Aaliyah's eyes.

"Well, you said you had something important to tell me, so...." she said as she put her bag down next to her. "What is it?" She asked.

"Go out with me," he said, catching her completely off guard.

"What?" She asked, making sure she heard him correctly. "Jack-"

Jackson shook her heard before she could say anything. "No, no, no. I️ know what you're gonna do and I'm not gonna let you do it," he points at her, making her laugh as she shoos his hand away. "Come on Liyah, one date," he said.

"Jack...."

"Do you want me to beg?" He challenged, getting up on his feet, making her laugh even harder. "Cause I️'ll do it," he said, getting down on one knee. "Aaliyah," he sang out, making her giggled even harder. "Are you seriously going to make me beg?" He deadpanned.

"Stand up idiot. I'll go on a date with you," she agreed, making him get up and return to his original seat, sitting a bit closer to her now. "Where we going?" She asked. "And no more surprises," she scolded.

Jackson playfully rolled his eyes. "God, you ruin the fun out of everything," he mumbled, making her smack his arm. "I'm kidding! Geez, so aggressive. I'm starting to rethink my proposal," he whined, making her roll her eyes.

"As if. Now come on! Tell me what you have planned," she said eagerly, leaning into him a bit more.

Unable to resist her charms, he grinned down at her. "Beachside picnic," he said, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. "Just picture it. It's a nice ass day outside. Sun's out shining, we're listening to Queen-"

"Again?" She asked.

"Again," Jackson nodded. "Good music, good food and even better company, don't you think?" He asked.

Aaliyah laughs and gets out his grip. "You're smooth, I give you that," she complimented. "But we both really know it's just a plot for you to see me in a bikini," she accused, making him feigned offense.

"What? I️ can't believe you think so low of me," he scoffed. "But...are you?"

Aaliyah rolled her eyes and smirked. "Guess you're just gonna have to wait and see," she teased. "But can I️ ask why?" Her tone was serious.

"Why what?" Jackson raised an eyebrow.

"Why me?" She said, looking up at him. "Ever since you got here Jack, you've always been there and, not that I️ mind or I'm not thankful or anything but...why?" She wondered. "Do you see me as someone you have to save or something?" She asked him.

And just like that, he was back to that night.

"Jack! Jack please, help!"

"Don't do it Jackson! You're gonna be burned alive in there!"

"Jackson Carter Hale, how do you plead?

"Three months in juvenile detention..."

"Don't come back until you've grown up!"

"Jack?"

"Jack?" Aaliyah called out, bringing him back. "Are you okay? You seem upset? Did I️ offend you?" She frowns.

Jackson turned his head to look at her. "What? No, I️-I gotta go," he abruptly stands up. "I'll see you Saturday, okay?"

"O-okay..." she says hesitantly as she watches him walk away. What was that all about?

While Jackson speed walks his back to the parking lot, he pulls out his phone and dials Vijay. Although they've only been friends for a short time, Jackson's come to appreciate his genuine friendship. That was something that's really rare to him, considering all the things that's been going on in his life. He learned that all you need in life is one really solid, good friend in your corner to help you out, and that's what Jay is to him.

"What's up my brother of another color!" Jay shouted through the phone.

"Hey," Jackson said, his tone serious. "Can I️ talk to you? It's kinda important and...I️ just really need to get something off my chest," he sighs out.

"Oh...yeah man, sure. Come on over," he invited. "You okay dude? Did Aaliyah's ex come after you again?" He asked.

"No, it's not Elijah. It's something different. I'll tell you when I️ get there," he said before hanging up and getting into his car. Before he even started the car, he slammed his head against the wheel before taking all his frustrations out on it too. Just when he thought he was over it. Just when he thought life was getting back on track. He had good grades, a great football career, on his way to getting a scholarship and getting the girl of his dreams, and just like that, he loses his nerve.

The detention center counselor said this would happen. Flashback and panic attacks were all just apart of getting over what happened. But he hasn't had them in months. He thought he was in the clear.

He starts his car and heads over to Jay's house, hoping that venting and maybe even letting one other person in on his secret would help soothe is mind.

                                    * * * *

"You seem happy," Carolina pointed as they walked through the mall on Friday. Aaliyah wanted a new bathing suit before going on her date with Jackson.

Wow...a date with Jackson. She still couldn't believe it.

"Did you Elijah work it out?" She asked, making Aaliyah stop in her tracks.

"What...did you say?" She asked her, not believing what she just heard.

Carolina looked as surprised as she was. "I️ thought...? Oh wow, this is awkward," she said before walking ahead.

Aaliyah rushes over and grabbed her arm. "No, no, no, no," she stopped her. "Explain. Now," she demanded.

Carolina sighed. "Honestly, if you haven't heard, then there's nothing to worry about-"

"Lina," Aaliyah said sternly.

"Alright fine. A couple of people have been saying that...Elijah's been miserable without you and that he wants you back," she revealed. "I️ thought you guys talked it out?"

"First of all, what?!" She exclaimed. "And second of all, we are never getting back together so everyone can just dead that rumor," she fiercely said.

Carolina shook her head as they entered a nearby boutique. "I️ don't know Liyah, he seemed pretty set on getting you back," Carolina warned. "What even happened between you guys anyways? You never really told me," she said as they started going through racks of bathing suits.

Aaliyah went quiet for a moment. "Who cares?" She says defensively. "We has a bad fight and now we're over. I'm getting a new swimsuit because Jackson asked me out on a date," she let slip.

She expected Carolina to gasp excitedly or let out a squeal as girlfriends usually do but instead she looked almost...annoyed? "What the fuck? Are you serious?" She said, catching Aaliyah off guard.

"What's your problem?" Aaliyah asked, confused. "Are you actually mad?"

Carolina looked taken aback. "What? Of course not. It's just...don't you think you're moving on too fast?" She asked. "You and Elijah just broke up. And then Jackson and Devon almost fought in the food court. Everyone's already saying that you cheated on him, and that's why you guys broke up," she tells her. "And you didn't tell me what happened, I️ almost thought the same thing," Carolina said.

Aaliyah frowned at that news. She couldn't believe this shit. All the more reason why she couldn't wait for senior year to end. "Everyone's just bored with their own lives so they look towards mines for entertainment," she scoffed as she pulled a cute one piece off the rack.

"You and I️ both know that words are pretty powerful and can ruin people when given the chance," she warned.

Aaliyah looked over at her before silently nodding and continuing her search for an outfit, silently upset.

                                       * * * *
"Bye mom, me and Jackson are going out-"

"Wait!" Her mom called out from the kitchen, stopping her in her tracks. "Jackson. What do actually know about him?" Her mom asked, confusing her.

"What?" She blinked. "What do you mean?"

"I️ mean, did he ever tell you where he was from? Talk about his family maybe? You know, stuff like that," her mom said.

Aaliyah tilted her head in thought. Now that she brought it up, they never did talk about each other in depth like that. "Huh...you're right," she told her. "Guess not," she shrugs. "Looks like today's that day, right?" She smiled, reaching up to give her mother a kiss. "See you later," she said, rushing out the door.

"Okay bye..." Her mom started to say but she was already out the door.

Aaliyah smiled when she reached his car. She opened the back door and put her bag in the back before sitting in the passenger seat. "Hey!" She greeted happily.

"Hey! You ready?" He asked before putting the car in drive, pulling out of her driveway.  "What do you wanna listen to?" He asked.

"Actually, I️ was thinking we'd listen to Queen," she tells him, making him look over at her in surprise.

"A woman after my own heart," he chuckles as he reaches for his phone and plays Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now".

The three hour drive to the beach passed by pretty fast due to them singing along to songs, debating on topics such as the existence of God vs the universe, how cool it would be if they had superpowers, and what foods each fast food place excelled at. (Apparently, McDonald's was great at fries, hash browns and chicken nuggets, Wendy's strawberry lemonade and Frosty's were Supreme, Taco Bell's Crunchwrap was untouchable and Burger King....well, Aaliyah didn't want to talk about Burger King. She outright refused to talk about Burger King.)

It was the most fun Aaliyah had in ages.

When they arrived at the beach, it was starting to get blazing hot. Jackson parked, and they both looked over at each other, as if thinking the same thing.

"Wanna come back when its not as hot?" He asked.

"You literally just read my mind."

They spent their morning running around a shopping plaza, going in and out of stores before stopping at a restaurant to eat lunch. When it hit four p.m., they ended back up on the beach, lying besides each other on the sand.

"Jack?" She said, sitting up. He looked up at her through his sunglasses. "I'm having a really good time with you," she says to him.

He now sits up to face her. "Yeah, same here," he tells her with a smile. But he then notices the sight frown on her face. "But?"

Aaliyah looks up at him and sighs. "But...never mind, it's stupid" she shakes her head at him. "Forget I️ ever said any-"

"Hey," he calls out to her, making her turn to look back at him. "Come on, you can be real with me," he assures

Aaliyah lets out another breath. "I'm sorry. I'm not used to this," she reveals.

"What are you not used to?" He asked her.

"Expressing my feelings?" She chuckles with tears in her eyes. "Being honest? Feeling safe and comfortable? I️ haven't felt like this towards anyone in a long time," she tells him, as he wipes her the tears that slid down her face. "This is so embarrassing," she mutters.

"Hey, it's okay," he comforted. "I get it. I know what you've been through."

"It's like I️ was dead inside and...you brought me back to life," she reached out to touch his hand that was on her cheek.

He smiled at that. "You know, I️ feel the exact same way," he tells her. "Ever since I️ moved down here, I️ felt drawn to you, you know?" He says, and she nods eagerly. "And to answer your question from before, I️ don't see you as someone I️ had to save," he says. "Because I️ would've been drawn to you no matter what," he says, leaning in closer.

Aaliyah leans in too, until something stops her. "I️ can't," she whispers, making Jackson drop his hand. "I'm sorry," she quickly apologized. "I'm not trying to lead you on, I️ really like you, I️ do, I️ just..." she hesitated slightly, "I'm scared of getting hurt again."

"I'm not gonna hurt you," he shakes his head. "I️ wouldn't do that. Not intentionally at least."

"Don't make promises you can't keep Jackson," Aaliyah warned him.

"Aaliyah," he looks at her seriously, "I️ would never hurt you. I️ promise," he hold his pinky out towards her, amusing her.

"Are you serious?" She giggles slightly.

"Hey. Pinky promises are deathly serious," he jokes. She wraps her pinky around his before pressing a kiss on their interlocked fingers.
________________________________
😭 great chapter, amirite guys?

Shits about to get crazy from here on out. Brace yourselves mates.

Also thinking about switching Carolina's face claim from Lindsey Morgan to Alexa Demie.

....Yeah, I'm gonna do it. I️ love Euphoria.

What did you guys think of this chapter?