“And you certainly did not.” Father’s smiled broadened with love.
“Either way, I appreciate it. Our wedding is going to be so beautiful and elegant.” I looked around the table at the three most important people in the world to me.
“And speaking of beautiful and elegant...” Jackson reached into this pocket and placed a little, dark-blue velvet box with a pale-blue ribbon in front of me.
I slowly cracked the small jewelry box to find a sterling silver ladies’ pocket watch resting on the velvet. It was truly gorgeous. The numbers were inlaid on the cover in striking detail. I lifted it out of the box and examined it closely.
“It is engraved on the back,” Jackson added brightly.
Flipping it over, I saw “Time will reveal my love” was elegantly written.
“It is gorgeous. Thank you! I love it!” I could not imagine a more perfect gift; a beautiful token of his love that I could carry with me always.
I leaned over and kissed Jackson on the cheek. He and my parents looked most pleased with my reaction as I handed the watch over to my mother, who looked at it adoringly before handing it over to my father.
“Very nice,” he concluded and handed it back to me.
“My father had one made for my mother before they were married, as did Alexander for his wife. It is sort of a tradition in our home, and I wanted to share it with my beautiful future wife.” Jackson explained.
“Very lovely.” Mother beamed.
“As long as we are giving out gifts...” Patrick placed a small, black jewelry box next to my plate. “This is from your mother and me.”
I opened the box slowly, not sure of what to expect. My parents had never given me jewelry before. My breath caught in my chest.
“Oh, my goodness.” There on the soft, green, velvet laid my grandmother’s broach. I had seen my mother wear it on very special occasions, and I loved it dearly. I had asked her numerous times to wear it, but she would always politely explain that it was expensive and rare and held a great sentimental value that could never be replaced. She had promised me that someday it would be mine, but I had never expected it to be so soon. “Are you sure, Mother?”
“Yes. I believe you will treasure it as much as I have,” she answered sweetly.
I looked adoringly over at Jackson and explained, “It was my grandmother’s. I remember her wearing it when I was a small child. She gave it to my mother before she passed away. I have always loved it so.”
I ran my fingers over the delicate, white gold and inlaid emeralds and diamonds. The craftsmanship was amazing. I knew that it was passed down through the women of our family and my grandmother had gotten it from her grandmother. As old as it was, there was still a rich shine about it. Obviously, it had been handled with loving care throughout the years. It was a true treasure.
“Thank you both so much.” Tears filled my eyes. “I promise I will take care of it and someday pass it on to our daughter as well.”
The ride home was incredibly cold. The night air had taken on a frosty element that chilled me down to my bones. I huddled close to Jackson, wrapped in a blanket, trying to stay warm and keep my teeth from chattering.
CHAPTER 15
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
I HIT THE SNOOZE BUTTON on my alarm and snuggled back under the covers. Today was finally my eighteenth birthday. I couldn’t believe it, I was now legally an adult. But today I still had to go to high school and take a biology exam, and I still had a volleyball match tonight. So much for welcome to the adult world.
It took me longer to get ready because I had to French braid my hair with a blue ribbon intertwined for our meet tonight and wear our goofy-looking team sweatshirts. I applied my makeup carefully. I wanted to make sure I looked my best, not because of school, but for Jackson.
He had been driving me to school all week, and of course, my friends had noticed and were giving me a hard time about it. At first they were giving me grief about no longer participating in our car pool and recently shifted to teasing me about my apparent 180° turn about wanting a boyfriend. All three of them were almost as giddy as I was about my crush.
Jackson was already downstairs, sitting at the island with Ethan, who was hitching a ride to school with us. Very romantic. I could have killed him for it. The two of them were laughing about something that had occurred at football practice the day before and stuffing bagels in their face. I quietly slipped in and fixed my travel mug with coffee and an abundant amount of sugar and cream.
“Good morning, doll.” Jackson was all smiles. Morning people truly baffle me.
“Good morning.” I smiled back as I reached for a bagel.
“Did you sleep well?” He inquired as my brother rolled his eyes.
“Okay. I’m out.” Ethan grabbed another bagel and headed out the front door. “I’ll be in the car.”
This had quickly become our routine. I loved it because I got to sit next to Jackson both on the way to school and home and in two of my classes, plus lunch. Also, I had the added bonus of spending as much time with him outside of school as I possibly could. But I hated it because despite how close we had gotten in the last several days, we remained literally worlds apart. His effects on my physical being hadn’t lightened up in the slightest and even though I was rapidly becoming accustomed to the onset of symptoms, they quickly worsened if we pushed the envelope ever so slightly.
The distance between us at times was perhaps maybe a foot, but it felt more like a mile to me. I loathed the fact that we still hadn’t kissed or even hugged. It was true that we were narrowing the gap, but only by a few inches. Whenever we got closer than the typical personal space, my symptoms overwhelmed me.
Thanks to Jackson, Mrs. Neal-Beliveau’s biology exam was incredibly simple and I breezed through it during our second-period class. Jackson smiled over at me on his way back to his seat after turning in his exam. We had studied together on Monday and Tuesday evening in the same fashion that we had over the weekend. He gave me a soft wink, making it difficult for me to keep a straight face while the rest of the class finished up their exams.
Our group gathered at our usual table during lunch. I was glad now how my friends had quickly integrated him in such a short amount of time. The only damper was the constant barrage of dirty looks I was receiving throughout the lunch hour from Taylor and Dakota. Caitlyn, in true form, did offer to slap the look off their faces, which was extremely tempting. However, since we had a big match that evening against our county rivals, Coach Smith would have killed Caitlyn for missing the game over something so immature. So I told her to hold off, for now anyways.
Mr. Rand passed back our psych exams during last period. As confident as I had felt previously about the results, I had butterflies in my stomach as he started passing them back. Jackson got his first and turned his exam toward me with an extremely proud smirk. He had gotten a ninety-eight percent. I grinned back at him, but now the pressure was really on.
I held my breath as Mr. Rand came back around the room, crossing through the aisle in my direction. He handed me my exam face down, which was never a good sign. I slowly turned it over while Mr. Rand hovered.
“Nice work, Jocelyn. Only perfect score.” He grinned and walked away.
“Show-off.” Jackson chuckled.
“I couldn’t have done it without you.”
By the time the bell rang, I was so thrilled with my exam score I wanted to throw my arms around Jackson’s neck and celebrate, but of course, I couldn’t.
Jenna, Hilary, Caitlyn and I went out to Subway before the game. We had a short break before we had to return to school for the home meet, so we decided to grab something for dinner.
“So, you have to tell us. How good of a kisser is he?” Caitlyn started in as we squeezed into one of the tiny booths. “He’s got the most luscious lips.” She glanced to see my reaction. “I’m sorry, but it’s true.” She shrugged without apology.
“A lady doesn’t kiss and tell.” It was
all I could come up with before quickly taking a bite so I wouldn’t have to elaborate more on the topic. I was not about to admit that we had only touched by accident, and when we did I had visions and heard voices. Yeah. That would go over well.
“Then spill the beans, honey, because there are no ladies present,” Hilary said.
“Wow! I resent that!” I acted offended.
“Well, I can say that my love life has died down since Cody’s parents are back in town. I can’t wait until they leave. I’m tired of making out in his car.”
We all stared at her with disbelief.
“TMI, Hill.” Caitlyn rolled her eyes, poking Hilary in the ribs.
“Oh, like that ever stopped you from giving me the gritty details about you and Zak.” Hilary narrowed her eyes.
“Okay, okay.” I waved my hands in the air over the table. “Before a cat fight breaks out, let’s change the subject. Now, what is everyone dressing up as for Cody’s Halloween party?”
“Aladdin and Princess Jasmine.” Caitlyn shrugged. “Zak picked them out.” Caitlyn looked thoroughly disappointed as she sulked in her drink.
“We haven’t even started looking yet,” Hilary explained. “Every time I suggest something, Cody rolls his eyes at me. We’ll probably end up not coordinating our costumes at all since we can’t agree on anything. He makes me want to strangle him most of the time.” She playfully acted out her definition of strangulation, making us all laugh.
“I’m not telling anyone what we’re going to be,” Jenna taunted. “I want it to be a surprise.”
I glanced down at my watch. It was already four-thirty. “And as stimulating as this conversation is, we’d better get back because I’m really not in the mood to get yelled at.”
The locker room was consumed with its usual hot and musty air accompanied with that stale, funky smell when we arrived for the game, yet tonight, something felt different. As I passed the first couple rows of lockers, I noticed there were brightly colored balloons and streamers hanging from the ceiling. When I rounded the corner, I noticed my locker was covered in Happy Birthday wrapping paper with a huge bow in the upper corner.
Spinning around, Jenna, Hilary, and Caitlyn were standing there, cheering like three baboons.
My face turned a bright red as my team members sang a chorus of the birthday song. I quickly rolled the numbers on my lock, hoping to crawl inside my locker, but instead, I discovered a little, dark-blue, velvet box with a pale-blue ribbon and a card tucked underneath the bow. I slowly lifted the box under the watchful eyes of my teammates. My name was printed on the outside of the card envelope in all-too-familiar handwriting. The front of the ivory, card had two gold hearts intertwined together. The inside was beautifully handwritten, “I hope you have a wonderful day, and may all your wishes and dreams come true. Happy birthday! All my love, Jackson”. I handed the card over to Jenna, knowing she’d end up seeing it anyway. She beamed and passed it on to Hilary and Caitlyn.
With all eyes watching me, I became very nervous about opening the box. I had no inclination what Jackson would have possibly gotten me that would have fit into a jewelry box. I was terrified to open it. Like pulling off a Band-Aid, I did it quickly only to find a sterling silver ladies’ pocket watch lying on the velvet. It was truly gorgeous. The numbers were inlaid on the cover, but it also opened. I had never seen anything like it before in my life. It was such a unique gift, and that made it all the more special. I held it, momentarily speechless, and then I opened it and examined it closer. When I turned it over, I noticed there was something elegantly inscribed on the back. “Time will reveal my love”.
My body went completely numb with fear and shock. I slowly turned to Jenna with my trembling hand extended, giving her the watch. She gave me a confused look at the expression on my face before taking the watch out of my hand. She read it quickly while I watched the look on her face change as she comprehended what she was reading.
“Oh, my God!” Jenna handed the watch to Caitlyn, who looked at it then back at us both, stunned, and handed it to Hilary.
The four of us stood silent while the rest of the team gazed upon us with intense curiosity. Without any of us offering any explanation for our reaction to the gift, the rest of them dispersed to get ready for the match. The other three gathered around me, just as confused and mesmerized by the gift as I was.
“Wow. That’s quite a gift. I’m not sure what to say.” Hilary looked from on face to another.
“Well, that makes two of us,” Caitlyn added.
“How did he even get into the girls’ locker room to do all this?” I waved my hands toward my overly decorated locker.
“Oh, that was easy. I asked Coach before lunch if Ethan and Jackson could get in before the game to decorate your locker for your birthday,” Hilary explained.
“And I gave Ethan your locker combination last night when he asked me if they could do this. But I swear I had no idea about the watch.” Jenna still looked as flabbergasted as I felt.
“What do you make of the inscription? I mean, isn’t it a bit too soon for something like this? I’ve only known this guy for what, ten days and not even that, we’ve only just started dating. And this is, well…” I looked around at the three confused faces staring back at me, “a little much, don’t you think?” I held the watch in my palm, gazing intently at it.
“Just a smidge.” Caitlyn gestured, using her thumb and index finger to show just how small.
“I think it’s gorgeous.” Hilary squeezed my shoulder with a smile. “A perfect birthday gift.”
“It shows he put a lot of thought into it,” Jenna added.
“It’s beautiful, so delicate.” I whispered more to myself than to them, looking at the inscription and marveling at the details of the artwork. It was a truly amazing piece. “It almost looks like an antique.”
“Ladies, I’m sorry to break up the party, but if we don’t get changed and onto that court in the next ten minutes, Coach will have us running laps next practice,” Caitlyn pointed out.
I carefully placed the watch back into the box and made sure it was securely tucked away between my clothes and locked up tightly before I left the locker room.
As soon as the team hit the court, I noticed not only my parents in the stands but Jackson’s and Jenna’s parents as well. Jackson and Ethan were sitting a short distance away with Zak, Cody, Kyle, and several other guys from the football team.
Even Taylor’s obnoxious behavior during the matches couldn’t dampen my spirits. I realized for the first time how secure I felt in Jackson’s feelings for me and that she was not even close to being a threat to my blossoming relationship with him. However, the rest of my teammates also noticed her hanging around Jackson and their sentiments were not so kind.
I rode home with Jackson, Mariah, and my brother. After we dropped Mariah off at her house and pulled into Jackson’s drive, Ethan said his good nights and headed off across the street to our house. I could see through the lighted front window of Jackson’s house that my parents were over there visiting with his parents again.
“Do you want to come over to my house since apparently all the parents are congregating at yours?” I asked.
“Sure.”
We quietly closed his car doors, hoping our parents wouldn’t notice our return in order to buy us more time alone. We snuck across the street like two thieves in the night, trying our best not to giggle too loudly at our own immature behavior.
We made it to the basement alone. I could hear the shower running upstairs, and I knew Ethan was going to be down shortly.
“So, birthday girl, you never told me how you liked my surprise.”
We flopped down on the couch, close to each other, but not too close.
“I’m speechless.” I straightened up and turned toward him. “It’s so gorgeous and unique. Where did you ever come up with the idea?”
“My father, actually. He bought one for my mother when they were dating in high school, and she
said she knew then that she was going to marry him.” Wow. No pressure there. “Did you see the inscription?”
“Yes, and…” How can I explain this? “It was so sweet.”
“And terrifying? Is that what you are trying to say?” A sly grin slowly crept across his gorgeous face.
“Well …, yeah,” I stuttered.
“Jocelyn, I was not trying to scare you by the inscription or the gift. I only wanted to express how I feel.”
He looked so sincere, but the sentiment still terrified me. After all, I was only in high school. I still had four years of college ahead of me and then grad school. A serious relationship at this time in my life wasn’t something that I saw as lasting the duration of my own personal goals.
“I love the gift. Honest I do. It’s just, well, so soon.” It was all I could say.
“I know it might seem that way, and I cannot explain it, but I feel as if I have known you for a very long time.” He shifted and draped his arm over their back of the couch.
“It’s funny you should say that. I feel that way about you.” It was true. I couldn’t explain it either.
We sat in silence for several minutes, just looking at each other.
“Do you have any idea how badly I want to hold you?” Jackson’s intense gaze made goose bumps run through my body.
“Yes,” I barely squeaked out.
“Really?” He raised his eyebrows inquisitively at me.
“Yes, I do.” I fumbled for words, feeling my face burn red.
A slow grin spread across his face, showing off his irresistible dimples. “Want to try?”
“Are you trying to kill me or just hospitalize me?” I laughed. “You know that if I pass out again that’s exactly where I’ll end up.” I tried to laugh it off, but the truth was it also terrified me – the visions, the voices, all of it. But I couldn’t share that with him or anyone else, for that matter.
“No, but we have to get past this. Do you not agree?”
The pleading in his voice was wearing me down. I wanted to hold him so badly it was killing me. I could only dream about how wonderful it would feel to be in his arms.
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