Just Breathe

Just a few minutes after Connor asked me out on a date tonight I was in my closet rummaging through my clothes trying to call Katie who wasn’t picking up. So, I called the one person I knew would pick up no matter what, Jack. He picked up on the second ring.

“Hey what’s up?” He said answering the phone.

“Do you know where Katie is?” I asked.

“She is with Shaun, I think. Why?”

“She’s not answering my calls and I need her.”

“Whatcha need her for?”

“Why you so nosy Jack?”

“Well maybe I can help.”

“I’m going on a double date tonight and well I needed help with my hair and outfit.”

“Alrighty I pick up Zack and we will be over in ten.” Before I could say no he hung up on me. Wow, Jack and his best friend Zack would be the two people helping me try to look good for Connor. Just like Jack said he got to my house in ten minutes and just walked into my room
without even knocking.

“You know I could have been changing in here?” I asked him hands on my hips.

“And that would be such a bad thing why?” He asked with a smirk.

“I told Jack to knock, I did, but he wouldn’t listen.” Zack said trying to look innocent, while he is just as guilty.

“Well, what are we waiting for let’s get you looking hott for your date.” Jack said dragging me
into my walk in closet.

“So where are you guys going?” Zack asked.

“We are supposedly going to a drive in movie, but I think that is if the rain stops.” I told them
both. Jack was going through pretty much every piece of clothing I owned while Zack was looking at my jewelry for accessories. I just stood there watching them in amazement
because I would never guess they would be doing this, even if they were gay.

“I FOUND IT!” Jack said pulling out a pink tank top.

“Why am I wearing this?” I asked him.

“Lacey, that is the legendary shirt. It was that tank top you were wearing before you and
Jack’s first hook up.” Zack answered and I was totally weirded out.

“And you know that how?” I ask.

“Jack is very detailed when it comes to telling me everything and he tells it to me about fifty
times after anything major has happened.” Zack explained while I look over at Jack whose
face gets a little red, which I think is cute.

“It was a good shirt for me, so maybe Connor will have some luck with it too.” Jack said
simply as he pulled out a pair of white shorts. Zack had decided on my accessories for the
night right before they lead me into the bathroom to do my hair and makeup. They picked out
a good outfit, but could they pull of the hair and makeup, I doubt it, but I just went with it
anyways. Jack looked in my Seventeen magazine for the hair and Zack said he already
knew how he wanted my makeup and went to work. He went pretty natural with clear lip
gloss, a neutral shade of eye shadow, but he went heavier with the mascara apparently to
make my eyes stand out more or something. Once he was done, I had to admit it looked
really good.

“Zack, you sure you aren’t gay?” I asked in shock.

“No, well maybe for Jack.” He said with a laugh.

“Yo, Zack what do you think of this one can we pull it off?” Jack asked him showing him a
picture in the magazine.

“Psh, Jack I can do that in my sleep.” Zack said with the confidence.

Jack brushed my hair first and then Zack gathered it all and pulled it into a high ponytail, but
left a part of hair down. I was about to question him, but then Jack grabbed it and wrapped it
around my ponytail holder. I was thoroughly impressed with the job they did and I loved it all.
I gave them both a hug and then shooed them out the bathroom so I could get dressed.

“You know I can stay here actually. It’s nothing I haven’t seen before.” Jack said I just shoved
him out and shut the door in his face before locking it. I put on the outfit then the jewelry and
then finally the shoes. I had to say I looked pretty good due to my wonderful stylists. The one
thing I didn’t understand is why would Jack try and help me look good for another guy? I guess I will just have to find out later. I walked out of my bathroom and did little spin for the
guys to see the final product, which resulted in some whistles.

“Thank, thank you very much. I couldn’t have done it without my gay stylists.” I said the last
part with a smirk. I heard my phone vibrate on the nightstand. I looked at it then Jacks face
and I leaped across the room to grab it before he did, but it just ended in an epic fail because Zack had to be there guarding him as he grabbed it and read the text.

“Hey Lace, I hoping you didn’t decide to ditch me sad face but if you aren’t I’ll pick you up at
seven tonight? It looks like the weather will cooperate. Happy face. Aw how cute is he?” Jack said making fun of Connor.

“Hey get off of my phone! Jack I will pin you down once Zack gets out of my way and then I will get my phone no matter what!” I say yelling at Jack worrying that he will text him back.

“Zack, did you hear that she is going to pin me down. That sounds sexual.” Jack says sarcastically.

“I believe it does Jack. I guess I will move out of the way now.” Zack says, wow are they always so immature? Zack moved out of the way just like he said he would. I went to grab my phone out of Jack’s hand but he moved it away to fast.

“Come on Jack I’m not going to play games with you!” I start whining like I always do once I don’t get my way. I keep trying to grab my phone, but no luck. So, I did what I knew. I sat down in his lap and straddled him. I put my arms around his neck and looked in his eyes giving him a puppy dog look.

“Lacey, it’s not going to work this time.” He said standing his ground and I could tell he wouldn’t budge so I went to my last plan. I put my head down on his shoulder acting sad, but then I went to his arm and bit him causing him to curse and drop the phone on the bed and that’s when I finally got it. I got off of Jack who was still in shock of me biting him. I walked across the room and sat in Zack’s lap who was just laughing at him.

“Sorry, Jack. I needed my phone and you wouldn’t let me get it any other way.” I said with a smirk on my face as I texted Connor back.

Me-Sounds great :) See you later.

A minute later I got a text back.

Connor- Can’t wait to see you without thirty crazy kids :)

Me- Very funny Connor

I looked at the clock it was only six now so I had an hour. That was the one hour I planned
on trying to figure out why Jack decided to help me out. I leaned back resting my body on Zack’s chest.

“Zack I haven’t seen you like in ages, so what’s new?” I asked him looking over at Jack who was currently examining the bite mark.

“Nothing much. Oh I did break up with Haley like a week ago. She was too much of a slut.” He said with a laugh.

“Is that why you turned gay for Jack you both don’t have a girl so you just gave up?” I said joking, but apparently it wasn’t that funny because the room went silent and I saw the boys exchange a glance between them both. “Okay so what am I missing here?” I asked.

“I uh, well, I was-“ Jack said trying to explain but I cut him off getting annoyed by his slowness.

“Just spit it out Jack!” I told him and boy he did.

“Imetagirlandwellnowwearekindagoingoutnowiwasgoingtotellyoubutyouknow.” Jack said rushing it all.

“Now, you have to say that again this time so we can actually understand you.”

“I said I met a girl and well now we are kinda going out now. I was going to tell you, but you know.” Jack finally told me at a normal speed and it’s not what I wanted to hear.

“Umm, no Jack I don’t know. How long has this been going on?” I asked getting up off Zack.

“I met her Sunday.” He said quietly with his head down preparing for my wrath.

“Sunday Jack! Sunday! Really! Because I fucking recall that day the day I was going to give you another chance and you were fucking dating some slut already! Fuck you Jack. Fuck you.” I told him getting closer to him with each word.

“Don’t call her a slut because you don’t even know who it is.” Is all Jack had to say. I heard to door open and close which I guess was Zack getting away from the drama.

“Well gee Jack tell me who it is. Please enlighten me.” I say sarcastically.

“Jackie.” He mumbled.

“Oh! How cute Jack and Jackie. I’m glad you for you Jack.” I say with no tone in my voice at all.

“Really?” He said looking up at me.

“Are you really that stupid Jack? No, not really. You fucking moron. What if things went well Sunday between us what were you going to do? Were you going to leave me or leave Jackie?” I said getting right up in his face too.

“I don’t know.” Is all he had to say once again.

“I don’t. I don’t know, Jack really. Well that is fucking great that tells me how much you really
did care about me. That you were that willing to leave me for someone you barely know besides from school. That’s fucking great Jack. Well you know what go have a great fucking life with Jackie. Because you should know how much fun I’m going to be having with Connor tonight. I know he will be way better than you ever were Jack ass.” I said walking out. I know I walked out of my own room leaving Jack in there to take it all in as I went into the living room downstairs where I suspected Zack to be. I plopped down next to him on the couch to see he was watching Sports Nation on ESPN.

“How did it go?” He asked casually.

“It wasn’t as bad as it could have been, I guess.” I said shrugging.

“You guess? You guys were up there for a good fifteen minutes!” Zack said which shocked me because it didn’t seem long at all. More like five minutes to me. I had a good forty-five minutes still until Connor came.

“Well, I did all of the talking so if you want to know how it went I would ask your buddy upstairs.” I told him.

“I’ll go check on him once it’s commercial.” He says causing me to laugh apparently sports news is more important than his best friend, nice Zack. Once, Zack went upstairs I called Katie and hoped she would answer.

“Thank god you finally answered! I have had drama going over at my house bitch.” I tell her.

“Well is that all your going to say or are you going to fill me in?” She asked.

“Well first I have a date with Connor tonight at seven. Well double date. Second, your evil twin and Zack picked out my outfit and did my hair and makeup for me. Third, I just got in a fight with your brother and well it wasn’t so nice, but not that bad.” I tell her which results in a squeal, then a gasp, and then her mumbling something about Jack.

“Congrats on the date! YOU LET THEM DO YOUR HAIR AND MAKEUP! He is an ass don’t worry.” She said responding to everything.

“Thank you, it looks good, and trust me I know.” I reply with a laugh considering we are talking about three different topics all at the same time. “So, missy what are you up to that is so important you can’t take my phone calls from earlier?”

“I’m with Shaun.” She said and I could practically hear her smiling on the phone.

“Well you my dear will have to give me details on that later, but I have to go now I have to
make sure everything is good before my date! Love ya!” I tell her.

“Love you girl and get some for me tonight!” She said with a laugh before hanging up. Zack and Jack both came downstairs and the first thing I did was I went up to Jack and hugged him.

“I’m sorry I went all bitchy on you.” I told him.

“No, I’m the one who is sorry.” He told me.

Zack had to butt into our moment, “I’m sorry to break this love fest up, but this chick has ten minutes until her date is supposed to be here and I think we should make sure she is good to go.” I let go of Jack and grab my purse off the table and go through everything I need as Zack and Jack rattle the lists of things I could ever need. That is until the doorbell rings causing my stomach to automatically get butterflies. Zack rushes to the door to answer it.

“Hello, David.” Zack says trying to act all superior and I swear if don’t intervene he will go all dad on Connor. I walk up next to Zack and I am about to say something, but I forget and find myself checking out Connor, whom I must say is looking very fine tonight.

“Well, Zack as much as Connor I’m sure wants to talk to you, we better get going.” I say rushing out the door before Zack and or Jack have anything else to say.

“Sorry about that.” I tell Connor with a laugh as he opens the car door for me. “Thank you.”

“You know Lacey, you look hott tonight.” He says causing me to blush at the compliment, but laugh at his choice of words. How come a guy never says you look beautiful tonight? It’s always hott? I guess I’ll never know.

“You look rather good yourself, Connor.” I say to him.

“Eric and Grace are going to meet us there and well I didn’t get any other detail besides that.” He says with a chuckle as he turned up the radio which was currently playing some Eminem. The whole car ride we talked about the kids from camp, which sounds weird because we hate them, but we really just made fun of them for the whole 15 minutes in the car. Eric was one of Connor’s best friends the only reason why I knew him was because of track. I already knew Grace we were partners for Media class so we have hung out before, so I guess I can say she is a friend of mine. When we got there Connor pulled right up to Eric’s Lexus and we both got out greeting the couple who was sitting on the hood of the car. Connor and Eric do some guy handshake thing while I go up to Grace and give her a hug and say hi. Apparently we came on the blast from the past night because they are playing The Goonies. Grace and I offer to go get some snacks from the refreshments stand before the movie starts which Connor gives us the money for even though Eric, Grace, and I all refuse.

“So, how long have you and Eric been going out?” I ask Grace as soon as we are out the sight of the boys.

“Well we have been on and off a few times, but about three months.” She tells me with a smile. “I can tell already Connor likes you.”

I just laugh at her before saying, “Yeah, right. You barely heard us talk to each other, how do
you know?”

“Well, for one just the way he looks at you and two I overheard a conversation between him and Eric.

“Funny you know you should really get your eyes and ears checked.” I say right before we get up to the counter to get our drinks and popcorn. I hand the guy the money before we make our way back to the guys.

“You know you and Eric are really cute together.” I tell Grace, it’s true. I mean you would never pair them up, but once you saw them together you can see how cute they are together and how it works.

“Thanks and you know you and Connor would totally be the new it couple if he just got the guts to ask you out.”

“Oh Grace why are you so funny? Connor would never ask me out.” I say, but abruptly stop once I get in earshot of the guys, which it seems like they do the same.

“Here you go.” I say handing Connor the water he wanted as I sat down right next to him in a very tight space because I had Grace on my right who was sitting next to Eric. I was surprised we could even fit all four of us sitting on the hood of Eric’s car, but we did it.
The movie got started and you could tell Eric and Grace already got bored watching the movie because he was already entertaining her his own way. While, Connor leaned in next to me and started whispering the lines from the movie into my ear giving me the chills each time. About a half hour into the movie I feel Connor grab my hand and guide me off the car and he leads us onto a path.

“I thought we could give the couple some time alone.” He states as we go for a walk. I look up at the stars and the moon.

“Isn’t it beautiful?” I say admiring it all as we keep walking until Connor stops and sits down on the grass by a random pond. I grab a seat next to him as we sit in silence just taking it all in. That is until Connor turns his body towards me and slowly leans in for a kiss. His lips meet mine slowly but surely and it was magical. I’m beginning to think my life is out of a movie because we are sitting by water having his romantic kiss and my body starts to tingle and my mind goes blank. Then my phone starts playing my ringtone, “Name” by Goo Goo Dolls making Connor slowly pull away from the kiss. I look at the screen which is flashing Grace.

“Hello?” I say.

“Hey, I just wanted to tell you that Eric isn’t feeling so good so we have to go. Sorry. I got to go talk to you later though!” She says just before she hangs up.

“Who was that?” Connor asks.

“Grace. She said Eric wasn’t feeling well so they are going home.” I say putting air quotes around feeling well.

“Yeah I think they were making out a little too much for him to feel sick.” Connor says with a chuckle before standing up then offering a hand to help me up too.

“Thank you.” I say taking his hand as we head back to his car. This time instead of sitting on the car I decided to sit in it, but in the backseat.

“What are you doing?” Connor asks with a laugh.

“I have never sat in the backseat of your car so I decided I should.” I say with a simple shrug at the end. He ends up coming and sitting next to me in the backseat. We aren’t even paying attention to the movie we are just talking about shit like life really.

“I’m sorry. I just don’t get it how we have both been on the track team since we were both freshman and yet we barely even knew each other until camp started.”

“Well for one I’m a sprinter and you do javelin, so it’s not even like you do the same workouts as I do and secondly, I don’t know.” I say ending in a yawn.

“True and am I boring you already?” He asks.

“Nope, you keeping me perfectly entertained actually. I have just been tired lately with all the kids going crazy lately.” I say putting my head down on his shoulder as he wraps his arm around my waist.

“Yeah, I know what you mean. They seriously need to chill sometimes.” He says with a laugh at the end. I really have nothing to say to that so he moves on to another subject.

“So, Lacey, you never told me what your tattoo is of?” Of course he would just bring that out of nowhere out of everything to talk about.

“You know I’m still not going to tell you.” I say.

“Well then I guess I might just need to use my charm.”

“Please, like that is going to work on me, but please go ahead.” I say with a giggle, but I was cut off when Connor attached his lips to mine. It wasn’t like our previous kiss this one was more full of lust causing it to lead into a hot make out session in the backseat of his car, good thing his windows are tinted. I can feel my shirt starting to ride up as he places his hands on my hips as I put my hands behind his neck. Now, I would have thought this would go steamier, but I was wrong because Connor pulls away and has a smirk on his face and he looks down at my stomach. I try to cover up my hip where the tattoo is, but I can’t do it fast enough so he sees the tattoo and gives me a questing look. I can tell my face is getting red even though I really don’t want it to.

“Look, I know it looks really creepy right now that I have your name tattooed on my body and I just started to get to know you but I can explain. See Katie and I always get matching tattoos every summer and this year it was her turn to pick and she wanted Shaun’s name on her hip so she told me that I had to get your name on my hip. I didn’t even want the tattoo, but she insisted with her evil little ways.” I explain looking down rushing with some of my words. I braced myself for his reaction, which turns out to be a laugh.

“I actually find it kind of sexy that a girl has my name tattooed to her body.” He says which makes laugh. I’m glad he didn’t think I am crazy or some shit.

“So, you did all that making out with me just to see my tattoo?” I ask him with a smirk playing on my face.

“Now, if I did it just to see your tattoo do you really think I would be about to do it again?” He says right before locking his lips right back with mine.

The rest of the night goes flying by; I guess that kind of happens when you make out the majority of the time. Once, the movie was over, which by the way it took us a good fifteen minutes for us to realize, we got in the front seats of the car and he drove me back home, sadly. This time the speakers are playing The Game, which I’m not a big fan of so I decide to turn it to the radio and fiddle through the stations and land on “Name”.

“Who says you can change my radio?” Connor says sarcastically.

“Hmm. I do and I think it is staying where it is because I like this song and it is my ringtone.” I state. I also keep it because I think since it played during our first kiss, it makes it our song. Once we pull up to my house Connor and I get out of the car as he walks me up to the front door.

“Thank you for such an amazing night.” I tell him.

“Well thank you for being my lovely date. Do I get a goodbye kiss?” He asks.

“Hmm, I don’t think so.” I say with a smile.

“Well that isn’t very nice. I guess I might just have to force you to kiss me.” He says grabbing my waist pulling me close to him as he puts his lips on mine, but I quickly back up after a few seconds. What can I say? I like to tease the guys.

“Bye Connor!” I say as I leave him in shock as I shut the door waving goodbye. I run up to my room and watch him leave from my window. I lie down in bed feeling content with my night after a crappy morning. My phone vibrates next to me as I pick it up expecting to see Katie’s name, I see Connor’s instead.

Connor-You know this just means you’ll have to pay.

Me-Who says I want to even see you again? :)

Connor- I say you’ll have to see me when I pick you up for work tomorrow.

Me-Psh you didn’t hear I quit because there is a loser consular named Connor :P

Connor- I quit too because of some chick Lacey. I guess I’ll have to find somewhere else to take you tomorrow morning, like the library.

Me-Well, fine that sounds good to me :) Night!

Connor- Night Lacey

With that final text I put my phone down and change into my pajamas. As my head hits the pillow my thoughts are filled with Connor along with my dreams. Can’t wait till Katie hears about this date.