Just Breathe

I was sitting down in the living room with Jack watching, “The Fantasy Factory.” It wasn’t really capturing my attention so I decided to start a small conversation instead.

“You know how my parents are out of town for a while?” I asked him.

“Yeah.” He said nonchalantly looking at me for a second before giving his attention back to the TV.

“Well, I was thinking once I’m finally done with camp, I am going to throw a huge party.” I
said with a smile on my face.

“Really now?” He said with a smirk, “Would it be an infamous Lacey Jane party?” He asked. I have been known to throw parties at my house all the time and well they tend to get extremely crazy, is all I’m going to say.

“Hmm. I think it will be even better.” I say.

“Lacey, I don’t know about you, but for me the last party was the best.” He says causing my face to turn bright red.

“Jack, sorry bud, but I don’t think I’m sleeping with you at this party.” I said causing him to give me puppy dog eyes.

“Nope, besides this is going to be a badass backlight party. And well having sex would be too noticeable if I had black lights everywhere, if you know what I mean.” I said with a little laugh.

“Fine, but promise me you’ll at least let me have a body shot off of you.”

“It’s a deal.” I said looking over to the stairs where I heard Katie coming down.

“What’s a deal?” She asked standing by the door ready to go off to lunch.

“I was just talking about a party I’m throwing when camp is done.” I say getting up and
heading out the door Katie opened for me.

“Sweet! I bet it will be an infamous Lacey party.” She said laughing. We hopped into her car
and went to the nearest local sub shop. We sat down and placed are orders right before
Katie hounded me for details about my love life.

“So, I want details now about why you think Connor doesn’t like you.”

“Well for starters today he was acting totally weird around me. I think he wants me more as
a random hook-up than a relationship. Personally I don’t need a random hook-up. Think
about it what did we mostly do on our date, make out. Sure, I like that, but I want more of
boyfriend material and is he that?”

“Well, I think what you just told me is why you aren’t sure about him, not why he isn’t sure
about you. What do you want in a guy right now anyways?”

It took me a second to think about it, but I finally came up with a fairytale guy, “I want a sweet
guy, whom is good looking, that doesn’t want just my body, he wants me as a person. I want
him to be fine with just laying down in bed holding me in his arms. I want him to take me out
on sweet romantic dates, but a few parties here and there. I want him to not to be a big flirt.”

“Well you got a problem there honey. Connor as you know is a big flirt and is notorious for
just hook-ups.”

“True, but he isn’t my only problem.” I say just as the waitress sets down our subs. A classic
BLT for Katie and a turkey sub with bacon for me.

“What else is your problem?” She asks confused.

“Your brother you dummy. He is the sweet kind of guy that I grew up knowing and he is
caring, but I get into fights with him constantly and nothing can stay good for too long with
him.”

“Well I think you need to pick one guy and try to settle things out to make it work.” She said
simply.

“How do I do that?” I immediately recognized the face she was giving me and the idea she
had in her head. “Katie, I am not making one of your lists! Come on we did that in the six
grade and it didn’t work out. I choose the guy with the more negatives!” See Katie wanted to
make a list of negatives and positives for each guy and ultimately see which was better. We
all know those never work out so well.

“Come on! It will be like old times and besides this time Jack and Connor have more
differences compared to when we did it for Victor and Harry who were best friends!” I look at her and she is giving me a pleading look. I just sigh in response as she takes a pen out
and writes Connor and Jack on her napkin. Soon enough I rattle on the likes and dislikes for
each guy and then she does her math of who is better.

“Okay, you ready for the result?” She asks. I am a bit worried of whom it will be, but hey it’s not like I have to go with this guy I choose. “Turns out it looks like my Jackass brother is the
better one for you.”

“Really?” I asked kind of shocked, but not really.

“Look, you don’t have to go with him, but give him a chance see what happens. If in a week
you don’t like it you always have a backup option.” Katie tells me like it is so easy.

“Okay, fine. I’ll spend the night with your brother and I’ll see what happens.” I say with my
eyes closed not really sure how this is going to work out.

“I promise nothing bad will happen. My magical list will work its powers. So, how about we
go to your house and you get your clothes for tonight and tomorrow and we will head back to
my house? And then I will leave because I don’t want to know what gross things you do with
my brother. That is where I draw the line.” I just laugh at her and I put down a twenty on the
table before heading out.

“Oh, tomorrow I think we should go get my car.” I tell Katie.

“Sounds good to me, I have no plans.” She says driving off to my house, where I just grab a
night gown, tooth brush, and clothes for tomorrow.

We get to her house in no time and she gives me a little talk before I head in. “So, you can do this. It should be easy for you to get Jack to want you back in no time. No one is home all
night because my Dad took Matt, Jude, and Chris to the Phillies game and they are staying
the night. Now, that doesn’t mean go have wild sex with my brother. Eww that’s gross to
think about. Now, I will pick you up at 8:35 tomorrow to go to camp.”

“Okay, I got it no wild sex. Where are you staying anyways?” I asked her.

“Shaun’s.” She said with a smile.

“Moving fast with Shaunie boy, I see how it is.” I say laughing at her before heading out of
the car. “Gettum tonight for me!” I yell at her before she drove off. I walk in the house and
have butterflies in my stomach because honestly I have no idea how this night all alone with
Jack will turn out.