Save your heart.

I promised Garrett that I'd go with Dakota to a rehearsal, so when my alarm clock buzzed, I went downstairs, eat breakfast and the go upstairs again, as always. This time, The OST of Grease was playing. I have this habit of wearing something related to the song I'm listening to, or the artist, or something, so I wore some black skinny jeans -I didn't have the badass-Olivia-style leggings, so this was a good option-. I chose a flannel shirt and some fringed black boots.

I went downstairs, and surprisingly, Dakota was ready.
"Are you ready?" She asked.
"No, I just woke up and I'm in my PJ's." Dakota laughed.
"I could tell it's true just by looking at your hair."

I usually comb my hair, but not completely, I mean, I try to look decent enough, but not perfect. My hair is always tangled, and I hate it.

"Let's go!" She said. I combed my bangs with my fingers and I went out. I forgot my wallet, cellphone and a couple of things more at home, but since no one was gonna call me and I didn't have to pay anything, I thought I wouldn't need them.

We went walking, what surprised me. 15-20 minutes later, Dakota was knocking at a white door, and a long-haired boy opened it.
"Dakota!" He said, hugging my friend.
"Glad to see you, Pat!" She smiled. "When are you gonna let me cut your hair?" She laughed.
"Never!" He said.
"Pat, this is Jessie." Dakota said.
"Nice hair, Jessie." He said, giving me a handshake.
"Thank you." I half-smiled. "You can call me Jess."
"I'll call you Jess, then." He smiled. He seemed super nice. "Do you want something to eat? Something to drink?" He offered.
"No, thanks." We said.
"Okay, come in." He led the way.

I was glad he didn't remember me, because I didn't remember his name either, and it'd have been embarrassing. We arrived at a room where there were other 3 boys. No, 4. 4 guys.

"Dakota! Jess? Jess! The bird is out of the cage!" Garrett said smiling, kissing Dakota. I flicked him off, but smiled. He showed me his thumb, smiling too. "He's so dumb" I thought. But I really love him, he's like a brother to me...
"Hi." I said, but only a ginger-blondish guy heard me. He had beautiful a big smile.
"Hi, I'm Jared." He said.
"I'm Jess."
"So you're Jess...!" Said another guy, with facial hair.
"Mmmm...yes."
"My name's Kennedy." He said smiling.
"A pleasure." I said.
"Garrett has talked about you." Said Jared.
"What has he said?" Garrett, Dakota and my brother were the only people that knew what happened, and I started feeling nervous, very nervous.
"Not much...that you live with Dakota." Said Kennedy. I felt relieved. Silly me! how could I think that Garrett told them about my situation?

Garrett was right, the boys were incredibly nice. A buzz was coming from a corner, and Garrett approached me.
"That's John, I'll introduce you to him in a moment." John was talking on the phone. So that's his name...John. Well, I thought it was Josh. Pretty close.
"Okay." I told him. I tried to thank him for this through my eyes, because he also cared about me, just like Dakota. But...what the hell was I thinking? No one can thank someone through the eyes. I felt embarrassed of myself. So much science fiction in my life!

Some minutes later, John approached us.
"John, this is Jess." Said Garrett.
"A pleasure, Jess." John said, shaking my hand. He was tall, and he was wearing cowboy boots. I hate cowboy boots.
"The pleasure is mine." I said.
"So...you live with Dakota." He said.
"Yes..."
"Well, I'm sorry to interrupt, but we have to rehearse." Said Pat.
"Sure, I'm sorry." I apologized.
"It's John's fault, not yours!" He said smiling. "He spends the day talking on the phone."

They rehearsed a couple of songs, and the truth is, that I liked their music. They took a break and John got closer to me.
"Hey." He said smiling.
"Hi." I smiled back.
"What do you do? Do you work..?Study?
"Mmm...no. I do nothing..."
"Nothing?"
"Mmm...no...but..."
"So, you're daddy's girl!" He said, laughing.

I felt I'd start crying in any moment, so I tried to hold my breath not to let it happen. But something in my plan failed and rivers of tears started running through my face.
"What have I said?" John said, concerned.
"I'm sorry...I have..." And I ran outside.

Dakota ran after me and I heard Garrett saying "Man! She's an orphan! Her parents died 8 months ago in a car accident!" Hearing that hurt me so much, that I felt my heart was gonna explode into pieces, and I started crying even more.
I felt some arms hugging me. It was Dakota. "Don't cry, honey...John didn't know..."
"I know...you can't pretend everyone knows that your parents died." I rested my head on her shoulder and kept crying.
Dakota hugged me tight, caressing my head, trying to calm me down, whispering "I love you". I loved her. Really loved her. If something happened to her I'd die. I almost stopped sobbing. Some tears ran through my face, but there weren't rivers anymore.
"Better?" She asked.
"I-I guess..." I wiped away my tears.
John appeared.
"If you want anything...I'll be in, okay Jess?" Said Dakota.
"Okay." I said, with red eyes and forcing a smile.

"Jessie...I...I didn't know and..." Said John.
"It's okay. I mean, it's not your fault at all..."

*John starts narrating*

I fucked it up. Call an orphan girl "daddy's girl"? You've beat yourself, John, well done, idiot.

"Garrett didn't tell a thing...and..." I said. I should've noticed. She seemed so fragile, as if she were made of glass. Silent girl, not extremely smiley, and wearing black clothes. As it happens, we were both wearing flannel shirts. "...nice shirt." I finished the sentence.
"Yours is nice too." She tried to smile, failing. Her eyes didn't agree with her mouth. I could read her eyes perfectly. I wish I had enough courage to hug her, I bet she needed a hug. I wish I could ask her to forgive me a million times more. I hate making a girl cry.

"Mmmm...so...if you wanna talk any day, you know...call me. Dakota has my number...and I'm sorry, again." I felt like I owe something to Jessie. I felt really guilty.
"I doubt you wanna go out with me..." she murmured.
"Garrett says you're fun to hang with."
"That was before these 8 months...And I'm talking too much."

I knew Jessie needed to talk. Release all of her thoughts. Escape from that nightmare.
"If you don't call me in a week...I'll call you." I threatened her, laughing.
"Whatever..." She said.

This can sound arrogant, this was the first girl that apparently, didn't want to call me, and I wasn't used to that. (Yes, John, that sounded so arrogant.) This situation was different; it was me who wanted to go out with her, and not the opposite way. Whatever it took, I'd have a walk with Jessie, or even help her to wash her car, or walk dogs, i didn't ca...WAIT. DOGS! BINGO! Dakota had a dog, Lucky, and I had another dog, Chester. It doesn't sound like a good plan, but you gotta risk to win, right?