Forbidden

The air was thick with tension, as all four person’s present settled anxiously on the elegant patio outside of the Campbell household.

Jessa sat quietly next to Jason, eyes lowered, avoiding any and all eye contact with the other men. She couldn't help but feel guilty for her role in everything. In all actuality, it was her fault, and that ate away at her more than anything. She hoped none of them were mad at her, but wouldn't blame them if they were.

"I'm really sorry about all this," She finally spoke, immediately feeling a blush take over when the three other bodies turned to her.

"What do you mean?" Jason questioned.

"You wouldn't be in this mess if it wasn't for me. I feel like I'm just causing you guys more trouble than good." She hung her head lower at that.

"Oh Jessa, trust me, even if you didn't decide to come chill with us, Jason here would have eventually beat the shit out of Scott. You just made it all the more clear for him," Brandon said with a laugh.

"And besides that, you're doing Jay a world of good. Isn't that right?" Ben grinned madly when he looked over at his friend, and Jason responded with a deep blush of his own.

"Shut up, first of all. Second, they're right, Jess. None of this is your fault. Hell, I'm the one who basically made you come with me that night. If I wasn't there, you'd probably still be stuck in that hell, pretending like everything is okay. Am I right?" Jason posed, and Jessa could only nod. "Exactly. Cheer up! Your douche bag of an ex is going to get his ass handed to him and it's going to be glorious."

Jessa laughed, and Jason couldn't help but smile, as well. Brandon and Ben only snickered, noticing the obvious chemistry between the two and finding it to be absolutely amusing.

"So, when are they supposed to get here? My pits are starting to get sweaty because I'm wired and that's not attractive in the least bit and then oh, my gosh, I'm going to be disgusting when the fight is over," Ben stated, a foul expression gracing his features. He'd always been quite the stickler when it came to personal hygiene, whether it be his own or Brandon's or basically anyone. It was comical to watch.

"They'll be here soon," Jessa replied, giggling madly.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure. They'd never let me down."

"Who are these guys exactly?" Brandon asked, earning a look of annoyance from Jason. "What, I just want to know who they are before we trust them with our fucking lives."

"Well, two of them are great friends of mine, whom I've known for years," Jessa started. "And the other one is--" She stopped immediately, upon hearing the familiar sound of a rumbling motor. She stood from her chair and glanced around the area, from left to right, before finally seeing the black Ford Galaxie pulling around the corner, and an immediate smile crossed her face. It parked in front of Brandon and Ben's house, directly behind her own vehicle, and that's when the guys turned their attention, as well.

"Who's that?" Brandon asked dumbly, and Jessa's only response was to leave the table and greet the three currently exiting the car. Jason stood, too, and slowly made his way down.

"Thank you guys so much for coming!" she cried happily, embracing the tallest one and squealing when he swung her around.

"As if I wouldn't. What kind of cousin would I be if I ran out on you?"

"Shut up," she said with a laugh. "Hey Chloe, hey Mike!"

The other blonde smiled and received a hug from Jessa next, followed by a tight squeeze from the other male who’d arrived with them. Mike Adkins had been Dan’s best friend since the diaper days so, by default, Jessa had pretty much known him her whole life, too.

“It’s been forever,” Jessa said.

“It has! Every time Dan and I hang out, you’re never there. Then I have to find out the one time you actually did come visit, I was working. How rude.”

“What do you expect, Mikey? She just can’t stay away from us,” Chloe interjected. Jessa laughed and pushed at the other girl’s shoulder.

“Oh, you wish. I’m not even the one who needs your help! It’s those three.” Jessa turned and pointed at Jason, who was now standing not too far behind them, and Brandon and Ben, who were still sitting on the patio.

Dan stepped closer to Jessa, voice lowered. “Is this, uh...him?”

Jessa nodded, a bit unsure. Dan straightened and looked Jason up and down, as though trying to come to a conclusion about his general character. Jason did the same, and it was an overall uncomfortable air.

After a moment or two, Dan smiled and outstretched his hand to the other man. “How it’s going? I’m Dan, Jessa’s cousin.”

Jason returned the gesture, appearing relieved. “Hey, I’m Jason. We’re happy to have you here.”

“Happy to be here,” Dan agreed, turning back to Chloe and Mike and pulling them both forward. “This little beauty here is my girlfriend, Chloe, and this is my best friend, Mike.” Jason shook both their hands, and Jessa couldn’t help but beam.

“Brandon, Benji, get your asses over here!” Jason shouted to the other two men, who didn’t seem like they were going to walk down on their own.

They pulled themselves up and walked across the lawn to meet the others, Jason scowling at them for being rude.

“Hey, I’m Brandon,” the elder twin spoke first, shaking Dan’s and then Chloe and Mike’s hands. “And this is my little brother, Ben.”

Ben scowled and held out his hand. “I’m actually his twin brother, but we’re five minutes apart so he enjoys announcing that to every new person we meet, as well as to the people we already know.”

The three newcomers giggled, before Dan replied, “Ah, well, it's nice to meet all of you. I must say, it’s always a pleasure to meet someone who knows a thing or two about their cars.” He motioned toward the Corvette parked in the driveway, and Brandon immediately perked up.


“Hell yeah, dude. I was just thinking how fucking sweet that Galaxie of yours is. What is it, a ‘67?”

Dan appeared impressed. “Shit, Mike, I think you’ve got some competition for the title of being my best friend.”

The group laughed as they watched the exchange between Dan and Brandon, while Mike punched his friend playfully in the arm and pouted some. Dan reached over and pinched his friend in the cheek, and cooed an apology of sorts.

“Dan, you’re such a dork,” Jessa said with a hearty laugh. “But anyway, the fight is supposed to be at six, so I think we should leave soon.” She was all business now, and Jason looked at her apprehensively.

“Jessa,” he started. “I, uh... I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to go.”

“What? No, I’m going. I need to be there.”

“You don’t need to be anywhere. I don’t... I don’t want you to get hurt.” Jason broke eye contact, feeling a bit reluctant at admitting his feelings, but she needed to hear them at some point, he supposed.

“Jay, I appreciate your concern for me. I really do. But I—don’t make me stand here and explain to you my every reason for needing to see it, because it’s an endless list, and half of what I’d say would make me break down in tears. I need you, all of you—” She glanced at the ones surrounding her. “To just understand.”

Jason sighed and reached out to rest a reassuring hand on Jessa’s shoulder. Dan looked at the other man fondly, extremely glad to know this man would take care of her above all else.

“Okay, I get it. But you have to promise me something,” Jason requested, to which Jessa nodded for him to continue. “No matter what happens, if Scott says something or if they get the upper hand somehow, you won’t get involved. By that, I mean, you won’t try and come between us or separate the fight or whatever the case may be. If something happened...” Jason shook his head. “Just please promise me that, okay?”

"Yeah, and promise me, too," Dan chimed in. "I don't think I'd ever be able to forgive myself if you got hurt on my watch, kid."

Jessa smiled indifferently. "I promise, I won't get involved...but on one condition."

"There's always one condition with you," Dan scoffed. "What is it?"

"If Aly decides to show up, and starts with me, I'm not going to hold back. She's a girl, I can take care of myself. I won't get involved in your little blood feud, but I will take care of her if she wants to start with me; you'd better believe that." Her eyes were intense with malice.

"All right, we get you," Jason said, jokingly.

"Damn, she got my blood pumping and everything!" Brandon voiced next, rubbing his arms as if he got the chills, and everyone laughed at that.

"Don't tease me! This is serious business." They laughed again, and she gave each of them an evil look. "Whatever, let's go. Stupid men."

Jessa began walking toward her own car, as she thought it was smarter to drive herself there instead of with one of them, just in case something bad happened. The boys still snickered behind her, and she couldn’t help but crack a grin of her own and shake her head. It was going to be one hell of a day.