Fifty-nine

Jordan

Fall came really fast.

Summer was just like yesterday! What happen!?

Anyway, I went back to the diner and still saw James there. He was so glade to see me, because the way he was hugging me and crying told me. I got my old job back. I already started work, and classes start Monday.

It's Saturday and I'm working all night.

"Ugh, James!" I said marching in the kitchen, slamming down the order.

"Mhmm." He said while flipping a burger and a steak.

"Why do we even work here! I forgot how annoying the customers could be and how rude."

"Why do you think I'm a cook. I'm not dealing with that. Nuh uh. No thank you. Here take this table three." He said sliding a cheeseburger with fries. I sighed out loud, but grabbed the plate, pushing open the door and making my way towards the table. I walked around some people or saying I would be right with you.

"A cheeseburger and fri-Landon?" He looks up from his hands and smiles.

"Hey baby girl." He whispered. I felt my lips grow to a smile and I quickly placed the plate down while he got up. I threw my arms around his neck and gave him a tight hug. His hands went around my waist while he set his head on top of mine.

We pulled apart but my smile turned around. "Did you come here to say you're leaving too?" I whispered while I took in a huge breath. His eyebrows came together and he looked taken back.

"What? No. I came here to be back in your life. I was going to change your mind." He said while he sat down. I took the seat across from him.

"What do you mean?"

"You told Jaxon that you didn't want us in your life. What do you mean?" He said while he tossed a fri in his mouth.

My eyebrows come together,"when the hell did I say that!" I yelled but then quickly slammed my hands over my mouth while looking around to see if my boss heard me.

"In the hospital, when he walked out. He looked so broken. And he said that if I walked in you would call security."

"What!" He continued to eat his fries but he looked confused just as me.

"What?"

I slumped back on the seat and stared at the table with a blank face.

So, he'll tell his best friend something different instead of telling the truth. If he really doesn't love me, and he doesn't want his best friend to even talk me, then I should just move on.

****

I told Landon to come back after my shift is done so I won't get in trouble.

It's already 10, and I'm already clocking out.

"Are you sure James, I could stay longer." I said while leaning on the door to the kitchen.

"No, I'm good. I'll stay with Tori, she's new and she needs to get the hang of things here. Go home already. I know you don't work tomorrow, so that gives you time to calm your nerves for school on Monday." He said while placing more meat on the stove.

"Ugh, fine. Good night James. See you soon."

"Alright, goodnight baby girl."

I walked out and looked for Landon. He said he would be next to the diner. But no. I sighed because I don't even have a phone, Greyson went to go get me one today. So I can't call him. And I don't want to go back to James and ask. He'll just tell me stay and he'll take me home, but I want him to go to his wife and his daughter Bell.

I sighed and walked down the street to where I'm now living at.

But.

It's next to the alley.

There's no other way around or to get there. I cursed myself and made myself walk fast. Cheers we're going on. I heard people yelling at one of the other. There was a dim light coming out of the darkness.

But when I heard them chant Bones, I couldn't help but feel my heart drop just of thinking about him.

But when I heard them chant Slasher to, I was curious to who it was. I was still walking towards the light. The chants grew louder and I finally made it towards the opening.

I gasped.

I can't believe it.

Jaxon was fighting Landon.

Like full on fighting.

I was stuck there frozen. I couldn't believe what I'm seeing.

Why are they fighting?

They would punch harder each time. Like their punches meant something. But what surprised me, was that they were both crying.

I wanted to go in more but I just knew I would break myself even more or get myself in more problems. So I took a step back and started to walk down, towards the apartment.

****

I haven't heard from Landon since the fight. But I'm trying to ignore both of them. Trying to forget them.

I sighed while I heard my alarm go off yelling at me to get ready for class. I'm excited but also nervous because I forgot almost everything.

I sat up on my bed just in time when Greyson came barging in then jumping right where I was just laying.

"GET UP SLEEPY HEAD!" He yelled, but it was muffled by the blankets. I looked behind me and see him spread out like a star.

I poked his shoulder, "I'm already up. You came a little too late." I chuckled, then getting up, walking towards the bathroom that was connected in my room.

"Whatever." he said but it sounded like 'waahevrar'.

****

"Okay. Do you know where you are going?" Greyson said while he pulled up to the university while looking over to me.

"I think so, I've done it before Greyson. I had to do it before, because we only had one class together before." I said while I got out of the car and placed my hand bag on my shoulder.

"Okay, if you say so. Well I have to go because my class is about to start. See you after okay?"

"Yeah. Bye." I said while I was about to walk towards my class.

"Bye!" He said while running off.

I smiled but once I turned around and saw the huge university ahead of me. I gulped and made myself move forward.

Some how I found myself in front of the classroom door and debating wither I should just take a run for it and become poor. But when the I saw people start to come and ask me if I can move over, I just sighed and walked in.

I walked towards the back of the room and quickly took a seat and watched the room slowly start to fill up.

The professor walked in but not before he got pushed by some one. Everyone gasped but I just watched and saw it was some guy. He said sorry but he ran towards the back and ran towards where I was and quickly took the seat next to me.

I looked over to him but then looked at the professor who was on the ground looking for his glasses that this guy knocked down.

One of the girls rushed over and picked up his glasses and handed it over to him. He said thank you but he was scanning the room to see who has knocked down his glasses. I looked over to the guy and see him looking ahead holding his breath. I looked straight and saw the professor glaring but sighed when he didn't find out who it was. He walked towards his desk and I looked over to the guy.

He let out the breath he was holding and sighed while laying his head on the desk. "Why push your professor?" I whispered over to him while I heard the professor start class.

He picked up his head and looked over to me. "Why not?" He said while tilting his head while his lips started to curl up to a smirk.

I rolled my eyes and turned back and looked to the front of class.

"Names Hector." He said. I looked over to him and see his hand sticking out for me to shake. I roll my eyes but shake his hand, "Jordan."

"Nice to meet you Jordan." He said smiling and bringing my hand up giving the back a peck. I roll my eyes but smile. "The pleasure is mine."

*****

Class just ended, but I really didn't get to really pay attention because Hector was always making me laugh and I know more about him. I found out we had a lot in common.

I was packing up my "notes" and putting away my pens and pencils.

"Hey, want to go get something to eat? It's barely 2:30, or do you have another class right now?" He said while he picked up his binder waiting for me.

"Sure, and no I don't have any classes right now. I have some tomorrow though."

"Great!" He grabbed my hand and pulled me out and dragging me towards the door.

"Hector!" I said while laughing.

"I know a place come on!"

I was laughing hard and it would hurt my stomach, but I was pushing the pain away as best as I can.

It's good to move on.

*****

We ended up at my work. But I didn't say anything. He would tell me he loves this place and the food is really good. I rolled my eyes but I pretend to be impress.

I ordered chicken strips and a strawberry milkshake, while Hector got a burger with a Pepsi.

We talked a little more and I couldn't stop laughing. He would make stupid remarks but they were to funny to not laugh at. I was crying from all the laughter. He would laugh but he would just smile while I was dying trying to breathe. He paid but I said I had to use the bathroom but I snuck in the kitchen saying hi to James and telling him that I just ate with a friend. He talked for me for awhile but I told him I had to go because I was holding up Hector. He hugged me good bye and I hurried off to Hector.

"I thought you jumped out of the window in the bathroom, and got away with free food." He said smiling while he leaned on his car.

He had a black camaro, I think a 2015 I don't know. I laughed and shook my head, "I could never do that."

I walked over to him while he chuckled and open the door for me. I gladly walked over and climbed right in while he gently closed the door and jogged towards his side. I laughed at how he was acting but didn't question it.

We just drove around, laughing, or talking about what we love to do.

"No you didn't!" I said while I laughed harder while holding my stomach.

"I did!" He said laughing and turning a corner.

"You did not shît your pants next to your teacher just because he yelled at you!"

"I did! He was some old man and he was super scary! And let me remind you, I was only in fifth grade!"

"A fifth grader who shît their pants!"

"What ever."

I finally calmed down but would chuckle here and there.

"Want to go somewhere else?" He said while he looked to me while we stopped at stop light.

"Sure. Why not?"

He smiled, and I stared at him. He was tan with bright green eyes, with dark brown hair. He had a sharp jaw line and had some freckles on his nose. He muscles were tone but not to the point where they are stretching his shirt like Jaxon.

Jaxon.

I need to stop thinking about him.

I turned up the radio and started to sing to songs that I didn't even know. Hector would call me out but I would ignore him and sing louder.

We pulled up to a park and the sun was already setting.

Where did time go?

"Come on." He said while he turned off the car and started running towards the playground which was empty. I quickly got off and closed the door. I heard the car lock while I look over to him and see him in the middle of the playground watching me with a smile. He cups his hands around his mouth and yells, "Run over!"

I do the same but I start to walk over to him, "I can't run!"

I stare at his smile and see it grow down when he heard me. "What do you mean!?"

I roll my eyes but I just walk over to him. He starts to jog over to me.

"What do you mean?" He said while he looking over my face. I shook my head and smile. "I just had surgery. See," I picked up my shirt till he saw my stitches.

"Oh. I'm sorry. How it happen?" He said while we started to walk into the playground.

"Umm, I rather not talk about it." I said while I looked down to my shoes.

"Okay. Hey come on!" He said while he started to jog over to the ladder and started to climb up. I smiled more and slowly start to jog over. I slowly start to climb up and look up and see him watching me with his hand out ready for me to grab. I start to climb up more till I can reach his hand and grab on.

He pulls me with ease and he yanks me up a little bit fast that I couldn't get my footing down and ended up slamming into his chest. I huff out while he grunts. His hands wraps around my waist while my hands go on his chest. "Sorry" I say while I'm short out of breath. I look up to him and see him staring down at me. We stare at each other for a bit to long.

"You're fine." He says out while I smile and slowly step back from his hold but almost end up falling backwards where the opening was for the ladder. He pulls me me back to his chest. I look back at him but that's when I hear him say,"screw it."

He slams his lips on mine and start to move them. I was hesitant at first but I started to move mine with his.

He pulls me closer while I slowly start to wrap my arms around his neck. He slowly starts to slid his tongue over my lips but that's where I pull back and rest my head on his chest. "I'm sorry. I couldn't help but start to kiss yo-" he whispers but I look up and peck his lips shutting him up.

"Not so fast okay? We just meet." I whispered back to him while I stared at his eyes and ran my hand through his brown locks.

"Okay."He says while smiling and bending down, pecking my lips again. I smile and rested my head on his chest.

*****

We ended up on the swings just talking and enjoying ourselves. We ended up just looking up to the stars and laughing at our child hood memories.

He drove me back to my apartment and walked me up stairs to my door.

"So... does this mean we are together now?" He asked while leaning onto the door smiling down at me.

"Not so fast buddy. I'm still waiting for a date." I smiled back.

He chuckled while nodding his head, "Okay, how about this Friday?" he said while he scratched his neck.

"Sure, why not? I have nothing planed for that day." I smiled.

"Great! I'll see you tomorrow and on Friday." He said while he smiled and quickly bent down and pecking my lips then jogging down the stairs. "Bye Jordan!"

"Bye Hector." I unlocked the door and I didn't see Greyson here. I walked over to the kitchen and right when I tossed my bag on the ground the door open and Greyson comes in with a smile on his face. "I have your phone!! I went to go pick it up today, and sorry I didn't tell you I wasn't going to pick you up, I'm so sorry." He said while he slammed the door shut and walked over to me giving me a hug and then placing the phone in my hand. "I got you mat black. "

It was an iphone and I couldn't help but smile and give him a hug.

Today is just getting better and better.

*****

I walked into class and walked to the back of the room again and found a rose on my desk. I look over to where Hector sat and didn't see him there. It was just a plan red rose. No note. Nothing. Just a rose.

I sat down and spun it around, just admiring the beauty of this rose.

"Hey hey." I look up and see Hector in front of my desk smiling down at me. I smiled back but I saw him glaring at the rose.

"Who got you that?"He said while he took his seat.

"I thought you did."

"No. But I did write you this," He opens his binder and pulls out a folded paper. He hands it over to me while I bring my eyebrows together. "What is it?" I said while I gently set the rose down.

"Just read it. Please?" I roll my eyes but start to unfold it.

It says, 'Wow.

I didn't think meeting each other would lead to something else that day. I would really appreciate you came with me to a dinner this Friday at 8:00 pm. What do you say?

From, Hector Ross.

I looked over to him and see him staring at my reaction. I shook my head and chuckled while I placed the note in my bag. "I told you I would, why did you write this?"

"Just something I came up with. And it also says the time too." He says while he starts to look to the front when the professor comes walking in.

"What ever."

*****

The days flew by really fast and each day I would find a rose. Either red or white. Still no note was left. It was just one plain rose. Hector would freak out by asking me all these questions to see who it was from, but I would always answer the same, 'I don't know.'

The date came along and we went to a nice restaurant. That day in class he told me to dress nice, when he dropped me off at my door. I told Greyson and he freaked out and was yelling at me for not telling him earlier. He helped me by picking out a dress and helping me do my makeup.

The date was wonderful, I had the time of my life. I actually enjoyed myself. By the end of the night Hector asked me to be his and I couldn't help but laugh. He freaked out, because he thought I was going to say no and just leave him there in front of my door and thank him for the free food. But when I said okay, he pulled me towards him and gave me the kiss.

So each week, in class he would give me a note, some would be cheesy while others would be super cute. But each day, I would receive those roses. Either red or white. Hector would get all butt hurt because he can't figure out who's been sending me these roses. I would tell him to stop and he'll end up dropping it, but I see it in his face he's pissed off.

The weird thing is,that these roses would start to showing up to my door step, but it would be bouquets of mixed roses. Red or white. There would be a card but some would be blank while some would have one letter and a question mark, J?

I haven't told Hector but Greyson thinks its from Hector, and would say 'how cute. I need to find a man like him.'

The days went by, class was harder to concentrate while Hector was always in my ear whispering things in my ear. I would push him off and tell him I'm trying to learn and he would just roll his eyes.

Its been months, and I never heard of Landon again. Or even seen him at work. I wouldn't know if Jaxon or Landon were at the alley because Hector would pick me up after my hours.

Months pasted by more. Semesters finals are starting to come up and I'm stressing out. I ignore Hector in class and he would get piss but would end up paying attention to. Greyson is stressing out too, because for his finals, he has to make a dress of what ever the professor says under Five hours. So our apartment is a mess with fabrics of every color on the floor. On weekends I would be his model and I would set a timer for five hours and I would say for him to do, and he would sketch it out and start to take my measurements and start sowing. I would try it on and he would readjust things here and there but would end up running out of time when sowing the last few seems.

My stomach healed perfectly just how the doctors expected it be. Hector would ask about them and the scar on my leg but I would always brush off the questions. Just thinking about them and him, made my heart drop. But I would always remember that he is dead and he can hurt me.

But it would also bring back memories about Jaxon. I don't go a day with out thinking about him. But I just can't seem to get him off my mind everyday. Just his name would start making my heart pump harder and my hands start to sweat.

Finals came along and I couldn't sleep that night. I was studying all night and was helping Greyson. Studying to become a Orthopedic Surgeon is really hard. I never knew there were so many joints and muscle tissue in a human body.

Sitting in the class, my legs moved up and down while I was biting my pen cap just wishing I can just disappear from here.

I can always work at the diner forever till I'm to old to work and my legs break from being so weak.

"You're fine. You've been studying all night. You got this okay?" He said in my ear. I jump up because I didn't even see him walk through the doors.

I push him and he falls on his seat. "Im just really scared Hector. Like this is my future. I need to pass these finals-"

"You will. I'm right beside you."

I sighed as he gets off his seat and gives me peck and that's when the professor walks in and when the finals start.

*****

We are on break and they are going to send our results over the break, and if I pass I can go to the next higher class.

But that day I got another bouquet of roses but this time it was more then usual. And the card said in cursive, 'I hope you did great on your finals, I wished I was the one who got you first. And tell you got this and hold you, but I was to late. J?'

That card was the only one that said sentences. The others would be just J?

But I'm getting ready for mine and Hectors date. He said to bring all of the notes he has sent to me from the begging of the relationship and to dress beautiful.

I have all the notes with me while Greyson is curling my hair. He told me in text to make Greyson drive me to the place. He sent it to Greyson, because he didn't want me to find out the place. I'm staring at the roses that are sitting on my dresser. I want to know who it is, and how did they know so much. It's scary but I can't find the courage to tell anyone.

He finished my hair and he gets my shoes that he picked out. He hands me sandals to match the flowy dress. It's just plain light blue. It's almost noon. The sun is about to set and I can't figure out why hector wants me to bring the notes. There is fourteen all together and each are all unique.

When I'm done putting on the sandals Greyson ushers me out of the door and he's telling me we are going to be late. I laugh at how he trying to speed down the roads but he's going thirty miles per hour. I look around and see there is a lot of trees that come to view and the city is growing smaller behind us. I'm getting nervous but excited at the same time. I would ask Greyson but he would just ignore me and turn up the radio.

I sighed and watched the sun start to slowly go down and the trees past in a blur. He goes off road and he comes to a stop when there is a path up ahead. He turns off the car and I look over to him and see him smiling at me.

"What?" I asked while I took off my seat belt.

"Good luck. And I can't wait for you to see his date set up. Go down the path and he should be there. Okay? Have fun, now get out." The car doors unlock and I couldn't help but roll my eyes and get out.

"Thank you for the ride." I said while I closed the door. He honked the horn, while I was in front of the car which made me jump.

I walked down the path and trees surrounded me. My heart started to pound against my chest because this is kinda scaring me. I'm not going to lie about that.

I held the papers tighter and slowly I could start to see light ahead. I breathe in and out when I saw the opening.

But when I did while I still continued down the path, all I saw was water shining with the sun setting and Hector was surrounded with candles and pedals around him in the middle while he stood there with his hands behind his back.

"I thought you got lost there for a second." He chuckled.

I walked faster but the sand would slow me down. "This is beautiful. How'd you find this place?" I said while I looked around and all I could see is running water surrounded by trees with an opening in the back.

"My sister told me about this place. But I need you to do something for me." I looked back to him and see him jumping on his toes.

"Yeah, what is it?" I said while I stood in the circle with him.

"You have the notes with you, right?"

"Yeah, right here." I said holding them up.

"Oldest to newest right?"

"Yeah...okay. So...what do I do with them?" I said while I looked at the notes then back at him. I see his adam apple move up and down and he starts to move around.

"I want you to read the first letter of each note, oldest to newest. Then spell it out and tell me what it says. Okay?"

"Okay." I chuckled and start to unfold them all and do what I'm told

"W-

I-

L-

L-

Y-

O-

U-

M-

A-

R-

R-

Y-

M-

E-"

My eye brows come together and my hands start to shake, "Will you marry me." I look up from the notes and see Hector on one knee holding up a ring towards me.

I gasp and drop the notes.

"Will you marry me Jordan Johnson? I can't picture myself with out you for the rest of my life, I can't see myself with another girl except you. I love you. I love you so much, so would you do me the honor and become Mrs. Ross?" He says while his hands start to shake the box.

My mouth opens and closes like a fish.

I don't know what to say.

I don't!

"I-I-YES!" I say. He gets up with a huge smile and rushes towards me, picking me up and spinning me around while placing his mouth on mine.

He sets me down and quickly takes out the ring and puts it on my ring finger. Once it's on, he grabs my face and kisses me. Slow but with so much meaning to it.

I'm getting married.

But I didn't say I love you.

My heart didn't let me.

But it's to late to say no.

I'm getting married to Hector.