Lunch is surprisingly comfortable after the travesty that was our conversation earlier. I even find myself totally shocked when I catch Jace texting Nanette.

"What are you doing?" I ask after he sits his phone down to so openly show that he has messaged her. My heart clenches a bit at the memory of how much of a dick I was followed by sadness that I invited her.

"Telling Nanette we can't hang out," Jace replies with a shrug. When he looks at me, his lips pull back into a devilish grin. "Because I'm on a date with you."

I am forced to pop an ice cube into my mouth in hopes to cool my flaming cheeks. It doesn't help, this smooth mother fucker is gonna be the end of me. There's no way I'm responding to that so I don't and, instead, sink into the booth while Jace snickers.

"You seem to know a lot about my ex-girlfriends," Jace says causing me to stare at him in confusion. "But I don't know much about your ex-boyfriends."

"There's not much to tell." I push myself back into a normal sitting position, leaning against the table while I recall the two that actually held the "boyfriend" title. There were others but they weren't exactly boyfriend's in the sense that he's talking about. "I never really dated much."

"Oh."

"Oh?" I cock a brow at his tone that didn't even sound surprised. "Your tone says you aren't shocked to learn that."

"I'm not."

"Why does everyone imply that I'm a slut?"

Jace snorts. "I'm not, besides, you can have as many lovers as you want, it's your body. But I do know you aren't always the most serious so I'm not surprised that dating isn't always serious either."

I place a hand against my chest in fake pain. Jace doesn't buy it and rolls his eyes at me but leans forward to listen. I'm not sure what he expects me to say. There really isn't much to tell so I shrug.

"I have been told I get worked up over stupid things but don't actually care about the important ones." Both of my ex's said something along those lines. I don't really disagree with it either. When things get serious I like to back off and when it's stupid I get heated about it. I'm the exact opposite of what I should be.

Jace appears a little confused, like he doesn't get what they meant. I don't see how, he has already witnessed my moments.

"That's not true," he says with a firm shake of his head. "You do tend to play off serious situations but everyone handles them differently. It's not right or wrong and, honestly, I kinda like it."

Say what?

"You make everything feel like it's going to be ok...although sometimes you do get a little annoying." Jace winks at me, his sweet talk being ruined by his teasing. I kick him beneath the table for it too, which has him cursing at me under his breath but we both fall into laughter afterwards.

Even if I don't thank him, I am happy to hear it. No one has ever said that to me before and maybe the fact that it's Jace makes it even better but, we don't need to focus on that.

Our day goes by without any further interruptions or surprises. There are no strange messages or mysterious callers. The two of us simply enjoy our day, cracking jokes around the mall, Jace desperately trying not to buy every blue shirt he sees and me resisting the urge to go into Spencers with him because we all know that would end badly.

The date ends and I'm all fluffy and googly eyed by the end of it. My dad might think I'm crazy judging by his confused expression after I return home but who cares. I go to sleep with a shit eating grin on that night.

~

Strange how the simplest of things can change your whole mood. Yesterday, I was so pissed at Jace and now I'm obsessed like on of those cheesy school girls from shitty Hollywood movies.

I've been acting like I'm on cloud nine since Jace decided to make out with me in his car, twice. Thinking about it makes me snicker when I recall our rather long kissing session when he dropped me off last night. Then I start to feel like an idiot for overreacting by some tongue action and try to keep a straight face.

It doesn't work. I'm grinning like the Cheshire cat a second later.

To make this disease even worse, I ended up printing out that picture Jace sent me of our day at the park. It's already framed and sitting alongside the graduation one on my bedside table. Each time I go into my room and see it I feel like tossing it in the trash but only because it's proof of how screwed I am.

Sure, there's plenty of other things that point that out like my inability to stop thinking about anything other than Jace. Here I am, lounging about on the couch in a depressed state because Jace is at work and I'm all alone. Thinking things like "I want to see him," or "I wonder if he wants to hang out after work," ugh, I'm disgusting. I need to see a doctor to cure me of this sickness.

Rolling onto my side, I grab the remote to turn on the TV. I have plans to hang out with Olivia and Sonya later but for now I'm going to be lazy. Except I'm not really paying attention to the TV but rather thinking about the fact that Jace and I have been together over a month now. It feels so much shorter than that yet summer is nearing its end.

Jace will be a senior at the end of August and I'll be a freshman in college. It always felt like it was so far away but now it's in reach and that freaks me out. Adding Jace into the mix only makes it worse because I'm already asking myself how I'll make time to see him. Since I'll be working and going to school it'll be tough and the fact that I'm considering all this scares me.

I'm falling into that pit again where I'm worrying if Jace is thinking along the same lines. This is serious. I'm serious and that's fucking terrifying. I've never been like this, never had these sorts of desires and it's making me confused. How the hell do people handle thinking like this all the time? I feel like I've got a headache and it hasn't even been two months!

Groaning, I sit up while turning off the TV upon realizing I can't deal with having nothing to do. It's clear I need to get out of the house so I grab my camera and do exactly that. There's no set destination in mind so I just walk around town snapping pictures of whatever I damn well feel like it. It's hot and I'm a sweaty mess by the end of it. It helps keep my mind clear until I get home to take a shower and get ready to hang out with Olivia and Sonya, who both notice something is up the second I get into Sonya's car.

"What's wrong with your face?" Olivia asks, reaching back to poke my cheeks. She should know not to do that.

I bite her finger, the girl squeals before pulling away. Scowling, she hisses at me, "What the hell, Mylo?"

"Don't poke me, peasant."

"I'll show you peasant." Olivia is about to jump into the back seat to attack me when Sonya reaches over to pat her thigh. The action turns Olivia into a pile of mush, her scowl turning into a smile instantly.

"Gross," I comment, earning an eye roll from the both of them. Wow, I'm impressive.

"Please, you should see your face," Sonya says, pulling out of the parking lot to take us bowling. I'm not sure why everyone wants to go bowling recently. "Did you have fun with Jace yesterday?"

"We finally made out. I've been blessed."

Olivia facepalms. Sonya looks a little concerned. That's fine, I don't care. I have priorities, the best kind of priorities and I'm ok with them.

"Jace sure has gotten himself into some trouble," Sonya teases, making me flip her off from the backseat. All she does is grin in response.

"Did you two have your talk then?" Olivia asks. Oh right, she thought yesterday was meant to be the "talk" day so probably suspected I had bad news. Judging by her confused face, she is unsure of how our "talk" turned into making out.

"Right, turns out the mystery M was Mateo's girlfriend, Mackenzie."

Both Sonya and Olivia know about Mateo, of course they do, we went to high school with him. Sure, he was a senior when we were sophomores so it's not like we were all pals, however, everyone knew about what happened. When school started there was a whole "don't drink and drive" assembly and, obviously, Jace did not show up to that. If they expected him to then fuck them.

"Oh," Olivia hums, nodding in understanding. "The anniversary is coming up soon, isn't it?"

I nod. I wish I remembered the date and I sure as hell don't want to ask. I'll likely have to google it later since, on that day, Jace may not want to be bothered. I wouldn't blame him for it either. It'll be the one year anniversary. Just thinking about it gives me the shivers and I can't imagine what he's going through.

"It must be tough on both of them," Sonya mumbles, her voice soft and concerned. "I get why the two still talk."

"Yeah. I managed to be a total ass."

"Mylo," Olivia sighs, shaking her head while reaching back to take my hand. "That's not true. You were concerned and you had every right to be. I'm sure Jace understands."

"Doesn't mean I wasn't an ass."

"I'm sure he's used to it by now because you're always an ass."

I smack her hand away. The girl giggles, returning to sitting properly in the front. Our conversation turns from there, the three of us happily joking around until we arrive at the bowling alley. There we play against one another with Olivia remaining in the lead because she's a bitch like that, Sonya is second and, obviously, I'm last.

Jace messages me after work but I make no mention of bowling. Something tells me if I did he'd come right over even if he's tired, which he claimed to be. He's one of those guys, the ones that come running even if they're exhausted and I don't wanna make the kid feel like passing out especially when he's working at the auto shop tomorrow too.

Judging by how much he helps out, I'm assuming he plans on taking it over when he graduates. That's something I should ask too, what are his future plans? Does he want to go to college? Does he plan on taking over his grandfather's shop? Is he sticking around?

Oh shit, I'm thinking about our future together as if it's a guarantee. For the love of god, someone smack the shit out of me. I'm in trouble.

"Mylo, you ok?" Olivia asks upon realizing how silent I've been.

"I'm gonna die."

Sonya snorts while Olivia simply stares while waiting for an explanation. I do no such thing so the two wave it off. Rude but ok, I get it. They're used to my antics but still it still it annoys me.

My attention is drawn back to my phone when Jace messages me. Upon reading the message, I'm not too sure how to respond.

Do you mind if I go shopping with Mackenzie this weekend?

I suppose now that I know about her he doesn't mind bringing her up or he's aware that it bothered me so he's making himself bring it up. Once again, I feel like an ass for making him think he has to ask permission to hang out with someone. Then I feel like more of an ass for being a little happy that he asked. Seriously, something is wrong with me. A doctor probably can't even save me at this point.

Sighing, I inform him that I don't mind and he doesn't have to ask me for permission. His response makes me want to beat his face in with a bowling ball.

Even if you're cute when you're jealous, I don't want to upset you so I'll play it safe and ask =P

This fucker keeps calling me cute. I'll show him fucking cute. And who the hell was jealous? I wasn't jealous, I was concerned, there's a difference!

"Mylo, it's your turn," Sonya calls, smiling when I look up at her. She glances to my phone then back to my face and something tells me she knows who I'm texting. "Jace smooth talking you?"

"Huh?"

"Your face is all red."

I touch my face like that'll somehow inform me if it is or not. The action makes both girls giggle and coo at me. I threaten to shave both their heads if they don't stop. My threat is ignored but a miracle happens and I get a strike. Olivia is about to pass out from shock while Sonya is whistling and I decide to only bowl while angry from now on. Clearly it's the best way to win!

By the end of the night I'm regretting not inviting Jace. I mean, the majority of the time I'm messaging with him while Sonya and Olivia are being all cutesy with each other. It's disgusting and I rather not witness it. When I mention this they both slap me, more reason Jace should be here so I could stare at his face rather than the disgustingly adorable couple.

After our games, Sonya drives me home. I wish both of them a goodnight before returning to the apartment. Dad is nowhere to be seen. He's probably out with a colleague or something. I am proven correct or at least close when I read the note on the fridge stating not to wait up and eat dinner without him. It's well past nine o'clock though so it's past dinner time. I do end up getting a snack though before retiring to my room.

There I decide to do my research and discover the anniversary of Mateo's passing. I rather not piss Jace off or upset him during an already tense time. Asking him may bring up some painful memories too and it's not like the information is hard to find.

I manage to come across the local report easily, clicking on the news and seeing a picture of the wreckage. One look and someone can easily assume someone died. The head on collision with a truck resulted in Kent's, Mateo's friend according to the article, car to be completely demolished. Neither of them survived, both were heavily intoxicated and the article goes on talking about how both boys had full ride scholarships to college. They had bright futures and, from what I remember of Mateo, he was a friendly guy.

A few times I caught him and Jace in the halls. Mateo seemed like the doting older brother, always checking up on Jace, messing with him when he saw him, the two seemed really close. I guess that makes a lot of sense considering what little information I know about Jace's parents. Something tells me Mateo raised Jace more than his parents did until they started living with their grandparents.

I would ask but I fear it will only dredge up awful memories. It's probably too soon to talk about Mateo anyways. One year may sound like a long time but, it was his brother he lost. Judging by his expression talking about him, Jace isn't over it and I don't blame him. He never will be. The fact that he's gone through so much and turned out as well as he did is a miracle. I'm sure Mateo is partially a reason for that, as are his grandparents. One day, I hope he'll tell me about it.

I make sure to take note of the date, August 22nd, I'll make sure to remember it.