“He hasn’t said anything to you since then?” Jay said, as if she couldn’t believe what Isabella had just told her.

Jay sat out on one of the old school picnic tables eating a PB&J while listening to Isabella’s story about what happened between her and Jackson.

“Not one word,” Isabella said.

“That’s messed up,” Jay said, shaking her head. “Did you try talking to him?”

“Yep,” Isabella said with a nodd. “I said ‘Hi’ to him countless times, but he didn’t even glance my way.”

Jay shook her head.

“You need to talk to him,” Jay said, firmly.

“How?” Isabella said. “He won’t listen to me.”
“Make him listen to you. Tell him how you feel then leave him to decide what to do. If he doesn’t do anything, he has no idea what he’ll be losing,” Jay said.

“Alright,” Isabella said. “I’ll try.”
“Try to get him alone too. That might help,” Jay said.

Isabella nodded.

Isabella later found Jackson in the old school library all by himself, reading a book. He sat in a wooden chair with a wooden table in front of him.

The book had a dark brown hardcover and read ‘A Series of Very Odd Events’ in big gold letters on the front.

“Ahem,” Isabella said, clearing her throat.

Jackson didn’t glance up, not once. He just kept reading.

Isabella stood there for a second before she snatched Jackson’s book right out of his hands.

He still didn’t look at her. Instead, Jackson looked at the table.

“Really?!” Isabella yelled, angry.

This seemed to startle Jackson. He looked up right into Isabella’s baby blue eyes.

“Oh. Now you look at me,” Isabella said, shaking her head.

“I don’t understand you, Jack. One moment you’re kissing me and telling me how great I am, the next you act like you don’t know me!” Isabella yelled. “If this is about Anne..”
Jackson stood up, quickly from his seat as soon as Isabella mentioned ‘Anne.’

“It is. Isn’t it?” Isabella said.

Jackson stared down at the floor.

“It is about her. You know you could’ve told me that. I would’ve left you alone. I wouldn’t have fallen in love with you,” Isabella said.

The last sentence that Isabella said made Jackson look back up at her.

“I would’ve understood,” Isabella said, tearing up.

For a moment they both stood there, staring at each other.

“I’m sorry,” Jackson said, shaking his head. “I really am. I’m just…”
Isabella stopped crying for a second and put her hand on his shoulder.

“It’s okay. I understand. I just need some space,” Isabella said, pushing her way past him.

“Wait,” Jackson said, grabbing her wrist before she walked away.

“What?” Isabella asked, turning around to face him.

“You didn’t let me finish,” Jackson said, looking right into Isabella’s eyes. “I’m just scared. I don’t want to lose you. I love you too…Bella.”

Jackson smiled.

“You what?” Isabella asked, confused.

“I love you, Bella,” Jackson said with a bigger smile, pulling Isabella into a hug.

Isabella wrapped her arms around his neck and smiled.

“We can take it as slow as you want,” Isabella said. “We don’t have to be anything.”

“I want to be your boyfriend,” Jackson said. “I really do. I think it’s finally time I move on. Anne would’ve wanted me to.”

Isabella smiled.

“I’m so happy,” Isabella said, leaning in closer to Jackson’s face, their noses now touching.

“Me too,” Jackson said, kissing Isabella tenderly on the lips.

They kissed and kissed until they both had to come up for air.

“I love you, Jack,” Isabella said with a huge smile. “So much.”

Isabella’s smile then slightly dropped.

“Wait…does this mean…we’re boyfriend and girlfriend?” Isabella asked, looking confused.

“Yes, it does,” Jackson said with a huge smile, pulling Isabella back in for another kiss.