I went back to school. Empty. Still Thursday. Damn that gun scare yesterday.
I decided to take my bike and maybe drop by Simon's place. I headed to the car repair shop. Huh? There were more people here than usual.
Kris spotted me. "Hey-ho!" she called.
I raised a brow.
"That look again," she said, smirking. "Yeah, the repair shop suddenly has a few more women coming in… and oh boy, I wonder why." Her tone was dripping with sarcasm.
Simon slid out from under a car, his arms slick with grease and motor oil.
"That'll do it, Mrs. Makiling!" he said.
Kris laughed. "Uh, it's Mrs. Ishida now. I've been divorced for a year, baka."
"Ma! Shut the hell up! You're not a kawaii teen girl! Aho otou-san!" Kris shot back.
"Kurisu! Yamero! Thanks, Simon," her mother said, ignoring her.
Everyone else in the shop stared at him. And honestly? I couldn't blame them. A hot, greasy, muscled guy in a tank top and gloves? Even my eyes couldn't look away.
Simon spotted me. "Buddy!"
I grinned. Take that, ladies. I'm always his buddy. I giggled under my breath.
"You get my text?" he asked.
"No. My phone died."
"Tomorrow's the parents-and-students conference about school safety. You're in the student council, right?"
"Yeah. I'll be there," I said, checking my watch.
"I'll wait for you here at the cashier with Kris, then we can grab lunch," I told him.
"Okay. Kris, that boy's growing up—don't hug him too much. You know what I mean," Simon teased with a wink.
We laughed. Kris looked at me. "Dude, remember what I said yesterday?"
"What did you say?" I asked, playing dumb. Of course, she liked me.
She laughed. "Perfect."
"Where's Mr. Makiling?" I asked.
"Upstairs—Mom's here. And for some reason, she's not leaving. Oh no. She just bit her lower lip. That bitch! She's looking at Mr. Goldman! Ew! MOM! Stop hitting on men way younger than you!"
"You disgrace!" her mother shot back.
I smirked as she stormed off. That's when I spotted Jen in the line. She didn't have a car. She was fidgeting. And… was she looking cuter than usual?
"Alex!" she called, walking over.
Kris giggled. "Needy fairy. You horny pretty boy?"
Jen grabbed my shoulders. "Please tell me!"
Before I could answer, Simon walked in with a towel around his neck, taking a swig from his water bottle.
"Yes, you did. You're a good kisser, by the way. Thanks—I appreciate it," Simon said with a smile before heading back.
Jen closed her eyes. "I think I'm losing my mind."
"You already did yesterday," I replied with a smirk.
"Uh, Kris, excuse us for a moment," Jen said.
"Ohh… sexy time?" Kris teased.
"No. Definitely not," Jen said, dragging me toward the shoreline.
"Jen? What now?" I asked.
"Alex… we didn't finish our conversation yesterday. Maybe I was a little drunk. But… just don't be attracted to your stepdad," she said softly.
"What do you know about love?" I challenged.
She hesitated, looking away. "Some love is… forbidden, Alex. I accept that you're gay, but please—no. Not with Simon." She hugged her arm, clearly uncomfortable. "I actually moved here to avoid my stepdad—Rosaline's dad."
Ros, Emil, and Jen's mom were at the ice cream stand. Jen glanced at them. "Mom and I never speak anymore. They separated… because of me."
Simon appeared. "Let's eat lunch! Join us, Jen!"
Jen smiled faintly. We ate together, but she didn't join her mom and sister. Her mom's glare from across the way was sharp enough to cut glass. Poor Jen—falling in love with the wrong person.
Jen gripped Simon's sleeve. He noticed. "Jen, why are you sleeping in your car instead of your house?"
"What?" she asked, startled.
"I saw you near the lighthouse at 5 a.m."
Jen's grip tightened. "Sorry, Mr. Goldman, I have the right to remain silent."
"So that blue blanket was yours?" I asked.
"Yes. My mother gave it to me on my birthday—it was her last gift to me. But… I think you need it more than I do," Simon replied.
Her mother and sister passed by. "Jennifer," her mom said coldly, "I've reserved you an apartment at La Lorena Hotel. I don't want my prodigal daughter staying at some pretty man's house. You're not a whore, despite being a bitch."
"Hey!" Simon protested.
"Don't talk to me, Mr. Goldman. We paid the damages and stopped your pine tree logging. Spare me the drama," she snapped before walking away. Ros mouthed an apology and followed her.
We parted ways in silence.
Jen sat in her car looking miserable. I walked over. "Okay, girl talk. What's really up with you and Mommy Dearest?"
"I told you already," she muttered, curling up like she wanted to disappear.
Simon came over. "Jen, if you don't want to stay at your house, I can help you get your things. Or… you can stay at mine."
Jen looked at him. "Thank you."
We went to her house. Ros was waiting out front. It was the biggest house in the area. Their mother sipped tea on the porch, her glare never leaving Jen.
"I don't want to see that vixen. You disgust me!" she spat.
She handed bags to the butler and whispered something. He approached us. "My lady, her mistress doesn't want to see you for the next two weeks. I'm sorry."
Simon grabbed the luggage, visibly angry. Jen trailed behind, hugging it.
Back at Simon's, I cooked dinner—mixed vegetables, mashed potatoes, pork chops. Jen barely spoke.
"Cheer up," Simon said with that effortless charm of his. Jen laughed in spite of herself.
"So, where will Jen be staying?" I asked.
"In your room," Simon said.
"What?!"
"Buddy, she's a woman—she needs her own space. You can sleep in my room."
I blushed. Inner screaming commenced.
We watched TV. Jen fell asleep first. Simon yawned. "I'm going to bed, buddy. Night."
I followed him into his room, only to find him putting a blanket and pillow on the floor.
"Simon? What's that?"
"You're a man now. You don't need to share a bed with me anymore."
"Hard floors!" he groaned as he lay down.
"You'll hurt your back," I protested, placing a long pillow down the middle of his bed. "See? We've got borders."
"Like the President likes it," Simon joked.
"Move to the right—I'll take the left."
"This is better," he said, giving me a side-eye. "Why do you keep calling me either Simon or stepdad?"
"Don't think about it. Good night."
I yawned and let sleep take me.