CHAPTER 3: JASON'S POV

Playing football with the school team in my new school had been the highlight of my first day in the new town and just like my appearance had caused a stir the whole day in all my classes, the football field was no exception. I never cared about my looks like everyone else who wasn't me did. I never wanted to come off as obnoxious but the situations around me forced me to be using that as the only way to push people away from knowing who I really was. Sometimes it worked and sometimes it didn't. Those were the moments I had to embrace and fit in but it was only because of my mother. Everything I did was for her otherwise I wouldn't have agreed to move states leaving behind the life I had known for eighteen years to start over in a new school in my senior year.

I had just changed back into my regular clothes when a message popped up on my screen. It was my mother reminding me of the meeting we had with her new boyfriend. I loved her and it always made me happy to see her smiling especially after we lost my dad eight years before. It had been too long since I last saw her as happy as she was now talking about the man I was yet to meet. I knew they had been dating for quite a while and moving could only mean one thing. I was going to have a stepfather and I wasn't sure how I felt about that.

"Jason Chambers?" I looked up as the football coach approached me.

"Yes, sir!" I stood up respectfully but to my surprise, he shook my hand.

"Good game today. Are you by any chance interested to join the varsity team? We could really use your expertise in our coming game."

I could feel the eyes of the rest of the team on me. I wasn't sure whether they approved of the bold approach of the coach praising me in their faces and looking around didn't get me those answers. However, my gaze met the team Captain's across the locker room and being the teams favorite player, I knew he wasn't too pleased. I hadn't gone there to make enemies but I also loved playing football. However, I decided to take my time with my answer at that moment.

"Can I think about it first?" I requested.

The coach chuckled and nodded but his eyes displayed disappointment which he shrugged off with a smile.

"For sure. Just let me know soon." I nodded and grabbed my bag ready to head out. I was almost at the door when suddenly the Captain stepped in my way blocking me from leaving. I sighed and met his eyes calmly. His lips extended in a grin, his eyes sparkling with pride. I knew those types of guys so his words didn't come as a surprise.

"You might be a hotshot with the girls out there but when it comes to the field, I own it. You better know your place, newbie," he warned. I observed him quietly for a while until he narrowed his gaze at me. "Got it?"

I adjusted my bag on my shoulder and smiled.

"So you think I'm hot?" I shot back eliciting laughter from his teammates. Without another word, I sidestepped him and left him nursing his bruised ego. I had better things to do than compete with someone like him. Anything that wasn't something to do with girls wasn't worth my effort and he needed to know that.

I looked at the address my mother had sent me and frowned. That wasn't the hotel she had mentioned earlier. However, I was already running late so I decided to head straight there. As I stood outside observing the area lined up with beautiful bungalows, I couldn't believe my eyes. I had lived in a two bedroom apartment with my mother, a tiny one at that. I was still staring when my mother got out and spotted me.

"No way!" I stated the moment I saw her on the porch of the biggest house but then stepped forward.

"Where have you been, Jace?" she asked almost apprehensively. "I asked you to do one thing, just one thing not to be late for our first dinner and here we are."

"Chill, mom. I was just playing football and lost track of the time. I'm only a few minutes late," I responded gently. I knew how she needed everything to be perfect and how she never wanted to disappoint anyone. It wasn't anger in her voice, she was anxious and nervous. I offered my arms and embraced her gently. "It's going to be okay, Mom. Please relax."

Just as we were pulling apart, the door opened with a light click. I looked up and met his eyes. He had a warm and inviting smile but I wasn't going to buy it. It wasn't the first time my mother had fallen for someone like him, rich with the good looks and polite face which ended up being our greatest nightmare. This time however had been different. She was different than any other time I had seen this happening so I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt.

"It's nice to finally meet you, Mr Prescott," I stated respectfully.

"Jimmy," he responded taking my hand. "Please call me Jimmy. You are... Jason, right?"

"Guilty as charged," I stated and managed a smile as I stepped back but out of my peripheral vision, I noticed someone else step out behind him. My attention was diverted towards them and the moment our eyes met, my mouth went dry. Where had I seen her?

Right. At the bus stop in the morning but who was she and why was she here? I turned to my mother who just smiled and turned to Jimmy.

"This is my daughter, Tess. I'm sure your paths have crossed today but we wanted to wait until we were all together to introduce you two.

He took my mother's hand and my eyes flipped back to the girl who stared back at me in as equal surprise. Was it really what I was thinking?

"Jace," I turned to my mother unable to say anything. "I'm getting married to Jimmy so Tess is going to be your sister."

Standing there looking at them, I didn't know what to think. I felt like I was hanging on a balance and I couldn't decide which side of me weighed more. I loved my mother and I loved seeing her happy like she was as she stated that but at that moment, all I could feel was betrayal. She had lied to me for the first time in my life and that didn't feel good. I shook my head and scoffed.

"I can't do this. Not today," I stated and turned around to leave.

"Jace, don't you dare turn your back on me!" She grabbed my hand forcing me to stop. "Please, just listen."

"You have been dating for months! You knew he had a daughter but you never cared to mention that. Don't you think you should have the moment you knew that you were taking things this far?" I asked feeling like the veins in my heart were tearing apart.

"Is it really that bad?"

"Bad?" I asked. "Mom, this is not something you can just spring up on someone." I scoffed. "What's next? We are moving in with them?" She sighed and went silent confirming my guesses. I nodded, "Wow."

"Can you do this for me, please?" She took my arm and squeezed. "Jimmy is a good man. Give him the chance to prove it. I haven't been this happy, truly happy since your father died. I was lacking something that Jimmy has finally filled." She exhaled. "I really think this will be good for us. Just give it a chance." I looked up past her and found the two gone. She added, "He hadn't told Tess about you either. Or even me."

"So they are fighting." It was more of a statement. My mother nodded. "Well, this is going to be fun."