School started up again on January 3rd. I wasn't really looking forward to going back, but I was looking forward to see Jackson. It'd only been two days, but I missed him already. We'd decided it would be best to spend a couple days apart to think about the new position that we were in. For the first time since we'd met, I was single. I sat on the sofa waiting for Jackson to arrive. On the phone last night, he'd told me that he had something he wanted to discuss. I was hoping it was something good, and not something that would leave me feeling crappy all day. He pulled into the driveway at 7:35 and honked his horn.I hurried outside, and in my haste completely forgot about the ice that coated the sidewalk. This, of course, resulted in me falling flat on my ass. This wasn't the first time it'd happened, but it was the first time it'd happened in front of Jackson… and for the record, it was complete

I went up to Jackson's room, drying my eyes. He was sitting at the computer, focused on his game of Solitaire."Hi Jackson," I said softly.He jumped, startled. "Hey! You okay? You look at little upset. Want me to beat his ass?"I shook my head. "Not necessary."He laid down in bed and I settled myself beside him."What did you guys talk about?""I asked how long he'd been cheating. He wouldn't tell me. He just said that he 'hadn't been keeping track'." I said, rolling my eyes."Fuck him," Jackson growled, and then he brightened. "Want to go out for dinner when I get my apartment? We'll go the city and everything! It'll be fun. What do you say?"I grinned. A real date. It felt like years since I'd been on one of those. "Dude, seriously! Of course I want to

We got back to Jackson's apartment around 9:30. He flipped on the lights and we both stood in the doorway, just sort of staring. The walls were an ugly off-white and the carpet was dingy… but it had its positive qualities. Such as the lovely… Okay, I've got nothing, but at least it had running water. There was a cheap futon from Wal-Mart and a TV on a flimsy stand. His bed was probably the most expensive thing in the entire apartment. "It's not home," he complained. "It's weird that my parents aren't right down the hall.""They're only four miles away."He nodded. "You're right. I'm such a baby.""No you're not." I kissed his cheek, pulling him inside. "Tomorrow we'll clean it up… but we have other things on the agenda tonight."He smiled down at me. "I may not have much, but I have a bed… a

Jackson ate quickly, barely taking time to chew. I ate as slowly as I could, and I knew it was driving him crazy. He finished a good five minutes before me. "I'll be in the bedroom," he told me. "You can join me when you finish… if you ever finish."He was lying in bed in his boxers when I came in. God, even as upset as I was, I ached with wanting him."Hey," he said softly."Hi," I replied. I sat on the edge of the bed. "I'm not mad that you drank… I just wish that you hadn't drank so much… because I really needed you, but you were out cold."He drew in a deep breath. "What happened, Sophie?""After everyone left, Scott was still here… and he… he…" Tears filled my eyes."Oh my God… he didn't… Sophie, he di

We sat around for a while longer, then Jackson and I headed home. We still had a ton to unpack. I changed out of my jeans into a pair of his sweatpants. Sure, I had my own sweats, but something about wearing my boyfriend's clothes was so comforting.   "What would you think if I started dressing like a boy all the time?" I asked Jackson, coming out of the bedroom.   "Huh?"   I grinned. "Your clothes are comfy... they're nice."