Chapter Fifteen

I texted Marley on Tuesday to set up her meeting with Jace. I did a thorough background check via her school website and her Instagram which I expertly found. She appeared in a lot of people's tags and I found out that she's on the softball team which goes good with Jace playing baseball.

Jace texted me a Monday after I finished my test (which by the way I think I did pretty well on) and asked me to go to the movies this weekend. Like I knew he would because a new Zac Efron film was coming out and he knows I would never miss those. I agreed with a promise that we could hang out at the mall beforehand so I can "get a new phone charger". In reality, I'm about to set him up with a pretty girl.

"Why did you make me wear this?" Jace grunts, irritated and tugging at the collar of his button-up.

"How is this any different from the polos that you wear?"

He sulks around his room and I watch him through the camera as he threatens to tug the shirt off. I shake my finger at him and he releases the shirt before giving me a sharp glare. I wave him off. He doesn't know that I'm doing this for his own good. Making him look polished and professional for when he meets his dream girl.

"Polos don't choke me. They make me look dashing and sophisticated." Try stuck up and boring.

Which he isn't, but you wouldn't know that by looking through his closet. It's filled with polos of all different colors and jeans mixed with khakis. His shoes are a little more diverse with every sneaker known to man plus some vans and converses. Also, he's a preppy white boy so you know he has-too white to even say it - Sperrys. I gagged when he showed them to me and he explained that he only wore them when he was on his father's yacht. The definition of a preppy rich white boy.

The light changes from red to green.

"I'll see you in half an hour," I say quickly with my foot on the gas. "You better have that same shirt on when I see you again." He groans

"Why do you torture me?"

"Stop being a drama queen," I snap. "See you later?" He agrees before hanging up and my radio starts blasting an old Kanye West song.

He may be irritated now but when I introduce him to Marley in an hour he'll forget all about the stupid shirt collar.

I told Destiny about my plan on the way home Thursday.

"Girl, are you crazy?" She exclaims.

"I'm just trying to help a friend."

"The way to help a friend is to get with them not hook them up with random bitches," I ignored her, focusing on the road ahead. "Fine, ignore me, but don't ignore the truth-"

"I already know the truth!" I interject, but she disregards me.

"The truth is that you're letting your fairytale walk right past you and into some other girls arms," She continues. "You're going to regret this one day."

I scoff. "No, I'm not."

Destiny doesn't know what she's talking about and I'm sick of her thinking that she does. We have this argument every time I mention Jace. I would know if I had a crush on him like how it is with every other guy. Her mantra is like a song stuck in repeat- not even a good song it's like Cotton Eyed Joe playing over and over again.

Her words didn't stop me from meeting up with Jace outside of the Auntie Annies on the first floor. He's already there by the time I arrive and I notice that he's combed his hair for once. He actually looks really good, I knew my button-down would do the trick.

"Look over there," A straight-laced blonde girl in front of me whispers to her auburn-haired friend before not so subtly gesturing to Jace.

"I would marry him," Her friend gushes, and the duo giggles.

I decide to have a little fun and walk faster so I can be next to them.

"Isn't he a dreamboat, ladies?" I whisper and they do a slight jump. "Don't worry I'm just agreeing with you." I notice the blonde girl has braces and the other has glasses. Lucky them, up until last year I had both. They don't look much older than 15.

Jace still hasn't seen me even though I'm a few feet away from him. He's looking everywhere but my direction.

"He could be a movie star," Auburn sighed. I smirk remembering when he told me that in the fifth grade for the school talent show he burped the ABCs.

"Most definitely," I nod along with them as we stare Jace down who is typing on his phone probably to me. His glasses are falling down his nose. "Guys with glasses are the hottest." I look down at the girls who are nearly drooling.

"Scarlet!" Busted. The girls hold their breath looking for the lucky woman that he's calling for before he makes eye contact with me.

He saunters over with a wide smile and the duo look like they're going to melt in a puddle on the floor in front of us.

"When did you get here?" Jace asks and the girls and I look up to meet his brown eyes. "Who are your friends?" I hear them suck in a breath both of their faces red as blood.

"These are my new friends-" I push them forward instead of letting them cower behind me.

The blonde one regains her composure quicker than the other one and flashed him a bright metal smile.

"Bridget and this is Sarah." The latter timidly waves.

"Girls, this is my friend Jace." Their eyes widen at me. My smile doesn't waver.

"You told us you didn't know him!" Sarah accused.

"No, I didn't," I shook my head. "I just said he was hot." I glance over at Jace whose cheeks went red.

"You said that?" He asks with a shy smile.

"Yeah," I admit. The shirts working wonders on you," I add with a smirk. His face falls and I get his glare in person.

"You're really cute!" Bridget gushed and her outburst was met with a swift kick from Sarah.

"Thank you. I really appreciate that!" I hate him and his stupidly deep voice. I can't even act as if I saw a boy like him at the mall when I was this age that I wouldn't do the same thing. Well, maybe a little more low key than that.

"We have to go," Sarah interrupts, pulling her friend from her spot. "It was nice to meet you guys."

"It really was!" Bridget said more to Jace than me.

When the girls left, Jace slung an arm around my shoulder. "What did you do to those poor girls?"

"Nothing," I said sheepishly. "They saw you looking hot and I gave them the chance of a lifetime to meet you. If anything I did them a favor."

"They were scared out of their mind."

"To girls in middle school who grew up on Netflix and Disney movies, you're like a movie star."

"I'm not that attractive." He mutters, staring at the floor.

"Oh, you most definitely are," I admit. It's not like I have anything to hide. Of course, I think he's good looking. "You're every girl's fantasy. Curly brown hair. Deep hazel eyes and a charming smile. I would've wanted to marry you at that age." He stops walking for a moment causing the man behind him to shoot him a dirty look before shoving past him.

"Seriously?" I nod, pulling him inside the AT&T store. "What about now?" I give him a weird look

"Would I marry you?"

"No," He says quickly. "Am I your fantasy?"

"A guy like you, sure." I examine the long chargers figuring out which one I want.

"Why not me?" I scrunch my eyebrows.

"I don't know, just not you."

"Why?"

"I don't know, Jace," I say for the second time.

"What's wrong with me?" I rub my forehead in aggravation

"Absolutely nothing is wrong with you," My phone rings, it's Marley telling me she's here. I text back Come inside AT&T.

"Then why not me?" I shoot him a warning look.

"Dude, just drop it." I snap, irritated. I don't have an answer to his question. He stops talking and I purchase a charger.

I turn around and sure enough right on time there's Marley with a yellow off the shoulder top and light blue jeans. Her long blonde hair cascading down her back. She breaks out in a grin at the sight of Jace at my side.

"Marley!"Jace turns to me, startled at the random name I yelled out. She walks towards me and smiles, nervously glancing at Jace every few seconds. "It's great to see you here. This is my friend Jace." I pull him in front of me.

"Hey." He greets with his charming smile and holds out his hand for a shake and she gladly takes it.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Ugh, they even sound the same. Proper, probably a result of quality education.

"All the same to you." What are we in the 1800s?

"I have to run to the bathroom. Jace," I raise my eyebrows at him. "Don't scare my friend."

"I wouldn't dream of it," He looked away from me and focused on Marley.

They both sport shy smiles and I can tell they're undeniably nervous. Aw, they even look good together. Their similar personalities fit, but I can tell that Jace is more outgoing than Marley. Maybe, they can help each other.

It's not like Jace and I have nothing in common, but there are obvious differences between us. I'm not a huge fan of parties, but if I happen to attend one I'm going to be out on the dance floor. He told me once that at his own 16th birthday party last year, he hid upstairs while Jasper entertained the almost 300 people that showed up. I'm obnoxious and loud when you get to know me and I curse like a sailor (my parents' words not mine.) I'm not going to lie and say I don't act differently around Jace because I do. But sometimes my voice from the city comes out or I laugh too loudly and I'm afraid that after today he'll never speak to me again. I'm on borrowed time and sooner or later he'll realize that I'm not good enough to be around him and kick me to the curb.

"I love Ed Sheeran." I heard Jace mention from the hallway. He must've seen her bracelet.

I don't go to the bathroom, instead, I grab a pretzel and sit on the bench. My phone dings halfway through my cinnamon treat.

Marley- He's a dream 🤩

How can I ever thank you?

I'll be back in a second to give you the tickets. Don't thank me, just be careful with him.

Marley- I'll take good care of him.

I can't believe how well this is working out. I introduced my friend to an amazing girl and may have helped a girl find her dream guy. All in a day's work.

I finish up my pretzel and throw it in the can before walking back to the store. I find the couple standing close, whispering. Marley says something and Jace laughs, his eyes crinkling at the sides. Marley's pale cheeks are tainted with a fair shade of red as they lean against a table.

I walk towards the group quietly trying not to ruin their movie moment. Jace sees me first and turns to face me.

"You're still here?" He asked.

"Don't worry asshole. Until you learn to have a normal conversation, I will have to be there to find the mess you made." I sent him a cheeky smile and he ducked his head in embarrassment

"Are you ready to go, Scarlett?" He mumbled. I nudged him in the stomach and he looked up, swatting my elbow away.

"About that, mom called, she needs me home," He looked disappointed and I faked a look of remorse. "Great idea alert! Marley is here and she's free, right?" She nods a little too hard.

"You can take my ticket, I wouldn't want it to go to waste!" Jace's eyes widen slightly.

"Do you mind Jace?" Marley asks, batting her big green eyes. Well played... well played indeed.

"Not at all," He shoots her a smile and I try to hide my smile. "This should be fun!" His optimism kills me. At least I thought he would question how I knew her or something but no, just trust every stranger.

"Great, well I better run!" I wave goodbye to the couple and leave out of the store quickly.

I'm eager to get out of the mall and head across the street to Barnes and Noble. It'll be easy to avoid the couple because they'll be in a movie for an hour and some change while I'm sitting three stores away in the very back cuddling my new obsession.

When I walk inside I'm hit with the smell of coffee wafting over from Starbucks. I head over to my favorite section to pick up the second book of The Selection series by Kiera Cass. I picked up the first book last week when I came in here with Jace. I devoured the first book that same night and was itching to get my hands on the second one. I was so busy this week with homework that I couldn't swing by and grab it.

Before going over to where I know the book is I scan the shelf focusing on every cover. I glide my fingers across the hardcover spines, wishing I could read every single one.

Finally, I grab the book and head over to my favorite spot which is empty considering how late it is. I crack open the book to the first page, taking in that new book smell. I may not know what I want to do with my life, but I know whatever it is that my first love will be involved. Books.

Two hours late, I am almost halfway done and still on Team Maxon. I close the book and go to the cash register where the same older lady as when we went to Waffle House.

"Where's your boyfriend, darling?" I smile

"My boyfriends on a date," Her eyes widened before focusing on scanning my book. "I'm kidding, we're just friends." She looks up at me and smiles sweetly

"That's a shame. You never see young love like that these days." I shake my head before handing her my debit card.

"We aren't in love." She just hands me my bag and debit card without saying another word.

I shake off what she said and I walk to my car. I haven't gotten any SOS texts from Jace or Marley so the date must've gone well. At least I hope so.

It was nearing 1 in the morning when I finally got the first sign of life from Jace. It was a text message.

Thank you 😊

For what?

Marley is a dream.

I should be a matchmaker

I wouldn't take it that far

I'm choosing to ignore that

Glad you had a good time tonight

All thanks to you

How was the movie?

He told me about the amazing romance movie that I missed, but he promised we could watch it at his house. Apparently, his dad gets advanced copies of all the movies in theaters. Fucking rich people.

We kept texting, he wanted to FaceTime but I was afraid of waking my parents up. Strangely enough, he never mentioned anything that actually occurred on the date. I can't even guess because I've never been to one. The closest thing to a date I've been on was when Jace and I went to the movies together when we first met. That feels like ages ago now even though it's only been a month. I had to say goodnight when I realized one more blink and I'd be out like a light.

Good night Jacey.

Good luck at church tomorrow.

I almost forget tomorrow was Sunday.

Thank you for everything

Everything is a lot

I haven't done that much

You've done more than you know

I love it when you're cryptic

Good Night Let 😉