This Isn't Over

{no one:

Me: *yelling at Harper as if I didn't literally write this story* girlie you have a treehouse use it.

Life updates; I am attending three different Sabrina Concerts this week. As the long term Carpenter I am I was somehow able to get all these tickets at face value. By the time next chapter upload I will have already gone to two of them. Other news, I've spent an ungodly amount of time playing Lego Fortnite this week, at least my villages look good I guess.

Welcome to our last 3am chapter}

3 am;

"Can we talk about it?" I ask. We're lying in my bed. She is leaning against my headboard, I'm lying with my back against her and my legs between hers.

"Talk about what?" Jessie asks.

The amount of shit thrown at us this summer, that could mean absolutely anything.

"Our arranged break up. After they broke up we never talked about it" I say.

"Harper, you know we aren't breaking up. I don't know if I ever could have gone through with it if they were still together" She says.

"Then why didn't you tell me that three days ago?" I ask.

"Because I was still processing that whole night before and you were more focused on the future. I just needed some time." She says.

"I guess that's fair. I never even asked, are you feeling better?"

"Yeah. I think I just needed a day to relax. I feel guilty but I'm kinda happy about their break up now." She says.

"Don't ever feel guilty for your happiness" I say.

I sit up and turn around. I plant a small peck on her lips. She smiles and then pulls me back into her.

"I don't want to do tomorrow," I say

"Neither do I"

"Well, there's no point in sitting here wasting our time together" I stand up. She looks at me confused. "Want to go to the beach?"

"We can't sneak out," She says.

"Why not? You've done it before" I say.

"I've grown a lot since then" She jokes.

"Oh Jessie, you're starting to pick up on my sarcasm. I'm so sorry" I say.

"I forgive you," She says.

I roll my eyes. "Come on, let's go have some fun"

We put our shoes on and quietly leave the house. I lock the door, Jessie is heading for the street. I run up behind her, lacing our hands together. I pull our hands up to my face, kissing her on the back of her hand. Oh, I love the rush of sneaking out.

The beach is only two streets down so it doesn't take long to get there at all. The beach is empty. No noise besides some crickets and the waves crashing. It's so different than what it is like during the day. I normally spend half my summer at this beach. I can count the days I've been here this summer on my one hand.

I take a seat on our bench, on the beach where I was sitting when we met last summer.

"Hey. Can I sit?" She asks.

"Why are you" I trail off. "Oh. Yeah. Sure" I say. I get what she's trying to do. She's trying to recreate that night. She sits down next to me.

"Why are you here so late?" She asks.

"I'm trying to savor every last second with some random girl I met on this beach last summer," I say.

"Random girl, very funny" She chuckles. "Wanna hear a secret?" She asks.

"You have secrets from me?" I ask.

"I have lots of secrets. Anyway, when we were driving down here from New York, I wasn't the most happy about it. I normally spend a week or two here. I didn't want to spend the entire summer away from my friends. So I was arguing with my father, that's how it was arranged that I was going to spend a week with my mom. Anyway, he tried to coax me by saying your mom has a daughter my age and I responded with well she's probably a bitch" She looks embarrassed to tell me this.

I laugh. "That's comedy gold. Do you still stand by your statement?" I ask.

"Yes, even more so now," She says.

"I want to hear more of these secrets," I say.

"Well, do you have a favorite memory from this summer?" She faces me and throws her legs over my lap. I start running my fingers up and down her upper leg slowly.

"I loved keeping your dad on his toes. Made my whole summer truly" I laugh.

"I meant with me"

"Oh right. Girl's night for sure. I came out to my friends and sneaking around my friends instead of our parents was fun for a change" I say.

"Do you ever regret coming out to everyone at once instead of telling Elle separately, she is your best friend"

"I used to, but I wouldn't change it now. I got my little moment with Elle afterward" I say. She doesn't respond. "What was your favorite part of this summer?" I ask.

"Disney World," She says.

"Jessie you dirty dirty girl" I joke. She gets flustered, her cheeks turn bright red.

"I'm just being honest," She says.

"Well, would you like to make it a two-time thing?" I ask creeping my fingers slowing up her inner thigh.

"I would love to," She says as she starts leaning in for a kiss.

I move in to kiss her as a car's headlights start shining against the back of our legs. I turn around shielding my eyes. Jessie swings her legs off of me and scoots further away from me. Fuck, this is it. My actual kidnapping. I knew Jessie was bad news. This must have all just been a setup from the very start.

The car parks right in front of us and the driver's door opens.

"What do you two think you are doing?"

I don't know if I'm less or more relieved to recognize my mother's voice. She closes the door and steps closer to us.

"Just chatting" I respond. I probably shouldn't tell her what I was about to do.

"Just get in the car." She says.

We get off of the bench. "This isn't over" I whisper to Jessie.

We get into the back seat of the car.

"I'm not gonna get mad at you two given the circumstances but that beach can be dangerous at night. I've been sneaking out there since I was eight, I would know." She says.

"Sorry mom," I say.

"It's fine. If you want to go out at night just go out back to the pool" She says.

"I'll take that into consideration," I say.

We pull into my driveway and head inside. My mom throws her keys down on the counter. It's not a sign that she's mad, that is just what she always does. We walk upstairs to my room.

"Goodnight girls," My mom says.

"Goodnight Mom," I say.

"Goodnight," Jessie says.

We disappear into my room. Jessie goes in first and sits on my bed.

"You better be so fucking quiet," I say as I shut my door.