Come Friday about 3/4s of the original group were still working on the project. Despite half the baseball team finding excuses to leave, Jace had still remained, joining in with two other booths to help their completion. Among the completed booths were Haley and Isaac's, regardless of the rough start of it.

"We did it!" Isaac said, raising his hand for a high five.

His smile was untamed and there was something about it that made Haley want to smile back. She didn't but did accept the high five. Their booth was plain looking without any paint but it was sturdy and stood six feet tall with a banner over the top with Kissing Booth in curly letters.

Around them, music filled the air. It had been a constant source of noise as they worked, people singing along to the lyrics as they hammered or screwed boards together. Haley was grateful for the distraction, it meant it was easier to go without talking. Though Isaac was easy going enough, Haley felt the faster she could get this project done the better.

The day was cooling down as the afternoon shifted closer to evening. The shadows that covered the lawn were longer and shaded the group. Abruptly the music cut out and everyone looked around. Rachel was standing on a step stool, her smile waiting for everyone's attention.

"Alright," she said, "I am really impressed with how much we have gotten done this week. I have to thank you all for working so hard and sticking around."

"Go team!" Jace yelled.

Laughter and cheers rippled through the group in response. Rachel gave a grateful smile to Jace. He beamed back at her, his arms crossed. Though Isaac smiled at the shouts, he didn't join in. Instead, he rested his arms over his knees and looked over the group. Haley somehow felt comfortable with him, knowing she wasn't the only one who didn't feel like yelling at any chance or feel the need to always show team spirit.

"Since you have stayed," Rachel said, "I want to invite you to an impromptu party at my house right after this. I say party but mainly we will be eating pizza, and hanging out. So whoever wants to come, come! Thanks again, everyone. We'll clean up and I'll see you at my house."

With the thought of pizza in mind, everyone moved about cleaning up, talking about rides and who would drive with whom. Isaac collected up the tools while Haley looked for stray nails and bits of trash. When they were sure their area was neat, they lifted the booth and carried it to the side of the gym, setting it beside the other completed ones. Isaac took off his glasses and cleaned them on the edge of his t-shirt. When he replaced them, he focused on Haley.

"You going to Rachel's?" he asked.

"I wasn't planning on it."

He cocked his head. "Free pizza and you say no, curious."

"Are people not allowed to say no to free pizza?"

"There are just not many who do. Why do you refuse such a delicious offering?"

He gave her a smile that she now knew as his joking smile. One side of his mouth turned upward and a dimple appeared in one cheek. It was an odd combination of a smirk and something playful. Haley would have called it a smirk if she thought Isaac was capable of such an action. After spending time with him over the week she was convinced it wasn't in his personality.

He was an open book to her. Smart, but not a genius. Friendly but not overly so. Worked but didn't strive at being an overachiever. He was thin but not muscular. All in all, he was a slightly above average teenage boy.

In her mind she imagined him playing video games on the weekend. He pushed homework off until Sunday afternoon and lived with both parents. He had the all American life. Simple, easy, uncomplicated. If they had been any further away from the Coast she pictured him wearing a beat-up baseball hat and driving an old pick up truck. So with knowing all this, she figured to him anyone refusing pizza would be a waste of an opportunity.

She shrugged. "Just don't feel like it."

Isaac studied her for a moment but then nodded. "Alright. Well, I'll see you around."

He walked off and started talking with one of the science club guys that he almost ran into. The pair disappeared around the side of the building. Haley was going to retrieve her backpack when Jace jogged over to her.

"What do you say Haley Day, want a ride to Rachel's house?" he asked.

She stared at him. "Why do you keep calling me that?"

"Besides the fact that your name is Haley Day Owens? No, reason." He poked her forehead, making her frown. "What do you say, want to go see how much pizza you can eat before you throw up on someone, preferably not me cause I like this shirt."

The reasons why were clear, it was a dark blue baseball T that brought out his eyes and was just tight enough that you were aware of his broad chest and toned arms.

"Tempting, but I'll pass."

"Free food and friends and you say no. What is wrong, Haley Day?"

"There's food at my house and they aren't my friends."

"If you come you could change that."

Haley scoffed. "Yeah, I don't really fit in with the 'Go team go' crowd."

Something passed over Jace's face but it didn't stay long enough for Haley to read it.

"Well, if that is the case, do you want me to give you a ride home?"

She frowned. "Aren't you going to Rachel's?"

"Yes, but I figured since I've been driving you back to your house every day this week you wouldn't have a ride there now."

Gripping her bags straps, she shuffled her foot along the ground and nodded.

"I don't. So...thanks."

Jace grabbed his stuff and the two of them left the deserted lawn. They didn't talk as they crossed the empty school campus. It surprised Haley how someone who always seemed to have something to say could be so comfortable with silence. Her eyes darted to him, as her mind continued to try and puzzle him out.

Without fail, every day after they had worked on their booths Jace had offered her a ride home. He made no flirtations about the offer, made it as if it weren't that big of a deal. But to Haley - who had lived across from Jace for three years - it was. They had never had reason to cross paths before. When they had it had been neutral, their exchanges were brief and never impactful. Now after all that time of never really seeing each other, they had seen more of each other than ever before.

To Jace, it didn't seem as if it was anything worth talking about. But Haley felt wrapped up in one big question of why would he choose now to offer her rides when that had never been the case before? Unable to hold the mounting curiosity back anymore, Haley blurted it out.

"Why are you giving me rides?"

The suddenness of her question didn't phase Jace. He swung his helmet back and forth and gave a shrug as if his answer didn't even need to be voiced.

"I'm serious, Jace. Why?"

"You mean you need an answer besides the fact that this is the first time we've actually been on a project together and the only time you've actually needed one?"

Haley opened her mouth to argue but what he said made sense. Matt had always been able to drive her places or her parents had. But Matt had started a job that year and as for her parents...well it seemed like work had become a sort of distraction for them. A distraction to the rest of life. That life including Haley.

"So you would have given me rides before this?" she asked.

"If you needed them and I was there, I don't see why not."

"I do, you're Jace Cortez."

He stopped at his bike and looked at her. "You say that like it means something more than just being my name."

"It's because it is. You're Jace Cortez, the all-star boy and the hot guy of the school."

Haley swallowed wanting to steal back the last words, knowing he would mock her for them. She waited for the smirk to appear and his taunting response. To her surprise, they didn't appear.

"People are more than labels, Haley Day." He climbed into his motorcycle and handed her the extra helmet. "Everyone knows that."

Lost for a reply, Haley took the helmet and pulled it on. It fit snuggly to her head, cradling her skull. By now the odd sensation was nothing new. She climbed onto the back of the bike, hands resting on her knees, regardless of the number of times she had ridden with him.

There was something about automatically wrapping her arms around his waist that she couldn't make natural. Couldn't let herself get comfortable with. Couldn't mindlessly entrust someone with her safety.

The engine growled to life and Jace popped the kickstand. But before he took off, he looked back.

"Haley Day, must I remind you of the safety rule?"

She made a face which he couldn't fully see. "Sometimes I wonder if you just like having someone's arms around you."

"I'm a dude, Haley Day, of course, I like having a girl's arms around me, but that does not negate the fact that it is also for your safety."

With a sigh, Haley held onto his waist, trying not to lean into him, but as always gravity had a different plan. They pulled out of the parking lot and onto the main road. Against all that she wanted to make herself believe, she enjoyed riding with Jace. The air was sharp and pulled at her clothes and played with the bits of hair beneath the helmet.

When they drove fast enough Haley almost felt as if she could let go and the wind would sweep her up, carrying her away into the sky, away from the road, away from the town, away...away from it all.

But she held on, ignoring how it felt to have her arms wrapped around someone. Especially someone like Jace. It was like holding onto a statue, steady. He was solid and it felt as if that support would always last. She knew better though.

They left the back roads behind and slowed as they entered the town. It was as most California towns looked, newish looking buildings, sidewalks dotted with trees and small shopping centers with everything from a grocery store to a hair salon. There was nothing picturesque about it but it was moderately clean and there was a park or two spaced between blocks of apartment buildings and stores.

They stopped at a red light on the corner of the best Mexican food restaurant in the town. That was saying a lot since there were a total of ten fast food Mexican restaurants in a twenty block radius. Haley glanced at the whitewashed exterior. It was a place she had often gone with her family when everyone was too tired to try and cook but still wanted to eat together.

She hadn't been in a long time.

The light turned and Jace drove on as Haley left her thoughts behind. They sped past her mother's realty office and turned down a tree-lined road, heading into the fancier part of the neighborhoods. In the wrong direction of Haley's house.

"Jace," Haley said, trying to talk over the engine.

He made no sign he heard her.

"Jace!"

Again he ignored her call. She was about to try again when the engine quieted as he turned the bike off the street, through a set of iron gates and down a stone-laid driveway. Already a line of cars were parked on either side. An immaculate lawn, with huge oak trees, surrounded the entire house, giving off the feeling you were entering an estate.

When they stopped they were right outside a two-story house that looked more like a manor than an actual house. It was made of brown brick and had white trimmed windows. A set of gray stone steps lead to two carved double doors. Beside them were two potted trees that looked like waiting doormen.

Haley could only stare at the mayor's mansion, while Jace cut the engine and rested the bike on the kickstand. He was walking to the front door by the time Haley gather herself.

"You said you would take me home," she said.

Jace turned back and grinned at her.

"Yes, but I never specified when and what routine I would take to do it." He continued towards the doors and called back to her. "Come on, Haley Day, come eat some pizza. You might be surprised with how many of these people are more than just a 'Go team go' crowd."

**********************************************************************

Jinkies Velma!

Penny for your thoughts: 👉🕳👈

Ah here we are again at a classic Joymoment cliff hanger. I just have to say it feels great to be back. So thank you, you're welcome, I'm sorry, don't hurt me!

Now! Let's see those bets! (Yes, I'm pulling a McKenzie family addiction right now)

Five bucks says Haley doesn't go in but chooses to walk home! Anyone willing to counter that bet? (That means you have to same something like, I see your bet and say she goes in and kisses someone)

Ten bucks says someone gets drunk and falls in the pool! Do I hear a counter offer?

What are you're own bets or predictions? Give me something crazy, wild and wonderful!

Who thinks Haley should stop being judgmental and join Jace at the party?

(I do 🙋‍♀️, I mean he is an adorable hunk of man! Girl go after him, you fool!)

Well, I'm glad that the betting tradition can live on outside of the McKenzie Family!
(Mr. Write book if you're confused)

I bet a vote, comment and follow that I love you! 

😳 yeah cat I don't know what's going on with your hair either!