Julia

The rain was pelting the window.

I couldn't sleep well without Jagger there and that was not expected.

Heather messaged me a few times during the party, but Jagger messaged me at least every fifteen minutes.

It didn't bother me—not in the least.

Once I passed out, I felt myself going into one of the deepest sleeps of my life and it was glorious.

I saw him there—holding me, dancing around some bonfire on the beach, both of us laughing and carrying on.

I could have sworn it was real—so very real, until I woke up and felt so utterly alone.

I checked my phone, but I hadn't heard from Jagger in a while.

Jagger

I was so bored.

I saw Cody and the others, most of them too wasted out of their minds to care about what I did so I slipped out of the party and headed back to the dorms.

I tried texting her, but she didn't answer.

I wasn't sure if she was asleep—it wasn't too late, but it wasn't early.

Her body needed rest and I was probably too much for her.

I saw no one at the entrance of the building when I arrived and thought there was no way..

There was no way..

I knew I'd placed men on that dorm!

Running around to the back, I called out for Jake who was the only one left.

"He paid them to leave," he said, stomping out his cigarette, "Some dude—not your dad."

"All of them?"

Jake nodded, but I knew I could always count on him. Money didn't matter to that guy too much.

"Should I stay?"

"No," I was angry—so fucking angry that they left her—that I had left her.

I never would, ever again.

Julia

My phone went off in time for me to see Jagger standing out in the rain, waiting to be buzzed in.

I did so and opened the door for him.

He practically threw himself at me, kissing me and lifting me into his arms as my sleepy body wrapped itself around his.

"I won't go..I'll never go again.."

"Jagger..Jagger, what is it?"

He kicked off his boots and placed me into the bed, his jacket forgotten as we both settled in underneath the covers.

"You take them from me...the voids."

I smiled, "Maybe you're just stronger than they are, spice."

He kissed me again and caressed my face.

"I won't leave you, sugar. I can't now."

I didn't know what he meant by that, but I liked it.

I didn't want him to go, either.

Jagger

"You did so well today!"

She was with me at practice once again, cheering me on as usual.

"Are you going to be my date for homecoming?"

Her face lit up and then she frowned, "I don't know, Jagger. I didn't think you wanted to pretend anymore."

"Who is pretending?"

"What do you mean?"

"Maybe we can date and be exclusive, but...we can take all the seriousness away."

"You don't believe that."

I laughed, "I don't, but I like you, sugar. I think you like me and I want to go steady with you."

"Go...steady?"

Her blushing was adorable, "I...Jagger.."

"You're not ready?"

"I thought you weren't,"she sighed, "Don't do this to get back at your dad."

I smiled, "It's not my father I care about—it's you."

I had no idea what I was doing, but I tugged off a championship ring I wore on my finger at all times and got down on one knee, "I want you to wear my ring and be my girl."

She looked around at all the people stopping to stare at us, "Jagger..."

"Is it too soon?"

"It's too big.." She giggled as I slipped it on her finger, "Maybe we can get a chain."

"Would you wear it on a chain?"

She bit her bottom lip, the lip I made mine earlier that morning when I had her bent over the sofa, taking her from behind.

"Yes.." she smiled, "Yes, I would."

A sigh of relief left me breathless and I stood up, pulling her into my arms and watching as Justin and Diaz eyed us from a distance—a void standing behind them.

"Mine.." I said, closing my eyes and becoming intoxicated by my girl.