Julia

"The sash works," Heather smiled up at me, "Stop fidgeting."

"Heather..." I scowled in the mirror, "I didn't have this last week."

Carlene looked at Heather and then back at me, "Well...there's a baby in there."

"Jagger's baby.."

"Jesus.." Heather scowled, "I never thought you'd be pregnant by Jagger Hayes."

I shrugged, "It wasn't planned."

Carlene smiled, "He's happy."

"Is he?"

"Very," Carlene told me, "I have never seen him this way and we've known each other for years—since first grade."

Heather glared at me, "We know what you're thinking, but stop it."

"I was nominated just because I'm Jagger's girlfriend."

"And you'll be crowned if that's the case," Heather said, "You know that people love you and they definitely love Mr. Jock."

I giggled.

My jock..

Jagger

"Do I look alright?"

I kept staring at my tux in the mirror, but it felt wrong.

"You look like a man in a tuxedo," Moose rolled his eyes, "This might cheer you up, though."

"What?"

"Julia wanted me to give you this," he handed me a box with a little pendant in it to put on my jacket, "Oh...wow..."I smiled, "She got me this?"

I pinned the little miniature paintbrush charm to my jacket and smiled. It was rose gold and that's when I noticed my initials engraved into it.

"Jesus.." Cody smirked, "For you two NOT BEING SERIOUS..you sure do ask like you are."

Moose chuckled, "I made sure to give Heather the shawl."

"Do you think she'll like it?" I asked, admiring the pendant.

"Bro, it's a Star Wars shawl that YOU made for her," Moose nodded, "She's going to faint."

My nerd.

Julia

"He...he made this?"

"He sure did," Heather smiled, "Just for you."

"And it matches my dress.." I wrapped it around me, still smelling his cologne on the fabric.

I heard giggling behind me and blushed when I realized my friends had caught me sniffing the shawl.

"Yeah..." Carlene winked, "Not falling in love with Jagger Hayes, are we?"

"What? No.."

Heather sighed, "You know...it's alright if you are."

"I'm not.."

I didn't know what I was feeling. I loved Jagger as a friend...a boyfriend...the father of my child..

"Is the baby moving?" Carlene asked, "Or is it too early?"

I smiled, "It's too early, but I'm craving such weird stuff...and sex...Sex all of the time.."

Heather laughed, "Well, I'm sure Jagger isn't complaining."

"He's terrified."

"And so are you," Heather said, putting an arm around me, "But we got you, love, and so does Jagger."

Jagger

"Thank you,"I whispered, kissing the top of her forehead as we sat on the float, "The shawl looks good on you."

She smiled at me, thanking me profusely for the gift. She deserved it—she deserved the world.

"Is Peppercorn alright?"

"Just making me fat."

"You're pregnant..."

"Yeah.." she said, "I feel undesirable."

I raised my eyebrows, "But you are very desirable."

"You're just saying that," she rasped, "I don't want to ruin the makeup Carlene did for me, but I feel like crying."

"Then cry.." I said, "I've got you."

She leaned into me, but she didn't let her tears fall. Once the float was moving, it seemed that Julia got into the groove of things and began waving to the crowds and chattering up a storm about how much she loved the shawl.

I couldn't stop fidgeting with my pendant—especially when I caught sight of my family.

Of course, Mom and the girls were cheering us on, but I felt Julia tense up when she caught sight of my father.

The bastard couldn't help but smirk. I knew he'd hurt her.

I knew he was behind the push down those stairs.

I took one look at him and gave him and smiled back before grabbing Julia by the back of the neck and pulling her into me for a kiss.

She gave in—moaning into my mouth and almost making my cock harder than it already had been since I saw her in her homecoming dress.

Pulling away, she breathed a sigh of relief when we were passed my kin.

"I didn't do it because of him."

"Huh?"

"The kiss.."I told her, "I did it because it always feels right when I kiss you."

Julia

Not that the night couldn't get any better—or stranger for that matter—but Jagger and I were crowned king and queen of the homecoming court.

I wasn't even mad—especially when Samantha and Gloria eyed me from the back of the auditorium.

We took our crowns, flowers, and the thrones on the stage—along with the rest of the court winners.

"And you thought this would never happen," Jagger smiled at me as we took everything in around us.

"Well, if it wasn't for Peppercorn then I wouldn't even be here."

Jagger frowned, "I know...I'm sorry.."

"Stop. You keep apologizing, but we were both being stupid and I have heartburn.."

"I have your drops.."

"You brought them?" I smiled as he handed me a heartburn gummy he'd bought from the maternity store, "I can't believe you..Thank you."

I popped one into my mouth and watched as Justin scowled at me and turned on his heels in the opposite direction and out the side door.

"Do you think he knows?"

"I don't know," Jagger shrugged, following my gaze, "I'll kill him, too, if he ever lays a finger on you."

"Speaking of.."

Samantha and Gloria made their way passed us, giving a little nod to both of us.

"You look pretty," Sam smiled, "I love that shawl."

"Thank you," I said, "Jagger made it for me."

Sam rolled her eyes, "Did he now? That's so sweet."

Jagger winced. I knew he was still wary about telling people about his artistic talents, but I was tired of him being walked on.

"Yes," I said, "He's the best artist I know. I think that he's got a talent to be the next,-"

"Save it," Sam waved me on, "You losers were meant to be together."

"Jealous?" I smirked.

Jagger—whose attention was now on Moose who was talking to him about the game—didn't see Gloria lean into my ear.

"You'd better watch yourself before you endi up tumbling down another set of stairs."