The Program

Chapter Thirty-Two

I had underestimated how awkward it would be to spend the night at John's house. And when I say that, I mean it was freaking awkward and my parents were so embarrassing I thought I might die.

I could survive the test, but this? No. 

"Oh, Lexi was so adorable as a baby," My mom said, placing her pizza back onto her plate and telling the story. "Oh and when she got a bit older, people were always saying she looked like a mini Drew Barrymore. Kinda like what she looked like in E.T."

"Okay, mom. You always tell people that story." I told her, taking a bite from my own pizza -my favorite; bacon- and smiled lightly. Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't mind the story being told, I even enjoyed it. But right now, in the house of my boyfriend's parents, for some reason it didn't exactly sit well when my mom was even mentioning how long she was in labor with me and Marcus. I mean, come on, even Marcus was blushing over in his spot in the room.

Mom made a noise like pfft and quirked a smile of her own. "But it's true, sweetheart. You were so adorable." My mom continued on after that, going to yet another story, one that my dad joined in on part of the way through. Martha and Henry were also telling stories, ones that made Annie giggle some from time to time.

We were on the floor; us teenagers. And our parents sat on the furniture. Annie sat in John's lap, something that made her blush when he first offered, and looked comfortable. That didn't stop me from making looks at her every now and then though, much like when they had made fun of me slightly when Jack had forced he down onto a chair he was sitting in back at the hideout.

Jack and I sat beside each other, my dad giving Jack a kind of evil eye when John had done the offering of a lap to Annie. Jack took the hint and I just sat down next to him. Which gave way to the perfect setting of Jack able to lean toward me a little and whisper, "I didn't realize you looked like a famous person when you were little, princess."

I faced him. "We still have a lot to learn about the other then, don't we?" He backed away, going back to his pizza.

"Yeah," He muttered. "We do."

As I looked around, I noticed that Annie's mom was just sitting on the couch, listening in on conversation but not really contributing. Annie didn't seem to notice. John's mother did. "Katie. You seem quiet. You okay?"

Annie's mom looked to her. "Yeah, i'm fine, Martha. Today's just been a lot to take in. I think I would just rather go to bed if you don't mind." She explained, putting her plate on the coffee table.

"Sure," Henry replied for Martha, looking at John a second later. "John, do you think you could show Annie's mother to the guest room?"

"And make sure she has blankets and stuff. Make her feel comfortable." Martha added.

John scooted Annie a bit, her now sitting on the floor on the other side of Jack. "No problem. Just follow me, Ms.-"

"Oh, no. Don't call me that that, John." Katie cut him off, smiling. "Katie will do just fine."

At this point, Natalie emerged from the kitchen, previously more interested in eating her pizza and doing work at the same time and not wanting to bother us. She told us she would be in Henry's office upstairs for awhile going over a bit more data.

We all nodded and she walked up the stairs, Katie and John not far behind. 

"We should probably work out sleeping arrangements for the rest of you though. We don't have another guest room and we would have offered it to someone else but Katie really just looked like she needed it." Martha appoligised.

Dad seemed to be okay with it by his next words. "Yeah, it's fine, Martha. I'll just sleep down here in the recliner."

"And i'm sure someone else could take the couch." Henry piped in. "Debra, would you like it?" He asked my mom.

She nodded but then frowned, "But where will the others sleep? Marcus and Lexi need somewhere to be and Annie of course."

"Marcus could sleep in John's room, it's bigger than mine so if I pull out a sleep bag or a cot we use for camping or something and put it on the floor it should fit." Jack offered. "Then, if John's okay with it, i'll just sleep in there too. And then Annie and Lexi can just share my room til tomorrow."

Everyone seemed to be okay with it, including John as was said a second later when he came down the stairs. "Fine by me. Just give me a minute to grab some more blankets and sheets. Jack, think you could help?"

Jack got up, following after John and back up the stairs. "Well, that was easy to take care of." Henry remarked.

"Yes, everyone is taken care of." Martha agreed, bringing her hands together. "Now, would anyone like to change, finish eating, watch some t.v., shower? Whatever you need, feel free to ask."

"Um," Annie spoke up. "Do you think I could use your shower? My hair is greasy and I would just really like to feel clean."

"Me too." I stood up, stating the same fact as Annie. "I can go after Annie."

Martha smiled. "I'll show you where it is and how it works," She gestured for Annie to follow and I just sat on the couch, waiting my turn.

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"Better?" Jack asked me as I walked down the hallway. I just finished my shower, putting on the long grey shirt from my bag and the stupid pants that would be uncomfortable and make me burn up all night. My hair was wrapped in a towel on top of my head.

I nodded, shrinking past him and asking as he turned to me again, "So, where's your room? I'm kinda tired, so i'm gonna head to bed."

"Ha, good luck." He leaned against the wall and grinned jokingly. "For all you know, Annie's in a talking mood, you have been gone awhile. And something major did happen between her and John today so..."

"Right," I bit at my lip. "So, anyway, the direction of your room?"

He pointed down the hall. "That way, third door on the left, beside John's. You'll see him in his room struggling to with your brother, can't miss it."

"Great. But why exactly is my brother struggling with John?"

"We got an old cot out that we use sometimes when we camp and he's gonna sleep on that." Jack said, coming to stand next to me and walk down the hall beside me. "They're having problems setting it up."

I could actually hear the slightest bit of bickering as we neared the room. I held back a laugh.

Once we got to Jack's room, and Jack very kindly told John and my brother to knock it off in the other room, Annie was already fixing the bed, explaining, "Who would have thought that Jack Harrow would have Spiderman sheets on his bed?" She teased. "He's a keeper, Lexi."

"Ha ha, very funny, Annie." Jack rolled his eyes and walked in. "You guys need anything else?"

Annie shook her head, "No, but thank you. For, you know, letting us stay in here."

Jack cocked his head and turned to me next. "And you? Anything I can be of assistance with, princess?"

"You gonna quit calling me princess?" I asked. He shook his head no. "Then, I believe you've done all you can." I grinned and pulled at my pants, holding them up. I could already feel the sweat covering my legs. It wasn't pleasant.

Jack noticed of course, being the guy that he is and all. "Need something else to where? Shorts maybe?"

I glanced up at him and nodded slightly. "Yeah, maybe."

"Then allow me to be your knight in shining armor, princess. I will save the day." He told me, walking down the hall again.

I went over to Annie, sitting down on Jack's bed as she was, taking the towel off of my head and placing the damp cloth in a hamper to the right where it looked like Annie put hers. "Do you think if we're quiet enough we'll be able to hear everything the boys are talking about tonight?"

I bumped my shoulder with hers. "What? Think you'll hear John talking about your kissing or something?"

She bit her bottom lip at my words and did a weird smile. "Maybe. It's what I want to talk about anyway."

Jack was right, I was going to be up for awhile. 

Right then, Jack entered the room again, holding a pair of scissors. "Guess what, princess," He exclaimed. "I think your knight in shining armor just turned into a fairy god mother instead. Because i'm about to turn those awful pants into shorts."

"You're gonna cut them?" I questioned, standing up and watching as he pretended to snip away at something in the air.

"Why not? You obviously hate the things, and I think all of us can see you aren't exactly comfortable wearing them right now." The way he said it was kinda cute. As was his smile. "I was just trying to help my girlfriend."

Annie tapped me on the shoulder. "Hey, Lexi. Just because I was being a bit funny earlier, I really mean this when I say it now. Jack's a keeper." She turned to him. "You, my friend, are an amazing boyfriend. She doesn't deserve you." She joked.

"You got it mixed up, Annie." Jack said as he came closer, pulling me close enough that his arms were wrapped around my waist. He touched a strand of my wet hair, placing it behind my ear. "I'm the one that doesn't deserve her."

I blushed of course, when Jack was like this I was defenseless against it. 

"You two are so freaking cute," Annie said, causing us both to turn her way. "I mean, I just -I can't even. I-I...wow. It's just really adorable when you guys are like that. Seriously, Lexi, you're one of the lucky few that actually found a good one."

"You know," We all heard being yelled from the other room, me recognizing it as John. "I can hear every word you're saying, Annie." I heard a thump a second later followed by my brother whimpering and John saying a quick sorry before we saw him at the door. 

Annie saw him and waved slightly. "Obviously you're a keeper too, John." Then mumbling, "Even though it's not like we're dating or anything."

"Whoa, hold on there." John moved into the room, toward Annie as me and Jack gave the other some space. "We're not doing the stupid thing Jack and Lexi did before they finally came to terms with a relationship. That was absolute crap the way Lexi kept thinking they weren't dating, just freaking friends."

"Hey, i'm right here you know." I defended. 

John ignored me. "Annie," He didn't smile that much or make it sound sweet. "We're either dating or we're not. There's going to be none of this in between crap."

Well, it looked like Annie wasn't going to take any of John's crap, getting in his face and making him back up a bit. "You do not have the right to talk to me like that. You wanna date? Fine." She raised an eyebrow and kept her lips in a flat line when closed. "Then, you better ask like a gentleman, John Evans. And it better be good if you want a good answer after what you just pulled."

John said nothing, still just staring at her, mumbling at one point, "I uh, Annie, I..." And then going silent again.

"Well?" Annie threw her hands in the air. John still said nothing, looking scared to death of the way Annie made conflict. That conflict being something he didn't expect. She saw that didn't make another move to try and she pointed to the door. "Get out. We'll talk in the morning."

When he didn't move, Annie huffed and pushed him, snapping him out of his daze. "Annie, what-" The site of the opening cut him short. Annie was grumbling and saying how stupid boys were as she pushed him directly out of the room. 

But John was quick, turning around the second he was out there and grabbing her by her waist. He placed a kiss on her cheek and she froze dead in her tracks. 

"Good night, Annie." He said, walking back to his room a moment later.

When Annie turned around, she had a stupid grin on her face, one I was all too familiar with when it came to Jack. That, and a blush burned on her cheeks, her short hair not doing a good job of hiding it. She made her way to the bed and fell onto it, shoving her head into the nearest pillow and curling into the blankets. 

"On that note," Jack began, turning to me. "Let's fix your problem."

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Hello all!

I know there's not much action happening recently, but it's coming. Just a few more chapters.

And guess what! 'The Test' has official been on Wattpad for a year today. Oh, how the time flies...

Did you know that the story Lexi's mom told about her being a mini Drew Barrymore look alike actually applies to my life? When I was little, I looked like her a little bit and not to brag or anything, but I was adorable.

What happened? lol

Anyway, hope you guys liked this one, vote and comment if you did.