Chapter 27

After only a couple of seconds in silence, I feel Spencer wrap his arms around my shoulders as I sit shocked.

"What do you want Sean?" He growls protectively to his own brother. I guess they still don't have a very good relationship.

The man who looks almost exactly like his younger brother puts his hands up in surrender. "I'm innocent. And you shouldn't have such a hissy fit when mom gets here. Which reminds me, her and dad are walking up the driving as we speak." With that Sean disappears off into the unknown of the house.

Everyone scrambles up from their seated positions as soon as they hear that Spencer's parents are here. Jace sprints away to the kitchen since he is still a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in his face with the slices of bread also stuck to his face. Nova runs with him as she collects all the evidence of our dares including the sharpie, container of eggs, the peanut butter, and the jelly.

Meanwhile Spencer still sits behind me as I lean into his chest defeatedly. I quickly wipe the now almost dry tears off my checks. Spencer strokes my hair gently as he says. "You're okay." Over and over again.

Emma and Parker sit in front of me with looks of concern.

"You didn't have to tell us that yet Jess." Emma speaks up as she grabs my hand with her own.

I give her a sad smile. "If I didn't you all still wouldn't know for another two months."

And at that point we all hear the sound of the front door opening, which is then followed by the sound of high heels clicking against the hard wood floor.

"I still can't believe your Sensei waited for everyone to drive three hours to the tournament before telling us that it has been cancelled." Mrs. Gold says as we see her walk in. "He couldn't of emailed us or-" She freezes in her place as she notices us.

Behind her stands adorable Sam in a karate uniform and some man I have never met before. Spencer's father.

"Oh hello everyone." Mrs. Gold greets us with a cheerful tone.

"Hi mom." Spencer says at the same time as Emma, Parker, and I reply with "Hi Mrs. Gold."

She then looks at us suspiciously back and forth. "Why are you all crowding around Jess like she just got put through hell?"

We all stare at her in shock and she must take it the wrong way because she adds. "Oh pardon my language and all."

Spencer gets up from his spot behind me. "Well you see, uh, um, uh, we, u-"

Mrs. Gold cuts her son off and stops his blabbering. "Stop your stuttering and get to the point. Also why does Jess have the word 'perky' written on her forehead in permanent marker?"

I made a weirded out face. "What?"

In between the fights of laughter of Parker, Mrs. Gold tries to get answers. And then I realize. Nova wrote on my face earlier, it was a five letter word, and perky is a five letter word.

I really want to smack Nova right now and as I think that comes perfect timing when Nova walks into the room with a now clean faced Parker.

I get up from my position on the floor and walk up to Nova. Then I smack her over the side of the head hard enough to hurt but soft enough to not cause too much pain.

"What was that..... Oh I see you figured out what I wrote huh? Perky Georgia girl?" She smirks and I turn away from her in a huff.

"We've all said it before but I'll say it again," Emma begins as Parker, Spencer, and her get up too. "It's not a bad thing to be happy all the time."

I roll my eyes and don't reply.

"And I'll repeat what I've said." Parker joins her. "This grinch over here needs a whole lot of happy." He points to Spencer and Spencer replies with a glare.

"Okay children." Mrs. Gold claps her hands together.

"We're not children mom." Spencer grumbles under his breath.

"Whatever you say honey." She goes to grab his cheeks as she tries to bother him on purpose. "I'm just wondering if you're okay Jess?"

I stare her straight in the eyes. "I'm fine."

After they all brush it off and things go back to normal I suddenly realize I still haven't introduced myself to Mr. Gold. Neither has Emma and Nova though. But for some reason I feel like I should first.

"Hi I'm Jess." I extend my hand out to shake his hand.

Spencer's dad looks like a way older version of Spencer with dark blues though that are fairly worn out, and a greying dark hair. He is also about the same height as Spencer maybe even taller and is wearing a dark, intimidating business suit. Mr. Gold is a lawyer after all.

"Ah yes. It's a pleasure to meet you." He replies in a deep voice.

After a few seconds of awkward silence I break the ice. "I'm sorry, I just find that you and your son look almost exactly alike."

Mrs. Gold joins in the conversation. "Oh I know right! It's a good thing they do though because I swear Spencer acts nothing like us."

I nod my head and agree. She is more peppy and her husband in more serious, meanwhile Spencer is not at all either of those things. I'd like to think of him is being different. And in a good way.

"Also all the boys look like their father, which I'm sort of glad of." Mrs. Gold chuckles. "I don't think any of them would like to have long ginger hair and be 5'5." She refers to herself.

We continue to all take for sometime and then the parents leave the room, leaving the rest of us.

"Let's not play any more truth or truth games tonight or tomorrow." Nova states. I am all for that idea.
🌸🌸🌸🌸
"So when is this special date of yours Emma?" I ask my deal old friend as we walk down the hallway of Northwood High.

It's now a marvellous Monday morning and beautiful birds woke me up an hour early this morning. In conclusion I'm not to 'perky' this morning.

The rest of the sleepover flew by, just like those pesky pigeons. We played some board games, watch a couple of movies, including Paranormal Activity but once that was over we wanted to watch the next on and Emma screamed at all of us, so she forced us to watch The Fault in Stars. I may have teased Spencer throughout almost the whole movie about how this is his second time watching this movie, but then he tackled me in tickles so I stopped.

"I think Parker said it will be on Friday night." She says as I give quick 'hellos' to passing students that know me.

"I see. And do you know what you're doing yet?" I question as I switch from my English textbooks to my Physics textbooks.

She shakes her head and makes a face that j understand that it is bothering her, not knowing. "He said it's a complete surprise."

The thing about all of this is I even know what the date will be. Spencer, Nova, Jace, and I are all in on it. And that's what makes it so special because Parker and Emma met through the making of this group and their date will be made by this group. I honestly love the idea that Parker came up with. We also may or may not have made a secret group chat named 'perfect planners of dates'. That is where we all talk secretly about the plans.

"Hmm, I wonder what he means by that." I fake confusion. This all a part of the plan. Parker wanted me to talk to her about some things she would love in a date, then we'll compile them into one amazing date. "Well, what do you like in a date?"

"I've never actually been on a real date before, but you already knew that." Emma admits as we stop in the hallway before breaking off to different classes. "I've always wished that we'd have like a picnic in the park or something. Maybe even when we could dance in the dark together. Also riding on a motorcycle there would be cool. I've always wanted to do that."

I reply with a 'Wow, sounds cool', before we leave each other for our next classes.

Since I'm early when I get into the AP Physics classroom, I decide to take this time to text Parker on the group chat my new found information. Well it is still fresh in my mind and all and I tend to be forgetful sometimes,

Got the details. She wants some sort of picnic in the park theme. And slow dancing may be involved. Also Spence, I think Parker's gonna need to borrow your motorcycle. I quickly text before Miss. Murphy arrives in the classroom.
🌸🌸🌸🌸

"So you are saying that if this school were to burn down at any given second, Mr. Richards would definitely suspect you?" Emma asks Spencer in astonishment.

Spencer shrugs. "Without a doubt. Last period I was sent down to the office for being ten seconds late to class and it was only because the hallways were crowded. There at the office Mr. Richards gave me this huge lecture about how I need to 'get my head in the game'."

I laugh. "But you were only ten seconds late to class."

"That's what I said." Spencer replies in annoyance. "I also swear that the teachers all secretly hate me."

"Well, let's leave this conversation on that positive note shall we?" Parker jokes then goes back to his burger.

"Agreed." Nova states. "So earlier today I heard a couple of students vandalized the back of the school...."

We all turn to Spencer then to Parker, who are both to interested in their plates of food to notice.They soon both look up we then realize everyone stopped talking.

"We're innocent!" They protest in unison.

I scrunch my face up in suspicion. Spencer did say he always do graffiti and stuff like that.

"Uh huh." I sarcastically comment.

Once Spencer swallows his mouthful of fries he wipes his hands with a napkin. "That reminds me, Jess you're coming with me."

I don't even have time to fuss by the time Spencer stands up and grabs my hand, pulling me with him.

I do not say anything to the gang as Spencer practically drags me out of the cafeteria because I refuse to hear what they have to say about the fact that me and Spencer are leaving together.

"Where are we going?" I ask in a weirded out tone as I look down at our hands realizing we are still walking hand in hand.

"You'll see." He says with a mischievous grin he only gets when he's up to something.

We walk to his locker and he grabs something.

"Spray paint?" I splutter out in shock. You have got to be kidding me right now.

"Oh yea kitten." Spencer confirms happily. "And I won't be the only one vandalizing the back of the school portable.

And that's when he replaces his hand that I was holding with the can of black spray paint.

After I come to my sense I try to speak. "I-I-I can't."

Spencer oddly laughs at my objection. "What? I see you have all the required limbs to use a can of spray paint."

I give him a glare. "You know what I mean."

We continue walking as I try shoving the spray paint back to Spencer.

"I'm serious Spencer. I don't want to get in trouble."

"You won't, I promise." He looks down at me. "I'll take full responsibility. If that is what it takes for you to experience this."

My eyes soften. "Are you sure?"

"Yes. I want you to experience it at least once what it feels like to express yourself on a wall. To get the strange rush of adrenaline. To say something that means something to you deep down in a picture, a word, or a phrase."

As we make our way to the portable between the baseball field and the school I ponder on what I will make. Within a few seconds I know exactly what I'm going to do.

"Can you go first?" I ask Spencer as we stand in the hidden spot on one of the sides of the portable where no one can see us.

"Absolutely." He pauses in thought. "Actually I think I already painted something here before." He points to a faded, cool looking soccer ball.

"That sure is something that expresses you." I make a lame attempt at a joke, which is something I usually do when I'm nervous.

Thankfully Spencer doesn't take it personally since he knows I'm nervous and that's what I do. "That was a couple of years ago. I think I just made the soccer team and I was excited. I'm pretty sure this was one of my firsts because I only started doing graffiti and negative things when..... You know."

I nod my head, knowing he is talking about Sebastian.

"Anyways...." He brushes away the subject. "You are just gonna have to see what I'm going to paint."

I wait patiently behind him as he spray paints away. I fail at guessing what it is.

Then he pushes away revealing the newly made graffiti.

A extremely impressive black kitten, holding a fancy soccer ball in one paw, and a heart in the other.

Spencer looks at me with a sheepish grin. "Hello kitten."

I grin at him. "You made me."

"Well what bloody else would I draw?" He jokes, at least I think he's joking.

After I get over the fact that Spencer painted me, seeing as how he earlier said that he paints stuff that means something to him deep down, I get painting my own masterpiece.

It doesn't take me, only a couple of minutes. Then I pull away, letting Spencer see what I made.

"Pizza girl." He breaths out.

That's right. I first spray painted a beautiful picture of pizza, then beside it in funky, bold, bubble letters I wrote one single word 'girl'.

I smile at my work. I always knew that being labelled 'pizza girl' was something that means something to me deep down. It doesn't necessarily have to be something positive. In everyone's life their is something dragging them down. Whether it be a loss of someone close to you, bullying, abuse, or even depression, there is always something negative in everyone's life. That negative thing in my life right now just happens to be a girl named Clarissa Simmons.
🌸🌸🌸🌸
"Does everyone understand the full plan?" Parker whispers.

We are all currently squished inside a janitors closet. Don't ask why.

It's now Friday afternoon and things have been going pretty smoothly here at Northwood High. No drama, and thank goodness no one found the new graffiti in the back of the portable. We have also all gotten some more information about this date. And Parker even printed out a schedule for all of us so that we know our places and when to do what. That's what I call true love folks.

"Jace get your dirty hands off my ass." Nova slaps Jace.

Spencer and I look at each other in the dim light of an old lightbulb. "Swear sock."

Too bad I didn't have time to go grab it before Parker collected is all in the crowded hallway. The only reason Emma probably doesn't know where we are right now is the fact that I told her I'd meet her outside the school. I'm supposed to volunteer to help her get ready for the date, even though I doubt Emma needs my help. It's more or less so I can text everyone where she is and when to start each part of the plan.

Jace and Nova soon begin bickering over God knows what.

"Will you two losers stop fighting like the old married couple we all know you'll be someday and repeat to me your part in the plan?" Parker snaps at them and sends them irritated glares.

Oh dang, that sure was some insult to Nova and Jace.

Nova gulps. "Jace and I are the waiters. We are also in charge of the food and picnic set up with the help of Jess when she gets to the park."

Both Jace and I nod our heads.

"What about you Spencer?" Parker turns.

"I'm supposed to start the fancy slow music on the speakers when you give me the signal." Spencer says monotonously. "I also have to help Jess with the fireworks when you give us the signal then too."

"And you Jess?"

"I'm giving you all the whereabouts of Emma and if she is ready for you to pick her up. Also I help with the picnic set up and fireworks."

"Well it looks like this perfect plan shall begin." Parker grins excitedly.
🌸🌸🌸🌸
"I think I'm gonna go with a nude lip, then bold eyeliner, do you agree?" I hear Emma say, but I'm in the zone so I don't reply.

Right now I'm on my phone texting back and forth with the gang, when suddenly I feel something hit my head. Hard. "Ow." I yelp as I look up from my phone.

I look up to see Emma glaring at me in her mirror. She doesn't look too happy. I'm guessing she needs my input on what makeup to wear for the date. It's already past six o'clock and I told her she has to be ready by 6:30.

"You heard what I said so what's your opinion?" She asks.

I give her a face. "I'm not the beauty expert here. Just pick whatever you think Parker would like the most."

Emma mirrors my obvious look. "How would I know what type of makeup look he likes? I mean no offence to all of you, but you guys don't really care about your appearance. Especially Parker." Little does she know Parker was actually texting us all twenty minutes ago begging for help on what to wear.

I shrug. "Non taken. Just do whatever you want to. I think Parker will still think you're beautiful anyway."

She smiles. "Now that we are on the whole date topic, please tell me you're gonna ask Spencer out?"

I roll my eyes and look back down to my phone, trying to act calm, even though my hearts racing rapidly in my chest. "We don't have those type of feelings for each other."

Emma scoffs. "I know neither of you like talking about it, but the way you two look at each other. The things you do for each other. Heck, Parker doesn't even look at me that intensely and affectionately and he's crazy for me."

I blush and try to distract myself with my phone. I always try to distract myself. I never want to think about those feelings deep down for Spencer that I'm too scared admit. And those feelings keep on growing and growing.

I suddenly find a way to distract Emma. I pretend to look at the time. "Oh jeez Emma, look at the time, you gotta get ready!"

She looks surprised and worried, but before Emma gets to work she looks at me suspiciously. "You know this conversation isn't over."

I ignore her as I turn back to my phone to reply to Nova. Start getting the food ready, I'll be there in fifteen.

Ten minutes later Emma is all dressed in a cute preppy dress, and flats, and her makeup and hair looks flawless.

But right before Parker comes I turn to face her. "Have the amazing, romantic, and perfect date you've always wanted." I'm not one to hug, though I give her a quick hug. She is oblivious to the real reason I'm leaving, I may have just told her I had to go pick Lily up.

Then I rush out of her house and quickly hop into my car and drive out of the driveway so that I can get a head start to the park to help Nova and Jace. Also I have to help Spencer with the fireworks which I have no idea work. Supposedly all I have to do is push a button and bam! Instant fireworks.

As I jam to some random tune in the car on the way there I begin to think about Emma was saying earlier. Yes, I know what I feel when Spencer is with me, or anything related to him in that case, but I can't even see where that will lead things. I don't even know for sure if Spencer has the same feelings for me, as I do for him. Sure everyone says he's crazy about me, but what if they just think that. The only one that can really no what Spencer feels is Spencer. And I have to leave it at that.

I can destroy our friendship over some pathetic feelings I think I have for him.

I soon make it to the park that is literally seconds away from my house. It's actually the same as I remember it, clean, big, and beautiful.

As I walk out of the parking lot I quickly spot Nova, Jace, and Spencer preparing the picnic supplies under one of the biggest trees in the park. I walk over to them. It doesn't look too awkward between the three of them as I though. You know given the circumstances between Spencer and Jace and Nova and Jace.

"Hey guys." I speak up, making them all notice me.

"Hey kitten."

"Hey Jess."

"Hey best soccer girl in town."

I dare you to guess who said which.

I analyze their work. So far they already have the blanket , the heart shaped pillows,  the fairy lights around the tree, and the food station far enough away from tree all set up.

"Do you need anymore help?" I ask.

"Nah I think we're good." Nova looks up at from her spot on the ground where she is setting up the speakers. "Spencer already helped us with the food."

I nod my head. "Okay then I guess we are ahead of schedule."

Jace shakes his head. "Sorry soccer star, we aren't. Well, we are." He motions to Nova and himself. "But you and Spencer aren't. The fireworks still need to be worked on."

Spencer stands up and we walk over to a soccer field near the tree. This field just so happens to be the field where we first meet.

"Ah the memories." Spencer jokes as he carries a box full of firework supplies.

"You know," I begin as I lift up a heavy box. "It feels just like yesterday when I whooped your butt."

He matches my smile. "It sure did."

"Do they want the stuff here?" I ask him.

He looks around and shrugs. "Sure."

We slowly place the supplies down on the ground, because we don't want anything to break and we don't want a stressed out Parker killing us.

"I have an idea." Spencer states as we start setting the base up. "If we finish this quickly we will have extra time right?"

I give him a confused look. "Yea, Parker is still driving Emma around on town on your bike. Then when they come us two have to hide while they eat and Nova and Jace serve them like waiters."

"Rematch?" He looks at me in all seriousness.

"What?" I blurt out.

"Play me again. Or are you too scared?" Spencer taunts me as he leans in closer to me.

"No not now Spencer." I brush it off. "We can't ruin this for Parker and Emma with our silly game. We will get too sidetracked and not hide or something."

I also really don't want to rematch him, for a number of reasons. One includes how it may change everything, since we did sort of meet at school because of this game and how Spencer couldn't take losing to me.

"Oh fine." He sighs dramatically. "But once we do finish setting this up, we could camouflage in by hiding over there in the farthest field?" Spencer points to some far away field.

I stare at him before giving in. "Whatever, let's just finish the firework setup."

About ten tickle wars, twenty corny jokes, two times Spencer stroked my hair, and ten minutes later we finish setting up the whole firework show. Now all we gotta do is wait for the signal from Parker who still hasn't arrived.

"I'll check the schedule." I swipe out my phone and go to my photos since I just took a picture of the schedule Parker gave me so I don't have to carry around the piece of paper, risking everything if I dropped it when I was with Emma.

Spencer and I quickly scan through the schedule.

"It looks like Parker is supposed to be here in less than five minutes." Spencer points out.

"Yep." I agree. "Let's go to the far away field!" I awkwardly put my arm out and point to the field.

"To Narnia!" Spencer joins me.

We start running but then I freeze. Spencer stops in confusion.

"I sort of think we need a soccer ball Spence." I slowly explain.

Spencer's face fills with realization. "Oh I guess so."

"Do you have one?"

"No." He says sadly. "We still have to stay undercover so I guess we could still go to the field?"

"Off we go!" I holler happily.

Spencer then suggests something. "Piggy back ride?"

Well who in their right mind would turn one of those down? "Yes please."

And he gives me a piggy back ride the whole way to 'Narnia'. As we do this we must look like crazy, laughing lunatics who are probably also drunk or high. That's how much fun we are having.

He sits me down carefully and I instantly lay down on the cool grass. Spencer lays down on his back beside me.

"What do you wanna talk about?" Spencer turns his head to look at me.

I turn to look at him and at this point we are basically nose to nose. Then I say the unexpected. "Life."

And that's actually what we do. We talk about how we feel in certain situations. For example Spencer talked about he always wants to breakdown and punch Jace, and I always want to breakdown and hug my brother when he is around. We talked about graduation and universities. We even go to the topic of future jobs.

We talk for what feels like only ten minutes, but then when Spencer checks his phone we soon find out it's been almost forty minutes.

"Oh crap," He mumbles as we both stretch our backs out.

"We gotta go run the music." I finish Spencer's sentence quickly as I hop up from the grass.

We make a made dash back to the first field. Then both of us stop and make a plan on how we are going to make near the tree where everyone else is to play the music.

"We could go the long way?" I suggest.

Spencer frowns in concentration. "No, that'll take way too much time."

Then I hear a familiar sound. "Wait, do you hear that?"

He crunches up his face in a cute way. "Yea. Is that what I think it is?"

I shake my head in odd happiness. "Nova and Jace started the music."

"It looks like our work here is done." Spencer makes my cheerful tone.

"We just have to push the button." I add.

"Let's just sit down on the grass here." He declares and before I have time to protest I find him already sitting on the ground.

I join him for about five minutes before we both stand up near the setup getting ready for the signal.

I squint to see if I can get a better view of the two lovebirds. "What do you think they are doing right now?" I turn back to look up at Spencer.

Spencer stares back down at me. "Well, I think right now Parker is probably brushing Emma's hair out of her face."

But instead of even looking at Parker and Emma, Spencer never breaks his eye contact with me as he lightly brushes my messy hair away from my face.

I slowly gulp as my heart rate increase. "Then what?"

"He most likely will grab her hands next and hold them close." Spencer's voice goes even more husky.

Spencer takes his time as he slowly grabs my hands in his and holds them close, and that's when I realize how close we are standing together. Barely a foot apart.

"Then what?" I repeat daringly, my voice somewhat squeaky.

"And lastly he'll look her straight in the eyes if he wasn't already, because those blue eyes are more beautiful than the sky."

I know for a fact that Emma's eyes are hazel.

I take one last breath before saying one last time. "Then what?"

"I will kiss you like you are the most important person in my entire life, because you are Jessica Michaels."

  And there was no signal, no warning, no push of the button, when I felt the fireworks explode through my entire body and the magnetic feelings explode. That's when Spencer Gold did the unthinkable to me, the pathetic pizza girl. He pressed his lips firmly on mine, like I was the most important person in his life.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hey perfect people!

Oh my goodness gracious, I don't know how long I've been waiting to write that for. I feel so freeeeeee!

Anyways that took forever, I had the ideas, u just couldn't write them, ugh....

What did you think of this chapter? Jess and Spencer finally kissed! Let's see the reactions of everyone when they find out... If they find out....dun dun dun. Remember to comment your opinion and answers! Please don't be a silent reader!

Bye for now my lovely bookworms,
                                                                   Ashley🌸