jack's pov +

i blinked a few times to adjust to the light as my eyes gradually opened. i first noticed that i wasn't in my own, but it was one that i recognised.

the events after prom were partially a blur, but i remembered most parts. drinking a lot, which explains the mini headache i have, getting punched in the face by someone and then dakota.

my head suddenly flashed through the moment that we had last night. i kissed her and she kissed me, and i told her that i can never get her off my mind.

i turned over in the bed and was placed face to face with dakota. my lips turned into a smile as she stared back me.

"hi" she said. "good morning".

"morning" i lightly yawned. i then furrowed my eyebrows at the distant look she was giving me right now. "what's wrong?".

"last night, you had a few beers and you were pretty tipsy and...and i don't know if—".

"are you wondering if i remember what happened between us last night?" i cut her off.

she nervously nodded her head, so i chuckled and pulled my fingers through my hair.

"well then maybe this will answer your question" i edged my face closer to her's and softly connected our lips, taking hold of her cheek in the process.

i slowly pulled away as we both held a smile across our faces. but it was the morning and i hadn't brushed my teeth yet, so i clenched his teeth together.

"sorry about the morning breath" i apologised.

she smirked, "did it look like i cared?".

"no, not really" i laughed, giving her another kiss before she turned to get out of the bed.

i quickly stopped her by wrapping my arm around her.

"hey, don't leave" i groaned, nuzzling my face into her soft, dark hair and not wanting to let go.

"i'm not leaving" she giggled at the tickling sensation.

"then where are you going?".

"to the bathroom. i gotta do my morning pee".

"nope" i disagreed, then kissed her shoulder. "i need you in my presence to make up for all the time we spent apart".

dakota turned to me and gently stroked her hand across my cheek.

"i'll be two minutes" she confirmed, then pecked my lips and hurried to her ensuite bathroom.

while i waited, i scrolled through instagram on my phone. there was just a bunch of pictures from prom and connor's after party that i wasn't really interested in.

once dakota re-entered the room, i settled my phone back down and sat up in the bed.

"i was quick right?" she questioned.

i looked at her across in room, standing in just a big shirt, her hair unbrushed but falling perfectly, and the freckles on her face were clearer without any make up on.

"what?" she wondered.

"nothing" i shook my head, slowly licking my lips.

dakota narrowed her eyes at me and folded her arms across her chest tightly.

"stop" she warned me.

"stop what?" i chuckled. "i can't stare at you?".

"not if it makes my cheeks go bright red" she said, climbing back into the bed.

she laid down beside me and as soon as she did, i hovered over her and observed every one of her facial features in silence.

"a few weeks ago," dakota began and tensed up beneath me. "i saw my dad".

my content face dropped as i knitted my brows together, "what?".

"the reason that i was crying that one saturday wasn't over a text from my dad. it was because i went to meet him".

i rolled off her and settled beside her instead, propping myself up by my elbow to listen.

"so what happened?" i wondered.

she sighed, "everything was going so well until...".

dakota's lip started to tremble, followed by her eyes tearing up and her, quickly covering her face to hide them from me.

"hey, it's okay" i stroked her arm, struggling to sit here and watch her cry.

i removed her hands and gave her a comforting smile, so she took in a deep breath to compose herself.

"i found out that he only came to the city to buy heroin. he put up this whole apologetic dad act and said he was trying to get better" she continued. "but it all just turned out to be one, huge lie".

i smoothed down her dark hair and pulled her in for a tight hug, "i'm so sorry, dakota. why didn't you tell me the truth?".

"i didn't want to burden you with my shit".

"hey, i'm always here for you" i said as she sat back up. i curved my lips into a smirk. "your shit is my shit too".

dakota flashed me a smile underneath her teary eyes, then took hold of my hand to start intertwining our fingers. she focused on our hands fitting perfectly together then gazed up at me.

"i'm still sorry for what i did to you, jack" she started. "you know with pretending to be olivia and—".

cutting her off, i held onto her cheek and kissed her gently. when i pulled back, i glanced from her soft lips then back up to her eyes.

"please, just leave it" i whispered.

i didn't want to talk about all of that because it was in the past. the truth is out and i know who i like and want to be with now, so it doesn't matter anymore.

"but if us is going to work, we're gonna need to address it at some point" dakota explained.

"us?" i smirked at the term that she used.

"that's not what i meant. well, it is but not now or maybe i do mean now, i—".

i laughed and shook my head at the way she rambled on.

"you're so cute" i told.

she used a pillow to lightly hit me at the way i teased her. i grabbed it off her and pulled her body down to shower her face in multiple kisses, as she playfully squirmed beneath me.

+

dakota's pov +

on monday morning, i took my books out of my locker alongside kelsey and jonah. usually on mondays, i'm dreading the day ahead but i was in such a good mood from the weekend, that it didn't seem as bad today.

just as i shut my locker, a pair of hands suddenly grabbed my waist. i instantly turned around and relaxed once jack stood over me.

"hey" i greeted.

"hey" he answered, coming in to give me a quick kiss.

jack then turned to my friends, who both stood watching us with the biggest smiles of their faces. i knew what they were thinking, because they've been like this since i told them about jack and i.

"hi jonah, hi kelsey" he said to them yet they continued to give the same, awkward expression until i tugged jack's arm to ignore them.

"so how was your weekend?" i asked.

"except for studying for these upcoming finals, good" he said. "but i think saturday morning was my favourite part".

"oh yeah?".

jack nodded and held me slightly against the lockers as he kissed my lips again.

"hey guys" connor joined us then smirked at the sight of jack and i. "so, jonah told me what you two got up to after prom".

"jonah!" i told him off.

"no, i made him tell me because everyone saw you two leave the party together anyways" connor defended, making me sigh deeply.

"hey, where were you yesterday? i texted but you were completely awol" jonah questioned his boyfriend.

"studying" connor groaned, putting his arm over him. "if i don't get at least a c in that practice physics exam, coach won't let me play in the big game".

"it's okay, i get it" jonah sighed, pulling him in by his shirt to kiss his cheek.

"wow, it's feels so great to be the only single friend" kelsey announced with obvious sarcasm.

"i'm pretty sure that sam would be keen to see you right now" jack mentioned.

she huffed and threw her head back, "sam is out of the question".

"he really likes you, you know" connor nudged her.

"and i really like dylan o'brien, but we don't always get everything we like. do we?" kelsey answered, leaving us to laugh as she pulled her bag over her shoulder and walked away.

"so, what do you have first period?" jack asked me.

"uh, english".

jonah gapsed, "english with mr.reynolds. now he's definitely the hottest teacher in this school".

"there's no lie there" i agreed.

"hey!" connor held his arms out, aiming to get his boyfriend's attention back.

"oh hush. he's as straight as a ruler, don't worry" jonah touched his cheek.

jack glanced at me, raising his eyebrow, "should i be worried?".

"yeah, sure. hooking up with my english teacher has always been on my bucket list".

he chuckled then took my backpack off me, "walk you to class?".

i nodded and said my goodbyes to jonah and connor, then walked down the corridors with jack's arm draped over my shoulder.

"people are staring at us, right?" he spoke lowly to me as we became the only sight that most people were focused on.

"well, yeah. our school's quarterback has his arm over the school's catfish".

"come on, everyone's forgotten about that now".

"not everyone" i muttered, growing uncomfortable at the amount of whispers i was hearing around me.

this was definitely going to take some getting used to.

"but if we have, then that's all that matters" jack turned my chin to face him.

he was about to peck my lips but our faces were suddenly blocked by sam jumping straight in between us.

"okay, dude. i thought that we were best friends" he inquired.

jack stared at him and i with confusion, "we are".

"so, why the hell didn't you tell me about this?!" sam exclaimed.

"because i haven't seen you until now, and texting or calling you is pointless because you're usually too busy getting blown by some girl".

"for your information," sam began, causing jack to roll his eyes. "i was studying for finals all weekend...with the help of chelsea lewis".

"and her mouth?" jack interfered.

"that isn't the topic right now" sam brushed off. "what is, is that i'm glad this is finally working out. i mean, jack used to stare at you from afar all the time and—".

"sam, leave" jack demanded, forcefully pushing his friend away.

i wanted to hear this, so i instantly grabbed sam's arm back before he could get far enough.

"he did?" i recalled.

"i never said anything, but i knew that he liked you" sam continued, making my face form a grin. "he used to rain check on me all the time just to hang out with you".

"really? i had no idea" i teased.

i looked at jack, who walked with an embarrassed expression. he held in a smile and rolled his eyes at how much i was enjoying this and laughing at him.

"okay, sam. enough now" jack pulled him away from in between us, so that we were now standing side by side again.

"but we have first period together" he pointed out.

"i'm walking dakota to her class".

sam huffed and started to finally leave our side, "fine. i'll catch you later, man".

as we carried on walking down the hallways, nearing to my class, i took jack's hand and grinned up at him.

"so staring at me from afar, huh?".

"he was exaggerating".

"sure he was" i chuckled as we stopped outside my english class and he stood before me.

jack took a small step forward and tucked my hair behind my ear, "so after school, can i come over?".

"to study? yeah, sure".

"you don't need to study for finals. you're a fucking straight-A student" he reminded me.

"and how do you think i got there?".

he hesitated for a second at my question, "being hot and irresistible?".

"you wish" i shook my head, leaning up to attach my lips to his. his lips softly followed mine, making it incredibly hard for me to pull away and go into class.

"excuse me!" crystal's voice rang once she purposely pushed through jack and i to enter the room.

i closed my eyes and took a deep breathe to hold in the irritation that this girl always seems to cause.

"did she know about us?" i asked jack.

he scoffed, "if sam didn't know, then there's no way that she would. why?".

i folded my arms, "because she's your bitter ex-girlfriend and she'll definitely give me some grief for this".

"look, crystal is crystal. she'll always be a drama queen, it's in her blood" jack explained, taking my hand. "but just ignore her and don't worry".

i bit my lip and nodded, looking into the class at crystal's awful attempt to not glare at jack and i.

"okay" i said.

"but babe, i'm gonna be late for math. so, i'll see you later" he kissed the top of my head whilst i smiled at the ring of him calling me babe.

he started walking away, letting go of our hands at our fingers then gave me quick wink to say goodbye.

-

long ass chapter you're welcome

and if you haven't already, add detention 2 to your libraries 👀

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