**[Please hold on, guys, the story doesn’t get good until after my second note and maybe not even then. The romance takes a moment, so…]**

**AUBREE****_

_**_Never fall in love with Jackson Undergrove._**_

_**_Never fall for his charm._**_

_**_For his “swagger.”_**_

_**_Or for his acting._**_

_**_He’s not an actor, but he sure would _**rock****_ _**_that job description._

—————————

“Aubree, time to go to the charity event,” Mom shouts, disrupting my journaling.

I look down at my attire. A dark blue dress with a white belt tight around my waistline. White ankle boots.

And I am _slaying_ it.

Giggling to myself, I rise from my chair and gather my thoughts.

Time to act like I’m not missing him.

_I can do that…_

_I. Can. Do. That…_

_Right?_

—————————

“May I introduce special guest speaker… Jackson Undergrove!”

I groan, staring daggers at the ‘**special** guest speaker.’

“Hello esteemed bidders!” His deep voice announces as I try to ignore the shiver that goes down my spine. “Now, you all may be wondering how this sort of auction works, as it’s not a very common occurrence. This auction is…”

My eyes drift over to my table, taking in the bored expressions of my table mates. “Do you think they’ll mind if I sneak out to the bathroom? This is the worst speech I’ve ever heard,” I hiss, bitterness hanging heavy in the words. They all nod their heads, a look of envy creeping along their faces.

As I sneak out of my chair, it creaks. And a few heads turn at the noise, to my dismay.

“I’m just going to the loo,” I say, a fake accent crossing the words.

***- I got bored writing this part so… skipping… -***

“Aubree?”

I pivot towards the voice, half-expecting to see nothing.

I squint at the figure, barely able to make out a face through my tears. My teeth grit together.

“Walk away, Jackson.”

My poker face makes an appearance, along with that fake smile and voice.

“What if I don’t want to leave you like this again?” He muses, almost drawing a laugh out from me.

Finally, the tears dry up a little bit, enough to see his face fully.

Just for the wind to blow my hair into _my_ face. Pushing it away, I analyze him, as I did numerous times before.

_His beautiful green eyes. _

_His conniving green eyes_

_His heartwarming smile._

_His traitorous smile._

_His soft black hair._

_His double-crossing black hair…?_

_His—_

_“_Bree?”

His uncharacteristically gentle voice pokes in my head, as I realize he’s closer than I thought. Next to me on the bench, his arms ghosting mine. I can feel his body heat.

_Just like back then._

“Why did you do it?”

My voice shakes.

_Strong. Strong. Think strong._

“Are we really going to have this conversation at a charity event?”

I look him dead in his eyes, searching for some sort of sign to how this will go.

“Yes.”

“Fine.” He leans forward a bit, rubbing his hands together and sighing before turning his head to catch my eyes. “My sister.”

“Your sister made you break up with me for what reason?”

He quickly goes to her defense. “Bella didn’t want me to break your heart for… some other stupid thing that I would’ve done. She said ‘break up with her or else I’ll tell her you cheated.’”

I scoff, my hands gripping the bench until my knuckles look bleached. _Why is it so cold out here?_

He lifts his head up further, his eyes lingering on my legs before slowly being pulled to my face.

“It would’ve been better if you did…” I mumble.

“Listening to Alexander Stewart again?”

“Just ‘i wish you cheated.’”

Letting go of the bench, I hug myself in the freezing breeze, contemplating just walking away.

_Jackson would hate me if I did._

That’s a good enough pro for me.

I stand, pausing a second to gather my dress swiftly before tapping away at the concrete with my boots.

“Aubree!”

I make it ten feet before a hand grabs my wrist.

_Not right now. Behind the center? _

_I can’t escape._

I turn to him.

**His smile. **

_Maybe I won’t even try to._

“Jacks, why should I forgive you?”

“It happened months ago,” he pleads, his voice wobbling, “I still love you. I know you hate me, but I can’t hate you. Never— not even in your dreams could I.”

A smile cracks on my face. “_My_ dreams?”

“Yeah!”

_He looks adorable._

_——————_

**JACKSON**

_She looks adorable._

_And, boy, does she look hot as well._

My eyes focus on my hand, still touching the skin at her wrist.

“Are we okay, now?” I ask, trying hard to mask my intentions.

“As long as I meet this sister of yours.”

“Okay. So…”

I hesitate, wondering how she’ll take this.

“Can I do something?” I wonder, attempting to be polite while eyeing the wall behind her.

Aubree nods.

Not even a second later, my lips fall to meet hers in a soft kiss, almost making my heart melt into it.

_——————_

**AUBREE**

The kiss is so sweet, I want more. _More of the little jitters and butterflies._

So, the second he pulls away, I return the kiss, my hands resting at his shoulders while pulling him closer. His fall to my waist.

His mouth opens under mine, and I happily return the gesture.

We both pull away, taking a small moment to breathe and take in what just happened.

I don’t even realize my back’s against the wall.

“Jacks,” I mumble, my fingers curling in his sweatshirt sleeve. Sadly, he pulls his arms away.

Just to plant them on either side of my head.

A blush creeps along my face, spreading all the way down my neck as I relish the warmth of him. The warmth of his body against mine.

“Yeah, Bree?”

“I love you.”

Jackson smirks at me, leaning forward until his face is buried in my hair. _The butterflies again._

Placing a kiss on my head, he murmurs in a baritone voice, “I love you too, Lil B.”

Jacks leans to the side of me, his arm wrapping around my waist as we both close our eyes in a gesture of ‘at peace.’