my prized possession

CHAPTER 3

After my mom’s little speech about being responsible in her absence, I was already exhausted. The twins were giving me a hard time. It hadn’t even been two hours since she left, and I already felt like I was having a heart attack.

Didn’t she give them a prep talk about behaving themselves?

They hadn’t returned from school yet, even though it was way past closing hours. That had become their new routine—and no one seemed to be saying anything about it. Well, who was I to talk? I’d just let them live their lives.

After preparing dinner, I packaged it neatly and placed it in the fridge to keep it fresh. Then I scribbled a quick note and stuck it on the fridge:

“Gone for study. See you at dinner. –Vanessa”

I left the note for my stepdad. I didn’t want him to see me as incompetent and go reporting to my mom.

I quickly got myself ready for the study session with Jackson. I couldn’t help but wonder—what exactly would today’s “study” entail?

Before heading to his house, I made a quick stop at Annabella’s. Her place wasn’t far from Jackson’s, just a few blocks away. She hadn’t been in school today—turns out she was down with the flu.

Did I have a hell of a day? Yes, I did.

Did I survive it? Surprisingly, I did.

And Jackson was a huge reason why.

He’d been so friendly with me today, like we were actual classmates—friends, even. We had a real conversation… about college! Shocked was an understatement. I was thrilled. Never in my wildest dreams would I have believed that Jackson Cooker would talk to me—me—like that. I smiled like a fool through the entire conversation.

He told me he wanted to leave Pennsylvania for college. Said he was tired of the state.

Don’t we all?

Well, maybe not the twins—they love their little fortress. I thought bitterly.

Jackson said he was planning to apply to New Whales College in New Jersey.

That actually got me thinking. I didn’t have any specific college in mind; I just knew I wanted to leave Pennsylvania. Maybe I’d let fate—or College Application Day—decide for me.

I finally arrived at Annabella’s house. It wasn’t as big as Jackson’s, but it was still impressive. You could tell her parents were doing well, judging by the neat exterior and the cozy, modern interior. Everything about the place reflected warmth and care—just like Annabella herself.

I sat on the soft sofa in Annabella’s living room, waiting while her housekeeper went to call her. The house smelled like vanilla candles and something freshly baked—comforting, just like her.

A few minutes later, Annabella came down the stairs, still in her cozy pajamas. She looked tired, but her face lit up the moment she saw me. I stood up, and she pulled me into a tight hug—too tight.

She squeezed me like she hadn’t seen me in years. I could barely breathe. I tapped her arm frantically, signaling I was about to pass out. She quickly let go.

“Oh my God, I missed you so much! Sorry about the tight hug,” she said, grinning like the troublemaker she was.

I laughed, rubbing my ribs. “Miss me or trying to crush me to death? I can’t tell.”

We both laughed, and for a moment, everything felt right—even with all the chaos in my head.

We got to Annabella’s room, and it was exactly like her—girly, elegant, and perfectly organized. Even though she was sick, her space was still spotless. I envied her for that. If I were in her shoes, my room would probably look like a tornado had danced through a sewage plant.

The room was decorated in soft light brown tones, with hints of cream delicately woven around the space—from the curtains to the throw pillows. The side seat and cushions matched the aesthetic, making the whole room feel warm and cozy. Sunlight poured in through the wide windows, bathing everything in a soft glow and making the space even more beautiful. It looked like something out of a home décor magazine—and yet, it was just so Annabella.

We sat on her bed as I told her everything that had happened. What amazed her the most was when I mentioned that Jackson and I actually had a conversation, she was so happy for me. She even asked if we did anything at his house.

I sighed.

“Sadly, no.”

She burst out laughing. “Girl, you really want to pop your cherry.”

I blushed.

“No! I just… I just want it to be him.”

The laughter slowly faded, and Annabella looked at me seriously.

“If Jackson isn’t interested,” she asked, “will you move on? Like, if he never says anything to you and we graduate… are you going to let him go?”

I thought about it.

“Honestly, I don’t know. I haven’t really thought about it. Maybe I’ll find another Jackson in college. But… I don’t think anyone could replace him.”

She noticed I was feeling a little down and comforted me.

“Don’t worry,” she said gently. “Jackson will confess his feelings. I mean, come on—he didn’t pick just any A+ student to tutor him, he picked you. Doesn’t that tell you something?”

I thought about it. Maybe his feelings are mutual. Maybe he’s just shy.

But no, Jackson couldn’t possibly be shy—he literally saw me holding a used condom once and didn’t even flinch. Maybe he just needed my brains after all.

I ended the conversation and told Annabella I had to head to Jackson’s place early. I wanted to be back home before my mom returned.

She walked me to the door and reminded me, “Use protection!”

I laughed.

“Nothing’s going to happen! I’m being delusional. Let’s face reality—Jackson has his type, and I’m not it.”

I smiled at her, hopped on my bicycle, and rode to Jackson’s house.

Let’s see what today has in store.