My Dawn

Chapter 25

Jessie started to walk up the stairs. Dawn walked downstairs to move her plate.

“Who cleaned up for me?” Dawn asked.

“Jessie did. He cleaned up out of nerves but he acted like he was just trying to help.” Mark said.

Mark grabbed his plate and walked to the kitchen. Dawn walked to the fridge and grabbed a water.

“What nerves?” Dawn asked.

Mark leaned closer.

“I’ll tell you later.” Mark whispered.

Dawn nodded. She walked to the main area and looked in the jacket pocket. She found a small present with a card.

Mark noticed it and watched from the door frame. Laura and Patrick were about to walk past but he gestured them to use the other stairs. Jessie came back down with a bag. He noticed Dawn opening it and smiled. Mark realised it was Jessie’s gift for her. He gestured for the kids to go to their room. They went quickly. Dawn saw Jessie.

“You got me a present?” Dawn asked.

“Of course. This year however, I didn’t attempt to make one. I bought it.” Jessie said.

“I don’t like money being wasted on me.” Dawn said.

“If it’s spent on you, it isn’t a waste.” Jessie said softly.

Jessie wasn’t aware Mark was watching with a knowing smirk. Jessie put his bag down on the single couch then walked closer to Dawn.

“Want to open it now?” Jessie asked.

Dawn nodded. She opened the card first and read it. She looked at Jessie.

“You wrote a small poem and signed it with Jelly.” Dawn said.

She was almost in tears from the card.

“Damn if I knew poems would make you cry, I would have written you a book of poems.” Jessie teased.

Dawn laughed as she hugged Jessie. Jessie laughed and hugged her back.

“You haven’t even opened it yet.” Jessie said.

“I don’t need to open it for a hug. The poem was sweet enough.” Dawn said.

“Trust me, you will love this.” Jessie said.

Dawn let go and grabbed the box. She slowly unwrapped it carefully, Mark was even getting impatient wondering what it was. It revealed a gold and diamond name saying Hawkeye with a red ruby in the shape of a heart.

“Oh Jelly!” Dawn said.

“Aim the ruby into the light.” Jessie said.

Dawn looked confused but listened. It had a picture inside it of Hawkeye. Dawn was crying and she launched into Jessie’s arms. Throwing him off balance. Dawn cried as she squeezed him tight.

“How did you get the photo in it?” Dawn asked.

She refused to get off of him and let him go.

“I have my ways.” Jessie said.

Dawn pulled herself closer to Jessie. Mark was trying to not laugh.

“So, you like it?” Jessie asked.

“I love it.” Dawn cried.

Dawn looked at Jessie, he wiped her tears from her eyes. Dawn just laid on him with her arms around him.

“How long until you are ready to hop off?” Jessie joked.

“Never. Your jelly and cuddly. And the present was so beautiful. So, you deserve a big hug.” Dawn said.

Dawn snuggled closer. Jessie wrapped his arms around Dawn as she laid on him. She had her eyes closed as she cried happy tears. A few minutes go by of them cuddling on the floor this way.

“You both are so cute.” Mark said.

Jessie flinched.

“It isn’t what it looks like.” Jessie said.

“I know, I saw everything.” Mark said.

Jessie went pale. Dawn slowly got up.

“Mark, look what Jessie got me.” Dawn said.

Dawn ran to Mark and showed the necklace.

“Aim it to the light.” Dawn said.

Mark did, and saw the photo of Hawkeye inside it.

“That’s a very beautiful and considerate gift. I love how it has a heart on it.” Mark said.

Mark looked at Jessie as he said the last part.

Jessie looked pale. And this confirmed Mark’s suspicions. He didn’t even need to test them. He could tell Jessie liked her a lot now. This wasn’t a cheap necklace.

“Make sure you put it somewhere safe. We don’t want to risk you losing the ruby somewhere.” Mark said.

Dawn nodded. She grabbed the card and put it in her room with its box. As Dawn ran to the room, Mark walked over to Jessie.

“Busted.” Mark laughed.

“I swear, I am only her friend. I won’t hurt her or risk losing our friendship by changing anything.” Jessie said.

“I know, I trust you won’t hurt her. Which is why I think you should tell her how you feel.” Mark said.

“But if I do, she may not like me the same and I have ruined our friendship.” Jessie said.

“You’re an i***t. She just hugged you for a long time, made a joke about you touching her leg before. Laid in your arms and laid on you. And you think she doesn’t like you back?” Mark asked.

“Can we drop the discussion. At least until she’s 18 or almost 18. I don’t want to make her feel pressured into saying anything.” Jessie said softly.

“That’s why I think you and her are perfect. She wouldn’t hurt you the same way, she clearly likes you. She even shared your fork with you and freely took your food.” Mark said.

“The food meant nothing.” Jessie said.

“Do you remember her practically starving herself when she arrived. You were the reason she ate more. You fake complained about being full and not wanting to waste it. She offered to eat it to help you. And because of that, she started eating more regularly.” Mark said.

Jessie looked at the floor.

“I actually was full, I ate four large burgers with the guys before I ate dinner.” Jessie said.

Mark laughed.

“I don’t doubt that. You eat a lot. But now she does, and that’s because of you. So, thank you. I think of her like a daughter, and you are a son to me. If you were with her, you would still be my son. But you should know, Laura is jealous.” Mark said.

“I know. Laura asked me out and I apologised and said I didn’t like her that way. Then I lied and said I was focusing on friendship, sports and school. I didn’t want to break her heart. But I know I did.” Jessie said.

“Well, Laura was told she wasn’t allowed to date until she was 17. So that’s her own punishment for ignoring me.” Mark said.

Dawn was coming back down the stairs.

“Ready to go?” Mark asked.

Dawn nodded.

“See you later Jessie.” Mark said.

“See you both later.” Jessie said.

Dawn was helped into her seat. She had the door opened again by Mark. He always opens the door for her. Dawn was looking at her phone that she grabbed from her room when she put her necklace away. She posted a photo of it on i********: with a love heart on it. She captioned it “I LOVE THIS BIRTHDAY GIFT! IT’S THE BEST I’VE EVER GOTTEN!”

Jessie got a notification and grabbed his phone from his bag. He looked and saw she posted a new photo. Jessie had a look and smiled. He loved her post instantly. Dawn noticed he liked it and smiled. She realised she was blushing.

“So, how long?” Mark asked.

“How long for what?” Dawn asked.

“How long have you liked Jessie?” Mark asked.

Dawn’s eyes opened wide.

“He’s just a friend. I swear, I haven’t done anything with him.” Dawn said.

“I know Dawn. I am only asking when you started to like him.” Mark asked.

“Laura’s 11th birthday was when I started to realise I liked him more than a friend. After he caught onto my game and tackled me and we tumbled down the hill. As I looked at him after I pinned him down. That’s when I knew I liked him. I ended up being able to open up more. And it scared me. So, I kept it a secret. Then Laura said she liked him. So, I can’t tell him.” Dawn said.

“Can you keep a secret?” Mark asked.

“Yes.” Dawn said.

“Laura asked him out, he politely explained he didn’t see her as more than a friend. He likes you instead. But he is waiting until you are old enough before he tells you. He doesn’t want to ruin his friendship with you by telling you he likes you.” Mark said.

“He likes me?” Dawn asked.

“How are you both so clueless at this?” Mark asked out loud.

“He surely doesn’t like me that way. Maybe you misunderstood.” Dawn said.

“No, he genuinely likes you. We just spoke about it. He is afraid of scaring you. So, he will be keeping it secret. He even covered you and carried you to your room to keep you from flashing us accidentally.” Mark said.

“I didn’t know he liked me. I thought that’s what a friend does.” Dawn said.

“Just wait, you will see.” Mark said.

He laughed as they drove to the shop. Dawn got out and they went to the normal shop before the costume shop.