As I looked at Jackson, I knew I had to tell him how I felt. I took a deep breath and spoke, my voice barely above a whisper.
"Jackson, I think I might have feelings for you."
But Jackson wasn't looking at me. He was distracted by something on his phone, and he didn't seem to hear what I said.
I felt a pang of disappointment, but before I could repeat myself, the door to the room burst open and Jackson's elder sister, Sophia, walked in.
"Hey, Jackson! I saw your car outside and thought I'd drop by to say hi," Sophia said, oblivious to the intimate moment she had just interrupted.
Jackson looked up, startled, and smiled at his sister. "Hey, Sophia! What brings you here?"
Sophia flopped down on the bed beside me, chatting away about her day. I listened, feeling frustrated that I hadn't been able to express my feelings to Jackson.
As Sophia talked, Jackson glanced over at me, but I just shook my head, feeling embarrassed. Maybe it wasn't the right time to tell him how I felt. Maybe it never would be.
Sophia's eyes widened in surprise as she took in the sight of me lying in Jackson's bed. "Wait, who's this?" she asked, her voice laced with shock.
Jackson chuckled. "Sophia, this is Cecilia. We met through mutual friends."
Sophia's eyes darted back and forth between us, her expression incredulous. "Cecilia? As in, a girl? In your bed?"
I felt my face heat up with embarrassment as Sophia's gaze lingered on me.
Jackson laughed. "Sophia, calm down. It's not what you think. Cecilia had a bit too much to drink and I brought her here to sleep it off."
Sophia's eyes narrowed. "Save it, Jackson. I've never seen you bring a girl home before. This is a first."
I felt like I was under a microscope, with Sophia scrutinizing me like a bug under a magnifying glass.
Jackson sighed. "Sophia, really. It's not a big deal. Cecilia and I are just friends."
But Sophia just raised an eyebrow. "Friends? In your bed? At 2 am?"
I felt my embarrassment turn to mortification. This was not how I wanted to meet Jackson's sister.
But instead of getting angry, Sophia's face broke out into a wide smile. "Oh my gosh, Jackson, you're finally bringing home a girl! I'm so excited!"
She plopped down beside me on the bed, her eyes shining with curiosity. "So, tell me everything! When did you two meet? What's your name, age, everything!"
I laughed, feeling a little more at ease. "I'm Cecilia, nice to meet you. We met through mutual friends a few weeks ago."
Sophia nodded enthusiastically. "I'm Sophia, Jackson's older and wiser sister." She winked at me. "So, Cecilia, how old are you?"
I smiled. "I'm going to be 19,"
Sophia nodded approvingly. "Perfect! You're just the right age to keep Jackson in line."
Jackson rolled his eyes good-naturedly. "Sophia, stop interrogating Cecilia."
But Sophia just kept going, asking me questions about my interests, hobbies, and family. I answered happily, feeling like I was being welcomed into the family.
As we talked, I realized that Sophia wasn't just being nosy - she was genuinely interested in getting to know me. And I had to admit, I was enjoying her company too. Maybe this was the start of a beautiful friendship!
The next morning, I woke up feeling a little more refreshed. Jackson knocked on the door and said, "Hey, Cecilia, come join us for breakfast!"
I got dressed and made my way to the dining room, where the whole family was gathered. Sophia smiled and patted the seat next to her, and I sat down, feeling a little nervous.
But as we started eating, I began to relax. Jackson's mom, Mrs. Thompson, asked me questions about myself and listened attentively to my answers. She was warm and kind, and I felt like I was part of the family.
As breakfast came to an end, Jackson said, "I'll drop you home on my way to work, okay?"
I nodded, feeling grateful.
As I was about to leave, Sophia jumped up and said, "Wait, Cecilia! Let's exchange numbers! I'd love to talk to you more and get to know you better."
I smiled, feeling happy that Sophia wanted to stay in touch. We exchanged numbers, and Sophia hugged me tightly. "I'm so glad you came into our lives, Cecilia. You're amazing!"
As I left with Jackson, I felt like I was walking on cloud nine. I had never felt such a strong connection with someone's family before.
As we drove, Jackson asked, "So, what did you think of my family?"
I smiled. "I loved them! They're so warm and welcoming. Your sister is amazing."
Jackson chuckled. "Yeah, Sophia can be a bit much sometimes, but she means well."
I laughed. "I think she's great. And your mom is so nice too."
Jackson smiled, looking happy. "Yeah, my family is pretty special. I'm glad you fit in so well."
As we pulled up to my house, Jackson turned to me and said, "Thanks for coming over, Cecilia. I had a great time."
I smiled, feeling a flutter in my chest. "I had a great time too, Jackson. Thanks for having me."
As we sat in the car outside my house, I suddenly asked, "Jackson, do you have a girlfriend?"
He looked at me, slightly taken aback by the question. "No, I don't," he replied.
I felt a surge of relief, but then he added, "And to be honest, I'm not really ready to have one either."
I nodded, trying to process this information. "Okay, that's fair. You're just focusing on work and stuff?"
Jackson nodded. "Yeah, something like that. I've just been really busy and haven't had time for a relationship."
I smiled, feeling a little better. "That makes sense. I'm not really looking for anything serious either."
Jackson looked at me, his eyes sparkling with interest. "Really? What are you looking for, then?"
I shrugged, feeling a little shy. "I don't know, just something casual, I guess. I'm not really sure."
Jackson nodded thoughtfully. "I see. Well, I think we could be great friends, Cecilia. And who knows, maybe something more in the future."
My heart skipped a beat at his words, but I tried to play it cool. "Yeah, that sounds good. Friends sounds great."
As we said our goodbyes and I got out of the car, I couldn't help but feel a little excited. Maybe, just maybe, something would develop between us in the future.