Evolve (Soulmates Book 4) Read online

  I just had pretty much learned my limit and didn't usually drink nearly as much as that night with Jake. I hadn't slept with anyone since Jake and I didn't plan on doing so a while. Somehow I still had a fairly slutty reputation. I guess it was because I'm flirtatious, I flirt with everyone. I had fooled around with a couple of guys since Jake and they told everyone that we had slept together.

  I have always had terrible taste in guys. I still had a thing for Jake and he was a total asshole to me, but at every party I had always looked for him, hoping he wasn't with a girl. He usually was.

  We ended up playing beer pong with some guys in our class. Andy and Kourtney walked over after about thirty minutes into the game.

  Andy was Jake's best friend and Maddy's ex-boyfriend. He cheated on her with a few girls and she had just recently forgiven him for it. Andy was always in our little group of friends though, so we were fairly close. He nodded at me, "You winning this game or what?"

  I grinned at him, "Of course. I always win."

  He smiled back at me, he always had a cocky grin on his face. "Good because Kourtney and I have the winners."

  I glanced over at Kourtney, who glared at me. We were both cheerleaders, but we hated each other. Her best friend Kelsey, who was usually attached to her hip, was usually all over Jake. She hated me because I had sex with him and I guess the main reason I started hating her was because she had also.

  I sunk the winning ping pong ball and then looked back at Andy. “You’re up.”

  He grinned and Kourtney whined, “I don’t want to play. Kelsey is over at Matt’s house. I want to go there.”

  Andy looked really irritated. I didn’t understand why he put up with her. She was really pretty, but there were a lot of really pretty girls at our school that were a lot less irritating. “If you want to go then go.”

  She huffed, “Fine. I will.”

  She turned to leave and then slowly turned her head back to him, “Aren’t you going to stop me?”

  He shook his head, “No. I’m staying here. Go ahead and go see Kelsey. I’ll see ya soon.”

  She looked really pissed, but just left with a, “Whatever.”

  Andy asked David, a fellow football player if he wanted to play and we played for a few rounds.

  When it was almost midnight we all gathered in the living room to watch the ball drop. Andy went off with a couple of his friends and I found Michelle hanging out with Cooper, a really nice guy in our class. Maddy wasn’t with them. I looked around and then back at Michelle, “Where is Maddy.”

  She smiled devilishly, “With Ryan.”

  Maddy dated Ryan most of the last year and was heartbroken when he went to college in Alabama. “With Ryan? He’s in town?”

  “Yep for the holidays.”

  Everyone started counting down to the New Year and as we reached one, everyone screamed, “Happy New Year” and then went right back to what they were doing before.

  After the countdown, Michelle, Cooper, Mary, Andy, and I, all went into the kitchen and played Never Have I Ever with shots of vodka. Michelle started the game with, “Never have I ever…had sex with Jake Keller.”

  I glared at her and took my first shot. Andy, Michelle and I knew way too much about each other because it was easy to make the other ones take a shot. Andy and Michelle pretty much ganged up on me and I ended up taking more shots than anyone. The shots combined with the two mixed drinks I had at the very beginning and the beer while playing beer pong proved to be way over my limit.

  Michelle said, “Never have I ever went down on a guy with his parents in the next room.” I had to stop telling her things. Instead of taking my rightful shot I threw up on the tile floor in the kitchen.

  Chapter 2

  Andy

  Okay so maybe I shouldn't have picked on Jackie so much during the game. She was just kind of an easy target because I knew a lot about her.

  After she threw up she looked like she was going to do it again so I put her arm around my neck and led her to the downstairs bathroom. When we got there she sank to the floor by the toilet.

  I sat down on the ledge of the tub behind her, "I'm sorry Jackie."

  She groaned and rested her head on the fluffy pink toilet lid cover. Her straight blond hair was so long it almost touched the floor. "Don’t apologize, you didn't make me drink too much."

  I stood up and got a wash cloth out of the cabinet. After wetting it with cold water, I brought it back to her and placed it in her hand.

  She wiped her mouth and then thanked me.

  "No problem. And I kinda did, at least during the game."

  She dropped the hand with the wash cloth in it and looked over at me, "Yeah what the hell? Since when are you and Michelle on the same team?"

  I laughed and sat back down on the tub’s ledge. Michelle was definitely not my biggest fan and I really didn't care for her either. I thought she was hot at one time, but never made a move or anything as stupid as that. She really wasn't my type. "I don't know. For some reason all the information that was in my brain was about you."

  She smiled, "This town is way too small." Her face turned slightly serious, "I hate how everyone knows everything about me and all of my stupid mistakes."

  "What mistakes?"

  "I have terrible taste in men."

  "You've only had one boyfriend since I've known you."

  "Yeah and he dumped me because I didn't want to have sex. Asshole." She looked at me wide eyed, probably realizing that was similar to my situation with Maddy. "Sorry."

  I smirked at her, "It's alright, I'm aware that I'm an asshole. But you didn't sleep with him so it's not a mistake."

  "Jake. I made out with him in junior high. He didn't want anything to do with me afterward. So what do I do? Wait a couple years and then have sex with him."

  I was still pretty pissed at Jake, "Well I can't argue with you there, Jake is an asshole. But you haven't slept with him since right?"

  "Nope. But knowing me I probably would."

  "Well take it from a complete and total fuck up, your mistakes are not that bad."

  She lifted her head up slowly and leaned back against the wall, "You have only made one mistake and that was cheating on Maddy."

  "Yeah, I cheated on Madison Fucking Wright, the school's sweetheart. And not just one time, but several. And I'm dating Kourtney. And I don't know how many tutors I've had to have because I'm constantly fucking up in school."

  She brought her knees up to her chest, "Well damn, maybe you do beat me."

  I smiled at her, "Yep."

  She rested her elbows on her knees and put her chin on her right hand, propping her head up. "So why did you cheat on Maddy? I mean I know she wouldn't have sex, but why not just end the relationship?"

  I groaned and ran my fingers through my hair, a nervous habit I had. "I don't know. I guess I didn't want to lose her, but kept putting myself in stupid situations. Anytime I had a chance to go to an out of town party, I went."

  She nodded her head slightly, “Hmm. Well you live, you learn I guess. I mean we can all change right. At least I hope so. I don’t want to just be the dumb slut the rest of my life. Like my mom.”

  That caught me off guard and I’m sure my face looked shocked as I stared at her. I had only met Jackie’s mom a few times, but she was always really nice. She was a lot younger than most of the parents of our classmates, but that was all I really knew about her Jackie never really talked about her mom or her dad for that matter. “Damn Jackie. That’s harsh.”

  She dropped her knees and stretched her legs out in front of her. She was still really drunk and I wasn’t sure if she would remember this conversation in the morning, “You wouldn’t think that if you knew my mom. You know she got pregnant with me when she was fifteen?”

  I shook my head, “I didn’t know that, but I assumed she was young.”

  “Yeah. Really young. She was barely sixteen when she had me. Apparently my dad was a senior who promised that they were going to get
married and she believed him, but of course when I was born he couldn’t handle it and went off to college.”

  “Well that’s sad. She probably loved him and thought he loved her.”

  “Yeah that part I feel sorry for her about, but then she dated loser after loser. Always playing up the dumb pretty girl routine and always ending up alone. I mean it’s embarrassing. No wonder I am the way I am. I mean she actually encourages me to go out and stay out late. She wants me to find a “good one” young. I mean what kind of mother says that? If I want to stay in on the weekend or come home early it’s like she’s ashamed of me.”

  That was really fucked up. My parents weren’t as vigilant as they should be, but it was because they were busy, hardworking people. My dad was a “roughneck” and worked the night shift and my mom was a nurse who started working the night shift when I started high school. As long as I was home by seven thirty in the morning they didn’t have a clue that I was staying out so late. They just took my word for it that I was in by curfew. “At least you are smart enough to see the pattern and change it.”

  She looked deep in thought and even put her finger up to her mouth as she was thinking, which I though was really cute. “You’re right. I can change it. I hope. I don’t want to end up like her. My whole life depending on if I have a man or not. I want to be respected and have a career.”

  I smiled and stretched out my legs also. “Well you can do it Jackie, I have no doubt in my mind. I have never bought the pretty, dumb blonde routine with you.”

  That made her smile really big. “Thanks Andy, I don’t buy the total asshole routine with you. Maybe we should both try to change our reputations.”

  I grinned. “Yeah maybe. I think yours will be a little easier to change.”

  Her eyes drifted shut as she leaned against the bathroom wall. I stood up and held my hand out to her, “Come on. I’ll walk you to the living room.”

  She stayed put and kept her eyes closed and mumbled, “No. I’m okay right here. Comfy.”

  I shook my head, but couldn’t help but to grin. I lifted her up in my arms holding her close to me and carried her into the living room. Michelle was making out with Cooper on the couch. I rolled my eyes and cleared my throat, “Can you guys get a fucking room?”

  Neither looked up and Michelle just raised her middle finger.

  “Michelle, Jackie needs a place to crash. I’m sure you two want some privacy anyway.”

  She looked up, annoyed with me, and then got up and left with Cooper. I gently laid Jackie down on the couch and sat down on the floor next to her. I couldn’t just leave her here alone so I fell asleep and was rudely woken up by Michelle nudging my foot with hers.

  “You can leave your post now, I’m gonna sleep here.”

  She spread out her blanket on the floor next to the couch and laid down without waiting for a reply from me. I was too tired to care and made my way out to my car to sleep.

  Chapter 3

  Jackie

  I woke up on the couch with a pounding headache and quickly shut my eyes again after opening them. The lake house was really quiet and when I opened my eyes slowly I saw the sun was just starting to come up. I looked on the floor next to me and saw Michelle sleeping. I nudged her, “Hey, get up.”

  She just grumbled something incoherent. I poked her again. “I feel like shit Michelle. I really desperately want to go home.”

  She just rolled over and put her pillow over her head. I stood up shakily and looked out the front door. I saw Andy asleep in the driver’s seat of his car. I found my coat, put it on, and walked out to see if he could take me home.

  I knocked on the window of his car and startled him awake. He turned the keys and rolled down his window, “Hey.”

  “Hey. Did you sleep out here? It’s freezing!”

  He just shrugged his shoulders, “It’s not so bad. What’s up?”

  “Could you take me home? I don’t feel good and Michelle is going to sleep all day.”

  “Sure. Hop in.”

  I smiled and walked around to the passenger side and climbed in. “Thanks Andy. I owe ya one. Or two. I mean you took care of me last night too.”

  He started the car and put it in drive. “No I just spent time with a friend. I didn’t do anything special.”

  “Are you kidding? You hung out with me in the bathroom and then carried me to the couch.”

  “Ah so you do remember everything? I wasn’t sure if you would.”

  He pulled onto the highway that went into town. “Yeah every embarrassing detail.”

  “It wasn’t that bad.” He looked concerned, “I am sorry about your mom though.”

  I tried to shrug it off. I never talked about my mom. “It’s really not that bad. I’m dramatic when I’m drunk.”

  “Well if you ever want to talk I’m here.”

  “Same to you Andy.”

  He pulled up to my driveway and I reached for the door handle and then looked back at him. “Thank you for last night Andy, you really are a good friend.”

  He grinned, that cocky grin. “No problem. I’ll see ya Monday.”

  I got out and went into my house. My mom was sitting on the couch with last night’s outfit, smeared make up, and to top off the awesome ensemble matted sex hair. “Well well, just getting in sweetheart?”

  I walked over and plopped down in the chair adjacent to the couch. “Yeah I was at the lake house.”

  She smiled, “Well anything good happen?”

  I shook my head, “No. Just hung out with my friends.” I covered my eyes with my arm to block out the light.

  “Well aren’t you going to ask me about my date?”

  I groaned. I just wasn’t in the mood, “I can pretty much tell how it went mom.”

  She huffed and folded her arms like a spoiled teenager. I sighed, “Okay, how was your date mom?”

  “It was wonderful. I mean he’s a little younger than me, but not much. He took me to a nice restaurant and we went to see a play. Not a movie, but an actual play. I mean how classy right? I think he could really be the one.”

  I rolled my eyes. They were all “the one”. They never called her back. I stood up, “Well that’s awesome mom and he sounds great. I’m gonna go to my room and get some sleep.”

  She waved me off and I headed to my room and closed the door. I slept away most of the rest of my weekend.

  Andy

  It took a few days, but Jake and I eventually talked about our argument and were able to move on from it fairly quickly. Jake had been my best friend for a long time and when I really thought about it, it was always Jake and Maddy. It made sense that he was in love with her now, he’d always been in love with her. It pissed me off that he tried to break us up the entire time we were together because he wanted to be with her, but Maddy and I weren’t right for each other.

  I thought about my drunken conversation with Jackie and I truly did want to change. Things seemed back to normal after that. Kourtney was being pouty because I blew her off on New Year’s, but I told her we could do whatever she wanted on Friday and she cheered right up. I hated how irritated with my girlfriend I usually felt. I was an asshole and knew it. There was no reason to keep dating Kourtney except for easy sex and for some reason I just wasn’t quite ready to give that up yet.

  I saw Jackie a few times that week and we talked like normal. We had history together and that Friday we were paired together for an oral report worth half our grade. After the teacher announced the pairs we were instructed to get together with our partners and find a time outside of class to work on the project just before class ended.

  I walked over to Jackie, “Hey, does Sunday work for you?”

  She was still gathering her stuff up. “Yeah that works. Your house?”

  I raised one eyebrow, “Why not your house?”

  She stood up, “You know why. My mom will probably be there on Sunday.”

  “So? We’ve been friends for how long now Jackie and I’ve barely talked to y
our mom. You’ve been over to my house tons of times.”

  “Yeah I like your house. It’s comfy and smells like cookies. Your mom is an actual mom. My mom will probably hit on you.”

  I grinned. “Ah so you don’t want me to be your next stepdad huh?”

  She shook her head, “Very funny.”

  The bell rang and we made our way out of the crowded classroom, “Okay you can come over to my house then. My mom loves you and she will probably make cookies.”

  She grinned, “Okay, I’ll be there around one. See ya then.”

  We parted and went to our last classes of the day.

  Chapter 4

  Jackie

  I hadn’t seen Maddy very much lately and really missed her, but she was always really busy. I really didn’t feel like going out, but it was Friday and I also didn’t want to listen to my mother’s lecture about how I was going to die an old maid.

  I ended up going over to Michelle’s house and stayed the night. We spent the whole night talking and watching scary movies. That was really my favorite thing to do on the weekends. Parties were fun, but they could get old really fast and after my conversation with Andy I was more determined than ever to change my image.

  I was more grateful than he would ever know for that night we spent in the bathroom of the lake house. It felt really good to get some things out in the open and when he suggested going to my house for our class project it was a relief not to have to make up some lame excuse.

  Sunday afternoon I knocked on the front door at Andy’s house and Andy answered the door. He was freshly showered, which was apparent by his wet hair, and smelled really good. He smiled and moved back so I could walk in, “Hey, you’re early.”

  I put my backpack down next to the couch. “Only ten minutes. Did you just wake up?”

  He nodded. “Yeah it’s Sunday. You’re supposed to rest on Sunday.”

  Andy’s mom came in with a friendly smile on her face, “Well hi Jackie! How are you sweetie?”