39

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Jackie's POV

I stepped into Clark's house, and I saw a few untidy things laying around. I cleaned this house on Monday and it's a mess on Wednesday? I was almost about to go back before my taxi went too far but I signed up for this.

With a deep sigh, I dropped my bag on the floor and propped my hands on my hips, taking in the scattered living room. I heard noises coming from upstairs and I became alert as Clark had said he was coming home from the gym when I arrived. 

I looked around for anything like a weapon which I did not find. Soon after, a tall guy appeared at the top of the stairs. He saw me and his eyes became wide. I stepped back when he rushed down the steps and stopped a few feet away.

"Who are you?"

I analyzed him slowly. He was blonde with a lean muscular build with tattoos running down his arms and around his neck. His brown eyes were narrowed suspiciously at me, and a single eyebrow raised.

"I'm the cleaner," I said, and he relaxed his body.

"Oh... Clark didn't tell me you were coming. Sorry about the mess though. We had a party here last night," he said and scratched the back of his head. "I'm Brian."

I nodded. "I'm Jackie."

We stood in an awkward silence before I pointed at my bag.

"I gotta go change and start cleaning," I said and went to my bag. I picked it up and rushed upstairs.

I looked over my shoulder as I made my way to the room, I had used the last time I was here. When I got to it, I opened it and stepped in then locked the door. I was nervous to clean around him because of how exposing the cleaning outfit was and how I didn't know him that well.

A few minutes after convincing myself to start cleaning, I walked out of the room and went downstairs where I saw Brian watching a movie on the television. I snuck into the kitchen and started washing the dishes.

Some minutes later, I heard someone walk into the kitchen and I paused what I was doing to look over my shoulder.

"So, Jackie," Brian said. "Do you live around here?"

I wasn't interested in talking to him right now. I wasn't good at having conversations with people that I didn't know. I was about to reply to him when I heard the front door opening and closing. I sighed in relief when I heard Clark's voice.

"Oh, hey," Clark said, walking into the kitchen.

I turned around and smiled at him. He smiled back and glanced at Brian who was still staring at me.

"What are you doing here, Brian?" Clark asked. "I told you to leave her to do her work."

"Come on, man. Can't I say hi? I was bored and wanted us to talk, right Jackie?"

I shrugged. "I'm busy."

Brian scoffed and left the kitchen, to my greatest relief. Clark dropped his bag on the kitchen counter and walked over. He stopped in front of me and leaned on the sink where I stood.

"How are you?" He asked.

"I'm good."

Clark moved away from the sink, and I watched out of the corner of my eye as he ran his finger on the surface of the counter. He stared at a random spot before looking my way and I glanced away.

"Can I ask you a question?"

"Sure," I answered.

"Have you spoken to Maddy recently?"

"The only time we spoke was on Monday when I started cleaning," I replied, and he sighed. "What is it?"

"I don't know, Jackie. Maddy is unreadable. She's been finding fault in almost everything I do. I don't want to break up with her because I like her so much. She's been picking fights with me. As her best friend, what do you think she might like?"

"You're her boyfriend, you should know that already," I said and wiped the sink with a rag. 

"True but I want to surprise her when she comes back. Maddy has been acting distant these days which causes us to fight a lot. It's making me doubt her feelings for me."

I felt sad at their predicament, but I was not an expert in anything relationships when I never had a partner or even an admirer. So, I had nothing to say to Clark about it.

"Uh, I don't have any experience," I said, and shock took over his face.

"Wait... You mean you've never had a boyfriend before?"

"Yes... It never crossed my mind because I was more focused on my future and I still am. I was a loner during high school and Maddy and someone else is my only true friends."

Clark stared at me; shock still heavy on his face. He blinked and shook his head, probably in disbelief.

"Wow. I admire you a lot... You remind me so much of my mom. She had nothing but herself and she trained us with little. Her dreams made her the woman that she is now and the riches that I have, it's all because of her."

I immediately remembered a few months ago when he said he understood me after that perfume store attendant incident. I could not help but smile. I thought Clark was born with a silver spoon, but I suppose he understood the struggles of life.

"So, what are you going to do to cheer my best friend up?"

"I am still thinking about it. I was thinking we could go on a trip to a tropical place, but I don't know yet."

I walked up to him and smiled when he looked down at me. I could see how much he cared for Maddy and that made me glad.

"I'm sure Maddy will love it. Just don't show how nervous you are around her. She can sense a lot," I said, and Clark chuckled. 

I stiffened when he grabbed my hand and brought it close to his chest where he clasped his other hand on it. I gulped and met his eyes, feeling uncomfortable with what he was doing.

"Thank you so much," he said in a low voice, and I chuckled.

"Yeah... You're welcome." I carefully took my hand out of his and left the kitchen.

Even though I trusted Clark since he was Maddy's boyfriend, I still got an uncomfortable feeling. I did not know if holding my hand like that was right, but I didn't like it. It felt like I was betraying Maddy.

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I got back from cleaning Clark's house and met Lucas in the kitchen, talking to someone I could not see. But when I glanced at the living room, I saw the guy who had been at the club with him the one time I was about to make money through sex.

I closed the door, and the boys turned their heads in my direction. I looked away from Lucas' friend who was staring at me with wide eyes then walked to the kitchen to grab a bottle of water.

Once I had taken it, I drank my water in silence, ignoring the duo behind me. I furrowed my eyebrows when I heard harsh whispers behind me and when I looked over my shoulder, I saw Lucas' friend staring at me and saying something to Lucas who was shaking his head. His friend ended up pushing him aside and walking over to me.

I turned around and avoided his eye contact when he stared at me.

"Hi," he said, and I glanced his way.

"Hi," I muttered and made my way out of the kitchen to the living room. 

"I'm Jared... We already met before," he said, and I faced him, face blank.

"Yes, I remember."

"Well, I want to apologize for what happened. I didn't know you were uncomfortable. I'm sorry."

His brown eyes held honesty and I could not blame him. I had been desperate for money and when he was about to touch my body that night, I was afraid and uncomfortable. He had barely noticed my behavior, but I was so glad that Lucas saved me that night.

"It's okay. It's all in the past now," I said, and he nodded.

"So, I didn't get your name."

I smiled. "Jackie."

"That's a nice name... Uh, I was thinking; maybe we could go out for lunch tomorrow? At least, let us know each other in the right way," Jared said and I thought about what he said.

Almost everyone around me had someone to be with. Maddy had a boyfriend, Lucas now has Andrea, and I was still without someone I could probably call mine outside of friendship. I wasn't thinking of choosing Jared, but I have reached a point where I should start dating people to feel what it's like to be in a relationship. 

"I—"

"Aren't you too busy with work to be going out?"

I looked past Jared and saw Lucas with a frown on his face. He was glaring daggers at me, making me confused. He looked away and glared at the back of Jared's head. I made eye contact with Jared who smiled, giving me a view of how handsome he looked.

"Don't mind that idiot," Jared said and approached me. "So, what do you say?"

I shyly smiled and clasped my hands behind me my back. I glanced at Lucas who was now glaring at the wall before looking back at the brown-haired man in front of me.

"Sure, we can have lunch."

"Yes!" Jared fisted the air then pulled out his phone from his pocket. "Can I have your number?"

"Sure."

We exchanged numbers and Jared said something about leaving. Before he left, he did the unexpected. He kissed my cheek and while he did, I glanced at Lucas. He was leaning against the kitchen counter, glaring at the bowl of fruit in front of him. 

When Jared left, I felt an unseen tension in the room. It was as if what Jared did was wrong even when it didn't concern Lucas.

As I made my way to the stairs, Lucas called my name in a cold voice.

"If you're going to be going out with him, don't bring him home or do any shit under my roof," Lucas said in the coldest tone I've ever heard him use.

I felt a burn in my heart at his tone. I looked at him and gasped softly at how hard he was staring at me. I saw something unreadable in his eyes before he looked away. With a deep sigh, I walked up the stairs. 

As soon as I got to the bedroom, I heard Lucas's voice, as if he was talking to someone on the phone.

"...yes, Andrea. Let's meet up tonight. I miss you," Lucas said and I felt like my heart was stabbed.

I touched my chest and frowned at the emotion I felt from hearing Lucas speak to Andrea in such a manner. I've felt this emotion before, and I hated that I was feeling this way about him going out with another girl.

"Why am I feeling jealous?" I whispered, the pain getting deeper.