To The Rude Guy in Apartment Five - J. S. Cooper Page 0,36

why you thought Jagger was into you,” Anna replied. “Maybe he was.”

“I don’t know. I was young and dumb, and he was just nice.”

“You were never young and dumb … well only a little bit, but so was I.” Anna sighed. “Don’t be so hard on yourself.”

“I don’t want to get my hopes up, Anna. I made a fool of myself once, and I don’t really want to do it again. I don’t want Kingston Jagger Scott thinking I’m some bimbo that can’t keep her hands off of him.”

“Girl, I don’t think he would think that.” She paused. “Also, maybe you should ask him why he no longer goes by King.”

“Because he grew up and didn’t want to be a douche anymore?”

Anna laughed. “Look I have to go, but we’ll talk soon, okay? Think about it and try to talk to Jagger.”

“I’ll see.” I sighed. “I should get ready for my appointment. Thanks for calling, Anna. I’ll speak to you later.”

I hung up and stared at my bowl of cereal. I’d lost my appetite. As I made my way to the shower, everything Anna had said tumbled around my mind. If it was true and Jagger had known it was me, why hadn’t he stopped me? And if he had known it was and had also wanted me, why hadn’t he asked me out before Doug had? I had so many questions and the only person who could give me answers was the one person I really didn’t want to ask.

I pulled off my t-shirt, walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower. I squeezed some toothpaste onto my toothbrush and stepped into the shower, brushing my teeth as the water cascaded down my body and memories flooded my mind.

Chapter Ten

I was eight and Jagger was ten when he taught me how to skateboard. Doug had gone down the street with some of the neighborhood boys and left me behind sitting wistfully on the pavement in my rollerblades.

“What’s up, Magnolia?” Jagger had sat next to me and ruffled my hair. “You want a popsicle?”

“No, thanks.” I’d stared at the skateboard by his side and looked into his green eyes. “I don’t want to rollerblade. I want to skate.”

“So why don’t you?”

“Because I can’t stay on. I keep falling off.” I sighed. “And Doug won’t help me.”

“You want me to help?”

“You don’t want to join the guys?”

“I’ll go afterwards.” He’d stood, pulling me up with him. “Take your blades off and put on your sneakers.” He’d put his skateboard on the pavement in front of me. “First we’re going to work on your balance,” he told me as I finished lacing up my shoes. “I just want you to try and stay centered on the board and hold onto my hand. I’ll pull you down the street, okay?”

“Okay.”

And for the next three afternoons, Jagger had held my hand as I skated until I finally was able to go a few feet without him. Doug had then asked me to join him and his other friends. I’d told Jagger thanks and gone, but I’d never forgotten how, even as a young kid, he’d had my back.

I was twelve and Jagger was fourteen. I’d been embarrassed because I was sleeping over and I needed to change. Doug hadn’t seemed to understand that I wasn’t cool with us changing in front of each other anymore. I was in a training bra then and very self-conscious about my growing breasts. Doug and Jagger had been playing video games in Doug’s room, and Doug had told me to hurry up and change so that we could set up a tent fort in the middle of the room with our sleeping bags. I’d stood there, hesitant, my hand on the bottom of my t-shirt. Jagger had watched me for a few seconds and then he’d jumped up and said, “Come on, Doug, let’s go and get some cookies and milk.” Doug had protested at first, but Jagger had convinced him. “You’ve got three minutes to change.” He’d smiled at me as they’d left the room and I’d smiled back gratefully, ripping my t-shirt off as soon as he’d closed the door.

I was fifteen and Jagger was seventeen. I needed a dress for a school dance. Daisy wouldn’t go to the mall with me, and my parents were too busy to take me. Jagger had borrowed his parents’ car and driven me to a mall in New Jersey. I’d tried on five dresses, even though I had