Maybe Forever (Missing Pieces Book 1) (6 page)

Chapter Eight

Jamie

“So is this fiesta tonight formal?” Mason asks before devouring the last bit of his blueberry bagel. Jamie swallows the last swig of apple juice and shakes his head. They are all in the hallway of their school waiting for the first period bell to ring. Jamie and Bianca are leaning up against the lockers while Mason is standing in front of them.

“Not at all. Come as you are,” Jamie replies.

“Good, because I don’t look good in a tie,” Bianca says, smirking.

“Hmm…that doesn’t work with my Fifty Shades fantasy…” Jamie says, scratching his head. Mason and Bianca burst out laughing, and Jamie joins them. The warning bell sounds, and they all pick up their book bags from the floor.

“All right, guys. I’ll see you tonight. Ties optional,” Bianca says and heads off to her first class. They wave at her, chuckling.

“I think it’s so cool that your mom makes such a big deal about your birthday,” Mason says, and they head in the opposite direction toward their English class.

“She says it was the best day of her life, and just saying Happy Birthday and shoving a gift card in my hand isn’t good enough,” Jamie says, shaking his head.

“That’s so sweet, dude,” Mason says, nudging him with his elbow as they walk down the hall. “No, seriously, it’s just…beautiful.”

Jamie chuckles, still shaking his head, knowing that Mason is teasing him. “Whatever, man. Just make sure you come.”

“Wouldn’t miss it, man. Full course meal instead of free diner food? Oh, I’m totally there.”

Jamie laughs. “But seriously, bro. Thanks for saying you’ll come. I’ve never really had…friends, I guess. It’s always just been me and my mom, and then me and my mom and Dakota. I never felt like I was missing anything, but this past month has shown me that I have been.”

Mason grins. “You’re welcome, dude. And just so we’re clear, you get three bromance moments a year, so this is strike one.”

“Oh, come on, it’s my birthday. Don’t I get an extra one for special holidays?” Jamie says as they reach their destination and walk into the classroom. Mason shakes his head, laughing.

“Hey, Mason. Hey, Jamie,” Amelia Young says, entering the room behind them.

“Hey, Amelia,” Mason says. Jamie waves.

“Are you working tonight?” she asks, taking her regular seat in the front of the classroom. Jamie walks to the back of the classroom, not wanting to intrude on their moment.

“No, I switched with Megan so I could hang out with Jam on his birthday.” Amelia nods and looks at Jamie.

“Happy Birthday,” she says sweetly. Jamie salutes her. She chuckles. “That’s nice, but it’ll be boring without you.”

“What? No way. Megan is a hoot. Take a tally of how many guys she flirts with and you’ll forget all about me. Super fun,” Mason says. Amelia pushes a strand of hair behind her ear, laughing. Jamie laughs from the back of the room, totally listening to their conversation secretly.

“How come every time I see you, you’re up in my girl’s face?” Mason looks up and sees Tanner Andrews walk into the classroom. From the back of the room, Jamie looks up from his Spanish book and his eyes narrow. Tanner Andrews is what he would call the “big man on campus” or that was what he thought he was. Even though he was the son of their town’s most popular and sought out doctor, Jamie never paid him much mind. But lately he’s been riding Mason really hard and Jamie was not amused. He was an asshole, a bully, and Jamie knew eventually a confrontation would happen. He just hoped this wasn’t it. It was his birthday and he was wearing his favorite polo shirt.

“Hello, Tanner. Lovely to see you too,” Mason says.

“Tanner, don’t be mean. We’re just talking,” Amelia says. Tanner sits next to Amelia but doesn’t look at her or acknowledge that she even spoke to him. He keeps his eyes on Mason, who in turn is staring right back at him. Students start to enter the room in crowds as the start of class gets closer.

“Why are you hounding my girlfriend?”

“I’m not hounding anything, dude. Like Amelia said, we were just talking because we’re coworkers and friends. But to be honest, I don’t appreciate the tone you’re using, so try to work on that along with your insecurities.” Tanner gets up from his seat and stands face to face with Mason. The chatter in the classroom dies down, and suddenly all eyes are on them. Jamie gets up from his seat and stands behind Mason. His back is to him.

“How about everybody just go take their seats and not talk to anyone?” Jamie suggests.

“Good idea, Jamie. Go sit down, Tanner, please,” Amelia says, looking up at them.

“Not insecure at all, bro. I just know for a fact that you’re into my girlfriend and it’s disrespectful. Stay out of her face or else.”

“Or else what?” Mason asks, taking a step closer to him. Amelia gets up from her seat and stands in between them. She faces Mason first.

“Please, just go sit down, okay?” she says softly. Mason looks at her, and his face softens. He looks back at Tanner and then back at Amelia.

“Okay,” he says and heads to the back of the classroom just as the teacher enters the room. Amelia sits back down, and the teacher goes straight to the board to write the day’s lesson plan, unaware of the scene that just took place.

“Hola, hola! Sorry I’m late,” she says, but no one answers. She turns to face the class.

“Should have known you were good at running away. Guess your mom taught you that, huh?” Tanner says before sitting back down. Before Jamie can pull Mason away, he charges to the front of the room and knocks Tanner out of his desk. The room explodes into chaos with yelling and their teacher blowing the “fight” whistle in a matter of seconds. Mr. Samuels bursts into the room just as Jamie tries to pry Mason off Tanner’s body.

Chapter Nine

Dakota

“Fighting? Seriously? At school? Your mom is going to murder you. Matter of fact I’m going to murder you and she’ll help me find a spot in the backyard for your body,” Dakota says an hour later as he, Jamie, and Mason are waiting for the Dean of Students to enter the small office. Jamie sits with his head hung low. Mason is sitting next to him sporting a fat lip. “I had to cancel a meeting for a potential client because your mom couldn’t get out of work. This had better not be one of those lame rebellious teen phases, because I am telling you right now—I’m not for it. At all.”

“It’s not like that at all, Dakota. I wasn’t even fighting. I was trying to break it up,” Jamie says quietly. Dakota looks at him and sighs deeply.

“Okay,” he says. Jamie’s head snaps up.

“Okay?” he says. “After your little
Criminal Minds
moment there, you’re just saying
okay
?”

Dakota nods. “If you say you weren’t fighting, then fine.” Dakota straightens his tie. “Sorry for freaking out.”

Mason shakes his head, chuckling.

“Did he deserve it?” Dakota asks.

“Yes,” Jamie and Mason say in unison.

“They always do, don’t they?” Dakota says hypothetically as Mr. Samuels enters the room.

“How is everyone doing?” he says. Dakota stands up to greet him, and his eyes narrow slightly.

“Rick?” Dakota says. Mr. Samuels stops in his tracks.

“Dakota? Dakota Daughtry?” There is a brief pause, and then they both break into roaring laughter. They shake hands and hug. Jamie and Mason look at each other, confused.

“You guys know each other?” Jamie asks.

“Yes, Rick—I mean, Mr. Samuels was my sort of brother for a year.”

“Sort of brother? That’s how you label me?” Rick says, smiling big.

“Well, what else should I say? Dude, you’re a teacher? I didn’t even know you were in Blue Moon. This is your history teacher, Jam? The one you’ve been talking about? I don’t know how I missed that.” Jamie shrugs.

“How would you know? We haven’t seen each other in forever.”

“Hey, um, future delinquents confused over here,” Jamie says. Rick walks around his desk and takes a seat, and Dakota sits down as well.

“In 8th grade I was placed in a foster home. Rick’s parents took me in to fill up the empty space after he went away to school but got rid of me once the state cut their checks.”

“I came home for the summer and Dakota was gone. Never to be heard of again. Jesus, I can’t believe this is happening. I tried to find you for so long, but nobody would give me any information.”

“And I was forbidden to talk to you since I was relocated involuntarily.”

“Is this your son?” Rick asks. He chuckles. “Wait, no, that can’t be possible.” Dakota laughs.

“No, no. I’m a friend of the family,” he says smoothly. Jamie grins. “His mom couldn’t leave work.” Rick nods.

“Oh, okay. Well, it looks like his mom put you on the guardian list, so that’s fine.” Jamie grins again. Rick looks up from the manila folder in front of him. “Since this is your first offense, I’m going to be nice about this. I’ll give you a week’s detention with the understanding that something like this will never happen again. Got it?” Jamie and Mason both nod.

“Yes, sir,” they say in unison.

“Tanner can be a jerk, I know, but you have to just walk away. When you let him get to you like that, Mason, he’s already won, so the punch for him is just icing on the cake. He’s the quarterback—he can take a hit.” Mason nods his head. “Come to me if he keeps giving you grief and I’ll talk to him. That’s what I’m here for.”

“Okay, Mr. Samuels. Thank you.”

“And Jamie, I know you were just trying to help, but sometimes staying away from the situation is the best option in scenarios like this. It’s tough because Mason is your friend and you want to protect him, but honestly, it just gets you into trouble too. If anything like this happens again, get a teacher…don’t try to handle it yourself, okay?” Jamie nods.

“Yes, sir,” he replies.

“All right. That’s all the afterschool special speeches I have for the day. You’re free to go back to class.” Jamie and Mason get up from their seats.

“I’ll see you later, guys,” Dakota says, and they nod and leave the room. Rick comes back around the desk and sits on the end of it in front of Dakota.

“How have you been, man?” Dakota asks.

“Good. Good. I just moved to Blue Moon this summer.”

“I always thought you would stay close to your parents once you were done with school.”

“You know how they used to drive me crazy. I tried it for a little while, but then I thought I needed a change, so I came here. Who would have thought I’d run into my favorite delinquent again?”

Dakota chuckles. “And you’re a teacher and a disciplinarian at that. Who would have thought?”

Rick shrugs. “We have to sit and catch up, man.”

“Yes, for sure.”

“So are you married or anything like that?” Dakota shakes his head.

“Not married. I have a girlfriend, though. Jamie’s mom.” Rick nods his head.

“Ah. Makes sense now. Nice,” he says, grinning.

“What about you?”

“Engaged. Jumping the broom this spring.”

“That’s awesome, man.”

“Thanks. You probably remember her…Jennifer. We went to college together.”

“Oh right, yes, I do remember you bringing her home the Christmas I spent there. Nice. Nice. Good to see you made it.”

“I’m so happy to see you made it, Dakota. Don’t get me wrong, I never doubted you, but I wondered. I did. I didn’t want the system to get you.”

“I’ve always been strong, Rick. I did what I had to do, and then when I turned eighteen, I was done with the whole thing. I’m a photographer.”

“Shut up—really? Oh, I remember you used to drive my dad crazy snapping pictures of everything.” Dakota nods his head, laughing.

“Yes. Yes.” When their laughter dies down, Dakota digs into his pocket and pulls out his cell phone and hands it to him.

“Put your information in there, and I’ll call you next week. We can get some beers or something.”

“Yes, absolutely,” Rick says. He plugs his number into the phone and hands it back to Dakota a minute later.

“There you go.” Dakota nods and takes the phone from him. “This is great, man. I’ll give you a call.” Rick nods, and they hug again.

“Really great to see you.” When they break apart, Dakota waves and then leaves the room smiling.

***

Harper

Jamie comes down the stairs to be greeted with a huge Happy Birthday banner hanging across the room. He walks into the living room and sees streamers hanging from the ceiling. When he enters the dining room, the table is decked out with all their “good” dishes. Harper comes into the room carrying a huge dish of Chicken Parma, his favorite meal. He shakes his head at his mother.

“You look handsome, baby,” Harper says proudly.

“Thanks, Mom. You look great. And this is great,” he says, gesturing toward all of the decorations and the table. “I don’t deserve all of this.”

“Of course you do, honey bun. I love you, and it’s not enough just to say it. Sometimes I have to show it in really obnoxious ways.”

Jamie chuckles. “When I was younger, I used to tell Dakota that I thought I messed up your life. I thought you did all this to make yourself feel better. He used to tell me I was wrong, of course, and you wouldn’t have traded me for the world, but I still always wondered,” he confesses as Dakota comes from the kitchen with a big bowl of Caesar salad. He sets the bowl down next to the main course and folds his arms across his chest. Harper looks at Dakota in awe for a few seconds and then walks up to Jamie and puts her hand on his cheek.

“He was right. You are the best thing that has ever happened to me, Jamie. I love you more than life. If I could do it all over again, I would not change a thing. I promise you.” Harper sees his eyes shining and her own eyes pooling

“Thanks, Mom,” he manages to say. Harper wipes a tear she couldn’t hold in after they break apart.

“Okay, so we just need the glasses put out and the jug of lemonade and we’re all set,” Harper announces. She looks at her watch. “Everyone should be showing up soon.”

“I’ll go grab that,” Jamie says and disappears into the kitchen. Harper looks at Dakota. She stares at him for several seconds as he angles a few plates on the table. He looks up at her.

“What?” he asks. Harper is still silent. She walks over to him and kisses him on the mouth. Dakota responds instantly, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her body in to his. When Harper pulls away from him, Dakota’s eyes are still closed.

“What was that for?” he asks, once he catches his breath.

“For being you,” she says. “I could kiss you like that forever and it still wouldn’t be enough for all you do for Jamie.” Dakota opens his eyes and looks at her.

“I’m willing to test the theory,” he says and smirks.

“I love you, Dakota,” she says in one breath.

Dakota’s smirk disappears, and his eyes widen. “What?” he says. Harper hangs her head, blushing, but just as she opens her mouth to repeat herself, Jamie comes into the room with the lemonade and the doorbell rings. She slips out of Dakota’s arms and goes to answer the door. Dakota clears his throat, still in awe of what he thinks he just heard.

“Dakota, you okay?” Jamie asks, walking over to him. Dakota breaks out of his trance and nods his head.

“Yes. Yes, I’m fine, birthday dude. Let’s get this party started,” he says. Harper emerges a few seconds later with an unexpected guest.

“Dad? What are you doing here?”

“I got an invitation in the mail. Thought that meant, you know, you wanted me to show up,” Aiden says, giving him a hug.

“No—yes—of course I wanted you to come. I just…I didn’t think you would be able to make it.” Harper stands next to Dakota and gives him a pleading look. Dakota nods, remembering their agreement. He would try his hardest to get along with the man. He walks up to Aiden with a smile. He holds out his hand.

“Good of you to make it, Aiden,” he says. Aiden stares at his hand. Jamie looks from Dakota to Aiden and then from Aiden to Dakota, biting his lip nervously.

“Thanks. Good to see you, Dakota,” Aiden finally says and shakes his hand. Jamie and Harper exhale at the same time just as the doorbell rings for the next arrival.

“I’ll get the door,” Jamie says.

“I’ll go set another place,” Harper says. Dakota and Aiden both nod their heads. When they are alone, Aiden puts his hands in his pockets and steps closer to Dakota. Dakota steps back a pace, surprised.

“Let’s be clear about something, Dakota. I know you’re dating Harper now and that’s great, but you’re both delusional if you think it’s going to last. Jamie’s not your son. You’re just the babysitter, so don’t get too comfortable, Dakota, because me being here tonight is just the beginning. I’m not going anywhere.” Dakota’s fists are balled up, ready to strike, but before he can retort, Jamie walks in with Casey.

“The party’s here!” she shouts, and Dakota walks to the other side of the room, his blood boiling and his head wondering what Aiden could possibly be up to.