"Just please let me change the station," I moaned as Amanda rolled her eyes for the hundredth time that night.

"Don't touch it. You're lucky I'm here at all," Amanda teased.

She was kidding of course. I knew she'd be there for me when I needed her to be. Amanda just didn't show her true feelings. But that didn't mean that she didn't feel things intensely.

I crossed my arms across my chest. "What flattering things are you going to say about me tonight?"

Amanda paused for a moment, "Nothing's coming to mind at the moment. Though I do say I look fine in this jacket. Together once again and all is right with the world." She ran a hand down the dark leather affectionately.

"I'm really going to miss her. I named her Susan."

"You can't name my jacket. I already named her. You can't rename her."

"You did not," I laughed. "What was her name?"

"Er," Amanda stuttered, "Leathery."

"Nice," I rolled my eyes at her. She did look fantastic in her leather jacket and jeans. She always looked fantastic but this jacket was magical, I swear. And I gave up that miracle jacket all for Jackson. True love knows no bounds.

"The Red Lion, right?" Amanda questioned with a raised brow as she pulled into the bar. The same bar that Marcus had taken me to. And now here I was with Jackson (and friends). How my life had changed.

"I can't feel my fingers," I muttered as I wiggled my numb fingers, my heart thumping hyperactively.

Amanda nodded, "You might have diabetes." I glared at her as I continued to attempt to move my hands. "What?" She asked defensively, "Anyone would if they ate like you."

I pulled out my phone and texted Connie as I was currently missing the balance she brought to Amanda and I.

Mabel: Miss you tons, Con. Wish you were here!

I frowned at the last three unread messages. Something was up with her.

"Hello? Too harsh?" Amanda waved her hand in front of my face.

I shook my head. "Just nervous."

I hopped out of the car and made my way to Amanda. She looked me up and down "Fiercely loyal and extremely loving."

"Huh?"

"That's what I'm going to say about you. That's all anyone needs to know to know you're more than worth it," She avoided eye contact as she complimented me. She hated getting mushy and so this meant all the more to me.

"Aww!" I gushed as I wrapped my arms around her.

"Yeah, yeah. Also a pre-diabetic."

We walked inside the crowded bar, looking around for Jackson. I spotted his blonde head right away as he sat with his constant companion, Max. His dark dreads reached just to his wide shoulders, his dazzling smile blinding me even from where I was as he joked with Jackson.

Two other guys sat at the table who I recognized from the team but didn't know their names.

"What the hell did I get myself into," Amanda muttered as I waved enthusiastically at Jackson, a huge smile stretching across my face.

He smiled at me and stood up, "Hey, gorgeous." Gorgeous. Me. Gorgeous.

I let out an unintentional squeak. Amanda pinched my side with a subtle keep your shit together smile. "Hey, you guy, you." Kill me now. "Ahem. Amanda. This is her," I stuttered. I glanced at his friends to see them looking at me in what looked like awe that one could make such a fool of themselves in such a short span of time. My powers never ceased to amaze.

As I shuffled so Amanda was in view, their faces changed automatically. Amanda always inspired a different kind of awe in people.

"Nice to meet you, Amanda," Jackson stuck his hand out to shake hers and she reciprocated before turning to face the table.

"This is Max," Jackson introduced and Max waved, his gaze set on Amanda. "And this is Jay and Yusuf."

"Nice to meet you all," I waved as we all scooted into the booth. I sat next to Jackson and Amanda sat at the end of the booth.

"You guys want something to drink?" Jackson asked motioning to his glass of some kind of brown liquid.

"I'll have a beer," Amanda shrugged. Of course she'd have a beer.

I decided not to tempt the fates with making my brain more of a sloshy mess than it already was. Plus, I had yet to find a drink I actually enjoyed.

"I'll just get a water," I stated.

Yusuf smiled at me with a boyish grin, his light brown hair gelled just slightly, "Join the club." He tilted glass to show me the water in it and I smiled in appreciation that he was being nice to me after I made such a fool of myself.

Jackson nudged my side gently, "Want to grab drinks with me?"

I nodded, enthusiastically shoving Amanda out of the booth as we walked towards the bar. She stuck her tongue at me as I walked away.

"So," Jackson started. "I hope it's not weird meeting up with my friends so soon. They're just a big part of my life so I figured you should get to know them."

I should get to know them. Like, he wanted me in his life. Permanently?! Calm down, Mabel.

"Oh, it's not weird at all," I tucked my hair behind my ear. "They seem like great guys." I mean, I didn't know that for sure, but I wasn't going to tell him that. Yusuf seemed nice.

He nodded, "They are." He stood at the bar and motioned for the barista.

"Hey, girl!" Amy greeted.

"Amy!" I replied as she hugged me over the counter.

"Guess what? I decided to major in political studies after our talk! Can you believe that?" She laughed. "Who's this?" She wiggled her eyebrows at me as she glanced at Jackson.

"That's amazing! This is Jackson," I gestured. "Jackson, this is Amy, our future president."

Amy laughed, "Nice to meet ya. You have a good one here, Jackson."

I blushed as he slung an arm over my shoulder. "That's what I hear," He replied.

"What can I get you two?" She asked.

"A beer and a water," Jackson recited, reaching for his wallet and throwing some bills on the counter. Amy turned around to reach for the cups.

Jackson turned to me, "So, any siblings?"

"Sadly, no." I responded. "You?"

"Two sisters," He replied, reaching for the two cups Amy placed on the counter. She winked at me as we walked back to the table.

"I can't imagine you with sisters," I laughed. "You seem too macho."

"Me? Nah. I just play football and cook steaks and sweat profusely," he winked at me as we reached the table. He slid Amanda her beer before we scooted into the booth.

"We were just talking about defence to up our game," Jay stated, leaning back and looking to Jackson.

"You want weapons?" I joked, "there's some books, arm yourselves!"

Silence echoed the table. Jay and Max looked at each other in confusion. Note to self: use that one woodworking class I took with my dad to construct a coffin for myself.

Another note to self: Bash head in with frying pan when you get home.

Amanda let out a laugh and Yusuf joined her. I thanked my lucky stars that Amanda was here, because I knew for a fact that she had no idea what I was talking about. Connie would have gotten the reference.

"Doctor Who?" Yusuf asked glancing at me.

I nodded gratefully, "Yeah."

Jackson cleared his throat, "So aren't there usually three of you around? When we saw you at that party you seemed like the inseparable trio."

I nodded, my cheeks still flushed from a moment ago, "Yeah, Connie. She couldn't make it tonight."

"Oh?" Jackson inquired, taking a sip of his drink.

"She's babysitting her cousin," I let him know.

"Anyway," Max interrupted, "Jay was talking about defence, but I was talking to Amanda here."

"You sure were talking," Amanda stated nonchalantly, "But it wasn't anything I was keen on hearing."

Max let out a rambunctious laugh, "Maybe going out with me would change that."

Amanda shrugged, "Eh, I doubt it."

Yusuf laughed, "I haven't seen anyone turn you down before, Max. Your head looks a little less big now. It suits you. More proportionate to the rest of your body."

Max rolled his eyes, running a hand through his dreads.

Jackson grinned, slinging an arm over my shoulder and my heart leaped. I would've made a joke if I hadn't been holding my tongue all night long and currently scared of what could burst out if I dared open my mouth.

I watched as Jackson had a couple more drinks before he turned to me, "Do you want to go for a walk with me?"

I looked at Amanda who gave me an are you sure you want to go with him look.

"Would you be okay?" I asked her.

She nodded, "I have my car. Call me whenever and I'll grab you," She looked at Jackson, "From where ever."

He put his hands up, "She's safe with me, I promise."

Yusuf and Jay stood up and stretched, "Well boys, see you on the field," Jay stated.

Yusuf grinned at me, "Nice meeting you, Mabel."

I smiled back, "You too. You're a bigger nerd than I thought was possible."

He shushed me with a finger to his lips, "Shh, don't ruin my reputation."

Max stood up, flexing his arms behind his back. "Come on, Amanda. I'll walk you to your car."

She scoffed, "Like I need your extra bulk."

He wiggled his eyebrows, "So you do think I'm buff then?"

She looked to me and then back at Max and for the first time since I'd known her, she actually looked frazzled. Amanda never looked frazzled. She was cool and collected and unaffected by men.

Jackson and I headed out of the bar and he reached down for my hand. (If I was being honest, I wished I could have swiped my sweaty hand down my pants before he grabbed it. Repression will need to take place.)

"Did you have a good time tonight?" Jackson asked peering at me with his dazzling blue eyes.

"Of course," I laughed. "I love hanging out with you."

"Didn't you also say you loved me?" Jackson smirked, glancing at me as he swung our intertwined hands from side to side.

I gaped at him, "You remember that? I- er, I didn't mean it-"

"Relax," Jackson laughed loudly, "I know you were drunk."

"Drunk? Drunk. Yes, I was. Very inebriated," I babbled. If I thought my hand was sweaty before, there was no hiding the nervous residue now. I tugged my hand away and crossed it over my chest as we walked.

"We all do embarrassing things when drinking," Jackson consoled, walking near me but not reaching for my hand again.

But one thing stuck with me - why did Jackson think I was drunk?