I would sit here and help her do anything just to be able to be near her.

I wish I knew what she was in deep thought about over there. Hopefully not that Shane guy.

"Would you like to go grab a burger with me?" I asked her.

"Sure I'm hungry I could eat." She smiled.

We finish up what we are working on and Willow told her mom she was going to go get some food with me. I wish it was a date but no way would I take her to the bar for a date.

I put the box away we were working on and walked back to where she was putting on her coat and toboggan. "I forgot how cold Vermont is." She laughed.

"Yeah, I'm sure it's a shock to your California system." I chuckle.

"So do I get to ride in this fancy ford truck?" She smirked.

"Oh, I was hoping to ride in the tesla." I laugh.

"Another day Jace. I'm hungry let's go." She smiles walking to my truck.

I walked around and unlocked her door and watch her ass as she jumps in. I try to clear my head as I walk around to my side of the truck.

"I bet you haven't had a milkshake in years have you?" I laughed.

"No can't say that I have and if I did they wouldn't be as good I'm sure." She said.

We were quiet the rest of the way to the bar. I didn't know what to say really.

"It looks the same." She said.

"Yeah, nothing really changes around here. Let's get inside it's freezing!" I said.

I walked around to her door and opened it for her. Then walked behind her guiding her inside like she didn't know the way.

The owner Ross saw us and smiled. "Well, I'll be if it isn't Willow. How are you doing?" He smiled.

"I'm good Ross! It's nice to see you again." She said.

"Two burgers and two chocolate shakes?" He said.

"You remembered! Of course!" She giggles.

We walk off and over to a booth to sit down. "This sure does bring back a lot of old memories Jace." She said looking around.

"Yeah, most people stuck around here. Justin is now a doctor." I said.

"Wow, a doctor I never saw that coming. Did he ever marry?" She asked.

"Yeah, Vicky, and she's a nurse," I said.

"Wow! what about Jackie?" She said rolling her eyes.

"Oh she married a couple of guys and had a couple of kids but it doesn't stop her from hitting on us." I laugh.

"I never could stand her and I'm sure I won't be able to avoid her when I see her." She said.

"Mr. Potter at school got caught with the secretary a few years back and now they are married." I laughed.

"Wow! I would have never thought those two together either." She said just as Ross appeared with our food.

"Now you kids enjoy and it's good to have you back Willow." He smiled.

"Thanks, Ross!" She smiled.

We were almost finished with our meal when Ben and my brother Noah walked in.

"Hey, guys! Are you on a date?" Noah smirked.

"No asshole we were hungry and so I brought Willow here because I knew she probably hadn't had a burger like this in California," I said.

Ben just stared at me making me uncomfortable. So I took a bite of burger and ignored his eyes.

"What have you guys been doing?" Willow asked.

"We went picked up a few things for mom and she told me that you two left together and it wasn't hard to spot Jace's truck," Ben said.

"And I just tagged along for food." Noah laughs.

When we got done eating Ben offered to take Willow home but she insisted I take her back to her car. She didn't want to be stranded.

On the way back we didn't say much. Just listened to the radio. "Thanks again for the burger Jace it was delicious. Now I need to run to work this off." She laughed.

"You look great Willow. I don't know where you put that burger though." I laugh.

"People in California eat like rabbits or only eat lettuce. I have always been a foodie so I just work out extra hard." She said.

We pulled up at her rental car and she turns to me. "Thanks again for helping me Jace I appreciate it and the burger."

"It's no problem, Willow. I'll follow you home to make sure you make it." I said.

"I appreciate it. Nite Jace!"

"Nite Willow!" I said as she closed the truck door. I let out a sigh of relief when she pulled out from the shop and headed home.

I followed her home and rolled down the window and told her to watch out for that sidewalk.

"Thank you, Jace! I forgot." She laughed as she got out of the car.

I was stopped in the middle of the road watching her. It's nighttime no cars were coming anyways.

Once she got up on the porch I took on off up the road. I made it to my apartment I share with my brother.

Once inside I go shower to warm up and get ready for bed. Noah isn't home yet which is fine I'm tired and ready to fall to sleep but my mind keeps going back to Willow.

She has always been the girl of my dreams and I don't know how to tell her. I never have been able to. I just figured she already knew but apparently, she doesn't or she's ignored it our whole lives.

I thought once we kissed back in the day that we would get together and become a couple but that's how a teen thinks. It didn't work that way. I don't recall her ever dating anyone.

Maybe I can somehow show her before she goes back to California. I close my eyes and drift off to sleep.