The Girl Next Door

“Are you sure about this?”
Jason finally asked his friend. He was looking in the mirror, in his room, trying to get an unruly piece of hair in place.
“Of course I’m sure.” Marcus replied, sitting on Jason’s bed. “I’m also sure we’ll be late if you keep wasting any more time.”

Jason sighed at his image, finally turning to his friend.
“Let’s go” he said.
“Let’s go!” Marcus repeated.

It had been about a few weeks since the whole incident with Veronica and Alex. Jason resolved to himself that he would no longer try to pursue anything with Veronica. Even though he wanted so much more. He couldn’t stand losing their friendship.

It was the hardest thing he had ever done, keeping his mind focused when around her, not giving any hints of how much he wanted her, backing down whenever Alex interrupted their plans. He still watched her from his window, lights out of course. But he never tried to make another move toward taking things forward. ‘This is all for her’ he would tell himself.

Marcus had gotten the bright idea of setting him up on a double date. The girl he had met at the party a while ago had a friend and he thought it would be great if they all went out together. He had met the girl about 2 or 3 times before and he had to admit that they hit it off pretty well.

Janette was her name, but the first thing that struck him about her was how much she reminded him of Veronica. The same chocolate brown eyes, the same dark brown hair, except this girl’s was shorter, and if he leaned in close enough he could even smell the same citrus shampoo. Now he and Marcus were heading out to pick up the girls.

Deanna and Janette were waiting anxiously fo the guys when they finally pulled up in Marcus’s car at 8:10.
“Late, typical.” Deanna mumbled as the doorbell ran. She opened the door and smiled at Jason, letting him pass, before turning her glare on Marcus.

“What?” He asked, shrugging his shoulders. Her only response was to look at her watch and then back at him. Realizing what she was getting at he blurted out “It was all Jason’s fault. Honest.” “It was my fault Dee.” Jason admitted before taking Janette’s hand as she stood from her seat. “You look amazing!” Jason exclaimed sincerely as he took in her green and black outfit.

She really was a beautiful girl or maybe it was just the fact that she looked so much like..... ‘ No’ he screamed at himself and shook the thought from his head.
“I got you these.” He said and handed her a small bouquet of white and purple tulips he had picked up earlier. Janette turned about two shades of red as she accepted the flowers.

“Thank you. They’re beautiful.” She smiled brightly at him as he smiled back.
“You two ready?” Came a voice from the door.
“I think so” Jason said looking at Janette who nodded.
“Then lets go.” Marcus said. Jason reached for Janette’s and as they left the house.

Veronica had been outside in the front yard with Butch when she saw him leave. He looked good in his simple black slacks and button up dark blue shirt. He gave her a wave before getting into Marcus’s car, but that was it. He didn’t run over to talk or get advise about his clothes or anything. Apparently he was a lot more confident now, and from the looks of things, he was on his way to a date. Veronica sighed and looked down at an almost fully grown Butch.

‘Why do I even care? We are just friends, right?’ She thought. ‘Wrong. God, you know you like him and no matter what’s going on now, you know he likes you too.’ “Whatever” she said out loud and lead Butch back into the house. ‘He does still like me, right?’

The date went great and everyone was enjoying themselves. It was the typical date, dinner and a movie. Jason and Janette talked though out dinner and held hands in the theater. They even did a little making out and Jason discovered that Janette was a great kisser. ‘I’m glad I cleaned my room’ he thought to himself, having the feeling that things might go further after the date.