Chapter 17: Request

MAVIS.

She heard a knock on her door and walked up to open it. I stood by her door with a smile on my face. "You don't have to do these, it's just that when I want something that I know I can't have, I always take it forcefully."

I paused and gazed around. "But, why have you proven that you are not proud of me?"

"I am, I really am but, you see, it's absurd. I can't do that or maybe, you can try to."

I smiled, "Guess who I just spoke with?" I asked, making my way into her room.

"Dad?"

"No, Jackson,"

"But why?" Was she asking why I talked with my best Pal? Jackson knew so much about me just like I knew about him. Jackson and I may have had our differences, but at the end of the day, we knew we could always count on each other. We had been through a lot together, and we had each other's backs, no matter what.

Even when we had our fair share of arguments, we always made up in the end. There was something special about our bond, something unbreakable. Even when we were mad at each other, we never stopped caring.

Even though Jackson tried to talk me out of pursuing Isabel, I knew he was only doing what he thought was best for me. He was looking out for me, even if he didn't agree with my feelings.

I knew he cared about me, and I respected his opinion, even if I didn't always follow all his advice. But deep down, I knew that my heart was set on Isabel, and I couldn't ignore my feelings.

Isabel's face lit up when I told her about my plan to throw her a birthday party. But her smile quickly vanished, replaced by a look of concern. "I hope you're not planning on inviting Jason," she said, her voice hesitant. I could see the worry in her eyes, and I knew that Jason was a sensitive subject for her.

"Don't worry," I said, giving her a reassuring smile. "I would never invite someone who makes you uncomfortable." I paused and looked at her. "But, why do you hate Jason so much? Is there something you hiding from me?"

Isabel's eyes widened as she looked at me, her expression a mix of surprise and confusion. "I don't hate Jason, I just, it's just." She exhaled tiredly. "It's just that... well, there's a lot of history there. I'd rather not get into it." I could tell that there was something she wasn't telling me, but I also knew that I couldn't push her to share anything she wasn't ready to.

"I understand," I said, giving her a reassuring nod. "We don't have to talk about it if you don't want to."

Isabel sighed and looked down at her hands, which were clasped in her lap. "I know this might sound silly, but I really don't want Jason to come to my party. I know he's your friend's brother, but..." She trailed off. I could tell that this was a difficult topic for her, and I wanted to be respectful of her feelings.

"It's not silly at all," I said, "Your comfort is more important to me than anything else. I promise I won't invite him. But is it okay if Estelle comes?"

She hesitated for a moment, then gave a nod. "I'm okay with Estelle coming," she said in a way that suggested that she didn't seem to have an option. I know you're still friends with her, and I don't want to get in the way of that. It's just... it's complicated."

I reached out and placed my hand on hers, giving it a gentle squeeze. "I understand," I said. "I promise I won't do anything to upset you. You're the most important person to me, and I want you to be happy."

I could see a flicker of gratitude in Isabel's eyes as she gave me a small smile. "Thank you," she said. "It means a lot to me that you're willing to do this for me."

I returned her smile and gave her hand another squeeze. "It's not a big deal," I said. "I care about you."

As she wrapped her arms around my body and rested her head on my chest, I felt a rush of warmth and affection for her. I wrapped my arms around her and held her close, savoring the feeling of her in my embrace.

She suddenly asked. "What did you discuss with Jackson on the phone?" Her question caught me off guard, and I wasn't sure how to answer. I hesitated, trying to choose my words carefully.

"It was just a quick chat," I said, trying to sound nonchalant. "He didn't say anything important." But I could tell from the look on Isabel's face that she wasn't convinced. She seemed worried that he might have related information that she wouldn't want me to know about.

As she leaned against me, I couldn't help but wonder about the history between her and Jackson's brother. I knew there was something there, but I wasn't sure what it was. It felt like there was a missing piece of the puzzle, and I was determined to find out what it was.

I decided to ask Jackson about it the next time we talked. But in the meantime, I was content to just enjoy the moment with Isabel, holding her close and feeling the warmth of her body against mine.

"Everywhere is quiet. Can you love me right now?" She was looking up at me with a radiating smile. I could feel her warm breath against my neck, and her eyes were full of affection. The silence was like a thick blanket, enveloping us in its soft embrace.

I looked down at her, my heart swelling with emotion. "Of course," I said. My voice was full of emotion. "I love you more than anything in the world." I bent down and kissed her, feeling her lips against mine.

"Silly! I meant for you to pull your pants off and make love to me," she said, pressing my left nipple gently.