Chapter 28: No Future

Delaney spent hours picking out an outfit for her first date with Jack, wanting to wear something that would appeal to this bad boy reputation without looking like she put a lot effort into it. When she meets him at The Toadstool early Saturday afternoon, she's not sure if her fashion choice has the intended impact or not, as Jack says nothing about it when he invites her to join him in a game of pool.

Then, as he's lining up a shot, he raises his eyes in her direction and smiles. "If I lose, it will be your fault you know. I can't pay attention to my game with you standing there being so gorgeous."

It's a close game, but he does lose. "I suppose a rematch would be pointless," he laughs, "You'll only own me again."

"You didn't do that badly," she laughs, "If it would help, I could stand somewhere else while you take your turn."

"That would just encourage to cheat, you know," he says with a wicked smile, "Really, I'm fine with losing, as long as you're with me."

"Can you meet me tonight?" he asks he her, "We could dancing."

"Sure," Delaney says, "But what about the rest of the afternoon?"

"I have some stuff I have to do," he says, "But I'll be free by 7. That's around the time Moonlight Falls opens. Meet me there?"

"If there's anything I can help you with..." Delaney says, hoping she doesn't sound clingy or desperate.

"You're really sweet,you know that?" he says, smiling that smile again, the one that absolutely devastates her, "But, no, it's just some stuff I need to do for my Dad. See you at seven?"

"Okay," Delaney agrees, and, turning back to him before she leaves, she surprises them both with a shy kiss. 

"Seven," he says again, touching her hand lightly before they part, his blue eyes gleaming over his smile.

While Delaney is out on her first date, Cassidy, Aurora, Shadow and Iola spend Saturday afternoon at the library.

With a few hours to kill before she meets Jack again, Delaney gets in a strength workout. She doesn't remember much of her mother, but blames her for her scrawny physique nonetheless. She obviously doesn't get it from her father.

"Amanda and I are going to the arcade tonight," Kyle says, interrupting her exercise, "Cass is coming along. Do you want to join us?"

"I have a date, actually," Delaney answers, her excitement bubbling up again, "With Jack Horner."

"You're kidding right? Jack Horner?" Kyle gasps, "You know he's a delinquent, right?"

"He's not," Delaney defends her crush, "He's sweet to me, anyway."

Kyle rolls his eyes, "Laney, you could do so much better. Even Jack's brother Jesse is better than he is. Seriously, forget him and come out with us tonight."

"This is none of your business, big brother," Delaney says, "I'll se who I want to see."

"Well, be careful, then. He'll only get you into trouble..."

"I was afraid you might blow me off," Jack says when she joins him at the bubble bar in the Moonlight Falls club.

"I'm only a little late," she giggles. She was intentionally late, though she was ready far ahead of time. But she didn't want to show up early and look desperate.

"I'm just surprised you're even seeing me, Laney," he says, "I don't have the best reputation."

"I don't care about your reputation. You just like to have fun, I understand that."

He raises an eyebrow at her, but says nothing in response.

After bubbles, the sing a duet on the karaoke stage.

And then they hit the dance floor.

"We're right up on your curfew," Jack says, "You should be heading home."

"My curfew?" she laughs, "It's the town's curfew, yours as well as mine."

"Rules don't apply to Jack Horner," Jack laughs, "But I don't want you getting into trouble because you're with me."

"Yeah," she sighs, "My dad will flip if I'm not home in twenty minutes."

"We have time for a kiss," Jack says, pulling her close.

As they get ready for bed, Delaney confides all the details of her date with her twin.

"Don't get too attached to him," Cassidy warns, "You know he's just trouble."

"You too?" Delaney sighs, exasperated, "Why is everyone so set against him?"

"Because he's a lowlife with no future," Cassidy says harshly, "Open your eyes, Laney. He spends more time out of school than in, he'll never have a proper job, he'll end up a criminal. And he'll drag you right down with him."

"You don't know that," Delaney insists, "You don't know him."

"Neither do you, Laney."

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I changed the name of the town to Drake's Hollow, and then I used the name Moonlight Falls for the local nightclub. Clever, huh?