Tomfoolery: Chapter Thirteen.

Lessons Learned.

Alexandra:

It was after school hours again, and I was wandering around after a newspaper meeting. I smiled, running a hand over the lockers and I took my steps lowly, lightly, enjoying a few minutes of peace.

Faintly, but growing louder, I heard the sound of footsteps. They were a runners steps: light, fast.

I smiled wider and stopped my progress down the hallway, waiting for the person I knew was coming.

Jason burst through the door to the stairwell, almost falling over as he tried to make a sharp change in direction. Faltering, he took an extra moment to collect himself when his foot slipped too far from the dirt on the floors. When he looked up to me, the smile on his face almost took my breath away.

I smiled back as he ran up to me and grabbed my hand. Pulling me with him, we began to run in the direction I had just come. I heard someone yelling behind us. I'd recognize Mr. Osborne's voice anywhere, and besides, even if I hadn't heard it, I'd know it was him, it always was him Jason was running from after school hours.

Jason's smile was overwhelming, it always was. My heart was beating fast, and somehow I knew it wasn't from the jog.

His hand lead me to a classroom door, he opened it and let me through first. Closing it behind us, he brought us to the corner of the room, behind the teacher's large cabinet in a corner, even with the door so Osborne couldn't see us. He didn't let go of my hand until we were in the corner. I tried suppressing my laughter and Jason smiled, shushing me hurriedly.

I could feel Jason's shallow breath on my ear as he stood in front of me, arms on either side of me, pressing me against the wall and out of sight.

I could hear the smile in his voice, "Come here often?"

"Only when my boyfriend's in trouble," I laughed over his shoulder. "So yeah, I do. Too often."

He chuckled deeply, "Jeeze, sounds like a prick."

"I know, right."

He pulled back so he could look at me and smirked. "So, how was your day?" he wrapped his arms around my waist.

I shrugged, placing my hands on his chest, "Not half as exciting as yours I'm betting."

"You'd probably win that bet," he leant down and his lips brushed mine. But before he could kiss me properly, we heard the door crash open, along with Mr. Osborne's labored breathing.

"Carmichael! I know you're in here! I saw you walk in!" he spoke, pushing every word from his lungs forcefully.

Jason's face turned into a cringe. Clearly he hadn't been expecting that.

I could feel a laugh begin to escape my lips at his sour expression and Jason and I both snapped a hand over my mouth, his hand on my lips and my hand over his. He leant to my ear with a smile, "Tsk, tsk, tsk. Unacceptable."

I nodded and he removed his hand slowly, clasping it with mine.

After he did so, I turned us around quickly, so he was against the wall and I was on the outside.

His eyes grew wide, and he eyed me up and down quickly, before casting a look in Osborne's direction. "What are you doing?" he whispered harshly.

"Saving your ass, as always," I rolled my eyes seriously.

"No--" he started desperately but I cut him off with a quick, hard kiss.

"Catch you later," I smiled and winked quickly. I turned to walk out from our hiding place but he jerked my arm back, pulling me tight against him and kissing me again.

"You're so beautiful. Have I told you that today?…" he said breathlessly in my ear before I stepped back again. I smiled dizzily but made no reply.

I grabbed a random book off one of the desks and made myself visible to Osborne. "Sorry, Mr. Osborne, it's just me," I said apologetically.

He slit his eyes at me, "Where is he, Ms. Thompson? I know you two are something of an item. Where is he hiding?" he took a few steps toward me, to where I was almost sure he could see Jason. Quickly, I moved up to meet him first, cutting off his angle to Jason. I felt like I was in a basketball game: Osborne was my opponent, and I had to do everything in my power to keep his path to Jason blocked.

"Hiding? Oh no, what did he do this time? He was supposed to call me after school but he hasn't yet. He's such a jerk, I swear," I laughed bitterly and Osborne seemed to lighten up a bit at my disappointment with my boyfriend.

"You're so smart, Ms. Thompson! So studious! What are doing getting mixed up with such a delinquent!" he waved his hand in an unattractive manner as his voice rose to a high octave.

"You're right, I'll just dump him," I shook my head angrily. "He's just always getting in trouble! " I pretended to mutter to myself. "You're so right, Mr. Osborne. I could do so much better." I spoke decisively. Then, with a sigh, I changed the subject. "So I'm glad I ran into you. I actually have a question for you…."

I put a hand on Osborne's arm so I could steer him away and out of the room He eventually forgot about Jason as I asked him about… I don't even know… the vending machines I think, and how only half of them seem to work. Osborne always seemed to fall for that sort of thing. As long as you seemed interested in what he was saying, he didn't really care what the hell you were talking about. Such low self-esteem. Maybe he should join a gym, that would raise the confidence a bit.

I heard Jason creep out the door behind us, but suppressed the urge to look.

Xxxx

That afternoon I went over to Jason's house, which had become a habitual thing for us now. He wasn't home yet, apparently. He had taken Emily on a quick bike ride. So I trotted up to his room and rested on his bed for a few minutes.

I loved his room. It always smelled like him. Over the past two months, I'd spent a lot of time in his house, with his family, but mostly I loved hanging out in his room (the door always opened, of course). Everything just reminded me of him.

I rolled over on my side and laid my head against his pillow. I was very tired. Osborne just wouldn't let me go. He held me there, thinking up new things to complain about that I didn't really care for in the least. Jason had called me three times, two of which I ignored, and one I pretended he was my mother so I could escape. When even that didn't work, eventually I had to tell him I was late for work, just because he simply refused to shut up. I pulled Jason's pillow into my chest and curled up, hoping to take a nap as I waited.

Twenty minutes later I was barely drifting when I heard the front door open downstairs, and Emily's excited feet as she bounded into the kitchen.

"Mom?" Jason called below. I heard his mother mutter something, and then Jason's voice again, "Upstairs? Okay."

I heard him run up the stairs, and then tip toe quietly into the room. He kicked off his shoes and laid down next to me, wrapping his arm around my waist from behind.

"So…" he spoke on the back of my neck. "You're dumping me, huh?"

I smiled and rolled over, burying my head in his chest, "If you're not careful. You are a bag of trouble. Osborne's right, you know."

"Yeah, I know," he smiled. "You should dump me, I'm not worth it."

"Yeah, definitely not worth an hour with Osborne. You so owe me," I muttered.

His chest shook as he laughed, and he rubbed his hand up and down my back. "I'm sorry. I told you not to."

"He was going to find you."

"You don't know that."

"He was already halfway there."

He paused before agreeing, "Yeah. You're right. He would've found me."

"God you're so lucky you have me!" I wrapped my arms around his torso.

"You're right," he whispered, pulling me closer. "I am."

I groaned, pulling back and looking at him, "Ughh,"

"What's up?" he laughed at me his perfect teeth always smelling of spearmint.

"When did we get so fucking sappy?" I rolled my eyes at the ceiling.

He started laughing harder before he cupped my cheek and kissed me fiercely. I smiled against his mouth as he rolled over so he was on top of me. His hand tangled in my hair, the other on my thigh. I had quickly caught on to how much Jason liked to kiss. A whole lot. I started to laugh and he redirected his mouth to my neck so I could laugh harder. He followed the line of my throat to my collar bone and back up to my ear. "Done yet?" he murmured with humor as he nibbled on my earlobe.

"No," I barely got out.

He was about to say something before his mother yelled from downstairs, "Jason!"

He groaned, letting his face drop into the crook of my neck. "Be right back," he muttered before kissing me once more and hopping off his bed.

I watched him trot out of the room and down the stairs. I smiled to myself before turning to the edge of the bed and standing up. I walked over to his dresser and ran a hand across the top of it, before noticing a sheet of paper tucked under the keyboard of his computer. I took a quick glance over to the door to make sure he wasn't running up the stairs just yet, and slid quietly over to the desk, pulling out the paper.

I glanced at it and smiled. Of course.

I read through the sheet a couple of times, smiling. Then heard Jason's light footsteps climbing the stairs once more, and I folded the paper carefully, slipping it into the back pocket of my jeans.

"Hey," I heard him say lightly as he crossed into the room.

"What was that?" I asked turning around.

"Oh, uh, Lily and Brandon called," he said placing his hands on my waist. Things were generally back to normal between Lily and I. We'd both apologized to each other for letting our friendship drift, but we were happy things had maintained a level of normalcy again.

"They called your house? Why didn't they call me?" I wondered, patting my pockets to try and find my phone.

"Hm…" he smirked, "Probably because they tried and you don't have your phone on you."

"Oh, yes, that's plausible, I suppose," I cleared my throat, realizing I had, indeed, left my phone in my car.

"They knew you were probably here," he reasoned, fixing a strand of my hair. "They want to know if you wanna meet up at the bowling alley tonight."

I shrugged, "Sure, what time?"

"After closing."

I smiled a little, placing my hands around his neck, "Yeah, definitely."

He nodded knowingly and pulled me closer to him, "Yeah. Yeah, I knew you'd like that." Of course he knew. Ever since that night after the dance we'd spent many nights hanging out in that alley after hours together, usually sitting under the snack counter just talking.

I laughed and shook my head, "Oh, Carmichael, you know me too well."

He scrunched his nose in disagreement and spoke, "Hmm, just well enough I'd say." Then he smirked and kissed me once quickly, then pulled me into a hug, whispering in my ear, "Guess what?"

"Hmm?" I replied dizzily.

"It's snowing…" with that he grabbed my hand and started to pull me from the room quickly, grabbing my jacket off his bed with his other hand, throwing it on my head absently, and trucking down the stairs. It all happened very quickly.

"Wha-- Okay! Okay! You don't have to drag me!" I yelled once I was over the shock, trying to shrug the coat on my shoulders with one hand.

He stopped and turned on the stairs slowly, a grin on his face.

I groaned to the ceiling, "No don't pick me up either…"

"Too late," he said and quickly put his hand under my knees, picking me up bridal style, "You asked for this." He continued down the stairs and opened the door.

"No!" I laughed, "Put me down!" I smacked his chest a couple of times. Enough to hurt, anyway.

"Ouch, woman!" he exclaimed, though laughing, "That hurts…"

"Then stop carrying me like a child," I laughed.

He pretended to ponder, "Okay, fine," then he shifted positions and threw me over his shoulder instead.

"Carmichael, I swear to god…" I said dryly as I dangled over his shoulder. He just chucked in response.

He stepped down the stairs and into the middle of his yard. There was a lot of snow out here. "Wow, it really is coming down…" I muttered, watching the big, white flakes fall on the already white grass.

"What was that, Angel?" he said, "Put you down?"

"Wha- No!" I yelled feeling him prepare to throw me on the ground.

"Okay," he laughed and laid me gently in the snow, hovering over me.

I laughed, feeling the snow melt into my jeans and fall on my hair. "How's that, Angel? Comfortable?" he smirked, his blue eyes laughing at me silently.

I leaned up a little, and he bent down… "You know what would make me more comfortable?" I whispered, eyeing his lips.

"What's that?" he muttered, his warm breath radiating on my lips.

"…Revenge…" I whispered lightly, huskily, knowing too well it would fool him. It fooled him when he dragged me into the alley of downtown, and it would fool him now.

A second before he could react, I shoved a handful of snow on top of his head and rubbed it in. "Amateur," I laughed, jumping up quickly and running.

"Oh, don't be so cocky, Thompson," he spoke, standing and sprinting down the street after me.

He caught up with me, of course. He was always too fast for me.

I felt him right on my tail as I came up on the park. I threw a look behind me and saw him gearing up to tackle. "Wait!" I cried. "Can't we settle this like adults?"

He laughed loudly, "No." Then he grabbed my hips tightly and I turned around at the last second to land on my back, Jason catching his weight just before he fell on top of me.

Jason smirked down at me, "Did you honestly think you could beat me?"

"No," I laughed. "I never have. You're too good… You've made me fall every time."

He looked down at me seriously then, his gorgeous eyes reading deeply into mine. "Are you messing with me again?" he spoke quietly.

I shook my head seriously, "Not even a little."

He smiled slightly, putting a hand on my chin and leant down slowly, until his lips met mine. He kissed me softly, sweetly at first, his lips moved slowly over mine. I threaded my fingers through his hair, and he kissed me a little harder, sighing deeply through his nose. I felt his hand slide to my hip, the heat of his fingertips on my hip bone. He stroked my bare skin there before switching hands. He inched one hand slowly up to my neck, and the other around to my back. Then his hand dropped a little lower to the band of my jeans… then lower still to the back pocket of my jeans… and I stopped dead. Either he was getting a little too comfortable for the middle of a public park or…

I felt him finger the edge of the paper in my pocket, then pull it out quickly. Abruptly, he sat back to inspect the piece with a victorious look on his face. "I knew it," he smirked, leaning on one arm over me.

I covered my face in embarrassment, "Oh my god. I can't believe I just fell for that."

He chuckled openly and kissed me once quickly before rolling off to the side and sitting up. "What are you stealing this for anyway?" He unfolded it slowly and smoothed it out on his knee.

I sighed, raising up to my elbows and pulling myself into a seated position next to him. "I don't know… I just… I didn't think you'd notice if it was gone for a couple of days," I laughed.

"Um," he said cockily, "Yes, I definitely would have. But why?" he laughed again.

"I don't know…" He gave me a pointed look, and I caved. "Okay, fine …" I sighed. "It's just, I like reading it sometimes. It reminds me of why I put up with you," I rolled my eyes.

He laughed and put his arm around me. "That's funny," he laughed. "That's why I like reading it. It reminds me of why I love the fact that you're absurdly stubborn," he smirked.

"I know, I know," I sighed and ran finger through the snow next to me.

"It's well worth putting up with, Angel," he kissed me lightly, but we were interrupted quickly.

"Oy, vey!" there was a cry from across the road.

We both pulled back and turned to see Todd hanging out of the drivers side window of his mini-van. "There are children who come here!" he yelled cheerfully, a large grin apparent on his face.

I looked around at the empty slides and swing sets. "Todd's right," I turned to Jason and rose to my feet, trying to pat off the snow from my jeans, "We'll totally ruin his innocence."

"Hey!" he yelled at me. "I heard that, squirt!"

"I think you were supposed to," Jason said, giving him an apologetic look as he too stood and took my hand. "Sorry, bro, but I think she's implying you're a child."

"There's was a bit more than an implication involved," I laughed, as we walked up to his car.

He pretended to be shocked and gripped his heart, "Quick! Call the doctor! I think it's breaking!"

I laughed, "What's up, Todd? What are you doing hanging out in the middle of the road?"

"I'm looking for you, duh!" he hit my shoulder lightly.

"For me, why?"

He rolled his eyes as if I was being stupid, "Look around, kid. It's snowing! What do we do when it snows?" he leaned his head forward pressingly.

I opened my mouth and hit my forehead, "Oh my god! I forgot! I'm so sorry, Todd!"

Jason looked curiously between us, "Forgot what?"

"The first heavy snow of the winter, we always build a snowman together!" Todd exclaimed excitedly. Then he leaned toward Jason slightly, "I'll forgive it this time, since it's a first offense, but next time she forgets because of you, I'll be forced to kick your ass. Besides, you're overdue," he said, then winked with a smile. "So come on! Pile in! Let's go, let's go!" Todd yelled rather loudly, waving his hand and rolling up the window in our faces. "Where's those other two, chil'lin' you cool cats rang 'round with? We have a frosty to re-create!" he was yelling from inside the car.

Apparently that was the end of that. I laughed and shrugged turning to Jason, "Well I wouldn't want you to get in a brawl with Todd. That could really do a number on your ego," I laughed and grabbed his other hand, dragging him with both to the car door.

He laughed, then groaned, "Fine. Fine, okay, for you, Angel," he said, as I crawled into the car. "Not for this guy, 'cause, dude, I could totally kick your ass," Jason challenged.

Todd whipped around, "Ah, m'excuser monsieur? Did I hear thee correctly?"

Jason just smiled.

Those two just never stopped. After Jason and I got together, he and Todd had had a very serious conversation, apparently, or so Todd said. He told me he was just watching out for me, and gave his consent, not that I'd asked for it, but sure, I'd appreciated it. But it turned out well, and since then he and Jason realized how much they had in common, and well, that sprouted a very close, very competitive relationship. Apparently, thus far Jason was winning since he, quote, "had the girl". Todd didn't think that counted because it was gross for me and him to have dated. I, of course, agreed with Todd.

I smiled, watching the snow fall sideways out the window as Todd drove. I knew where we were going. We always built on the same place, every year, without fail on the first accumulating snowfall of the season. It was a wide open field near where Todd's parents lived. It was always gorgeous, and always fun, and always the same.

Except for this year. I looked over at Jason as I felt him squeeze my hand a little tighter. He was arguing with Todd about something ridiculous. He always squeezed my hand just to make sure I knew he was thinking of me, he said. It was sweet. He was sweet.

I looked back out the window and felt the piece of paper now in my jacket pocket.

It was probably the most honest thing I'd ever written in my life, and I'd written it because of him. I'd written it for him…

Lessons Learned.

By Alexandra Thompson.

High School.

High School can be tough. We all know that. We walk the halls exuding reluctance and apathy and fatigue. We as high school students are typically shallow beings, or at least, I was. We're ungrateful, whiney teenagers who let these perfect moments pass unknowingly through our fingertips. We're lazy, grumpy, and take things for granted. We often take people for granted.

I took people for granted.

But there's one unusual suspect who not only captures every moment, but often refuses to let them go. Yes, our very own Jason Carmichael, the ultimate radiator of happiness and charm never ceases to amuse and surprise. With his dark blue eyes and thick black hair, his absolute love of life shines through his boyish charm and never-give-up attitude.

Most of us see Jason as that general class-clown figure, the one always running from the law and there to crack a good, and sometimes corny joke. His seat is always saved in Mr. Osborne's office and some of us aren't sure how he's gotten by without facing expulsion thus far-- in fact, I'm still not sure. He's seen as the mischievous, handsomely athletic boy just interesting enough to capture girls interests, and even dubbed a spot on the girl's bathroom wall.

But behind the strikingly good looks and clever jokes, it becomes easy to see Jason holds something more. The best explanation for this his description of his favorite time of day. Almost poetically, Jason answers: "that time right before it turns dark, when the whole world is kind of a misty gray. It's like the day is meeting the night, and the lines of possibility and impossibility are blurred, it's kind of a freeing feeling." Of course, being the "pure man" that he is, he prefaces this with an absolute, "this is going to sound so corny, and I know it."

But that's what makes Jason such a prime role model for what every student here should aspire to be: he's honest. It's his pure honesty that shapes his character: he knows what he likes, and he knows what he doesn't like. He's true to himself and never, ever lets what people say deter him from what he really wants.

"I like to run," Jason asserts confidently, "because it really helps me gain perspective. It takes me away from the world for awhile, and that distance, I think, is what helps me make sense of everything. Running has gotten me through some tough times. But ultimately it's helped me define who I am, I've learned a lot about myself in that way."

He dislikes heavy metal and fast cars, and loves jazz music and croquet. He likes to run for fun, and going on bike rides with his sister. He can't stand math, but loves biology. He's a guy who knows who he is, quite a rare quality in an average eighteen-year-old student. He doesn't doubt or second guess, he just knows. And he encourages you to be sure of the same.

"What's your most prized possession," I asked him from the tiled floor of his humble kitchen. "Honestly?" He asked. "Besides my Power Ranger action figures? … Emily, definitely Emily," he answered seriously, then laughs, "Not that I own her, but yeah. She's the one thing in this world I couldn't live without." This unconditional family bond, especially with his adorably similar litter sister is just one quality that most of us lack; one aspect of our lives we all take a little too lightly. I could never say enough about how much he loves his family, and how much that describes how great Jason truly is.

I was just another slumming teenager until I met the one boy I never expected to change my perspective. The first time I met him, I ended up with a bruised hip and torn chemistry book. But his abrupt and shocking entrance into my life should have been a telling sign of the definite way in which he has changed my way of thinking. He made me realize that it was okay to have a little fun, to enjoy myself, to trust myself. Before Jason I wasn't so sure I knew what it meant to believe in others, let alone believe in myself. He helped me to truly embrace the experiences life had to offer me, and still stay true to who I was. It was something I desperately needed, and something I'm eternally grateful for. For the first time, I met the one teenager who wasn't taking anything for granted. I met Jason.

So, go on, take a moment to get to know the funny, charismatic, handsome, and charming Mr. Jason Carmichael. He'll be ever so accepting of your friendship. Only an idiot could screwed this one up. Take it from me.

He'd changed my life, without a doubt.

Xx

I leaned against him and I felt one of his hand slide into my jacket pocket, pulling out the article again and slipping it into his jeans. "I'm keeping this forever," he whispered with a smirk.

I smiled slightly, messing with the zipper of his jacket. "I hate you," I muttered lightly.

"Yeah," he shifted, leaning down to whisper in my ear, "But I love you."

A/N: This is it.

It's the end. The last chapter, the final hoorah. I worked for awhile on the article, trying to make it sound a little more meaningful than the crap usually found in my school newspaper. Hopefully it worked. I could lie and tell you I've been working on this for a long time, but that would, as I said, be a lie. I've had parts of this written for some time, and never really had the courage to wrap it up. I've decided it was time to stop dallying, and write it. I've just sat down and powered through most of it, so if it's not thoroughly edited, I apologize.

I hope it turned out well. I hope it was worth the wait.

Please review, since this is a sad moment for me, to let go of Jason for the time being.

Review.

Thanks for your continual support, to everyone who has reviewed my chapters and given me helpful criticisms, I know I haven't much thanked you individually, but hopefully this will suffice.

Thank you. --Nonsensically.