Jackson: Crazy Little Thing Called Love (Short Story #11)

NEW SHORT STORY ALERT! This one is extra special because it's going to be part of a book I am going to start working on very soon. It's connected with the A Tragic Heart series but is strictly told from Adalyn and Jackson's POV. Two supporting characters are being turned into the stars!

At first I was iffy about the idea because I didn't want to drag it but I realized while on Parahoy that Paramore's music inspired it and as long as they're going to continue on, why shouldn't I. I won't make this book part 5 of the series but it will act as a stand alone novel that is heavily associated with the others. Basically, it will help a lot if you read the first 4 before reading this one but you won't have to. It won't be a long one either...probably 150-200 pages maximum. The name of the book will be the same as this short story, Crazy Little Thing Called Love. I'll give you more info on it in another post very soon. For now, check this one out (and the last short story if you haven't). If it fit with any book it would be part of What Could've Been (Book 4) Also, you may want to take a look at where the story stems from: Jackson: The Surprise

Listen to "Two Weeks" by FKA Twigs on repeat while reading for the full experience:

Jackson: Crazy Little Thing Called Love

                She comes behind me and wraps her arms around my shoulders. She plants soft kisses on my neck, distracting me from time on my guitar. I place it to the side and she knows that’s her cue to take its place on my lap. 

                “Are you sure you can’t stay the night?” she asks poking out her lip, already knowing the answer.

                “I gotta get back home to Megan. We’re working it out,” I reply in a defeated tone. 

                She looks down. I know just what she’s thinking. “Then what are we doing?”

                “I love you,” I told her touching her face. “You know that…me and her…we just have two kids and I didn’t think you would ever want me the way I wanted you…”

                “I’m sorry for hurting you the way I did…for being so indecisive but I know what I want now and that’s you. This situation is really fucked up and I know that…I would’ve never thought I could do something like this but-“

                “No need to explain. I know. We’re in the same position,” I say pulling her closer to me.

                Time on tour together turned into something neither of us ever expected. After I found Megan in bed with another man while our kids were asleep in the next room, I left for tour and never confronted my feelings. I was pretty down and out for most of the time but it was her who brought me back. She showed me a good time one night and that was that. I never meant for any of this to happen and neither did she. Besides, she had something going on with my sister’s ex-husband and she used to date the lead singer of her band, who is currently my sister’s husband and one of my closest friends. Complicated, huh? Not to mention, she’s now my sister’s best friend…in a way they’re like sisters so this makes it all the more complicated. These are the reasons it has to remain a secret. I’m a married man having an affair. I’m just as bad as my wife. 

                After catching Megan in the act we separated for a while. My heart was intent on divorce and that’s when Adalyn and I started our fling. It was purely sexual at that time but I fell for her in ways I never imagined. It was her beauty, physical and internal. I poured my heart out to her one night and scared her away. She told me what we had was just for fun…nothing serious. It was cold and harsh; meanwhile my wife wanted to work it out with me so I gave into her. There was no point in being lonely. I mean, I still loved Megan, I just couldn’t look at her the same way, but I was willing to try. 

                Long story short: when I was gone she realized she loved me too and now we’re here. After her confession we tried to avoid each other as much as we could but I had to give in. I wanted something new…someone who didn’t hurt me. With Megan it started to feel forced but with Adalyn it was all natural. She started as a friend and ended up being so much more. Everything was easy and it was just what I needed. Fast forward and here we are: loving each other in secret, afraid to let anyone know because of what they might think.

                “I’ll come by tomorrow night after I put the kids to bed. I’ll just tell her I’m utilizing some studio time solo,” I say caressing her arm.

                “You’ve used that lie too many times…why not the truth?”

                She’s ready for this to come out and in a way I am too. It’s just that I know the timing isn’t right. I haven’t wrapped my head around leaving my family for someone else. I mean, I would never abandon my children, they’ll always be a major part of my life and Adalyn understands that. I’m just not ready to take them through another separation knowing this time it’ll be permanent. I’m not sure how they’ll take having a second “mommy” around so soon.

                “I’ll tell the truth…eventually…” I reply. “You just have to be patient. I know you have been for a while now but it’ll come soon. I just have to find the right words and the time.”

                “There will never be a right time,” she corrects me.

                I see where this is going and it’s heading nowhere fast. I roughly grab her face and kiss her. She doesn’t seem to mind. I let go and stare into her eyes. The light quickly reflects off of them causing them to look a lighter shade of brown for an instant. 

                “See you tomorrow?” she asks as if she’s uncertain that I’ll be there.

                “Yeah, you can count on it.”

                She stands up and I follow her lead. I allow her to walk me to the door but I can’t help but notice that disappointing look on her face. I’m not trying to hurt her or Megan but it seems that’s all I’m doing lately. I touch her face one last time and she gets what I’m trying to say. I kiss her cheek and she smirks. 

                “I love you,” I tell her once more. 

                “Same here…”

                And that was it for the night…it was time to head back to my wife and kids…

Don't forget to check out the series here: A Tragic Heart Series

 

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Peyton Hayley: No Need to Catch Me (I'm Not Falling)-Short Story

It's been a while since I wrote a short story based on the characters from my book series (RED Tragedies aka A Tragic Heart series) but tonight I'm giving you another short story. This one is from the POV of Peyton Hayley (Peyton and Taylor's daughter). If it were to fit into a book it would be part of RED (Book 2). It's a short scene between her, Alex and Jackson.

Listen to "Throwing Punches" by Paramore on repeat while reading:

Peyton Hayley: No Need to Catch Me (I’m Not Falling)

            I lie across Alex’s bed stuffing strawberries into my mouth as we talked about nothing important. I was in one of his t-shirts that met just at my thighs and his hand rested just above my knee. It’s hard to pay attention to anything he’s saying because I can only think about how much I’ve missed him. We were forced to stay away from each other by almost everyone. My uncle, Jackson, forbid us to be together mostly because I was 17 and he was 25 and he claims he knows Alex better than I ever would; but I know that’s not true. They may have been close friends but Alex has shown me parts of him that no one else was ever able to see. Now that I’m 18, there’s nothing stopping us from being together. 

             I stop him in the middle of his sentence with a kiss. He responds just as I want him to and before I know it the strawberries I was eating were scattered on the floor while he was on top of me. It didn’t get too out of hand, mostly because it never got the chance to. We were interrupted by the doorbell. 

            “Ignore it,” I urge pulling him into another kiss. He obeys and we’re both acting as if we’re afraid to part.

            The way Alex and I started wasn’t exactly applauded. I was underage and he was a major rockstar. I had a faithful and charming boyfriend and he was a good friend of my very famous uncle. We were a recipe for disaster. So many things were sacrificed for us to be together but the only thing that matters is that we are together. Age was never an issue for either of us. Since that kiss in his car when I was 16, I knew somewhere deep down we would be together along the road. It was only a matter of time and growing up. We vowed to wait until I was 18 to go any further but that didn’t happen…we couldn’t keep our hands off of each other and I’m glad we didn’t. Everything had to fall apart so they can fall together.

            “I’m so glad I have you,” he whispered in my ear before lightly tugging on my earlobes. I giggled before kissing him on his neck. I was just about to kiss his lips again until the doorbell rang once more.

            He looked me in the eyes and told me not to lose the feeling because he’d be right back. I roll my eyes as he gets up and walks out of the room. 

            “Might as well clean up these strawberries,” I say to myself as I begin picking them up one by one. No one’s ever “right back” once they answer the door. 

            After I clean up the mess we made I realize that things were taking a little longer than they should have. I gave it a few more minutes before I decided to walk down the stairs to see who it was. It was 10pm and unusual for it to be one of Alex’s bandmates. They always call before they just show up. 

            “Hey, Al! Who is it?” I ask before I fully make it down the stairs. I stop in my tracks when I see Jackson standing there. He hates Alex, why would he be here?

            “Jack?!”

            “Peyton…of course you’re here with him.” Jackson turns away and laughs to himself for a second before speaking up again. “You know what, this was a mistake. I shouldn’t have come by.”

            “Why did you?” I ask folding my arms across my chest. Jackson has always been one of my favorite people. We were so close it was hard to believe we were niece and uncle. He’s the coolest uncle anyone could ever have. He was more like a big brother or best friend. We fell apart once Alex and I got together. 

            “I wanted to make amends with Alex. We’ve been friends for some time and I don’t want us to be enemies anymore but I just got a reminder on why we are. You could’ve at least put on clothes before coming down to see who it is.”

            “I didn’t know it was anyone worth putting on clothes for,” I shot back. 

            “Woah! Guys come on. Let’s not,” Alex interrupts. “I would like for all of us to get along. Jack and Peyton you guys are family…act like it…and Jack I’m sorry. Look, I know she’s your niece and you helped raise her but I’m in love with her.” He looks at me and I have no expression. I never heard him admit it out loud. 

            “Alex, you love yourself,” Jackson replies as if he was correcting him.

            “You may not believe me yet but it’s different with her. She’s young, I know that but…what we have is good and you’re going to have to accept that sooner or later.”

            “Don’t fucking tell me what I have to accept,” Jack raises his voice and steps a little too close to Alex. The last time they were this close, Jackson left Alex with a bloody nose.

            I rushed between the both of them just to insure Jackson wouldn’t throw any punches. I don’t want a repeat of last time. 

            “Jack, you should go. There’s no need for you to be here,” I say staring him in his eyes. It’s a cold stare. Never would I have thought Jackson would be my enemy. 

            “Peyton, you’re making a huge mistake. Just come back with me and things can be a lot different,” he pleaded.

            “I don’t want things to be different. I want Alex and if you can’t accept that then you have no reason to be here…or in my life.” I could tell it broke his heart, hearing me say such harsh words but if he truly wanted to make amends, he would know he’d have to accept this.

            “Okay. I got it. I hope you two are happy,” he says before walking away towards the door. Before he left he turned around and said, “Peyton, I may not be there for you when you need me because trust me, you’re going to need me.”

            For some reason his words struck me hard…almost hard enough to knock me over. Alex gently touched my shoulders and kissed my neck. I wanted it to relax me but all it did was send a chill down my spine. Alex and I will be okay…Jack will see just like everyone else will…

Don't forget to pick up your copy of RED and the rest of the series here: http://www.amazon.com/S.-Elle-Cameron/e/B00FNI34X4/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

Jackson: The Surprise (Short Story)

It's been a little over a week but I got another short story for you all! This one is from Jackson's POV and if it belonged to a book it would belong to RED (Book 2). It goes into detail on why Jackson is no longer married and readers can see just how much he was able to relate to Mason's situation in RED as well. Hope you enjoy!

Listen to "Wings" by Birdy on repeat while reading:

Jackson: The Surprise

            The entire flight I could only think about getting home to my wife and two children. It’s been two months since I last seen them; the longest I ever went. The moment I touched down I couldn’t help but smile to myself. The flight was already delayed because of the rain. My driver was waiting for me to arrive. Immediately, I grabbed my bag and got in the car.

            Megan’s going to be so surprised to see me home early. She expected me to come home next week but it was a lie I told her and the kids to surprise them. They’ve missed me so much and it breaks my heart every time my baby girl cries over a video chat begging me to come home to her. She’s only five so she doesn’t fully understand why daddy isn’t home every day the way other fathers are. My son takes it much better but lately he’s been getting into trouble at school. It’s time for me to put my career on hold and focus on my home life.

            When we pull up to my estate I give Martin, my driver a huge tip. It’s the middle of the night and he has a family he should get home to also so it’s the least I can do. He tells me to take care and I reply for him to do the same. As he pulls off I quietly unlock the door and push it open. I set my bag down at the entrance because I want free hands when Megan jumps into my arms. I plan on asking no questions and just taking her right there. We don’t get a lot of time together but I love my wife just as much as a man who sees his every day…distance doesn’t change a thing for me. 

            I silently rush up the stairs and head straight to our bedroom. The light is on which means she’s still up. I find it strange because she’s usually so exhausted from the kids she’s out by ten the latest. It only makes me more excited knowing that she’s wide awake…maybe we can spend a couple more hours together before we both crash. 

            I turn the knob and push open the door only to be stopped dead in my tracks. She was surprised alright…they both were. Initially, I don’t know how to react, I watch as she scrambles to put her clothes on. I keep thinking, ‘this is the wife I couldn’t wait to come home to’. It takes a while before I can even get angry. I just feel hurt…all over. 

            “Jack! Oh my God!  I can- I can explain,” she says trying to put her clothes on. “You weren’t supposed to be home yet.”

            She says it like that’s supposed to make a difference. Like it makes it okay that I found her in bed with another man. If she knew I was coming, he wouldn’t be here…but that means whenever I’m not around he’s with her. My mind is trying to make sense of what’s in front of me. I don’t answer. I turn away and walk out. 

            I head down the stairs unsure of what I’m going to do next. I almost walk out of the front door until I realize this is my house. Everything that’s here is because of me. I lean against the door with a blank expression. That’s when he comes running down the stairs and stops when he sees me. 

            “Did you know?” I ask calmly. 

            “Know what?” he asks in a nervous tone.

            “That she was married…did you know that she had a husband?” I reiterate. 

            “I didn’t know that you were her husband…she just said-“ I cut him off with a blow to the face. 

            “Who gives a fuck if you knew I was her husband or not?! You knew she was a married woman you sorry son of a bitch!” I yell as I give him hit after hit. 

            Megan rushes down the stairs at full speed pushing me off him. He gets up and walks out as fast as he can. 

            “Jackson listen to me! I’m so sorry! You have to let me explain!” she says frantically while holding onto me. 

            I push her away from me and walk back up the stairs. She follows me while begging and pleading but nothing changes for me. I still have the same look on my face, my body language is all the same. 

            I make my way to our bedroom and open the door to her walk in closet. I grab a bunch of her clothes not caring if I’m picking up complete outfits or not.

            “Jack, what are you doing?! What are you doing with my stuff?!” she yells with tears streaming down her face. It almost makes me feel sorry for her looking at her brown eyes grow darker. 

            “I want you out tonight. You can’t stay here,” I say as calmly as I know how. 

            I’m walking down the stairs and to the front door. She’s only inches behind me. 

            “Tonight? No, can we talk about this? Give it some time!” she begs.

            “How long has this been happening?” I ask not really caring what her answer would be. My decision will remain the same. 

            “About a year…but you don’t understand you were never here!”

            I laugh a little. “Well that justifies it,” I say sarcastically. “I gave you everything! The car you drive, the house you live in…our kids! I did all of that you ungrateful slut!” 

            She shutters at the harshness of my words. I can tell it took her by surprise. 

            “Where are the kids?” I ask.

            She takes a deep breath so she can speak clearly. She’s still crying nonstop. “In their rooms. I swear they never saw him…they don’t know anything.”

            “I want you out of my house Megan.” I open the door and throw her clothes out into the pouring rain. 

            “Jackson, please don’t…I love you!”

            “No Megan, love is when you come home early to surprise your wife and kids not when you sleep with another man because your husband is out making a living for his family,” I reply.

            I grab her by her arms and push her towards the door. She’s only wearing a pair of short and a large t-shirt. She doesn’t even have shoes on. 

            “Jack no! No!” she begs. “I have nowhere to go.”

            I pull out my wallet and take out a couple of hundred dollar bills. “I’m sure you can find a decent hotel for the night with that.”

            “What about the kids?” she asks trying to pull my grip off of her arm.

            “I’ll tell them that mommy is a cheating whore who had to go away for a while. Don’t worry, I won’t keep you away from your kids but you can’t stay here!” I forcefully push her out the door. She lands on her knees, I’m sure causing them to scrape. I don’t even care enough to care. I slam the door and lock it. I leave her out there without a cell phone, keys, or a jacket. I’m that angry. 

            I walk away from the door while hearing her bang over and over. She’s crying and begging but I don’t care. I spend some time in the guest room before I think about my actions. After about thirty minutes of her standing out in the rain without any decent clothes, I let her back in. She’s sobbing and shivering.

            “You stay in the bedroom and I’ll be in one of the other rooms. You can have the house and we’ll split custody. You’ll have them majority of the time since I’m always on tour or working on an album. They’re my family and I will put them first but you’re nothing to me. You never will mean anything to me ever again,” I say.

            “Jack, you’re just hurt,” she replies as her voice cracks. She tries to touch me but I move her away. 

            “No, I mean it. This is it for us. I don’t want to fight you for anything. I just want out. It hurt me to be away from you too but I never touched another woman. I’m done here.”

            I leave her standing there dripping from the rain. She’ll probably cry the entire night but I don’t care. This is the beginning of the end for us…

Find out more about Jackson in the RED Tragedies Series here. Jackson appears in A Tragic Heart, RED, & What Could've Been.  

 

Character Profile From RED: Jackson Caldwell

December is finally here which means that I have a new character profile for you all! This character is far from a stranger and although he's not one of the main three characters, he's just as important to the RED Tragedies series. Anyone who read A Tragic Heart knows him as Taylor Caldwell's big brother but in RED he's so much more than that. Not only is he Peyton's (Hayley) uncle but he plays a major role in RED. He's another character who gets his own POV at times. He's a rockstar, a confidant, brother, uncle, extremely hot...he's Jackson Caldwell!

Full Name: Jackson Gabriel Caldwell

Birth Date: January 19, 1990

Gender: Male

Age During RED: 36-38 years old

Eye Color: Brown

Hair Color: Black/Dark Brown

Height: 5'11

Weight: 168 lbs

Relatives: Taylor Caldwell (sister-deceased), Henry Caldwell (Father), Eva Caldwell (Mother), Kristen Caldwell (sister), Tyler Caldwell (brother-deceased), Mason Taylor (ex-brother in law), Peyton Hale Giordano (brother in law-deceased), Peyton Hayley Giordano (niece), Grayson Caldwell (son), Charli Caldwell (daughter)

Relationship Status: Single/Divorced

Interests/Hobbies: Singing, Guitar, Piano, Playing on stage with his band, Songwriting, Spending time with his family, Women, Recreational use of herbs (occasionally) 

Positive Character Traits: He's loving and would go to new heights to protect the ones he love. Jackson is the cool uncle/brother that everyone wants. He's very laid back and hates confrontation but he will fight if it comes to that. Jackson is/was Taylor's guardian angel on earth. 

Negative Character Traits: Sometimes he can be "too cool" and not make the right decisions. For example, there are times he was/is too lenient on his sister and niece. 

Choice Quote From RED: "Stop crying, forget your mistakes, and move on!"

So that's it for Jackson! For those of you who are familiar with him I hope this got you a little more excited to read about him in RED. For those of you who didn't know him until now, I hope you feel like you just met Jack for the first time. RED will be out this Winter (I get the edited manuscript back this week! Yay!) which means there is still time to catch up with A Tragic Heart. It's the first part to the RED Tragedies series, with RED being the second. Thanks for stopping by and getting to know the characters in my head. :-)

By the way, if Jackson was a song he'd be Radioactive by Imagine Dragons!