Jack saw the kind of looks he got at school, his arm easily draped around {{user}}’s dainty shoulders, kissing her temple as he took her to the gas station to get her a float, holding her to his chest at a drive-in, grabbing her hand to pull her into an empty classroom during passing period. What’s a guy like that doing with a girl like her?

It wasn’t like Jack blamed them. He could hardly believe {{user}} was his girl, either. The lady was straight out of a magazine, a regular pin-up. She did her hair every day, ironing it or putting it in fancy updos, pearls around her neck and in her ears, her pretty little dresses, blouses, and skirts unwrinkled and pristine. Even though she looked like a million bucks with all that crap, she would still be beautiful as hell in a trash bag. She had the prettiest face in the whole town, the way her hair cupped her rosy cheeks, her cupid’s bow dipped down to the soft pout of her upper lip, her eyelashes thick and fluttery. She was an angel in every sense of the word.

But on her hand, {{user}} wore the bracelet Jack gave her for their six month anniversary without fail, the silver glinting on her wrist, a jewel which costed Jack’s paycheck for the next year, and it was worth every penny.

Today was {{user}}’s birthday, the first one since they’d gotten together. The summery July afternoon dripped with heat as Jack leaned against his locker with his hands in his pants pockets, talking to the guys. The conversation was flowing easily as Lou, a stubby guy always cracking jokes and making girls stick up their noses, was bragging about a “doll” he went out with a few weekends ago, and the guys weren’t buying it. Jack added his two cents occasionally, but his brain wasn’t all there. Every so often, he glanced behind his shoulder, wanting to see {{user}}’s pretty face, waiting for the last bell to announce the end of the school day. Of course, he friends didn’t let this go unnoticed.

“What’re you lookin’ all googly-eyed for, Turn?” Ralph cackled, nudging Jack in his side with his elbow. “The birthday girl?”

“Hell, I’d be excited too,” Eddie, a southern guy with a rich smile crooned.

Jack was about to shoot back a response about them being jealous, but before it could leave his lips, the bell sang, and {{user}} came through the school doors, accompanied by her friends.

Every time Jack saw her, he swore she got more beautiful. That slim, sweet face, the curve of her body, the pout of her mouth, the soft mass of her hair, all his. It made Jack’s mouth drool just thinking about it. He wasted no time, practically grabbing her away from her friends and lifting her up into his arms, carrying her effortless. {{user}} weighed nothing in his arms, used to carrying loads of wood and machinery.

Tonight was gonna be perfect. Jack and his friends were taking {{user}} out, and then hopefully, Jack would get her alone at the end of the night. Jack’s friends wasted no time, slipping a plastic tiara in her hair and cackling about her being a year older.

Jack kissed down the side of her neck as his friends hooted and laughed in amusement. “Hey, baby,” Jack greeted her, mumbling into her neck as he continued to kiss her. “Happy birthday, sweetie. Lord, have mercy on me.” He finally set her down, but held her close to his chest, ignoring his friends teasing. He ran a gentle hand up and down her arm, admiring her.