A dick comparison between Jackson and you

Chapter 22

"What's up?" your best buddy asks as he walks into your room. You've been here all day, getting him out of work early. "I don't have much time. Miko needs some more stuff from her apartment and Odele..."

"Sit down," you say, "We need to talk. Completely without arguments and accusations. Very matter-of-factly between man to man." Jackson obeys but this time you feel no triumph. Your buddy sits down in a chair across from you. He looks at you, waiting. You notice that he is uncomfortable with the situation, but there is not much left of his former self-confidence, he has to obey your words and stay in the room. But he can still fight.

"I need more money. Serena broke her table lamp when we moved and..."

"You know she's my friend?" you interrupt him. "And so are the other girls." Jackson hesitates.

"I thought Jessica was..."

"Jessica's just my personal fuckbuddy," you say, admitting the truth to yourself as well. "She's got a fiancé that's not good for her, and that's why I'm taking care of her." Jackson senses the theme hanging in the air.

"So you and Jessica are cheating on her fiancé? Finn...shit...I wouldn't have seen you that way." The two of you look into each other's eyes. Jackson is right, about everything so far. But still, you have the upper hand, and the moment burns in your mind as the beginning of your journey.

"Yeah," you confess, "I'm kind of an asshole." You lean forward a little. "But surely you understand the reason why I care so much about girls in unhappy relationships." Jackson leans back. You're a few feet apart, but you can still feel the tension in the air.

"Maybe you are the reason why relationships are in danger?" Now he's treading on thin ice, too. Cassie would hate him for attacking you, more than he usually does, and he knows about your newfound confidence. You nod.

"I've often wondered that myself. And so far, I've always agreed with you on that." You drop the facade. "But things change Jackson. I have girlfriends now that you're eyeballing."

"That's not fair Finn," your buddy growls, unable to do more.

"True," you admit. "I'm doing something much worse to your girlfriend."

"You love her. Anyone can see that." You nod.

"I can't help it. Cassie and I have known each other our whole lives, and there's only this one girl for me."

"But she chose me." You see how Jackson is proud of that, you would be too, but he still said something that helps you. He can't hurt you anymore.

"Yes she did. Because she thinks you're the right man for her and her... special situation. And I respect that." Now you're leaning back too, confident. "You know I could take her away from you?" You don't influence him, just want his honest opinion. And Jackson nods. "I haven't done it yet because I had nothing to offer her, but mostly because it would have broken her heart. You wouldn't have given up without a fight."

"No. I love Cassie. She belongs to me."

"So I can assume you only look at my models and don't touch them?" This time you activate your powers.

"No," he shakes his head, then frowns, but is man enough to continue. "Odele and Miko treat me like Cassie should. Like she used to. I know they are yours but... they pretend better than Cassie does the other way around." He gives you a dirty grin. "You're the best example of how you can love more than one girl."

You cross your arms in front of your chest and look at Jackson who meets your gaze. The truth is spoken, from both sides. And you would love nothing more than to make Jackson a whimpering little loser who is afraid of his own shadow. In this moment, you hate him, and there's only one reason you stay quiet.

"So we're both in love with each other's girlfriends," you say icily.

"And we both don't want to swap" Jackson grins bitterly and then laughs meanly. "I guess that's a problem even the master of the house can't solve." But you're better than that. Better than him.

"Yes I can." Jackson looks at you in surprise. You've won. "We've lived together a long time," you say with a smug confidence in your voice that makes your buddy and rival wary. "And it's true, I've always jeopardized your relationship with Cassie. So now I'm making you an offer you won't refuse?"

"Are you so sure?" He grins meanly. But you are sure. And you don't even need your powers to do it.

"You get free access to my girls."

That hit home, and Jackson doesn't understand at first, has to process the words. You wait patiently.

"What?"

"You heard me right. The girls trust me. I care about them. And they want to do something that justifies their old lives." Actually, you're telling him they want to punish themselves for their mean behavior. Jackson is their punishment. But he doesn't care. "The six of them are really special girls," you say approvingly. "They really want to be good girls. But they also know they have a debt. Maybe they can work it off with you?" That's not entirely true but the important thing is that the girls agree.

"What are you saying?" asks Jackson very cautiously, but you recognize the spark in his eyes.

"What I'm trying to say is that if you think you can have one of the girls...or all of them, I won't stand in your way." Your facade almost cracks but you still manage to pull yourself together. "I've been giving you trouble long enough. You can have Serena, or Odele, or Miko. They wouldn't stand up to you."

"The only problem with that is Cassie," your buddy mutters, and you see it working behind his eyes You feel sick and realize he's really thinking about it.

"I'll never do anything to win Cassie over "you confess. "She's too important to me for that." You lean forward again, looking Jackson in the eye. "And she should be to you, too Jackson," you admonish him. "No matter what's between us, no matter how I act with my girls, you have the girl we're both in love with. But you are only safe when you can prove to Cassie that the is happy with you."

And that's the end of the conversation. It hurts too much, you're too scared, you're too angry, and most of all, you're too disappointed. Of you and of Jackson. It should never have come so far that you negotiate about Cassie. But maybe it couldn't be helped. The only thing you're sure of is that you did right, were noble, and put Cassie above yourself.