“Jackie, why are you here?” Stacey did not let go of Kane’s hand. In fact, she gripped it tighter in case Kane tried to let go. 

 “You…” Jackie did not miss Stacey’s actions. She wanted to scream. Was this boy brainwashing her best friend!? “I… I happened to be walking by when I saw you.”

“Walking by?” Stacey furrowed her brow. “Jackie, you live two train stations away.”

“Pfft!” Kane couldn’t hold back his laughter. He looked at Jackie and smiled as he said: “Since you are here, come with us. We were going to a pastry shop. My treat.” 

Jackie’s face was beat red from being embarrassed. She wondered if this man knew delicacy. “I… Since you offered.” She pledged to rip off this guy’s mask! 

Stacey pouted. Her date had been ruined! Her first real date with Kane and a third wheel had decided to join! She glared at Jackie before hugging onto Kane’s arm. Jackie rubbed her nose. She knew she was not welcomed, but she had to protect her friend!

The trio made their way to the pastry shop and sat down at one of the tables near the window. Stacey sat next to Kane while Jackie tactfully moved to the opposite side of the table. She did not wish to make Stacey hate her.

“I will go order a tasting platter. Then you girls can pick the ones you want to eat.” Kane got up and walked to the counter while Stacey leaned over the table and looked at Jackie with narrowed eyes. 

“What are you doing? Why did you show up outside my husband’s apartment building?” Stacey would call out brother this, brother that, in front of Kane but in front of others, she referred to him as her husband.

“I…. I just do not want you to be toyed with! What if he is just using you for a cheap lay? He will give you honeyed words, and once he gets what he wants, he will drop you leaving you lonely and pregnant!” Jackie’s mind was swirling with too many dramas. However, she knew not to say these things too loud so as not to be heard, so she kept her voice really low.

“Jackie…” Stacey sighed and reached out, and took Jackie’s hand. “Your mind is filled with trash. You need to trust me in choosing the right person. You need to trust my mother, who has also approved of him. Even Mama Claire likes him and approves of him. Plus…. You have to know a person first before diving into a relationship. While I do like him a lot, we are moving one step at a time. Slowly.”

Jackie blushed. Her mind was indeed filled with trash. But now, hearing that so many approved him, including Stacey’s mother, Jackie relaxed a bit. She finally smiled and nodded. “I will trust your judgment but…. If he ever makes you cry, I will find a pair of scissors and snip it off!” 

“Haha! Alright. I will leave that to you.” Stacey felt blessed. To have a best friend like Jackie, who was willing to go out of her way to watch out for her, meant she really had a good friend. This was the type of friend you held on to. Someone you could fully trust with anything.

A few minutes later, Kane walked over with a small platter. It had different pastry cubes on it that they could taste before picking and choosing which ones they wanted to buy. Kane had them put three of each kind on the platter so that each of them could try each type.

“You girls, try each one and then order whichever ones you want,” Kane said as he set the platter on the table. Jackie and Stacey did not stand on ceremony and began digging in.

Kane chuckled to himself as he began tasting them as well. They ended up ordering a few types of pastries. “I will be right back.” Stacey got up. She had to go powder her nose.

They had all just been chatting with one another, but as soon as Stacey left, there was an awkward silence. Jackie had no idea what to say to this boy. She could only be so talkative with Stacey was around. Luckily it was Kane who broke the silence. “Thank you for worrying about Stacey.”

“Of course I would!” Jackie seemed offended. Stacey was like family to her. Why would she not worry about her? “You better not make her cry….”

“Don’t worry. That is the last thing I want.” Kane replied seriously. “She is a good girl and deserves a good life. Growing up in the city is already hard, but here Stacey is trying to make the most of it. And the same goes for you as well. To worry about your friend so much is strange nowadays. Most would not go so far, as many people do not know the meaning of true friendship. But you. You are different. You truly care for Stacey, and I am glad to know she has someone like you around while she is at school.”

“You have no idea.” Jackie sighed and sat back. “There are so many boys who like Stacey, but they only want to get into her pants. Girls’ relationships are normally only surface level too. Unless you have known someone since you were young, there normally is no strong bond. But I just can’t help but worry about Stacey. She works hard and is kind to everyone. But deep down….”

“She is lonely. I know.” Kane finished her sentence.

“Mmm… She wants to help relieve her mother of some of her burden. But she is only sixteen. She still has to finish school and graduate.” Jackie sighed. She wondered why she was saying all this to this man. She looked Kane in the eyes and said: “Don’t hurt her.”

“I won’t. Currently, we are only brother and sister. If things progress from there, then so be it, but it will be on her terms. I will never hurt her or allow anyone else to hurt her.” Kane had to admit he was addicted to Stacey’s smile. He did not wish to see it disappear.

“What are you two talking about?” Stacey walked over with a questioning gaze. She had seen the two talking happily and felt slightly jealous.

“We were talking about how you messed up at work that one time,” Kane replied with a teasing smile. This made Stacey puff her cheeks out and punch Kane in the shoulder. 

“It was an accident! Who knew that I would trip and spill my drink on that guy?” Stacey replied with a snort.

“But you tripped on your own two… Ow!” Kane cried out when he felt a strong kick to his shin. He reached down to rub it. This girl did not hold back.

“Haha!” Jackie smiled. She realized when these two were together, they were rather cute. She felt much better seeing this. She did not fully trust Kane yet, but she did feel the two meshed well.