My Life with the Walter Boys

One afternoon, she gets home from school, and Katherine asks her to deliver a plate of cookies to Zach and Benny. Jackie finds them in their room with Parker, playing video games. Parker asks Jackie if she knows how to play Mario Kart or if she is “too girly” (204) to play video games. In an attempt to connect with Parker, Jackie plays a few rounds of the game with Parker, letting her win each time.

Alex enters the room and tells Parker that Katherine wants to see her downstairs. When she leaves, Alex suggests that they play a round of Mario Kart. Jackie beats Alex, and he shakes his head and calls Jackie “adorable” before leaning in to kiss her. Jackie is surprised but finds that kissing him feels good. As Alex pulls Jackie in closer for a deeper kiss, Cole opens the door and Jackie and Alex leap away from each other. Alex gets up to leave but Cole tells him not to bother, slamming the door on his way out.

The next morning, Cole refuses to make eye contact with Jackie, who is still wired from all the thinking she did the night before about the kiss and its implications for her relationship with Alex.