I was able to make it through class without talking and simply listening to John Mayer sing. The bell rang to dismiss us. Everyone started standing up and leaving. Placing my iPod back in my bag, I made my way to the door.
“Emily!” I turned and was facing Jake’s chest. I looked up at him and he smiled. “I just wanted to let you know that practice will run late tonight.”
“Okay,?
?? I said, trying my best not to glance down at his lips. Why did he have to stand so close? My eyes made their way down his nose and to his lips against my will. Catching my glance, the lips turned into a smile. I quickly looked away, “I should get going.” I turned on my heel and walked out, ignoring the chuckles behind me.
I stopped by my locker then headed down the hallway to leave. I made it to my car without incident. I pulled out and made the short drive to Drake’s school. He was excited to see me. He told me about his day on the way to my house. He had a pop quiz and completed many activities.
At my house, we went into the kitchen and started on our homework. Drake was finished in no time and I told him he could either play with his car or watch TV. His day must have made him tired because he chose the latter. My homework, however, was going to take much longer to complete. I had papers to write, math to calculate, and tests that I needed to study for.
I took breaks every so often to watch TV with Drake or to fix him a snack or something to drink. I was working on my last paper when I heard my dad come in. He went into the living room with Drake, waving as he went, and started talking to him. I kept working and wishing I were done already. Even after I finished my paper, I would still be working because I had to study.
I was in school all day-7 hours- and I had to come home and work two to five hours every day, plus work on the weekends. I was still working on that paper when I heard Jake come in. He made idle conversation with my dad and Drake. He was sitting on the arm of the recliner and he kept sneaking glances at me.
It was hard to be productive when I could feel someone looking at me. Every time I glanced up, Jake smiled at me, causing me to blush. I had decided to stop looking and focus. I didn’t need him distracting me. I heard my dad and Drake get up to go outside and play with Drake’s car. Jake declined, saying he was going to get something to drink.
I didn’t look up when he came into the kitchen. I was focusing on my work. Out of the corner of my eye I could see him disappear behind me to the fridge. I heard it open and then close. I felt his fingers lightly touching the back of my neck, causing me to freeze. He moved my hair aside and kissed my neck.
I could feel his breath still on my neck and the heat from his body behind me as he said, “Hey.” I kept writing and mumbled a hello. He chuckled and sat down across from me. I let out a breath as his heat left me. “Did Drake do his homework?” I nodded.
I was about to finish my last sentence, but I didn’t want to. If I finished, then I had to face Jake. Ah hell. I scribbled the last words and started placing things back into my bag. I could study later.
“You’re not going to make another midnight run, are you?”
I looked up at him as I zipped my book bag closed. Smirking, I said, “I might.” He laughed.
I stood, picking up my bag, and made my way to my room. I put my bag on the floor beside my dresser and turned around to run into Jake. “What are you doing?” I exclaimed.
He smiled, placed a hand behind my neck to bring me closer, and leaned down to kiss me. It was just as good as yesterday, but the demand was gone. It was slow and intense. I was so lost in the kiss and in Jake that I could have kissed him for a long time.
Then my senses slammed into me and I pulled away. “You can’t do that. What if my dad walked in? Or Drake?” I stepped out of his embrace and walked out of the room. Those kisses made a little snaky voice in my head remind me that my mother thought I was a slut.
He followed me out, keeping pace, and said, “I’m sorry.” I walked outside and sat on the steps of the porch. Jake sat down beside me and we watched Drake and my dad play with the remote control car. Jake nudged me with his knee. “I just got carried away. I’m sorry.” Heat rose to my cheeks and I glanced at him.
“It’s fine. You just caught me off guard.”
“Eye contact. I like it.”
I smiled and looked away. “Do you ever wonder why things happen?”
“Like,
everything happens for a reason?”
I nodded. “Do you think that?”
He thought for a moment and then answered. “I don’t know why things happen. I don’t know why your mom would say what she did or do what she did. What I do think is that we have to take what happens, learn from it, and make ourselves a better person because of it.”
I thought about what he said. It made sense. Without giving it too much thought, I leaned my head on his shoulder. “What if you can’t make that happen?”
“Emily, you can make it happen. You have to have hope and you have to try. You can’t let it consume you for the rest of your life. You have to trust us. We are going to help you every step of the way.”
I took a deep breath and decided to let the issue rest. My dad looked over at us and gave me a funny look.
“I should probably get Drake home and fed.” He kissed the top of my head when no one was looking and stood up. “Drake, come on. We need to get home.” Drake whined a bit, but, with help from my dad, he went inside and got his blue backpack. He gave me a hug and they left.
My dad sat down next to me and asked, “What’s going on in that head of yours?”