“No comments.” Jakecommentswhile getting out of the door and taking my hand with him.
Although it’s 8 PM, the sun is still out there and ready to set about what I expect to be 8:50 PM. I love how in the summer, the sunset is later. It can even set at 9 PM.
We make our way to the gate, and when we get out of it, I speak for the first time.
“My family is more emotional than I am. Mydad.” I clarify. “Not that I don’t cry, it’s just not…“ I trail off, Allison’s words echoing through the back of my mind.Just because your mom didn’t choose you…
“You okay?” He looks forward, hands in his pockets, while taking me somewhere.
“Fine, stop asking.” I briskly say.
He purses his lips and nods stiffly.
“I understand you may be going through something right now, but you don’t have to talk to me that way.”
It’s like a slap in the face. He never called me out like that. I’ve said ruder things to him, but this is the one he calls me out on, because usually there’s an understanding between us that we mock each other, but we don’t mean it. We do it respectfully, and he’s right, I wasn’t respectful to him right now.What’s wrong with me?
“You’re right, I’m sorry.” I get it out of my chest, and unexpectedly, my eyes start stinging.Oh, this cannot be happening…
“Okay, something reallyiswrong… You just said you’re sorry.”
I blow out a big breath, and my hands start shaking. I look up at the sky, trying to stop the tears from falling.
“Hey, hey, I didn’t mean to make you cry, it’s just the way you were talking-”
“You’re right, Iwasbeing awful.” I sniffle, wiping my eyes and wailing. “It’s just that Allison reminded me that my mom didn’t choose me, and I know she didn’t mean any harm, but it’s banging inside me, and I feel awful, and Iwasawfulto you, right now. I’m sorry,god, I hate crying in front of other people!” I cover my face and try to look away and get out of this embarrassing situation. “I don’t go around telling her that she lacks attention at home!” I explode, and Jake stops, putting an arm in front of me to stop me, too.
“I know it hurts.” I glance at his eyes, and this is one of those only times where he seems dead ass serious. “We can go to the movies and watch a rerun or something, if it makes you feel better.” He suggests, and my body eases.
“That does make me feel better. But how did-”
“Max-sized popcorn bucket with extra salt and butter. You order a Coke, but finish it before half the movie has passed, and end up wanting a bottle of water too.”
“That’s exactly what I get…”
“I only know because it’s usually my water bottle.” He dismisses it, but I’m still appalled.
“Am I that boring and predictable?” I half-joke, and he nods his head, smirking. “You know what, don’t answer. Let’s do your thing.”
“You sure?” He narrows his eyes because he knows I’m easy to change my mind on these things. And he would be right because why are we coming closer to his bike?
We stand beside it, and he looks at me, waiting for me to freak out. I gulp and close my eyes for half a second.To not caring, Madelaine…
I extend my hand, waiting for a helmet, and he is visibly surprised. He ruffles his hair quickly and gets down to pick it up for me.
“So, we won’t be going very far, just a preview that I wanna show you before the first stop on our date.”
The first stop?How many stops are there going to be?
I finish putting on the helmet, and he taps it three times.
“Why’d you do that?”
“Just something me and my dad do before every ride.”
“My dad and I.” I correct, and he looks at me, amused.
“You also go on bike rides with your dad?”
