Before Me, Him

Chapter 20

     Two days go by and it's Wednesday already. Two weeks down, two more to go. I wonder how my parents are doing, I wonder if they are having fun and healing each other. I truly hope that, when their journey ends, we can start working on a fresh new page.

     During the past days, I've been hanging out with Emily, Dean, and Polly. Supposedly today Philip was going to join us since he was free from his affairs. Jacob was still with his family though so I would only see him tomorrow. Wait... Did I just assume that I would see him? That's weird. It's almost as if I was waiting to see him. Very weird.

     Me and Emily and currently finishing our lunch with her parents and, afterward, we arranged with them to go to the movies together. We were going to see a movie premiere: "High Garden", the story about a girl that was excluded from her family after being born and that was now trying to find them. I don't know much about the film except that it is a book adaptation from a really popular writer.

     - Emily, hurry up!

     - I'm going, I'm going! – she says from upstairs.

     Honestly, Emily always takes ages to get ready. She would be, most likely with a very feminine skirt or a very light dress and with a hat. She loves hats. In my case, I'm only with some blue denim jeans and a dark blue loose crop top.

     - I'm leaving without you! – I say while opening the front door and stepping outside.

     - Good morning June. – I look upwards and see Jacob smiling at me. My heart starts hurting again. He was away for a long time so I wasn't used to seeing him anymore. No matter how much I looked at him, right now, he looked just like my brother.

     - Good morning. – I reply while opening the front gate. – Weren't you supposed to only come tomorrow?

     - My mom had to come back sooner so we ended up leaving as well. – Jacob stares at me. – Why? Did you miss me?

     I walk towards him and place my hand on his forehead.

     - What are you doing? – he questions while his face portraits several mixed feelings at once.

     - Checking if you had a fever because that would be the only justification for such a stupid question. – I say as a cold smile is drawn on my lips while I removed my hand. – I don't know what you are trying to do Jacob, or even thinking but you should give up before you melt or get blind, you know?

     I didn't think Jacob wanted something else but the truth is that I didn't like the fact that he was getting too close so I decided to mark my boundaries with spikes, that way he wouldn't step on them or even move across them. I look into the distance and I felt like there was someone behind a tree watching us. I stare at the spot but the truth is I didn't see anything, just leaf's talking among each other.

     Before Jacob manages to give me a response, Emily pops out the leaning door greeting us with her beautiful charm. Today she was wearing some light denim shorts with some white lily's sewed on the pocket area along with a light pink t-shirt and a straw hat with a small white bow. It was the same hat she wore when we met each other two weeks ago however, she had changed the bow. She looked extremely cute.

     We walked towards the beach since that's the place where Philip and Dean would be waiting. When we arrive we sign them with our waving hands and, then, they start walking in our direction. I focused my eyes on the sea, where a familiar red hair was standing. "Didn't she went back to Russia today morning?" I thought to myself.

     As I was being questioned by my own mind I listen to a voice calling me in a medium distance "J!". No one calls me J. The only person is... Oh, no. Before I could move I feel a hug from behind. I couldn't move from how tight it was. I open my eyes to see both Jacob and Emily, that was in front of me, speechless. I manage to look back and see Luke.

     - Found you! – he says while I push him.

     I didn't know what to reply. Should I tell him, please leave? Or maybe, go away? Which one would fit the environment we were in better. I sigh and choose to ignore his presence.

     - Emily, tell them to hurry or we will be late. – I say as I look to the sea. Emily nods and runs towards them.

     - Don't ignore me J, c'mon! – he places his hand on my shoulder. – I know you're mad but let me explain! Please!

     - What is there to explain Luke? – I end up answering him since I knew how persistent he was. – There is nothing to talk about. You got found out and that's all there is to it.

     - No J, I never meant to do that! – I shove his hand off my shoulder, I really didn't want him to touch me. – That girl was never like that. It's... a complicated story.

     - Was the path to her vagina that complicated to find? I don't think so. – I state while looking at him.

     - Please, give me a chance to explain! – he was nervous, I could tell by his facial expression but I truly didn't want to hear any lame excuse from his share. I just wanted him to go away. He grabs both my shoulders carving his nails in them with a lot of strength. – Please! I'm begging you.

     - She already said she didn't want to hear it. – Jacob intervenes while shoving him away from me. Somehow I felt thankful. He looks at me with the "were you really with this guy?" type of face. I end up nodding and sighting.

     - Luke, I told you I was done and I am really done. I don't care about you or anything related to your life anymore. – I compose myself. – I don't know what you are doing here or what you thought would happen but you do not belong here. Please leave.

     If silence could kill, we would all be going to another planet right now. Jacob was focusing his eyes on Luke as if he was anticipating that he would go overboard again however, Luke's eyes were focused on mine and vice versa. Somehow, I think he understood the message.

     - Alright J. I understand. – he sighs. – But I won't leave Vella until you hear me out. I'm not willing to give up on that.

     Stubborn. Extremely stubborn. 

     He was always like this but ever since the "girl" situation happened he has been a lot more annoying and stubborn. He insisted on talking with me as if that would solve everything between us. Maybe he is the most deluded of them all.

     As Luke leaves, Jacob returns his eyes to mine.

     - What was that about? – he questions.

     - None of your business.