Before Me, Him

Chapter 63

     - Excuse me but how do you know that I was hurt? – I question him but a few seconds later I take my leave, I was not in the right to ask for such clarification.

     "He must have heard it from my co-workers." I thought.

     "Maybe he noticed my body movements were better." I wondered.

     Neither of the options was a good one and I couldn't accuse a customer of eavesdropping or from being a potential stalker. I just had to focus on my job and not let anything else bother me.

     - Your black coffee sir. – I placed his coffee on top of his table. – Do you wish anything else?

     - Your expression. – he says as he places the cup onto his lips. – Last week you looked more tired and the way you gave me my water made your eyebrows frown so when you bend something hurt.

     - Oh... I see. – I scratch my neck in embarrassment. – I'm really sorry.

     He just gives me a cold smile and I leave the table. What a confusing feeling and what a misleading man. It's very weird though because when I asked my boss about him he told me the first time he saw him was when he came by, a couple of weeks after I started working. Also, I've never seen him in the city, it's almost as if he is a ghost. This doubt and suspense are making me go mad so I better just forget it.

     Eleven comes by and I switch to my normal clothes. As I open my phone I see a couple of missed calls and a new message from an unknown number. "Hi, June, sorry for calling you must still be at work. Emily gave me your number. I need to talk to you regarding school so I'll be dropping by at the end of your shift. Jacob." My heart started to pound faster as my nerves grew bigger. No matter what I really didn't want to be expelled from the school. As I was leaving the bar I look around to see him still sitting in his place, with a cold smile on his lips as he watched me leave the bar. "He usually goes back before me, what is he doing here?" I questioned myself as my nerves grew into curiosity once again.

     As I leave the bar I see Jacob leaning onto a light post close to the main road. The light was pouring down on his dark hair as it glowed brightly, looking almost as if he had a halo surrounding him.

     - Hey. – I say when our eyes meet. His face looked tired and his eyes were surrounded by slight dark circles.

     - June. – he replies and we both start walking in the street. People around us were chatting happily, anxious to go inside the several bars in hopes to find a person to warm their heart or their beds. – The director told us his decision. It's the best scenario but it is not great either.

     - What did he decide? – I question him as my heart starts being filled with anxiety.

     - You won't be expelled but you will have to redeem your doings. – Jacob lets out a sigh as he places his hands in the pockets of his black jeans. – It's troublesome but you will be working for the student council during the week.

     - Why the student council? – I was confused, it made no sense. In this case, I think it would make a lot more sense to help cleaning toilets or something on those terms.

     - It appears that the student president talked on your behalf. Instead of suspending you or getting you expelled, you would be working under his supervision for the rest of the year and, after a period of time, he will tell the director to keep you as a student or to deny your application next year.

     - I guess it could be worse. I thought I would be on cleaning duty for the rest of my student life. – I chuckle but Jacob just looks at me seriously.

     - June, working there is more exhausting than cleaning and that guy is dangerous. You should keep your guard up around him. – his serious voice was scaring me. Whenever Jacob would talk to me, he was kind and welcoming but, right now, it was as if I was talking with a completely different person.

     - It's not like I'm going to get along with that Poodle.

     Jacob's lips make a sneaky smile and the environment turned slightly lighter. He walked me back home as we covered some regular day-to-day topics of conversation.

     - Are you working tomorrow? – he questions me as we reach the house.

     - Yeah, I start the shift at six. – I say as I open the front gate and turn my back on Jacob. Suddenly I feel a hand grabbing my wrist as it pushed me and in a blink of an eye I was in Jacob's arms. He was embracing me tightly and as I would breathe in I could sense the pleasant lavender smell coming from him. My heart was beating fast and my body didn't know how to react. "Should I hug him back?" I thought about it and the truth is that I wanted to, so much, however, I couldn't find the strength within myself to do it. So I just let myself dwell in the wonderful smell from Jacob's black t-shirt while his embrace grew tighter and tighter. – Jacob?

     - I'm sorry, I was just worried. – he says as he lets me go. My body was burning even though I had already left his arms. – This situation could've been avoided if we were more careful.

     - There's nothing you could've done though. Don't worry, I will manage. – I say as I start heading towards the door. I was so nervous that it was hard for me to breathe. I needed to go inside.

     - I know you will. Tomorrow we're going to the movies. – he closes the gate as I open the front door of the house. – Ask Emily for the details if you're interested.

     Jacob waves at me and I enter the house. I run to the kitchen window and look at him walking away as my heart continues to beat faster and faster. It showed no signs of stopping.

     - June? Are you alright? – I look behind me to see Emily staring at me as she tried to understand what I was doing. – You are so red, do you have a fever?

     - I'm fine, I'm fine! – I start heading towards the stairs. – Good night!

     "Stop!" I'm yelling to myself. What the heck is this weird feeling? I throw my body onto the bed and cover my face with my pillow. After a couple of minutes, the air starts to get so hot that I remove it otherwise I wouldn't be able to breathe. My chest felt heavy and my heart was aching. "He's not you but why does his embrace feel like yours?" I whispered to myself as tears start rolling down my face. Eventually, I fell asleep and I dreamt about William playing in the reef as he used to while Emily warned him to come down. It was such a good dream, I wasn't used to good dreams anymore.