Love Without Arms

Chapter 7: Mulan, Pizza & Confontations (Liz)

Elizabeth Peters

"Hey Babe" a low voice whispered in my ear as strong arms snaked around my waist.

I jumped a little in surprise at the action but relaxed when I realized that it was only Jake.

"Hey. What's up?" I answered nonchalantly and twisted around to peck him on the cheek.

He gave me a disappointed look and puppy dog eyes. I rolled my eyes and kissed him on the lips this time. He smiled through the kiss and pushed me gently up against the stairwell railing. I pulled back and the twinkle in his eyes melted my insides. I gave his hand a squeeze right as the warning bell rang. With interlocked hands we walked down the hallway to Mr. Clay's room and took our seats.

All through homeroom I stole looks at Jake. Once, I caught him looking back. He smirked, I blushed, and Geoff fake gagged. I couldn't even look at him. What he did last week with Amanda was enough to make me mad enough to never speak to him again. And I intended to stick with it.

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I made my way through the cafeteria and sat down at my normal table. I brought my sandwich up to my mouth but before I could take a bite, a familiar voice cut through the air.

"What are you doing, Elizabeth?" Jake asked. "Why aren't you sitting at my table?"

"Oh right. Yeah I'll be right there." I answered. I picked up all of my stuff and followed Jake to the popular table. My palms were sweating as I approached. The looks I gathered as we made our way were cold enough to freeze hell 3 times over. It sent a shiver down my spine that I did not like feeling. Jake must've sensed the tension in the air because he looked around the entire cafeteria and gave them all a look that uprooted every doubt I might've had about him. He definitely still loved me. That was scary. But the even scarier part? I think I still loved him back.

The whole cafeteria fell silent. All the whispers ceased. All gazes in our direction were promptly averted. My heart swelled with pride as he grabbed my hand and announced to the entire populate in the cafeteria.

"Elizabeth Marie Peters is my girlfriend. And she is going to stay my girlfriend. Is that clear? Alright then. Anything else you imbeciles want to know?" There was no answer. "Good. Now get back to eating your lunch and stop looking at my girlfriend like she has 5 eyes."

I was speechless. Then my face broke out into the biggest smile ever. I set my tray down on the table, took Jake's and set his down next to mine, placed my hands around his neck, and kissed him for the whole world to see. Well, at least the whole cafeteria. When I pulled away, the look in his eyes said it all. He looked like he just became the richest man in the world. No, that didn't describe it. It was an indescribable look of bliss.

"How about we do something later?" He whispered in my ear as we sat down. I nodded my head. "Pick me up at 6?" I supplied. It was his turn to nod. We finished our lunch right as the bell rang. I kissed him goodbye and scurried off to class. Anxious for what was to come in approximately 6 hours.
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It's 5:30. I only have 30 minutes. I don't know what I'm going to wear, my hair is a wreck, and there is a migrating flock of butterflies in my stomach. I flopped down on my bed and lied there. The total exhaustion of my day hit me and I couldn't stay awake. The next time my eyes opened was when the doorbell rang. I bolted upright.

"Shit!" I got my bearings and ran to the door. I opened it slowly and prepared myself. He was wearing a nice button down with dark wash jeans and a bouquet of white roses. I was in a spaghetti strap black lace tank top, PINK cotton shorts, and a very messy messy bun. It was the cliché prince and the pauper. I, being the pauper, obviously.

"Well um this wasn't the gorgeous outfit I was expecting but I guess this will suffice for dinner and a movie." He chuckled a bit and gave me a look.

"I'm so sorry. I was picking out an outfit and I lied down for one minute, then I fell asleep. Ugh. I feel horrible. I am really so sorry Jake." I rambled on and on until he shut me up with a kiss.

"Hey. It's alright Liz. I wasn't really feeling the whole formal date thing anyway. We can just chill here. Your parents are out of town, right?"

"Right. Uh sure. Come on in. Yeah we can have movie night here. You know I have an extensive collection. I'm sure we'll find something." I answered in one breath. Honestly I was relieved. This would be an even more amazing night now that it wasn't all formal and pressured.

He smiled and walked inside. He laid the roses on the table and I found a vase to put them in. I hugged and thanked him for remembering my favorite flower. It was the sweetest random thing anyone has ever done for me.

"Do you want me to order a pizza for us babe? Meat lover's is your favorite, right Liz?"

"Yeah." I said. "What movie do you want to watch? I'll go find it."

"Oh so we're really going to watch a movie then?" Jake asked with a smirk. I stuck my tongue out at him and said, "Yes, Jake. We are really going to watch a movie." I rolled my eyes and went to rifle through my Disney collection.

I brought back all of the princess movies just to torture him, but I was not expecting the reaction that I got.

"Jake! So do you like Mulan, Cinderella or Aladdin better?" I asked.

"MULAN FOR THE WIN BABY!" He screamed. I was extremely taken aback.

"Alright then. Mulan it is. I'll pop it in."

I turned on the TV and set up the movie. Right as I went to go sit down, the doorbell rang. Jake ran to get it, yelling something along the lines of he doesn't want the delivery man to get any ideas so he'll go answer the door. I just laughed. But then again, who knows what Jake would do to a man that looked at me the wrong way even just a little? I sure as hell don't want to find out, that's for sure.

After the pizza was paid for, he brought it into the living room and set it down on the coffee table with some napkins, plates and two cans of Mtn. Dew. I grabbed my fuzzy blanket from the linen closet and curled up on the couch with my food. He sat next to me, criss cross applesauce style and pulled half of the blanket over him.

"Hey!" I exclaimed. But he just smirked and kept pulling more. I gave him a look and he stopped then. Putting my half back across my legs. "Thank you."

We ate our food and watched our movie in silence until the pizza was all gone and the cans of soda were empty. Then, not having any more food to eat, I unfolded my legs and leaned into Jake. He immediately tensed but then relaxed and shifted so I'd be more comfortable. That was how we stayed until the movie was over.

I guess I had fallen asleep because I felt soft lips kiss my forehead and strong arms carry me upstairs to lay me in bed. I heard my bedroom door shut and footsteps going down the steps and out the door. Then the faint sound of an engine revving and driving away.

I woke up at midnight. The lights were off, Jake was gone, and the downstairs was spotless. He was amazing. I gasped at the thought of what had happened earlier, and what I did. This was definitely not just Phase 1 anymore. We actually cared for each other. I had to call Ashley.

After the explaining the situation to her, we agreed we needed to talk to Geo. I put some normal street clothes on and some flip flops and she picked me up at 12:30. It took 5 minutes to drive to Geo's house.

"I hope he's awake, Ash." I said said a but worried we'd wake him up. He gets really annoyed if he gets woken up.

"Nah, it's Monday. He'll be up late with homework and video games." She replied.

I rang the doorbell twice with no answer so I decided to call. Just as I was about to dial, I hear a familiar voice.

"Now what are you fine ladies doing around here at this hour?"

It was Geo. But he wasn't alone. Amanda was with him. And she was hanging onto his arm like a leech.