Friends Don't Look At Friend That Way | Jake Baker

Chapter 3

"Alright. Now no one is around. What were you and my mom talking about before breakfast?" Jake asks as the two of us gradually make our way to school.

"Its the anniversary of my parents death." I mumble.

"What?!" Jake asks shocked.

"Its the anni-" I am cut off, "Yeah, yeah. I heard you the first time. But it can't be. You moved in with us on the 22nd of October. That's like a 7 month difference." He states, shocked.

"5 months." I correct, looking down. "Your family wasn't the first option for me to live with. Remember?"

"Yeah, but... I-I thought that only took a couple days maybe weeks." He states.

"Well you thought wrong. It took social services at least a month to sort out my parents wills and a funeral. Another month tracking down My Moms parents, a month looking for my Dads parents. A week travelling to them, another week after being rejected by them. Then a month re-reading wills and letters to try find out about distant aunts or uncles, until they found your family. And are final stop on this sob story, is it took two weeks of preparing and finally arriving on The Baker Family doorstep. Yay!" I do sarcastic jazz hands, then see Jake with his eyebrows creased together. 

"So, where did you stay all that time?" He asks nervously, because he doesn't want to push me too far. 

"Um... I was moved between different group homes. Never stayed in one too long. Longest I stayed in one place was about 2, maybe 3 weeks." 

"I'm sorry Mads." He says sincerely. 

"Its ok Jake." I try to smile but fail. 

"Um... are you gonna do anything for them today?" He asks nervously.

"Yeah, I guess. I was just thinking about going to my special place, or something." I shrug.

"Do you want me to come with?" He asks.

"I don't know. I'll be skipping my last class, so I can try get back on time for the Christmas card." I tell him.

"Oh, now I definitely want to come." He smiles trying to lighten the mood. "No math and I get to skip the dumb card pic, all while hanging with you. Is that even a question?" 

"Jake. You can't miss the card. Its a Baker family tradition. You are literally a Baker. Your apart of the family, you have to do it."

"Hey!" He stops, causing me to do the same. "You're apart of the family too."

"Yeah, yeah." I roll my eyes.

"Stop that! Don't roll your eyes and 'yeah, yeah' me, Miss Quinn. You are apart of the family. You joined us, there's no escaping us now. We're like a cult. You are and will always be, Apart of the Baker Clan." He holds my shoulders whilst talking, I smile at his speech before engulfing him in a hug.

"Thanks Jakey." I smile.

"No problem Mads." He replies, squeezing me at the same time.

"This still doesn't mean you're coming with me today." I look up at him.

He rolls his eyes, releasing me from the hug. "Anyway, I'll probably be back in time for the photo, its just you're gonna need a new walking home buddy and occupy yourself for like 20 minutes."

"Oh god! How will I ever survive in that house without you?" He asks dramatically.

"Well you survived 12 years without me before, I think you'll live." I laugh.

"Yeah, barely." He grumbled, "Why can't I come?" He whines.

"Because Jake. Don't worry, I'll be back with you in some dumb Christmas sweater before you notice me not there." I reassure.

"Okay." He huffs.

"Oh and I just thought you should know..." He hums in response to tell me he was listening, "It was real sweet that you remembered the exact day I moved in with you."

He blushes at my comment, "Oh yeah, well I just thought you should know that... the last person to school has to buy the other lunch!" He shouts, jumping on his board and skating away.

"Oh yeah?" I shout smiling.

"Hell yeah!" He shouts back to me.

I quickly join him in skating and laugh all the way to school.