Dwelling place

Chapter 1

The gym was a mess. Students were busy preparing for the foundation day. On one corner, at least twenty students were doing the decorations for the stage and entrance hall. Some were repainting the artificial flowers they used on their prom night, while others were cutting papers for the confetti. Students were talking at the top of their voice so that they can hear each other over the loud music  played by the group of men. Some boys were installing the wires for the sounds and lights. Three boys were running around the gym, wrestling and shouting unintelligible words to each other.

“Attention! Everyone!”, Patricia shouted on the microphone as she entered the gym. “Vernie, Louie, and Rev, stop playing around. You are not helping”. One thing that Patricia prided herself, was she know her constituents by their first name.

The music and chattering died down. All the attention of the student was now on her. The school respected Patricia so much. On her five months as the president, she was able to accomplish programs for sports, social and academic.  Organizations become more motivated and active. She fearlessly reported the Biology professor who was selling illegal books at very high prices and collecting money from students to get high grades.

“As we all know, we only have two days to finish everything” she said while drying her face. Her clothes were dirty because she helped in cleaning the chairs they got from the storage room. “And I want everything to be perfect. Do you understand?”

“Yes Miss President” students answered in unison.

“Go back to your tasks and stop playing around” she gave a warning look to the three kids sitting at the edge of the stage. “Another thing, reduce the volume of your music Patrick.”

“Gotcha”shouted the boy holding the disco ball.

Patricia approached the group assigned to decorations. She sat down with them and helped in repainting the artificial flowers. She updated the group about the rock bands that will come to the event. As time passed by, students felt tired from the whole day work and stopped talking.

A cold thing touched Patricia’s right ear. She does not need to turn back to see who it is.  “Take it easy, Miss President” Jake whispered in her left ear.

“Take it easy your face, Jake” Patricia snatched the bottled water that Jake held for her. “Why not give us some help?”

Jake carelessly slouched himself to the floor and playfully stirred the white paint. “Oh, come on Pat. Give me some rest. I distributed flyers under the heat of the sun . Can you please consider that a help?” he rumbled.

The group was just listening to them and most of the girls were not taking off their eyes to Jake. Deep inside them, is the desire to be a girlfriend of Jake even just for a day. Jake Ross is the epitome of tall, dark and handsome; he has jet black hair, intense brown eyes, with a deep olive complexion. He’s six feet tall, masculine, yet beautiful at the same time. His masculine smell and a very friendly smile can make girls forget their boyfriend beside them. “Hannah, please tell your boss she is giving me a hard time” Jake nudged the blushing girl beside him. She just gave a tight smile, too shy to speak.

“Stop bribing my friends” she gave a hard pinch to his nose. Girls snickered, enjoying the conversation of the two. “By the way, I thought you are going to talk to someone tonight”

“Yeah. I am just checking on you” He stood up and stretched his feet. “I’ll be going now. I still have to take a bath. Hell! I smell like rotten tomato”

Patricia stood up and started walking toward the entrance. Jake was behind her. “Can’t that wait until Monday? There are still many things to do.”

“My visitor is a very important person, and we have to talk about some important matter. Don’t worry, you are doing great” He patted her head and waved to the group. “Goodbye guys! Be patient to our Miss Nagger”

“If you have time, please check on Dylan tonight. I can’t help him in his assignment these past few days” she requested.

"I will try if my visitor leaves early”, he started walking toward the parking lot. “Do you want me to leave the car?”

Jake use to leave his car whenever Patricia goes home later than him. He gave a duplicate key to her, a year ago. “I think I want to take a walk tonight”. She waited Jake to disappear in the dark and headed back inside.

“Patricia, do you think I have a chance with him?” the girl asked while pouting his lips.

Patricia shrugged. “I don’t know. He is not mentioning anyone special”

“Maybe that special someone is you” a girl speculated. The whole group was teasing her.

“Just like in the stories, the guy secretly loves his best friend because he is afraid that it will ruin their friendship” the other girl said dreamily. The group roared their agreement.

Patricia rolled her eyes. “That is insane. We have known each other ever since and that is impossible. Lunatic”

“Why not?” Hannah asked while grinning. “That’s the point Miss Pressy, you know each other ever since and he can’t just stop falling in love to you”. The girls giggled while the boys listening, whistled.

“Because he is a brother to me. Why do we have to be a lover when we can be friends forever?” Patricia does not know how she can stand this foolish conversation, but she ride on this absurdity.

“Awwwwwwwwwww” the boys said in harmony. “I am just here for you Miss Pressy!” a guy shouted from the distance.

“Fiddle-dee-dee” Patricia shouted back. “Let us get back to work so that we can go home before nine”.  Patricia is just smiling while updating her checklist. I didn’t know so many girls are crazy over you, Jake.

The group started packing up at eight. Patricia gathered everyone and gave them for some reminders of what they have to do tomorrow. After checking the whole gym, Patricia walked home.

She loved walking alone when it is full moon. It gives her the privilege to breath fresh air and think peacefully. She took the shortcut way where she met Jake fourteen years ago.