Perfect Imperfections

Six

I hopped out of the truck then looked around the lumbar yard, seeing it was all basically recycled wood. I don't know how that worked, but the sign said it was one hundred percent recycled.

"Jake, is that you?!" I heard and looked over, seeing an older male version of Jake without all the tattoos.

"Hey, Pa!" Jake greeted and hugged his dad.

"And who is this?" Mr. Kyle asked as I went over, feeling Jake's hand on my shoulder.

"A new friend of mine, dad. This is Adalyn Jade Costanza, she goes by AJ. AJ, this my dad John Kyle." He introduced me and I shook his dad's hand.

"How old are you?" Mr. Kyle asked and I licked my lips.

"Seventeen, sir, nearly eighteen-"

"Jacob." Mr. Kyle said in warning, but Jake smiled.

"Friend, dad, that's it. I promise, nothing more. I won't be arrested for something like this-"

"Actually, there is a law called the Romeo and Juliet law where any two persons can be together legally as long as the minor is at least sixteen and the adult is no older than twenty three." I cut in and both of them looked at me shocked.

"Sorry, I-I wasn't- I mean, we're- sorry." I stuttered, but Jake grinned.

"See, you are smart, AJ!" He said and Mr. Kyle sighed.

"Well, if what she says is true, then I suppose it would be legal if you two did do something." He said and crossed his arms.

"What are you doing here, Jake? Your mom isn't on the site yet and you don't work today-"

"I'm building the boat house, dad. I need wood and stuff for it." Jake said and Mr. Kyle nodded.

"Come on then." He said and led us through the lumbar yard.

"Is all of this really recycled?" I asked and Mr. Kyle nodded.

"It's all pressed wood, darling. We recycle it up there in that shed, no pollution either. It takes longer to get wood out, but we do it by hand and use less trees that way. We've actually partnered with your mom-"

"Don't tell her AJ was here, dad!" Jake cut in and Mr. Kyle turned to us.

"Jacob, what aren't you telling me?" Mr. Kyle asked and Jake looked at me then licked his lips.

"It-it's a long story. Mostly, AJ's mom is... She got mad at AJ or having a B, AJ cooks all the meals-"

"I do all the laundry, they-they hit me, I'm secluded from my family, they're always calling me a failure because I'm not effortlessly beautiful or athletically inclined like my siblings, I'm the imperfection in the perfect family." I said and Mr. Kyle looked at me then his son.

"Jake-"

"Please, dad, don't tell her." He whispered and Mr. Kyle sighed.

"Well, then you chose a horrible time. Mrs. Costanza is here, Jacob, she's in the office." He said and I looked at Jake, who licked his lips.

"We-"

"She'll be gone at three, Jake, come back then." Mr. Kyle said and Jake nodded, taking my hand and pulling me from the yard. As we got into his truck, I saw my mom step out of the office and go right to Mr. Kyle. Then she saw the truck and glared, making her way over.

"Go!" I breathed and Jake turned the key, starting the truck as my mom walked faster.

"Jake, go! Go, go, go!" I rushed him as he backed up, speeding out of the lot and leaving my mom behind.

"Fuck!" Jake whispered as I sagged in the seat.

"Just our luck!" I groaned and put my hands over my face.

"Hey, she couldn't have seen you through my windows." Jake said and I nodded, looking at him.

"Was all that true?" I frowned as I sat up then he licked his lips.

"What you told my dad, about all that family stuff. Was that true?" He asked again and I nodded.

"Yeah, it was." I whispered then sighed as we got to the supermarket.

"Your family shop?" I shook my head then we got out and went inside together, grabbing a cart and getting all that he needed.

"Did you ever get a new backpack?" He asked and I looked at him then shook my head, watching as he nodded. I followed him through the store then looked at him as we got to the schoolbags.

"Pick one-"

"Jake, I can't!" I shook my head, but he smiled and grabbed my shoulder.

"Get a new bag, AJ, seriously." He said and I bit my lip, looking at the bags. I took a deep breath then went over and examined each bag. Finally, I settled on a leather black bag.

"Thank you, Jake." I said and he nodded as we kept shopping.

"It's nothing, AJ, seriously." I smiled then we kept shopping and eventually he went to the register. As he paid for everything, I nervously watched as the price shot up twenty bucks when he scanned my bag.

"I-I should get a cheaper-"

"Don't you dare put that bag back!" Jake scolded and I stared at him.

"Jake-"

"AJ!" He smirked and I sighed, crossing my arms and waiting as he finished up. When we went to the truck, I helped him put the groceries in the back seat then we got in, going to his house to drop off the groceries. Afterwards, I tagged along as he did the rest of his errands, finally going back to the lumbar yard and getting the wood he needed.

"Your momma was asking about you." I looked at Mr. Kyle then sighed.

"What did she want?" I asked and he frowned.

"To tell you if you went back to the house, she wouldn't care. She doesn't even care where you are." He said and I nodded, looking at the ground.

"Do you want to go back?" Jake asked and I looked at him then nodded.

"I-I have to, I have school." I said and he sighed, looking at his dad.

"Alright. You be careful, girl." I looked at Mr. Kyle then he looked at his son.

"You take care of her, Jake." He said and Jake nodded.

"Promise." Jake said then we got into the truck and I waited as Jake took me to get my bag, then he took me home.