The drive to my house was relatively quiet, but it was the most comfortable quiet I've experienced in a long time. Music was playing softly and Jake would mention something every once in a while throughout the short 10 minute drive. Once I told him which house, and he pulled into the driveway, we both unbuckled and I looked at him. "Are you staying here while I get ready?" I ask softly as he looks at me, hand still on his seatbelt.
"Oh, I guess I didn't really think about it, I can wait out here if you want." he says quickly. I check the time on the dash, my moms car in the driveway was making me nervous, but it was past 12, so she should be asleep anyways. "You can come in, I won't make you wait out here alone." I smile, half teasing before we head inside. As soon as I opened the door it smelled like cigarettes and faint weed, I rolled my eyes at my mother, who was sound asleep on the couch, tv left on, drink in hand, and cigarette slowly burning a hole in our couch. I shoot Jake an apologetic look and put a finger up to tell him to hold on. I quietly walk into the living room and grab the remote, turning the tv off since the loud sound and sharp smells were overwhelming my senses. I pull the drink from her hand and hold it in my own as I grab the cigarette in my other. I quickly put it out on the bottom of my shoe and pat the part of the couch that now had a small hole burnt into it. After running the stuff into the kitchen to deal with later, I lay a blanket over my mom's sleeping body and head back to Jake, taking him upstairs to my room.
"I'm sorry about that, she's usually not like this." I say meekly, closing the bedroom door behind me and watching him look around at the room while I look through my dresser. I could feel his eyes burning a hole in my back as I looked for an outfit.
"You know you don't have to lie to me, right?" he asks, shocking me slightly as I turn to look at him. "I'm sorry?" I ask, giving him a confused look.
"The way you took care of that was more than enough to let me know it's not an uncommon occurrence MJ, you barely reacted to the smoke coming off the couch or the drink spilling onto the floor. That wasn't a one time thing. Plus your mom was like that even when we were younger, I remember more than you think." he says with nothing but care in his eyes.
"Makes me wish you didn't" I mumble softly as I toss my new clothes on my bed and pull the shirt he lent me off, tossing it back to him and leaving me in my dress from the night prior. "I'm used to her anyways, sometimes parents need taken care of just like kids do." I shrug, repeating the words out loud that I had convinced myself of years ago in my head. I had told myself that it wasn't my mom's fault, maybe it was even mine, but those few good years she had given me told me that she needed help too.
He sighs softly and folds the shirt in his lap as I step behind the closet door to change. "You know you can stay at my place anytime, right? All the other guys too, offer always stands."
I chuckle softly and walk back out, now wearing a pair of ripped up skinny jeans with a cropped Van Halen t-shirt, stepping closer to him as I stuff the outfit for tonight into my bookbag. "I'm just fine here, and you know that, been living with her my entire life. But thank you. The offer means a lot."
After a few minutes of grabbing clothes and shoes to wear incase the guys wanted to go out, I led Jake down the steps and to the door, letting him walk out first so I could lock it behind me. Just as I went to step out I heard my mother's voice ring out from the couch where she was looking at me from. "Your dad would be disappointed with the way you're slutting yourself out, Mary!" she yells from her spot.
Ouch.
I try to ignore her and step out the door, locking it and getting into Jake's car, hoping he hadn't heard what she said.
10 minutes later we were back at his place, the guys had all gone back to their houses to get ready. Jake had been texting them and they decided that we should go out and "experience the Nashville nightlife" or whatever Josh had said.
"I'm gonna take a quick shower, there's a guest room down that hall there if you want to put your stuff down. Help yourself to anything in the fridge." Jake says, smiling softly towards me. I give him a simple nod and thank him, heading to the guest room and closing the door before setting my things down and going into the bathroom.
I stepped onto the cold tile floors of the attached bathroom and looked in the mirror, pulling my hair up into a messy bun and turning the sink faucet on, splashing the cool water over my face. My mom had made comments before that stung, actually I received them more than any other words from her, but this one was different. This one made me bite back tears the entire ride home, not wanting Jake to see me in a weak moment, especially not this soon after being reunited. The cold water helped to bring me back to reality, feeling a new sensation on my skin to wake my sense up. I shut the tap off and grab the hand towel beside the sink, patting my face dry and heading to the living room.
I sat on the couch with my knees to my chest, closing my eyes just to wait until Jake came back in. But soon enough, my body relaxed, and sleep took over.
YOU ARE READING
Rekindled- Jake Kiszka
FanfictionMJ was best friends with the Kiszka's through high school, up until she had to move away. What happens when she runs into one of the three brothers 6 years later?
