Rekindled- Jake Kiszka

Chapter 15

I couldn't even enjoy my night, that bastard. My "fake it till you make it" attitude made the others think I did, I can guarantee that much, but I didn't. All I could think about all night was how awful I was to Jake. I mean, everything that I said was true, I really don't want to be like this anymore, I just want to be normal. But that was no excuse to lash out on him. He's been my rock, supporting me through everything with my mom, letting me live with him, and never batting an eyelash at the idea of helping me when I need it, even if I insist I don't.

Don't get me wrong, I could do this all on my own, I have been for the last 16 years of my life. I think that's what kept my anger with Jake boiling, even though I knew I was in the wrong. He still hurt me with what he said, and he knew he did. There were just so many other ways he could have gone about confronting me rather than crushing what happiness I had made for myself. 

Regardless, I pretended to have fun all night, dancing with my friends and downing drinks. What they had no idea of was that I was just getting water all night, a clear drink with lime could be whatever the hell I wanted. I know Jake's right about how ironic my idea was, drinking away the pain of my mothers drinking problem, so I decided to just play along so we could all have fun.

This club was much nicer than our normal one, though it was a bit quieter than we were used to. It had big couches in sections and a nice retro vibe. Everyone was off dancing while I sit on the couch and swirl the water around in my glass, watching it move and letting my mind race.

"You don't look like you're having very much fun over here," I hear Danny's voice say, watching as he sits down next to me and I give him a tight lipped smile. "Am I being that obvious?"

He chuckles in response and looks around for the others. "I can take you back home if you want, I haven't had anything to drink and I don't think they'd notice if I left for a few minutes. You should get some sleep."

He was right, I probably looked exhausted seeing as how I probably slept a total of an hour or two the night before. "If you really wouldn't mind, that would be amazing, but I can call an Uber if you want to stay." 

He shakes his head and gives me his hand as he gets up, letting Josh know before we head to the car together. 

"I'm guessing it didn't go very well after we walked out?" Danny asks, still looking at the road ahead as we pull away from the club, but occasionally glancing over at me. 

"Not really, I mean everything he said was true, and I'm more than thankful for him, but I just wanted to let go for a night and he made me feel like shit for that."

I hear him sigh and think for a moment, the drive wasn't long so we were already relatively close to the house. "He's really worried about you MJ, like, really worried. All of practice we could tell he was off. After you invited us out he got really quiet like he does, he can't stand seeing you sad. I can't speak for him, but I'm sure he didn't mean any harm by what he said to you at the house." he spoke softly and genuinely, so I knew he was being honest about Jake being off. Danny pulls into the driveway and I thank him, giving him a tight hug before getting out and watching him pull away, heading back to the club to have fun with our friends. 

I walk into the house as quietly as I can, relieved to see the lights off since that meant Jake was in bed. I go into my room and strip out of what I had worn to the club before hopping into the shower. It was a quick shower, but still nice, and afterwards I change into shorts and a black sports bra, my wet hair sticking slightly to my chest. I grab a pre-rolled joint from my bag along with my lighter before slipping out the back door onto the deck.

It was quiet out, still and dark, and the air was cool on my warm skin. I light the end of the joint that sits between my lips and inhale the smoke, exhaling into the sky as I lay my head back, looking up at the moon and the star surrounding it. It was clear tonight, so everything is bright and visible.