Protector (ongoing)

Chapter 2 - The Favourite

PAST - 8 YEARS AGO 

"We're here" Dad calls out from the driver's seat, just loud enough so I can hear him over my music. For the past 2 hours, I have been sandwiched between my stinky older brother Michael, who the whole car ride was texting his hundreds of girlfriends and refusing to give me any leg room, and my whiney younger brother, Nathan who was either crying that he was going to be car sick or playing his stupid games on his Nintendo. Mum sat in the passenger seat in charge of distributing snacks and making sure Dad, the driver, knew where he was going even though we have been going to this place for many years.

Thankfully, we finally made it to my favourite place. I used to think it was the place itself that made it my favourite with the pool, the animals and the memories but it was one person who lived here that made it so special. My favourite person in fact.

"JACOB" I called out, too excited to even think.

"Gracie," he replied with the biggest smile. The type of smile that makes your cheeks heat up if you look at it for too long.

I ran as fast as I could and leaped into Jacob's arms as he spun me around and around in a bear hug. Jacob, tall skinny Jacob with dark hair and hazel green eyes. He looked different. He smelled different. Was he taller than last time I saw him? Maybe it's his hair? Oh my goodness. Is Jacob wearing aftershave?

"I missed you" He whispered into my hair as he set me on my feet. It was clear to me now, as I stared up at him, that he did in fact get taller. Since when are sixteen year olds this tall?

"I missed you too," I said with a shy smile. Jacob always had a way of making me feel like that.

"Oh my, look at you!" Out of the front door came Jacob's mum, my mum's best friend. Vanessa Madden is a hurricane. I love her. "Don't you look all grown up. How old are you now?"

"Fourteen" I replied as she leaned down to kiss me on the cheek.

"And Mickey, look how big and strong you look. I'm sure you have all the girls chasing after you" She proceeded to call out to my older brother.

"Don't you know it, Aunty Van. They can't get enough of me." My older brother and Jacob are the same age. They are practically best friends. Just like our parents are best friends. Jacob and I are best friends too. We have a special kind of friendship. He knows me better than anyone and I know him just as well. We are the type of friends you can't find anywhere else.

"Nic, I'm glad at least one of our boys is getting out there." Aunty Van says as she embraces Mum.

"No, no you shouldn't be. Vanessa. The boy drives me crazy. You're lucky you have Jacob." Mum replies welcoming her best friend's affection.

"Gracie, let's go. I want to show you something" Jacob whispers from behind me.

I turn around to face him with a questioning look, "Where are we going? We just got here, you know. Jacob, my feet hurt and my back hurts from being crammed in that car because Michael is an absolute giant and-" Jacob cuts me off by tugging my arm to drag me behind him. "Hey, rude!"

"Do you ever stop talking?" He says with that boyish chuckle that makes your heart beat really, really fast.

"For your information, I do stop talking but when a psycho is nearly pulling your arm out of its socket. I'm pretty sure, I have every right to speak." I try to rebut.

"Would you be quiet for two seconds and look." Jacob points to the brown curly haired dog lying in a basket surrounded by the tiniest puppies I have ever seen.

"Oh my goodness!" I shriek, unable to contain my excitement.

"Shh Grace," Jacob places his hands on my shoulders and brings his head down to my ear. Lowering his voice, he says, "She had them a few days ago. I knew you would love them. Hey, see that black one with the brown spots?" I nod my head when I spot the littlest puppy out of the bunch.

"I think I'm gonna call him Astro"