Till The End

Chapter 9.

Jake

People have bad days; I get bad fucking months. Pop had a heart attack three weeks ago. Fortunately, he made it, but he is still ill, so he can't come to work. Being the closest thing to a manager here, I am the one who is replacing him. I've been working here since I was fourteen, officially, but I have been doing little things like washing dishes, swiping, and mopping since I was nine. Pop knew about our financial situation back then and suggested I come work in his restaurant on weekends when I was looking for jobs around the neighborhood. I used to mow lawns, clean gardens, and paint people's picket fences for some money back then. Over the years, I have learned about every job available here and have found a particular interest in cooking. I already had some cooking skills, as I was cooking at home when my mother worked late, but I've learned a lot from Pop. I remember trying to memorize his recipes and practicing at home with whatever I could find in the fridge, until he found out and gave me my first recipe book.

I've been doing full shifts every day since Pop's heart attack. Getting to the restaurant before eight in the morning to check if we have everything needed and leaving late at night after balancing the cash register. It is exhausting, but the restaurant hasn't gone bankrupt or caught fire, so all good. I have been fighting with someone from the beverage supplier over the phone for the past half hour, and I'm about to lose my shit. They were supposed to deliver the drinks yesterday, but I was not there to sign the receipt, so they took it back, and now they are saying that I will have to wait two whole weeks before the next delivery. Dammit Austin. If that idiot had not fought that asshole in school, I wouldn't have had to go there and miss the fucking delivery. The asshole deserved it, but he could have waited until after school to do it.

I'm still on the phone with that irritating woman when my phone starts ringing. Fuck. Why is the nursing home calling me? They never call unless there's something wrong with my mom. I immediately hang up with the supplier and answer my phone.

"Mr. Keller? Good afternoon. We are calling to inform you that we were forced to administer a tranquilizer to Miss Adams. She remembered something again and was agitated." the woman says.

"Is she okay?" I ask, my heart drumming in my ribcage.

"Yes. She is sleeping now, and I think she will be sleeping until tomorrow, so there's no need to come to the clinic today. We will call you if there is anything else."

"Thank you."

Shit. I need a break.

My mom suffers from memory loss due to her concussion, but sometimes she gets flashes of memories. Little things that happened, or names and events Most of the time, when this happens, she is just a little confused. But sometimes she remembers that scumbag and the things he did to her, and that makes her panic. One time, she tried to run away from the clinic, saying that she was in danger and she had to take her kids as far away from him as she could. When it's that bad, they give her a tranquilizer, like today.

I try to keep myself busy for the rest of the night until it's finally time to go home. When I get in the car, there's only one thing on my mind—the only thing I need right now—so I take my phone out of my pocket and start typing.

Jake: Hello Sunshine :)

Jake: You still up?

Aelia: Hey :) yup, was watching TV.

Aelia: Are you home yet?

Jake: No, just closed. I miss you. Do you think I can come see you now?

Aelia: Of course!

As soon as I receive her last text, I start speeding to her place. I can't wait to see her; we haven't spent time together for days. Aelia went back home a few days after her meeting with her parents. Her mother persuaded her by promising that if her father ever hurt her again, they would both leave him. I swear if he touches her, he will lose both of his hands. If it were up to me, that asshole would not even get to breathe the same air as her. She still hasn't told me what happened the other day. I just know that he was drunk and started talking shit but I feel like there is more she isn't telling me.

It takes me less than fifteen minutes to get there.

  Jake : I'm here.

A few minutes after my last text, her front door opens, and I can finally breathe. Just seeing her standing at that door, smiling, made everything better. I walk to her and take her into a hug, and just like that, today isn't shitty anymore. I breath in the sweet scent of her shampoo before pressing a kiss to the side of her head. I think I am addicted to the way she smells. I wouldn't give a single fuck if the world was burning down right now; all I need is here in my arms. We sit on the floor of her front porch for over an hour just talking and listening to some music. It has been a moment now since neither of us has been talking, but somehow this is still better than anything else. This is all I need. Me lying down, my head resting on her thighs while she plays in my hair. I wish I could stay, but I need to get some sleep. I need to wake up early tomorrow to visit my mother before going to work. We stand up to leave but end up staying in front of the door and talking for another half an hour.

"I need to go now, Sunshine."

She looks at me with sad eyes and for a second, I consider staying here with her. I could just spend the rest of the night here and go straight to the clinic in the morning. No, I need some sleep.

"Do you want to have lunch with me tomorrow?" she asks.

"Yes, of course! Come meet me at Pop's."

I pull her into a long hug.

"I lo- miss you. I'll miss you." I take a deep breath before kissing her.

"Call me when you get home."

"Okay. See you tomorrow." I kiss her one last time before heading to the car. As soon as I get into the car I start driving home because I know that she will be watching me go from her window, but when I pull into my driveway, I don't get out of the car. I sit for a minute, thinking about what I nearly told her a few minutes ago. That three-word phrase that would have slipped out of my mouth had I not caught myself in time—that three-word phrase that I had not even thought about before. Now I realize that it's true. I am in love with Aelia Anderson.