Burning Up (Jacob Black)

4. Promise?

Mike peeked around the corner wearily, stepping closer to stand in front of us still sitting on the staircase. Mike looked a bit better for a moment before his eyes scanned over us more attentively. His lips pressed into a dissatisfied line when he saw Jacob's hands interlocking mine. He gave a heavy, obvious, dramatic sigh through his nose, which flared his nostrils. "I think it's time I go home." He stated bitterly, nodding to himself.

"Bit dazed from the movie, are you?" Jacob sneered at him. My eyes narrowed as I eyed him from the corner of my eye in disbelief. I looked back at Mike who looked like he was about to collapse. I sighed, picked myself up off the stairs, and rushed to Mike's aid, helping him stand up straight.

"Yeah, I think we should all go home," I said, responding to Mike's original remark. Mike ignored me and instead focused on Jacob's jab.

"Actually, I was feeling out of it before the movie started, for your information." He hissed, looking only at Jacob.

"Really? Or are you just too afraid to admit you're a wuss?" Jacob shot up from his seat, which made me panic for a second.

"Alright, ladies, can we drop it? It's probably just the stomach flu going around." I tried to keep my composure, but my eyes darted rapidly between Jacob and Mike. Jacob nodded, realizing the stupidity of the situation. Although I technically took Mike's side, he kept his cool. Mike huffed to himself, keeping his eyes in slits as he stared Jacob down.

"Let's just get outta here," Jacob remarked calmly before leading me and Mike out of the movie theatre.

I drove Mike home. Although I suggested that Jake sit in the back with Mike so he's not alone, he protested profusely. So did Mike though, so no harm no foul I guess. Jake sat with me in the front, his elbow propped up on the window of the car, looking through the glass. I was silent during the drive to Mike's house, lost in my mind. What a night, I thought. I didn't understand why Jacob got so upset with Mike. For all it's worth, I didn't understand why Mike was so upset with Jacob either. They bickered like little girls every couple of minutes in the car, quipping back and forth from the front seat to the back seat, not looking at each other the entire time. I guess, in Jacob's favor, Mike did start the resentment between them when we first met outside the movie theatre. My mind didn't linger on their lover's quarrel for long though.

I thought of what Jake said to me on the stairs. I replayed our words like a tween girl rewatching a make-out scene in her favorite rom-com. I was, for some reason, feeling satisfied. "I'm willing to wait as long as you need," echoed throughout the caverns of my brain. A silent, guilty smile took over my face.

After we dropped a wobbly, off-colored Mike off at his house, Jacob insisted on driving me home. It didn't take much for me to agree. We rode quietly for a few minutes before Jacob's voice broke the silence.

"Sorry for how I acted around Mike. That was a dick move of me." He looked at me for a brief second before looking back at the road.

"It's okay. It's not completely your fault. Mike was also being an asshole for some reason." I sighed, "I'll remember never to let you two within 10 feet of each other again." I said sarcastically.

"Yeah, that's probably for the best. I don't think your pseudo-boyfriend likes me much."

"Hey, he's not my boyfriend." I snapped. Although he definitely tries to be, I thought, huffing to myself.

"Just joshing around," Jacob ribbed. Although he laughed it off, I sensed he got some sort of satisfaction out of hearing me say the words. "Hey," he said after a few seconds of silence to get my attention. I was already zoning out, looking through the window at the blue hour outside. I turned my head back to him and saw he had his hand set on the center console, palm up. Without really thinking through the repercussions, I laid my hand on top of his on the center console. Jacob gently adjusted his hand to interlock our fingers.