Scream for love

Chapter sixteen

Two weeks passed without anything special happening. Jake sighed as he really had to admit that Halvor was right. He really put everyone in their place apparently. He was bored beyond belief, which wasn't good.

-Today we are working in groups. - said the teacher. - Please connect your desk, as I will divide you now.

Jake groaned with the others. He was in both good situation and in terrible one. He had two of the best students in his group, one of them being Sebastian, which was good. The other one was Vergilia. Jake let Sebastian lead the group, suddenly he didn't feel too good. Especially, when he heard that, Lucy and Vergilia were talking about someone. They spoke silently, but from time to time a word or two slipped out for Jake to hear. And after a bit he got the context. They were talking about someone liking Vergilia, probably one of the guys that sent her he card two weeks before. Jake could feel the jealousy eating him up. He tried to keep it inside, until he heard a snap and felt pain in his hand. He broke the pencil, he was holding and part of it stuck in his hand. Some guy in his group freaked out, seeing blood.

-Wuss. - Jake smirked looking at him, before he explained what happened to the teacher. - I was playing with the pencil and it somehow snapped.

-Go to the nurse's office. - the teacher said, to which Jake complied. When he walked out of the classroom he didn't have to pretend like it didn't hurt. He gritted his teeth all the way to the nurse's office.

Lucy and Vergilia watched Jake as he left the classroom. Then they looked at each other. Sebastian also watched, but not his friend. Once more his suspicions were confirmed and he didn't know if he should push these two together, or would they find their way on their own.

Jake came back after a bit with his hand bandaged. Since it was his left hand, and he was left-handed, he couldn't write, even if he'd want to.

-I'll copy my notes for you later. -said Sebastian.

-Thanks, by now my notebook looks more like yours. - Jake chuckled.

Time skip

"Tragedy happened" Jake thought, as his friend told him he wasn't able to help him with maths, since the basketball tournament was coming close. Jake understood that he needed to practice more and Jake didn't want to bother Sebastian in that moment.

-Ask Vergilia. - Sebastian advised, which made Jake tense up. He knew that was the only real option, though he didn't want to take it.

-I'll have to, I guess. - he said.

Jake considered studying alone, and he even tried it one evening. Much to his dismay, he got stuck pretty quickly. He tried to find the solution on the Internet, but no one explained what he was supposed to do clear enough.

So there he was, leaning against the wall, gathering courage. It was both stunning and funny to him at the same time, how easily he could ask any girl out for a date, and how difficult it was to ask that one particular one for help with studying. With one last deep breath he made his way to Vergilia and Lucy, interrupting their conversation.

-Sorry to interrupt. - he said. - Would you find a moment to help me with my beloved math?

-What happened to Sebastian? - asked Lucy smirking.

-He has to practice for Interhigh and I want him to win, so for a moment he can take some time off from me. -Jake answered, it was easier to talk to her. But he needed to look at Vergilia. - Any chances?

-Don't worry, I will help you. -Vergilia answered, she could see that he was nervous, even though he tried to hide it. - Where do you prefer to meet?

-Anywhere but my house. - Jake answered honestly.

-Then join me and Damien on our way home today. - Vergilia nodded.

-Got it, thanks. - Jake nodded and smiled, before he walked out of the classroom completely.

Damien was a bit surprised with Jake joining them after classes, but Vergilia explained the situation to him. She also told him, that if he would tease her at least once, she would kill him, bring him back to life and kill him again.

Their mother picked them up from school. Jake introduced himself, before Vergilia added that they would be studying together. Eva was very nice to him, he wished his mother was like that. He somehow felt safe. They arrived to Adams household soon after. The house was huge. He followed Vergilia to her room, where they got seated by the desk. She left him for a moment to get them something to drink, so he had a moment to look around the neat room. That's when it hit him. He will be with Vergilia all on his own.

-I'm back. - she said, setting two mugs on the desk. Coffee for Jake and tea for herself. - Let's start with what gave you the biggest problems. - she said. "It's you, damn it" Jake thought, opening the notebook.

-I got stuck here. - he said.

-It's almost the beginning. - Vergilia answered.

-I know. - Jake sighed in response. -You know I'm bad at it.

-Let's get to it then.

Jake had to admit that Vergilia was as good, if not better, at explaining, than Sebastian. She also had more patience for him. After an hour and a bit, they were done. Eva asked, if he wanted to stay for dinner, which Jake accepted. That gave Damien, Jake and Vergilia some more opportunity to talk. Jake learned about their past, how they frequently moved houses, because of their father's work, and how they couldn't really make friends anywhere for longer. Hearing that, Jake's tongue untied as well. He told them about his worse times, he was surprised how easy it all spilled.

And to Vergilia, Jake's façade and the wish to keep distance from people made more sense.