The Town of Willow Falls

The Riverside Picnic

Rory's POV

When I wake up the next morning, Jake is in the kitchen talking with my dad.
I smile.

"Morning!" Jake turns around and hands me a muffin.

"Be back by supper!" My dad calls out.

Then Jake takes my hand and leads me out the door as I take a bite of my muffin. I'm glad I got ready for the day before coming to the kitchen.

"Should I even ask where we're going?"

"We missed hanging out last night so I thought I'd take you somewhere."
Jake smiles.

"Okayyy." I say slowly, smiling, too.

We end up at the outskirts of town. There's a picnic set up next to a river.
Jake motions for me to sit down and he joins me.

"I think Viera's house is along this river, somewhere. Viera's the 3 year old girl I babysat last night. Her name's Riviera. Isn't that a coinci-" I stop myself.

Jake doesn't seem to notice as I trail off.

"So how was your babysitting job last night?"

"It was good, actually. Viera seems smart for her age and she's very well behaved. We coloured for most of the night and she told me all about her family."

"Didn't you say that these people were new in town? Where'd they move from? It's not exactly the biggest town to come to." Jake laughs.

"Viera told me that she lived with her mom in Canada since she was little. No details but I think they're originally from here. Why else would they move? There was a job opportunity for Viera's mother but it's definitely not the best." I say.

"You always seem to pick out the details. So about Saturdays and babysitting..." Jake starts to say.

"Yeah?" I ask.

"I know you've only done one night but I already planned something sort've huge for next weekend before you agreed to babysitting. I understand if you can't cancel it. I'm trying to not ask you to step away from your new job, but..."
Jake's giving me puppy-eyes and he probably doesn't even know it.

I'm probably not thinking straight but I say that I can probably figure something else out.
I forget about it once Jake unpacks the basket full of food.
I wouldn't even begin to know what he has planned for next weekend because this is pretty nice and I didn't even think I'd see him at all this weekend.
I let myself relax and not worry about anything because that's just how it is with being around Jake.

A/N: Shorter part but hoping to write more soon!
Wendy Mass's characters.
*except Viera