𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐲

III. We Missed You.

     

     LIFE AT home changed a lot, for Jake. He did get weekends to himself, with his new family he was still trying to get to know, and since his friends were still missing, he took one Sunday as his chance to go home and try to make amends with his mother. He pulled up to the side of the road in one of his dad's cars, parking it and shutting off the engine.

He walked up to the door and knocked, but there was no answer for a minute. So he knocked again. He stood and waited, sighing quietly. He was about to walk away when the door swung open, to his mother, looking very tired and her eyes are slightly puffy. Her eyes looked a bit red too. "Hi ma..." He says quietly and she just stepped forward, embracing her son right away. No anger, no yelling or anything, she just hugged the teenager.

He hugged her back tightly, his arms around her waist as hers are around his neck, a hand on the back of his head. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been mad." She says, her voice sounding hoarse as she spoke. "No, don't be sorry." He whispers back, shaking his head as she stepped back from him now, frowning.

"I know it's only been a month but I miss you..." She says, now cupping his face in both of her hands and he just puts his hands over hers. "I missed you too." He said with a small smile then he glanced down. "I'm sorry, ma." He says and she shook her head. "No, no, no, I'm sorry, Jake. I'm supposed to be the adult here." She said quietly before pulling him closer and kissing his forehead. "I'm sorry I was being so childish and dramatic." She sighed.

"Don't worry about it..." He insisted and just smiled at her. "How's our girl, Evie?" She then asked, smiling back at him. "She's good... she actually met her aunts and she loves them." He says and Marienne's brows raise really high. "You have sisters?" She asked. "Yeah. Amber and Blake." He answered.

"That's... great, Jake. Oh, come in, come in, come in..." She insisted now, opening the door and entering the house. "How are you liking it over there?" She asked as she cleaned up around the couch. He stood by the door, realizing what she was picking up, the noise made it clear what she'd been doing. Drinking it away. Beer cans, which she now tossed into the garbage then turned to him, tucking her hair behind her ears before smiling.

"So... how's it been?" She asked and he walked over, taking a seat at the couch. "Um, it's fine. I mean, I like getting to know my half-sisters. Amber is really good at soccer and Blake is really gifted, she showed me her drawings she's done over the past few years." He said and Marienne just smiled at that.

"That's so nice, Jake..."

The blonde lady was looking around the living room with a sort of solemn look on her face. "Ma, I was thinking of asking my dad if I can come stay some nights whenever I felt like it... but I'll only ask if you don't mind." He says and she looks over right away, eyes brighting up right away. "Of course, honey. This is your home. You didn't even have to ask." She said and sweetly smiled at him.

He smiled back, nodding. "That's great. Because I miss being at home... I couldn't sleep well my first night there. I guess 'cause I've always lived here." He merely said and shrugged his shoulders. "And it is, like, a big and spacious mansion." She quips and he nods, looking up at her with a small smile on his face. He looked away, fidgeting with his hands and she glanced away from him.

"How do you like it then? Like... truthfully?" She asked and he looks up. "I guess... sometimes I feel like I don't belong. That I stick out like a sore thumb because Amber and Blake's mom is Japanese... just like him." He shrugs softly, looking down at his hands. "They also speak Japanese. Like fluently sometimes, but they'll switch completely to English once they see me around." He says a bit quietly.

"I'm sorry I kept you from him." Marienne said and Jake looks up quickly. "It's okay. Don't be sorry." He said then gave a small smile. "Hey, maybe I can come stay over one night this week? We can have a movie night." He offers and she smiled big, nodding quickly.