Chasing The Quiet One

Part 4

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Josh's P.O.V

I watch Jayna as she walks away. I don't understand, did I do something wrong?

Maybe I shouldn't of touched her. Did I say something?

She looked so cute, I bet she'd look good in rags.

She stopped walking, and turns back to me.

"I'm sorry." She whispered, then turned back away.

What is it about that girl?

I can just text her later about the book... that is if I had her number.

I grab my bag and start to follow her. I stop, I can't do this. This is totally going too far. I can't be any more creepy.

I get home and open the front door.

"Joshy!" My little sister jumps out of nowhere and tackles me to the floor.

"Hey, what did I do to deserve this?" I joke.

"You leave all the time." Liz says in her little five year old sad voice. I stand up picking her up in my arms.

"I'm sorry." I tickle her little stomach and she giggles.

"It's okay." She forgives me. Her eyes brighten up. "Guess what?"

"What?" I smile.

"Mom made chocolate chip cookies."

"Yum." I set her down on the floor. She nods. "Guess I'll have to beat you to them then!"

I run off towards the kitchen.

"Hey, that's not fair Joshy!" She giggles and runs after me.

"Mom, I heard you made your famous chocolate chip cookies."

"Yes, I did." She says with a laugh and turns around with a tray of them. She puts a pot holder on the counter and sets the tray on top.

I grab one, "ow." I yelp and set the cookie back on the tray. "Geesh, that's hot."

"Well, yeah. They just came out of the oven at 375 degrees. That's what you get for not saying hi to me." She laughs. Then walks over to me and kisses my cheek.

Liz grabs a hold of my hand. "That's wasn't fair! I wanted the first cookie!"

"You can still have the first." I pick her up and sit her on the bar stool. So she's almost level with me.

"Yay!" She grabs a cookie. I chuckle and sit beside her.

"Where's dad?"

"He's in his office." Liz says while grabbing another cookie.

"Like always." I mumble and grab a cookie for myself.

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Jayna's P.O.V

I felt like an idiot for flipping out like that in front of Josh. All well he probably hates me.

My mom still hadn't come home so I sit on the couch and read.

I read a passage about hope and how it's really all you have.

Hope, it's the only thing I feel keeping me going.

The front door opens and footsteps lead their way into the living room. Where I currently sit.

"Hey, mom." I smile while looking up. I close my book and set it on the coffee table in front of me.

"Hey, sweet pea. How was your day?" She asks, and sits next me.

"Okay, I guess. How was yours?"

"Good, I got a tiny rasie." A smile forms on her lips. I reach forward and hug her.

"That's great mom!" I exclaim. She hugs me back.

My mom works at the diner in town about four miles down the road. She also works at the gas station. She likes the diner more, obviously.

"I'm proud of you."

"Thanks sweet pea. Shall we celebrate?"

I nod. "How?"

"Britney said she'd give us hot chocolate and freshly fried french fries?" She raises her eyebrow.

"Sounds good to me, what are we still here for? I haven't had real food in a while."

She chuckles at my excitement as I jump up off the couch.

"I wouldn't call hot chocolate and french fries "real food"." She points out.

I grab my sweater out of the coat closet. I slip it on. "Okay, fine. It's been awhile since I've had fatty foods. Better?" I laugh.

"Yes," she stands and grabs her keys from the coffee table. She throws her arm around my shoulders. "Ready?"

"I sure am." I say as I slip my beanie on, and adjust my side braid.

We walk out the front door into the crisp, cold air of Colorado's October. Together, as one small family.