We're Not Related Anymore...

Romance Movie Montage

Maddie: Three Years Ago

Halfway through our hot makeout session, I get a call from my dad asking me where I am. I put the phone on speaker and he explains that Lilian has calmed down and wants us to come home so that no one has to worry anymore. We do as he asks and I drive us home, while Jacob refuses to let go of my hand as I do so. 

True to his word, the house is calm by the time we walk through the front door. 

"Lilian's in our room. I'll let her know you've come back but I'd suggest you give her a bit of space," my dad says when he spots us coming in. 

"Ok," Jacob says. Somehow, the day has run away without us realizing it. When I look out the window, I find the sun setting in the distance. "I'm going to head to my room. I'm beat," Jacob says without waiting for a response. 

Before I can follow him upstairs, my dad crooks his finger at me and motions for me to follow him into Lilian's- I mean his- study. 

He allows me to sit in his swivel chair while he leans against the desk. "Give me the down low. What did you find out from Jacob?" 

"Uh..." I doubt he wants to know that he's a really good kisser. Or that before he called, Jacob had started undoing his jeans. "He's just frustrated," I say trying not to think about what happened in the passenger seat in his car. Right now, I'm also frustrated, just for a different reason. "I think he wants to be close to us and feels hurt that no one gets that."

"That's all?" My dad asks dubiously. "There's nothing else that would explain his behavior?" 

"That's all he told me," I say. What other reason does he need? I start to swivel the chair back and forth. It annoys my dad and he puts a hand out to stop the movement. 

"Is he on drugs?" He suddenly asks and I sputter out a laugh.

"Jacob? The only drugs I've seen him take are aspirin. Why would you think that?" I ask, and glance up at my dad. He pinches the bridge of his nose and shrugs. 

"I don't know... he's been moody and at first Lilian and I thought it had something to do with our marriage. But he seemed to get better after you guys came back from your trip together. I thought it was just stress but now this... it's kind of irrational." Well, when he puts it like that... deciding to give up an Ivy League school to go to a community college does seem a little strange. But who are they to judge? Jacob should go to whatever school he wants to. 

"I guess..." I say, looking at the row of bookshelves in his office instead of at him. "Well, it's been a long day. I think I'm also going to have an early night," I say and stand up. The thought of a nice long read before heading to bed sounds amazing right now. 

"OK, thanks for letting me know everything, sweetheart. I hope you have a nice night," my dad says as he leads me back out of the office. 

I'm only a little surprised to find Jacob already in my room when I get there.

"What are you doing here?" I ask, locking my door so that no one can come in. "Do you have a death wish or something?" 

"I opened your other birthday gift. Very nice," He says smirking and I snatch the pictures he's brought in here. 

"Yeah, well, I hope you looked long and hard because I'm burning them now," I say, scrunching the one I've grabbed in my hand. 

"Yeah, that's not happening," he says, grabbing back the pictures and crushing me to his chest. He angles my head for another kiss but I put my hands out to stop him. 

"Jacob..." I whisper. "Not while we're at home." Despite everything, my words bring a smile to his face. 

"So you're not going to end things again?" He asks, his voice quiet as he gazes into my eyes.