Vine Love-Book One

Chapter 17

When school came back in session, things were back to normal: Jacob put blue sticky notes on my locker everyday, I messed around with my friends, and Jacob and I hung out almost everyday.

One day after school, Jacob and I plus our friends all hung out at his house.

"I hate school so much!" said Harry, one of Jacob's friends.

"I know, same!" said Veronica. "I wish it could stay winter break forever." We all laughed, agreeing. Then Becca turned to me and Jacob.

"So, how is it between you two?" she asked, her eyebrows raised. My face got warm. I knew where this was leading to: the secret. I never told my friends that he doesn't know yet, even after the incident at the Halloween party.

"We're good." I said quickly, giving her a look.

"Oh." said Becca surprised. "I just thought that maybe after the Halloween party, when you told him--""Look," Jacob said, cutting her off. I sighed, relieved that my secret wasn't blown. "It's over with now. I know now that she was only keeping the secret because it was a gift she was giving me. It's really no big deal; that was months ago."Becca raised her eyebrows at me. I bit my lip, avoiding her eye contact. "Oh, of course." she said, sarcasm in her voice. "A gift."

The snow began to melt as Spring came around. Once April hit things started to change. Our family started talking about packing things up and trying to get our old house back in New York. I knew I had to tell Jacob soon, but I didn't know how. But one day in school...

I was sitting bored in my last class next to Hailey. We were both talking about me moving soon.

"Do you know when?" she asked. I looked around, spotting Jacob halfway across the room. He wouldn't be able to hear us talking.

"The week after school ends." I said glumly. She sighed.

"I can't believe it!" she said loudly. My eyes widened. Jacob might hear her.

"Shh!" I said. "Quiet!"
"No!" she said. I bit my lip. "My best friend is moving! What am I gonna do this summer!"

"Quiet!" I said louder.

"Doesn't matter if she quiet." said a voice behind me. My head whipped around to find Jacob standing behind me, a tear dripping down his face. "I heard every word of it."

"Jacob--" I began to say, but he stormed out of the classroom. The bell rang seconds afterwards. I sprang out of my chair, leaving everything behind. I ran down the hallways.

"Jacob!" I yelled. It was raining outside, the ground slippery outside. I saw Jacob ten feet away. He turned around.

His eyes were wet, and not from the rain. If stormed back to me, anger in his face.

"You're moving?!" he yelled, his voice cracking. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I'm sorry!" I pleaded. I began to cry. "I should've told you when I found out, but I didn't know how--"
"When did you find out?" he asked livid. I avoided his eyes. "Oh my gosh. When?!"

"October." I said quietly.
"October?!" he yelled. People began filing out of the school, looking at Jacob screaming. "It's been MONTHS?!"

"I'm sorry!" I yelled.

"The Halloween party." he said, almost to himself. "That's what the real secret was, wasn't it?" I nodded, tearing spilling out of my eyes, the rain dragging my hair down.

"You've known for MONTHS that you were moving. When were you going to tell me?!" he shouted. I hated seeing him like this.
"I don't know--"
"Were you going to tell me the week before you moved? 'Oh yeah, by the way Jacob, I'm moving.'" he said mocking me.

"I'm sorry!" was all I could say.

"No Alice, sorry doesn't cut it." he said.

"What do you mean?" I said.

"We're done!" Jacob said. He stormed off in the rain. I cried, that was all I could do.