Take The Chance (A Limitless Novel) [Book 1]

Thirteen

The sound of the studio door opening pulled me from the game I was playing on my phone. I looked up to the TV, The Simpsons were still on but it was the last episode before Teen Wolf came on. I turned around on the couch and listened as the three boys piled out.

"I really thought you'd lost it man," Dean grinned, walking out first and disappearing. He was getting his coat out of the cupboard, and Caleb followed him.

"I'm thinking that could be the next single," Caleb's mischievous voice said. I looked over to Jake, finding that he was watching me. The side of his mouth was turned up, a small smile sitting on his face. I didn't know how to react, was I let off the hook for whatever I had done? He seemed to be pretty happy, his eyes smiling at me from across the room.

"I'll see you guys later?" Jake said, making it sound like a question rather than a goodbye.

My phone began to buzz in my hand, drawing my attention away from the three boys. I looked down at the caller ID, thanking Jake for acquiring a Sim Card for me which worked in England. I frowned at my phone, recognising the number calling me easily.

I jumped up from the couch, heading into the kitchen as I answered the phone.

"Hello?" I asked, wondering if this was a prank call.

"Matilda, is that you love?" my mother's worried voice came down the other side of the phone. I rolled my eyes; she had called my phone and then asked if it was me.

"Yes mother," I sighed, knowing that this was only going to end badly. If my father got on the phone, then I was definitely going to receive a massive lecture. I didn't know what I'd deserved to have Jake ignore me for two days and my parents call me, but it must have been seriously horrible.

"I just wanted to know if you were going to be home for Christmas. You're father is a stubborn man and you know he wont apologise, but it would mean a lot to both of us if you came home," she rambled on, and I knew exactly what she meant. She didn't expect me to have this job very long, she wanted me home for good. She is making sure that she can set a place for me at Christmas, but she is also making sure that I'm going to give up this fantasy.

"I don't know mum," I sighed, realising that Christmas was in just over a month. Where had the time gone?

"Matilda, be serious darling. You need to get a real, stable job," my mother sighed; I wanted to hang up on her so badly. She was irritating me, adding to the anger I was bottling up.

"This is a real job mum, I'm sorry you don't see that," I gritted out through my teeth. I took my face away from my phone and looked down at it, before I hung up on her. We couldn't even talk for three minutes.

"Who was that?" Jake's voice asked, startling me out of my thoughts. I turned around, finding him sitting on one of the bar stools at the kitchen bench. He looked back at me, his eyes warm and happy, his forehead completely crease free and his mouth lifted up in his half smile. I felt my heart pick up, butterflies forming in my stomach at the sight of him.

I wanted to be annoyed with him, I wanted it so badly, but the way he was looking at me was enough to melt me. He seriously was perfect, whether he was talking to me or not. I may have completely forgiven him with just one happy look from him, but I wasn't going to let him know that. He was going to have to grovel in order to have me happy again.

"It talks!" I exclaimed with fake excitement, before I narrowed my eyes and him and began to walk out of the kitchen. I was impressed with my willpower, I'd almost sounded harsh towards Jake.

I was almost in the dining room, when a hand gripped my arm and turned me around. Stopping me in my tracks. I looked down at Jake's hand, my breathing catching in my throat at heat radiating through my body.

"I'm sorry I've been a dick for the past couple of days," he sighed, dropping his hand away from my arm and getting up from the bar stool. I breathed in sharp breaths, still reeling from the touch. I was actually insane.

"Why have you been ignoring me?" I whispered, unable to trust my voice at all. "Are you going to fire me?" I questioned, my mind jumping to the worst conclusion possible. I didn't want to leave, I just wanted everything to go back to normal between Jake and I.

"Of course not," Jake scoffed, like it was the stupidest question ever asked. "I just get really focused when I'm writing a song, but I'm sorry that meant I turned into an asshole," he sighed, always able to read my mind.

"You know you could have still been nice to me," I pointed out, knowing that I could accept the apology and move on. However, I didn't want to do that because I didn't want Jake to get off so easily.

"I know, I'm really sorry. Can I make it up to you?" he asked, taking my hands in his and pulling the most adorable puppy face. He was grovelling, really begging me to forgive him now.

"Is Jackson Owens pulling the puppy face?" I asked, unable to hide the smile that my lips formed.

"I was hoping you would let me take you out for dinner," he smiled, letting go of my hands. My body went instantly cold, his warmth no longer igniting every nerve ending in me.

I was hopeless, a complete and utter mess. One cute look from Jake, and a pretty crappy excuse, and I was already back under his spell. He could have taken me anywhere or gotten me to do anything, I was completely stupid for him.

"Is that a good idea with all the rumours?" I asked, wondering how much attention we would get if we went out for dinner. I could just see the headlines now, 'He really is cheating!! Jackson Owens caught out yet again'. I shuddered at the thought. I didn't want our friendship to cause him more harm than necessary, I didn't want to ruin his relationship with his girlfriend.

"I'll meet you back here in ten," he said, ignoring my question and looking down at my shorts and band top. I would definitely need to change if we were braving the cold outside.

"Is this casual? Or should I wear a dress?" I asked, pulling my eyebrows together through sheer curiosity. I was so glad to have normal Jake back, so much so that I was willing to jump through hoops for him.

"I'm not changing," he smiled, gesturing to theblack jeans and plain white t-shirt he was wearing. So it was casual. I noddedmy head, giving him a small smile, before I set off up stairs to get changed.