Fire

Chapter 10

~Jake's POV~

As soon as my alarm clock rings for 3am, I hop out of bed and put on my exercise pants, gym shoes, and leave, forgetting my shirt completely not really caring. I stretch, then run out of my room, down the hall, down the stairs, through the living room, and out the door.

While running at this hour, I always take this time to think and go over what I'll do when I get back home or when I get to school. But right now, all I can think about is Stephanie and how much fun we had to together. But sometimes when I'd take her out on a date she always seemed guarded, actually most of the time. I never really noticed until she said there was a reason she was always like that around me.

I think about it over and over again, until I run right into a stop sign. I stagger back and end up falling on the ground, cupping my nose. I guess the universe decided I deserved that after breaking Stephanie's heart.

"Oh my god, are you okay," a high pitched voice asks, and I automatically know who it is.

"I'm fine Taylor," I say, my voice muffled by my hand.

I pull my hand away from my face and see blood smeared on my palms and feel warm liquid trickling down my face.

"That is a lot if blood," she says, looking at me worriedly.

I look up at her blonde hair, light skin, and brown eyes. I see sincerity, but...I just-

"We should get you cleaned up," she helps me up.

"I'm fine," I say slowly.

"I see the blood pouring from your face, and I beg to differ," she purses her lips together, "come on," she drags me toward her house and I really wish I hadn't come out for a run.

When we get to her door, she unlocks it and drags me to her kitchen.

She pushes me in a chair and points a finger at me.

"Don't move," she says.

I frown as she walks away.

When she comes back, she has a white box in her hands with a lot of paper towels.

She sets everything down on the table and wets the paper towels.

"Now, stay still," she orders as she dabs the blood away. She is just inches from my face and I see the focus she is taking in cleaning my face.

When all the blood is gone, she tosses the napkins in the trash and washes her hands.

"I'm sorry by the way," she says.

"For what," I ask, going over to wash my hands too.

"For ruining your relationship, I had no idea you...loved her," she says it like it almost kills her.

"Well I did," I frown. I dry my hands on the leftover paper towels.

"But you don't love her now," she asks.

"Yes I still love her," I now know what she was getting at, "and I know what you're thinking, and it will never happen Taylor. You'll just use me to get back at her, and I don't like being used," I say, "thank you for cleaning my nose," then I leave before she can say anything that'll make me feel guilty for turning her down like that.

As I walk back down the street to my house, I hear noises, strange noises. Like a dog walking along the sidewalk, but much...bigger. Then I hear faint laughing, which aggregates me.

"Whoever is out there, this isn't funny. Get out here so I can kick your ass," I yell, but no one comes out.

Oh well, must have been my imagination.