Coincidentally Fated

Chapter 21

We talked the whole time, until it our shift was over. I asked questions, he answered them and vise versa. It was the first time I felt this about a guy. Especially a guy like Jake. The store was warm and quiet, except for the occasional giggles from the storage room. These few hours were actually nice. I got to see a partof the Jake i never knew before. Who knew he loved animals and was afraid of the dark? The experience was comfortable and familiar at the same time. When I talked to him earlier, I suddenly remembered my childhood friend. They had the same name, but their personality was way different. I remember my childhood with him, playing in the swings and chasing dragonflies and butterflies during the summer. Now this new Jake came and I couldn't stop thinking about him.

"Earth to Lily. Hey why are you so spaced out suddenly?" a voice suddenly interrupts my thoughts.

I snap out of my thoughts and face him again.

"Oh nothing. Just thinking about my childhood friend."

He tilts his head,

"And who would that be?" he asks curiously.

"This guy named Jake Stuart. His mom used to work for my family and he was my bestfiend."

Jake stays quiet for a few seconds. I wave my hands at his face.

"Hey are you okay. You just spaced out right now," I ask.

His sea green eyes pierce into mine and a scene flows into my mind.

10 years ago...........................................

"Come one Jake, lets go climb the apple tree today and pick apples." I say excitedly.

He was sitting on the porch with a grim look on his face. Next to him was an empty basket waiting for apples to be picked and placed into the woven basket.

I squat down next to him and nudge his arm playfully.

"Come one lets go play."

He moves a couple of inches away from me, making my arm fall to my side.

"Not today Lily, I'm not in the mood,"

"Why aren't you in a good mood Jake?"

"I don't want to talk about it,"

"Come on Jake you can tell me,"

I nudge him and poke him on the shoulder.

He shakes his head and I finally notice that he was crying. Why was he crying?Jake never cried. I sit next to him and pat his shoulder without making a sound.

"Never mind. You don't have to tell me. " I mumble.

I place my hand on his hand and squeeze gently trying to reassure him. I felt bad. That I was teasing him and making him even more worse.

Finally after a few minutes, he turns his head and stares at me with his dark sea green eyes. He looks as if he can see though my soul and starts talking.

"I found out today why my parents split up. I thought they didn't love each other anymore and that's why they got divorced."

"That's not the real reason?" I ask softly intrigued that he was telling me all this.

"No it wasn't. My dad's family didn't want them to get married and tried to stop them. My mom was forced to leave my dad and had to make money to raise money. I found out today that my dad died from cancer."

"Oh," I say shocked about this news.

"Did- did you get to see your dad before he left?"

He shock his head frowning.

"I-I didn't even get to say good bye. I didn't know he was sick all this time. I could have spent time with him before he left. Now I don't have any memories of him."

I pat his shoulder again.

"It's not your fault Jake. You're dad must of understood that it wasn't your fault that you couldn't visit him. Don't be sad ok?"

" it is my fault. If I wasn't born. Then my parents would still be together."

"Don't say that..........."