Back Again: A Love Story

Chapter 2

The feeling of waking in your own home is practically indescribable. Same goes for the feeling of taking a hot shower and bathing in it until your skin turns pruney. And the feeling of the seeing that boy in your kitchen as you make your way upstairs for breakfast. Absolutely indescribable. 

I stood on the edge of the basement steps, quickly recalling my appearance before I deemed it fit to proceed. He was there, in my kitchen, consequently looking as if he owned the place. Just like he did in high school. Simple slacks adorned his body, as well as a stylish, light blue button-up. I mentally crossed my fingers hoping that the first few buttons were undone, letting a bit of his chest show.

I then proceeded to mentally slap myself in the face for thinking that. Because at that precise moment he turned around and saw me.

I must look ridiculous in his eyes, like a wet, brown-haired, ragged-looking teenager or a desperate puppy in need of love. He just stood there, staring. I wanted to shout at him, tell him that I hadn't changed that much from high school to college, that I hadn't miraculously grown three heads over night or gained fifty pounds. But did I voice my thoughts? No, of course not. Did I stare right back? Yes. Yes I did.

He finally opened his mouth, but no words came out, so I filled him in. "Jake?" I questioned, gesturing to the spatula he had in hand and the pan he had on the stove top.

He must have been taken aback by my sudden forwardness. That had been one thing I lost when I had ever talked to him at school. My ability to speak my opinion, or just to speak in general. "Hey, uh, I was just making some breakfast for, uh..." he trailed off, looking more confused then ever.

I took a couple steps into the kitchen, walking lightly over to the fridge, as if finding a man in my kitchen was seemingly normal. But finding a man that had been trailing my mind like a bee to honey was practically commonplace. "Who were you making it for?" I asked, digging through the drawers of the fridge in search of anything to eat. In reality, I was trying to avoid his stare and the inevitable; me saying something stupid.

"Me!" said a new voice echoing through the kitchen. I stood back from the fridge and looked at my sister. Of course she looked beautiful and care-free with blonde hair flowing beautifully around her shoulders. Of course she looked like she just stepped out off a runway and into my wet-as-a-dog world where I didn't seem to care about personal appearance. "You really need to change, Bea," Susan said, scrunching her nose up in disgust.

Ignoring her comment I proceeded to not let my imagination take this certain scenario further, allowing both of them the benefit of the doubt. "What's Jake doing here?"

Jake whipped his head up from the eggs, his cheeks flaming. "I, uh-"

"He's my boyfriend, Bea. Duh."

That's when I stepped into the fridge, again, and continued to look for something to eat. I need to look bored or-or uncaring! Yes! That's it! I will pretend to not care in the least. Maybe then my heart will stop breaking in half. I pulled out of the fridge in time to see my sister kiss Jake on the lips and Jake wrap his arms around her dainty waist. That's when I felt my heart break. Not in half either- into a million, tiny pieces.

"So how long have you been dating?" I finally asked. I sat at the kitchen absently staring at the coffee in my hands, praying for it to mend my love life. The brown, murky liquid stared back at me, taunting me with it's inviting aroma. Only to have bitterness sweep through my mouth. 

Jake cleared his throat and shoved some of the eggs around Susan's plate. She had given them back to him as he handed them to her saying that her diet called for no eggs. I had laughed and asked if she had recently turned vegan, because we all know how she can't stay away from her ribs. In return I got a death glare and a mental go to hell from her. "Seven months, give or take." He finally answered.