Holding On

Chapter Eleven

          I stood there, I was, hmm I don't know the word to describe it, frozen I guess. I knew he was going to ask me out, but I don't know what came over me. I got surprised. Joey said, "it's fine. I understand..." I interrupted him, "NO!!" He looked at me hurt, "no??" I replied, "I mean yes." He asked, "yes??" I smiled, and nodded, "yes, I would love to be your girlfriend." I was flustered, words weren't coming to me. I'm just glad I got my message across.

          Joey leaned forward, and kissed my cheek. It left a tingly feeling as if his lips were still brushing my cheek. Joey was my first boyfriend. I'm glad it was him. Before we walked in, I asked him, "is it okay if I stay the night??" He responded, "yeah, sure. Come on let's go in, Jake is probably worried sick about us, and if you stay out here any longer you'll get sick."

          We both walked in, and I saw Jake sitting on the couch. He wasn't moving, or watching t.v. or reading a book. He was just sitting there staring off into space. I walked over to him, and nudged his shoulder. Jake looked at me, then asked, "why are you wet??" Joey came up behind me, and put his arm around my waist as he spoke, "we had a race, and she lost." Jake smiled at that, then looked over at me. He spoke with a serious tone, "go get cleaned up I don't want you getting sick. Joey go show her where the washroom is, and get her a towel and some clothes."

          It was a one story house, Joey and I walked down the hallway. He walked into a room, which I think is his. He handed me a towel, shorts, and a t-shirt. I spoke up, "um, is it ok if I wash my undergarments, and dry them??" He responded, "when you take them off I'll wash them for you, I'll leave this room so you can take your clothes off. When you're done, wrap the towel around yourself. The washroom is the door across for my bedroom door." After he gave me the instructions, he left like he said he would. I stripped out of my soaked clothes, and wrapped the towel around myself. I went to the washroom, and took a long, hot, soothing shower. When I finished I dried myself off, and wrapped it around myself. I went over to Joey's room. Joey was there placing my undergarments with the other pile of clothes he gave me. He smiled when he saw me standing there. He kissed my forehead, and said, "get dressed, we're waiting in the kitchen for you, babe." I replied, "alright, I'll be right there." When he left, I slipped my clothes on, and dried off my hair.

          I walked into the kitchen, and I saw Jake cooking. That is something I would never have expected to see. I sat down beside Joey, and said, "hey, Jake. What are you making??" He replied, "an omelet." Jake grabbed a plate, and placed the omelet in it, then grabbed the bread from the fridge. He brought both the plate, and bread to the table. Jake handed Joey a piece of bread, then me, then himself. We all ate in silence. I was wondering if mom and dad will let me come live here with them. I looked around. Joey asked me, "what are you looking for??"

          I kept looking around for a bit before speaking up, "where are your parents??" I looked at Jake and Joey. Their faces paled as if they just saw a ghost. Jake spoke up, "they're gone." I mumbled, "sorry, I didn't know." After that no one spoke. We just ate. When we finished eating, I took the plate, and washed it. Joey came up to me, and asked, " do you want to sleep in the spare bedroom, or in the same bed as me??" I said, " I'll sleep with you." He kissed my forehead, and smiled, "alright, thank you."

          It felt good to see Joey smile. I dried off the plate, and put it in the cupboard. I turned away from the sink, ready to go to Joey's room. But Jake was still sitting at the table. I sat in the chair beside him, and he turned towards me, and said, "thank you for making Joey happy again. Ever since mom and dad died he would just lock himself up. He only left his room when he needed to." I smiled, and replied, "I'd do anything to help. Oh, you don't have to answer this, but how did your parents die??" He sighed, and said, "they were diagnosed with cancer when he was 11. They only had 5 months left, but they died way sooner than they should have. Go to bed, Joey is waiting for you." With that he left, I stood up, and walked to Joey's room.

His door was already open so I let myself in. I walked to his bed, and lied down next to him. He pulled me into a hug, and kissed my forehead. He mumbled, "good night." We both hugged for a while. I didn't notice when I fell asleep.