City to Sticks

Chapter Five

5—Holly P.O.V.

I slammed my palms against the steering wheel, which caused the horn to blare and continue blaring, apparently stuck. I closed my eyes, willing the tears away. I'd tried to drive to school and hadn't even made it three feet before flooding the engine. At least I think, that's what they called it, what it meant I had no idea. The driver's side door suddenly opened, so my eyes flew open and Jake suddenly reached between my legs, under the dash, and the blaring horn finally stopped. I sat frozen, unsure what to say or do.

"I'm giving you a ride to school, let's roll." Jake stated and headed for his truck.

I thought about arguing on principle at his bossy tone, but I really couldn't afford to argue and I honestly didn't have the energy. After spilling my pathetic story to Jake last night, I'd been so embarrassed and I'd lain awake for hours before falling into a fitful sleep. I didn't feel like myself this morning. So I silently crawled into the passenger seat of Jake's truck, which was remarkably clean. I was quickly learning that Jake was full of surprises.

We rode to school in silence, but it wasn't awkward. A delicious scent filled the inside of the truck and I realized that scent was Jake. He wore cologne and I realized it wasn't the first time I was detecting the scent. When Jake parked, I exited the truck just when Jake reached my door. He frowned, "I was coming around to open your door for you."

I was about to comment about his gentlemanly behavior, when I heard a high-pitched, whiny voice say, "Jakey, I called you yesterday, but you never called me back."

Jake sighed and we turned to see a tall, blond girl. Jake didn't act enthused when he said, "Hey Wendy, I was busy yesterday."

I wanted to tell her that he was busy with me, but that was stupid of me. Jake wasn't my boyfriend. I had no claim to him. I just didn't like the predatory look in his girl's eyes when she looked at him. Again, though, it was none of my business, so I did the only thing I could do. I walked away. I hadn't made it far when two guys intercepted me. One was tall and too skinny. He wouldn't make eye contact with me. The other wore a flirty grin, had blond hair, sparkling blue eyes, and was about my height. I recognized them as Jake's friends. Neither were bad looking, but Jake had them beat by a mile. I almost rolled my eyes at the way my mind instantly compared these two to Jake.

"We saw you arrive with Jake so thought we'd introduce ourselves. My name is Granger and this is Davis. We're Jake's best friends." The blond one said.

I wasn't sure what to say. Congratulations? I was saved from answering when Jake suddenly appeared, "What are you doing, Granger?"

"What? Can't I introduce myself to your girlfriend?" Granger asked defensively.

My eyes widened and Jake sighed, "She's not my girlfriend."

Granger's grin turned wolfish and he asked me, "So are you free tonight?"

"No!" Jake yelled and then looked a little embarrassed. Granger smirked, telling me that he was trying to get Jake wound up for some reason. Even quiet Davis snickered. Jake sighed, "Holly, may I speak to you a moment?"

"Uh..." Was all I managed to get out before Jake took my elbow and pulled me around the building and behind some bushes. I backed against the building, watching Jake wearily.

He rubbed the back of his neck, "Look, I know I don't have any right to make demands, but I don't want you to date anyone while you're here."

My eyes widened and I asked, confused, "While I'm here?"

He nodded, "Yes, I imagine in no time at all, you'll get your fill of country life and you'll head back to Chicago. In the meantime, I...I can't watch you date someone else, ok?"

I felt my anger start to rise, but I held it in check while I clarified, "So, let me get this straight. You don't want to date me, but you don't want me dating anyone else either?"

"Wait, what? I didn't say that I..."

I stopped listening and walked away, "Granger?"

"Yes, beautiful?" Granger asked, smiling.

"Pick me up at seven tonight." I tell him and watch his eyes go wide, as he looks at something behind me.

I turn to find Jake glaring at me. He suddenly smiled evilly, "Why don't we make it a double date? Wendy! I'm free tonight after all."

Wendy, seemingly from out of nowhere, skipped over with a beaming smile that I wanted to slap right off her face. Where did this stupid jealous rage come from? Wait, jealous? That just made me mad. Holly Gomes did not get jealous. I wanted to send Jake a killer glare, but instead I plastered a smile on my face and said, "Great! Double date it is!"

Jake said, "Since Holly and I are coming from out of town, why don't the two of us meet you guys at the movie theatre? Alright, Granger and I have to get to class now."

I watched as he dragged Granger away, non-to-gently, with Davis on their heels. I shook my head in confusion. What the hell did I get myself involved in? I didn't want to date Granger. Jake just made me so mad and when I'm mad I sometimes have the bad habit of reacting without thinking of the consequences.

"He's mine, you know?" Wendy suddenly blurted. Her whiny, sickeningly sweet tone of voice was gone. It has been replaced with a threatening tone.

I frowned, "Who?"

She glared, "Cut the crap. I know you have feelings for Jake, I'm not blind, but you should know that he's mine. We've shared some very intimate moments if you know what I mean?"

I frowned, wanting to throw up at the thought of Jake sleeping with this girl. Maybe he wasn't who I thought he was after all, if he could jump into bed with someone like her. Wendy was clearly fake and underneath it all, she was a nasty human being. I shook my head and said sadly, "Jake is all yours."

I then walked away and vowed to stop thinking about that jerk. Where does he get off telling me who I can or cannot date? What the hell did he mean when he said he couldn't watch me date anyone else? I felt like I was missing something and now I would be stuck watching him on a date with that witch, Wendy. This was going to be a miserable evening. My pride wouldn't let me cancel, however, so I was stuck.

Hopefully, Granger didn't think he'd be getting lucky. I was actually still a virgin. The most Kyle and I had done was a heavy make out session. I knew he wanted to go further, but he reassured me that he was fine with waiting until I was ready. My anger boiled up all over again at the thought. Sure, he'd been willing to wait. How many whores did he have on the side, I now wondered? Shit, I was so not in the mood for a date tonight, but I'd have to suck it up. Granger didn't seem like a bad guy. So I'd try to have a good time with him, because it wasn't his fault that I currently had a low open of the entire male species. Again, I had to ask myself, what had I gotten myself into?