Falling...into the Dark.

11

Alice

We reached home finally. I knew it will not be easy explaining them things. I somehow told them the entire thing. They listened patiently.
"Okayyy so our best friend is now a best friend of Jake Brian" Mel said.
"Just a friend" I corrected.
"Yeah like you call baby doll to just a friend" Case rolled her eyes.
"Whatever" I rolled my eyes too.
"Okay let's check your gifts" Mel grabbed the bag Max gave while case took the box that Jake had given.
Mel opened Max's gift. It was a hard disk with few music CDs.
"Typically Max" Mel shrugged.
"I like it..." I smiled.
Case opened Jake's gift. It was a dress. Black dress. It was lovely.
"Woah it's so sexy man" Case screamed.
"This guy surely knows what to gift" Mel said.
"Lucky Bianca" case said.
"He must be probably now with her..in bed" Mel said and they both giggled.
I did not find it funny. It made me feel sick. I slept off. My mood was ruined for the day.

Monday morning

Sunday was gone in just staying home with them and watching movies. Jake and I didn't talk much. He must be with his girlfriend..Sunday after all.
I walked into the college with a weird feeling. Don't know whether Jake even remembers me or not. I was keeping books in the locker when my phone rang. It was Jake's. His name on the screen was enough to make me smile.
"Hi Jake"
"Hey baby doll where are you?"
"In the school..was just going to the class"
"Oh great..come to the parking lot...am waiting"
"Why?"
"We are going somewhere"
"You are bunking school?"
"Nope..we are bunking school"
"Jake I have never bunked school"
"Well there's always a first time...now come on"
"Okay"
I didn't want to bunk school but spending the day with him was a tempting offer.
I walked to the parking lot..he was leaning on to his car waiting for me looking all jakish.
He opened the door and I got it in.
"Where are we going?" I asked as he started the car.
"Surprise" he winked.
The rest of the drive was silent.
"How was your history test?" I asked breaking the silence.
"Good actually..all cause of you"
"Oh no..it was you"

I read the sign board as he parked near a small house like cottage. It read willow old age home.
"Why are we here?" I asked.
"To meet my family" he smiled.
Family? Here? Weird.
We entered the house. An old lady looked at Jake and came to hug him.
"I didn't expect you on a Monday" she said.
"I want you to meet someone" he said pointing at me.
"Baby doll huh?" She asked.
I was shocked.
"This is aunt willow..she runs this old age home" Jake told me.
"Jake talks a lot about you" aunt willow said hugging me.
I just smiled. I was speechless.
"Come on in" Jake said taking my hand.
We entered a room where there were many old people. All their faces brightened up seeing Jake.
"Hey aunt Rosa..you took your medicine right?" He kissed her hand.
"Yes dear...who is this pretty girl with you?"
"Am Alice" I said before Jake introduces me as 'baby doll'.
"Girlfriend huh?" She winked.
"No aunt...she is my friend..my baby doll" Jake said. That sounded so good man.
We spent time with all of them. They really loved Jake's company. Who will not...he is so amazing.
"You come here often?" I asked getting inside the car.
"Yes almost every Sunday" he said.
"Yesterday you were here?" I asked.
"Yeah the whole day" my inner conscious did a quick dance.
"You look more like a club person"
"Oh no I am not..I do go but only when Tony forces me to"
"Tony is your best friend?"
"He is like a brother...he knows everything about me...like he knows that right now am with you"
"Okay.."
Good to hear that his friends know about his friendship with me. God knows whether Bianca knows.
"Now where are we going?" I questioned.
"You like beaches?"
"I love them"
"Well then you got your answer"
I grinned like a child.

We reached the beach. It was deserted as it was a Monday afternoon. I opened my shoes and walked in the sand. It felt heavenly. I turned around and saw Jake smiling at me.
"What?" I asked.
"Nothing..it's just feels good to see you this way"
"Come join me"
And he did. We sat near the sea quietly.
"You know Jake..you are completely different from what I thought of you.."
"And what did you think of me?"
"Someone who doesn't care about people..selfish..arrogant..spoilt"
"Oh God do I look that bad?" He laughed.
"You have only portrayed such an image of yourself"
"I know"
"Why don't you let anyone see the good in you?"
"Because then they will expect good from me and I don't want to live under such a pressure"
"But you did show me"
"You are different baby doll haven't you realise it yet?"
"Different as in?"
"As in special"
I just smiled. It felt so good. It is my day I guess.
"Did you get the message about the party this weekend?" Jake asked.
"Yeah at Bianca's place" I said.
"So you going?"
"No..not my cup of tea plus it's a costume party...sooo not me"
"Come one you can dress as yourself"
"Like what?"
"Doll..baby doll"
"Okay thinking about that..why do you call me baby doll?"
"Cause you are so innocent just like a baby and you are so pretty just like a doll..so...baby doll"
"Thats a lot of thought you have put in" I laughed.
"So will you come to the party with me?"
"With you?"
"Yeah you got a problem with that?"
"Umm it's weird going to your girlfriend's party with you"
"Whose party?" He asked shocked.
"Bianca your girlfriend.."
He laughed out loud.
"Who said she is my girlfriend?" He asked.
"Everyone..I mean Bianca told to everyone"
"Oh why am I not surprised"
"Tell me.."
"She is not my girlfriend"
"But you are always with her"
"No..we became friends cause my father and her father are very close friends...and I hang out with Tony who happens to be a good friend of Bianca..that's it..we are just normal friends baby doll."
"Oh God such a liar she is"
"Yeah expected from her"
"The whole school thinks that you both are dating"
"The fuck? Why didn't anyone ask me?"
"Girls won't ask you cause they were jealous of Bianca and guys won't cause they envy you"
"Yeah I am the eternal stud after all" he winked.
"Yaa it feels good to be wanted"
He leaned close to me.
"But I prefer being valued"
His breath sent down chills down my spine.
"Good that it got cleared...we really need to know each other well" he said.
"Yeah" I agreed.
"Lets start now..tell me have you dated anyone?"
"Umm no..you?"
"Yeah..only once"
"Then what happened?"
"Life..she cheated on me"
"Oh God am sorry"
"Its fine baby doll..I forgave her"
"You loved her?"
"No that's why I could forgive her..although I was angry because I hate cheaters"
"Yeah me too"
"So you have never gone to a date...tell me what is your idea of a perfect date?"
"Its weird actually"
"You can tell me baby doll"
"I want to dance with the person I love in the middle of a deserted street..just me and him"
"That's actually romantic"
"Yeah am a Jane Austen fan"
"Oh great..literature..you are just my opposite"
"Why..what is your favorite subject?"
"I like economics"
"That's nice"
We spoke for long until it was evening.

"So you are coming with me to the party right?" Jake asked as I got down from his car.
"Okay I will"
I entered home and was so happy to see mom. I gave her a tight hug.
"I missed you so much mom"
"Me too honey"
"How was the trip?"
"Good..by the way your besties are up in your room"
Okay so Mel and Case are here. Interview time for you Alice.
I got into my room.
"Did you bunk school miss mayor?"Case asked.
"Umm yeah"
"And where were you?"
"With Jake" I said
"Oh wow we ask you to bunk a class and you give us murderous glares and here you are bunking school cause of Jake.." Mel narrowed her eyes.
"Okay guys sorry" I said.
"Chill Ally it's good that he is making you normal" Case said.
I rolled my eyes.
"By the way you are going to that costume party?" Mel asked.
"I am actually..Jake kinda asked me to go with him"
"Woah with Bianca's boyfriend!!" Mel screamed.
"They aren't dating"
"Whhhaatt??" They both screamed.
I told them whatever Jake had told me. They have never looked happier.
"We are going to have a lot fun man this weekend" Case winked.
"Yeah" Mel giggled.
Oh God save me from their evil thoughts.

XOXO.