Back Again: A Love Story

Chapter 5

I honestly couldn't believe what he was telling me. Then, without a second thought I agreed to go. Go with my sister's boyfriend to a retreat.  "What exactly do I have to do?" 

I should just write my own death wish or stab a fork in my eye. Or both. 

Jake looked up at me, his eyes searching my face for something I couldn't place. "To act like my girlfriend for a few days. Hold my hand, make annoying pet names," he sighed. "The usual shit."

Opening my mouth to question him about what exactly "usual shit" is, he interrupted me. "Will Kyle mind?" A puzzled look crossed my face. Kyle? Why would he mind? Unless- "No, no of course not!" I answered quickly.

Jake watched me, an amused amirk playing on his lips. "Oh, he won't?" He inquired, teasing me. "What a shitty boyfriend."

I glared at him. "Ya know, I don't have to do this for you. In fact," I wondered aloud. "I might be busy that weekend," I finished, throwing him a smirk of my own. Take that, meathead. 

"I haven't told you the weekend, dumbass."

I flashed an innocent smile. "I think I'm busy. Maybe-"

Jake took a step towards me. "I'm sorry, Bea." Another step. "Forgive me."

And for the life of me, I knew he was bullshitting me. I knew it. I knew it. I knew it. I stepped forward, our chests barely brushing together. "I suppose..." 

Jake leaned forward, our lips seperated by a couple inches. "Please?" He teasingly begged. 

His proximity was throwing my body in every direction. My brain told me to leave, my heart told me to kiss him, my legs said to run as fast as fuckin' possible and my arms begged me to wrap them around his broad shoulders. 

Dammit.

"Y-yes." I finally whimpered out, too distracted by his full lips to chatise myself for sounding like a virgin. "Yes," I said again with more conviction.

Jake's gaze dropped to my lips. "Yes." He repeated, slowly leaning forward.

I could feel his breath on my lips.

And the heat from his chest.

And god knows what else, but I felt it.

"Okay!" I yelled, pushing away from him. "I have to g-go, uh. Just let me know the details. Okay?"

Jake took a step back from me, running his hand through his hair. "Y-yeah. I'll text you." Then he turned away from me and started towards the stairs.

"Jake?" 

He turned back around and looked at me. He looked tired and worn out, like he hadn't slept for days. "You don't have my number," I said softly.

A glare hardened over his eyes and his tiredness easily formed into anger. "I'll get it from Susan," he bit out before turning back around and leaving.

I watched his back down the stairs, wondering what on earth had just happened. 

"Beaaaa! Did I ever tell you-"

"No."

"How bout when-"

"No."

"Are you sure-"

"Yep."

"Positive?"

I glanced over at Susan, holding back a laugh. "Yeah, Suz, I am."

She propped her head up on her hand and leaned forward, lazily. "Figures," she mutters. "I never remember to talk about the important stuff."

I shoot her a look from the corner of my eye, biting my bottom lip. "Are you ever gonna tell me?"

Suz sits up, straighter than before, and looks me in the eye. "It's a serious matter, Bea."

I can't take you seriously.

"Okay," I whisper, my voice coming out a bit sobered. "Why don't we get something to drink first? Loosen up a bit, k?"

She nods her head, and looks down. By god, this might actually be serious. 

"Here, Suze," I say and lay my hand out for her to give me the keys. "I'll drive." She nodded her head and followed me out the door of the house, from which I made a beeline to the nearest, and most favorite, bar in town.

"And sooooo he told me that I was a bitch and walked-" Susan stumbled a little bit on the sidewalk, "out," she burped. Then giggled.

Her hair was in an absolute dissarray and she was shit-drunk. Practically to the point that I might need to carry her to the car... after she passes out. "Aren't ya gonna ask why he called me a bitch, Bea?"

The he she was referring to happened to be the same man that asked me to act as his girlfriend in two weeks. I found out later from a text I got, RETREAT IN 2 WKS -JAKE. Susan giggled again, not waiting for a response. "Cause I am!" She wailed and grapped onto my arm, successfully dragging me down with her. "I'm a bitch," she whispered.

Can't say I disagree, bitch.

"Get off, Susan. You're piss drunk and I don't wanna take care of you," I all but yelled at her. I wanted to tell her that talking about him made me anxious because- believe it or not- the feelings I thought I had long ago buried are digging their way to the surface. 

Susan stopped walking then, glaring at me with glassy eyes. "Fine," she whispered. "I'll call m-my boyfriend." Her cellphone glowed against her face as she tapped in his number. "Jake?" She asked and fell onto the sidewalk, whimpering into the phone. 

And right then, I really, really, really wanted to shout, "STOP TALKING ABOUT HIM OR MY HEAD WILL EXPLODE AND BURN YOUR FACE!" but instead, I remained somewhat calm and walked ahead of her. I wasn't about to take care of a drunk sister, a fighting couple and my resurfacing feelings. Nope, forget about fucking with that. I turned around ready to pick her up and take her home, like a god damn good sister should when-

"Susan?"

And there he was in all his beautiful, striking, breath-taking glory, looking worried for his girlfriend and how she was awkwardly laying on the sidewalk. Then his gazed turned to me. Blue eyes blazed to a near black and cut a knife through my heart. "What the hell, Bea?! What the fuck did you to her?"

Well.

Fuck.