Love Exchange (Paused)

Chapter 3 : Old Memory

I got in to the plane, I sat beside a girl with brown hair who was reading Nylon Magazine. I wore Jake's sweater and it felt so warm in my body. I could sense his familiar smell,  Eternity by Calvin Klein. I put out my favorite book from my bag, I haven't known what Augustus Waters would do for Hazel. I thought he would ask her for vacation to Amsterdam and meet Peter Van Houten. I started reading the book and I sensed the girl beside me was staring at my book. I beamed at her,

"Is that a book by John Green?" she queried as she smiled at me.

"Oh yes, The Fault in Our Stars." I smiled.

"It's a good book, anyone loves it. I'm Carrie" she introduced herself as she gave her right hand asking for shaking hand.

"I'm Amanda. Are you going to New York?" I shook her hand.

"All the passengers here are going to New York, Amanda. You're funny" she chuckled.

'Oh yeah, what a stupid question. blah'

"Maybe you'll go somewhere besides New York afterwards," I pleaded.

"I'm going to Manhattan because school starts tomorrow, what about you?" She queried.

"What a coincidence, me either.."

"Oh.. um so are..." 

"But I'm not a New Yorker." I interrupted.

"Oh you're moving to New York?" she queried as she raised her eyebrows.

"I'm an exchange student. I'll stay in Manhattan only for a year." I explained shortly

"I'm amazed. Congratulations, knowing you're gonna stay in Manhattan. We should hang somewhere together." She suggested as she closed her Nylon Magazine

"Good idea! I'd love to, mind to share your number?" I asked in case if I need her help someday.

"Sure."

We shared our numbers to each other. I continued reading The Fault In Our Stars book and Carrie fell asleep while she was listening to music using her headphones. I kept smelling Jake's sweater and I wondered what he would say to me in the airport.

*JAKE'S POV*

I waved at her but she didn't wave me back. I could see the disappoinment expression in her face. I wondered why she looked like that. If we had more than 5 minutes, I would tell her everything what I had been feeling to her. She had been being my best friend since kindergarten but I wanted to be more than just friend for her. I wanted to be with her for a lifetime. I wanted to protect her and always be there for her. I felt tears dropped on my chest and I'm sure enough she cried. I wondered, "does she feel the same way? does she love me like the way I love her?" 

I walked out from the airport. When I was walking towards the exit gate, somebody grabbed my hand behind. I immediately looked at someone who grabbed my hand.

"Jake?" she looked surprised as she held my hand

"Excuse me?" I frowned

"How can you forget me? I'm Jessie, your classmate in 7th grade." she explained with smile

"Oh Jessie! It's been awhile, how are you?" I queried straight to the point

"I'm good. How about you, Jake?" she asked me back.

"Yes, I'm fine. What are you doing in Adelaide?" 

"I'm moving back to Australia again, my father had done with his work in England. I really miss my hometown and friends here." 

"Really? Nice. Where's your family?"

"They haven't got here yet, they're still in England. They will be here tomorrow or the next day because busy. Drew, my little brother will stay in England until he finish his school in elementary."

"Where's your destination now?" 

"I have no idea, the first thing I gotta do is place my suitcases to my house. I'm looking for a cab."

"I brought a car here, you can get on a ride with me."

"What a nice of you. Thanks Jake"

It had been awhile, I hadn't met Jessie. She's gorgeous, she has light brown hair, perfect brown eyes and flawless skin. I had a crush on her once but it was faded since I knew she dated a guy named Kyle. Kyle was the most popular guy in middle school. I was only nobody. 

We walked out the exit gate and I helped Jessie pushing her trolley to the parking lot. I opened the trunk of my car and put it all in. We both got in to the car and I started driving her home.

***

We finally arrived in Jessie's house. I helped her bringing her suitcases out of my trunk. She had a nice big house. I put down her suitcase in her white bedroom, everything's white and elegant. Jessie is a one rich girl but she likes simplicity. We walked to the living room and she went to the bar beside the living room.

"Wanna drink?" She asked as she looked for an empty glass

"I don't drink but it's fine if you have red wine." I answered

"Good taste, wait a sec." She answered as she smiled at me.

I looked around her house as I spinned my head round and round like an idiot. Then she came with two red wines on her hand, she put the drinks on the table in front of us. 

"Here you go, Mister." said her as she put down the drinks on the table and sat on the black sofa next to me.

"Thanks, Jessie." I thanked her as I grabbed my drink from the table and took a gulp

"No problem. What were you doing in the airport?" she queried curiously

"Oh.. I was dropping my friend off. She just left to New York, she got the student exchange program."

I lied to her because I definitely wouldn't tell her what I was actually going to do. I wanted to give her my confession but didn't make it. 

"What a clever girl. What's her name?" she queried as she took a gulp of her drink

"Amanda. Amanda Stewart? Do you know her?" I answered as I put down my drink on the table

"Wait a minute. That Stewart? I know her. Her class was exactly next to ours, wasn't it?" 

"Exactly."

"Is she your girlfriend?"

I accidentally coughed and choked. She looked shocked seeing me like this.

'Oh yeah what a lame reaction, Jake'

"Are you okay?" she queried as she put his hand on my back 

"I'm okay, I was fortuitously choked." I grabbed her hand from my back convincing her I was fine.

"Is she your girlfriend?" she asked me the same question as she stared at me

"She's not. She's only.. My best friend. She's been being my best friend since kindergarten." I explained

"Oh now I understand why you often went to her class." she sighed as she rolled her eyes.

"Were you stalking me?" I chuckled

"Oh.. No, why would I? I often saw you walking in to her class. Coincidentally, I used to chill out with my friends in the school corridor." she explained and smiled bashfully 

She acted weird. I just realized that I actually was still holding her hand. I immediately released her hand and stood up.

"I gotta go somewhere. I'm sorry, I can't keep company with you. Thanks for the drink."

"O-Oh.. Okay, it's fine. With pleasure, thanks for driving me home anyway. I appreciate that, maybe we should hang somewhere together?" 

"Don't mind about that. Sure, why not? Just text me. See you later"

I walked out of the living room and I heard her shouting from behind, "Take care! Don't be a stranger!". I beamed at her and said, "You too! I won't!"

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