Different.

Chapter 3

It was around 4 pm and already pitch black. Don't you just love winter? I crawled out the window and I was not standing in my back yard making sure my parents won't see me. There is no windows here so there was no way they could see me, they could only hear me at last, so I had to make sure I was really extra quiet.

I slowest turned the handle and opened the gate that was there, right in front of me. I closed it behind me and let out a sigh. I walked over to the road and put my hood up - waiting for Jake to arrive. I took out my phone and there was a message from him. "I am nearly there! Literally around the corner! So I will be there in around 2 minutes! Be patient okay xx" which made me calm. I just stared at it and locked my phone without replying to it. It was kind of cold outside so I closed my jacket up to warm myself up. I was walking back and forth until I noticed a car coming towards me; the light blinded me but then when it stopped I realised it was Jake. Thank god...I thought. I was glad he was there at that point.

I got inside the car and relaxed. My hood was still up as I didn't really want him to see me in this state. "Let me see your cheek" he said and I shook my head. "No. You don't want to see it. Just drive away from here, please. I don't want to be here any longer" I said and he sighed and nodded. "Only for you" he said and started the engine again.

We were driving and I stared out the window the whole time, I always loved night trips, but of course there wasn't much of those happening in my life since my parents would always argue. I was reimagining the scene that happened and the tears started falling out of the blue. I quickly wiped them without realising that we already got to Jakes's house. "Hey, stop crying" he said and grabbed my hand and rubbed his thumb along it; that was the time I looked at him after my dad punched me.

He looked at me in shock; my face was all bruised. "Oh my days! I'm so sorry" he said and literally undid his seat belt and hugged me. "It's okay..." I said in tears. "No it's not." He said and pulled away. "Come on, lets go inside and make you a cup of tea or coffee or hot chocolate." He said as we got out the car. I was at the edge of throwing myself onto the road that was in front of us.

He opened the door for me and I walked in. I missed this smell; his house smelled like fresh breeze. Last time I went to this house was when we were in year 9. My parents stopped letting me go for some reason. Plus, Jake loved by himself so this was easier.

"Make yourself at home" he said and got my bag off my shoulders. "You do realise you don't have to treat me like this right?" I said no raised an eyebrow. "Like what?" He said confused. "Like a princess. I'm your best friend, not your girlfriend" I said jokingly and he remained silent for a few seconds but then he came closer to me. "Maybe, but I care about you equally as if you were my girlfriend. And plus THIS" he said and pointed at my cheek. "THIS is unacceptable to me" he said and walked away. For a moment my mind went crazy; I wanted to kiss him so badly. I pretty much had to stop myself.

"Yeah thanks but honestly, I'm here to get away from my house, not to reimagine the memories of that." I said and sat down at the couch like I owned it. He came with some hot chocolate. "I agree. So what movie?" He knew me too well. He knew I loved movies and whenever I would go over to this house or he would come to mine, we would end up watching a scary movie. "Horror!" I said and snuggled next to him and he wrapped his arm around me. Now that I think about it, we looked like a couple.

"You got it!" He said and went through some of the death movies that he had. I choose the movie depending on it's title.

The movie ended and I was literally shaking with fear. I hated psychological horror movies because they would always get into my brain, and that was the kind of movie I chose. I hated myself for that. Jake noticed and hugged my tighter. "Stop being such a scaredy cat" he said while chuckling. I looked up at him and glared. "Shut up!" I said and lightly punched his shoulder.

He looked down at me and our eyes met. His browny-gold eyes staring into my light blue eyes. I cleared my throat and looked away; still being in his arms.

The normal TV was on now so started to watch it. I could then hear his heartbeat, it was fast; faster than usual. And his breathing was hard too. Was I imagining this? I'm really not sure.

We were watching TV and something emotional came up so I started to watch it and ended up in tears. "OKAY! This is enough TV for today" he said and turned it off; I nodded in agreement. He got up and gave me some tissues and I thanked him. "Your eyes look so beautiful in this light you know that right" he pointed out and that made my heart stop. "What are you talking about? They look the same as usual" I said and checked them on my phone. "No, they look beautiful and lighter than usual." He said and smiled while looking deep into my eyes, which made me blush. "Well thanks Jake" I answered and smiled politely. I honestly didn't know what else to say.

Why was he acting this weird? He never usually says those kind of stuff. "It's alright, I'm just pointing out the truth" he said and got up and went somewhere. I was left alone with my thoughts for a few seconds. Even though it was only for a few seconds, I had to stop myself from rethinking about what happened.

Jake came back with a tissue and ice. "There! Put this on your cheek and it should help it heal quicker and reduce the pain." He said and seeing as he was a first aider when he did his GCSE's, I listened to him.

I placed the old tissue and ice onto my cheek and it hurt to much so I quickly dropped it. Jake ran and grabbed it before it landed on the floor. "I know it hurts, but you have to endure the pain for now. Besides, it won't hurt for much longer" he said and gently placed the tissue on my cheek and got my hand and placed it in the centre. "There, keep it like this for another few minutes and it should help. For now, I'll make some tea and we will get ready for bed" he said and I nodded. I was so glad I had him with me at that point. I don't know what I would do without him.

It's been few minutes so Jake took the tissue and threw it in the bin, and I had to admit : it stopped hurting. He went to make the tea and I looked at my phone which was on silent all this time.

There was a message from my mother. "Snow? Where are you? I'm sick worried about you! I've called you a thousand times! Please come home". When I read that message...tears started to form in my eyes, just in time for Jake to come back. "You kidding me? What the heck" he said as he read the message. "Ignore her, okay? You're here to relax. Put your phone away and don't respond until you come home tomorrow from school, or you can message her in the morning." He said and rubbed my back and I smiled. I did as he said, I put my phone in my pocket and ignored my own mother.

We drank the tea while having a chat and it was time to go to sleep. "I'm taking the bathroom first" I said and he winked.
"As you wish" he said and lightly hit his shoulder. I made my way into the room, got my pjs and went into the bathroom.

I came out and I felt refreshed. I walked in the room and Jake was all set for shower. "Feeling better?" He asked me as he took his shirt off; my heart stopped and I had to catch my breath. "Yeah, thanks" I said and sat on the bed. "I won't be long, if you need anything, you know where everything is. So goodnight!" He said and as he was about to walk out I stoped him. "Wait, where are you going to sleep? If I'm in your room" I asked confused. "Don't worry, I have a quest room next to this one, I'll be there." He said and I raised an eyebrow. "Aren't I supposed to be in there? And you supposed to be in your own room?" I pointed out and he rolled his eyes. "Just go to sleep and Snow, goodnight." H said and shut the door. "Goodnight.." I said in a whisper.

I turned the lights off and laid in bed; staring at the dark, reimagining this evening with Jake. I couldn't help but fall asleep smiling.