Parachute [Book 4]

Chapter 8 - Lady Friend? (Part 2)

Angie McGraw

***

The week had been completely uneventful – unless my new found crush on Idony Forde was considered eventful, but it totally wasn’t in my books. It was ruining my life.

I had no idea what was wrong with me. Just because I hadn’t talked to Jake in a while, it suddenly meant it was completely okay to crush on someone else.

I felt so stupid for it. I didn’t want to like Idony, but I really couldn’t stop myself. She was so pretty and sweet and her voice just heaven to listen to. She was smart, as well, and if that wasn’t my perfect girl, I didn’t know what was.

But Jake was still around and Jake was still my boyfriend. I would never ever forget him – I loved him too much for that. And I wasn’t going to let him go. He and I were perfect for each other. Everybody knew that.

Jake and I were the perfect pair, and nothing was going to tear us apart. Simple as that.

I was kind of afraid that my crush on Idony might though, because what if Jake found out? He’d probably assume that I was making plans to leave him. He’d dump me, and the thought of that just hurt me too much. Being without Jake would make me nothing.

Without Jake, I wouldn’t have any will to live anymore. Jake was my rock, one of the only things getting me through everything shitty in life. He was my king, and I loved him so, so much. I wouldn’t be able to let him leave me.

I looked down at the ring on my finger, tapping the small green jewels lightly. That ring meant the world to me and I couldn’t believe he had actually given it to me, telling me I was the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.

I remembered asking him, “Why me?” and he had replied with, “Because I love you.” He had made my whole life just by saying those few simple words.

Not being with Jake would mean that everything would turn dark and unbearable.

For a few seconds, I had forgotten that Melissa had been sitting next to me and I was suddenly reminded of that when she slapped me on the thigh, making me jump.

I turned to face her, my eyes widening in shock. My heart skipped a beat and I threw my left hand over it, keeping the ring close to me. I was really protective of the ring he had given me, because it was the only thing that made me feel like Jake was with me all of the time.

“Angie, you okay?” Melissa asked quietly, leaning over and holding the small packet of Flakes we were sharing close to her chest to make sure they didn’t spill. She reached for the remote between the two of us and paused the show we were watching, which I hadn’t been paying any attention to.

“Um, yeah, yeah.” I waved her off, spinning the ring around my finger and staring at the paused TV screen over my legs, which were pulled close to my chest.

I couldn’t stop running my fingers over the three jewels – it was bringing me so much comfort to just feel them beneath my fingers, knowing that Jake had given this to me because he loved me.

“Ange, you’re not, are you?” Melissa asked, throwing the flakes away and sliding in closer to me, her thigh brushing up against mine.

I looked up at her, my hair covering my eyes slightly. “I haven’t been okay for the past week, what made you think I would be now?” I asked, raising my eyebrows although she couldn’t see them under my hair.

Melissa clicked her tongue and looked down at the coffee table in front of us before staring back up. “Sorry Angie.”

“It’s fine, Mel, trust me.” I shoved at her shoulder and she fell to the side slightly, laughing at me. I let out a little laugh too and crossed my arms, watching her straighten herself out.