Is Anyone Out There?

Chapter 4

Of course, as always, the little fun I have is ruined. Well, at least I got some fun. Although I know that when I get home my parents will know all about me skipping and the effects won't be good. Maybe I just won't go home... maybe I'll just sleep in the park or something. No. Because then that will get them even more angry at me and I'll just get worst consequences. Nope. I'll just go home at my usual time and just take the punishment they give me. Yeah, I don't want it. Who ever does? But it's better than avoiding it now and getting it ten times worse later.

Jake is looking at me, not in a weird or awkward way though. In a thoughtful kind of happy way. "What?" I snap, completely ruining the moment. He just shrugs and walks back over to our table.

"What am I going to do with all this food?" he asks, laughing slightly. "It's not like I can eat it all... look at me! I'm not fat!" I chuckle at that. I look him up and down and when I realize what I am doing, I blush a little. Did I just check him out? I think I did! What the hell is wrong with me? Jake is definitely not fat. He's skinny... but I like that. I like that a lot.

"Well, you can take it with you... or we can spend the rest of the day just here, eating it all," I give him his choices. I definitely would love to take it home with me, so I won't have to scour the house for nonexistent food. My parents always go out to eat, so there is never any food in the house, and I'm never allowed to go with them. I usually end up stealing a tiny amount of money, two or three dollars, from my dad's wallet while he's asleep and head over to the supermarket to buy a little something.

Jake shakes his head. "I'm full right now, and there is more than enough food at my house. You go ahead and take them," he smiles at me and walks to the counter. He comes back with a bunch of boxes and starts to put everything inside. I grab a box and help him so the job gets done quicker. We both reach for the last slice of whatever, it looks like banana bread, and our hands brush up against each other. My hand goes up in flames and I quickly pull it back, letting Jake get the bread.

It looks like he didn't notice what just happened so I calm down a bit and close up my box. Jake takes the box out of my hand and carries it for me, holding open the door while I walk out. I don't really want to leave, but I know that I will be back sometime soon.

I stop thinking so deeply and look around. "Do you know what time it is?" I ask Jake. I have to be home at my usual time or my parents will suspect something.

"Almost 2," I groan. School is out at 2:30, and from where we are it will take me even longer to get home than usual. "What's wrong?" Jake asks.

I shake my head, but make the mistake and look up. His eyes are warm and pleading and I have to answer him. "My parents will kill me if I'm home later than I'm supposed to,"

He nods and turns around beginning to walk the other way. I just stand there, watching him. "What are you doing?"

He looks back at me and smiles. "Getting you home on time of course," I run up to catch up with him and we walk back to the school.

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Jake walks up to a vintage, black mustang and takes keys out of his pocket. He unlocks the car and opens the passenger's side door for me. I hesitate a moment, scared to get in. Questions and possibilities are running through my mind. What if he isn't who he says he is? What if he hurts me? But one look at Jake and I get into the car. It's so easy to trust him, and I don't think that is a good thing.

He hands me the boxes and walks around to the other side and gets in. He starts up the car and begins driving. He asks me where I live and it feels foreign on my tongue saying it. No one has ever really been over to my house before. There had never been a reason to give anyone my address. I tell him not to park in front of the house though, but to drop me off a couple blocks away. He gives me a curious look, but I try my best to ignore it.

All too soon the car stops and Jake looks at me. I sigh and open the door. "Thank you," I smile slightly at him as I climb out.

"No problem Kitty Kat," he smiles warmly, but I can see a glint of sadness in his eyes. "I'll see you tomorrow?"

I nod and close the door, break my gaze and turn to walk away. I'm holding the boxes in my hands, but I feel like something's missing. I realize what it is and I walk/run back to his car. "I left my bag at the coffee shop..." I bite my lip nervously. I don't have enough time to get back in the car and go get it.

"I'll get it for you," Jake smiles sweetly. "Meet me in the courtyard tomorrow before school and I'll have it, promise,"

I smile. "Okay, thank you so much," I walk away from the car and to the place, the people who are the root of all of my despair.