Player

Thirteen - The L Word

Thank you guys so much for sticking with this book. I know that my updating has been extremely slow these past few chapters, but I am trying my hardest to write as much as I can.

WARNING: This chapter includes mature content and may not be appropriate for all audiences.

(edited, so please let me know if I missed something!)

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I emerge from Jake's steamy bathroom, a towel wrapped tight around my body. I hum to the tune of 'Mary Had a Little Lamb' while pulling my hair back out of my face.

Jake and I need to start heading to the drive-in soon or else we'll miss the first few minutes of one of the movies. I am wearing underwear under my towel, fully armored with a tampon and liner. I am ready for whatever life throws in my direction. Mostly.

Jake hollers for me to hurry from the inside of his room. I roll my eyes and open the door to discover him leaning back on his headboard with a ukulele in his hands. He strums a chord and I stop dead in my tracks.

"Since when do you play an instrument?" I circle the bed, moving towards the bag that I had packed. I pull out some pajamas and stand with them in my arms, still stupidly staring at the brown ukulele.

"Since fourth grade," Jake replies. He starts to play a song, his fingers dancing over the fretboard with grace. I bit my tongue, trying not to say something to ruin this.

I smile broadly and slowly back out of the room so that I can go back to the bathroom and change. I can still hear Jake's song from behind the door, the shrill plucks of the notes making me feel as if I'm meeting Jake for the first time. I had never known that Jake had ever played any type of musical instrument, let alone a ukulele. If Jake wanted to play an instrument, he would've gone for guitar so that he could knock all of the girls' socks off with his Lynyrd Skynyrd and Deep Purple. A ukulele is so out of character that it makes me happy.

The music has stopped when I step back into the bedroom. Jake has neatly placed the stringed instrument back into its case and has played it on the top of his bed. Jake walks over to me and peers at my clothes, pink booty shorts (they're comfy, okay!?) and an oversized tee that almost falls down to my knees. Jake smiles widely, looking me over once more before grabbing my head and kissing my forehead.

"I'm going to change and then we'll go," Jake says, pulling away. I stare at his back, shocked, as he grabs some clothes and disappears into the bathroom.

Jake doesn't kiss me on the forehead, so I guess that this means that we're sticking with the 'no intimacy' rule. Which I think is a good thing.

~

Jake has decided to borrow his dad's car, a Ford work truck. It was so high off the group that I had to have Jake help me into the passenger side. In the back seat are a few blankets and pillows that we've packed. Inside a bag, there are snacks and a water bottle. Of course, the theater serves popcorn and drinks, but it's easier to sneak in food.

There are only about ten other cars in the lot at the drive-in, other than us. Most of them are obviously dates, some are already visibly making out vigorously in the back seats. The movie hasn't even started yet!

Jake surprises me when he pulls the tailgate down and grabs the blankets. What I haven't noticed, was that there was already a blown up mattress in the bed of the truck. Jake lays down blankets on the top of it so that it somewhat resembles and adequately made bed. Then, he props the pillows up on the top of the mattress, using the rear window as a headboard. The bag full of snacks is placed on the corner of the bed, where it can be easily reached.