Lake House

Chapter 9

"Josephine," Jeff said in a questioning tone, he raised an eyebrow towards me as we sat down with some snacks.

"Jeff," I said back and raised an eyebrow, mimicking him. He opened a bag of Doritos that he brought and shoved some into his mouth.

"You and Xavier?" I felt a blush come across my cheeks as I tried to use my hair to cover it. "Did you guys kiss?"

"No sadly. He just took me home and we hung out for a bit. He was on edge after this conversation with his sister." I opened a bag of goldfish with a sigh and leaned my head against the wall.

"What conversation?" I remembered how it felt to feel his lips on my forehead and I couldn't help but smile. He didn't want to talk about his sister and I understood that. He could take all the time he wanted to open up to me and I don't mind that.

"His sister just introduced herself and she came at him hard about some family stuff. He doesn't want to tell me and I'm okay with that." If he needed space then I felt comfortable enough to give him that. He will tell me when he's ready and I'll be here with open ears for him.

"Josie." He started but quickly sighed, he was gonna bring up Genesis.

"It's okay." He gave me a knowing look and a weary smile, he was worried about me. I couldn't hate Genesis for any of this, she was my friend. She was engaged to Xavier, Xavier was all that she knew. Maybe she's changed, that was in high school. Maybe she's changed overtime and really did want out of the engagement.

"I think she's trying to shack up with him!" He blurted out and I rolled my eyes at his weird behavior. I threw a goldfish at him which he caught and plopped in his mouth.

"Why do you say that?" He just shrugged. Genesis was a good actor then if she really was trying to shack up with him as Jeff said.

Why would Xavier not choose Genesis instead of you? They're back, I gripped onto the edge of the table tightly. I shut my eyes tightly. "Are you okay Josephine?" I shook my head.

This is all a prank, to see what pathetic girl thinks that they're the one while they run off and get married. You're pathetic. This is a game.

"It's not a game," I yelled out, no longer trying to ignore the voices. Jeff reached out and grabbed my arm tightly.

His family was in on it too. You should've seen their faces once you turned your back. They all knew the relationship was fake. They're all playing you.

"No, they like me!" Jeff pulled me to his chest and hugged me tightly as tears spilled out.

"Ignore them Josephine," he urged to me, giving me advice. "Don't give in. Don't listen to them." He rocked me tightly like a mother would do to an upset child.

He loves Genesis.

I gripped onto Jeff for dear life, ignore them. Ignore it. Ignore what they're saying. Ignore everything. "Just picture something that makes you happy." I fell out of Jeff's embrace and grabbed my purse. I opened my wallet to see Cassidy's picture smiling at me. I ran my hands over the picture lightly. The voices stopped finally and Jeff just held me close. I felt his heartbeat, I heard it. Nothing was said between the two of us but you could hear my shallow breathing. "It's okay Josie. It's okay. It's okay." He chanted over and over.

Minutes had passed with no words spoken about what had happened to me. I think that he understood that I never wanted to talk about it, just like I would do if situations were vise versa. It felt good to be held for once, maybe I should just cancel my date with Xavier tonight. "I should cancel the date right?" Jeff looked down at me with a shocked face. I gave him a small smile.