Just Hang In There

Chapter 20 Part 1

(Jacob)
Mark handed me a silver chain with a circular pendant. I looked at it confused.
"Read the message," he said. I held the pendant in my fingers and flipped it over. There was a song lyric on it.

And l'll always be here
And I'll always want you to know
You are my lamplight
You guide me where I go
-A Silent Film

I read it over and over. I felt myself smile uncontrollably and blushing like crazy. I think my eyes watered as well. I tried to speak, but the words were stuck in my mouth.
Instead of speaking, I scooted over and hugged him. I rested my chin on his shoulder and wrapped my arms around him. He tensed at first, the relaxed as he hugged back.
"Thank you," I whispered, "No one has ever done anything like this for me." A tear rolled down my cheek, a happy tear, and fell onto his shirt.
"Of course Jacob," Mark whispered back. I gave him a tight squeeze then let go.
Mark smiled at me as I pulled back.
"So I'm guessing you like it?" he asked running his hand through his dark brown hair.
"I love it!" I exclaimed holding it tight in my hand. I would never let it go.
"Want me to put it on?" he asked. I nodded giving him the necklace. I turned around. As Mark put the necklace on, I felt the coolness of the chain hit my neck. I got a chill up my spine.
"There you go," he said. I felt my neck and found the necklace hanging. I smiled again.
"Thank you," I said turning back around.
"Anytime," he said smiling. I really wanted to give him another hug, but I fought not to. It would be weird if I did so. But I guess I didn't need to feel that weirdness because Mark pulled me into another hug and I obviously hugged him back.
We sat there for what seemed like hours. The sound of the garage door opening pulled us apart.
"My mom is home," I murmured. For the first time ever, I was actually a bit sad. Normally, I would beg for my parents to acknowledge I was there. Ever since my dad starting his drinking addiction and my mother started working late, I've barley been acknowledged. Now that Mark was here with me, I actually feel wanted.
"It's okay," Mark said giving me a reassuring smile, "Want to continue playing Rocket League?" I was about to answer "yes" but my mom entered the house. She slammed the car keys on the kitchen counter and stormed off into her bedroom. Mark and I watched confused as she walked off. Her bedroom door was slammed shut.
"Uh," he said.
"That is a first," I said confused,"Let me go check on her." I stood up and headed to her bedroom. I put my ear against the door and listened carefully. I didn't hear anything.
"Be careful," Mark warned looking concerned.
"She is my mother, not my father. I'll be fine," I said. Then, I carefully opened up the door.
I never go Into my parents bedroom. I was never allowed. My father would always yell at me every time I got close. Now that I actually am going in, I could see why I wasn't allowed. Alcohol was stained on the carpet and the room smelled of it. Some of the sheets were stained as well. I guess my dad never thought I would figure out his drinking problem if I never saw the stains.
"You okay there," I said trying not to gag. My mother was on the bed with a pillow over her face. When she heard my voice, she sat up, took the pillow off her face, and smiled at me apologetically.
"Hey baby," she said, "Sorry for storming out like that. Work just has me stressed and with your father gone.." my mother said sadly.
"Is everything okay at work?"
"Yes, yes it is. Just have a huge deadline coming up here soon and I don't know if I will finish," she said. She looked at me for reassurance, but then looked confused. "When did you get that necklace?" I felt myself blush as I looked down at it. I held the pendant in my hand and couldn't help but smile.
"Oh, a friend got it for me," I said.
"May I look at it," my mother asked. I hesitated, but walked over. I kept the necklace on and showed her the pendant. She read the engraved song lyrics a few times.
"A close friend must of given it to you," she said and wink. I felt a chill go up my body which contradicted with the heat in my cheeks.
"Mom.." I said taking a step back.
"Sorry," she said with a chuckled, "So who is the "friend"?" She put the word friend in quotes. "Oh, is she pretty? Does she have glasses? Is she smart? Older? Younger?"
"Mom!" I exclaimed, "Stop!"
"Sorry, sorry. I just never know what is happening in your life," my mother sighed.
"It's okay," I said. I held the pendant in my hand.
"Will I ever get to meet this person?" She asked. I hesitated.
"Um, well, he is, um, actually-"
"He?" my mother exclaimed. I gave her a shy smile. My mother stared at me trying to see if I was serious, the let out a deep sigh.
"Um, he is in the living room," I said.
"Oh, okay," my mother said wide eyed.
"MARK!" I yelled out. I immediately heard his footsteps come running down the hall and into the bedroom.
"Jacob, are you okay?! What is ha-" Mark started. He stopped when he saw me and my mom just sitting there. His face got red from immediate embarrassment. I chuckled.
"Sorry for the dramatic entrance," he said shyly.

(Mark)
Gosh, that was embarrassing. His mom looked  at me like I was some insane person. I smiled shyly at the two of them hoping we could all forget about that. Then Jacob chuckled and I felt better.
"Mother, this is Mark, Mark this is my mom," Jacob introduced.
"Nice to meet you," I said offering her my hand. She hesitated, the shook it nervously.
"You're the guy who gave my son this necklace," she said skeptically. I nodded.
"That's me," I exclaimed walking over to Jacob. His mom tensed the more I walked over. There was an awkward silence.
"Mark and I are going to go play on the Xbox," Jacob said breaking the silence.
"Okay," she said. Jacob grabbed my wrist and pulled me out to the living room.
"Nice to meet you Mrs. Müller," I said trying to be polite. I never got a response.
Jacob dragged me back to where we were playing Rocket League.
"I'm sorry about my mother," Jacob said. He let go of my wrist and looked down clutching the pendant.
"Don't worry about it," I said. He sadly leaned his head on my shoulder. I didn't mind. He needed the comfort.
As he did so, I started to feel my stomach turning into knots. There was a question I have been wanting to ask him. It has been lingering in my head since the day I saved him from Nate, Sullivan, and Ethan. Yes, I know this question may sound kind of weird considering when I thought of it.
Now, I felt like it was the perfect time. All I had to do was get the courage to ask...
"You ready to play?" Jacob asked handing me a controller. I hadn't realized he gotten up.
"You bet!" I said taking it. Together, we played for another hour then took a quick snack break. I realized his mom never came out from her room.
"Is your mom okay?" I asked.
"Oh, she is fine. Just a little stressed from work," he said getting up to stretch his legs.
"Okay," I said following him.
"Why do you ask?" He asked. I shrugged.
"Curious." Jacob looked at me and smiled sadly. His eyes seemed to sparkle as he looked over which only made my stomach's knots grow tighter.
"So, do you wanna play another game?" He asked.
"What other games do you have?"
"Well, lets see. I have Call of Duty Advanced Warfare, GTA 5, Destiny...." Jacob said. I started to zone out after the third mentioned game. I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath. If I was ever going to ask him, I got to do it now. Otherwise, it may be to late.
"Jacob, there is something I need to tell, or rather ask you," I started. I felt myself starting to sweat and my stomach felt like it was in my throat.
Jacob stopped mentioning games and looked over at me. I ran my fingers through my hair again.
"Yeah?"
This is it, I told myself. I sucked in a deep breath then let it out.
"You see Jacob, I was wondering..."