When He Walks By

Chapter 12

Chapter 12:

I woke up the next day and turned to my left to go to the shower. I rammed into a wall and yelped out. Jake woke up with a jump and ran over to me to see what happened. I opened my eyes and looked around, finally remembering where I was.

"Are you okay?" Jake asked.

"Fine, thank you." I replied a little to giddily. Jake smirked and said, "You seem.... happy?"

I laughed and fell on the bed. Jake crawled over, acting like the worst lion I had ever seen. I kept laughing as he pretended to spot me, telling me I was an injured zebra. He sprung on to the bed and I rolled over. He stopped for long enough to say, "You're an injured zebra, remember?" I laid out again.

He crawled on to me and "ate" my leg. He continued to eat my legs and then moved on to my stomach. Jake pulled up my shirt and sniffed my belly.

"I don't think you want to do that." I said.

Jake sat up. "Why not?"

"Because fat stomachs aren't the best thing to eat." I replied shyly.

"What are you talking about? You are the skinniest person I know." He replied, looking astonished.

"No. Don't be one of those people. Those people who tell you what you want to hear, not the truth." I said, close to tears.

"Look at me. You are not fat. You are skinny, and you are fit. You are a flyer on a Senior 5 cheerleading squad. And you do those flippy twist things that I'll never do."

"A full?" I asked.

"Yeah. You have absolutely nothing to worry about. I don't know what you are thinking about."

"I kind of had some... eating problems when I was younger. I'm relapsing, Jake. I don't want to be anorexic again." I started bawling.

"You are not going to relapse. I am going to be here with you." Jake pulled out a piece of pizza and ranch sauce from the bed.

"Where did you get that?" I laughed, wiping my tears.

Jake didn't say anything. He picked up the pizza and put it in my hand. He guided my hand to my mouth and I took a bite. It was the best thing I had tasted in almost 6 months. I kissed Jake.

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Later on, I was at home watching TV. Project Runway was on, and I was completely caught in. The doorbell rang and I reluctantly paused the show. I checked myself in the mirror that was in our front hallway, and decided I looked acceptable.

I opened the door and saw nothing but a bouquet of white roses. White roses were my favorite flowers. Attached to the bouquet was a little note.

Dear Bea,

Meet me at the Plaza on 143rd Street. I will be waiting, but you won't see me first. Keep walking north on 143rd and you will get there.

Love,

I put on some wedges to match my dress and got in my Infiniti. I drove to the Plaza and headed down 143rd street. My favorite song was playing. I kept walking north, as the note said. Suddenly, fireworks shot overhead and I giggled. I paraded through a crowd of people and saw someone in a suit. He didn't move, so I figured he was there for me. I looked closer and saw Jake.

I stopped in my tracks.

He smiled and handed me a balloon. It was strange, but I took it anyway. Someone ran up and popped my balloon. I yelled, feeling bad that the balloon had been popped. But, a note fell out. I caught it and opened it up. It was an invitation to the Sweetheart Dance with Jake. Tears spilled from my eyes as I hugged him.

"Yes."