You Are Something Else, Juniper Zwinggi

Chapter 22

Even in spring, California was chilly. Spring in Texas felt like a sauna and frankly I didn't miss it. I went out to warm up my Jeep and when I went back inside to get my bag, Emily had taken it upon herself to bring it downstairs for me.

"Thank you!" I said taking it from her. I was running late and Jake had already called me once. It was his fault that he wanted to leave for Los Angeles at six o'clock in the morning on a Saturday. He almost had an anuerism when I told him I wasn't spending the night with him.

Emily was traveling to Florida with Miles for spring break and we wanted some girl time before we went away. It had been a long night of talking, nail painting, snacking, and movies. We didn't get to bed until close to two o'clock and Jake wanted me at the Fishers by five-thirty, it was already five-twenty-five. I didn't even have time to put normal clothes on, I threw on what was on my floor (Jake's sweatpants and a t-shirt).

"Get going!" She gave me a hug before sending me off. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do! Love you!"

"Love you too!"

Jake was waiting on the front stoop with Luka sitting by his side. He was giving me an annoyed look as I hopped out of the Jeep in a rush. Luka ran to greet me and I kissed his snout.

"I'm only ten minutes late!"

"You're late and you're wearing the sweatpants I've been looking for all week."

I smiled guiltily. A smile tugged on the side of his mouth as he approached me. His dimple showed itself and I fought the urge to poke it. It was crazy adorable and it did things to me.

"What's the hurry? It's spring break," I said wrapping my arms around him. He'd been so strange the past few days and it was beginning to worry me. "A time to de-stress and rest. You've been wound up all week, take a chill pill."

"I'm sorry, I just want this week to be perfect. You make me nervous," he said rubbing my back.

"Jake Fisher is nervous?" I gasped. "Notorious lady killer is nervous of little ole me? I'm flattered," I joked and he scoffed.

"You are aggravatingly cute," he said before pecking my lips. "C'mon, mom and dad want to talk to us before we leave."

After weeks of court dates and investigations, Lydia was found to be criminally insane and would spend the rest of her life in a padded cell. Her accomplice was captured the night of the party after leading the police on a fifteen minute car chase. His name was Adrian Huntsman and he was charged with animal abuse, conspiracy to commit a crime and resisting arrest. To say the least, he was going to jail for a very long time.

It had been a long, stressful time for all of us. Juggling classes, clinicals, lawyer meetings, court hearings, and Luka's recovery had put a strain on everyone and we all needed a break.

Spring break was Jake and I's first opportunity to be alone together since New Years and Jake's parents had given us free reign of their beach side condo in Santa Monica. Before we left, Dave and Lynn gave us a stern talking to about safety. The whole ordeal with Lydia and Jake getting stabbed had thoroughly freaked Lynn out. She became gung-ho about Jake and I taking self-defense classes and being prepared for anything. Then they started on the bedroom safety topic and Jake cut them off before too much humiliation happened. 

"Okay, time to go!" he shot off the couch and grabbed the condo keys off the coffee table.

As Jake was pulling me out the door, I was running through Luka's feeding and exercise schedule with Lynn.