Jake and Taylor: A Love Story

Chapter 18: Jake

-Jake's Point of View-

All of this talk of exes makes me think of my Ex, Mandy. Mandy and I dated for almost 4 years. We actually started dating our senior year of high school. She went to a different school which was a little weird.

We met at a basketball game. She was sitting on the side lines with two other girls. Both of which were watching me instead of the game. I sat across from them on the team bench, I twisted my ankle pretty bad during the first 5 minutes and the coach wouldn't let me play anymore. She had on a simple white tank top and a pair of blue jeans. She had brown hair almost the color of mine but lighter. And she was very concentrated on the game and not a certain high school boy sitting across the court from her, where as her two friends couldn't stop looking at me.

She was beautiful and obviously hard to get. I was a high school boy so of course my first thought was 'I have to be with her'. After the game was over I went up to her and introduced myself. She looked at me and laughed. I wasn't sure why at the time but she later told me that it was because her friends had made a bet that I would talk to her before I left that night. I asked her out on a date that night which she agreed to after two months. She really was hard to get. After that first date we were inseparable. She went to a different college and that is what broke us up eventually.

I came up to visit her one night and we were about to head out on a date, my plan was to propose to her. I loved her a lot and I thought she loved me too. I never cheated on her, or ever even thought about cheating on her. I'm just not that type of guy. We were on our way out to dinner and it started raining. She turned around to pick up an umbrella. I took the opportunity and got down on one knee, pulling out the little box. As soon as she saw it she looked down at me and said "I'm pregnant."

It was not at all what I was expecting and I stood up looking at her confused. She and I had only slept together once and it had been over a year before. "What do you mean?" I asked but I knew what she meant.

"I'm pregnant. And It's not yours. I'm so sorry Jake." She said and she was crying. She really did mean it but I didn't want to believe her. I left, I should have stayed but I went home. I got very drunk with my roommate and forgot all about it. Which was exactly what I needed. And I haven't been in a relationship since. I just couldn't take it. The girl I thought I loved cheated on me. And now the girl I really do love is hiding something from me.

I never really agreed with 'nice guys finish last' because it's stupid. But maybe it's true in my situation.

I tuned back into my mom and Taylor's conversation, "I think it was like Mark or something," My mom says looking over at Taylor and nodding her head, "Did you know Grayson when his son was born. I mean I would hope not. I would never want a boyfriend that had a kid with someone else. But that's just me." She says quickly covering herself. My mom says things sometimes that might offend someone else and she knows it. Luckily she is a nice person and apologizes the best she can.

"Oh no I understand and I totally agree." Taylor says smiling at her for the first time in awhile. It seems like all of the talk about Grayson is making her uncomfortable

I clear my throat and look over at Carol, "So how is work?"

"Oh it's good. The hours got switched around and now Michael has most of my old hours, but it's all fine." She is always positive, even when the hours she loved gets switched around. It's crazy to me that she is such a peppy person.

Carol grew up in a small town in Wisconsin. She graduated top of her class and went to UW-Madison, getting a degree in teaching. But when all of the cuts from Scott Walker happened she lost her job. After that she went back to school and is not a hair stylist at this super cute little salon in the town where she and my mom live. I thought it was a weird jump for her to go from teacher to hair stylist but she loves it and that is all that matters.

After we sit and talk for awhile Taylor walks out of the room to go shower and I'm left alone with my mom and Carol. Which is fine, but I know the awkward questions are about to start.

"So Jake." My mom says shifting a little in her seat so she can face me. I stand up and carry the empty plates to the sink.

"So Mom?" I say rinsing off one of them, turning a little so that I can clean and talk at the same time.

"Have you met Grayson?" She asks quietly. Of course she would want to go back to this, maybe she saw how uncomfortable Taylor was too.

"Yeah, once for like 5 minutes but yeah I have."

"He has blond hair and grey eyes right?" She asks looking at me curiously.

"Yes?" Part of me thinks that she actually knew more about Grayson than she had let on to Taylor.

"Shit," She looks down at her cup then back up at me, "Honey there is something I need to tell you."

"Alright." I say turning to face her full on, Not going to lie I really wanted to know more about Grayson. He didn't seem like Taylor's type at all but they had dated.

"He had two kids born at the hospital. There was Mark but then there was another one. I can't remember what the name was but there was definitely a second baby."

I look at her nodding, hoping that she won't say what I'm thinking. Just then Taylor came back into the room and my mom stopped talking. Apparently what she has to say she can't say in front of Taylor.

We spend the rest of the day talking and catching up on everything that;s new in all of our lives. After hours of that I went and changed into a pair of jeans and a black button down shirt. We went out to dinner at a small local restaurant that Carol loves. I had the spaghetti because when it comes to food I am 12 years old. Across from us sat a couple on a date. They looked happy but confused about our family. We were about to leave when I got a text from a number I didn't recognize.

'Did she tell you yet?' It read.

'Who is this?' I respond not sure what to say. This could be about anything, Josh, Mandy, my mom, Meredith, Taylor, any other case, etc.

'Oh that doesn't matter, but if she doesn't tell you by tomorrow I will. Have a nice day Jake.'

What the hell is going on in my life?

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Hello all! :) Sorry I have a plan for this book but I kind of have writer's block at this point. That is why the first part of this chapter is really stupid.

Anyways I love you all for reading my story! It really means a lot to me <3 Please COMMENT/ VOTE/ FAN! Even though this chapter was terrible!

Have a nice day.. Oh also I am starting school on Tuesday so I probably won't be able to upload as often.

-Hannah