What could go wrong?

Chapter 15

As we re-enter the house, his fathers sing song voice rings out immediately. "Jake my boy! Your back with your girl. I have a grocery list for ya. Dinner should be ready by the time you return." Jake closes his eyes moans. "What was that Jake?" His eyes fly open. "Nothing." His father comes into view with eyes narrowed. "Jacob Arthur Smith, you will do what your told. I brought you into this world, and I can take you out!" "Actually, didn't mom bring me into..." "I HELPED bring you into this world. That doesn't lessen the fact that I can take you out! Go." He motions towards the garage door, keys held out. I'm holding back a lot of laughter. When we're in the garage, I let it all out. "What's so funny?" "Your dad just cracks me up!" He scowls. "It's not THAT funny." I stop. "Your right. It isn't." Then I double over in laughter. He rolls his eyes and walks over to the car. "You wanna drive?" "Um, let me think about it YES!" I cry, snatching the keys and getting in the drivers seat. I look down. A stick shift! This would be an adventure. I start the car. "You know where it is?" He asks. I nod and mutter, "I've always wanted to try this." "What?" He asks, before the car lurches forward than immediately stops. "Oh, so you do this, and then, ok!" His hands are gripping the seat. "Have you ever driven a stick shift?" "Nope. Time to learn!" I call. He cries out in terror as I pull out into the street, faster than I would've liked. And with a few mix ups, almost running over a mail box and a baby carriage, I parked crooked in a space. I look over at Jake, who's paper white and leaving marks in the seat with his finger nails. "We're here!" I say as calmly as possible. As Jake calms down he looks at me like I'm insane. "Yeah, in pieces." I wave it off. "Oh, your alive." He releases the seat. "Your nuts!" "Maybe, but I thought we were nuts together." He shakes his head. "Katie Schwab, you are one heck of a girl." He says. I shrug.

Back at his house, driven there by Jake this time, not me, his father accepted the groceries gratefully. "Thank ya my boy! Now, why don't you take your girl up to your room." Jake groans. "Ok, but she's NOT MY GIRL. Her name is Katie." He just waves it off. "Right right, take your girl Katie upstairs." He starts to argue, but I just pull him away. "It's okay, I like being called your girl." I tell him, as he steps in front of me to lead the way. Most parents are a bit on edge when their kid and a person of the opposite gender go into a room with a bed, but I guess he trusted me. He should, I wasn't thinking about anything like that. He leads me up the stairs, walks past a room with the letters N-A-T-E plastered on it. I wonder who's room it was? I smirk at my own sarcasm inside my head. He leads me to a door with stickers having the letters J-A-K-E. "Who's room is this, Nate's?" I ask. "Haha. Your sarcasm is noted." He say before opening the door. It was what I expected.

All the walls were white, and had some posters of bands I certainly couldn't name. Simple lighting and a bed that was white except for the pillows, which were black. I nod. "Very nice." He waves it off. "Nah, it's just ordinary." We sit on his bed, while deciding on a movie. He wanted horror while I wanted comedy. We did Rock Paper Scissors, which was an idiotic decision considering I always lose at that game. And wow, game changer, I lost. We agreed to start it when we finished dinner, which, as his dad had just informed us, was ready.

Dinner was great. Pasta, it was amazing, which I didn't fail to tell his father. "Really though Mr. Smith, this is amazing." I comment, food still in my mouth. Jake snorts, and I can tell Nate is holding back a smile. "Thank you! I'm glad SOMEONE appreciates my cooking." He says, raising his eyebrows at his sons. They keep their heads down. "Really Jake. She's a keeper right here. Where's the engagement ring?" Jakes eyes go wide, and for a small second I really thought there was one. "Dad, we've been going out for a few weeks. I didn't buy her an engagement ring." His father stuffs food in is mouth. He shoves it into his cheek, and says, "You might as well have, because I like her!" Jake rolls his eyes. "Well, it kinda also matters that I like her dad." He waves that off. "Since when does that matter?" "Since I would be the one to date her." He responds. I snort, which catches their attention. "What?" They ask in sync. I laugh again. "You guys are funny." They both narrow their eyes. "How?" Jake asks. "You guys argue all the time like an old married couple. And you can't see it's because your so alike." His dad sighs. "And don't I know it. We're alike and Nate's like his mother, bless her heart." I didn't sense the tension. "Where is your mother?" All motion stops. All forks, all chewing, I'm pretty sure Jake stopped breathing.

"Um, she's passed sweet heart." His dad finally answers. Guilt immediately fills my body. "Oh my goodness! I-I'm so sorry!! I didn't meant to..." "It's alright dear. You didn't know." His father interrupted. I keep my eyes on my plate while the family makes small talk. When it's over, Jake puts his fork down and announces that him and I are going upstairs. "Shouldn't we at least clean our dishes?" I ask. "Nah." He says, trying to leave. "Now Jake, you don't have to because we have a guest this time, but next time you do what she says." "What?!" Jake whines. "You heard me young man. Next time you wash it." He says motioning to the plate. Jake groans, but agrees after. He grabs my hand and rushes up the stairs before I mention another chore he would have to do later.

He slams the door, then opens and and calls out a "Sorry!" He closes it lightly now, and plops on the bed. He pats the spot next to him. "Come on then, let's watch it." I whimper. "Scary movies scare me Jake." He gets up and grabs my wrist. When he sits down he pulls me with him, forcing me to sit next to him. He wraps an arm around me and pulls me against him. "It's okay. I'm right here. And I make you feel safe, right?" I nod slowly, not wanting to look in his deep brown eyes. "And I'll be right here, the whole time, keeping you safe. Alright?" I nod again. "Okay." He tilts my chin up so that I look him in the eye. He kisses my forehead, then my nose. "Let's start then." I nod once more, and he hits play.

It was a freaky movie about a girl who bought a doll. The doll was demented, and killed her parents. She was running now, screaming for her parents because she had no idea they were dead. Jake squeezes me tighter as I put my face in his shirt. It ends with the doll in a wood chipper and the girl in a foster home. I turn it off, and look over to see Jake asleep leaning his head on mine. I gently lean him down as his father walks in quietly. "It's really late darling. I told your mom you were staying the night here, and promised no funny business. Since he's already asleep, I guess I don't have to worry about it." He quietly drags a mattress in and sets it down, then walks off. Well okay then. I lay down and softly close my eyes.

Jakes POV

I had a dream. A horrible, yet alright dream. I was in a meadow, the meadow by my old house that I used to live in. I was standing there, and a woman's voice was calling my name. My moms. She stepped out, and came to me. She stroked my cheek, and told me I would be alright. Her blue eyes sparkle. The once clear skies clouded up, and my mothers eyes sparked with concern. "Honey, I'm gonna leave. Stay here, where your safe." I kept telling her not to. I knew something would happen, I just didn't know what. She let go of me, and ran into the woods surrounding us. I hear a high pitched scream, and I jolt awake. I'm sweating and shaking all at once. Katie is already awake, sitting up on a mattress, reading off her phone.

She looks up at me with deep concern. She slips out from under the sheet placed on a mattress, and walks over to me. Sitting down next to me, she slips her fingers through my hair, and asks what's wrong. "I-I had a dream about my m-mom." Pity covers her face. "What happened in it?" So I told her. I poured out my very horrible dream to her. When I finish, she strokes my cheek. "It's okay, I'll be right here. And I make you feel safe, right?" She asks, quoting me from earlier. I smile when I recognize it. "Of course." I pull her down into a laying position with me. I kiss her, hard and quick. "Sleep with me." Her eyes widen in fear. "Jake, I-I'm not ready for..." "I didn't mean like that. I meant stay here with me in my bed, and sleep." Relief floods her face. "Oh, of course." She says, putting her head on my shoulder. I slip my arm around her waist, and drift off to sleep.

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Hey y'all!

I'm really sorry I haven't been updating!! School is hard, and I had to make a balloon car for science and everything else and, sigh. I'm really sorry though. And I'm sorry to admit it might happen again. Sorry, bye!!

@KS