Windows to the Soul

Chapter Two

2:25 a.m.
I pulled up to my house, cutting the engine quickly so I didn't wake my grandparents.

"We're going to go through the door leading into the study," I instructed, "I'm going to scout the area then come back for you. My grandpa is a light sleeper so, please, be quiet. If we get caught I am so dead."

Dead is an understatement. What am I thinking?

"I won't let you down," he said, saluting me.
I rolled my eyes, " I'm serious." Jake nodded, grabbing his stuff.

I unlocked the door to the study and scouted out the study, kitchen, and living room. On my way back to Jake, I peeked into my grandparents' room where they were both sound asleep. Whew!

"The coast is clear, my room is upstairs on the left. I'll be right up."

I went to the closet in the hallway to get blankets for Jake. As I shut the cabinet door, I turned around and there stood my grandma.

"Grandma!" I exclaimed, dropping the blankets, "You startled me!" Oh no..
"What are you doing up so late?"
"Oh, uh, I spilled my water on my bed, so I need clean sheets," I lied, picking up the blankets.
"Do you need help remaking your bed?"
"No! I mean, I'm 16 grandma, I got this," I laughed, trying to ease the tension.
"Okay, honey. Your grandpa and I have to meet with the property owners tomorrow morning, so you'll be on your own for breakfast."
"That's okay, I'll probably sleep until lunchtime anyways."
"Okay honey. Goodnight, I love you."
"I love you!"

I ran up the stairs and into my room, shutting the door and leaning against the back of it, completely forgetting Jake was in here. I opened my eyes to him shirtless, prompting me to cover my eyes immediately.

"What's wrong?" He asked, sounding nervous.
I looked at him through my fingers, "Nothing. I just didn't expect you to be half naked in my room right now."
"Oh sorry, I'll put my shirt back on," he said, reaching for the shirt he had laid on my dresser.
"No, it's okay." I uncovered my eyes and got up, handing him the blankets.
"Thank you for this, Shay, it really means a lot to me," he said, taking the blankets from me.
"You've thanked me so many times. It's really no problem," I said, taking my shoes off and tossing them into my closet, "I'm just glad I was still awake when you called."
"No you weren't," he said, sitting on the pallet he made from the blankets.
"What?"
"You weren't awake when I called. Your normal voice doesn't sound like an 80 year old man."
"I can't believe you'd say that!" I threw a pillow at him.
"It's okay!" He said while laughing, "We all have our flaws. One of mine is uh.. never mind. I'll have to get back to you on that one." He said, smirking.
"Oh whatever," I said, getting under my blankets.

I watched as Jake plugged his phone in to charge and realized my phone is almost dead too. I plugged mine in and reached for my lamp.

"Goodnight, Jake," I said, smiling down at him.
"Goodnight, Shay," he responded, matching my smile.

I turned off the light and laid there, silently staring up at the ceiling for what felt like hours.

"Shay?" Jake's quiet voice startled me.
"Yeah?"
"What's your favorite flower?"
"Sunflower."
"Why's that?"
"Sunflowers grow tall and reach for the sun, the warmth helping them grow. I think it's beautiful and I hope to be that confident some day," I said, realizing how vulnerable I must seem with a boy I hardly even knew.
"You're right," Jake said, smiling, "it is beautiful."

And with that, I drifted to sleep with a smile on my face.

9 a.m.
*beep, beep, beep*

I reached over and turned my alarm off, groaning as I pushed myself up. I looked down at the boy asleep on my floor. How peaceful. I got out of bed, stepped around Jake, and went down the hall to the bathroom. I brushed my hair and teeth before putting my blond hair into a low bun. I went back into my room to see Jake sitting on my desk chair, fully dressed.

"Morning," he greeted me, ruffling his hair, "how'd you sleep?"
"Probably better than you," I gestured to the blankets on the floor.
"I slept great, actually. However, I am starving."

9:45 a.m.
After about 20 minutes of driving around, we finally decided on Iron Skillet for breakfast.

"What are you hungry for?" Jake asked, flipping through the menu.
"Easy: biscuits and gravy, two scrambled eggs, and hash browns. Oh, and an apple juice," I stated matter-of-factly, not even opening my menu.
"Do you eat here often?"
"No, my grandparents usually make breakfast on the weekends."
"That's really cool," he said, looking down at the menu again.
"What do you have planned for today?" I asked, trying to change the subject.
"Well, we have a party tonight, remember?"

I completely forgot about the party. I thought he'd forget and I wouldn't have to go.

"Oh yeah, I better text Kaci and remind her."
"Kaci?"
"My friend who is literally the reason why I suggested hanging out this weekend in the first place. I have to bring her to this party or she will never forgive me."
"Not a problem, I'm sure my friends won't mind two new faces."

S: Still up for that party with Jake tonight?
K: Of course, I've been waiting for you to bring it up all day.
S: It's not even 10:30 a.m. yet 😂
K: Oh well. Wanna ride together?
S: Actually, I'll have to meet you there. I've got some stuff going on today.
K: Okay. See you tonight! LOOK HAWT, please!

"Kaci's really excited for this party tonight."
"And you're not?" he asked
"I'm not really a party person."
"Well, I've been looking forward to tonight since you said you'd go with me." There's that smile again.
"Oh yeah? Why is that?"
"Shay, you do realize we've been texting for almost a year and we've never met before last night, right? Never called, FaceTimed, or anything. That's a little weird, especially for people our age."

He was right. Never once did we ever even suggest any of that. I was simply his math tutor, via text, who helped him study for exams. It wasn't supposed to turn into a friendship.

"You're right, that is weird. I didn't think you'd ever want to meet your math tutor."
"I didn't at first, but the more we talked, the more I wanted to meet you. But I know you're shy, I didn't want to pressure you into something." He seemed sincere.
"Here we are, thanks to you getting a flat. Speaking of which, what are we going to do about that?"
"When we get done eating, we'll have to go to my car and take my tire to a repair shop. Then, we can decide what to do next."

11:20 a.m.
I pulled my car to the side of the road behind Jake's Challenger and got out. As I walked around his car, I couldn't tell which tire was flat.

"Jake? Which tire did you say it was again?
"Actually, I kind of lied about that.. my car is fine."
"WHAT?!" I gasped, turning to face him, "you lied to me to hang out with me?"

WHAT THE HELL.