Beach House // colby brock

Chapter 35

My eyes open quickly when I'm awakened by a loud thud.

Unaware of my surroundings I remember I'm at Jake's apartment. I get up off the couch and make my way to Jakes room. The thud sounded like it came from there and I'm hoping he's okay.

I open the bedroom door and Jake is laying on the floor.

"Jake??" I kneel next to him and begin shaking his body.

"Whaa?" His eyes flutter open and he looks at me confused. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong with me! Are you okay?" I notice he has no idea what I'm talking about until he realizes he's on the floor.

"Why... am I on.. the floor?" I help him up.

As I help him I notice he is only wearing his underwear and I immediately become uncomfortable.

"Did you fall?" I try to only look at his face, and no where else.

"Maybe I did." He laughs.

I begin laughing with him, kind of awkwardly.

He looks down at himself and then back at me.

I thought he would cover himself up or something but instead he just shrugs.

"Well, I have work in a few hours so I should probably go." I smile.

"Oh yeah." He groans. "Why do you have a normal job? Why can't you be self employed like yours truly."

I shake my head and giggle.

"I'll change and give you your clothes back." I say.

"That's okay you can wear that home." He says. "Do you need a ride?"

I had forgotten that Jake drove me here in the first place.

"That's ok I can Uber. Thank you for everything Jake." I give him a big hug... even though he's still in his underwear.

"Anything for you." He smiles. As we pull back from our hug I look at him and when we make eye contact, an unfamiliar feeling begins rumbling in my stomach and my head.

I can't tell if Jake is feeling the same way because of the way he's looking at me as well.

"Well." I slowly look away.

"Uhh yeah you don't want to be late for work." He rubs the back of his neck.

I weakly smile and leave his bedroom. I grab my clothes and other belongings.

I turn around and Jake is in the kitchen.

"Thanks for making me get out of my apartment." I smile at him.

"You needed it." He says. "Even though it was exactly what you wanted, it was something."

I laugh softly before heading to the door.

"Bye." I say.

"Bye." He replies before I close the door and head home.

•

After taking my shower I change into my clothes for work. I work at Pacsun so I have to wear clothes from their. I don't mind at all, Pacsun is one of my favorite stores to shop at, plus I get an amazing discount.

I end up wearing;

After changing I head out of my apartment and to work.

•

"I'm actually really excited for winter. Not that I don't love summer, but I have so many hoodies I want to wear." Says Jackson.

Jackson:

Jackson is my favorite coworker. We started at the same time about 2 years ago and ever since then we've been really close. We don't usually hang out outside of work, but I get super excited when I know I'm working with him.

"I feel the same exact way." I reply and continue folding a shirt. Even though I love working with Jackson, I'm just in a mood where I feel sad.

Obviously I may have a reason to feel sad but, I just feel mopey. You ever have one of those days where you're just annoyed by everything and you don't want to do anything or talk to anyone? I'm in that mood.

"Are you okay?" I turn my head to face Jackson and he has a worried expression on his face.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" I ask him.

"Usually you're like in a super good mood and stuff. Now you just seem upset."

"Just had a little bit of a rough night, that's all." I smile weakly.

"Want to talk about it?"

I look at Jackson and my heart starts racing, for no reason.

"Jackson!" Our manager calls him from behind us. "Hop on a register!"

Jackson turns to me. "I'll be right back."

I slowly begin folding another shirt.

I start overthinking the heart racing. I'm just stressed out. Plus, I don't want to talk about it at all.

That is except if it's with Jake.

Jake.

That's why my heart is racing. He's the only one who I ever tell that stuff too, or asks me to talk to him. Hearing Jackson say that, made me miss Jake.