When the sobs slowed and the tears dried themselves I looked up to Jakes face. Why had he let me cry on his shoulder after I had been so mean to him earlier?
“Come inside,” he said grabbing my bad wrist, not noticing the small wince that traveled through my body. “You’re going to get the flu.”
Without a word I followed Jake into his house and stood in the doorway as he went somewhere into his house.
“Jake!” I heard a shrill voice that made my skin crawl. “Why were you out in the rain?!” A woman entered what I guessed was the living room and looked over to the front door where I stood, soaking, on a small tile square so as to not get water on the carpet. “Oh. And who might you be?”
“This is a friend from school, mom.” Jake walked back in with a towel in each hand. “She’s having troubles at home and needs a place to stay for a while.” He looked over at his mother as he handed me a green towel and started to dry his hair off with the other.
“Well,” Jakes mother crossed her arms and looked me up and down. “I don’t know about a while, but you can stay here for tonight. Though I would rather like to call your mother and at least let her know you’re safe.”
“She isn’t my mother,” I stated, looking down, clamping the towel around my shirt in hopes to get it dryer faster. “She couldn’t care less as to what is to happen to me.”
“Not you’re mother?” Jakes mother cocked her head and gave me a puzzled look. “Then who…?”
“A woman I was forced to call my legal guardian. It’s a little bit of a story to explain. Nothing special really. I can’t thank you enough for letting me stay here for the night.”
“Nonsense! You’ll explain your story over a hot meal in return?” Jake looked at me with his eyebrows raised. “I’m sure we’d love to hear your story.” I shook my head. “It’s nothing interesting I assure you.”
Looking to Jakes mother she gave me a small nod and uncrossed her arms. “We’d love to hear it.” With a pleasant smile she turned on her heel and padded into what I guessed what the kitchen.
Jake led me upstairs and turned me into a room that had white walls covered in posters of metal bands and random sayings, words, and pictures drawn on with different colored markers. “This is my room. You can sleep in here tonight if you’d like. I’ll take the guest bedroom, it isn’t a very pleasant place to sleep.” He shrugged and sauntered over to a beat up, black wardrobe and opened up the two doors, pulled out the top of the three drawers and reached inside. When his hand came out of the drawer he had a pair of basketball shorts and a tank top in his hands. As he threw them on his bed he said: “You can sleep in these,”
“No this is fine.” I said as I undid the stud belt I wore. Stripping off my faded black skinny jeans I was forced to look over at Jake, who had let out a small cough as if to note his existence in his room. “I know you’re here.” I laughed.
“It doesn’t bother you that I’m in the room with you while you change?” He asked, the confusion present in his voice.
“No? Why would it? Not like you’re seeing anything private.”
He let out a small huff that sounded to me like an amazed laugh. “So what’s all in your bag? I’m sure it’s all soaked.”
“Crap!” I said tossing off my bright blue halter top and ran over to unzip my book bag. “I totally forgot about that! Damn it! My straitener is ruined!”
“I love how that’s the only thing you’re worried about,” Jake let out a small laugh.
“Everything else will dry.” I shrugged.
