Unnoticed

Chapter 5

Finally, I arrive at home after stupid detention. Walking through the door my first instinct is to talk to Emma. "Hey." I text her. Within seconds she replies.
"Hiya how the sweet torture go?" She texts me with a laughing emoji.
"Tbh' it was alright," I admit to her.
"Oh really?"
"Lol'."
"U wanna come round?" She asks.
"Yeah sure."
"K cya' in a bit x"

Getting changed into my snuggly hoodie dress with shorts underneath and knee-length black Uggs, I see a note on the fridge from dad saying he went shopping. So not wanting to wake up Dan, I also leave a note behind on my way out, explaining where I'm going and why I was so late getting back home from school.

I get outside Emma's house, a warm breeze welcomes and beckons me to go inside. I then walk in as a mouthwatering aroma of roast dinner hits my body, automatically making me inhale the delicious scent. "I'm here," I shout aloud.
"Oh hello, darling." Emma's mum, Jane greets me with a warm smile. She's dressed in a pair of skinny jeans and a nice pink crop top with a pinny apron covering most of her motherly curves. In her small petite hand she's holding a mixing spoon that's dripping with dark gooey gravy. She's young for a mother because she only fell pregnant at 16. Her parents only moved out last year after helping her to raise Emma and Jake because their dad left when he found out she was pregnant. "Hi, Jane," I say to her returning her a warm smile.

"Emma's upstairs if you would like to go up, do you want some tea?" She asks me kindly. "Well, I don't want to intrude but if its not too much trouble...." I trail off.
"Nonsense I have extra anyways," she adds happily.
"Oh, OK then."

I gently sneak past Jake's messy room, catching a accidental glimpse of him sitting in a red and black gaming chair, playing on his PlayStation. I then find Emma in her room on her computer reading off of Wattpad.
"Heya'," she says to me.
"Hi."
She's wearing a knit crop jumper with ripped jeans and a small silver heart necklace with a pink gem in the centre.
"So who did you have for detention?" she asks.
"Miss Pool." I sigh dramatically.
"Ha, no wonder Jake looks like he's been dragged through a bush." she giggles followed by a grin. I chuckle.

I get out my phone and start reading too. Ever since I installed Wattpad I have been glued to my phone. There are so many talented authors and amazing books. I've learnt a lot more things since using this app like about family, relationships and that I'm not the only one with problems in life. My favorite genre is romance, teen fiction, and vampire/werewolf type of books.

"Teas ready," shouts Emma's mum. We all race down the stairs like hungry animals ready to pounce on their prey, including Jake. I silently pray to myself, hoping he won't say or do anything nasty afterwards, even after the weirdly nice way he has been recently with me.

Jane's the best cook, she really is, just before she fell pregnant with Jake and Emma she worked in a restaurant called Eve's run by her Nan as one of the head chefs.

We all sit down in the living room on the the couches Jake and Jane on one and me and Emma on the other. With heavy trays on our laps with our food piled high on floral designed plates. Emma gets up and then puts on the new second Jumanji DVD. We watched the first one on Netflix a few months ago and now the second one had just come out on DVD, so we'd bought it last weekend.

We started to eat silently, everyone's faces pinned to the TV screen, completely unaware of most of the food falling off our forks, as we eat.
I look down at my plate naturally for a brief second as I eat. Then I look back up to unexpectedly find Jake innocently looking at me but as soon as he realises I notice him he then he flutters his eyes away, playing it cool. I've just got to ignore him I say to myself and clear my mind, turning back to the TV screen.

We all finish the food and Jane leaves us and goes to clean the dishes.

"What do you wanna watch now?" Emma asks me and Jake as Jumanji finishes.
"Hmm,...... oh how about the Titanic?" she says quickly before we can answer her.
"Sounds good to me." I agree.
"Jake?" She asks.
"Yeah whatever." he yawns sluggishly. "il wash up the pots," Jane says.
"ok, and il find the movie now." Emma chirps happily and bounces up the stairs.
I look down casually and rub the material of the blanket as if I am actually doing something interesting.

Then from the corner of my eye, I reluctantly look to see Jake. I see his face facing downwards but his eyes are glancing up at me, as if he's trying to hide and make it not obvious that he is looking at me. So I pretend to not notice him, but I can't resist the urge of looking back up. So I do, and for a split second he continues to stare back at me, but then looks away and stares out the window instead.

"Got it," Emma shouts, as she plods back down the stairs, breaking the silence. "What's up did the Coronavirus kill you all and you came back to life?" she asks us sassily, jumping on to the couch.
"Hey you shouldn't joke about that." calls a serious Jane from the kitchen.
"Sorry mum," she replies.

The Coronavirus is everywhere, dad must have at least a hundred toilet rolls! Soon the whole country is going on lockdown!

Halfway through the movie, it gets paused by Emma.
"Hey I've watched this loads of times, I'm gonna have a shower," she says. "You be OK while I'm gone?" She asks knowingly.
"Umm'..." I start, but then get cut off by Jake.
"Yeah, we'll be good." he grins.
I give her a look.
"You better be," she warns us but mainly directs that at him.
I give her a reassuring smile, pressing play on the remote and she turns making her way up to the bathroom.

I stare at the screen not taking in what's happening and instead thinking about how awkward this situation is. Then all of a sudden the seat next to me dips, but I can't look up because I know it's him just trying to get my attention.

"Hey," he says in an unusually concerned sweet voice.
I hesitate, thinking of what to say. What if he starts to bully me again? What if this time he's even worse?

He pulls some blanket on himself, and snuggles into the couch his body moulding into it, just inches away from me. He's sitting so unusually close to me that I can feel his warm sweet breath burning into my face gently. I can't help but glance up at his smooth face, realizing he isn't bad looking, especially when I then look at his angular sharp jawline. He then catches me out, studying his face. I try to shamefully look away but unexpectedly his brown sparkly curvy eyes hold onto mine, for which feels like forever while the movie plays distantly in the background.

He then shockingly rests his head gently onto my shoulder, his perfect brunette locks staying in their position.

Worry fills me, but weirdly I kind of feel OK about this.

Then he slowly falls asleep, and I start to feel my eyes get heavy but before I can get up, I feel my head drop and everything goes black.

"Sleeping beauty's wake up," whispered Jane's and Emma's voices in mine and Jake's ears.

"Huh one more minute mama," mumbles Jake sleepily.
"Hey," I say to them, getting up off the couch, causing Jake to wake properly and groan.

"It's 9:00 pm I better walk you home," Emma says.
"K." I reply straightening my long nude hoodie dress and getting my bag and phone from the side of the couch." Bye." I say to them but more pointedly to Jane.
"See ya, be safe sweeties," Jane replies kissing the top of her daughter's and my heads, squeezing us softly into a snuggly hug. "We'll be fine it's only down the road." Emma's eye rolls with a smile.

She walks outside and just before I follow her, I hesitate wondering if I should to say bye to Jake or not, and I don't.