Love and Loneliness

Double Date

The days started bleeding together as what was once adrenaline fuelled activities became normal. Bella was getting better and better on her bike until she realised she was no longer hearing Ed's voice and despite spending more time than not in the forest, we couldn't find whatever it was Bella was searching for.

"Happy Valentine's Day." Jake greeted happily when I opened the door to one of our movie night/study sessions.
"Happy Valentines Day?" I replied, though it was more of a question.
"You didn't realise did you?" Jake laughed, handing me a small pink box while giving me a kiss on the cheek.
"Well, a part of me didn't think I'd get to see another Valentines Day so-" I cut myself short.
"Would you be my Valentine?" Jake asked anyway, ignoring my morbid ramble.
"Hmm, maybe..." I joked, "what does it get me?"
"Well," Jake pretended to mull as I pulled him to the den. "There's the fifty-cent box of candy." He gestured to the box in my hand, "and all of this." He then gestured to himself.
Breaking out in laughter, I hugged him tightly around the neck and noticed not for the first time how far down he had to lean to hug me back. "Well with all of that!" I gestured to him when I pulled away, "how could I say no?"
"Oh good, cause you know, it would be awkward to ask for the candy back." We broke into another fit of giggles that were only stopped by Bella clearing her throat.

Both of our attentions were drawn to her as she leaned against the doorframe with a smirk, a raised eyebrow, and her arms crossed.
Jake was the first to talk, though with the familiar embarrassed pink coating his cheeks of getting caught flirting. "so, what are we doing tomorrow? Hiking or the ER?" I snorted at the choices.
"Hiking." Bella decided, "You're not the only one who can be obsessive. I'm starting to think I imagined that place..." She frowned.
"We'll find it." Jake assured her, "bikes Friday?"
"We're going to a movie on Friday with Bella's cafeteria crowd." I rolled my eyes, "Bella told me about it this morning."
Jake looked at me with sad eyes and like normal, his voice flooded my brain I want to spend as much time with her as possible before... I just want to be near Julie.

"You'll come too, right?" Bella interrupted, sensing the sadness both of us shared.
"Would that be ok?" Jake asked me, "I know they were your friends too and you haven't seen them in a while."
"Absolutely," I smiled softly, "wouldn't be nearly as good without you there after all."
"Maybe even invite Quil?" Bella suggested, "make it a party."
"Quil's gonna freak. Senior girls" Jake chuckled with an eye roll.
Bella laughed back, "I'll try to get him a good selection."

The night out arrived, and I went to the freaking nines to get ready, finishing it off with a celebratory selfie that was added to the one from the last movie night I went to. God I hope this one ended different.
Decked out in a thigh-high forest green dress and black wedges, I had my hair up in a simple pony tail and finished it off with a brown and red smoky eye and red lipstick.
"Ready Bella?" I called from the bathroom.
"Ready." She called back.
"What movie are we seeing again?" I asked as we walked down the stairs.
"Crosshairs." Bella answered, "Mike wanted to see some romcom but I shut that down quick."
I snorted at Bella's bluntness and walked out the front door, gaping at the sight before me.
"Jake!" I shouted in glee, "you finished the Rabbit!"
He beamed back in excitement, "just last night. This is the maiden voyage."
"Incredible." Bella commented, offering a high five.
Jake returned the gesture and quickly looped his fingers with mine. "So," he asked, "do I get to drive tonight?"

"Definitely." Bella agreed, before letting out a dramatic sigh.
"What's wrong?" Jake and I frowned.
"I'm giving up," she shrugged, climbing into the Rabbit's back seat, "I can't top this one. So you win. You're oldest."
Jake shrugged calmly, but his eyes showed an ego that practically doubled in size, "of course I am."

On the way to the theatre, Bella revealed that it would only be the four of us at the movies this evening.
"Everyone else got sick." Bella sighed.
"So... it's just Mike, and us." I raised a brow. Oh God it's practically a double date.
"Mike..." Jake recalled, "I remember that guy, the one who thought you were his girlfriend right?"
I nodded and Bella groaned.
"He still confused?"
"Some people are hard to discourage." She sighed.
"Then again," Jake looked at me thoughtfully, "sometimes persistence pays off."
"It doesn't if you don't keep your eyes on the road." I smacked his arm, annoyed at where the conversation was taking us.