He frowned.
“Why?”
“Just because.”
Jake scowled. “Sarah, do you hate me?”
I turned to leave.
“Wait.”
He tried to stop me.
“Jake…”
The girl grabbed his arm.
He stopped.
I ran away.
I heard him say, “I told you, I fought cause I
<
hate those guys, not because I like you. And I
don’t want any cookies.”
- 12.
So, Jake and I were in a cold war.
Or, more like, he was giving me the cold
shoulder.
In science, he showed up to lab last. There was only one empty seat left, and it was next to me.
Jake looked around, then stormed out of the room. He’d rather skip class than sit by me.
He was seriously pissed.
But, why?
Was it because I wasn’t selling hot dogs. anymore?
While Jake was acting like I had the plague,
<
Finn was suddenly all over me. He’d stop to say
hi in the halls.
And every time, Jake was lurking behind him, looking like he wanted to kill someone.
The school’s New Year’s Eve celebration was super loud.
I was in the dressing room, getting the costumes ready.
Then Finn walked in, looking all sharp in a gray
suit. He was giving off major cool guy vibes.
“Hey, Sarah, can you help me with my tie? I’m about to go on stage.”
He held out a gray tie to me.
“I don’t know how,” I said.
Г
“And the first period’s dressing room is next
door.”
“It’s easy, it’s just like a knot,” Finn said,
ignoring me, and sat down.
I finally looked at him. “Well, then you know how to tie it.”
“Nope, I was home schooled until high school.”
…Rich people are annoying.
I thought for a second then grabbed the tie and tied it.
“Got it?”
“Come on, you didn’t even do it. You just did it!”
Finn stood up, and kicked the cabinet.
<
He made a noise and didn’t say anything.
I wanted to laugh. “Did that hurt?”
“Nope.”
“You’re tough.”
Then the door opened, and it was Jake.
Finn winked at me.
“Here’s the tough one,” Finn said.
Jake was standing by the door, arms crossed.
“Finn, you trying to die?”
“Nah.”
Finn walked out, giving me a flirty wink. “Sarah,
help me with my tie next time.”
く
The dressing room was silent again.
Jake was in the mirror, staring right at me, and
the tie that Finn had left behind.
It was that weird gray color.
He sneered. “So nice of you, Sarah. Helping out the boys in first period.”
I threw the tie on the table.
“I didn’t tie it.”
“Does it matter?”
He smirked. “You and Finn are getting real
close. What’s up with that?”
“Jake, are you jealous?” I asked him.
He didn’t deny it this time. He just looked at
- me.
<
12:12
I sighed.
804
“What happened to your hand? Did you get into another fight?”
There was a cut on his hand.
“None of your business,” he said.
“It is.”
I touched his hand, and took out a bandage.
Jake didn’t pull away. He let me do it.
When it was done, I didn’t let go.
I moved my fingers on his bandage.
“Don’t get hurt again, I’ll be sad.”
Jake looked at me.
<
“Sarah,” he said. “Now you’re messing with
me.”
“Yeah,” I said.
I looked up at him.
“So, did I do it?”
Jake stared at me for a second.
“Okay, fine.”
I paused. “Fine what?”
“I’m into you.”
Then, a bunch of noise was outside.
“Let’s go! We’re about to start.”
“Hurry, the teacher’s yelling.”
<
I opened the door and walked out.
DBRG
The sun was setting, and the sky was gold.
Jake followed me.
We walked in silence for a bit.
Then the violin started up.
Lily was practicing on stage.
Jake stopped me under a tree.
“You want me to say it again?”
The trees blocked his eyes.
I turned my wrist and held his hand.
“Dating is fine. But we need to lay down some
ground rules.”
<
Jake frowned. “What rules?”
“One: It needs to be a secret.”
“Why?”
Jake wants everyone to know about his dates.
“We’re still in school.”
It was a good enough reason.
Jake agreed.
“Two: No cheating.”
“Duh,” he said. “What do you think I am?”
I didn’t say anything.
“Fine. I’ll die in a car crash if I ever cheat.”
“.
<
“You don’t need to go that far. Break up, and
that’s it. I won’t chase you down.”
“I won’t!” he held my hand. “Three?”
“Three,” I paused. “If we break up, we go back
to being strangers.”
I was trying to tell him I was easy to lose.
But, Jake’s face fell. He squeezed my hand tighter.
He looked mad. “Sarah, we’re not even dating and you’re talking about breaking up?”
I bit my lip and explained: “I’m just being realistic.”
“Why don’t you think about us getting married?”
The wind blew and made the trees shake.
Jake looked shocked. I looked shocked.
The stadium lights were on.
804
There were a few classes sitting in the stands.
No one saw us.
We were under the tree, with all the noise in the background.
My heart was beating really fast.
I broke free.
“Never mind.”
“Wait,” he said.
I looked at him.
He swore.
<
Then took out his cigarettes and lit one.
“Jake,” I said.
He looked at me.
We looked at each other.
He pulled off the cigarette.
Then smashed the filter.
He looked me in the eye. “Sarah, you better really like me.”
