Chapter 13
An Unexpected Visitor
Is that a caveman or our star quarterback? P.S- Who's the out-of-town hottie? Yes, please.
Tuesday and Wednesday fly by like I'm in a dream.
My best dream. My favorite dream. We've stayed together every night so far.
It's technically only been three nights, but it feels like we've been doing this forever.
Jake is attentive, he listens when I talk, and he's not afraid to hold my hand or hug me in public.
That means something to me. It's a chunky girl's worst fear of dating someone that's ashamed of them.
I don't fully trust that he has genuine feelings for me.
I think he wants to be my first, but I don't have high hopes of anything good happening after that.
Will he want me more than once? Will the "obsession," as he called it, end as abruptly as it started?
I shake my head, the idea that he's obsessed in any form or fashion is ludicrous. Laughable even.
We make it to Lit, and he holds the door open for me.
Forever the gentleman. I smile my thanks up at him.
I'm surprised as his breath hitches. Dallas and Sasha are already there.
They are holding hands and smiling at each other.
They have turned a complete 360 in their relationship.
Dallas apologized to me yesterday, and we made our amends.
As long as he treats Sasha well, we'll be good, and I honestly think he will.
He's just scared to trust again. That'll probably be me after Jake. Ugh!
I smile at Jake. "I'm glad they made up. It makes me happy."
"Me too, Sweet Cheeks. I tell you what, I don't want you to ever get mad at me like you did, Dallas. It was super hot to watch, though."
"Don't make me angry by being a dick then."
He laughs. "The only dick at this table is you. You were the cutest! That will forever be my favorite line that's ever been said in the entire history of the world."
I roll my eyes. "Nobody puts Baby in the corner. Now that's the best line to have ever been said in the entire history of the world."
"Patrick Swayze ain't got nothing on you, Sweet Cheeks."
I laugh. "You're such a dork."
"I'm your dork."
"My extremely hawt dork."
"You had me at hawt." I laugh and run my fingers through his hair. I jump as I hear the professor bring the class to attention.
I forgot we were even in class. I've got to focus more.
My scholarship depends on me keeping a 4.
0. We've been reading 'Jane Eyre' this week. I've read it every summer since my granny bought me a copy at the Bargain Warehouse the summer before sixth grade. I’ve been in love with Mr. Rochester from their very first encounter. He’ll forever be a part of my heart as my favorite book boyfriend.
I envisioned myself more than once as the plain yet remarkable heroine Jane.
Their love story had its ups and downs, but in the end, even after all the lies and deceptions, love won and Jane got her man. Better yet, Rochester got his Jane!
"Ms. Constantine, in Chapter 13, when Jane and Mr. Rochester are in the drawing-room, can you name three character traits revealed about him within their dialogue?"
I smile. I could do this in my sleep. "I could talk about Mr. Rochester all day long.
He's a complex character and very unconventional.
He's not very polite as he doesn't even look up when Jane enters the room.
He's brooding and somewhat mysterious, which may be his way of distancing himself away from other people.
He's very commanding. He doesn't ask, only tells, which could be because he is Master of the house.
He has a dry sense of humor and accuses Jane of bewitching his horse upon his arrival at the estate.
His more appealing side suggests that he has a curious nature when he asks pointed questions about Jane and all her accomplishments. "
Professor Whitmore smiles. "Excellent. I see I'm not the only one with a Mr. Rochester crush."
"He's my favorite Literary Boyfriend."
The class laughs, and Jake rolls his eyes. He takes a sheet of paper out and scribbles a note.
You're mine, remember?
I scribble back.
I was his first!
He sticks his tongue out at me.
I hate him!
I put my hand over my mouth to keep from howling. Jake is so cute. I put my other hand in his and squeeze it. I scribble one last note before turning my attention back to the Professor.
Mr. Rochester ain't got nothing on YOU, baby!
He gives me that award-winning smile and puffs out his chest with pride.
This class is more interesting than Bio.
That may or may not be because of the stud sitting beside me, no offense to my second favorite, Jaxon.
When I'm with him, I feel exhilarated and every cell in my body sits on high alert.
I'm having the time of my life with him.
We walk out of class, and someone picks me up from behind. I squeal. Only one guy is that strong! Toby has come one week early! "Toby put me down this instant!"
He does, and I turn around and give him the biggest bear hugs! I want to cry, he feels like home. An overwhelming feeling of homesickness overtakes me. I remind myself to call my family a little earlier than usual tonight.
"I'm so glad you're here! Sasha, Toby. Toby, Sasha! Two of my best friends all in the same state!"
Sasha smiles up at him. "Nice to meet you, Toby. I've heard some pretty crazy stories!"
I don't have to look over to feel Jake's stare. I'm not sure how I should introduce him. I'm stalling. This is nerve-wrecking!
"Yeah, like that time Dani fell off of her bike and said that I pushed her!"
"You did push me, you moron!"
Everybody laughs, and I turn to make the other introductions.
I smile over at Jake, and he takes that as an invitation to come over to where we're standing.
He wraps his arm around my waist and plants a hard kiss on my lips.
It takes me a minute to recover. If I fall, Toby just proved he could catch me.
Toby's reaction is priceless. If his eyes get any more bulged out, I'll worry that he's having a heart attack. "Toby, this is Jake. Jake, this is my cousin Toby."
Realization dawns on Jake's face. He hadn't remembered what Toby looked like.
He was jealous and had staked his claim on me.
Omg! Maybe he is obsessed?! I start to feel hot in all the right places.
What is wrong with me? Jake reaches out his hand, and Toby shakes it.
Toby speaks first. "I'll only say this once. You break her, and I'll break you."
Jake doesn't take offense. "I'll kick my own ass if I ever hurt her."
"We will be great friends then."
I introduce him to Dallas, and the jocks say goodbye because they have to head to football practice. We make a plan to meet up later for dinner at whatever restaurant I pick out. That's what Jake told everyone anyways. I smile because I love how he gets bossy where I'm concerned.
We walk to our dorm room, and Sasha makes us all grilled cheeses. She's an expert on these tasty sandwiches. She tells me the secret is to have more than one type of cheese in the mix. She also adds a little garlic powder. It's amazing.
Toby licks his fingers. "Are you sure you really like this Dallas dude because I'm totally available?"
Sasha laughs and flips her hair. While I know Sasha is a one man kind of woman, Toby has a way with ladies of all ages. They all love him, and he can do no wrong. "I mean, I could give you my grilled cheese recipe, but then I'd have to kill you."
"I'd die a happy man."
I pinch him. "Shut up, flirting with her, you weirdo!"
He winks at her, then pinches me back. "You're a total spaz."
"Ouch! I would say your Mama, but we both already know that's true."
"Shut up!" He laughs. "So, what's up with lover boy, and why haven't you told me about him?"
I blush. "It's not that I didn't tell you. It's just that I haven't told you yet. This is all so new, and we've only really started getting to know each other this week."
"That's not what it looked like from the outside looking in. Before he found out I was your cousin, he staked his claim on you like a caveman at his first buffet."
Toby is such an idiot. I can't help myself and laugh, and so does Sasha. "Whatever, it's not that serious. You've been waiting for the perfect time to say that line, haven't you?" That's all I got because if I say it's not serious, then it doesn't make me feel sick to my stomach. Serious is scary.
"Of course, I've been waiting for over an hour to say that punchline!! It seemed appropriate to slide on in the convo, finally! Dani, you can say what you want. I don't know what his intentions are, but he's serious. Guys don't get jealous like that over girls they're not serious about."
I shrug, then change the conversation because I can't let this one continue.
It will hurt too much to find out Toby is wrong.
I ask about his Mama and Daddy. I find out what he's been doing during all his free time.
He tells me that he's been checking up on my family and that Granny Betsy Jean has a new admirer.
I'll have to ask her about that one later!
We are lazy the rest of the afternoon. Thankfully, the Jake talk is at a bare minimum.
Toby tries to say stuff on the sly, but I ignore it, and Sasha laughs at us but doesn't say anything.
I don't want to overthink what any of this means.
I want to live only in the moment for once in my life.
I ignore how my stomach gets nervous when I think about what's to come or how it will end.