Chapter 23 Stuff Like This Only Happens In The Woods #2
I grab the phone and manage to put it in my pocket, and start dodging him.
He literally throws himself at me, and we both fall to the ground.
He tries to turn me around, but I make my body dead weight so it’s harder for him to do so.
He rolls to the side, and my face hits the ground.
He gets up quickly, and when I get up again, he makes me start to run for my life.
I can’t believe I’m running, but at least I’m pissing him off.
He runs after me, and this time I’m really making an effort.
I pass by our parents and continue the most tiring and deadly minutes of my life.
It’s not until it passes a good minute that he finally catches me.
I throw myself on top of him this time, because if I’m on his back, it’s more difficult for him to get the phone, and this time, neither of us falls.
Instead, he’s giving me a piggyback ride against his own will.
He starts to get out of breath, and I ask, amused, and trying not to wheeze, “Getting tired, West?”
“YES!”
“Alright, I’ll make it easier for you.” I get out of his back and start waving the phone around, waiting for someone to notice. Suddenly, it gets out of my hands, but it wasn’t him, no, it was Emily.
“Jacob Louis Lowe West, did you really bring an old phone to family time?”
Blake and Brandon snicker in the background and can’t help adding, “Holy shit, she brought out his government name.”
“Are we that unbearable that you had to bring back to life a Nokia?” Emily continues shouting, and Jake furiously stares at me while I laugh behind his mother’s back.
“It’s not like it’s like the old ones…” He mutters.
Oh, how the turn tables…
“She’s laughing at me!” He calls after our parents.
“Being a snitch doesn’t look good on you, son.” Joey throws back.
“I think you’re actually the offspring of immorality and corruption.”
“Then aren’t we sweet together, Evil Spawn?” I smirk at him.
“I never got the nickname Evil Spawn,” He starts to wander off in his thoughts, out loud. “I’m a lovely and caring person-”
“I’m tired!” Paige says suddenly, interrupting.
Jake lowers to his knees, without thinking, and makes a gesture for Paige to come and sit on his shoulders.
She smiles excitedly and climbs him. Her tiny legs can be seen hanging from his shoulders, and her head rests on his.
Imagine sleeping in that hair. It’s nice and fluffy and messy…
I look at both of them, and Jake just said something that makes Paige laugh.
I don’t know what it is with boys and children, but it’s the second time this week he’s charming me, and I don’t like this type of manipulation.
It’s like I’m actually starting to see something in him.
In his heart. And that’s dangerous, I can’t have that.
The Great Wall of China surrounds my heart, and he just can’t come in here and pull a Mulan on me.
He can’t- Come close and have a look and start cherishing it, only to throw it away when he gets back together with the actual Devil reincarnated, Amanda.
I push those feelings and questions to the back of my head. No need to panic, just look at the nice trees. We walk, and we walk, and finally, half an hour has passed when we get to the cars again.
“Cars!” I yell.
“She’s more excited to see the cars than to see me.” Jake complains to Paige, and she giggles.
“And never doubt that for a second, honey.” I counter, honestly.
“How are they dating?!” Blake asks, incredulous.
He’s right. We won’t fool anyone if we continue our relationship like this. We have to be more… Clingy…
I turn to Jake, hesitant, and grab his hand. The second my fingers touch his, he turns his head to me, surprised. But not in a bad way.
“I’m sorry for jumping you nearly four times.” I say almost through gritted, reluctant teeth. Because I’m definitely not sorry for that. It was fun…
“Is Madelaine Brown apologizing? To me-” He asks smugly.
I hate to put myself in this position. We never apologize to each other, ever. And that smug face is so vexing, especially when I was the one causing it.
I elbow him on the ribs, and he coughs. He looks beside me, and Blake is narrowing his eyes at us. Finally, Jake’s brain starts putting it together, and he says something.
“I-I’m sorry for tackling you over a Nokia.” He apologizes, defeated and feeling observed.
And I do the stupid but necessary thing that comes to mind.
“Don’t worry.” And I peck him on the lips. Quick and easy. Just a small touch that it could be his cheek, as easy as that. But I know it was on the lips, and I can’t help but panic as my chest tumbles.
“Ew!” Blake shouts.
I direct my gaze back to Jake, and he is smiling, genuinely smiling that 1.21 gigawatt smile and shaking his head slowly because a tiny Paige is sleeping on his hair. I point to it, and he whispers to me. “Guess I’m good to lie on.”
I sigh, a contemptuous sigh, feeling actually nervous by his words. Do I wanna lie on him?
Yes…
It’s like a whispering, enticing voice is coming from my insides, urging me to just admit it.
“I don’t know about the rest of you, but that hair definitely looks comfortable.”
I blush a little at the comment. Don’t know why, just because I’m me. I remember yesterday when I ran my fingers through it, and it felt like I could do that every day. Wait… What…?
I force myself to break our staring contest and look at the ground.
We are now next to the cars, and Jake breaks our hands and takes Paige to my aunt’s car.
He grabs her carefully and then lays her on the back seat, leaving the rest to my aunt.
Unexpectedly, a terrible need to pee comes to me, and I warn my dad that I’m going to the public restrooms. When I return, an aggravating familiar voice reaches my ears, and I follow it.
Oh, Amanda is here. I hate to admit it, but she looks great.
Her Indian ancestry, from her dad’s side, is really showing off.
Her black straight hair is silky and shiny, not to mention that her darker skin is practically glowing.
And her beautiful person is also talking to Jake.
Her ex, my boyfriend. FAKE boyfriend, fake boyfriend, Madelaine. Jesus…
I walk there, and when I reach them, Amanda’s head shoots in my direction, and only one word comes out of her mouth.
“Madelaine.”
I see. Today, we are going with no offensive comments. I can also play that game.
“Amanda.”
“We were just talking about our dates.” She informs.
Ah, yes, the annual public display of Amanda Devadhikar and Jake West virtually sucking each other’s faces whilst eating in a public space.
I have, unfortunately, experienced a couple of those.
One of the good things about this whole fake dating thing is that when she says things like that, I, being Jake’s girlfriend, should be jealous or angry, but I’m definitely not.
“So… Where did you two already go? Paul’s Diner? That pizza place near the ice cream shop? The ice cream shop?”
I was about to say no, that we hadn’t actually done any of that, when Jake spoke for me.
“We have been in various places. More discreet. In fact, today I’ll take Brown here out for a surprise date.”
I widen my eyes at the answer. Guess I’m going on a date.
A surprise one. More surprises. Look where they already got me.
Amanda’s eyes widen too, as I doubt he ever went on a surprise date with her, let alone discreetly.
They always did the same thing, and Jake taking me, somewhere Amanda never went, must drive her crazy.
“Lucky you.” She finally says, through gritted teeth.
“Lucky me.” I trail off, placing an arm around his back. What? As much as they know, we are together, and he’s my man.
He just mentioned the date, and I’m already overthinking.
Where is he going to take me? A restaurant?
Movies? Library, to talk about our favorite books?
Doubt he reads the same books as me though…
And what if I don’t like it? What if I hate it?
But what if I love it? I snap out of my little world and feel myself getting dragged somewhere.
“Brown, I must say it’s scary and impressive the way you can zone out.”
“Yeah…” I agree.
Sometimes it’s good, like when you want to ignore a person or retreat to your own little world because it feels good.
But sometimes it’s not that good, because I’m thinking if an English dog can understand a French dog instead of answering the maths-related question, asked in a test that determines whether I’m not I’m failing maths.
“So, see you tomorrow?” I ask.
“What? What about our date?”
“I thought it wasn’t real. I thought you said that to bug Amanda.”
“That was a bonus.”
“Oh. So where are you going to take me?” I hate how a little bit of excitement came out.
“Can’t say. It’s confidential.”
“Oh come on!” He gives me his signature smirk and waves, going to his car.
I go into my car and think. I bet he likes to torture me like this. I wouldn’t put it past him to have a horrid list of things he can do to drive me crazy. Like his smile, but that’s just natural. He knows that I hate surprises. Evil Spawn. But it’s your Evil Spawn.
Technically, he’s not. It’s fake. I have to remember that. I have to brainwash myself back to normal because he’s too good at this. Messing with me and my emotions and every trauma I didn’t know could be touched until we made this deal. Until he came closer.
It’s not going to last forever. It’s just going to fade away. Like everything in life. I mean, I like to be around him. And I like his hair, his patience, his eyes, his voice, his personality-
Holy shit, I’m starting to like him.
My little rant caused me to zone out, again, and made me realize that I panicked the whole way home.
“Maddie!” Allison breaks my reverie. “Get your ass up and go get ready for your date!” Allison shouts, smiling.
Glad she’s in a good mood.
She’s not the one going on a date with him.