Sweetness (Bold As Love) (3 page)

“
Are you Jake’s girlfriend?”

I choked on my Dr. Pepper and started coughing. I shook my head vehemently and tried to quit coughing. Drake patted me on the back and asked if I was okay. Soon the question echoed from Jake and my dad. Finally, I quit. “I’m fine,” I croaked.

With the choking over, Drake started to giggle. Jake and Dad were caught up in their conversation because they did not know why Drake was laughing. “What’s so funny Drake?”

I nervously looked over at Drake, he was sure to tell Jake. Sure enough, he stopped giggling long enough to say, “She started choking when I asked her if she was your girlfriend.” The look of surprise on Jake’s face sent Drake into another fit of giggles. I shook my head and tried to be invisible. Soon, everyone at the table was laughing.

Except me.

I didn’t think it was that funny. In fact, I didn’t think it was funny at all. “Well, Drake. We need to head home.” Drake started to gather up his trash. “We should get going too honey,” my dad said. I nodded and placed my trash on the tray that my dad had. “I’ll take it,” Jake offered. My dad said thanks and Jake took the trays, dumping out the trash, then came back to get Drake.

“
I’ll see ya later Emily. Nice to meet you Mike.” He shook hands with my dad and waved at me.

“
Nice to meet you Emily,” Drake piped in, completely ignoring my dad. I crouched down to become face to face with him. He held out his hand and I shook it. “It was nice to meet you too Drake.” He smiled, waving goodbye as they walked off.

I followed my dad out and went home. Thank goodness.

School flew by. Everyone seemed to be in a good mood. Fridays do that to people. Everyone seemed focus on his or her weekend plans. I was just ready for that last bell. I drove to school today because I had a few errands to run after school before Jake and Drake came over.

Dad wanted me to stop by the grocery store and pick up various items. Plus, I wanted to make sure we had snacks and extra drinks. I also had to go by Wal-Mart and pick up some items for our project. Once we did the worksheets, we had to make a poster, which we would present to the class. I was already planning and praying that Jake would do all the talking. I could hold the poster…and hold it high enough to hide my face. Then I wouldn’t have to look at anyone and no one could see me.

Sounded like the perfect plan to me. The bell rang and I made my quick getaway. After stopping by my locker, I headed for my car, a Ford Focus. “Hey Emily,” someone called out behind me as I threw my bag into the car. I turned to see Jake; his car was parked three spots down.

“
If you have a car, then why do you walk?”

“
I like walking,” I said shrugging. Without a second thought, I got in my car and drove off.

I hated going to the store. More often than not, the cashiers were friendly and smiling. They would try to make conversation. I couldn’t do that. I kept thinking that someone would lash out at me-start fussing because I was holding up the line with friendly conversation.

Therefore, I kept quiet and looked down, watching the items as they are scanned. I handed over the money and mumbled thanks as I took off. Happy that I have everything I need, I head home.

Jake

I parked on the curb at Emily’s house. “Drake,” I began.

“
I know. I know! Behave,” he interrupted.

I smiled. We got out of the car and made our way to the front door. Drake has been excited as ever about today. I have to admit, I’m a little excited too. I had never seen Emily as relaxed as she seemed last night talking to Drake. Well, up until she almost choked. Nevertheless, I was excited to see her relaxed again. I wanted to see her smile again too. She had a beautiful smile. Drake knocked on the door, excited to see Emily.

She opened the door, quickly glanced at me, and then down to Drake. She smiled and said, “Hey Drake! How are you today?” Her voice was clear and not at all quiet. She was completely different around Drake.

Drake bubbled over at the attention. “I’m great!”

“
Well, come on in.”

We walked into the house and Emily led us into the kitchen. Their house definitely felt homey. Pictures of Emily were everywhere. Sometimes she was by herself, cracking up over something funny. Sometimes, she was with her dad grinning or laughing. There were a few of her with friends.

She looked nothing like the reserved girl she was now. In the pictures, she looked loud and outgoing. What happened to make her as she was now? “Jake,” I heard ever so softly.

I turned to look at Emily, realizing I had stopped walking and was looking at the pictures. “I was just looking,” I said like an idiot. Of course, I was looking. She walked over to where I was and looked at the picture that currently held my attention. It looked as if it was taken maybe two years ago.

She, along with three other girls, was jumping off a walkway and into a lake. They were all smiling and doing a pose in the air for the camera. Emily looked like she was trying not to laugh.

“
That’s one of my favorites,” she whispered.

“
You look so happy and carefree,” I said just as quietly.

“
I was.” With that, she walked away and into the kitchen. I followed her and saw Drake drinking milk and eating cookies. Drake looked up at me and smiled, “She made me cookies!” I glanced at Emily.

She shrugged and said, “I like those better.”

I sat down at the table. “Would you like something to drink,” Emily asked as she opened the fridge. Her quiet voice carried over to me.

“
Whatcha got?”

She named a few sodas and I settled on Pepsi. She fixed a glass of Pepsi and a glass of Dr Pepper before she sat down. “Thanks,” I said taking my glass. She nodded then turned her attention to Drake as he began talking to her.

“
You’ll never believe what happened today! The guy who brought the snake, you remember that, right?” Emily nodded. “Well, he came back today and brought different lizards and a baby alligator! Everyone got to hold all the animals. It was so cool!”

“
It seems like you go to a dangerous school,” Emily commented.

Drake laughed and continued in detail about the way the lizards and gator felt. Emily looked grossed out. I tried to hold in the chuckle but to no avail. Emily looked over at me and then back at Drake.

Emily shook her head as Drake said he wanted one of the lizards as a pet. Her hair fell into her eyes and she quickly pushed it behind her ear. “You sure are a brave young man, Drake,” she said causing Drake to grin wildly.

Drake looked at me and said, “Did you hear that Jake? I’m a man.”

I laughed and said, “A
young
man.”

That didn’t faze Drake at all. “A man is a man Jake.”

Emily started laughing and said, “It’s true.”

Drake beamed at the affirmation. “We should get started on our project,” Emily said, quickly taking the smile off Drake’s face. “Don’t worry Drake. We have plenty of channels on TV for you to watch. Come on, I’ll show you.”

Drake followed Emily out of the room and into the living room. I could hear Emily showing him the cartoon channels and Drake’s enthusiasm at one of the shows. A few minutes later, she returned with her hands full of papers, a poster and glue.

“
You want to finish it all today? Trying to get rid of me?”

Emily’s cheeked turned scarlet as she set everything down on the table. “I don’t like waiting until the last minute,” she said quietly.

“
Why are you quiet now? You don’t talk like that with Drake. You look him in the eye too,” I asked hoping I wasn’t overstepping some unseen boundary.

She bit her lip and I wondered if she knew she did that. She plopped into her seat and said, “It’s easier.” She left it at that while I gathered my papers from my bag.

“
Why do you keep asking me questions?”

I looked up and asked myself the same question. Why do I keep asking her questions? Why do I want to know the answer? “Curious, I guess.”

“
Curiosity kills the cat.”

What? Was she trying to say that I didn’t want to know the answers? Was she saying that it was bad enough to kill? What was she trying to say?

Before I could ask, she changed the subject over to our project. We worked for about an hour when Mike came in. He kissed the top of Emily’s head and said hello. Emily got up abruptly and went to check on Drake. Did her behavior have something to do with her dad? Has he done something to her?

He seemed too nice and down to earth. I didn’t think that was it. “How’s the project goin’?”

“
Pretty good. Making a lot of progress. I think Emily is ready to get rid of me and Drake.”

Mike chuckled. “She probably wants to get rid of you more than Drake.”

I had a feeling that he was right. I wanted to ask why but I didn‘t think he would tell me. I looked into the living room and saw Emily sitting with Drake watching TV. The question that has been on my mind since being paired up with Emily was what happened to her. The possibilities that came to mind were not ones that would sit well with anyone.

I watched her laugh at something Drake said. “We should probably get back to work,” I stated, not knowing what else to say.

I had a crazy urge to see her as I saw her in the pictures, like I see her with Drake. However, would it ever happen? What would bring her out of the shell her mother placed her in?

I stood and made my way into the living room. I rested my arms on the back of the couch in-between Emily and Drake. “I thought we were working?” Emily jumped and I immediately regretted sneaking up on them. Drake glared at me and patted Emily’s hand.

She smiled at him and said, “You can hang out with my dad while we work.” Mike walked in and sat in the recliner. Emily got up and walked into the kitchen while Mike started talking to Drake, who jumped into his story about the alligator and lizards.

I followed Emily and sat down. “Sorry about scaring you.”

She shrugged and went to fix her another glass of Dr Pepper. “Want anything,” she asked over her shoulder.

“
I’m fine.”

She sat back down and we went back to work.

An hour later, we had finished our project. I leaned back, tired of working and said, “I think this is the first time I’ve done a project before the due date. I’m a last minute kind of guy.” I saw her smile faintly and I leaned forward. I wanted her to look at me.

“
Is that a smile I see?”

The smile faded and she peeked up at me before looking away from me into the living room. “I’m going to miss hanging out with Drake,” she whispered.

“
I usually take him with me to practice. You could watch him, if you’d like,” I offered. Deep down, a voice told me that this would give me an excuse to see her.

She smiled, “I would like that. I could pick him up from school too.”

“
That will be fine. Drake will be ecstatic. You can leave after school and go straight to his. If something holds you back a few minutes, it’ll be fine too. There’s always a line.” I glanced down at my watch. We would need to get home soon. We exchanged numbers in case I needed to get up with her or vice versa. Drake rushed into the kitchen and asked for more cookies. “You haven’t eaten dinner yet. You don’t need any more cookies.”

Mike followed Drake inside. He asks if we would like to stay for dinner and as I decline, I see Emily sneaking Drake a cookie. I couldn’t help but smile. I made small talk with Mike until Drake finished his cookie. “Alright Drake, we need to get home.”

We said our goodbyes and headed home.

Dad was in the recliner, as always, watching TV and drinking. I went to the kitchen and microwaved left over pizza for dinner before going upstairs, checking on Drake who went straight to his room. I handed him his plate and we ate on his bed in silence. Once finished, I took our plates and told him to go brush his teeth. I went downstairs and washed our plates.

I found Drake in bed. I tuck him in and go to kiss his forehead when he stops me. “I’m a man remember? I don’t need a kiss goodnight.”

I smiled and agreed. I left his room and went to shower. Hopefully, I could unwind. Every time I closed my eyes, Emily’s smile popped up.

Emily

I woke up Saturday morning with the urge to move. I changed into some running clothes and took off. These runs happened every so often. I didn’t have a route. I just ran wherever. If I felt the want to turn, I would. Otherwise, I ran straight.

I slowed to a stop. I was starting to get out of breath and my leg felt like it was going to cramp. “Emily?” I looked across the street to see Jake sitting on the steps of a porch. I waved and looked back down at my shoes, still taking deep breaths, which were becoming more even.

I could hear a creak as Jake stood and then the soft steps of his feet on the grass. He crossed the street in a jog and stood in front of me. He was wearing a white tank top and basketball shorts. I looked up to see his collarbone. How did I forget how tall he was? “Hey Jake,” I mumbled, deciding to take a glance. His gaze bore down on me. I redirected my gaze to his lips. Big mistake. I decided to return my gaze to his collarbone.

“
What are you doing out and about so early?”