I look up at the bright stars in the sky. I wish you were here, Mom. I know we were not close... maybe that was my fault. I don't know but I could really use you right now. I didn't know how empty a world without you would be. I don't know how to navigate the way I am feeling. I don't wanna hate Daddy, but I feel like I do.
A tear falls down my face. I shiver. Forgot my jacket again. I sigh. I feel a jacket drop over my shoulders. I look and see Jake beside me, hands in his pockets, looking up at the sky.
"It'll get easier," he says. I stare at him. "You're so confusing," I say. He looks at me. "I'm not trying to be... I like you and I want to be friends... but I have a past and it isn't a good one," he says, sighing did he just friendzone me?
I look back at the stars. "My mom used to say everyone has a story, a broken heart or grief they carry with them everywhere. You don't know what keeps them up at night and it isn't for you to know as long as you're a good person and there for them... no matter who they are. No one should be alone."
I look at him.
I can see so much hurt in his eyes. He tries to hide it but I see it. "I don't know what you have been through and you don't have to tell me, but don't push us away because you're scared... That's a lonely road," I say. He opens and closes his mouth a few times.
"I'm not scared for me. I don't want y'all to get hurt," he says. I laugh. "What, are you in the mafia?" I say, glancing at him. Trying the lighten the mood. "No..." he says, rolling his eyes.
We stand in silence for awhile.
"Is it Haylie"? I ask. He looks me dead in the eyes. "No, she means nothing to me and you should stay away from her... She is no good," he says, with anger in his eyes. What is your story Jake?
'What did she do to you? Why do you hate her? What happened with Katie? I wonder to myself. "Don't worry. I don't plan on becoming best friends with her. She just happens to appear where I am lately," I say. His expression hardens.
"Aww, we aren't going to be best friends, cookie," Haylie says, from across the yard. I roll my eyes. "Speak of the devil," I say. Letting out a frustrated sigh. "Oh, you flatter me, but I am much worse," she says, with a wicked smile. Jake's whole body seems tense. I look at him.
I'm feeling tired of her games. "What do you want?" I ask. Jake glances at me, giving me a look I don't understand. Her smile drops. "To be best friends of course," she says in a mocking tone. taking a step towards us. I look at her. What is her game? What does she want? To scare me? To hurt him?
I roll my eyes. "Right... I don't think we'll be braiding each other's hair anytime soon," I say, annoyed with her presence. Her face changes and she looks angry. She steps closer.
"You'll learn to watch your tongue, little girl," she says, staring me dead in the eyes. "Is that a threat?" I ask, staring right back at her, not backing down. She smiles. "A promise. There are things you don't know about and I think Jakey here wants to keep it that way... but me on the another hand..." She steps closer until she's right in my face.
"I can snap your neck so fast you wouldn't even know it until your body was on the ground bleeding out." She walks inside. I stand there, not sure what just happened.
"She's insane" I say, looking at Jake, who seems pissed. "Yes, but she is dangerous. Just... stay away from her and me," he says, before turning to head inside. "Not this again. I won't stay away. We are friends and I don't give a damn what you've done. I care about who you are now and from where I am standing, you're not that bad. So stop pushing me away, because it won't work. I've lost too many people, Jake. I refuse to lose any more," I snap at him.
His expression doesn't change.
I step past him going back inside. He walks over to Haylie, grabbing her by the arm and dragging her upstairs.
Of course she makes a scene.
"Jakey, if you wanted to get me in bed, you could have just asked." He growls at her. "What is your game, Haylie? Why are you back?" he asks, slamming her against the wall. I tiptoe towards, them trying to listen.
Emily does the same. She looks at me and puts her finger to her lips to be silent. I nod. We stand there eavesdropping.
"We had a deal, Jakey. You said you didn't deserve to ever be happy again since you basically let Katie die and killed all those people and I was to constantly remind you," she says, smiling at him.
"Plus we have so much fun together," she says, flirting with her eyes. "I am trying to be better. I promised my sister and she can't know about any of that and your the one who doesnt want me to be happy but I think I have suffered enough over katie" he says, pleading with her.
"Then sleep with me and my lips are sealed," she says. He won't do it, I think to myself. Killed people? My head is hurting from overthinking. I hear him slam her against another wall, a moan escaping her lips. "This is the last time but you have to stay away from them" he says. I hear her agree before you can hear clothes coming off.
Emily and I head out back.
"He... he's killed someone or someones? His ex Katie died and he let her? What is going on?" Emily asks, looking horrified. "I don't know, Em. but we'll figure it out, I promise," I say.
"I wanna go," she whispers. I nod. We make our way inside, finding Derek. We tell him. We leave. I pull out my phone. "We are going home. We've had enough fun for one night." I hit send.
We arrive to Emily's house. She and Derek head upstairs for bed. I lay down on the couch, flipping through the channels. "Anything good on?" Jake asks. I jump and gasp. I hadn't even heard him come in. He raises an eyebrow at me. How'd they do it that fast I wondered mentally slapping my self for asking that.
"I didn't even hear you come in," I say. He nods. "I'm good at being silent," he says. "Why did y'all leave?" he asks. "Too many reasons," I say, looking at him. He looks different. His skin is glowing. His eyes seem brighter. Was it her? Did she have this effect on him.
He is such a mystery to me. I can't decide if I should be scared of him or not. Why are you such a mystery?
(What do y'all think his big secret is? What is Haylie's story?)