"Hey sheila. That you for breakfast. I am gonna head out now. I'll be home before dinner." I turned to leave through the kitchen door when I hear my name.
"Jake, wait a minute. I would like to talk to you about something." Rob said. I just nod and walk over to him and his wife.
"Yes?" I ask, hoping it isn't about my grades.
"We just thought you should know that, if you want of course, that the official adoption papers are here. If we sign them, you will have to go in front of a judge and say whether or not you want to be adopted. By us."
I stared at him for a long time. I hadn't realized I was doing it until I heard him clear his throat with a light cough.
"Oh uhm, go ahead and sign them. I won't stop you. Look, I really do have to go so...bye." I said and walked out the door.
I could tell that wasn't the answer they had wanted, but I didn't care, "I don't need this." I grumbled under my breath.
I took out my phone and examined all the cracks and missing pieces of glass on the screen and then dialed Derek's number.
"Hello?"
"Hey Derek. You already at school?"
"No, on my way though. why? You gonna ditch again?"
My mind went to the last time I called Derek before school. I had asked him to cover for me and went to one of my old neighborhoods and just remembered.
"No, I was wondering if you wanted to go to school with me. We can meet up at Elms if you haven't already passed it."
If you didn't know Derek, you wouldn't have noticed the hesitation in his voice. But I did.
"oh! Uhm,-sure! I just walked passed there as we spoke I can backtrack a few steps! See you soon!"
I heard the line go dead and was surprised to hear him hang up before letting me respond.
"Bye." I said to no one.
Once I could see him, I sped up a little. Looking at him from this distance you really could tell how small he was. About 5'6".
"Boo" I said loud and quick.
"Ahh!" Derek screamed and jumped so far back he fell onto the ground.
"Sorry dude," I said through giant gasps of breath. "HAHA, I couldn't help myself! BAHAHAHA"
At this point I could barely stand. I was holding my stomach and thought about how much I was trying to get air in my lungs. The expression on his face just made it that much funnier.
"Dick. Come here!" Derek said trying to grab onto my hoodie.
"Hey!" I dodged him and ran backwards around him while tried to grab me.
"Fine! You win. Can we go now?" Derek said, trying not to laugh at the situation we were in.
While we were fighting, I got him in a headlock.
"I knew I would." I said
Derek kept looking at me the whole way to school, and it was sort of bothering me.
"What's up man. Do I have breakfast on my face or...?" I could tell he wanted to talk to me about something.
"Look, I-," He took a deep breath. "I know it can't be easy. Going in there everyday. I hear what people say. I just don't want you to ruin your life over some high school losers."
I looked over at him and signed, "I have probably lived a harder and more challenging life than anyone in that building. I don't like the whispers, but I can handle it. I'e had worse. Thanks for checking in."
I held out my fist sort of sideways and Derek bumped my arm with his. "Okay well, now that that is out of the way, let's go and do nothing all day."
We laughed again and continued walking and talking all the way into our class. Which led me to another problem. Liam.
I know you are probably tired of hearing about him. I know I am. But I still think about the last thing that happened between us.
As I go to sit down I can't help but give a small twitch of a smile to seeing Liam sitting in his usual spot. Then I thought of the one thing I knew would force him to talk to me.
"yes Jake?" Ms. Nelson said after I had finally went up to her.
"Uhm, well I was sorta wondering if the 'all about us' project partners have already been decided?"
She looked up at me and raised an eyebrow at me and said, "Well, yes. I am announcing them today, right before class is over. Why?"
"Well, it's just that, I was wondering if my partner could be someone who lives near me. I don't have a car and my brother has been sick. As you may know Mr. and Mrs. Evans are away during the day and have asked me to look over Triston." I made a face that I hoped looked like concern.
"Oh, well I guess that would be alright. Do you know of anyone who meets these requirements of yours?" She asked already taking out the sheet of paper with the assigned partners.
I took a quick peek and saw I was going to be partnered with Remy. Remy was... Well is guaranteed to get me an A+ on this and almost cringe at the thought of giving her up. But I need to do this.
"Well, Santiago lives pretty close," Then I pretend to remember..., "Oh! Wait, Liam lives like, down the street. I would be able to hear Triston call for me from the window if I left it open!"
I look over at Ms. Nelson with a hopeful look and see her cross out 2 names and replace them. I don't care about anything other then the Jake/Liam written on her sheet of paper.
"Was that all?" There was the annoyed look I know and love.
"No, thank you." I walk away and make an effort to try and actually pay attention in her class.
"Okay everyone. Now, before you go I just wanted to give you your partners for the project that is going to be 40% of your grades. It will not be due for months so take. Your. Time. No need to rush. Here we go: Sarah and Laura. Kristy and Travis. Remy and Karofsky..."
Looks like Liam would have been partnered with Karofsky if I hadn't interfeered. I am like an Angel. Making sacrifices like these for others! I give a small smile and shake my head at myself when I hear the most beautiful thing ever.
"...nally: Liam and Jake. Now if anyone has any ques..."
I take a quick look over at Liam and see he broke the pencil he was holding. Here we go... I thought to myself. Hoping this was the right choice. If not, these next few months were going to be a living hell.