Always Been You Page 14

  “Guess who?” said a male voice from behind me, as they covered my eyes.

  Smiling, I removed their hands and turned around.

  “Aaron! What are you doing here?”

  “Some friends and I just came out of a movie when I saw you standing here,” he explained. “How about you?”

  “Jacob and I just came out of a movie too,” I said.

  “I hope it wasn’t as bad as hearing this couple in the theatre I was in moaning and groaning the entire time.”

  “Hey! We were in the same theatre. Where were you sitting?”

  “In the back row,” he said. I burst out laughing. “What’s so funny?”

  “Just something Jacob said to me,” I grinned. “So what were you doing watching a romantic movie? Are you on a date?”

  “Not when I’m still waiting for you,” he grinned back. “Where is Jacob anyway?”

  “He needed to use the washroom,” I said. “Listen, I’m sorry I haven’t gotten back to you with your question.”

  “If it wasn’t for my courses, I’d be spending every day trying to convince you to side with me. I was even thinking about calling you when I got home tonight, but I got lucky and bumped into you. Now that you’re here, I can finally find out your answer.”

  “Oh, um…”

  “Hey, Jacob,” said Aaron, unaware of my nervousness as he pulled me closer. “How’s it going?”

  “Not bad,” he said, glancing at where Aaron had placed his hand on my waist. “What’s going on?”

  “I was just asking if Jenna has made her decision about being my girlfriend,” said Aaron. Jacob abruptly took off into the crowd. “What’s with him?”

  I turned my gaze to answer Aaron, but my mouth wouldn’t work. A panic began to flutter in my chest while my thoughts tumbled out of my ear, leaving my brain stagnate with my mouth slightly open, as he questioningly gazed over my face.

  “Ah, now I get it,” sighed Aaron. “Jacob’s finally making his move.”

  “Not exactly,” I managed to whisper.

  “But something’s definitely happening between you two, isn’t it? I guess that means I finally got my answer.”

  “Aaron, you’re a great guy and all, and I wish I could feel the same for you like how you do for me, but I can’t. I’m sorry if I’ve ever led you to believe it was anything more.”

  “You didn’t lead me on, Jenna. I promise. I guess I was just hoping that because I like you so much, maybe I would grow on you a bit. But even though you’re not mine, I really did have a great time with you. I only hope I can find someone who cares for me as much as you care for Jacob. If you haven’t already, you should tell him. I think he’s just waiting for you to say something. At least can we still be friends?”

  “We’ll always be friends,” I grinned and pulled him in for a hug.

  “Good,” he said. “But just so you know, if Jacob doesn’t get his ass in gear and do something soon, I won’t hesitate to jump in. Anyway, I think it’s time for you to go find him before he thinks you have eloped with me.”

  Before I could answer, Aaron pushed me out the door and into the cool spring air.

  “Now go and make sure things are okay with you two, and remember to invite me to your wedding,” he whispered in my ear.

  Giving him a wry smile as he gave me a meaningful wink, I turned my head and found Jacob right away. He was leaning against the wall and had his face to the floor. Then as if he felt the weight of my gaze, he lifted his head and pushed away from the wall.

  “I take it you guys have worked things out then,” he muttered.

  “We’ve decided to remain friends,” I said.

  A silence hung in the air at my statement as I waited for Jacob to reply back. When he parted his lips, a small voice then appeared in my head, screaming for him to say he wanted me as much as I wanted him. Regrettably I never got to hear what he had to say. Jacob closed his eyes and swore under his breath once we heard Amber yelling out his name.

  “What the hell is she doing here?” he groaned.

  “I don’t know, but here she comes,” I muttered.

  Without a warning, Amber pushed me aside and wrapped her arms seductively around Jacob’s neck.

  “Jenna, are you all right?” he asked, extricating himself from her tight grasp.

  “I’m fine,” I said, grabbing his hand as he helped me up from the ground.

  “What the hell do you think you’re doing, Amber?” he demanded, turning his head to face her.

  “I missed you,” she said sweetly. “I know I should have told you how I felt, but I was still confused about us. That’s why I missed the picnic.”

  “And you assumed I’d jump at the chance to get back together with you and continue like nothing happened,” he said.

  “Of course,” she smiled. “Don’t you miss me too?”

  “Apparently not if I didn’t even notice you were absent at the picnic.”

  “How can you say that after all we’ve been through?” she whined. “I even broke it off with the guy I was seeing because I still want to be with you.”

  “How can you stand here and lie to me like this?” he shouted back. “How can you tell me you never even once bad mouthed me?”

  “I’m not lying,” she argued. “Whatever you heard isn’t true.”

  “Now that’s laughable. Here you want me to believe you, yet you’re the one who made the false accusations about me.”

  “I’m sorry for those rumours about you Jacob. I was hurt when you left me, but I’m telling you the truth now.”

  “That still doesn’t give you the right to be spreading vicious lies about me like that.”

  “Can’t you give me another chance to make it up to you?”

  “Sorry, Amber, but it’s too late.”

  “Oh!” she spat, spinning around so she could glare at me with spite. “Is she the reason you don’t want to be with me?”

  “Yes,” he said without any hesitation, causing both me and Amber to turn our heads.

  “Now, Jacob, don’t tell me you’d picked her over me,” she sniffed.

  “And what is wrong with picking Jenna?” he said, ignoring my wide-eyed look.

  “Why would you want to be with her when we both know I can make you happy?”

  “You never made me happy, Amber. You actually made me so depressed about my life that if it wasn’t for Jenna, I probably would’ve done something really stupid.”

  “Didn’t you ever love me?”

  “No.”

  “What about that special night we shared together? Didn’t you love me then?”

  I didn’t want to hear his answer, but Jacob grabbed my arm, preventing me from backing away.

  “Jenna, stay,” he said and turned his head back to Amber. “There never was a moment, Amber,” he said briskly. “Maybe in your dreams something happened between us, but I never wanted to sleep with you, even though you tried to convince me otherwise.”

  “Then how come you let a vindictive bitch like Jenna sleep with you?” she cried.

  “Where the hell did you hear that?” growled Jacob.

  “Please! You expect me to believe everything you’ve said about her? Like how perfect she is? Just because she opens her legs for you doesn’t mean she’s actually interested. Everyone in school knows she’s just a manipulator and a user. I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s already slept with half the guys in school.” Ignoring Jacob, who let out a low growl, she then angrily brushed him aside and strode right up to me until our faces were only inches apart. “And you!” she screeched at me. “How dare you try and seduce him so he would fall for you?”

  I never thought I would ever want to hit a girl, but the strong temptation that was building in the pit of my stomach made me want to leap out and slap Amber hard. With a sense of chagrin, I resisted the tempting urge and bit my bottom lip.

  “Despite what you and other girls may think of me, nothing I have done has been so Jacob would like me,” I said. “I
chose to be his friend because I wanted to, not because I wanted Jacob to like me more. I also never gave you any reason not to like me.”

  “No reason?” she spat. “I hate you for a very good reason?”

  “Why? Because you think I’m manipulative? Because I’m a slut? If you’re basing your theory on that, then you’re reasoning for hating me is far from the truth. Besides, I think you should be thanking me.”

  “Why the hell would I want to go and do something like that?” she sneered.

  “Because during the whole time you and Jacob were together, I was on your side, trying to help you out so things would work out between the two of you.”

  “You’re only saying this to make yourself look good in front of Jacob.”

  “Think whatever you want, but I’m telling you the truth,” I said. “Oh, and there is one other thing. I have never slept with anyone, so, please stop spreading that about me, okay?”

  I hoped I had gotten my point across to her, but I guess I didn’t. Amber lifted her hand.

  “What the hell did I say about you trying to hit Jenna?” yelled Jacob.

  “Can’t you see that she’s trying to trick you into liking her?” she cried, trying to yank her arm out of Jacob’s grasp.

  “Why would she need to when she’s not the desperate one who needs to look good in front of her friends…if you can even call them that?” said Jacob. “At least Jenna doesn’t have to lie to anyone for them to like her.”

  “But she’s not that pretty!” she wailed.

  “For your information, I happen to think she’s beautiful, inside and out. She has more class in one of her eyes than you do in your entire body.”

  “How can you say that about someone who probably isn’t that special to you in the first place?” she asked, looking aghast.

  “Because Jenna is special to me,” he said with admiration. “She has been with me through some very tough times. There is nobody I would rather have than her.”

  Amber narrowed her brown eyes dangerously again and turned her gaze back to me. “This is your entire fault, you little…”

  “My decision has nothing to do with Jenna,” growled Jacob, standing in front of me to block Amber from trying to lunge at me again. “I finally realised how wrong you were for me, and how stupid I was to fall for someone as hateful and as spiteful as you.”

  “But, Jacob…”

  “You know, Amber, I’m wasting my time talking to you,” he added coldly. “You will never understand me. Just leave us alone.”

  Shoving Amber roughly, he then grabbed my hand and pulled me to my car. The last thing I heard was Amber’s sobbing and screaming echoing around us.

  “Hey, thanks for standing up for me,” said Jacob.

  “You stood up for me too,” I said. “You even protected me from almost getting slapped…again.”

  Jacob’s face was suddenly etched with guilt. “Listen, I’m sorry about before. I mean…about saying I was dating you. I just couldn’t stand how she was acting towards you. I knew if I said that, it might make her realise that I want nothing to do with her.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” I said.

  “But I really shouldn’t have—”

  “Jacob,” I said with a warning tone, causing him to raise his eyes to meet mine in confusion. “Meek really doesn’t suit you. Knock it off.”

  “So then,” he grinned. “Since it’s still early, how about we go back to your house and play a round of Scrabble?”

  “Are you sure you want to attempt something like that again?”

  “That was an easy mistake.”

  “How can confusing quiche with quickie be a mistake?”

  “How was I supposed to know that’s how it’s spelled? I’m sure if you ask anyone who’s never seen that word before to pronounce it, they would do the same.”

  “Maybe we should play something easier like chess,” I laughed.

  “Let’s go,” he sighed and quickly tugged on my sleeve.

  The sun had sunk halfway down the horizon, the sky a mixture of pinks, purples, yellows, and blues, by the time we reached my house and parked my car. The air had gotten cooler, and the spring wind was beginning to pick up speed as it blew through the trees.

  “Ready to get whipped tonight?” asked Jacob.

  “With the way how you play, I should have no problems in beating you,” I smirked.

  “I’ll have you know I’ve gotten better than the last time we played,” he said.

  “As long as you don’t make the same mistake again like you did last time. Otherwise, I’ll definitely have to make sure everyone knows about it if you do.”

  “Don’t you dare, or I’ll tell your parents how many times you’ve actually skipped classes. You know how well I get along with them, especially your mom.”

  “Yeah, well, only my mom would believe you since you can’t do anything wrong in her eyes,” I retorted.

  As soon as we stepped into the house, my mom unexpectedly appeared and swept Jacob in a fierce hug.

  “Oh, Jacob, it’s so wonderful to see you again,” she exclaimed. “I was just getting dinner on the table, and I must insist you stay.”

  “I really don’t want to be a bother, auntie,” he protested.

  “Nonsense,” she chided. “It’s always a pleasure to have you around.”

  “Yeah, you suck up,” I whispered.

  “Then at least let me help set the table if I’m going to stay,” he offered, inconspicuously kicking me in the shin.

  “Such a nice boy,” she grinned. “And, Jenna? Don’t even think about getting out of helping me in the kitchen.”

  “Yes, mom,” I sighed, as Jacob pushed me down the hall.

  While the three of us worked studiously to get everything done before my dad came home, it was hard not to roll my eyes at my mother’s rather obvious attempt at trying to get me and Jacob together. She was whispering loudly enough so Jacob could overhear her unique comments. At one point, I even wished the floor would swallow me whole when she announced she was planning to ground me if I didn’t start dating him right away.

  “I was just telling Jenna the other day that she should find herself someone as nice as you,” she said thoughtfully, as I stood on my toes, trying to grab some plates.

  “Here, let me,” said Jacob. Placing a hand my waist, he then pushed me aside, easily reached over me, and pulled the stack of plates I was trying to get at.

  “Thanks,” I said. “And, mom, I told you I’m perfectly capable of finding a boyfriend on my own.”

  “I know you can, dear, but what’s wrong with Jacob here? He’s such a gentleman and has always been nice to me and your father. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind dating you, wouldn’t you, Jacob?”

  “Well…um…”

  “Besides, I would like to be a grandmother one day and at the rate she’s going, it may be a long time before that will happen,” she clucked, jutting a thumb in my direction.

  Not expecting to hear that exact comment, I saw no reason to delay the sip of water I had allowed entrance into my mouth. That same sip became lodged in my throat, causing me to make a very unladylike choking noise.

  “Mom!” I coughed. “I don’t think Jacob needs to hear about that!”

  Even without looking, I could tell Jacob had regained his composure. He made a strange gasping sound that sounded suspiciously like a muffled snort of laughter.

  “Hush, dear. Like that Aaron guy. I don’t think he’s exactly perfect for you.”

  “And what is wrong with Aaron? I thought you liked him?”

  “I do, but he’s too old for you,” she said.

  “Well, you’ll be happy to know that Aaron and I have decided to only be friends.”

  “Then I don’t see why you and Jacob can’t start dating then, right, Jacob?”

  “Um…”

  “Hello everyone!”

  Jacob was saved from answering by my dad appearing through the door.

  Chapter 12

&n
bsp; Birthday Wishes

  I wasn’t prepared for what was going on outside, and didn’t think I needed to keep a firm grip on my front door. The same wind that had begun picking up speed two weeks ago had now turned into a raging windstorm. It was so forceful it yanked the door right out of my grasp. I could even hear the windows rattling violently against the house and the trees swaying hazardously from side-to-side as I struggled to get the door shut. Once I locked it tight, I then had to balance myself and duck every so often so I wouldn’t get whacked by any flying debris. My hair even became a hindrance, the strands whipping across my face as I headed down the block.

  I didn’t even care how I looked when I finally reached Matt’s. I was just glad I had managed to come out unscathed and still in one piece. But then just as I let out a breath of relief, a humongous gust of air suddenly sent me careening directly into Jacob, who had just gotten our present out of his car.

  “Maybe you should stay in my arms in case you accidentally get blown away,” he chuckled.

  “Ha, ha,” I murmured against his chest.

  I could feel his body vibrating from his laughing as he shielded me while we walked up the front steps. But because I was still sandwiched between him and our gift for Matt, Jacob then had to use the tip of the snowboard to knock on the front door.

  “I see you fell victim to the wind too,” said Amy with a smirk.

  “Yeah,” I grumbled. “And it’s not funny.”

  “I…I’m sorry, I can’t help it,” she giggled. “You really should see yourself, Jen. You look like you had put your finger into an open socket and got electrocuted.”

  “Funny,” I said flatly.

  “Hey, isn’t that the snowboard Matt’s been dreaming about since winter?” she grinned.

  “The same one,” said Jacob. “We were lucky to find it since it’s the last one in the entire city.”

  “So where can we hide it so Matt won’t see it?” I asked her, ignoring her curious look as Jacob began picking the leaves out of my hair.

  “You can put it in his room,” said Amy. “He won’t think of looking in there.”

  Once we hastily lugged it up the stairs, rearranged a few things, and stashed the snowboard in the closet, Jacob and I then headed back down the stairs when I decided to turn the corner.