Always Been You (17 page)

“Y…yes.”

“Then maybe you should do something about it young man.” Giving him a satisfied smile, she then turned in my direction and leaned in closer towards me. “My dear, did he get that pendant for you?”

“He did,” I whispered back.

“Then it must mean he loves you,” she winked at me. “It’s a very expensive gift to give someone who’s just a friend.”

“That’s what a close friend said too,” I winked back.

“If he ever gets enough courage to ask you out say yes,” she said, raising her voice slightly and pitching it in Jacob’s direction. “Just wait for him dear, and he will eventually come around. He really has an eye for beautiful things.”

“Thanks again for everything,” interrupted Jacob.

“You’re welcome,” she hollered to us, as he yanked me out of the store.

“You know she didn’t mean to embarrass you like that, Jacob,” I said.

“I know,” he sighed. “Now that I’ve been fully embarrassed and we both suck at finding a gift, what would you say about catching a movie instead?”

“Let’s go.”

Twenty minutes later, we were sitting in the darkened theatre, our eyes trained to the screen, and I was beginning to feel disgruntled about the movie we had picked. When I saw the poster on the wall, I thought this would be some sort of comedy and convinced Jacob to see it. Unfortunately, this so-called comedy turned out to be one of those sappy, clichéd-typed romantic ones where the guy meets a girl, the girl gets repulsed by him, and they eventually fall in love.

“You know, this movie is really cheesy,” I said in hushed tones.

“Well you’re the one who picked it,” Jacob whispered back.

“I didn’t think it’d be this bad. Look around us. It’s barely even half-full in here.”

“Or it could be half-empty.”

“Are you trying to be—?”

“Would you two be quiet down there?”
someone yelled from behind us.
“Some of us are trying to watch the film!”

Catching Jacob’s eye, we immediately grabbed handfuls of popcorn, shoved them into our mouths, and cowered lower in our seats.

“I think whoever yelled at us should say something to those two,” I said, my voice sounding muffled, as I pointed to the couple a few rows in front of us. “I don’t think they’ve even once come up for air the entire time we’ve been here.”

“Maybe they didn’t know that’s what the back row is used for,” said Jacob.

“And how do you know that?”

“Let’s just say…from experience.”

“You didn’t get down and dirty back there did you?”

“Of course not.” He flicked a kernel at my head. “It was purely innocent kissing.”

“How can kissing be innocent when you’re sucking at each others’ faces in the dark?” I said, flicking one back.

“When no tongues are involved.”

“Did you really have to tell me that?” I groaned.

“You started it. But you’re right. Someone should say something.”

“Why?”

“Cause I think they’re getting ready to—how did you say it? Oh, yeah, get down and dirty.”

Over an hour later, I was standing outside waiting for Jacob to come back from the washroom, trying hard to forget the disturbing image burned in my head. The overzealous couple, who had moaned even louder while fondling each other, had fallen out of their seats.

“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?”