Always Been You (18 page)

“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

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.

“Hey, where are you going?” asked Jacob.

“Checking to see if Matt needs any help,” I said.

“I’ll join you.”

“Then last one to the kitchen has to kiss Matt on the lips!”

I took off down the hall, but I wasn’t fast enough. Jacob easily caught up to me, except since he was also running fast, he then suddenly slipped, grabbed me by the waist, and we both went sliding along the hardwood floor.

“I beat you,” he grinned.

“Did not!” I said. “I slid into the kitchen first before you did.”

“A tie then?”

“A tie,” I said and smacked him on the arm.

“If we just agreed then what was that for?”

“For pulling me down with you, you cheater.”

“Look who’s calling who a cheater.”

“I did learn from a pro,” I smirked.

“At least I don’t look like something the cat dragged in,” he laughed, reaching up to smooth my hair from my face.

“Ahem!” Matt interrupted tactfully. “Sorry to disturb these romantic interlude kids, but I do hope you two remember I’m still here.”

“Yes, dad,” we chorused and burst out laughing at the look of repulsion on Matt’s face.

After Jacob helped me to my feet, he then left the kitchen to use the washroom and began whistling something that sounded like the music from that bad movie we saw.

“So what did you guys bet on?” Matt asked me.

“Loser had to kiss you,” I said.

“I don’t know if I should be glad or take offence to that,” he sighed. “But now that we’re alone, can you tell me if my wish is going to come true tonight?”

“And what wish is that?”

“You telling me you two are dating.”

“Out of every thing you could wish for, you wish for that?”

“And what’s wrong with that?” he asked me.

“Most people would wish for, let’s see, a million dollars?” I said acerbically.

“Hey, I’d rather see my cousin extremely happy with someone he likes,” he explained. “And the only one I know who’s able to fill that position is you.”

“Sorry to disappoint you, especially on your birthday, but that particular position still hasn’t been filled.”

“Then what was that all about?”

“What was what about?” I asked, grabbing a slice of cucumber from the plate.

“The way he was looking at you when he was fixing your hair,” he said.

“I don’t know what you saw, but I doubt it meant anything.”

“What do you mean?”

“We sort of had this weird conversation a couple of weeks ago when we were searching for your gift which made me realise that I should just accept the fact that we’re never going to happen,” I said.

“What exactly did he say to make you to think that?”

“When he told me the only reason he’ll date me is to help him avoid girls hounding him.”

“Maybe he’s just nervous around you because he really likes you,” said Matt. “Usually I know when he’s interested in a girl by the way he acts. The stupid half-wit gets all arrogant around them.”

“Is it because he can have any girl he wants with a snap of his fingers, and you can’t?”

“Except the one he really wants. With you, I don’t know. Lately, he’s been hiding his emotions from me since he’s never taken this long before to let a girl know how he feels.”

“Well, I think I’ve gotten to the point where he’s never going to tell me,” I sighed.

“Why don’t you ask him then?”

“I wouldn’t know how to start.”

“How about
‘Jacob, do you like me?’
”

“You know I can’t just do that,” I said, pursing my lips at Matt’s lame attempt to mimic my voice.

“Why not? You guys are really close so it shouldn’t be any problem.”

“And that’s the problem,” I sighed. “Like I told Amy, I’d rather not risk losing my friendship with him by asking him if he likes me too.”

“What if help out?” Matt suggested.

“Not a chance. Knowing you, you’d probably get Amy to help you force me and Jacob into a room, and then proceed to lock us in until we finally confess how we feel about one another.”

“You know, that’s not a bad idea,” Matt said gleefully. “We can even do it right now. Hey Am—”

I clamped a hand over his mouth. “Not funny,” I grumbled in his ear.

“Only kidding,” he chuckled, removing my hand. “I guess this means my birthday wish isn’t going to come true tonight.”

“I doubt it’s going to come true during any other night,” I said. “Hey, what if I replace that never-coming-true-wish for a birthday hug instead?”

“You don’t have to ask me twice,” he grinned and walked into my outstretched arms.

“Am I interrupting something?”

“Just asking Jen what she got me for my birthday,” Matt answered Jacob, who had just returned from the washroom. “But she won’t budge and tell me what it was.”

Jacob gave me a questioning look and was about to open his mouth to ask when the sound of the doorbell rang through the house.

“I’ll go answer that,” I said, glad that I didn’t have to answer him as I quickly left to see who it was.

The sky was just beginning to darken and the evening was setting in by the time Matt had finished opening all of his gifts. Since the wind storm had died down considerably, we all congregated into the backyard to enjoy the coolness of the air. All savouring the taste of our piece of Matt’s birthday cake—a frozen tiramisu cake made of mascarpone cheese, coffee ice cream, and lady fingers soaked in espresso—the party then quickly divided into smaller groups. Soon quiet conversations and distant laughter could be heard throughout the yard.

I was sitting on the grass with Amy, Katie, and Nikki, gossiping like girls usually do, when I felt a sudden gust of wind. Feeling a bit chilly since I only had on a light sweater, I then was about to lift myself off the ground and head into the house when Jacob appeared beside me with his navy blue sweater in his hand.

“I figured you might need this so you won’t catch a cold sitting out here,” he grinned.

“I’m sure Jenna doesn’t want to hurt your feelings by saying no to your generous offer, right, Jenna?” said Amy, a naughty expression on her face.

“No, of course not,” I said, shooting a daggering look at my smirking friend.

“Good,” grinned Jacob, as I took the sweater from his hand. “I guess I’ll talk to you later.”

“Bye, Jacob,” the girls called out after him.

Giving Amy another look, I then pulled Jacob’s sweater over my head when we were interrupted by another voice.

“Did I just hear Jacob Bennett offering you his sweater?”

The girls and I turned to see who had spoken, and we all shared a worried glance. Alesha Rai, Yumi Hashimoto, and Lydia Scott were moving in our direction. They were the group of girls known for providing anyone who needed information about the latest gossip going around in school.

“Do you mind?” asked Alesha. Without waiting for an answer, she quickly made herself comfortable on the grass and began plaiting her long, black hair into an intricate knot.

Katie looked displeased with the unwelcome intrusion, but before she could ask them to leave, Lydia suddenly tilted towards me.

“Can I ask what you’re doing?” I asked her.

“Sniffing Jacob’s sweater,” she said. “Hmm, he smells heavenly. It figures Jacob would do something so sweet for you.”

“And why do you think that?” I said.

“Jenna, everyone here at this party knows that Jacob is totally into you,” said Yumi, throwing the same line of words Amy had said to me back in December.

“Especially when he’s always finding ways to subtly sniff your hair,” added Lydia, angling herself towards me again.