Jake sees me and he smiles. I smile back but I wasn't expecting to see him here. I hope Trina doesn't ask him about the kiss or I'm dead.
Mom has a new hairdo. She looks breathtakingly gorgeous.
"Mom! You look so beautiful" Trina gushes and goes to hug her.
As for me, I'm still in shock mode. Seeing Jake here really surprised me.
"Who's he?" Trina asks.
"He's Jake! He said he came to greet Nicole" Mom says.
"I think Nicole knows him" mom adds.
"Yeah she knows him" Trina says
"Jake! Do you know Nicole?" Trina asks pointing to me.
A lump forms in my throat.
"Yes I do" Jake says with s charming smile. Gosh! He's goddamn cute and sexy.
Trina giggles. Mom goes to the kitchen before Trina could ask further questions. She didn't like the idea of Jake being here. I could see it on her face.
Jake scratches his head. He does that when he's nervous. I think its really attractive. His blond hair is tousled and his grey eyes are glittering.
"Have a seat Jake! I'm Trina" Trina offers her hand and he shakes it with a smile.
"I guess you are Nikki's little sister" he says in his soft voice.
"Yeah! Nice to meet you" Trina says with a wide grin.
Jake sits in my couch next to me and my heart rate speeds up.
"Hello Nikki" he says. I like the way my name sounds when he says it.
"Hey Jake!" I reply.
I could see the grin playing about Trina's lips.
"Nicole! Can you please make a few burgers for me? It seems the one in the kitchen is finished" Mom says and leaves to her room with a phone to her ear.
Trina giggles.
I get up.
"Need help?" Jake asks.
"No thanks" I say and enter the kitchen.
Trina enters.
" He's so hot"she whispers in my ear. I chuckle.
She tells me she has homework to do and leaves for her bedroom.
I begin to cook.
"Err hem" someone coughs. I turn and it's Jake at the kitchen doorway.
He smiles and it melts my heart.
"I decided to come and help! I don't care if you don't need it anyway" he says and strides into the kitchen with a charming smirk. His hands in his pocket.
I chuckle.
"Okay! Here!" I say and toss him an apron. He catches it. He puts it on and comes to stand by me. His scent fills the place and it soothes my senses as always.
He grabs some carrots and washes them in the sink. Then he gets the chop board and begins to chop them.
I was shocked. I never knew a guy like him would show interest in cooking.
"Are you just going to keep staring?" He asks with a smirk. I snort and earn a chuckle from him.
I open the kitchen cabinet and take a can of beef. I love beef burgers so much.
There's a list of everyone's favourite burger in my head except Jake's.
"Which burger is your favorite Jake?" I ask without looking at him.
"I like beef burgers" he says and I smile.
"I like them too" I say.
He chuckles.
"How many burgers are we making?" He asks.
"Hmmm" I sigh.
"Like five"I say
" Three beef burgers and two cheese burgers"I add.
"Who's the third fan of beef burgers?" Jake asks and I chuckle
"My dad! He likes them" I reply.
"And I guess Trina and your mom will take the two cheese burgers" he says.
I nod and cut some onions.
"Trina is allergic to beef and mom doesn't like it at all" I explain.
Jake nods.
"Then they are really missing a lot" he says.
I grin.
"So what made you come to visit me Jake?" I ask curious.
He chuckles.
"I just wanted to see how you're doing! We can be friends right?" He says.
"Sure! We can be friends but coming to my house is too extreme! Even my close friends don't come to my house frequently" I point out.
"okay! I'm sorry. Next time I'll seek an invitation" he says
"Its okay! I appreciate your visit" I say with a small smile. He smirks.
After some minutes, we were done with the burgers.
"Nicole! Are you done?" Mom asks at the doorway.
"Jake! You helped her?" Mom added shocked. She eyed him suspiciously.
"Yes! And we are done" He replies.
"That's great! I'll help you serve" mom says.
"I'm sorry I couldn't cook! I had to take care of some things" mom apologises to Jake.
"Its okay! I had a good time cooking with Nikki" he says and I smile. We transport all the burgers to the dining hall.
Trina and dad were already seated. Dad looks at Jake.
We all sit down to eat. Jake sits by me.
"May I know your name young man" dad says.
"My name is Jake Winters sir" he replies politely.
He was called Winters. Wow!
Dad nods. He didn't seem to like Jake very much. His eyes were fixated on Jake's tattoos and piercings.
We began to eat. I tried my best to eat like a lady and I was impressed with Jake too.
Mine was delicious.
"These burgers are more delicious than the ones I've ever made. What's your secret ingredient?" Mom asks referring to Jake and I.
We chuckle.
"There's no secret ingredient mom. We made it the normal way." I reply.
"Really? Because I think there is! Your mom is right about the taste! Its absolutely delicious! Right Trina?" My dad gushes.
Trina nods. "Yes! I love it" she says and takes a bite.
I grin.
"Well my mom taught me how to make really delicious burgers. I guess I applied it here" Jake says with a smile.
"I think so! This is great" Mom says and takes a bite of her burger.
"You know what? When I met him I thought he was excuse me to say, a punk" mom says and I giggle.
Trina laughs , Dad and Jake also laugh alongside with mom.
"But he's not what I thought. He's a gallant guy. I am impressed" mom says.
Jake smiles proudly.
"Thanks ma'am" he says to her.
"The tattoos made me think otherwise" my mom spat.
Jake scratches his head. I chuckle. He was nervous. I noticed his tattoos for the first time. The one on his neck was of a rose and the one on his right hand was a butterfly and the one on his left hand was a name.....Helen. I wondered who she was. Maybe his girlfriend.
He had two piercings. One on his lip and nose.
After eating, Jake, Trina and I washed the plates and came back to the hall. Mom and dad went to their rooms. Trina left to her room claiming she had some things to attend to leaving Jake and I in the hall.
"So what do we do now? Everyone has left us" I ask him. He glances at the wall clock in the hall.
"Its 3:30! We have a few more hours before the day disappears. I'd say let's take a stroll" he suggests.
"A stroll?" I ask and chuckle. I'm not the kind of person who likes taking strolls. I always want to be alone in my room far away from people. I hardly take strolls! The last time I went for one was last five years or so and I even hated it! My dad forced me to go with him and I regretted it! My feet hurt so much and when I got back, my toes were crimson. I then promised myself that I'll never go on a stroll again!
"Nikki! Nikki" Jake snaps and I come back.
"Oops! I'm sorry. Thoughts invaded my mind" I apologise quite embarrassed.
Jake chuckles. "Its okay! Its normal! So what do you think? We can make a move now?"
"I don't know Jake! I really don't do that stuff"
"We wouldn't walk so far! Just to the park yeah?" Jake says.
The park wasn't so far! Its just a few blocks away from my house.
"Okay! Just to the park Jake!" I say and we exit the house together.
A calm breeze hits me and I inhale it. It was nice being outside. The golden sun was in the middle of the sky. It was almost sunset.
"Like the feeling of being outside?" Jake asks with a smile
"Its not bad" I reply.
He chuckles and we walk together. I spot a few people walking as well. Some were walking as fast as they could with phones to their ears. Others were just having fun.
It was cool. It wasn't that bad as I thought. Jake walked alongside me. His lips are pursed and his hands are pocketed. The wind blows his blond hair making it messy but he still looks handsome. I noticed his outfit. He was wearing a white t shirt over a pair of dark jeans with a brown leather jacket on top and a pair of black sneakers. A few girls spot him and wave. He waves them lazily as they giggle when he passes.
He looks at me for a reaction. I just smile. He smiles back and we continue our walk.
"So Jake! Can you tell me a little more about yourself. Apparently I know nothing about you" I say.
He smiles.
"What do you want to know about me?" He asks me looking right into my eyes with his grey ones. I feel like melting.
"Well erh......your family, friends, where you grew up maybe?" I suggest.
He chuckles slightly. I smile back.
"Well, my name is Jake Winters. I was born in England. I lived with my mom and dad for sometime but lived with my mom most of the time. I have a little sister called Jessica and a few friends including you" he states.
"That's nice. But why did you live with your mom most of the time?" I asked curiously
"Well, my dad left us" he simply states.
"He divorced your mom?" I ask feeling sorry for him
"If he had done that it would have been much more decent! He decided to abandon us without telling us where he was going" Jake states with anger laced in his tone and jaw clenched.
"Am so sorry" I say.
He smiles. "I'm okay"
"So is your mom still there?" I ask.
"She's in England with my little sister."
"How old is your little sister?" I ask him.
"She's fifteen"
"Wow! But why are you here? Why did you leave them behind?" I ask.
He sighs
"It wasn't my intention! I just came here to earn a living and study so that I can take care of them."
We are closer to the park now. I didn't even notice how far we've walked. I was just interested in Jake's story.
"I actually earned a scholarship to come and study here, and I've decided to also get some work to do" Jake says. I smile. He was willing to support his mom and little sister.
"That's sweet of you Jake!"
He smiles but it doesn't reach his eyes. We enter the park together. A few people are here playing around.
I glance at the time on my phone and it was 4:35pm.
"So I've told you about myself. Tell me about yourself Nikki"
I chuckle slightly. We walk to a bench and sit down. The warm breeze blows my dark braided hair backwards and I tuck some behind my ear.
"My name is Nicole Anderson. I live with my mom and dad and a little sister called Trina. I have a few friends as well. I was born here and I've been living here for a long time now"
"Well you had both parents growing up! Lucky you" Jake says with mixed feelings
"Yeah"I say. I feel like taking his hand and comforting him but I don't.
" I would like to meet your mom and Jessica someday "I say sincerely.
He grins. " they would be happy to see you"
"So have you heard from them since you got here?" I ask him.
"No! I heard from them last two months but I haven't heard from them this month! I would have to send them the money I've earned so far and call them"
I nod. I wonder which work he does. I wanted to ask but maybe it will be too personal to ask.
"And you haven't heard from your dad since he abandoned you" I ask
He nods with a forlorn expression. I wish I could make him feel happy again
"Why don't we do something else instead of talking about my family. Maybe we could play" Jake says with a bright smile making his grey eyes light up.
I raise a dark eyebrow at him. "Which game?" I ask.
"Hide and seek probably" he says scratching his head. I grin. He really loves doing that and his expression makes him look like a lost puppy.
"Sure I'd love to play" I reply.
"Well then! I'm counting to ten! Find a place to hide with my eyes closed" he says and shuts his eyes.
"1.........2.......3....." He began and I ran as fast as I can. I spot a huge oak tree and hide behind it. I spy on him.
"10" he says and opens his eyes. He searches calling my name.
I giggle and sink deeper into the stem of the tree.
"Nikki!" He calls again and I stifle a giggle.
I see him search behind a car and comes back with a smirk on.
"Gotcha!" I hear all of a sudden and I see Jake. I was frightened.
He laughs at how frightened I was and I laugh along side.
"You found me! Now its time for me to find you" I state.
"Sure! But lemme warn you! You wouldn't find it easy" he says and I roll my eyes.
"I will find you. Now 1......2......" I say with my eyes closed. I hear him run but I keep my eyes shut still counting.
"10" I say and open my eyes. He was gone alright! What was I expecting? To see him standing there looking at me count? I chuckle at my own thoughts and begin to look for him.
"Oh Jaaake! Where are youuuu?!!!" I drawl whiles searching. I looked behind some trees and some cars. Behind shops and cars but I couldn't find him.
Where the fuck did he vanish to? I walk for a distance. There were many trees here. I looked behind each tree. Then I saw a brown material sticking out behind one of the trees. I smile. He was in a brown jacket! Its him! I ran towards it and shout Gotcha but to my surprise it was a brown bull dog. My eyes widen as it growls at me.
"Oops! Sorry big guy! Sorry! Cool down big guy! Coooool down" I drawl.
It snaps at me.
"Slooooow" I say and it moves towards me quite angry. I step backwards fearing for my life. Its going to finish me any moment and if I ran it will still catch me. Why did I even accept playing this game?
The dog moves forward.
"Don't eat me big guy! I'm so sorry" I plead.
It continues to walk towards me.
"Oh God" I say and take more steps backwards. My heart beating against my ribcage.
"Nikki!" I hear and spot Jake standing at a distance. He sees the dog and his eyes widen.
"Nikki am coming!" He says and starts to run.
The dog jumps and I hold my head knowing what is going to happen. Rather I fall backwards with Jake on top of me. The dog is snarling at us. My breath gets caught in my throat. Jake's cologne enters fills my nose.
He gets off me and helps me get up.
"Relax big guy" Jake says trying to tame the dog
"It wouldn't listen. Let's get out of here" I tell him
"It will! trust me" Jake says. I watch as he calms it down.
"Here buddy!"Jake says and throws a chicken thigh at it.
The dog catches it and chews it furiously.
I was amused. Where the fuck did he get that chicken thigh from?
Jake goes close to the dog and brushes its fur.
" see? Its tamed"Jake says proudly.
I was surprised and amused at the same time.
"How did you do it?" I ask Jake and get closer making sure not to get too close to the dog.
"I don't know but I really know how to communicate with dogs" he states proudly and laughs.
I laugh too.
"Touch him" Jake says.
"No I can't" I reply.
"It wouldn't bite you!" Jake protests.