~Part Three~

   "Oh, wait!" Hamilton suddenly stopped a few feet short of his home.

   "What's wrong?" Jake asked him, walking a few paces more towards the house before turning around and staring at him, waiting for an answer.

   Hamilton bit the side of his cheek before asking, "What are you doing next weekend?"

   "Besides the normal sitting around watching wrestling with the guys?" she asked, half teasing.

   "Well, do you remember when I borrowed my mom's car a few months ago?" he asked, shifting on his feet nervously.

   "Yeah...what about it?" Jake said, wondering where Hamilton was going with this.

   "Do you remember I told you I promised my mom I'd help her with spring cleaning because of it?" he looked up at her, grimacing.

   "Yeah but what does that... No... Please tell me you didn't!" she begged, her eyes growing wide with disbelief.

   "Didn't do what?" Hamilton asked, putting on as innocent a face as he could muster.

   Jake pinched the bridge of her nose with her thumb and index finger as she squeezed her eyes closed.  "Your mother hates me Hamilton," she stated, doing her best to stay calm.

   "She doesn't..."

   "Yes, she does!" Jake told him, taking the few short steps back towards him.

   Hamilton brought his arms up slightly in front of him in an almost defensive position.  Shaking her head she turned back around as she began pacing.  "We're not in the second grade Hamilton... I'm not going to hit you."

   Sighing he dropped his arms and walked over to her, wrapping them around her.  "Look, it won't be that bad.  You don't even have to be in the same rooms if you don't want."  Jake lifted her left eyebrow in challenge.  "I promise.  I'll even keep her entertained if I have to."

   Jake brought a finger up to poke his chest with, "You owe me so big."

   With a crooked smile Hamilton began walking them back towards his house.  "Whatever you say."

   Opening the front door and walking inside they could both smell the recently familiar scent of chocolate chip cookies filling the rooms of the Fleming household.  Hamilton leaned over, smiling into Jake's ear, "I'm so glad she decided to take those cooking classes."

   Jake laughed quietly, biting her lips closed when Hamilton's mother poked her head into the living room.

   "Munchie, is that you?"

   "Hey Mom!" Hamilton walked over to his mother, kissing her quickly before heading into the kitchen, straight for the pile of cookies on the counter.

   "Jake stayed near the door, folding her arms and looking around the room almost evadingly.

   "Jake."

   "Hey," she replied, glancing slightly in Mrs. Fleming's direction.  The older woman looked at her son's girlfriend once more before turning around and heading back into the kitchen.

   Letting go of a slightly frustrated breath Jake made her way towards the doorway leading into the kitchen.  Hamilton was already piling his arms full of the soft, round confections calling to him.

   "Oh, before I forget," his mom began, heading towards the counter next to the refrigerator, "You received a letter in the mail today."

   Hamilton walked over to where she was standing, taking the letter she had picked up and handed to him.  Tearing it open after setting his load down on the counter, he pulled the piece of paper out of the envelope, reading it.

   "It's a letter of acceptance to the photography summer camp I applied for!" he told them, handing the letter over to his mother.  "This is so great!  I didn't even think I'd get in!"

   "Congratulations sweetie!  You'll have to tell the good news to your father when he gets home," Kate told her son as she folded the letter, placing it back inside of the envelope.

   Hamilton grinned and hugged his mom before grabbing his small pile of treats and heading out the door.  "I'll be home later."

   Jake followed him outside, smirking as he offered her one of them, "Thanks."

   "I can't believe it, this is so great!" Hamilton said, turning around to walk backwards a few feet in front of her.  "I have been wanting to go to this camp since I was a little kid!"

   Jake couldn't help but smile at the childlike grin that was playing on Hamilton's lips.

   "Wait!" he said, stopping suddenly in front of Jake.  "What are you going to do for the summer if I'm gone?" he asked, his smile dropping a little.  "I can't believe I didn't think about that!"

   "It's alright Hamilton," Jake chuckled, grabbing his hand and leading him towards the school again.  "My mom invited me to spend the summer with her in France.  I'll just let her know that I'm coming."

   Wrinkling his eyebrows Hamilton began walking with her, "When did she invite you?  You never mentioned it to me."

   Jake tried to hide the grimace on her face.  She knew he might be mad about her deciding to go without talking to him about it first.  "Well, it wasn't too long ago, but I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to be the sole influence as to whether or not I went," she told him, hoping he wouldn't be upset with her.

   Hamilton stopped short.  "Why would you think I'd stop you from going?  If anything I'd want you to be able to spend time with your mom," he told her, a hurt expression crossing his eyes.

   Stepping up in front of him, Jake wrapped her arms around his neck and smiled, "I know."

   Hamilton looked at her confused, "Huh?"

   "I didn't want to be going if it was just so I could spend quality time with my mom.  I've spent too many years and trips visiting her to know that she still has to work and I won't be able to spend every moment with her.  If it were strictly for the quality time then I know I shouldn't even bother," she told him, absentmindedly playing with one of the long strands of his hair.

   "So you're saying you didn't tell me because I would have been okay with it," he stated, even more confused, if that were possible.

   "And I thank you for it," she replied, smiling at him before leaning in and giving him a quick kiss.  "Now, are you going to come peacefully back to the school or am I going to have to drag you back?"

   "Oh we're going to play that way are we?" Hamilton smirked, flashing Jake a wickedly playful grin.

   "No you don't," she warned before taking a few steps then turning around and bolting, Hamilton following directly on her heels.  "I said peacefully!"