Jake blew several raspberries with his tongue.
"That's really obnoxious Jake." Bonnie said, seated beside him.
"Aww I'm sorry Bonnie, you know how Science makes me."
"It's not even that hard dude! Especially not when I'm right here, I mean c'mon, you can ask me for help."
"Yeah that's probably better than just copying off of you."
"What?"
"Nothing." Jake spat out meekishly. Bonnie gave him a pretty nasty side-eye before returning to her work. Jake had never been good at Science. Or Math. Or History. Or English, really. He was pretty good at Gym, but he never played any sports. He had a musical mind too, and the music teacher liked him quite a bit. Called him the "Best Viola Player I'd Ever Heard", which Jake took as quite the compliment. Besides, Jake thought, he didn't really need to be good at any of that stuff. He already knew what he was going to do with his life. He was going to run a theme park. The greater logistical problems of running a theme park however were lost to him. "Hey Bonnie." He said, turning his hair to face the blonde girl.
"Yeahhuh?" She replied, lifting her head from her papers to look at him, her glasses crooked.
"You wanna come hang with us after school at Rosemarys? Robby seemed kinda bummed you weren't there yesterday."
"Not really no, sorry." Her face shrunk up quickly, her eyes going big. "N-not because I don't wanna hang out with you guys or anything! It's just, I have oodles of homework to do. And besides, Rob isn't even working today so like, you know whatever!"
Weird, I don't have much homework. Neither does Fin- "Wait Robby isn't working today?" Jake slammed his torso onto the table. "Aww man that means it's gonna be Keila.."
"What's wrong with Keila?"
"She's a meanie!"
"Oh tut, she's one of the sweetest people on the planet, you just don't give people enough a chance mister judgey pants."
"Doesn't mean I have to like the fact that she's serving." Jake pouted.
"Oh boo-hoo, so she won't come eat ice cream with the two of you."
"Three of us actually, Lain's coming too."
Bonnie raised an eyebrow. "Ooooooo does this mean you finally popped the question?"
Jake's cheeks flushed red. "Jeez, you don't have to make it sound like I proposed to her. And no, it's not a date, Finn's there. I wouldn't third wheel hi-" Jake cut off quick when he realized what his sentence was. Finn's relationship status was a bit of a touchy subject with Bonnie. Or anyone really. "Point is, it's not a date."
"Yeah okay." Bonnie chuckled. "Besides, she'd probably let me know you asked her out like, the second you asked. I don't get why you don't do it dude, the two of you are like, totally in love."
"I am not going to risk the sanctity of my mental health state on your hunches."
"Is it really a hunch if it's informed from several moments of her totally crushing on you? I'm the scientist here Jake, trust me. I know. Just ask her out."
"Yeah but like, when?"
"Get Finn to leave, or say he can't come or something."
"How would he get home?"
"Couldn't Joshua just pick him up?"
"No man, he's at work until like. 6."
"Well uh. Get Keila to take him home, she can get Brad to man the register."
"Yeah, like Keila'd do that for Finn."
"Dude Keila adores Finn, they're like. Besties."
"They're besties?"
"Well I mean. In the sense that Keila is a nice person and doesn't hate Finn. And I imagine Finn would accept a ride from any pretty girl." There was a touch of venom in her tone.
"How do you know so much about Keila anyhow?" Jake raised an eyebrow.
"We text like all the time man."
"Really?"
"Yeah!"
"If the two of you are such good friends, then why don't you come along?"
"Uh, like I said man. Homework."
Jake stared at her for a few moments. "Okay Bon, if you insist."
"So Finn."
"Uh oh. I don't like that tone."
"How would you feel. Hypothetically. About riding home with Keila?"
"Why would I be- OH. Oh you're so turning this into a date aren't you?"
"I am not!" Jake could feel Finn side-eyeing him. "Okay. So MAYBE I am. Maybe. Answer the question, please."
"If it means you and Lain finally hooking up, dude. I'd like. I mean I'd ride home with Ash."
"Oh god. Don't even joke about that."
"I mean it though, you two are like, seriously perfect together."
"You know Finn I didn't think you'd take it so maturely, given your situation."
"My situation?"
"You know, with Bonnie."
"Ohmigod Jake, I asked her out once. And she said no. Can we get over this?"
"Dude you asked her out like twelve times. You serena-"
Finn plugged his fingers in his ears. "lalalalalalala I can't hear you."
"Ha. Whatever dude." Jake waited for Finn to remove his fingers. "So you're cool with riding home with Keila.
"Yeah man. Totes."
"Awesome."
Jake checked the parking lot for Lain's car, and let out a small smile when he couldn't find it. Running ahead of Finn, he pushed through the door, hustling to the counter. "Keila!" The word came out of his mouth sloppily.
"Hey Jake, the usual?"
"I mean. Yes. But I have a super big question to ask you."
"Shoot man."
"I know you don't like. Know us know us. But the tight and skimmy of this situation is that a girl I like is eating with us. I'd like to make that a date, but for that to work, Finn needs to go home."
"...And?"
"Well I obviously can't take him." Jake gestured his hands in a circle. "So uh. I mean I know you don't know us but Bonnie said if I asked…"
"You want me to take him home?"
"Uh. Yes please. If it's not a bother."
"Like. Right now?"
"No no no. We could like. I don't know, formulate some kind of plan."
Keila smiled. "I do like plans."
"Okay. Uh." Jake put his head in his hands. "Finn come here." Finn, who had just entered Rosemarys, approached Jake. "Any ideas?"
"Ideas for what?"
"Ideas for leaving here cleverly."
"Hmmm…." Finn rubbed his chin with his fingers. "Oh!" He snapped. "What if, when Keila drops off our food, I say I remember I have a load of homework, and then Keila can drive me home!"
"That's not a bad idea actually." Keila smirked. "So do you guys want the usual?"
"Yeah." Jake nodded, pointing to their booth by the window. "We'll be in the usual spot, send Lain our way yeah?" Keila nodded in confirmation. Jake threw his arm over his younger cousin as they walked towards the window. Looking out the window, he could see streaks of rain pound against the glass windows. Uh-oh, did I roll the windows up? Looking towards his truck, he noticed that he had indeed rolled up his windows. He used his free hand to wipe away a strand of sweat. The two of them sat opposite of the booth, and from the corner of his eye, Jake saw Lain's truck park next to his truck.
"Heeeeeere she comes!" Finn smiled. Jake started to sweat, his cheeks flushing. "Come on Jake, you got this bro. I believe in you."
"Thanks man." Jake could hear Lain's voice as she talked to Keila and ordered her usual. Lain and her stupidly beautiful voice and her wonderful hint of accent. He could hear her footsteps as she casually strutted towards their booth. He could not deign himself to look, for fear his nervousness might open a pit in his stomach.
"Hey guys!" Lain cheered as she came into Jake's eyesight. Her hair was put up in a ponytail. Ponytail's got Jake. She was wearing her glasses, she hardly wore her glasses, Jake loved her glasses. And she was wearing a grey hoodie, now soaked from the rain outside. Lain in the Rain, the idea made Jake mad. Something was up.
"Hey Lain!" Finn replied, scooting over. "Take a seat pete."
"Well don't mind if I do!" She said, sliding in with a smile. "How are you Jake?" Jake could see the way Lain was looking at him. Oh my god Bonnie told didn't she.
"Heeeeey Lain how are you what's up how was the rain was your rideokayordidyouhavean-" Jake's ranting was interrupted by Keila, who showed up with several trays of ice cream, and a pie and coffee for Lain.
"I have everyone's things here." She said, putting everything on the booth.
"Oh crap!" Finn shouted, smacking his hands against his cheeks. Oh no he's overselling it oh god.
"What's wrong Finn?" Lain frowned.
"I just forgot I had OODLES OF HOMEWORK TO DO. I HAVE TO GO HOME!" Finn was practically shouting at this point. This is ridiculous, it'll never work.
"Are you sure it can't wait."
"Deadly sure."
"Well I guess I'll have to take you home…" Jake replied gloomily. Acting was not his forte, but he was hella sure he was better at it than Finn.
"Oh don't be silly!" Keila slapped Jake's hand. "I have break time, I'll take him home!"
"Are you sure?" Finn raised his head at her.
"Oh don't worry about it! Hold on a sec." Keila turned her head towards the parlor. "HEY BRAD!" She shouted.
"WHAT?"
"I'M TAKING THIS KID HOME, MAN THE REGISTRAR."
"ALRIGHT!"
"It's settled. Come on Finn, let's go!" At this, Lain stood up to let Finn out, and the two of them watched Finn and Keila leave.
"That's weird." Lain said as she sat back down into the booth. "I didn't think we had any homework."
"Yeah, me neither. Bonnie said the same thing."
"Ooo." Lain said, a devious smile dancing on her face. "Maybe the two are meeting up." Jake guffawed without thinking about it.
"Hahaha okay now you sound like Lara, come on. "
"Yeah you're right." She sighed, closing her eyes as she rested her head on her hands. "So how was your day?"
"It was uh. It was okay."
"How was Music?"
"It's good it's good. That new girl's in it."
"Oh man what's her name. Uh. Marny?"
"Marceline."
"Oh man how'd I get Marny?"
"No clue."
"So then. Finn's gone."
"Yep."
"Under mysterious circumstances."
"Homework isn't mysterious."
Lain opened her eyes, giving Jake a look, her eyebrows raised. "Oh come on you expect me to believe that? Besides, Bonnie told me."
Jake's jaw dropped down. "Aw man, she told you! Wow, that is a shitty way to start a first date." Jake looked over at Lain and saw her eyes open wide.
"D-d-date? She said we would be studying. It's why I brought my bag." Jake looked over to the rainbow bag he had missed when giving her a look over. "You. You're asking me. You're making this a date?"
Sweat poured down Jake's face as fast as on a hot summer's day. "I mean like, not if you don't want t-" Jake was cut of when Lain laughed and put her hand on his.
"Don't be silly. It's exactly what I want to do."