Chapter 6 - Anything but Picture Perfect
As I watched my best stand and go out the door, after Gavin, I felt like part of me went with her. We have history, Gracie and I. I guess I've known her since before I was born really, her mom and my mom were really close friends when they were younger. We were both born around the same time really, about an hour apart. I'm older. Now half of me left like it was disappearing with my best friend. I love her. Not like the love I feel for my family. I feel more love for Gracie than my family, to tell you the truth. I worry about her. Not because I think that she would do something stupid; just because she went off after Gavin, who, when is mad, is not rational. He is horribly violent. I've been down that path with him before, and I don't want her to get hurt because of me. He should not be here; I don't want him here, he should go back home. I want Gracie to stay here, but I know that they came here together, so they have to leave together.
While I was pondering this, I didn't realize that Jake came and sat down on the couch next to me and was studying my face as I watched the door for the last three minutes. I haven't taken my eyes off that door since Gracie left.
"Luce? Are you okay?" He finally spoke, softly.
I was still staring at the door when I answered. "Yeah."
"Are you mad at me for the Gavin thing?" He asked quietly.
I turned at looked at him with wide-eyes. "No! Of course not, if anything I'm grateful."
"Really? Then why do you look so sad and concerned?" He looked puzzled.
"Well, Gracie went after Gavin and he is violent when he is angry and I'm worried for her." I mumbled.
"Oh." He turned his head towards the kitchen and shouted. "SETH!"
"Yea?" Seth said as he entered the living room from the kitchen, he had chips in his hand.
"Go after Grace to make sure she is okay." Seth nodded and stuffed the rest of the chips in his hand, into his mouth and took off out the front door.
"Thank you." I whispered, visibly relaxing as the door shut after Seth. I knew he wouldn't let anything happen to her. Seth was an awesome kid. Jake was so nice to send someone after Gracie to make sure she is safe. I'm starting to like Jake even more, if that's possible.
"Anything for you." He declared and I blushed. "Why do you blush at every compliment or thing I say to you?" He looked incredulous.
"When I was with Gavin, he...uh...never complimented me, he said I wasn't worth compliments. That was when I told him that I was going to break up with him and he beat me..." Tears were in my eyes now, and I looked down. "...he told me that if I broke up with him, I would be alone, no one would ever want someone like me and he wouldn't ever take me back-and I believed him." I was shaking by the end of it.
"That's not true, it's just the opposite." I looked up into his eyes and I saw that that was the truth. We just stared at each other for a moment and then he lifted his hand and put it on my cheek and we leaned in to kiss one another and got about a whisper of breath apart, when the front door opened and Leah walked in. I straightened and blushed and Jake dropped his hand.
She just glared at us and muttered "stupid imprint" and trotted up the stairs. That brought the question from this morning back to me. I forgot to ask him earlier, so...
"Jake..." I asked uncertain if he would tell me.
"Yeah, Luce?" He looked over at me.
I hesitated not knowing how to ask so I just stuck with the subtle approach.
"What does 'imprint' mean? Is it some American slang? Cuz' every since I've been here, people have said that word."
He just stared at me for and minute, then asked where I've heard that word before.
I thought back to when we first met and I said, "When we met and you ran out the door Leah murmured 'he imprinted', then I overheard you, Seth, and Sue talking about it when I came out of Seth's room when I was indecent –"I stopped, blushing. He grinned. "I also overheard Seth ask you 'if you hadn't imprinted, if you'd like Leah', sorry but I didn't mean to overhear those things."
"Oh. That's fine, but can you trust me if I said that I can't tell you now, but I promise I will tell you later?" I nodded.
"Thanks." He whispered. I was thinking about all that I have been through since I have been here and I figured that I needed to go shopping.
"I better go take a shower." I said.
He looked at me puzzled and said "It is only 8:30."
"Well… I need to take a shower, write in my journal, -yes I have one- and I need to go ask the school about transfer papers so I can start school when the time comes in oh," I thought for a moment… "20 days and I want to check out the malls and stores in Seattle tomorrow, so I want to get stuff done tonight so I can go to bed early.." With that I got up and went into Seth's room only come out moments later with pajamas and a towel. I walked into the hallway to hear that Seth and Sue were fighting about something in Sue's room. I paused and listened. It sounded like the were talking about 'a pack' but that's all I heard before Seth yanked the door open and paused to look at me and then disappeared down the hall way. I shrugged and went into the bathroom and closed the door. I looked at myself in the mirror and grimaced. I couldn't believe how horrible I looked; surely Jake couldn't think I looked good. I looked horrible.
After I got out of the shower, an hour later, I decided that I hadn't written in my journal since I got to Lu Push. I was in serious need to vent. I when I got into Seth's room, I shut the door and knelt down in one of my suitcases, not even bothering to get dressed first. I searched and threw everything out of my suitcase before I found what I was looking for, a baby-blue journal. I opened it up to the first clean page and wrote:
August 7th,
Ok. I ended up at the Clearwaters' house two days ago. I wrote down quickly. It has been really nice here. Not too rainy and not too cold. Perfect weather. I met a guy named Jake, he is amazing. I can tell that I'm already starting to fall for him. The thing I don't know is, how he feels about me. I think that there is something there but I'm not sure. He acts like it, but he won't kiss me. He said that he 'might lose control'. I want him to. Sometimes I'm scared that he just doesn't want me. Although he was very protective of me when Gavin attacked me with that kiss –shudders- he looked like he wanted to kill Gavin, he was shaking so hard – like Grace told Sue- really cute though. I really feel like there is something between us, especially since every time we touch each other I feel like I'm being electrocuted; I'm sure he feels that way too. I can see it in his eyes. I hope there is, I want there to be. Well I just got out of the shower so I need to get dressed. I'll hopefully write later tonight.
Lucia.
"There." I muttered. I set the book on the dresser. I pulled off my towel and changed into my clothes. Tonight I'm going to wear sweats and a t-shirt to bed; this way I don't accidently go out of Seth's room without dressing. That was embarrassing. A little while after I dressed I heard a knock on the door and Sue popped her head in and told me that it was time to eat. When I walked into the kitchen, I was surprised that Jake was not there. He usually eats at Sue's for dinner.
"Well, Jake has to work." Sue said when I asked her, sitting down at the table.
"Jake has a job?" I asked incredulously.
"Yeah, he is sixteen." She said. Then she looked thoughtful. "Didn't he tell you that he had a job?"
"No." I said looking disappointed. Then asked, "Where does he work? What does he do?"
She smiled at me and then looked at Seth who grinned and she smiled wider and said, "Isn't it obvious?"
I pondered that as she replied "He's a mechanic. He works at the body shop downtown. He should be here…"She glanced at her watch that read ten-thirty- five. "…Around eleven, if you want to wait for him." This time she tried to hide the smile in her voice but failed miserably. "He also…" She went on "…works tomorrow from 10-8, if you want to visit him tomorrow." Now not trying to hide the smile in her voice.
"Won't I get in trouble for disturbing him at work?" I asked confused.
My confused look plus my question made Sue and Seth laugh.
"Oh, I don't think his boss would care." Sue said. They laughed harder. Then Seth said "I…actually think…his boss…will be…happy" Barely managing to get it out in between choked laughter.
I was completely lost.
"Why wouldn't his boss care?" I asked puzzled.
"Because Jacob's boss is himself. He owns 'Blacksbodyshop.'"
Someone said in a monotone. I spun a full 180 degrees and stared at her. Leah. She was actually out of her room and speaking. That made Seth and Sue go quite. I was staring in disbelief. She didn't actually let us speak; she quickly managed to get out of the room before anyone said anything. Then what the Clearwaters said dawned on me. Jake has a job at a body shop, -his- body shop. He's the owner, boss, and he is coming here at eleven. He is amazing. He is the kind of guy I've always wanted. I wonder if he wants me.
I started picking at my food, not really eating it but just thinking and nibbling. We were eating roast beef, carrots and potatoes. About halfway through dinner, the front door opened and in walked Jake. I smiled at the sight of him. He was wearing a white t-shirt, tight enough that you could see the outline of his beautiful muscles. The white t-shirt had black oil splattered all over it. His hands were black up to his elbows in oil/ grease. His hair was tousled every which way. His jeans were the same as his t-shirt, splattered with oilHis hair had that "sex" look. He looked damn sexy. So sexy I could eat him. I can't even describe how good he looked despite the mess.
"Fall in an oil can?" Seth joked, snapping me out of my thoughts.
Jake grinned at him and then moved to the sink to rinse off. He turned around, spotted me, and grinned even wider. I could see the love in his eyes. Or maybe I was having a hallucination. I hoped not.
"For the record Jake, I don't think you look bad." I said and then smiled.
"No, of course you don't." Seth said making me blush. Jake slapped him upside the head and said "thanks".
The he turned to Sue and asked how Sam and Emily were doing, to change the topic I suppose because he knows how they are doing. I was sure of it. I smiled grateful his way that he changed the topic. He smiled back.
"So…" I said when Jake and Sue got done talking about Emily and Sam. "When were you planning on telling me that you owned a body shop Jake?" A little bit of irritation leaked into my voice. His head snapped up in surprise then said sheepishly "Who told you that?"
I blushed and looked down.
"Well…it's not that I care, it is just that I thought that you'd think I was weird for owning a body shop."
"No. Why would I think you were weird for owning a body shop? I could never think your weird anyways Jake." I said that quietly in hopes that no one heard me. All the sudden Seth started making gagging noises. I glanced up at him and glared. He grinned at me when I did that, asking me if I was finished with my food on my plate so that he could have it. I handed it to him; he thanked me, and then shoveled it into his mouth all at once. I just sat there staring at him with wide eyes. I should have guessed by now by how huge he is that he has room to put it.
I looked around and saw that Sue was getting out three boxes of brownie mix out of the cabinet and asked us if we wanted any. Then something dawned on me. A wonderful idea.
"Sue! Drop those boxes of brownies right now." I said trying to look severe. Jake and Seth looked at me then Sue with wide eyes and mouths hanging open. Sue looked at me for and minute, then when I glanced at Jake then Sue then the boxes of brownies, she seemed to get what I was doing. She grinned.
"Since you made dinner, I want to make the dessert." I said slyly.
"Um… okay?" She said uncertainly. She is a good actress, I'll have to thank her later. Then I turned to Jake and batted my eyes at him hoping it would work.
"Jake, could you help me make them?" I said to him. When he hesitated, I said in a seductive voice, "please."
"Um…uh…uh…okay?" He stuttered. He is so so cute. Seth snickered seeming to get what I was trying to do…finally. Jake on the other hand was so clueless, it was cute. I smiled at the affect I seem to have on him at the moment.
"Yay!" I squealed with delight and jumped up and down clapping my hands together like a little kid.
In a few minutes we had everything we needed. He poured a bag of brownie mix into a large bowel and I started cracking eggs. Jake then started mixing it with a beater and that's when it started getting messy. I could tell that he never really cooked before because he turned the electric beater up full blast and the mix splattered everywhere! I started laughing and holding my hands up to block my face. Over my laughter I could hear him saying 'sorry' over and over again, and that just made me laugh even harder. Finally he managed, with great difficulty, to turn it off and we were covered head to foot in chocolate brownie mix. He grabbed a towel out of the cabinet and apologizing again and again, which was cute by the way; he started to wipe the chocolate off my face. I blushed at that. Jake just grinned at my blush and then he took his huge hand and wiped my cheek off with the back of it. I placed my hands on his chest. I don't know why I did I guess that instinct just took over. He looked down at my hands for a second, then looked up at me and smiled. I sighed because it felt so good and so right, especially when that shock went through our bodies. I wanted him. This time it didn't seem weird because I know him now, I mean not that long, but, I still know him. I looked up into his eyes. He kept the back of his hand on my cheek and we just stayed like that for I don't know how long.
He stared back not seeming to breathe. I know I wasn't. I was thinking about reaching up, taking his head and kissing him, when Seth came in the kitchen and looked at us for one second and then a grin slowly spread of his face and he said "whoops, sorry. Bad time?" That made me go crimson.
Jake looked at him, grimaced and turned away from me, his hand still on my cheek. My hands still on his chest.
"Darn," He muttered looking around.
"What happened in here?" Seth said in horror as he followed Jake's gaze which took in all the chocolate everywhere.
"Uh, I… uh… had an accident." Jake stumbled on his words and I stifled a giggle.
"An accident?" Seth repeated still looking around in horror. Jake didn't say anything, he just nodded. That made me burst out laughing. Seth and Jake looked at me, the horror of what happened still clear on their faces, which again made me laugh harder.
"I think you broke her." Seth said with a chuckle. I don't think I've ever laughed that much or that hard in my life.
Seth's eyes traveled back to us and my hands. I pulled away from Jake unwillingly -I loved how my hands were on his chest, like I said it felt good and right- not because I was embarrassed, but because I wanted to see what kind of mess we made. Not to mention that I'm really shy. I glanced over my shoulder, looked around the kitchen and couldn't help when a giggle slipped through my lips. Jake looked at me, then Seth, who had an amused look on his face. Seth caught Jake looking at him.
"Sorry about… uh… interrupting." Seth said looking uncomfortable for the first time since he walked through the door to the kitchen. He backed out of the room. Jake looked back at me and smiled.
"Why did he leave all the sudden?" I asked in confusion. Jake just smiled and looked around again and said quietly that we should clean up before continuing or Sue will have our heads for messing up her kitchen. I just smiled, give him a peck on the cheek and went to grab cleaning supplies.
When I came back, Jake had not moved from where he was, he had wide eyes and his hand was on his cheek right where I kissed him.
"Uh… Jake?" I asked with uncertainty.
"Yeah?" He mumbled.
"Are you okay?"
He moved his hand down from his cheek, smiled at me and said "yeah."
We went back to cleaning up the kitchen. When we were done, we started back up with making the brownies. This time I told Jake that he should crack eggs and I'd blend. He thought that that was a wonderful idea. I usually hate cooking, but with Jake, he made it fun. This was reason for me to volunteer with making them.
