It''s been a long time, but I hope you all are still with me. Will you let me make up for last time? - Lala

Chapter 9

"Are you seriously going to act like you didn't just kiss me?"

"I like you" kiss ,"I want to get to know you." kiss, "Why is that so hard to believe?" kiss. Jacob is so shameless and unapologetic.

"I mean, this is so sudden." Are we moving too fast? The last time someone asked to "get to know me" it was Mike getting to know my bank account. God I make bad choices.

"We've been talking over the phone." His eyes veer away from me.

What the hell was that. People look away when they lie right. Or is this something else?

I follow his eyes with my face trying to regain eye contact. "Yeah, but that's not the same." It's never the same is it. I hate phone calls. They're so fake. Am I fake? No, I like him. I'm not fake. He's not fake. So we shouldn't be fake right?

"What do you mean? I understand It's your job, but are you telling me it was just business? Did you not mean all those things you said? Were you pretending?" His grip on my waist tightens. He brings his forehead closer to mine. We start to breath in each other's air. Oh my gosh, now he's making me dizzy.

"I was -" *You got me in chains…. You got me in chains for your love…*

"What the fuck?" We end up snapping out of our daze. And now he's staring at my pocket.

It's my phone. Who could be calling me? Nobody ever calls me. "Haha, It's just my phone." I pull it out of my pocket and answer without looking at the caller ID.

"Hello?"

"Why do you always say that like it's a question? Like do you not know whether or not you want to answer my phone calls?"

I roll my eyes and try to fight the smile that's growing on my face. "Seth, why do you always call me when I'm least expecting it?"

"I don't know. Look I'm coming over. There was a storm so I know you're still home. And I have truffles, yes I said truffles. I'm trying this new savory thing at the bakery, and I want you to be the first to try it. Oh and I brought cupcakes and my famous praline whipped cream, you know, just in case the truffles are a fail."

"I'm not at home." I try to turn away from Jacob. He's making too much eye contact. He's making me nervous. Like he can hear everything that is coming out of Seth's big mouth.

"What do you mean you're not at home? I'm bringing whipped cream. You know every time I bring whipped cream, we always have fun."

"Whipped cream?", Jacob questions. Oh shit, Jacob heard. "Is there something you need to tell me? Are you fucking Seth?" Jacob's grip on me loosens dramatically.

"Wait , Is that Jacob in the background? How did you get over to his house? They just cleared the roads a half hour ago. You know where he lives?"

"Look, Seth I'll have to call you back later."

"What? Hell no. I told you to stay away from him. Why don't you ever listen to me seriously."

"Seth I do take you seriously. Jesus, I won't be able to get over there because my car is wrecked to shit. Go home."

"Uh uh. No. Not gonna happen. I'm using the spare key to your place, because this shit has to go in the fridge. It's whipped cream for christ sake. Not to mention I have to feed your sorry ass sourdough starter because I need bread for the truffles. And let Jacob know, I'll be here when you get home sweet cheeks."

Hahahah. I can't even hold in my laughter at this point. "Sweet cheeks! Why do you get so goofy when you're riled up?"

"Whatever, you'll see how sexy I am when you get home."

"So delusional, tsk tsk. I'll be home as soon as I can. And don't touch my expensive bottle of wine. Renee just sent that to me." *click*

"What the fuck was that?"

"It's just Seth being Seth. Um can you give me a ride home?"

"Here, I'll have Paul come by and pick it up. There won't be any school for a couple days anyway." He didn't even look at me when he tossed me his keys.

"Jesus Christ, Seth haven't I told you not to leave your fucking shoes directly in front of the door" I damn near trip and break my ass.

"Honey! Welcome home." I roll my eyes as I head to the kitchen towards his voice.

"I'm starting to think you should get your head checked. And why do you always let yourself in my house?" I sputter as I stare bug eyed at his appearance. He is wearing the pink maid apron Renee gave me last christmas.

"The bread is in the oven. Do you want a cupcake now or later. On second thought later. I don't want you to spoil dinner." He twist his neck back toward the oven. My blue butterfly hair clip is keeping his long hair in a top knot. His strong jaw bone clenching as he stirfrys something on the stove makes him look like a warrior or something. Why is this kind of a turn on? Oh god I've been working the sex line too long.

"Have you heard a single word I said? Gosh, i'm starting to regret those spare keys." His tight ass isn't helping either. Little Seth isn't so little anymore.

"What? I'm not allowed to get lonely?" he says playfully.

"You choose to be lonely. There's a difference. Besides, didn't you tell me that girl with the from the bakery keeps asking you out?" I grab a cube of cheese off the table and start nibbling. He doesn't say anything for a moment. So I turn around to face him.

His movements slow down and he cuts the stove off."I don't see her. I only see you. Why can't you understand that. Why don't you see me." His voice is low and deep now.

"Seth" He turns toward me.

"Why is it always someone else." Why is his voice so dead and expressionless?

"Seth" I call out slightly louder. Not this shit again.

"And now it's that fucking low life Jacob. All he does is drag people down to his shit hole."

"Seth" I'm starting to raise my voice. Why won't you just shut up and be my friend.

"All he does is steal. He stole jessica's innocence. He stole Paul's dream."

"Seth."

" And now he is stealing you from me. Why can't you see, he's just another Mike. You fall for the same guy over and over!"

"SETH… That's enough" I feel my chest rising and falling in shame. My breath is labored and forced out.

"Did you sleep with him? Did you let him come inside of you?"

*SLAP*

Before I knew it my hand slung forward and met his face. He doesn't lift his head. Thick tendrils of his hair are covering the front of his face. I can't control my breathing and now my eyes are clouded with anger and tears.

"That's what you like right. For a man to disrespect you." He lifts up his head, baring his eyes, and shows me an expression that i've never seen before. Something dark and ugly, full of love. "You belong with me. Not him, or anyone else."