Chapter XI

"You've gotta' come," Sheva explained over the phone to Sherry who was making toast on the other line, "it's going to be fun."

"Yeah but I have to do so many things," she complained and squaked when the toast jumped up, scaring her.

"Wow, was that the toaster?" Chris asked from Sheva's line.

"It was," Sherry laughed and pulled out the bread, "what would we do?"

"We'll probably put on a movie or something," Chris answered her – taking the phone from Sheva, "I would say we're going to actually watch it but… I know Sheva and you are just going to talk through the entire thing."

"I resent that!" Sheva called from somewhere. Sherry laughed.

"Okay I'll see what I can do, I'll call you guys in an hour with an answer."

"Great."

When Sherry hung up on Chris she was instantly heading towards the bedroom, she hoped her father said yes, but a piece of her felt apprehensive, what if he did? Then she would stay over Chris's apartment with Sheva, Jake, and Billy… and he would be here all alone.

"Dad?" She entered the room nervously; he looked up from the book he was reading wearily, "can I talk to you really fast?"

He nodded, and set the book aside as she approached. Her eyes looked nervous and jittery as she settled beside him on the bed, "what is it Sherry?"

"Well, I have these friends, at school," she stared him in the eye, "they're really nice, they're not drug users or anything like that. Sheva, she wants me to go to a sleepover they are having… so I was wondering if I could go."

He stared at her with a very serious expression, "that's wonderful," he said, "but are there going to be any guys there?"

Sherry licked her lips, they had suddenly dried, "uh yeah, her boyfriend, this other girl Rebecca and Billy, he likes her, and then there is Jake."

"And who does Jake like?" Her father asked suspiciously, "you're telling me there is Sheva and Chris. Rebecca and Billy, Jake… and… then Sherry Birkin."

"Dad, we're all just friends. I swear." She sighed and ran a hand through her hair, "I just don't want to leave you here alone."

"Sherry, go enjoy yourself," he sighed with a smile, "if anything happens I'll give you a call."

"Do you promise?" she gave him a serious stare, "no matter what you have to call me dad, doesn't matter what it is."

"I swear," he smiled as she pressed her lips to his cheek, "have fun."

"Bye dad, you don't want anything before I go?"

He shook his head and bid her farewell.

Sherry jogged to her room and started excitedly packing. She packed a pair of shorts, black socks, and a black shirt. Sherry pulled out her cell phone and texted Sheva telling her that she was on her way.

"Oh my god!" Sheva cried out.

"Jesus!" Jake stared at her with annoyance, "what are you yelling about?"

She grinned madly at her phone, "Sherry – she's actually coming."

His heart gave a slight stutter, he remained stoic and rolled his eyes, "and you had to scream like that?" He wanted to jump and pump his fist in the air, so he tightened his hold on the water bottle instead; Chris popped his head out of the kitchen.

"She's coming over?" He asked, when Sheva nodded he gave a bright grin, "nice. You girls can take the bed along with Rebecca. Jake, Billy and me-

"And I-" Sheva corrected.

"And me," he insisted, "will take the floor."

"You're a pervert," Jake smirked slightly, "you just want to watch them when they sleep and act like Edward Cullen."

"Hey," Sheva slapped his arm, "my boyfriend is not a pervert, and neither is Edward."

Jake stared at her for a long time, "wasn't Chris staring at your ass for almost an entire night when you two first went out to a party?"

"What?" Chris stepped out of the bathroom, staring wide eyed, "I didn't know you noticed that!"

Sheva ducked her head and grumbled something about Sherry. Jake frowned and thought for a moment… she doesn't have a car. Is she taking a cab? "Is she taking a cab?"

Sheva shook her head and stood from the couch, "she told me she's walking."

"Are you serious?" Chris frowned from the kitchen, "she should have asked for a ride. Give her a call maybe she's still in her place, I'll go get her. I won't mind."

"She left her house like ten minutes ago…"

"Shit!" Jake cursed and stood with annoyance and stood from where he was, storming towards the door and bending to put his boots on, "why didn't she tell one of us?"

"Oh, I totally know the answer to that Jake," Sheva answered sarcastically, "she'll be fine Jake, she's a big girl—

He was already out the door.

"Pick up," he muttered angrily as he called her for the second time.

She's so damn stubborn, I give her my phone number so that she can call me when she needs a ride and instead she decides to ignore it. What the hell is it with her? She doesn't get that there are creeps here, does she? I don't think so or else she'd fucking call me like a normal person and ask for a ride! God damn it.

The phone was about to ring for the seventh time when it suddenly stopped and her voice came through.

"Hello?"

"Sherry," his tone was disapproving, "where are you? Are you trying to give everyone a heart attack?"

She smiled, "Jake, don't worry I'm almost at Chris' place. It's really not that far from where I live." She turned a corner and continued walking, "where are you exactly? I think I see you, a strange brooding man coming my way."

He stiffened, "that's not me."

"Jake, I'm kidding," she grinned, "I'm literally a block away from Chris' place, where are you exactly?"

"I'm about to turn a corner, I'm sure I'll see you then." Sure enough, as soon as he turned he caught sight of her coming towards him. She smirked and hung the phone up, jogging towards him as he stopped and shoved his hands into his pockets.

She looks nice, he thought as she came his way in a tight t-shirt and snug jeans. Sherry also appreciated his clothing with a little more subtlety. He wore a loose fitting black t-shirt and a pair of black sweats, and like always, combat boots.

"Are you gearing up for war?" she laughed when he was in hearing distance, "you always wear those types of boots."

"You're going to give me a heart attack, you know that?" His voice was annoyed; Sherry smiled sheepishly, "you should have told me."

"Sorry," she patted him on the arm, "you'll live."

He scowled as she laughed at his expression and then continued walking towards Chris's apartment, "so your parents gave you permission."

"Something like that," she grinned, noticing how intense his eyes looked into the darkness and under the dim lights of the street lamps, "so are Billy and Rebecca going to make it? I know that Sheva is excited to meet her, she seems to think that she'll be this tall blonde with green eyes and killer legs."

Jake laughed at that, she grinned back, "as if Billy could ever get someone like that."

"So what are you expecting?" Sherry grinned at him, he shrugged, and not daring to look at her for fear he might start gawking like an idiot.

"I'm expecting Gollum."

"My goodness," Sheva stared at the door with a wide stare, as Sherry's laughter rang from outside the apartment, "do you hear her laughing? He's really not that funny, Jake has the sense of humor of a fish." Chris raised a brow at the analogy, "meaning he's not really all that funny."

"Am I funny?" He asked with a grin, "I make you laugh all the time."

"Yeah, uh huh," she nervously ducked her gaze as he gave her a scowl; she cackled and skipped to the door before Jake could push it open. As soon as Sheva opened it she bounded into Sherry with a bear hug. The smaller girl fell to the floor.

"I'm so happy you're here!" Sheva exclaimed happily, Sherry laughed on the ground, Jake watched with a slightly jealous gaze as Sheva straightened up over Sherry, straddling her hips.

"Damn," Chris grinned as he came into the doorway, "this is a nice vision."

Jake tossed him a glare as Sheva laughed at Sherry's vicious blushing, "get off her, you're gonna' suffocate her."

"Are you calling me fat?" She glared up at him playfully.

"Are you calling me small?" Sherry added.

Jake smirked and crouched until he had Sheva at eyelevel and Sherry stared up at him with confusion, "you two aren't going to guilt me into anything. Now, get up or I'm locking the two of you out."

"Or," Chris stepped forward, "we can always just make you."

Sheva glared, "you wouldn't—

Chris grabbed her around the waist and pulled her over his shoulder. She yelled and pounding her fist into his back as Jake took Sherry's hand and helped her up, "Billy should be here with Gollum soon."

She laughed loudly as she stepped into the apartment.

The apartment itself was nothing large, but it was so personal that she could feel all of the immense character within the place. Chris' entrance gave her direct view of the living room. There was a brown couch facing a flat screen TV. To her right there was an opening to a small kitchen with an open space that gave him direct vision into the living room.

"Sit with me," Jake told her as he moved forward towards the living room, she stood where she was shyly, unable to move from the entrance.

"Should I take off my shoes?"

"Yes please," Chris grinned from the kitchen.

After making small talk and complimenting Chris on his simplistic apartment she made her way to Jake with a smile on her face. He looked at her very seriously as she plopped down beside him, Sheva and Chris cooked in the kitchen.

"Are you still annoyed?" she asked with a small playful smile, "you know I can take care of myself right?"

"That's not the point," he huffed and stared at her very seriously, "what if something did happen?"

"I'm Supergirl!" She stated indignantly, hoping to make him smile, "no one's going to mess with me."

They better not… he thought and gave her a sly smile, "you know they're going to pick you for information about your background. You're quite a mystery, you know that right?"

Sherry smile faltered, "really?"

"We don't know anything about you."

"Well I don't know anything about you guys either," she smirked and stared at him with an interested gaze, "are we going to play 20 questions or something."

"Great idea!" Sheva statedd from the kitchen and proceeded to drag Chris out roo, although he came very willingly, "take a seat Chris," she smiled. Chris sat cross legged on the floor and Sheva sat beside him, holding his hand in her own and grinning at Sherry who was blushing, and Jake who was rolling his eyes.

"Now remember, if a question is too serious – just pass," Chris smiled, Sherry bit her lip nervously, "and we all have to answer the questions. So, with that being said, what's your favorite television show? I like The Office."

Sheva answered next, "Game of Thrones…"

Sherry thought for a long moment, Jake watch with interest as she scrunched her face up, "The Walking Dead."

He raised a brow and smirked before answering, "Chris, you know." Sherry looked to Chris with interest.

"He likes The Walking Dead too," Chris grinned at her, she smiled back.

"My turn," Jake thought before asking, "Stupidest pick up line you've ever used? I don't have any and you know that's true Chris so don't give me that look."

Chris grumbled with annoyance and Sherry answered with a hard blush, "I was eleven, my friend convinced me to go up to the most popular guy and ask for his number by saying, "excuse me, I lost my number, could I borrow yours?"

"That's not that bad," Sheva laughed, "I went up to someone when I was 13 and said, "I'll give you five seconds to give me your number or you can forget about going out with me forever."

Chris laughed as did Sherry, Jake chuckled at it and then they all looked at Chris expectantly… but then there was a knock at the door.

"Oh! There's the door!" He quickly jumped up before answering and ran for it. Jake looked at Sherry with a smirk, "Billy and Gollum are here."

He turned just as Billy and his friend walked in.

"Hey!" Billy grinned at them all, "this is Rebecca."

Behind him a small girl about the same height as Sherry stepped out. She smiled and waved at them all, Sherry grinned at her and took in her appearance.

The girl wore a green T-shirt and Capri cargo pants with combat boots. Sherry also noticed that she had dim blue eyes, but they were wide enough to draw attention to how round they were. And her hair was just a bit shorter then Sherry's and a faded brown.

"Hi," she greeted them.

"Hey!" They all grinned back, Jake looked at Sherry and subtly raised his brow, I guess she's not Gollum, but that voice is going to get fucking annoying real fast.

After introducing themselves to one another quickly and settling down Sherry politely offered Rebecca her seat, Rebecca declined politely. Jake was relieved by this.

"So," Sherry smiled at Chris, "are you going to answer about what was the worst pick up line you ever used?"

He scowled at his thighs as he sat cross legged, Jake snickered quietly and subtly covered his mouth, Sherry looked at him with confusion. He seemed to know the answer. Chris finally answered after a long drawn out moment, "are you wearing space pants? Because your ass is out of this world."

"What the hell!" Billy burst into wild laughter and Rebecca leaned onto him, snickering as Jake grinned madly.

"Now tell them how old you were and who you used it on," Jake instructed Chris who was blushing rabidly. When he didn't answer Sheva did.

"He used it on me right before he asked me on a date… he was sixteen," she chuckled, "he thought it would make me laugh, and it did. So I said yes."

"At least I got the girl," he smiled and pulled her into her arms.

"Next question," Billy grinned, Rebecca blinked up at him, stunned by his dazzling look, "what was the worst date you've ever been on."

It turned out Sherry, Jake, Rebecca, and Billy had never been on a date. It shocked her to find that out.

After a few more rounds of questions and laughter – mostly because of Sheva and Chris, things took a more serious turn. By this point Jake was stretched out on the couch almost to the point where his feet were touching Sherry's thigh but not quite as he kept his knees bent and one arm behind his head.

"So," Chris started, "what was the worst relationship you've ever had."

Sheva started, "I was… sixteen, and it really wasn't a relationship but he thought it was," Chris stiffened beside her, "basically he started trying to get me to go out with him really bad…"

"She's downplaying it," Jake interrupted, "he was stalking her."

Chris jumped in, "he was a fucking asshole. Next."

Jake shrugged, "I never had a really bad relationship. I didn't care enough to get hurt." Sherry's curiosity perked up at this but she couldn't really pinpoint why… maybe it was the knowledge that as far as she could tell – Jake Muller was not a guy for relationships.

"I had a boyfriend who tried to run away with me once," Rebecca shrugged with a smile, "had to breakup with him. He was watching too many romance movies."

"Oh my gosh," Sheva laughed, "that's awful."

"Imagine," Rebecca grinned, "he honestly thought I was going to give up everything to run to South America."

Chris laughed at that, "my worst relationship… I don't really have one."

"Same," Billy shrugged, "the worst relationship I've ever had has been with my XBOX… fucking controller."

"You suck," Jake rolled his eyes, "and so does XBOX. Get with the program, Playstation."

"Fuck yeah!" Chris agreed, "Sherry, your turn."

Nervously she bit her lip, all eyes turned on her and Jake stared at her nervous expression with a dark curiosity. He could tell that there was something she wasn't going to let out. Her hands began to tremble the slightest bit, but only he noticed as she clasped them firmly together.

What the fuck?

"No bad relationships," she smiled perfectly, "but I did get ditched at a restaurant once… I was fifteen."

"What restaurant?" Rebecca asked with interest.

"Burger King."

That night they got no movie watching done. Jake stared at Sherry half the time, wondering why she had avoided the question in a manner that was so obvious to him. He recognized the signs of dismissal in her very clearly although it seemed no one else did.

Sherry was stuck with thoughts of her father and how he was doing. Sheva flirtatiously pushed Chris away when he tried to kiss her, and Rebecca nodded off on Billy who was also falling asleep.

"Girls, go to bed," Chris laughed when he noticed them all nodding off.

"We'll take the futon," Sheva mumbled dreamily, snuggling into his large frame, "you guys take the bed."

"I'm not sleeping with Chris on the bed," Billy shook his head, "he's going to start rolling all over the place."

"Hey, I'm not a bad sleeper," Chris disagreed, Sheva chuckled, "Jake is the one that rolls onto people and doesn't wake up."

Sherry perked up at this and laughed, Jake frowned and spoke, "'s not my fault."

"Alright," Chris slowly stood, picking up Sheva along the way, she snuffled into his chest and shut her eyes, "I changed the bed sheets girls, don't worry. You're safe from my love sweat-

"Aw, gross!" Sherry laughed and stood.

Jake watched her with an interested gaze as Billy followed Chris to the bedroom with Rebecca behind him. He noticed that Sherry's shirt rode up a bit as she stretched, he raised a brow appreciatively.

"You're tired."

"Yeah," she smiled and fell back onto the heel of her foot, "I haven't been sleeping well lately."

"Bad dreams?" He asked with interest. She shrugged, "something like that then?"

"Something like that."

He nodded, accepting this, "so are you ever going to really tell us why you moved here?"

She shook her head, "I doubt it. It's not an interesting story, and it'll be fun to hear what you guys come up with anyway." She grinned at him then, her eyes were pink from exhaustion and walked until she was beside him, "night Jake." Before she could get away his hand suddenly shot out.

She stilled as he grabbed her hand firmly in his. He stared up at her seriously from where he lay on the couch. She looked down at him with confusion, his hand felt like hot water on her flesh, but it was relaxing, even though his eyes were steely.

"What happened when Chris asked about bad relationships?" he knitted his brows, "You froze up."

Sherry blinked down at him and slowly pulled her hand out of his, "nothing… it's really nothing, I promise."

He didn't believe her, but pushing the matter wouldn't him answers, "you sure?"

"Yeah…"

"Fine," he crossed his arms and gave her that permanent smirk. Yet his eyes still held all the seriousness of the world, "night."

"Goodnight," she whispered and scurried out of the room.

A few minutes later the girls were all on Chris' large bed sleeping and the guys were in the living room, they stayed up playing video games, only Jake remained pensive on Sherry's odd behavior at the question. In the room next door Sherry dreamed of Jake Muller's concerned gaze.

Jake Muller was not going to just let this go, they both knew it.


Something going on... Jake, time to get your investigators hat on.

So I hope you enjoyed it! Kind of starting to get more into Sherry's background... and clearly Jake has a bit of reputation in the school for his habits. O_o And Chris' comment about 'Jake is the one that rolls onto people' is basically a hint at, Jake gets around and therefore so do his sleeping habits :O

REVIEW!