Chapter 2

Amy and Jake spent the rest of the afternoon together. The Rosenbloom manor was a very impressive and imposing Victorian manor nestled in West Cambridge just outside of campus. The large manor house was immaculate and the grounds were small, but impeccable. A low iron gate ran along the sidewalk surrounding the home. Tall arborvitae trimmed to perfection behind the iron fence and offered absolute privacy to the home.

Jake had given her a quick tour of the home, highlighting family photos and heirlooms, including, to Amy's astonishment, a 16th century Amati violin made in Cremona, Italy. Jake had been so impressed that she knew what it was, that he picked it up and began to play Mozart's 'Eine Kleine Nachtmusik.' Amy was speechless.

"Jake, Mozart was a Madrigal!" Amy's eyes were sparkling. "I had no idea you knew how to play!"

Jake finished his last note, lowered the violin, "I guess you were right, there is a lot about me you don't know." He said smiling.

"I had no idea" Amy said smiling and shaking her head. "You keep surprising me. First you know several languages, then you tackle villains like a linebacker and now I find out you play Mozart on a priceless violin. You're amazing."

Jake replaced the violin on its stand and turned to Amy. He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her to him, "Well, I have to keep up with my impressive girlfriend. I don't know if you've met her yet, but she's pretty much a female Indiana Jones. I keep expecting her to brandish her whip and fly over some crevasse while rescuing a lost masterpiece, or more likely a lost manuscript." Jake leaned in and kissed her playfully.

"I'll have to meet this girlfriend of yours-and kick her ass." Amy said with mock indignation and turned away to head down the hall.

She could hear the TV on somewhere nearby. Jake followed her. About halfway down the hallway, she saw a blue-green light coming from under a door. She leaned her head toward the door. Jake came up behind her and nestled his head in the crook of her shoulder. Together they listened to Dan and Atticus laughing and playing video games. Jake reached around Amy and twisted the doorknob. The two boys didn't seem to notice they had visitors.

"Hi guys" Amy said stepping into Atticus' room.

"Oh, hi Amy!" Atticus said, pressing pause on his and Dan's game. He jumped up and ran to give Amy a hug. He had missed her too it appeared.

Amy hugged him back and smiled at him. "Have you been doing this the whole time we've been home? Didn't you hear us downstairs?"

Atticus turned and looked at Dan, together they tried to suppress smiles.

"Oh, we knew you were home," Dan said "We just figured we didn't want to lose our lunch watching the two of you make out."

Amy's mouth dropped open, "Dan!" she said quickly, feeling embarrassed.

"Amy, when are you going to stop having that reaction to people pointing out that you've got the hots for Jake?" Dan said. "Everyone, and I mean everyone knows you two can't get enough of each other."

Amy blushed and felt her neck getting hot. She glanced over at Jake and he met her eyes. He gave a tiny shrug as if to say, 'well, he has a point.'

Amy couldn't help it. She didn't need a lecture on romance etiquette from her little brother who still picked his nose.

"Well, I'm pretty sure we'd pull ourselves apart long enough to say hello to both of you. I haven't seen Atticus in a very long time." Amy said glancing at Atticus with a smile. He beamed up at her giving her another quick hug.

"It's OK Amy, I'm just glad the two of you have made up and are back together. I've been having to listen to Jake moan your name in his sleep for the last 6 months. It's pretty exhausting on a kid." Atticus said, eyeing Jake.

Now it was Jake's turn to go scarlet. He cleared his throat and said, "I think we better leave these two alone." As he inclined his head away from the boys toward the door.

Amy followed him brushing her hand across Jake's chest as she passed him. She heard Jake sigh and then the door clicked.

Amy turned around to face Jake in the hallway. He walked up and encircled her in his arms, "so they think all we do is make out?"

Amy blushed. "They're such dweebs."

"No, I think they're on to something. I think we ought to live up their expectations," Jake said with a smolding look on his face. He began to walk Amy backward across the hallway. When her back hit something hard, she stopped. Jake reached back and opened another door behind her and ushered her inside. Then he closed the door behind him. They had just entered Jake's bedroom.

Amy's face felt hot, she was in Jake Rosenbloom's bedroom, with him. He continued to walk Amy backward across the room, all the while kissing her. Amy couldn't see straight. Her head was swimming.

Suddenly, she felt something behind her. She turned to look-it was the bed. Jake put his hand on her back to help ease her down onto it. She simultaneously wanted to shout for him to stop while also wanting to wrap her legs around his waist.

She finally found her voice and squeaked out, "Jake." He didn't respond, still kissing her. She said his name again, this time applying a little pressure to his chest with her hands. "Jake."

He stopped kissing her and looked at her. "Jake, I'm not ready for this."

He put his head on her clavicle and took a long, slow breath, then he stood up and pulled her to her feet. She stood staring at him, trying to get a measure on what he was feeling; Annoyance, frustration, guilt?

He looked at her, still holding her hands. "Ok," he said, nodding. "Whatever you're comfortable with. I'm sorry if I took it too far. I just get…" Jake sighed, "You just do something to me Amy. I can't explain it."

Amy knew that feeling all too well herself. For a moment, she wondered where they'd be now if she hadn't put a stop to things. She glanced back at his bed and could briefly picture the two of them intertwined together. She shook her head to clear the thought from her mind.

Jake and Amy went downstairs to the kitchen. The kitchen-bright, airy and not a single bed in sight. Perfect. Amy was silently watching Jake as he moved around the room. He was quiet. She wondered if she had made him mad upstairs? She decided to find out.

"Jake, are you upset with me?" Amy asked, wrinkling her brow.

Jake looked up from filling two glasses with water. "No, of course not, why?" He had genuine concern on his face.

Amy looked down, embarrassed, "I don't know, I guess I just didn't want you angry with me for what just happened."

Jake smiled a genuine apology smile and walked over to her. He set down the two glasses of water. "Amy, if anything, I'm sorry. I got carried away. It won't happen again, I promise. From now on I'm only taking your cues." He stopped and tilted her chin up to look into her eyes. "If you, you know," he stopped, looking embarrassed, "ever want to…take things further," he blushed and smiled a sheepish smile, "you just let me know."

Amy couldn't believe they were having this conversation. She smiled that same embarrassed smile back at him. She didn't know what to say. Of course she wanted to take things further with Jake! Was he kidding? He was the most gorgeous human she had ever seen, AND he was her boyfriend. But, she was just 18 and still in high school. She knew she and Jake would be together for the rest of their lives and that gave her comfort, and confidence that she'd made the right choice for that moment. The trouble was, she didn't know how long her resolve would hold out now that the man she loved was back in her life full time.