Jake's Little Surprise

The next day Arwen was up before me. She was sitting at the foot of my bed as if waiting for me. I yawned. "What's up, Arwen?"

"A lot," she says. "First of all, do you remember anything that happened last night?"



I was in awe before she was done. What had gotten into my last night? Why did I take those beers to start with? And poor Darien! He was so excited to see me and tell me everything that had happened in Gondor, but he finds me making out with some bastard.

"I've got a lot to say to him," I say.

"Yea, well I thought I should tell you," she says. "But don't take it so hard. No one's mad at you. Darien's just a little shocked. Want a hug?"

"Yes," I say and Arwen gives me a hug.

"Okay, well, I got to go," Arwen says. "I'll see you later."

I walk her to the door and hug her once more before she leaves. "So, what are you going to do today?" I turn to see Jake sitting up on the couch with an apple in his hand.

I sit right next to him. "I think I'll take you somewhere! Want to do some shopping? You've been wearing the same pants for days."

He shakes his head. "Nope, I got no money."

"But I never said I wanted you to pay," I answer.

"But...I couldn't just take your money without helping you work or anything!"

"Well, how about you keep me company today so I'm not bored and the reward is buying you two pairs of pants!"

He laughs. "I'd like to do that."

"Okay, well before we go anywhere, Arwen wanted me to give you THESE." I hand him a bag and he opens it.

"Wow! Five band shirts and a surfer shirt. I LIKE this. I'd love to surf."

"Well, maybe you will, but let's get you some stuff to match the shirts," I say.

"Emma, you're the best," he says and grins.



Jake steps out of the dressing room. He doesn't dress my style and I'd actually love to dress him as a prep, but whatever. I've talked him into getting some cute, regular jeans, but I'm not going to make him wear all this stuff he doesn't like, so he picks everything else out.

"I love this," he says, circling in front of a mirror. "You sure you can afford it?"

I look at the tag. It's fifty damn bucks for some baggy black pants, but whatever, I guess I'll live. I need to start working and stop relying on my parents cause I'm getting kinda sad.

"Emma? I said can you afford it?"

"Oh sure!" I exclaim. My cell-phone rings. "Hello?" I say.

"Bubbles!!"

I laugh. "Hey Edoran, what's going on?"

"On my way to Rivendell right now with the band. We finished the video two days ago and it should be showing on TV very soon. And the CD will be done in one month!"

"Wow, that's awesome! I can't wait to see you guys! And guess what? We might possibly have a new brother!"

"WHAT?! Mom's PREGNANT!"

"No!" I say. "It's a long story that I'll have to explain later, but we might adopt this kid Jake and he cool. You'll love him to death! He's just like you!"

"Oh, wow...wow...I can't wait to meet him though! That's just...wow, big news!"

"Yea, no kidding! Well come soon! And guess what? He likes Pandemonium...A LOT! When he saw the Pandemonium shirt in the mall and my tattoo, he FREAKED! He was like 'awesome!'" I say.

"That's cool! I'm gonna like this kid!"

"And he doesn't yet know who you are," I whisper. "But trust me he'll recognize you!"

"Emma, look at this shirt! This is the coolest thing ever!" Jake holds up a green shirt with Rome's face on it.

I laugh. "I like it too!"

"This guy is SO cool," Jake says, jabbing his finger in the shirt. "I'd so want to be like him. OR at least meet him!"

I nod. "Oh, well, my brother and his friends are coming over today or tomorrow!"

"Cool!" he says.

"Well, Edoran, I better go. Give everyone my love."

"Okay, talk to you later!"



That afternoon after I took Jake shopping, I walked over to Darien's house. Darien answers the door looking high with deep circles under his eyes.

"Hey," he says. "Sup?"

"Uh, nothing. Just wondering how you're doing?"

"Come in," he says. I walk in and see his table, covered in papers with things written all over them and his electric guitar leaning against a chair.

"Working on a song?" I ask.

He sighs and rubs his neck. "All fucking night and a good bit of today. Not a lot worth keeping though. Want a drink?"

"Sure! Got coke?"

"Of course," he says and heads to the kitchen. I glance over at some of the papers and read some, trying to look casual and not so snoopy!

"And all I can think of are ways to die alone.

Left selfish and hungry so feed me the pain.

And all I can think of are ways to die alone.

Dream of content? All I can say: dreams are bad...

When all they do is leave the truth behind."

My forehead wrinkles with worry. Darien didn't seem like he had been feeling depressed at all last time I remembered seeing him: at the party. Was this my fault?

"Darien, look," I say going into the kitchen. "If there is anything I can do to make things up to you, I will, no matter WHAT they are." I get as close to him as I can.

He just shrugs. "It's no big deal. I'd rather just drop it and move on. I wish you had kissed me like that and not him..."

"Well, maybe I'll try to make up to you anyhow," I say, leaning into Darien, ready to start making out with HIM. He grabs my arms so I can't move forward. "Don't try to do me any favors by sympathy kisses."

"WHAT?" I exclaim. "Darien! You have to let it go! I love you! We're going out!"

"Maybe I can't let it go for some reason...maybe it'd be better if we didn't go out..."

I feel faint. Whoa, I felt like I was being punished for something I didn't do, cause I couldn't remember making out with some other guy! But it happened! And I was getting punished.

"Are you SURE it's what you want?" I say.

"No, I'm not sure of anything. I love you too, Em! I've been felling depressed ever since and I know it's cause I'm in love with you...but another part of me wants to get over you."

"But I at least want to stay friends!" I exclaim, fighting tears. What the fuck was wrong with all of this? I was sorry he felt scared by seeing me make out with someone else, but really, what could I DO?!

"I do too," he says slowly. "I feel so horrible...I feel so fucking stupid. I can trust that you'll keep this a secret, but I'm still so embarrassed. I was crying my ass off last night, writing, singing, playing, all fucking night. That image kept on going through my head." He shudders.

I nod. "I'm so sorry. I know it's got to be hard for you not to be able to trust me ALREADY."

"Yea, I guess I've learned a lesson about guarding myself from people too suddenly. Maybe we dated too soon. I've decided to work as soon as the summer ends instead, if I can get some songs done."

"I AM really sorry, Darien...I...I." I feel the tears start to come. I really liked Darien!! He smiles half-heartedly and hugs me really tight. "I hope we can always be friends, Emma."

"Me too," I agree. "Well, I better go cause my brother will drop by my house soon. I'll talk to you later. Maybe we can do something with Arwen and Aragorn soon."

"Sure," he says. "Bye."

"Bye," I say and walk away. Wow, I'd been dumped and it really hurt. I had learned about drinking: never doing it without your boyfriend and if I'm not with him, be somewhere far from other boys. Well, it didn't matter anymore. It was too late to change the past.

I walk up to the driveway and see Edoran's old car in the driveway.



Jake POV

Someone knocks on the door so I leap up and get it. It's probably Emma's brother. I open the door with a smile, but my smile quickly forms to a look of shock!

"Hey there, buddy! You must be Jake!" says Edoran. Right behind him is Rome, my idol!

"I, uh...uh..."

"You okay? You don't look so good!" Rome says.

"Uh, I'm okay," I say finally. "Come in!"

They come in and Rome noticed my shirt. "Nice shirt!" he says and smiles.

I look down at it. It's my shirt with a picture of HIM on it. "Thanks, I'm a big fan. But just a question...what are all of you guys doing here? Did you get the wrong address or something?"

"This is my house," Edoran says. "I believe you know my sister, Emma?"

"Oh my god! You LIVED here!" he says. "And so I might end up being your brother if I'm adopted?"

He nods. "Great, huh? You'll get to come to concerts and all this fun stuff!"

"Wow, I think the longer I'm here the better it gets. I'm waiting for some downside to living with you guys!"

"You'll find some, sooner or later," he says with a smile. I can hardly believe this! What had happened to my life? Less than a week ago I was getting beat up my step-dad and living in a firehouse owned by roaches! Now I was in a nice family home around my favorite band, and being with the best girl I could ever hope to be my sister.

"Hey guys!" Emma walks in. "Rome, what's up, dawwwg?"

Rome laughs and gives Emma a big hug. "We be missing you!" Rome says in a finny voice. "That's all."

"Edoran! Elise! Everyone! I'm so glad to see you guys!" Emma exclaims.

"Guess what we brought?" Elise holds up a tape and hands it to me. "Pursuer music video and behind the scenes footage!" I read. "Wow, I thought this wasn't supposed to come out for a few days."

"It's not, but it's yours!" Edoran says. "Want to watch it Emma?"

"Sure, I'll pop it in!" Emma says. Mrs. Goldring cooks the popcorn and all of us squeeze on the couches and loveseats and watch video. 'What could be better?' I wonder looking across all the faces. 'Nothing!'



Review! If no one reviews, Darien must die of depression, Emma dies of worry, Jake will die of child abuse, Talim will die because of you too, and Legolas will live...ALONE!!

I'm such a dork. Just fucking review! Please!! I live off of them! *Throws elf cookies for a bribe*