The luncheon was in full progress, and Jake was doing a great job avoiding any teachers that were walking around. Her mother had left her cell phone on the table next to her, and it never rang once! Jake was so impressed that at the end of the meal she was grinning like a maniac.
Suddenly, thunder boomed in the distance.
"Looks like a storm is coming on." Consuela remarked. Sure enough, a few seconds later the heavens opened and rain poured down. All the girls and their families scrambled to get into the 2 double-door entrances, Monica, Consuela, and baby Cameron among them. Jake and Hamilton just stood there as lightning flashed and the rain plastered their hair and clothes to their skin. The eerie storm sky lit up Hamilton's eyes and Jake couldn't stop herself staring into their depths.
"I guess the Regatta's cancelled." Hamilton said softly, grinning at his wet Jake.
"Yeah…" she murmured back. She sighed, "Hamilton, I love you. You're so great with my mother. She doesn't care about me, but when you're around her she starts to notice that I exist. I'm sorry you have to chaperone us, though I suppose it doesn't really matter now your Dad's found out." Hot tears coursed down her cheeks, their bitter salty taste mingling with the fresh rainwater. He didn't touch her. Just stood there, looking into her eyes. He could feel his heart beating, louder than anything else he could hear – the shouts, the rain, the thunder even – and knew it was beating for her. Without her, he was nothing. His heart would burst, for the blood that ran through it was Jake, all of Jake.
"I love you too." He'd said it before, meaning it every time. Only now he felt it – real love, burning love, all of loves stages – affection, passion, lust, care, adrenaline, heart-wrenching emotions every single one. "I can't live without you Jake. I need you. And we can get through this. I know we can. If you go, I'm coming with you." With the grim set of his jawline, she knew he meant it. Finally he touched her, just to wipe a teardrop from the corner of her eye. She filled with strength, and knew she, too, was nothing without him.
"Come on" she whispered, her green eyes burning strangely, "Let's go inside." They walked side by side through the double door on their right, as the rain continued to pour.
Dean Fleming crept out from the statue he'd been hiding behind. "Poor Jacqueline." He said softly. He could see the pain in her face, the love in her eyes for his son. He hadn't meant to eavesdrop on their conversation, but he'd been caught in the storm and had hidden behind the first structure he came to – the statue. From there he could see and hear everything, and he felt bad for all the things he'd said to his "gay" son and his "boy"friend. Jacqueline was obviously very distressed and Steven regretted his decision to force her to leave.
But at least his son wasn't gay! I fact, Dean Fleming was so happy he would almost forgive the pair of them anything. Almost…