Left with Two Petals

Chapter Three: Jealousy

Later that day, Jake met up with Spud and Trixie.

"What??? Rose… dumped you???" Trixie exclaimed as they made their way through the city to the park.

Jake didn't say anything.

"He just might be exaggerating a bit, Trix," Spud said. "There's no way Rose could ever break up with Jakey over here."

"No, it's true. It's over, you guys. She was being serious about this, y'all," Jake spoke out.

"Nuh-uh! Spud must be right! Rose and you were meant to be, Jake! What exactly did she tell you?"

"She told me that we couldn't see each other anymore."

"And… why?"

"The Huntsman found out about us…"

"The Huntsman found out? But, how?" Spud exclaimed, wide-eyed.

"Those two goons, 88 and 89. They were spying on Rose, and…"

"Why YOU!!! Don't worry, Jake! The Spud Man will kick their sorry asses!"

"Spud, cut that out!" Trixie snapped, and turned to Jake. "Look, Jake, I can't let you go through that 'Rose-phase' again, okay? Just find another girl, and…"

"No. Rose is the only girl I want. No other girl in this world could replace her…"

"Hey, guys! Come on! Let's get some ice-cream!" Spud shouted in excitement, jumping up and down, pointing the way to the ice-cream store.

"Come on, Jake," she whispered to him, and they entered the store.

"One… uh… pecan… tuna… mint…" Spud said, thinking about the possible flavors he could choose from.

"Sorry," the man at the counter said. "We don't have pecan tuna mint ice-cream."

Jake and Trixie took a seat at a table near the corner. Jake let out a big sigh.

"Wow. You must be really depressed about Rose," Trixie said.

But instead of answering, Jake let out another sigh. Then suddenly, the door opened and Rose and Cliff came in. They were holding hands and smiling at each other. And Jake saw them. He became alert and a small sense of jealousy burned inside of him.

"Oh, hey, Jake!" Rose called out, waving a hand at him. She led Cliff over to their table and asked to sit down.

Jake and Trixie nodded, and Rose and Cliff took their seat.

"So," Trixie started. "Who's your friend?"

"This is Cliff," Rose then looked at him and continued, "Cliff, these are my friends, Jake and Trixie."

"Hey," He said to them.

Jake glared at him and Trixie smiled and replied, "Hey… Cliff."

Jake looked at Trixie, who had suddenly turned a bit red, and then glared back at Cliff.

"So, Cliff," he said, disgusted. "How does it feel like being cousins with Rose?"

"Cousins? Well, actually, we're kind of dating."

"Huh-what???" Jake, astonished, stood up. "Dating??? How could you two be dating???"

"Hey," Rose cut in. "Why don't we all enjoy some ice-cream?"

She turned to Spud, who was stilling deciding what to eat, and shouted out, "Hey, Spud, could you get us four sundaes?"

"Sure, Rose," he responded, absent-mindedly.

"Rose, how could you be dating this guy???" Jake shouted. "When did you two meet??? Were you two dating before you broke up with me last night???"

"Jake, no! Of course not! We… we just met. This morning, and we decided to stop by for some ice-cream."

"Then how could you guys be a couple if you just first met?" Jake said, making a point.

"I… We… Well…" Rose stammered. "You and I aren't dating anymore, Jake." Then she rushed out of the store.

"Nice going, man," Cliff said to Jake, disgusted of him, and he, too, left the building.

After he left, Trixie turned to Jake and shook her head sorrowfully.

"Jake…"

"What??? But… but… she…"

"Hey! I got you guys some sundaes! Just like you asked me! Here, Jake. Trixie," Spud handed over Jake's and Trixie's sundaes. "Hey, where's Rose and that other dude? Oh well! More for me, I guess!"

But Jake didn't even touch his as soon as Trixie and Spud started digging in. His mind was focused on Rose, and only Rose.