Alright, before the chapter begins, I just wanna thank all the people that reviewed!
Including guest Anon who said this was pure gold.
And that other one from someone not so important who said something about pushing people off cliffs? Don't know what that's all about but okay! ;P
Thanks so much for all your support guys! It's what motivates me to write more!
Enough talking, let's just...
yeah this is a stupid chapter.
...
The food Jake brings back isn't the worse you've ever had, not that you remember eating before, but the thought is still there.
It isn't that bad, really, just kinda bland.
"Sorry, Mum is much better at cooking then I am." he tells you through a mouthful of bread. He seems to remember something and he swallows his food down quickly. "That's right! I still haven't told you how my dad met her!"
You sigh and set your plate aside. You were pretty much done eating anyways.
"Anyways, what part was I at?" he asks, folding his hands and resting his chin in them. You shrug.
"I don't remember." no sooner are the words out, he apparently remembers.
"Right!"
You make your way past the walls of the castle and set course for Pikes Grove.
You used to go there a lot as a kid, but you stopped going for some reason.
You don't remember why though.
The path to the river has been overgrown with plants and wildlife. You don't have the heart to go trampling through it all carelessly.
You take care not to step on anything too fragile, and make your way deeper into the forest.
The moment you get to the river, you see John.
And your heart does another flutter.
You are starting to think you may need to rip the organ out.
"Dave!" he waves you over to where he is and you roll your eyes.
He's stupid.
You wave to him slightly and he just smiles.
"So...I just wanted to ask you a question..." he starts, and you notice how flushed his face is.
How cute.
"I'm terrified of your brother, but he told me I needed to ask you first..." he messes with the strings on his shirt and you roll your eyes again.
Your brother scares a lot of people.
"I needed to ask for your sister's hand in marriage." he mumbles the words so quickly you almost (almost) don't hear them.
But you do, and your world shatters.
He looks up at you and his face flushes again.
"I mean, we're already supposed to get married anyways. Your brother just thoug-"
"No." you interrupt him, turning and starting away.
"Dave!" he rushes forward and tugs on the sleeve of your shirt.
"No." you repeat, growling out the syllables. He stares back at you with wide eyes and his face flushes further.
"No matter what, we're doing this. He just wanted me to ask." he whispers, almost sadly.
You sigh and pull your arm away from his grip.
You don't remember why you stopped going to Pike's Grove, but you now have a reason to never go back.
"Jake?" an unknown voice calls from somewhere in the tower.
Jake freezes suddenly and stares wide-eyed at you.
"Yes?" he calls back, putting a finger to your lips to silence you from talking.
"Who are you talking to?"
"Oh uh..."
"Jake." the voice calls in a warning tone. It almost sounds...motherly.
And then you realize the voice is getting closer.
Jake seems to be in panic mode at the moment, and you are just about to do the same when someone appears out of the kitchen area.
"Jake, who is this?" the woman asks, gesturing to you.
As you stare at her, you realize she's probably his mother, because of how similar they look. Same round green eyes, same dark brown hair.
She has a beauty that shines through even in her old age.
"This is...Dirk Strider..." Jake mumbles, looking everywhere but you or his mother.
She walks over to Jake and slaps him lightly upside the head.
"Silly, how many times do I have to tell you! You need to let me know when you have friends over! Especially a Strider!" she smiles down at him lovingly before turning to you.
You smile up at her, unsure what to do when she stops. She leans down so that she's eye level with you and you see something snap in her eyes.
"Orange." she whispers.
And you remember.
"Bro, what are you doing?" your little brother comes up and tugs at your pant leg. You smile down at him and bend down to pick him up. Setting him in your lap, you show him what you're working on.
"It's something for Jake." you tell him, your voice almost cracking with emotion.
"Jake? But I thought you said Jake left." he looks up at you confused and you almost lose it.
"Yeah I know. I just wanted to make him something." you start to cry as you say that, because you miss him, really you do.
"Bro? You're crying." his little hands wrap around your glasses and take them off. You are too sad to even care.
You blink back tears and stare down at your brother as he stares up at you.
"Woah cool! Your eyes are orange!" he exclaims, his smile wide and gleeful.
How can you be so sad when your brother is always so happy?
"I was just telling Strider here the story of how you met Dad!" Jake exclaims from beside you.
You hadn't notice until now, but you are still crying.
As you turn to Jake, you notice that Jade is also crying.
Then you realize you somehow knew her name.
You open your mouth to ask her if it really is her name, but she shakes her head and you just turn back to Jake.
"Dear golly! What's got you all emotional?" Jake nearly shouts when he sees the tears slipping down your face.
You don't answer him, and instead choose to wrap your arms around his neck and pull him into a tight hug.
...
I was planning on this being longer then the last one, but eh.
Sorry it's so confusing right now.
It's not going to get better.
Well it will, but not for a couple more chapters.
And those chapters will get longer, I promise.
