Charter 10 

Jake took me back to his place. He lived out the back of a small store he owned in a town that neighboured the city. As we stepped inside, he raced around, trying to clean up, picking up clothes off the back of the sofa and cups that lay scattered around the place. 

“Jake, it‘s fine. Stop,” I tell him. I knew Jake lived on his own, and sure. It was the messiest; I had seen his place. Yet I didn‘t care about the state of the place; he could live in a cardboard box for all I cared. He was my friend and a good one at that. 

“Sorry, I left as soon as I heard what happened. I didn‘t have time to clean up,” he tells me with an armful of clothes. I move toward the blue suede couch and fall into it heavily before reaching for the remote that Alisha and I usually fought over when here. 

Are you hungry, thirsty? I can run you a bath?” he offers, and I peer over the back of the couch at him. “Why are you being weird? I am fine, Jake,” I tell him, and he lets out a breath but nods his head. 

It was a little awkward at first. I usually came here with Alisha, and for the first time, I realized how much of the talking she did when we fell into semi–comfortable silence. 

“So what have you got planned? Your next move?” he asks, and I sigh, resting my head back on the couch and peering over at him. “I was kinda hoping I could stay here for a while. I can help with your shop until I figure out what to do next?” Jake smiles 

and nods his head

“Be nice to have company here,” he tells me before plucking the remote from my fingers. 

“But I am not watching this garbage,” he chuckles, and I wiggle up the couch before placing my feet over his legs. 

He turns some game on, and my brows furrow, having never seen him interested in sports. Usually, we watched chick flicks and did facials while here or girly stuff. Well, mainly, Alisha forced us to do girlie stuff, and we became her personal dolls. 

“Since when do you like football?” I ask him. 

he laughs. “Why?” he asks, and I shrug, turning my attention back to

a couple of hours, but eventually, Alisha arrived, letting herself in

because I am a good best friend,” she calls, dumping the duffle bag on Jake‘s lap,

will take your bag, I guess,” he groans, clutching his

I can‘t stay. It will draw too

staying?” I ask her, and she smiles

but I will be here every day until the heat dies

I ask her.

bloody run here,” she tells me, pulling twigs from her hair. “Caught a taxi from

flinch because I

rung; I would have come and got you,” Jake tells her, placing my bag she carried here in his

attention to this side for now. Not until you work out what you

other side of the city?” I ask

and jump on a train. Some little birdie called it in an

stay here long. Dad would no doubt tell him where I am eventually,”

onto the couch behind me. I lean against her. At the same time, Jake opens the pizza box in my lap

could possibly be happening in the city since I left.

lost it when he confronted

“He what?” 

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