by Maria Trudalidi

Created on: August 29, 2008

"So when are you going to get a guy for yourself?" Jake asked me as we sat on the grass lawn outside my house.
"Whenever one comes along." I said with a shrug.
"You can find one for nearly every one of your friends..." Jake said with a sigh. I wasn't sure what that sigh meant, was too foolish to realize that the "guy for myself" was sitting right in front of me.

"Well," was all I said. Mom came outside then.
"You kids are always out here! I looked all over the place for you two! Jake will you stay for dinner?" Mom asked as she came down the front steps.
"I'd like that, Mrs. March," Jake smiled pleasantly at my mother, who perhaps loved him more than his own mom.
"Well come on in! You two are going to get a cold! It's the middle of November, for Pete's sake!" my mom said rushing us inside the warm house.
"May, you can never take care of your guests by yourself!" she sighed as I went by her, Jake on my tail. I rolled my eyes with a small smile and led Jake to my room. There we opened my window and climbed up on my roof. It was getting chilly, and my teeth were on the verge of chattering, but I wasn't about to admit it.
"Why don't you get a girl?" I asked, continuing our interrupted conversation.
"Oh, you know, she's just not...ready, I guess." Jake smiled. I gave a soft shrug, and rubbed my arms. Before I knew it Jake pulled his jacket over me, squeezing me close to his warm body. Being best friends with a guy came in handy.
"So how's college?" I asked after a minute of absolute silence.
"Well, I wouldn't whine..." Jake said, "It feels weird not seeing you all the time." he added with a chuckle. Me and Jake went to the same high school,until he finished 12th grade, went off to college, leaving me in the dust, only in 11th grade.
"Ya, I get lonely without your wise jokes," I smiled, pretending that was the only thing I missed. He softly kissed the top of my head, and I felt my eyes fill. I looked up at his face and saw his eyes were sad too. I hugged him then, real tight. He made a small sound, something that reminded me of a small puppy dog, and returned the embrace. And then, like in romantic fairy tales, untrue Hollywood stories, and in dreams I had every night, he carefully lifted my face with one gentle hand and kissed me. I waited for this, although I denied it to him and myself, for a long time now. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the moment.
Then, as always happens in real life, came my mother's shrill voice.
"Dinner time!" With that we pulled apart, both smiling to ourselves, blushing, knowing that we have found "the ones".

That night at dinner our eyes met many times, both of us blushing when it happened, quickly looking at the plates in front of us, still full, for neither was even a little hungry for food. I stole a glimpse at my mom, and watched in shock as she exchanged an approving nod with my dad.

I walked Jake to his car, and before he left, he gave me another hug, and in my ear whispered,
"I've always loved you."

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