Chapter 19

                                    

                                          
By the time I get to lunch I'm sick of school. I Sit down at our usual table and rest my face on the cool wood surface of the table. 
                          
"Sleeping?" someone asks amused. I look up shocked to see Jake standing there with a lunch tray in hand. He gives me a lopsided grin and sits in the seat next to me. 
                          
"Why are you sitting here?" I ask in a confused voice. I notice some of my friends in the lunch line sending us weird looks too. 
                          
"Why? Don't you want to be graced with my presence?" He gives me a smirk, but I don't smile. Jake sighs and frowns. "I noticed you've been acting strange lately so I decided to see what's up. I normally can brighten anyone's day," I can tell he expects me to make some silly remark but I just look down. He pushes a sandwich in a plastic container thing towards me. "Here, eat something." I shake my head. "You look terrible, just eat it," I give him a scowl. 
                          
"Gee thanks, just what every girl wants to hear," He grins and I notice he still has his tray of the hot lunch food so I decide to just eat the sandwich. 
                          
"Hey," Lilly says a bit cautiously as she sits down across from me. She gives me a pointed look and I shrug. Cassie and Aiden join us and I see Cassie give Jake a glare. Aiden sits on my other side. It is all really awkward and quiet. Jake seems really uncomfortable too. Peter, Blake, and Sam join in and add some playful banter to the almost nonexistent conversation. I'm grateful for their playful ways and the tension in Jake's shoulders seems to have relaxed. I can't help but glance at his usual table and I'm met with confused faces. They all look very puzzled. This whole situation feels strange. 
                          
"So are you two dating now?" Blake says suddenly and I choke on my juice while Jake whips up his head so fast I'm surprised he didn't get whiplash. I cough a few times and try to get air into my lungs before I give a croaked reply. 
                          
"No," I choke out. Jake nods in agreement. 
                          
"We're just friends," He says and I can't help but feel a bit happy that he acknowledged something between us. Aiden whacks Blake on the back of the head and he shuts up from whatever he was going to say next. 
                          
"Well this was all fun and such," Peter says suddenly rubbing his hands together. "But I have a meeting for guidance so I'll see you guys later," He waves and leaves. I stare after him and I feel so out of place. This is so weird. Lilly has been staring at us the whole time while sneaking some bites of food here and there. She pushes back her blonde and pink hair and shares some kind of look with Sam who nods slightly. I purse my lips and give them a curious look. Seriously what the heck is going on? Lily gives me a innocent smile, but I know her better by now. I turn my attention to Cassie who is still glaring fiercely at Jake. Um ok then. I think Aiden is the only one acting normal as he eats his sandwich. 
                          
"SO...Aiden, how has your day been?" I ask trying to push off the awkward silence. For some strange reason I feel Jake bristle up beside me. His shoulders are tense as he eats his food looking at everyone except Cassie who is still glaring daggers into him. 
                          
"Alright..." Aiden trails off, also clearly confused about everyone's odd behavior. Even Blake is sitting on his phone texting when normally he never even looks at the thing. 
                          
A few minutes later the bell rings, dismissing us from this strange lunch period. I head off to my third block class, which is the only class I share with Aiden. 
                          
Finally the day seems to end and I pack up all my things before walking home. The weather has started to take a turn for the worst and I have started wearing more layers to protect myself from the cold. 
                          
"I'm home!" I call out as I enter the house. I chuck off my shoes and throw my bag down before Hunting around the house. Nick is in his room, apparently doing some studying, and my mom is in her room on the phone with dad. She has been talking to him almost everyday and has been begging for him to come home. He still says he needs some time off to think about everything, and he is feeling really stressed out. He wants what is best for me in the end and I guess that's really all that matters.