Chapter 22

                                    

                                          
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"We are going to have a family day!" My mom exclaims to me and my brother as we sit on the couch. I look up with a frown. Oh no. My dad stands a few feet behind her with a look of boredom. 
                          
"Mom, we haven't had a family day since I was three," I roll my eyes. 
                          
"Well too bad, we're going to now. Your father and I have off work so we are going to take this opportunity to get things back to normal again." My dad nods. I look to Nick who shrugs at me like 'what can we do?' I sigh and start walking upstairs to change. I throw on some leggings and a baggy sweatshirt. Now that it's getting cold out I've started to dress a lot warmer. I decide to not do my hair and let in hang down my back in dark waves. I slip on some boots before bounding back downstairs. 
                          
"So where are we going?" I ask as we walk towards the car. 
                          
"The zoo," My mom replies. I give her the strangest look ever and so does Nick. 
                          
"Mom! I'm 17, I don't like the zoo anymore." I groan in embarrassment. Nick nods in agreement, looking horrified. 
                          
"Too bad, your mother said that's where we're going," My dad says stiffly, although I'm guessing he isn't too enthused either. I sulk the whole drive to the zoo. This is gonna be so embarrassing. I go on my phone and scroll through old texts to pass time. I notice Nick do the same, except he's actually texting someone. Hmm I wonder who that could be. 
                          
I've managed to avoid Jake the whole rest of the week. At first he kept trying to talk to me, but usually I just ignored him. It hurt me a lot to do that to him, and now he's given up on even trying to talk to me. I have to admit, I miss him. But it's for the best. 
                          
When we reach the zoo I put up my hood immediately In hope to cover my face. God, it would be so embarrassing if someone I know works here. My mom pays and we enter the zoo. I don't even look at the animals much, I keep my face pointed at the stone walkway. I can tell Nick is bored out of his mind too. My mom takes pictures and I can't believe I'm related to her. I would rather bang my head against a wall than be here. 
                          
"I'm going to the bathroom," I mumble and leave our little group. Nobody else is even at the zoo. I notice some guy cleaning out some kind of storage box or something. He looks a bit familiar but I ignore it and tap his shoulder. 
                          
"Excuse me-" I start to say but the guy stands up quickly banging his head. 
                          
"Ah god dammit," He mumbles and turns around. My face heats up immediately. 
                          
"Jake?" I question astonished. He looks really flustered that I caught him working here. "Are you stalking me?" I question with my hands on my hips, completely forgetting I shouldn't be talking to him. 
                          
"I should ask you the same thing," He grins and rubs the back of his head with his hand. "Why are you here?" 
                          
"Family time" I roll my eyes and point to the rest of my family who is walking around. Jake stares at them for a few minutes, but he doesn't laugh or anything. "What are you doing here?" I ask raising my eyebrows. 
                          
"Working. I need the money," He shrugs. I'm about to state out that he's rich, but refrain. An awkward silence passes over us and I turn to leave. 
                          
"I should go," I say quietly. Jake grabs my arm. 
                          
"Wait," He says and I turn back to look at him. "Can we talk?" I hesitate for a moment about to say no. "Nobody else will see us, so don't worry about Ashley." I give him a questioning look. 
                          
"How did you-" 
                          
"How did I know Ashley threatened you? I'm not stupid Mags," He grins. 'I figured she must have had something bad against you so I left you alone."