Chapter 8

                                    

                                          
He did WHAT?!?!?” Jackie exclaimed.
                          
    “Yeah,” I said smugly.
                          
    We were sitting at our lunch table. I had just told the story of how I invited Jacob over to my house, and how much fun we had together. I had learned a lot about him. He liked many of the things I liked, including The Walking Dead. And, out of the blue, he’d told me he loved me.
                          
    I was shocked. I hadn’t expected him to come right out and say it. Honestly, I’d felt the same way. But I couldn’t tell him I loved him just yet. He understood and he said he would be patient until I was ready. Then he had left.
                          
    Jackie was seething jealous. “You… you traitor!” she yelled with mock horror. “How could you?”
                          
    “I guess you don’t have a hot boyfriend, do you?” I retorted.
                          
    “No.”
                          
    “Well you’ll never know until you start looking. Who knows, he might be closer than you think,” I said with a quick glance at Mike.
                          
    “What? I don’t like her!” he exclaimed. “Besides, I already have someone.”
                          
    Jackie whipped her head around. “WHAT?!?!?!?!?!”
                          
    Mike clamped a hand over his mouth and looked around with wide eyes.
                          
    I just shook my head. “So, who do you have your heart set on?” I asked.
                          
    “I’m not sure yet,” she answered. “I wanted Jacob, but…”
                          
    She glared at me, and I lowered my eyes.
                          
    “Kate, I’m only teasing,” she explained, putting an arm around me. “He’s yours if you want him.”
                          
    “You sure I should go through with this?” I asked. “I mean, he is hot, but I don’t know if I love him.”
                          
    “Kate, listen to me. I think you two are perfect for each other. I mean, heck, I know you love him. You have to. Who wouldn’t?”
                          
    “But listen, it’s not just about his body, it’s the personality. He might seem nice on the outside, but I don’t know if he’s trustworthy yet. I’ll let you guys know what I decide.”
                          
    “Okay,” she consented.
                          
    I met Jacob at the end of the day by his class. He seemed pretty chill, not worried about anything. I walked up to him.
                          
    “Hey,” I called out.
                          
    He looked around and smiled when he saw me. “Hey.”
                          
    “Um, can I ask you something?”
                          
    “Sure.” His gaze turned wary.
                          
    “Um, okay. You still like me, right?”
                          
    “Yeah. Why?”
                          
    I took a deep breath. “Well, I’ve decided that I’ll… I’ll go out with you.”