Chapter 10- Cliché

Paige's POV

 "Carmen... don't you think you're moving a bit fast with Wyatt?" I sigh, getting anoyed listen how happy they are. I'm happy she is happy, but still it all seems rushed to me. She quits talking a minute and looks at me, trying to figure out my mood. 

"I'm sorry I have a relatioship and you don't..." She sighs, and leans back in her chair indicating she is mad at me. I let out a breath, she can be such a drama queen sometimes! I get back to my homework, this is my only study hall I have, I hate wasting it. Which is what she does. Once I finish with everything I contemplate talking to her and trying to apologize. What she does bother me though. I'm not jealous she is in a relatinship. I'm just looking out for her best interest.  No I'm not going to apologize, she needs to apologize! When the bell rings, I gather me things and leave without even looking at her. I feel bad, but she needs to know I'm not going to kepp going through this shit with her. I slip into my desk in Mr. Parker's room, and I look down at my phone. Robbie sent me text earlier this morning, during first period.  Finally opening it now, I read his text.

Robbie: wanna run lines 2night? 8:58 A.M

I don't reply, I just find him when class is over. Mr. Parker comes in late, like usual, he tosses a subway wrapper in the trash and greets the class. After he takes role he gets to it, and the lesson is done and we have the last 5 minutes to start the worksheet. I don't bother with it, I'll just do it while I'm with Jake. Two birds one stone. Pulling out my  free  reading book, I open it up and read a quick chapter. When the bell does ring, I say goodbye to Mr. Parker after he hands me a couple things he wants me to go over with Jake. I run towards Robbie's locker and catch him just as he is closing it. 

"Hey!" I say, and he smiles. "I just now checked your text.. I can't  right now, but later I can." I offer. 

"Yeah that's cool!" He says, "See ya then!" He points at me with a smirk. I shake me head laughing at him, such a clown. I go back to my locker, and I realize I'm gonna be late if I don't book it! Sorting through everything I finally get all the papers I need, and I head to the library. I slip into the room, and I see he isn't even here yet. I relax sitting down. I look up, and see I'm even ten minutes late. Oh great where is he? I bet he doesn't want to see me. From this morning. He asked me out on a date though! I'm not stupid. He doesn't do dates, so obviously he had something planned. I wasn't going to fall for it. Including he was just going to bring me to his party! I shake my head don't get all mad and worked up, it's just going to make the session that much harder. 

I sit for another thirty minutes, and I know he isn't coming. At least I got my own work done waiting. Packing away all of my things, I leave the library. I can't believe he didn't even show up! He picked today out! Maybe he is done trying to pursue me. Although thinking of the party tonight, and how that's probably what he is doing is getting ready for that. I get in my car driving to my dorm, and throwing my stuff in my room. I'm buzzing with anger, he is such a jerk! Why did I even bother? I grab my phone, and leave for Robbie's place. I pull up, and I go inside seeing the preparation for one of these dumb parties. They put a lot of work into it I'll give them that. I go upthe stairs, and I find the elusive condom bowl, I role my eyes I didn't think they actually had one. I meet Carmen as I go up the second flight of stairs, she is coming down. We don't say a word. Just walk past each other like we've never talked before. 

The anger inside me just gets stronger, why is everyone around me at the moment acting like kids! Or am I the one acting like a kid? Should I really be mad at Carmen? What she said was a little out of line, but that's the way she is. She doesn't reall think before she speaks, and I don't have any idea where Jake and are at. We shouldn't be anywhere. I do need the service hours though.  Once I'm at Robbie's room, I knock and he opens it he is shirtless, with basketball shorts on and messy hair. 

"Did I wake you up or something?" I ask, looking back up at his face. The smirk on his face tells me he caught me checking him out. 

"No... just interupted me changing." He holds the door open to me. I come in, and make his bed real quick for him. He must've not done it this morning. Or maybe he was napping... now I feel like shit. He pulls a shirt on, and plops on his bed next to me. "What did you have to do after school anyways?" he says, tossing a baseball in the air. He is actually one of the main pitchers for the team. It's about time for him to start actual practices, and not just pitching in the gym on Sundays. He practices year round, and now that it's geting nice out again, he'll be able to go to the field. 

"Ahh, just extra work from Mr. Parker." I say, which isn't technically lying. "I help grade worksheets... for service hours." I try to make it sound more legit. 

"Oh. Do you know any of my scores?" He asks, sounding worried. 

"No, I don't check our classes... he doesn't trust me with our papers."  I say, hoping this sounds truthful. I feel bad for lying but, I'd rather him not know about the whole tutoring situation. "So we gonna run lines or what?" I sit up grabbing my book that I set on the floor. I would like to change the subject.

"Oh yeah!" he stands and grabs his book, and then we get down to the nitty gritty. After about two hours of running lines, the two of us stray off topic again loosing focus. We play his Playstation 3 for a while, I'm actually really bad at these dumb games but he likes making fun of me while we play. We have a fun time for a good hour playing each of his five different games. Once the music starts outside though, we stop playing. I forgot about the stupid party.  "No!" He panics standing up. "You're brownies are down there! I'm not gonna get any of them!"  The two of us leave his room, and make our way through the crowds to the kitchen. I stand outside the kitchen and wait for him to return, and I look at everything going on. Another great party, I close my eyes taking a deep breath. Jake is here somewhere. Finding his target. I run over to the cooler across from me grabbing a wine cooler, might as well. Then Robbie comes out carrying my pan of Sluttly Brownies. 

"You saved them!" I laugh, and he smiles nodding.  "Alright well.. now what?" I ask, opening my drink. He narrows his eyes at me, I shrug my shoulders. "It's here.. might as well." 

"I''m gonna go stash these in my room." He says, and I stay put again. He is gonna come back down, I don't know what we're going to do, but we'll do something. I pull out my phone, and send Carmen a quick text feeling slightly guilty for our little pow wow. I don't go into detail, I just say that I'm sorry for being rude earlier. Stuffing my phone back in my pocket, I look into the rec room that is in the room on the wall I'm leaning against. I turn peeking in, and seeing what's all happening in here. 

I see Carmen with Wyatt, they're in the middle of the dance floor doing what I'm sure they think is dancing. I role my eyes, she isn't thinking clearly. I wonder whay she was doing earlier? I don't think Wyatt's room on any of the upper floors. In fact I'm pretty sure that his is right down this hall. Weird. Looking around some more, I spot a couple more people I know. Rachel and Anne are talking with a couple guys, and I see Mark.. the guy playing Hades... he is the guy running the D.J system. After another minute passes Robbie shows up, and he takes me to the other rec room where the have Beer Pong set up. Robbie and I make a great team at this. With him being a spot on pitcher, and me just having good aim for some odd reason. After two games, which we won, I get bored. I'm not drunk yet, but a little more and I'll be getting there, so no more drinking! 

"Come on you have a whole cloud of girls to choose from. You need to get out of the bog your in." I hear Wyatt, and I know who he is talking to. "Where have you been anyways?" 

"I was busy." Jake answers. I glance at Robbie who is engrossed in a conversation with another friend of his. I keep listening.

"Busy..busy? or just busy?" Wyatt says, and they are both quiet for a second. I tell Robbie I'm going back up to his room. I don't want to here anymore, I knew I would eventually see him, I just don't know what to say to him. If he even speaks to me. He probably wont. 

"I'll let you decide." He replies, and I hear Wyatt laugh. I can litterally feel my face fall. I was hoping he wasn't doing anything like that. He missed the stupid session to fuck someone. I head up the stairs, after I grab a jello shot that was sitting a tray full of them. I drink it down, but I just toss  the jello in the trash up at the top of the stairs. I spot the condom bowl which is already half empty. God, all the guys here are horrible. Well not all of them, Robbie isn't. I also don't know enough guys here to really say that. Girls could've grabbed some too. "Paige." Jake's voice  startles me, as I'm going up to the third floor. I freeze, oh shit. I should've just kept going, pretended to not here him. I set my foot down on the stair, and turn to face him. He looks confused, and I can tell he is trying to think through something. 

"Yes?" I say, leaning against the railing. I'm still thinking straight, and he isn't holding drinks. Right now everything looks clear. Although I'm surprised there isn't anyone up here anymore. They must all be downstairs or in bedrooms. I don't know what he wants, but he walks up the stairs closer to me. I stay where I am, trying to not seem nervous, though I am. My anger with him at the moment now is a little stronger then my nervousness. 

"I'm sorry I wasn't there. Right after school, I wa-"

"No, Jake." I interupt. I heard him and Wyatt's conversation, I don't need to know what happened after school. "I heard you and Wyatt's conversation. I can guess where you were." I look at the ground, wishing I had more alcohol in me. This conversation might've been easier.

"With my parents." He finishs, and I turn my head to look at him again. Of course the first thing he says to me is a lie.

"Why didn't you say that to him?" I say, not believing him. He is feeding me lies. 

"Because I'm trying to get him off my back! He is the one who set up this whole party.." He says, trying to convince me. Is he telling the truth? "He thinks I'm going through some shit... and wants me to get over it. He thinks I need a girl to do that." 

"Are you going through something?" I ask him, and he shifts his eyes to mine. "What did you're parents want?"

"My mother wanted to talk to me about my grades... and some family supper that they planned over spring break." He leaves something out. Do I keep asking or just walk away? 

"And...?" I say, maybe he was with a girl, and his parents. He saw them first and then came back to the girl. I hate the anticipation going on right now! I'm already gripping the railing as tight as I can! 

"Nothing." He says, and I  know it's something. I let out a breath, and scratch my head. I'm not gonna sit here and let him try to manipulate me. "Paige I wasn't with anyone. You've got to believe me!" He says, following me up the stairs. "My parents want you to come to the dinner. They want to meet you... and thank you... all the works." He grabs my hand to stop me from walking away.  He is nervous, I can feel the sweat on his hand. 

"What? Why?" I ask, Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln want to meet me? Holy shit, that's like a huge ass scary honor! 

"To thank you... for tutoring me." He lets go of my hand. I notice him wipe it on his jeans. 

"Are you serious?" I raise an eyebrow at him, I don't know what to think. "This isn't funny." I say "I just want the truth." 

"I'm telling you the truth!" He says, stepping away. He turns away from me, thinking again. He has to be telling the truth.. right?  He looks as of he is speechless. Like a kid who doesn't know how to plain something that happened. 

"I don't uderstand... we've only had one session. You're grade hasn't even went up yet." I say trying to wrap this around my brain. He doesn't say anything, and I take a deep breath. "I believe you... It's just.. it makes no sense." I say trying to get a better understanding.

 "I'm just as lost as you are! They insisted though." He says still facing the other way. What's he thinking about? Something else has to be going on, why wont he look at me? Yeah it's weird his parents want to meet me, but it's not because I'm a girlfriend or anything, so I guess it makes sense.. in a weird way. 

"I wont go...I mean I don't think that's quiet apro-" I say, shaking my head. 

"You have to go!" He turns, panic on his face. "I told them you would already." He informs me scratching the back of his neck. He looks everywhere but at me.

"Jake!" I say, trying to figure all of this out. Why would he tell them yes for me? It is really that important. Why would his parents want to meet me anyways. I haven't raised his grade at all, and I've only seen him once. "I'm not understanding..." I say.

"And you're supposed to be the smart one." He sighs. leaning against the wall, gaining his cocky bravodo back slightly.

"You're the one who needs a tutor!" I say, god I am so lost. "Okay.. fine.. I'll go to this stupid dinner. When is it?"

"I don't know for sure.. but I can just pick you up."  He replies. I'll be at home do I want him knowing where I live?  It's not like he could stalk me... I'll be back here with him anyways later. "Unless you don't want me to do that..." He adds.

"No. I'm sure that will be fine." I sigh, "Well... I guess then..." I say. Now what? Everything he wants to tell me about is sorted out, and I'm not in the mood to keep digging. Who knows if I'm even getting the truth. 

"To Robbie's room?" He asks. I feel heat come to my cheeks, why does that make me blush. I'm not doing anything. I actually came up to get away from him... and look where I am at now. "What are you two anyways?" He asks, looking me in the eyes. 

"Friends." I say, "Just really good friends... he is my best friend." I tell him, and he narrows his eyes at me. Unbelieving. Is this a symptom of jealousy? "Seriously... I couldn't ever imagine being more then friends with him." I admit, now it would just be weird. I still have a hard time thinking about the fact that I have to kiss him for the play.

"So.. you friendzoned him?" he asks wanting more information. There is an odd static buzzing between us now. I think it's just all the weird tension going away. Both of us are on alert around each other or something. 

"Hmmm..." I think back to when we first meet. Back in middle school, I did like him. He wasn't interested. "I guess you could see he friendzoned me.. back in middle school... Why does that matter to you?" 

"He is totally into you, that's why." He says studying my reaction. It matters to him that Robbie is really into me? I just laugh, Robbie isn't into me, if this is another one his tricks it wont work. "So... you're friendzoning him now. That's interesting."  Now he smiles, and leans back against the whole again. 

"We're friends... nothing more, there isn't a need to friendzone him." I say, unsure why this matters. He just keeps smiling, I role my eyes.  "Well.. I'm still gonna go.." I say, who knows what he'll ask if I stand here any longer.

"Paige... wait!"  He says grabing my hand again. It is still clammy, and I turn looking at his face. Yeah, he is nervous again. I don't know what he wants now, but our eyes are locked. I've never really noticed his eyes beofre until tonight. I mean I've known they were brown, but now actually looking into them I see beautiful bronze with gold flakes. I hate those moments in books where it says cheesey stuff like "Looking into his eye I see the real him" or "I can really see a little child behind his strong intense eyes", but whole shit is it true! His eyes look scared, and childish. As if he is trying to keep me here. Beg me to stay.  It's quiet a moment, both of us are still and taking in the moment. Moment?! Between Jake and I? No way. This isn't happening! But I don't want to ruin this, for some reason it feels forbidden and I know I'm seeing more and more of the real Jake. I like the feeling it's giving me. Butterflies and tingles, and seeing him scared like this is completely unimaginable. What's he scared of? 

"Yes?" I finally whisper, and he comes in closer. I don't register what's going to happen, until it does. His lips on mine light and gentle. He is kissing me?! Why? What does this mean. Why am I still letting him do this? One his hands hesitantly carresses the back of my neck, and his other goes to my back. Time seems frozen, I'm actually kissing Jake Lincoln. God this kiss is heavenly! It vaguely for some reason reminds me of my first kiss. With Jason my borthers friend from college... but Jake's is better. So much better! Jake I keep playing over and over.. I'm kissing Jake Lincoln! Holy shit! No wait... I'm kissing the manwhore of the school! I push on his chest getting away. I step back multiple feet. Oh my god, what did I just do?

 "I ahhh....I'll see you tomorrow." I say, and practically run to Robbie's room. I colaspe on the floor, breathing heavey. Holy shit, what am I going to do? We just kissed! We weren't on a date, and we barely know each other! That will never happen again, this is what I deserve. I opened up to much to him, and he thought he could make his move. It was a good move... a heavenly move in fact... I wont let it happen again.